Consequences

[Otomo Kojiro]

Date: April 28th, 2003 Monday.
Time: 04:05 PM.

I should have known something like this might have happened. Out of school events such as this were breeding grounds for misconduct, an excuse to start the worst kind of trouble. So... Here, outside the men's changing room of the hot springs, I found myself confronted by five scowling faces. I couldn't say I knew their faces, but judging from their expressions, and what they were whispering among themselves, that creeping feeling I had when they first started to approach me.

They were people I'd beaten up. Not because I could, but because I had to. Or rather, I felt I had to. Having years of kick boxing under my belt. I felt I had an obligation to use it. After all... To have it and not need it, or to need it and not have it. it was quite a big "if".

"I've been waiting for a day like this Otomo. You humiliated me in front of my friends. Made me look like a fool." The 'leader' of this little band smirked, cracking his knuckles in an attempt to look intimidating. The others began to form a very broken circle around me, trying to bar me from moving.

"See these guys here. Seem familiar to you?"

I shook my head. My first instinct was to whack this guy upside the head, and blitz through the other four. I'd never been this outnumbered in a fight before. It was difficult enough with two, but with five, it seemed impossible. There was no point trying to dart back into the changing rooms.

"I can't say they do if I'm honest." I responded, as sincerely as possible. I fought the urge to insult him, being so used to goading people like him into fights so I could beat them at their own game, and make sure they never bothered to bully anyone else ever again. Usually, they weren't very competent fighters, but given that there were five of them... It didn't look good. It didn't look good at all. It seemed my well-intentioned actions had come back to bite me in more than one way. These thugs had teamed up to face a common enemy. Me.

I was now putting my weight on my left leg, ready to kick with my dominant right. They brought the circle in tighter. Escape seemed unlikely. I'd have to fight.

"Well then. Allow me to refresh your memory." Another of my attackers said, swinging a punch that grazed my left cheek, causing me to stumble into the waiting arm-lock of another, who was cackling to himself. They were enjoying this. it sickened me to think that people in private schooling could be so horrible.

"That do anything to kick start your brain? No? Then do you remember Sakamoto from 2-B? Izumi from 3-C? You, being the sneaky little worm waited to get them alone, to try and teach them a lesson," He continued, delivering another blow, this time to my stomach forcing all the air in my lung to explode out in a painful cough, "bet you don't think you're so damn smart now you little punk."

I felt like telling him just how much of a coward he was, how much his friends were cowards, picking on people weaker than them, and feeling the need to outnumber someone that beat them at their own game. But I couldn't. I was gulping down air frantically, and trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my stomach.

"You just got outsmarted little Kojiro." He grinned, before I brought my right leg up to kick him, straight to the groin, missing my intended target by mere inches. He flinched. I struggled, to free myself from the vice-like grip of his companion.

[Sakagami Tomoyo]

Sakagami Tomoyo
______________________________________________________

It'd been peaceful being able to relax and chat with her classmates in the steamy water, but now the cool sensation of the yukata’s fabric brushing against her skin wrapped her in a state of bliss. It was true; soaking in the hot springs really did leave a person’s skin feeling extra soft. After securing the sash around her waist with a bow, Tomoyo undid her bun, allowing her long, dark silver locks to cascade down her back once more.

It was all so cliché, though... Normal, tranquil moments like this were always interrupted by some uncalled-for commotion. The sound of struggling and pained grunts snapped her out of her paradise.

Was she cursed with the inability to escape violence no matter where she went? As soon as she heard the noises, she was already at the scene. She wasted no time in getting there to check what the problem was. Even though it wasn’t her fight, it was already clear to her that she would intervene.

There he was, Otomo Kojiro, encircled by a group of students who also attended Hikarizaka High School. He wasn’t faring well, being unfairly outnumbered and all. This was actually the first time Tomoyo had seen violence break out between students of the school; it was something she would have expected from her old school, but this came as a shock to her, especially considering this school was the best high school in the area.

“You just got outsmarted, little Kojiro.”

That did it. She had never been a bystander before and she wasn’t about to let this be her first time, especially when a friend of hers was being threatened. Hearing his name like this surprised her, though. What could have gotten him wound up in such a predicament? No matter what the circumstances, she wasn’t going to let a friend be beat up by a group of cowards too afraid to have a fair fight.

