Sudden Change

-----Kaede's POV

With school finally over for the week, I was about to make my way to the school gate, but it was then that I got a text from Yui, saying that she has some business in regards to her track and field club. So with the free time given to me, I decide to check out the school garden.

Emi: "We'll be going on ahead."

Kaede: "Okay."

Both Emi and Maria followed me to the garden, but I guess they're not really that interested in maintaining it like I am. I don't mind them leaving, I'm happy enough just for them to keep me company like this.

Maria: "Then we'll see you-"

Girl1: "Oi!"

But suddenly, a group of students come out from the school building, cutting Maria off in the process. Wait, aren't they the students that usually hang out with Yui? I don't see their captains with them, and actually, the group here with us seem to be the ones that didn't take kindly with me visiting Yui's place. And just looking at their faces tells me that this doesn't look to be a friendly chat. Emi takes her stand, putting herself in front of me, between the group and I. Guess she's also picked up their hostility.

Girl1: "Which one of you hurt Yui?"

What? I don't think- wait... Is she talking about how I bruised Yui's arm? I already apologized numerous times during lunch. With that said, neither Emi, Maria or I raise a voice as the girl in front of us only seems to be getting more and more pissed as she closes the distance between us.

Girl1: "I know it's one of you three."

Girl2: "Yeah! Have you seen her arm?! How could you do such a thing?"

Girl3: "Mm..."

Girl1: "So! Which of you done it?"

Looking at Emi in front of me, I can already tell what she plans on doing. I never really had to worry about bullies or anything like that in middle school, as she was always ready to unleash hell on anyone. It's not that I even needed it, but for some reason Emi saw me as someone to protect. Thankfully she never got hurt in my place as there was only one instance where someone tried to bully me. But this... This is different.

Emi: "It was-"

Kaede: "Me!

Everyone: "..."

This time, I'm the one in the wrong. I don't mind Emi protecting me, but I'm not about to shove my responsibility onto her, especially when I'm clearly the one at fault. So I put myself back in front of Emi, facing the girls in front of us head on.

Girl1: "You!-"

With a sharp pain growing on the side of my body, I soon realized that the girl in front of me has her foot wedged straight to the side of my ribs as the force of her kick sent me straight to the ground. I desperately try and gasp for air after feeling like I just got the wind knocked out of me. But I'm met with even more pain as I cut my breath short.

Emi: "Hey!"

Girl2: "Don't get in our way."

Before Emi could even react, one of the girls grabbed hold of her, keeping her away from me and the girl that just kicked me.

Maria: "!"

Girl3: "H-hey!"

But Maria managed to avoid the third girl's grab and began running back into the school building. I'm honestly surprised to see Maria avoid the girl so expertly like that, and even her speed caught the girls off guard.

Girl1: "Guess we don't have much time..."

I finally manage to stand up, catching some of my breath, but as I stood up, I could feel the radiating pain on my side begin to spread around my chest.

Emi: "It was an accident!"

Girl1: "Shut up!"

I watch as the girl goes for another kick, this time aiming for my front, like she's planning to push me back down onto the ground. However, her movement seemed much slower than before when I didn't even realize until it was too late. And so, not wanting to be kicked back to the ground, I evade her kick, stepping to the side. But that did cause a sharp pain in my side as I end up clenching the side of my body with my hand.

Girl1: "Hmph!"

But in no time at all, she follows up with her arm this time, and again, it was slow, maybe even slower than her kick just now. And judging from how she isn't closing her fist, I guess she's going for a grab? Wait... Isn't this weird? I can process what she's doing before she even does it? Well, if she's going for a grab, then-

I decide to counter, by grabbing hold of her now outstretched arm, stopping it in it's tracks.

Girl1: "!"

Suddenly, she starts moving her other hand, this time with a closed fist, aiming straight for the side of my body, the same place where she landed that kick earlier. Not wanting to risk feeling even more pain, I quickly use my free hand to quickly shove her body away from me, striking her in the chest. However, the shove would end up being more than I expected, as I sent her flying back, as she slides along the dirt.

Girl2: "What?"

Emi: "Woah!"

I soon realize what I just did as it feels like time has returned to normal. Looking at the girl on the ground, she seems to be clearly in pain as a wave of guilt rushes over me.

