Volume Epilogue

Sakura POV

Part 1

"Kind words might be short and easy to speak, but the echoes they generate are truly limitless."

Ever since I stumbled upon this quote, it has stuck with me through each passing day.

Realizing the scarcity of a genuinely 'perfect' human being, someone who extends selfless aid, holds no resentment, and embraces all with open arms appears to belong to the realm of legends and myths.

Nevertheless, even within the intricate web of reality, I'm dedicated to embodying those very qualities to the best of my ability.

Part 2

Today was the start of school again.

Honestly, I wasn't all that thrilled about it, mostly because it meant I had to get up early.

But hey, I guess it's time to start the day by rolling out of bed.

And, as Gandhi wisely put it: 'The future depends on what you do today'!

"Sakura, breakfast is ready!"

"Alright, I'm coming!"

The daily journey to school could only be summed up in one word: dreadful.

Honestly, I'd choose staying in my room and working on things over enduring lectures any day.

Wait a second!

Maybe there's a silver lining to this!

Scanning my surroundings, I searched for something, anything that I could help with.

And eventually, I stumbled upon something, though it was a rather concerning situation, to say the least.

There was a boy, seemingly trapped in the midst of a circle.

And here's the twist: it was a circle of girls! Three, to be precise. Oddly enough, they wore the same uniform as mine, except for the boy.

But hold on!– before I jump to any conclusions, I ought to observe the scene more closely.

Perhaps they were just friends? Or maybe... could it be a reverse harem situation?!

Their laughter had a sinister undertone, and the boy's uncomfortable expression was hard to ignore.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered my courage and stepped forward. "Hey, is everything okay here?" I asked, trying to sound friendly yet concerned.

The girls turned to look at me, their expressions shifting from mischief to surprise. One of them, who seemed to be leading the group, smirked and retorted, "Oh, everything's just fine. We're just having a little chat."

The boy's eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I could see a mixture of relief and desperation in them. It was as if he was silently begging for help without saying a word.

I wasn't about to let this situation slide. I took a step closer and gently placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Well, it's important to treat everyone with kindness, right?" I said, directing my words at the group.

The leader of the girls rolled her eyes. "Who do you think you are? His protector or something?"

I shrugged, maintaining a calm demeanor. "Just trying to make sure everyone's treated fairly. No harm in that, right?"

The tension in the air was palpable, but I wasn't about to back down. I could sense that the boy needed someone to stand up for him, and I was more than willing to be that person.

"Let's go, girls..." the leader said, her annoyance evident in her voice. The group reluctantly dispersed, and I watched them leave with a sense of accomplishment.

The boy turned to me, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with relief.

Part 3

"...and is how our national hero ignited the flames of determination in the hearts of our ancestors to carry forward the revolution and...."

Seriously, could this day possibly get any worse? Ugh...

Weren't they supposed to keep today's classes to just introductions? What was the teacher thinking, launching into a mini-lecture on our very first topic...

But hey, silver lining—I just have to endure this final stretch. It's the last period of the day. One more bell, and then I can finally dive back into that Peter Wohlleben book I was reading yesterday!

Ding Ding Ding

Yes!

"Well, it looks like this might be it for today, class. Please stack your chairs, and goodbye, everyone!"

As we were wrapping up the classroom cleaning, I quickly gathered my belongings and made a beeline for the door.

No time to waste!

Suddenly, as I rounded a corner, disaster seemed imminent – my textbooks were flying, and the papers were scattering in all directions.

Just as the impending chaos threatened to consume me, a strong hand reached out and firmly grasped my arm, preventing both of us from toppling into a jumbled mess on the floor.

"Whoa there, watch out!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise and amusement.

Embarrassment painted my cheeks a shade of red that could rival a ripe tomato. His response, however, was marked by a chuckle, his relaxed demeanor managing to diffuse the awkwardness of the situation.

"Looks like your books were plotting an escape," he teased, his expression playful as he motioned to the scattered papers strewn about.

Despite my chagrin, his easygoing manner was contagious, and I found myself joining in his laughter. In his presence, the initial awkwardness of the moment seemed to melt away, leaving only a shared sense of amusement.

"Here," he said, offering me a few of the stray papers he had managed to collect.

"Ah, thanks," I replied, a sheepish smile tugging at my lips. "Haha, sorry about that..."

His response was reassuring, his easy tone putting me at ease. "No, no, it's alright. Just a little accident, right?"

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Y-yeah, thanks."

With a friendly nod and a brief exchange of smiles, we parted ways. I resumed my journey, this time opting for a more cautious pace.

Sprinting through the hallway with an armful of textbooks was a recipe for disaster.

"..."

"..?"

There was a group of people gathered near the gate, and for some reason, their attention seemed to be fixed on me.

But why? What could be the reason?

And then it hit me – those three girls from earlier were among them.

"You."

"M-me?" I stammered, feeling a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Y-yesh you!" they mimicked, their voices dripping with sarcasm.

Oh, great. Just my luck to run into them again.

"Just say what you guys want...."

"What we want?"

"Oh, just something~~"

Before I could react, one of them seized my hands and practically dragged me outside the school gate.

"Come on! Let's go somewhere together!" she chimed, her tone oddly innocent.

What on earth could they possibly want now?

I hesitated for a moment, but their insistence made me follow along. They led me to a corner a little distance away from the school where there were no people around.

Alarm bells should have been ringing in my head, but I was too caught up in the moment to realize the danger.

As we reached the isolated spot, I felt a strange sense of unease settling in my stomach. Before I could react, one of them suddenly shoved me forward. I stumbled, my heart racing as confusion turned into fear.

"What's going on?" I stammered, my voice shaky.

Their laughter echoed around me, sending a chill down my spine. I turned to face them, only to find their smiles twisted with malice.

And then, the nightmare began.

One of them threw a punch that landed squarely on my stomach. I gasped for air, doubled over from the impact. Before I could recover, another blow struck me from the side, sending me crashing against the wall.

Pain shot through my body, and I struggled to keep my feet beneath me. But they didn't give me a chance to fight back. Their fists came at me from every angle, striking me again and again. I tried to shield myself, but the onslaught was relentless.

Seconds turned into a blur as the blows continued to rain down on me. I could feel the warmth of blood trickling down my face, my vision swimming with tears and pain.

Every attempt to escape was met with more aggression. Their laughter seemed to grow louder with each strike, mocking my helplessness.

My attempts to beg them to stop were met with jeers and taunts. Their words blended together into a cruel symphony, drowning out my pleas.

My body felt numb, the pain becoming a distant throb as my mind struggled to process what was happening. I wanted to fight back, to push them away, but I was trapped in a whirlwind of violence.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped. They stepped back, their laughter still ringing in my ears as they left me there, battered and broken.

I slid down the wall, my body trembling as I tried to catch my breath. Blood stained my clothes, my vision blurred by a mixture of tears and pain.

Each second had felt like an eternity, a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. The reality of the situation was a harsh slap in the face, a reminder of the cruelty that could exist beneath a seemingly innocent facade.

Maybe...

Being nice...

Wasn't all it was cracked up to be...

Stupid me.