“Hey!” she yelled. At first, only one thug turned his head. He was sneering, probably wondering who had enough guts to try to stop them. The others ignored her completely – that is, until that one guy’s sneer fell open and his eyes widened in fear when he realized who he was looking at.

“S-Sakagami!“ he breathed. Just the mention of her name was enough to make the rest of them stop what they were doing. All attention was quickly focused on her, and the four other guys took on similar facial expressions.

It seemed she was more widely known than she originally thought. This was troublesome... but she knew she shouldn’t have expected any less. It wasn’t like she wasn’t aware of the rumors about her that were buzzing around the school. Or perhaps... was it just because she was a witness? Either way, these guys really were cowards.

“What kind of satisfaction do you gain from ganging up on someone?” she challenged, advancing toward them. Tomoyo bet they only ganged up on Otomo because they thought they could win easily. Of course they could win! He was only one person against a group of five! A win like that was nothing to be proud of. Didn’t they understand that?

Thankfully, she didn’t need to resort to using physical force; it was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. The five students scattered, likely frightened by the stories about her, or maybe the consequences that could come from having a witness on the scene. She was right; they were cowards through and through.

Despite the relief she felt at having the situation dissipate so easily, and despite the relief she felt about Otomo, Tomoyo was feeling depressed. Seeing the fear on those men’s faces was a harsh reminder of who she'd been in the past and how the past continued to cling to her name. Sure, it’d been useful in settling this conflict without anybody getting hurt, but knowing that people in her school feared her to such a degree was... hurtful.

As hard as it was to come to terms with reality, she would have to think of a way to deal with those rumors later. Besides, maybe she was just over-analyzing the situation...

Hikarizaka High wasn't a school known for housing gang members, and so all they had were the stories, which most people didn't even believe.

For now, Tomoyo lifted her head and redirected her thoughts to think of Otomo. Making sure he was fine was what mattered right now. Feeling down wouldn't help him any, and it wouldn't help her either.

“Otomo, are you injured?” she asked him, reaching a hand toward him with concern. “What instigated this?”

[Otomo Kojiro]

I had a gut feeling that these guys were going to beat me black and blue. That might have just been the pain in my stomach, from the rather rough jab I'd received. It was a good thing I hadn't eaten anything, else I probably would have vomited it all up, which probably wouldn't sit too well with the cleaning staff here. I thrashed about wildly, unable to free myself. The senior I'd kicked had recovered. He decided to repay my near-miss with a knee to my stomach, winding me once more, and was ready to toss another punch, square on my jaw, until someone called out to him.

My vision was blocked by the four forms around me, and my initial reaction was one of panic, praying that it wasn't a teacher, or an employee. If they thought I'd started this ruckus, and outside of school no less, I'd be expelled. Kicked out of my house for sure, and I'd probably never see any of my friends again. This had really come back to bite me in the worst way. If I ended up getting kicked out of Hikarizaka, my friends would end up worrying about me. I wouldn't be able to help Furukawa-san by joining the Drama Club. Never get to become friends with Okazaki, nor have lunch again with Kyou, and miss the chance tell her how I really felt about her. In hindsight, I should've seen this coming.

What a joke. Me? Trying to play good Samaritan? What was I thinking?

"S-Sakagami!"

I raised my head, only to find my head spinning. I had been let off with additional punishment rather suddenly. Standing before us, was none other than Tomoyo, who's mere presence was enough to send those jerks into terror mode. She was a real guardian angel it seemed, dressed in her yukata like a beautiful, and noble warrior, a defender of the weak. I certainly felt pretty weak right about now. For all my years of kick boxing, I'd been rendered helpless by a simple arm lock.

“What kind of satisfaction do you gain from ganging up on someone?”

Much like a herd of wild animals being chased by a lioness, the thugs darted off as Tomoyo advanced toward us. I was let go rather quickly, causing me to come crashing down to earth with a bit of a thud. Rubbing at my shoulders, and my stomach, now tingling with pain, I could hear the rapidly retreating thugs scatter away. For only getting a few blows in, they'd certainly caused me some pain. Mercifully, I'd escaped a real beating, and any injuries that might've been more serious than the bruising I fully expected to show up from this little encounter. I had Sakagami-san to thank for that.

