Ensnared - Part 5

Sitting at the usual lunch table are my two good friends, Sig and Nick.

They're currently in the middle of playing mobile games while eating their lunch as usual.

"Nani the fuck? Why is the new Sieg such a bad unit? It's like they knew everyone who watched Fate/Apocrypha hated him and gave him bad skills on purpose."

"Well, caster units are usually terrible so what can you do? Just be glad he isn't a 5* unit or it'd be plain embarrassing."

The two are discussing their game as usual.

And, as usual, the conversation is going over my head.

But there is one thing that isn't like our usual day at lunch.

"Uhm, why is he here?"

Jack Bourne is sitting right next to Sig at our table. He silently glares at me without taking a single bite out of his meal.

"Ah, he said he had something to talk to you about so he decided to wait here with us."

What is it now, blackmail?

I sigh and place my lunch down next to Nick then take a seat.

Actually, I wonder if he's going to hit me too? That'd be just perfect. I've never been beaten by half the members of a band before.

"Dude, dragons are rider units. Why the hell did they make a caster servant an anti-dragon unit?"

"Will you quit talking about dragons and read the mood for once? Geez."

Sig sighs at Nick and continues playing his mobile game.

"…"

After confirming the silence, Jack clears his throat and begins speaking.

"Let me just say that I still don't think you and Scarlet should be a couple at all. You don't seem to understand that you two are an enigma that should never have happened under normal circumstances."

Geez… He doesn't mince his words, does he?

"So? What do you want?"

He pauses for a moment, staring menacingly into my eyes.

But it was only for a moment.

Because immediately after, the charismatic vocalist of Think clasps his hands and leans forward pleadingly.

"Please don't report Paul to the principal…"

Huh? What's this?

"If he gets suspended then we'll lose our music room privileges… He was just a little startled when he saw you like that, that's all. He didn't mean it."

I can't believe what I'm hearing right now.

"So punching me in the gut then calling me a white-knight was just his way of being "a little startled" then?"

"C'mon man. It really be like that sometimes, y'know? He's just not used to people like you."

"Uhh…"

I'm at a loss for words.

This entitled attitude of his has been pissing me off all day. I wasn't going to report him initially, but now I kinda want to screw him over just for being such a child about things.

"Are you reeeeeeaaally going to play the victim card after basically threatening me earlier? That's not how the world works, y'know?"

"PFFT!"

"S-shut up, Nick."

"Tsk. What kind of beta nerd talks back like this?"

Well, it's not like I ever claimed to be beta nerd or anything.

He taps his foot on the ground repeatedly.

He seems almost desperate to keep the conversation going.

"What if I promise to leave you and Scarlet alone?"

Wait, really?

"You'd do that?"

"Haaa, it's kind of sad but… The truth is, today was kinda eye opening for me."

"Huh?"

"I mean, at first I was fucking disgusted to learn about you. Just the thought of your degenerate ass made me sick to my stomach. It was like, poor Scarlet was getting towed around by some evil mastermind. But after a while I began to realize why I was so frustrated…"

He takes the moment to lean forward and stares directly into my face.

"It wasn't because you were in a relationship with her. It's because I realized you're made for this stuff."

"M-made for it?"

"Whatever! Hurry up and answer!"

Hmm, if not telling any teachers about it means he'll leave Scarlet alone, then...

What reason do I have to refuse him?

It kind of clears both of our problems up at once.

"There were a lot of witnesses, you know. I'd have a strong case if I did decide to tell."

He slams the table.

"D-don't get cocky, asshole."

He puts up a front, but I can tell he's shaken. He doesn't want to lose the privileges his band has afforded him so far. He may be a womanizer, but his love for music may just transcend that. Deep down, he may not be such a bad guy.

Just a little bit misguided.

"Fine fine, I won't. Happy?"

He eyes me for a moment as I answer his words, then nods his head.

The tension from just now slowly begins to leave his body.

"Good, now hurry up and leave. I'm in a lot of pain and seeing your face is making me change my mind."

He sighs.

"This sucks. Seeing you earlier really just confirmed why I felt so uncomfortable about the two of you."

He stands up with his hands in his pocket.

"Goddamn, Who'da thunk a geek like you would be so…"

Before leaving, he makes sure to kick the table out of frustration, causing Sig and Nick to flinch.

"Haaa…"

I unknowingly let out a sigh of relief as soon as he's gone.

God, that was tense.

Though, it seems I was right after all.

He seemed to realize that she wasn't like the other girls he's won over. She was completely terrified of how strongly he came on.

Most popular girls would love a confident, popular guy like Jack to make a move on them.

But Scarlet is different. She's worryingly different, in fact.

There was something wrong with her back there. It's like… she was scared for her life.

"Dude… What happened today?"

For the first time, Nick looks at me with genuine surprise and fear in his eyes.

"Haaa… When controversial stuff like that gets out, it's kind of a pain. Idiots like that start hounding you like there's no tomorrow."

"O-oh, is that a fact?"

"Don't worry about it, it's all taken care of now."

Though, I don't think my stomach is okay with having any food in it right now…

That was unfortunate timing. I'll have to sneak some food out for later.

"Haaaa…"

I slump onto the table.

Scarlet, just what happened to you that made you like this?