Encounters and reunion

At Tsukuhara high school, the following morning 8:00 am.

Sumire stood in front of her locker as she sighed deeply. She couldn't get rid of the bandages on her head. Atsuro wasn't having it. Since she couldn't conceal her head injury, she saw no need to conceal her other injuries too.

For the last few minutes, she has heard people whispering and glancing over her way.

Uh, she suddenly feels sick; her stomach is starting to hurt. Why do these people keep staring? Have they never seen an injured person before?

It did not take her long to realize that they were not focussing their full attention on her. Or rather, the hostility from her fellow female students seemed smaller than usual.

"Did you see earlier?"

"Right, right, Quatro light returned!"

Quatro light? Sumire tilted her head, puzzled, when she suddenly recalled something. That's right, that stranger she met in the park! He strangely resembled somebody who belonged to the top male idol group. Due to the recent events, she has had a lot on her mind.

Sumire rushed off in the direction she saw the crowd gathering. There, in the center, was a man with silver-colored hair. It was the same man she met in the park during winter vacation.

She took a deep breath. "Ran-San!" Sumire shouted.

The grey-haired boy turns around, a smirk on his face. "I see your acting familiar already." He walked over until he was standing directly

"Why didn't you just tell me? Your Futaba's childhood friend, right?" Sumire said.

"Yeah." Ran trailed off. "It wouldn't have been fun, and besides, I thought it was amusing how you didn't realize it was me."

"Huh? Aren't you one to talk?"

"I still win since I realized after seeing that hair clip."

Sumire looked at him, puzzled.

"Futaba has one like it."

Oh, that's right. That explains it. Anyhow he is that famous vocalist? But she acted so familiar with him.

"I don't even know him that well, yet I called him by his first name." She hadn't realized she said it aloud until Ran got closer to her.

"I didn't mind."

W--what?

Ran suddenly leaned forward, and her mind turned blank. He suddenly rammed her up against the wall. What is he doing? Or rather, there are so many people around, why aren't they doing anything?

No, what does she expect from them?

'You are hated.'

'You are a cursed child.'

'There is nobody in this world who will save something like you.' Her very existence from the moment she was born was to be a human punching bag. Even if this man assaults her right here, nobody will do anything to help her.

"Now, I'll continue what I couldn't do then."

Sumire recalled how close he got to her in the park and froze when she felt his lips trail against her neck. This isn't good; her head is starting to hurt again. She has no strength in her arms or legs either due to her wounds.

Ran took her silence as a sign of approval as he licked and bit her neck.

This is disgusting; get off her. Please go away.

It was almost like somebody heard her prayers since somebody lunged a sharp knife in their direction. Ran immediately caught it.

Sumire managed to catch a glimpse of the person only to find Masato.

"Masato?" Sumire said, surprised. Masato was the one who threw that knife? The very same Masato who dislikes weapons?

"That's enough, isn't it, Iwa-senpai?"

Huh? What's this? Do these two know each other?

Ran suddenly bursts into laughter. "Right, right. I get it, but you shouldn't be too slow."

"I'm here now, aren't I?"

Ran's gaze darkened for a second, and he whispered something in her ear before he let her go. The brunette was in a daze and yet managed to rush over to Masato, who stood protectively over her.

Before anything else could happen, a flash of pink suddenly rushed over and hugged her tightly.

"Suchan! I missed you."

Sumire's eyes widened, hearing a familiar bubbly tone. Huh? Sumire looked at the person who had just hugged her. It was a woman slightly taller than her with long pink-colored hair and ruby-colored eyes. Who is- no, she knows this person, of course, she does. She looks slightly different now, but there is no doubt-

"Futaba?" Sumire asked just to be sure.

"Yes, Succhan?"

It's really Futaba. Sumire stood there frozen in shock. "W-when did you get this pretty?"

Futaba was always a beauty, but due to her peers' bullying and jealousy, she started wearing large glasses and baggy clothes.

At those words, Futaba laughed. "That's your reaction? Didn't you tell me before I left that I should ditch the glasses and baggy clothes? You told me that my eyes reminded you of rubies, and a bright and vibrant color suits my hair."

That's right; she did say that, but- Sumire paused when she examined her friend again. She looks happier, and there is a healthier glow around her.

Masato draped his cloak around her head and coughed. "Futaba, I know you're happy to see her but didn't you just see what happened?"

Futaba's eyes twitched, annoyed and a dark aura surrounded her friend as she turned to Iwa Ran.

"Ran-chan, what did I just say?"

"For your information, she is the one who approached me."

"That's beside the point! How could you assault Succhan like that in broad daylight!"

"So is it okay if I make a move on her during the night? I would prefer that scenario-" Ran's sentence is cut short by Futaba hitting him across the head. "Ouch, that hurts."

"You can't make a move on her at all! Stupid Ran-chan. I warned you already that Succhan is off limits."

Futaba's back to her old self. When they first met, Futaba was bright and outgoing. But the bullying, when the bullying became worse- Sumire gritted her teeth at the memory. She wonders if Futaba's bullies have heard of her return.

This isn't the time to just stand around. She needs to make sure that those people aren't planning anything. From the looks of it, Futaba hasn't encountered them yet?