Can't Bear it

There wasn't much time left for Arata. He failed to find her during the rest of the time left during lunch. Now he was desperately stuck looking for her during their second break. This was going to be his only chance.

He was certain that she was hiding from him, figuring that he was going to try and convince her to help out despite his plans. Because the reality was that he was still going to try and get Yurime to return to the news club. Even if they had seemed like they had changed their minds on the subject.

Yurime… she seemed utterly destroyed. It felt like it was his fault, even though he was fully aware of that he didn't do that to her. Every decision she made, that was on her. It's just the way she looked like when he saw her on the roof, there was no way Arata was going to just let that be.

But right now, that wasn't his focus. That would be currently aimed at Ichiri, who if she wanted to prove she was a better hider than him. She was doing a great job of it.

"Sheesh, how big is this school?" He muttered to himself in frustration.

"Oi otaku. Looks like you're a little lost." This definitely was not the time for him to want to deal with this. It was Rouza Ichinose and her gang. "What's wrong, lost your little books?" She mocked him. Arata really didn't want to get distracted, so he tried ignoring her. Sadly for him, that only set her off even more.

"Hey, are you just gonna ignore us!" Another one of them said. Quickly, they stood in his way.

"I'm sure you guys don't have any plans." He said to them. "But unlike you, I actually have things to take care of." Any attempt to get past them was blocked.

"I doubt a loser like you has anywhere important to go to." She rudely remarked to him. Things weren't looking so hot for him, nor was a fight very high up on his list of solutions. Thankfully, a blessing came from someone unexpected.

"I think you should just leave him alone." It was Ichiri, the person that he had been looking for.

"Aww, you need your little girlfriend to come rescue you?" Rouza said so in a mocking tone.

"As if, but if you keep bothering him." Ichiri's tone changed. "I'll make you regret it." Even though she was talking a big game. Arata could see the shaking in her body. Those legs wouldn't stay still, this girl was absolutely terrified. If she was willing to face this with him, he had to do something.

"Look, you might've had a chance when you outnumbered me three to one. Now though, I doubt things look too favorable to you. I am a boy after all." He told them. Rouza glared at him for while, then backed off.

"Whatever, fighting's no fun anyway." She said, walking away from him. If what she was saying was true, the why did she even bother pick on him?

"I guess thanks for the help." He expressed his gratitude to Ichiri, even if it wasn't needed. Probably because it saved him the time of tracking her down. "Lucky that you just ran into us there."

"Actually I was following you."

"Following me?" That sounded strange, since he had been looking for her this entire time.

"Duh, I knew you were looking for me. So obviously you wouldn't be able to find me if I was staying right behind you." She bragged as if she came up with the perfect plan. "You obviously wouldn't look where you've already been."

"Well I have you now." He told her. "And I think we both know why I'm was searching for you."

"Yeah, but my answer's still no." She crossed her arms, now frowning at him. "I just can't believe you."

"That I chose to forgive her, or that I'm going to try and get her to rejoin that club?"

"Both!" She was getting irritated with him. Why was he so lackadaisical about this? "Honestly, people like her deserve the bad stuff that happens to them."

"Even if they're willing to make up for it?" To be honest, since he never really talked with her. Arata wasn't certain if that's what she was going to do. He just assumed that given what Yurime's done with herself since that moment.

"Do you not understand what doing that type of stuff can do to people." She looked around, seeing that they were far from being alone. "Follow me, and I'll explain."

That's what he did, they headed up to the school roof for some privacy away from other students. Arata knew he didn't have much time left, so it was all or nothing in convincing her to help him again.

"Okay, this should be fine." She stood atop the roof, looking out through the fence. It was a nice view, with the sun rather low in the sky. An example of the Autumn days ahead of them. "Did you ever wonder why I skipped a grade?"

Arata never really thought about it, just assuming that she was a bright person. It turned out there was more reason to that than he would've expected.