“Otomo, are you injured?”

Her offered hand came into view, and I graciously accepted the assistance, clambering to my feet with Tomoyo's help.

"I'm alright. It's nothing some ice and a good night's rest won't fix. I should be thanking you Sakagami-san... Tomoyo, for helping me out. I don't know what they might've done if you hadn't shown up when you did. Thank you... You're a really good friend." I replied. Despite the very present pain, I was sure I'd live. I doubted those idiots would try something like that again any time soon. Though it was alarming how quickly they had retreated. Were the rumors really that bad? Everyone seeing Tomoyo as a violent person, with a violent past, rather than the enchanting young woman that she was. Indeed, even I found myself thinking how pretty she looked in that yukata. I was snapped out of such thoughts by a question. One that I would certainly not enjoy answering.

“What instigated this?”

"That's a long story actually... But I'll try to explain. I had a bad experience with bullies in my junior year, so I decided I'd go around campus now and then, dealing with any other bullies. Usually with violence," I began, drawing in a quick breath to my exhausted body, "and most of them took the hint. I kept doing it until I was suspended. A few people said I was no better than the bullies, stooping to their level."

I sighed, gently massaging my shoulders. It was my own fault, and now I'd interrupted Sakagami-san's quiet because of it.

"I told myself that bullies speak with their fists, so I answered with mine. I must seem like a thuggish vigilante to people. It's the reason why I don't have a lot of friends, even less good ones. No-one wants to associate with a thug any more than they have to. Did what I thought was right at the time. Look where that got me, troubling you, when we're all supposed to be relaxing, and enjoying Golden Week."

[Sakagami Tomoyo]

Sakagami Tomoyo
______________________________________________________

She helped haul the weakened Otomo to his feet. “Yeah, you don’t need to thank me...” Tomoyo said comfortingly, her nurturing instinct kicking in. She was somewhat like a mother bear; she could be ferocious, but in the end, it was all to protect those near to her, or rather, those who needed defending. That was one of the reasons why she had such a fondness for bears.

Although Otomo claimed the damage done to him was minor, he was still looking incredibly unsteady. It was obvious he was still in pain. She couldn't just stand there in front of him and not help him, so Tomoyo moved closer to him, lending herself as support for him to lean on if he needed it.

Otomo said it was a long story, about what started the fight, but he would try to explain it. Tomoyo never would have expected it, but he wasn’t very different from her. In his junior year (as he spoke of it, Tomoyo was reminded of his status as a third year student, which she had completely forgotten about), Otomo went around picking fights with bullies to teach them a lesson. Tomoyo used them as an outlet for her frustration, justifying her actions as something righteous.

“We’re similar, then,” she commented. That didn’t mean she condoned his past actions, using violence before trying to use words. She didn’t say any more about herself. Perhaps she'd tell him another time, but the junior student just wasn’t in the mood for telling him about her own past.

Tomoyo recognized how weak she was before she changed herself. Otomo had been a weak person as well, whether he realized it or not. Fighting was something only to be used when all other methods of resolving conflict were exhausted; that idea was what separated the current Tomoyo from the previous one.

Now, Otomo was regretting his violence. People still saw him for what he used to be. By contrast, Tomoyo had managed to clear up her image rather well, just by switching schools. Of course, demonstrated perfectly just a minute ago, there were still people who knew what kind of person she used to be. The idea that the two of them, Tomoyo and Otomo, shared such a similar background was both startling and intriguing.

Otomo finished off by saying, “Look where that got me, troubling you, when we’re all supposed to be relaxing, and enjoying Golden Week.”

Tomoyo stared him in the eyes. “Hey, don’t say that, Kojiro,” she said assuredly. His self-deprecating talk wasn’t something she wanted to hear. “This isn’t trouble at all... and is it fine that I call you that?” She noticed he’d switched to using her first name, so this, in a way, was returning the gesture.

She stepped behind him. “Alright, come on. Here... does it hurt?" Tomoyo placed her hands on his shoulders, assuming he was feeling stiff there after she watched him massage the area himself. Not caring how the intimate the act could possibly seem, she began working his neck and shoulders with her thumbs, hoping to relieve the tension her friend might be feeling there.

