Stronger Ichihara-san

Ten minutes later, Marika showed up like she promised. When I asked her if she saw something different outside, she pulled me to a corner and whispered, "I don't see anyone but I feel watched, Ruki-kun. Will you be okay?"

Concern couldn't be hidden from Marika's face. That's why I put on a reassuring smile as I lightly pinched her cheek.

"Nothing will happen. Even if they try something, I'm confident to get out of it. I told you, if Ichihara Jun has his family's back, I also have my parents." I said, trying to ease her worries.

Marika nodded but her eyes remained clouded with concern. "But what if they do something to you, Ruki-kun?"

"They won't. I promise. Come on, we can't let Koharu-chan notice there's something wrong. She's looking forward to this." I confidently said before I pulled her back to Koharu-chan where the sound of her punches hitting the sandbag echoed through the room.

Marika nodded and took a deep breath before plastering a smile on her face.