Vulnerable

When the sun sets, they accompany Aya back to her house since she's in a different outfit, making up lies to cover up the bullying event that happened at the school this noon to her parents. Thankfully, her parents who have known them for a long time since they were kids believe in their lies.

When Aya returns to the school the next day, she glues herself to them during afternoon recess while looking so cautious. Scared that those girls who bullied yesterday her will spot her. She can't help but hides in between their bodies in her classroom during afternoon recess, eating her lunch in fear.

Naoki looks down at Aya with a serious expression. He ruffles her hair. "Should we move to the rooftop instead? It's safer there." Naoki asks.

Aya just stays silent while continue eating her lunch on her desk.

"It's too damn crowded here. I need some fresh air. Come on. Let's move to the rooftoop." Naoki just abruptly grabs Aya's lunchbox and her wrist, leads her out of her classroom to the rooftop with the rest of them following.

Riku on the hallway can only stares from a distance with longing, puppy eyes, rosy cheeks, and a pout. Aya has been ignoring Riku's texts since last night.

The wind breeze on the rooftop is so refreshing, Ryu finished his lunch there and then does a few stretches while the others still eating their lunches behind the high part of the building to cover themselves from the sunlight.

"Don't be scared anymore. If anyone bullies you again, I'll handle them. No violence will be used." Hirofumi suddenly says calmly to Aya, reassuring her and using the fact that he has so much authority as the Student Council President.

Aya nods while looking down at her lunch on her lap, still munching it in her mouth. They all notice that Aya is still quite traumatized.

Aya's phone suddenly ringing in her pocket. She stops her eating to takes out her phone and looks at the screen with her other hand wrapping around her phone tightly to cover her screen phone, and then she turns it off.

"What's wrong?" Naoki suddenly asks aggressively.

"Nothing." Aya puts her phone back into her pocket and then resumes eating her lunch.

"Your mom called?" Tetsu asks. Aya shakes her head.

"It's nothing." Aya repeats.

The guys notice this. Since when did she loves keeping secrets like this? She always tells them everything since she's not good at keeping it bottled up inside. She often yaps. They notice these changes since they saw her with a certain someone else that isn't them nor Suzu...

Ryu suddenly breaks the awkward silence while still stretching his body. "You guys are going to watch my match next week, right?"

Tetsu just nods while Naoki answers nonchalantly. "Of course, dummy. Wouldn't want to skip your biggest match yet against another school."

Ryu chuckles. "As expected from you. What about you, Aya-kun?"

Aya quickly snaps from her spacing out and nods at Ryu. "I probably would."

The guys are all staring at Aya. "Probably?" They ask.

Aya looks at them with confusion. "Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"There's no 'probably' here, Aya-kun. You're going to watch Ryu's match and I'm going to make sure of it." Hirofumi says.

"I'll drag her myself later, don't worry." Naoki adds.

"What?!" Aya looks at them in disbelief as she pauses her lunch. They continue their playful bickering on the rooftop until they finished their lunches.

After lunch, Aya being cornered on an empty hallway by Riku. Riku puts his palms on the wall aggressively on each side of Aya's head, blocking her way out of there.

"Senpai." Riku calls her with a serious tone. His puppy eyes that he used to put on is no longer there, it's all dark and serious now. No more rosy cheeks on sight, just a pair of siren eyes piercing through Aya.

Aya looks down while squeezing her uniform nervously. "What do you want?" Aya asks in a faint voice.

"You've been avoiding me, senpai. You haven't replied to my texts, and you won't even look at me right now." Riku answers. He leans his face closer to Aya's head, his breath hot against her hair.

"I don't... want to hang out with you anymore. Your friends don't approve of me being around you." Aya adds.

"What friends, senpai?" Riku asks in confusion.

"Your female friends... three of them. They won't like it if i continue to hang out with you."

"Who are you talking about? I don't understand."

"I don't know their names... but they definitely don't like it. And i don't want to be cornered by them again!" Aya yells in desperation. Riku's eyes widen.

"Cornered? What did they do to you, senpai?" Riku holds Aya's chin to lifts her head up to face him. He can see her eyes are all glassy like she's about to cry with a frown on her face.

"Who and what did they do to you? Answer me, senpai." Riku asks in a deeper voice. His eyes darken as his other hand clenching into a fist.

"I said i don't know who they are... they were... they did things to me. Until i passed out." Aya answers with a shaky voice. Riku's eyes soften and he lets go of her chin to strokes her hair gently.

"I'm so sorry, senpai. I didn't know that there were people harming you over hanging out with me. I'll find out about it and once i do, I'll take care of it. After that, you better get back to me again. I won't let you get away from me, senpai. But i have to make you safe first." Riku brushes Aya's chin with his thumb and a soft charming smile on his face. Aya looks away.

"Don't harm them. They just like you so much."

"Hm... i won't, then. I'll just... warn them. How about that?" Riku holds her jaw to turns her head to face him again. He brushes his thumb on her lower lip as he leans closer to her face.

Naoki, Tetsu, Ryu, and Hirofumi behind a wall stay silent at their conversation. With their arms crossed on their chests, they're plotting another plans.