“If you want, I can run to get ice for you,” Tomoyo offered, “but, I’m worried those guys might come back to finish what business they had with you.” If she could get someone trustworthy to stay with him for a few minutes, she’d have no problem in fetching ice for him.

[Narukami Akira]

Alright, finally arrived at the renowned inn. I've already read about it in brochures before this trip, but the inn sill managed to impress me when I arrived. The scenery is lovely, the rooms' interiors are pretty classy, the entertainment room has quite a lot games to play aside from the obligatory ping-pong table, and the staff are very friendly too. I blushed a little bit when seeing the attractive smile of the lady who guided me and my classmate Mizukami to our room. This inn really has lived up to its name. The only things I have yet to experience are the hot springs and food. I can't wait for dinner to come.

16:15. I have nothing to do and Mizukami is away. Guess I will try the baths to kill some time.

When I reached the hot springs area, someone I totally unexpected came to sight. It's Sakagami. Her silver locks cannot be mistaken. There's another guy I don't know, and Sakagami seems to be tending to him. I can't help but call out to her:

"Sakagami-san? What's wrong?"

[Densetsu Karu]

The hot springs had been so relaxing. Karu could have fallen asleep, and in fact he nearly did. It had been so hot. That's why it was called the hot springs, after all, but Karu wasn't used to it. He had only sat in the springs for a mere five minutes (give or take) before he decided it was too much for him. Leaving the water did not relieve him of the heat right away, but by the time he wrapped and secured himself in his kimono he was finally feeling less light-headed.

On his walk back to the common rooms, noticed some sort of scuffling and grunting around a corner. He quietly crept up and peeked at the source of the commotion. There was a gang of thugs surrounding someone (who he couldn't see). He wondered why this person was being cornered by those bullies. His initial reaction would be to run out and save the day, but realistically, he couldn't do that. He could never beat down anybody (let alone five people), so he'd probably end up in the same situation as the person already being tortured. Still, despite all of that, Karu couldn't stand idly by and watch someone else get hurt. Walking away was out of the question, too, lest he be plagued by guilt. He took a deep breath and decided he would try to help, even to his own expense, but his revelation was interrupted.

“S-Sakagami!“ stammered one guy. Sakagami? That name rung a bell in Karu's head, but he wasn't quite sure why. He was pretty sure he had heard that name before; maybe it had been around school. Anyhow, the way alarm struck the face of the tormentors obviously meant this Sakagami was someone they feared.

“What kind of satisfaction do you gain from ganging up on someone?” said a feminine voice, who Karu assumed to be Sakagami. The five troublemakers ran off, leaving their victim on the ground. Sakagami grasped the hand of the guy on the ground and hauled him up. He seemed to be okay, so the problem solved itself. Karu breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't walk away just yet. The unlucky guy looked like he was explaining what had started the situation.

“If you want, I can run to get ice for you. But I’m worried those guys might come back to finish what business they had with you,” said Sakagami. A light went on in Karu's head (figuratively, of course). He could make more friends, if he helped these two! It was brilliant! Karu was in a deep scowl, which he often subconsciously did when he was thinking intensely. He corrected his expression, and went out to the two. As soon as he left his cover behind a wall, another bystander called out, "Sakagami-san? What's wrong?"

Karu sighed. He wanted to save the day by himself. Still, he shouldn't have hard feelings towards anyone for trying to help others in need; it sounded so silly. He resolved to be less selfish about such matters, then continued walking until he was beside Sakagami and the young man. Suddenly, Karu felt tongue-tied. He stood for a moment, his tongue feeling like lead. He managed to utter, "Do you two need help?" He hadn't stammered this time, but that was because he was too shocked to. Funny how that worked; he would have never thought that he could speak clearly when in such shaky fear.

[Otomo Kojiro]

My brain was muddled with thoughts of how people could grow to become so scared of Sakagami-san, that the fled, merely by laying eyes on the girl. She was very selfless, helping me out. Most people would not wish to get involved. I could sympathize with Tomoyo to some extent, though my infamy was nowhere near her own, limited to the few occasional class whisperings when I went missing after lunch, and came back, out of breath.

Looking back on it, my actions seemed rather stupid. Eventually someone would've stood up to their bullies, and the teachers would easily take the necessary actions to discipline them. Something they were quick to point out every time I was hauled to their offices for a chat about acceptable behavior. Naturally, I argued that my way was better, since these brutes got off easy by expulsion. To them, it was just like a free vacation. Once it became clear that my academic studies were falling behind, my parents were quick to call me on it.