"It all began, back when I was in junior high…" She wasn't anything special back then, just that she was a third year for her school then. Ichiri had gotten lost in the middle of the city. Getting off at the wrong stop on a train can do that to a young girl like herself. Along with her poor ability to get directions.

Scared and alone, she was beginning to think that she was never going to get back home or see her parents again. Until an angel flew down to her, or more accurately a bear.

Not a real bear, she would've died then. It was a person, wearing a bear costume, that had come to help her. Without saying much, they helped her calm down. Then, while waiting at the shop they were working at. This person was able to locate her family and get her home safely.

"When I asked them for their age, I couldn't believe that they were only a year older than me." They had hardly know each other, yet she felt like she was in love. "I confessed right on the spot, but I was rejected. Then it turned out that someone from my school saw what happened." By the next day, it was the talk of the class. She had gotten bullies and became known as the girl that got rejected by a lame mascot.

"That's unfortunate." He responded, but there was something else about the story that had grabbed his attention. There was no getting past it, the person in that bear costume… Was him.

After all, as an otaku trying to make some money to pay for his hobby. A job that let you hide your identity was perfect for him. Too bad it was only a promotional job that was unpopular with the locals.

She looked a lot different when she was younger, even if it was a year ago. Mostly it was just that her hair was down then, instead of the pigtails that he was used to now. Also, wasn't she wearing glasses back then? Probably why he didn't recognize her when they met again in the theater.

"It was terrible." She continued. "The girls always say after a break-up. 'Well at least I didn't get rejected by a bear'. And the boys would always tease me and say things like no boy would want to be with a girl that can't even get a bear." Hearing this, Arata just had to think. What type of school did she go to?

"But then, what does have to do with the fact that you're a second year here now?"

"Because, I couldn't stand staying where I was. I just had to move on, so studied hard my final year to get to this school. Far from where any of the former classmates would probably go to." As it turned out, she did so well in her exams, that they even had her skip a grade. So her first year here at this school, turned out to be the same as his second year.

"I'm sorry that happened to you." He felt a little bad, since it was partially what he did that day which lead to this. However, it was during his time of not wanting to associate with others. He only helped her her out because he felt that it was part of the job.

"Exactly, you wouldn't be so happy if she did expose you, right? And got everyone to hate you."

"True." Thinking about it, he realized something. That even if she did publish his secrets to everyone, that perhaps his friends would've reacted the same way as they did when he told them. "Um, did you have friends back in junior high?"

"No." She answered plainly. "I was… A different person back then." The truth was, that she was a shy girl that kept to herself. She didn't talk with anyone, and no one wanted to go out of their way to talk to her. The only attention she ever got, was when everyone was talking about the bad thing that happened to her.

That's why, she had another vow for when she arrived in high school. That when people heard her name, that they would have a sense of awe when they saw her. That way, no one could ignore her anymore. A complete change of who she was then.

"I don't really have any friends now either." Even with her all her work of trying to get people's attention. It appeared that all it was good for, was getting them to work with her. However, no one ever tried to get close with her at all.

"Wrong." He told her. "You have at least one. Me." Ichiri recoiled back. No one had ever said that about her,

"But, we're rivals-"

"There's plenty of friendly rivals." Arata cut her off. "Besides, there aren't many people that'll do what you did for me back there." He referred back to earlier with the bullies. "Especially when they're scared of getting hurt."

"Ah geez." She wiped her eye, feeling tears coming. "Thanks…" Ichiri expressed her gratitude.

"And that's exactly why I want your help with Yurime." He explained. "The two of us, we both know what's it like to be lonely."

"You two?"

"Maybe I'll tell you about it in the future." There wasn't any time, he was going to be expected in the library soon. Specifically with her in tow. "But right now, can I at least get you to help me out with the library."

"You've got it." She nodded with a bright smile. Arata started to lead her down the stairs, to their next location. "I gotta say, you kind of remind me of the bear." She laughed, if only he could see her blushing.

"Uh…" Arata hoped she didn't figure him out. "I doubt I'm some big furry animal."