How Could It Escalate This Far?

Chiharu had stopped crying when all of them entered the discipline room. She was comforted by Izumi and Himari who stayed by her side.

The chief teacher of the third graders, the disciplinary teacher and the school principal gathered together. All of them were shocked and enraged because such violence happened in this school.

"Their guardians have been notified. They would arrive soon," The chief teacher reported to the school principal.

The principal was boiling in anger. He wasn't just angry because bullying happened but, it was also due to the fact that the filming crew was still here. If one of them came across such a scene, wouldn't it tarnish their school's name?

"Teacher Kato, how about you head to the sickbay first? Have the school doctor treat you," The chief teacher worriedly looked at Himari who was sitting with Chiharu on her lap.

When they discovered the English teacher was hurt in this fight between students, they were shocked.

How could it escalate this far?

"It's nothing. The bleeding has stopped," Himari lowered the tissue from her head. It was stained with red blood, looking gruesome on its white surface.

"Teacher Kato, blood... Sobs... Does it hurt?" Chiharu kept looking at the small wound on Himari's head with her eyes blurred by tears.

"It doesn't hurt," Himari smiled and spoke softly to comfort the little one, "Chiharu, are you hurting anywhere?"

From what she saw, Chiharu didn't suffer from any injury but Himari still wanted to make sure of it. Her buns were quite messy and her face was smeared with dirt.

Chiharu shook her head, "Big Brother protect Chiharu. Chiharu not hurt."

"Good," Himari breathed in relief. She gave Chiharu a head pat.

It seemed like, this little dumpling was just scared by what had happened. If she was hurt as well, Himari didn't know how to face Kazuya.

Himari threw the tissue stained with her blood into a dustbin. She pulled another tissue and gently wiped Chiharu's face. The little dumpling blinked her eyes a few times while letting her wiping the dirt away.

While Chiharu was feeling secure with Himari, Izumi was standing with Yuuto and the other students in a line. He kept his face lowered with a frown marred his forehead.

As for Yuuto, his entire face was pale. From time to time, he would sneak a glance at Himari. Every time their eyes met, he would quickly tear his gaze away.

To Himari, the boy looked so frightened by what he had done to her.

Was it due to remorse?

As for Izumi, Himari didn't notice it before but, at a closer look, Izumi's school attire was dirtied with dirt as well. She had yet to have the opportunity to ask him about the messages that he sent.

Nevertheless, she was glad because this time Izumi directly asked for someone's help instead of facing Yuuto alone like before.

Drip... Drip...

"Ah! Blood again! Teacher Kato, blood!"

Chiharu was in a panic once she saw the wound began to bleed again. Her little face twisted as she felt like she was the one who got hurt.

Chiharu's words made Yuuto's face grew paler.

"...You're right."

Himari looked at the new tissue. Small droplets of blood had stained it. The bleeding continued even though the wound was not large.

At that time, Yuuto threw a rock at her, resulting in bleeding. She didn't know from where did the boy pick the rock since they were in the gym. She could only guess that Yuuto had been keeping the rock with him before confronting Izumi.

"Teacher Kato, go to the sickbay," The principal spoke to her with a sullen face, "We don't want anything else to happen to you. You should disinfect your wound first. Let us handle the rest here."

"Yes! Yes! Blood, hurts... Go to treat it first," Chiharu vigorously nodded her head, agreeing with the principal.

"The school doctor should still be here," The disciplinary teacher checked his wristwatch, "He usually goes home late in the evening. Have him treat you."

Seeing that the three of them were urging her to attend to her wound, Himari felt bad if she kept refusing it. She lowered her gaze to Chiharu who was worriedly looking at her.

"Alright, I'll go to the sickbay," Himari smiled.

She slowly stood up from the seat with one hand pressing a tissue on her wound. After making sure Chiharu was well-behaved in her seat, Himari slowly left. She noticed that Yuuto kept his trembling gaze on her until she stepped out of the room.

The door was closed behind her.

"Huh..."

Himari let out a sigh. Never did she expect that today would turn out like this. She had just felt so happy by going to the picnic yesterday, spending her time with good companions. This incident had dampened her mood a little.

"How could a child as young as him become so vicious like this?" She sighed again.