Kaede: "A-are you alright?!"

Girl1: "Sh-shut up!"

She tries to stand back up, but soon collapses back onto the ground as she clenches her chest tightly with her hand. The other two girls quickly rush over to her, both keeping an eye on me as they look over their friend. Emi ends up moving towards me with with her eyes seeming to be glimmering in joy.

Emi: "You alright?"

Kaede: "I-I'm fine."

Ken: "What's going on!"

Girl2: "Captain!"

Suddenly, Maria returns, along with what looks to be the two captains from the track and field club.

Girl2: "This girl just assaulted us!"

Emi: "What?!"

Girl3: "Y-yeah! See?"

Maria: "You lot are liars!"

Kaede: "Hnng!"

The pain in my side starts to grow worse as I find myself buckling from the pain, which only starts to get worse the more I breathe. Thankfully, Emi manages to catch me before I hit the ground. I try and keep my breathing in check, only making shallow breaths as to not make this pain any worse.

Emi: "They attacked us first! Kaede was just watering the garden when these three-"

Aki: "I see. Kaede, was it?"

Kaede: "Mm..."

The female captain comes up to me as she looks directly at my side.

Aki: "May I?"

I'm guessing she wants to lift my shirt? It's honestly quite impressive that she can tell where the source of my pain is having only just arrived here. I end up giving her a gentle nod as she slowly begins to lift the side of my shirt. I don't know her well, but from our small chat the other day, I feel as though I can trust her.

Aki: "Hmm."

Emi: "I-is it bad?"

I feel her gently move her fingers over my skin, but right when she gets to my ribcage, I feel a sudden spike of pain as I instinctively try and pull my body away from her touch.

Aki: "Could you breathe in for me?"

She noticed that I was breathing a bit shallow? Well, if it helps, then-

I try to take a deeper breathe, but a sharp pain shoots right into my chest, stopping me from breathing any further.

Aki: "Mm. She might have a fractured rib."

Emi/Maria: "Fractured?!"

Aki: "Her muscles are quite tender as well."

She ends up pulling my shirt back down before addressing the others. But right as she did so, Yui ends up running out from the school building, joining the rest of us as she scans over everyone here.

Yui: "What?"

Girl3: "Yui!"

Yui: "What's going on here?"

Ken: "From the looks of it, these three came to attack Kaede over there."

Girl1: "Th-that was only because of what she did to Yui!"

Yui: "You mean this?!"

She exposes her bruised arm as my heart instantly sank. It's only been a few hours since lunch, but to see that the bruise has become a lot more pronounced leaves me with even more guilt. I can totally see why those girls wanted to get revenge...

Yui: "Kaede has already apologized to me! It was an accident!"

Just as I thought, Yui isn't the type of person that would send people to do her bidding.

Ken: "Mm. You told us."

Girl2: "Still, look what she did to her!"

Ken: "I believe that matter has already been settled with them. What you three have done was just blatant assault."

Girl3: "Then what about her? She hit her right in the chest!"

Aki, the female captain, went over to the girl still sitting on the ground, gently inspecting her chest. It didn't take long for Aki to stand back up.

Aki: "It's just some bruising. She'll be fine."

Girl2: "But!-"

Aki: "Anyways, taking this matter into your hands, even going as far as breaking a student's rib... I will not accept this."

Girls "!"

Aki: "I'm sorry, but I won't tolerate this. You three will no longer participate in our club."

Ken: "I'll report this to the school before leaving. I hope you three will reflect on your actions."

With some of them in tears, the three girls leave, not bothering to say anything more.

Yui: "Wh-what's this about a broken rib?"

Aki: "It's Kaede. She's needs help, maybe even a hospital."

Yui: "What?!"

Oh god... Hospital? I can already see my parents throwing a fit, especially with how worried I've made them recently. And now adding this into the mix?

Aki: "I can take her to the nurse, if you don't mind."

Kaede: "O-okay."

Emi: "We'll all come as well!"

Aki: "Hehe, alright."

And so, with the help of Emi and Aki, we all make our way to the infirmary... Once again... I swear it feels like I'm in the infirmary more so than the actual classes... But at least this time it's outside of class hours, but now I'm hindering everyone's free time... Hahh~