"Raito and Natsuri"

Throughout the rest of the day, Gentarō and I, along with the rest of the council members, stop a number of bullying incidents and meet up at the end of the day for another council meeting. "We stopped so many incidents today!" Natsuri cheers.

"Yes, but this shiz is still far from over." Hiri shakes his head.

"Not to mention that not everyone isn't exactly going to be happy with our actions." Sana says, pushing up his glasses.

"I bet you hardly did anything." Gentarō mumbles.

"I did plenty." Sana scoffs.

"Enough. I said there'd be no fighting in here you two." Itsumi lightly growls, her hair and eyes lighting up red for a moment.

"Sorry sorry." Gentarō chuckles nervously.

"Hmph." Sana merely crosses his arms and turns away.

"Sana and Hiri make a good point. Although this is just the beginning and some students may start to retaliate, we all did very well today for our first day. Everyone keep up the good work, alright?" Itsumi smiles at all of us.

Everyone but Sana holds up their arms, me only slightly holding up my arms. "Yeah!"

"Dismissed." Itsumi giggles and everyone leaves one by one. Gentarō waits for me by the school gate and Raito takes me up to the roof.

"A-Are we even allowed to be up here?" I ask nervously.

"It'll be fine, I come up here all the time and we've got the principal's daughter on our side." He chuckles. "Besides, even if it wasn't, learn to live a little." He lightly slaps my back, making me jump a bit.

"R-Right..." I chuckle nervously.

"Don't be so nervous. I promise, all I wanna do is talk." He gives me a reassuring smile.

"I-I trust you, I'm just naturally this shy around people I don't really know..." I giggle nervously.

"Ahhhh, so that's how it is." Raito chuckles and leans on the thick fence surrounding the roof. "Natsuri used to be like that."

"...Really..?" I look up and squint my eyes a bit, trying to imagine a shy Natsuri.

"Yep. When she got her ability though, she started getting all kinds of friends left and right, and that's what spurred on her fun and energetic personality. She was happy and content like that...but then, she started getting bullied." Raito mumbles as he looks up at the sky.

"Natsuri...was bullied..?"

"I know, crazy right?" Raito chuckles. "It was pretty bad. And it was all because of one reason..."

I pause and think to myself for a moment. "Was it...because she used to be weak..?"

"That's right. When she was surrounded by friends like me and so many other people, she didn't feel the need to grow stronger..." He sighs before continuing. "Then, a couple months went by after we all got our powers, one of our friends asked her for a fight, and she lost in no time at all. After that, they all just up and left, right after they beat her up some first that is..."

I subconsciously clench my fists at my sides, thinking to myself, "How can someone do that to someone they used to consider a friend..?!"

"I know. Pissed me off too." Raito says as he notices my clenched fists, making me jump, but I nod and don't say anything. "Worst part is, this all happened when I wasn't around. By the time I got over there, it was already all over... Natsuri was just crying in the grassy field I found her in, covered in wounds. Do you wanna know what she said to me when I rushed over to her side..?" I frown, just gently nodding my head. "She said, 'If I grow stronger, will I be able to keep all the friends I make in the future'? Ridiculous, isn't it..?" His hair and eyes glow teal for a moment as he clenches the fence in his fists he leans on, a bit of steam radiating off the metal.

"Yeah... Yeah it is..." I mumble.

"But, that's what got us determined to get so strong. For her, it was so she could make friends without losing them, and for me...it was so I could protect her if anything happened. But I lost in the first round of the tournament, and easily too." He chuckles and shakes his head.

I frown and speak up. "D-Don't blame yourself, if you hadn't fought Usana-"

He holds up his hand, and I quickly stop speaking. "I still lost either way, and I can't really change that. I'll try to get a spot on that council in the future, but until I do, I wanna ask you a favor."

"W-What is it..?" I tilt my head.

"That event is the reason she freezes up like that whenever she thinks she's about to hurt someone or if she feels like she's bullying someone. It's the reason she feels the need to 'be their friend and protect them'. She remembers that day, then just shuts down and begins to cry. If that happens, and she isn't able to fight, can I ask you and Gentarō to protect her for me..?" He looks over at me with a soft gaze, a look that tells me just how much he cares for Natsuri. "Please, Genta?"

I stay silent for a moment, thinking of what Gentarō would say, and I build up my confidence. "D...Do you even have to ask?" I giggle a bit. "I'll protect all my friends, no matter what. You can count on me!" I grin with confidence for the first time since I came to this school.

Raito just stares at me for a moment, his eyes having a glow to them as the sun reflects off of them, before he smiles himself. "Glad to hear it. I'm counting on you two."

"B-But don't think I won't be waiting for you in the student council. She's your best friend, so don't rely on others to protect them for you all the time..." I mumble as I recall an event from the past.

"Pfft, now I get to be the one to say that you don't have to tell me that!" He walks over and slaps me on the back, a bit rougher than before.

"O-Ow..." I slump forward a bit and giggle nervously.

"Don't worry, I'll be taking my guard duty back before long. Who knows, maybe I'll take your position Genta." He smirks before heading back downstairs.

I can't help but smile a little bit, whispering to myself. "Bring it on..." I then rush downstairs to meet with Gentarō, to which we then head home together. I, of course, tell him about what Raito talked to me about, and he bursts out laughing.

"You talked just like me! You're finally getting a little confidence boost. They grow so fast." He ruffles my hair and wipes away a fake tear.

"Oh be quiet... I just said the first thing that came to mind." I huff and push his arm away.

"I mean it Genta. You really are growing, even if you don't think you are." He grins at me and ruffles my hair again.

I groan and push him away. "Stop being embarrassing and stop messing up my hair!"

He laughs and takes off into a sprint. "Race ya home!"

"H-Hey! Wait up!" I chase off after him and the two of us run all the way home.