From what she heard when Izumi explained to the school principal earlier, Yuuto came to the kindergarten section. He lied to Chiharu, saying that Izumi asked him to pick her up. The little one followed him, had her school bag trashed by Yuuto until Izumi found them.

Chiharu was still so small yet, Yuuto had no qualms to involve her in his hatred of Izumi.

Himari wanted to believe that all children were good but, today's incident might change her mind.

Drip...

"Ah."

Himari stared at her sleeve that was stained by blood. The small droplet seeped into the fabric, dyeing it red. She quickly pressed back the tissue on her wound.

While Himari was on her way to the sickbay at the next building, Kazuya arrived with President Kasai who he met at the gate of the school. Both of them wore complicated looks on their faces. In just a week, they were called here again because Izumi and Yuuto were caught in another fight.

Behind them, more parents followed.

"Excuse me, I'm Hayashi Izumi's guardian."

"Hello, I'm Kasai Yuuto's father."

They introduced themselves to the principal and teachers who were waiting. Chiharu beamed at the sight of her uncle.

"Uncle! Uncle! Chiharu's here!"

Kazuya took a quick glance at Izumi before he rushed to Chiharu.

"Chiharu, are you okay?" He properly scanned his niece from head to toe. Kazuya frowned slightly when he saw the little girl's messy appearance.

"Chiharu is okay but, but... Teacher Kato got hurt!" The little dumpling quickly reported to her uncle.

The creases on his forehead deepened. Kazuya picked her niece up, carried her then swept his gaze across the room.

He didn't see Himari anywhere.

"Where's Teacher Kato?" He asked.

Kazuya just received a call from the school saying both Izumi and Chiharu were caught in trouble. He didn't know that Himari was engaged in this problem as well.

"Mr. Hayashi, we're sorry for the trouble," The chief teacher took the opportunity to speak, "Teacher Kato was the one who found them. Her head got a wound. We asked her to treat the wound first."

"What actually happened? Did my son make trouble for his friends again?"

President Kasai's voice stopped Kazuya from continuing to ask about the English teacher's situation.

Right now, Yuuto was cowering in fear. All the haughtiness he displayed to Izumi, Chiharu and Himari before were all gone.

He acted without thinking.

Now, it was time to face the consequences.

At the same time, Himari had arrived at the hallway leading to the sickbay.

The sickbay was located at the end of the building, away from the hustle and bustle of the classrooms. A small yet beautiful garden was just outside the sickbay, providing comfort to whoever longed for it.

Only a school doctor was in charge of the sickbay. He would usually stay inside unless he was called to the clinic that was associated with the private school.

Once arrived, Himari stopped in front of the door. She wanted to knock on it yet, faint voices that came from the inside caught her interest.

"...careful. Who told you to not pay attention when filming?"

"Wife, you still want to nag at me? Don't you feel sorry for me?"

"Serve you right! If you don't behave, you'd get more scratches!"

That...

The woman's voice was quite familiar.

Himari frowned. She came closer, trying to listen to the voice. The people inside were still talking to one another. Her eyes flickered once she recognized it.

Wasn't it Teacher Masuda's voice?

But, who was the man?

Himari shook her head. Why did she have to act so sneaky like this?

Knock! Knock!

"Excuse me. May I come in?" She spoke a bit loud.

Clatter!

Buk!

"Ah!"

Himari was surprised. The sounds indicated things fell on the floor and someone might also fell, startling her. She quickly pushed the door open.

"Are you alright?"

What greeted her eyes was the sight of two people looking flustered. One of them was Teacher Masuda who Himari assumed had gone home while the other was a tall man who was sitting, or rather fell, on the floor.

"...Teacher Kato," Wide-eyed with shock, Yuina stuttered, "You... What are you doing here? Ah! There's blood on your head! What happened?"

"There's an incident. I'm here to treat my wound... This, who is this?"

As Himari spoke to Yuina, her eyes shifted from the Mathematics teacher to the man who was now standing upright. The man also looked at her.

Once again, the surprise began to freeze Himari's entire mind.

"This... isn't this..."

Himari saw her finger that was pointing to the man trembled. She blinked her eyes a few times, almost couldn't believe who she saw.

"...Ishizaki Ryuu?"

Once the name came out of her mouth, both Yuina and the man looked at each other before pursing their lips.

They were exposed.