Needless to say. My vigilante days are long gone.

"We're similar, then,"

That made me think. Tomoyo was very correct. We both had quite a lot in common. Though our reasons were very different, the principle was the same We both felt the need to punish jerks for their actions. Tomoyo also picked up that I had called her by her first name. I didn't really notice I'd used it, until she herself asked if it was alright for her to refer to me by my first name. She stared at me intently, I was being rather hard on myself it seemed. I found myself staring straight back at her. She had really pretty sapphire eyes...

"S-sure. I don't mind at all. Everyone's always called me Koji, so it's nice for someone to use my full first name." I replied, earnestly, breaking my gaze away, lest I start weirding Sakagami out. It was true, everyone had a habit of shrinking my name down. It originated from grandmother of course. She didn't speak Japanese, so she just called me Koji. I grew to accept it. I was glad to be on a first-name basis with someone, I didn't really like all these formalities, and neither, it seemed, did my grandmother. My mood quickly shifted, when Tomoyo moved behind me.

“Alright, come on. Here... does it hurt?

I inhaled sharply. Yep. It looked like my shoulder was going to bruise. Though hat wasn't what concerned me right now. Tomoyo had started busying herself in easing the tension in my shoulders. I could feel my face heat up slightly. I'd never had a girl massage a part of my body before. Was I finding that I was enjoying the attention? No, no, no... I couldn't think like that. Tomoyo wasn't doing it for my gratification. She was a concerned friend. Helping me out. Yeah. That was all. I was just thinking about it the wrong way. Still. I had to admit, it wasn't an unpleasant experience. Not by a long shot.

"That guy was holding me pretty tightly. I think it's gonna bruise..." I said quickly, trying to take my mind off it before it went to places I'd rather it didn't. That would make me no better than Sunohara. He was probably trying to pull apart the bamboo to peek on the girls right now.

“If you want, I can run to get ice for you, but, I’m worried those guys might come back to finish what business they had with you”

I turned my head over my shoulder. Tomoyo really was concerned. She didn't even want to leave me for fear that those guys would come back. Given the fact that they were almost tripping over each other trying to flee.

"Don't worry," I reassured, plastering on a smile, "after seeing them take off like they did, I don't think they'll bother me again."

Just then, two strangers showed up. One of them seemed to know Tomoyo, the other, concerned, asked if I needed help. I shot a worried glance at Tomoyo. It looked like other people had heard the commotion. If these two had heard, then the teachers might've heard. I feared that this could bode ill for Tomoyo, and ruin her chances at becoming student president. That wouldn't do. That wouldn't do at all.

"Tomoyo... If the teachers heard... You could get in trouble. If you don't wanna stay, you can go hide."

[Sakagami Tomoyo]

Sakagami Tomoyo
______________________________________________________

Koji looked over his shoulder at Tomoyo. “Don’t worry,” he said, smiling, “after seeing them take off like they did, I don’t think they’ll bother me again.”

“Ah... is that so?” She thought about it for a moment, and then the corners of her mouth lifted and her eyes became steady with renewed confidence.

“I see,” Tomoyo said, reassured. “That’s good to know.” It’d be foolish of the bullies to try again so soon; either that or they were extremely bold (which was already ruled out as a possibility after that show of cowardice).

Suddenly, the voice of another student. “Sakagami-san? What’s wrong?”

She took her hands off of Kojiro’s shoulders when she heard her name called. Turning around, she saw it was Narukami Akira, the second-year student who she had eaten lunch with on the rooftop less than a week ago. She’d agreed to be friends with Narukami upon request, but right now, they were more like acquaintances rather than friends. It took time to get to know someone, and seeing as how Tomoyo hadn’t seen him since then; it only made sense that they were still distant from each other. The sight of her massaging Kojiro’s neck and shoulders must have attracted his attention, leading him to assume something was wrong... and he wasn’t wrong in that assumption.

How was she supposed to answer that question? Tomoyo didn’t want to reveal what happened to Kojiro; if word got out about a fight, teachers were likely to get involved. However, before she could say anything to Narukami, another boy appeared from behind the wall on the left. He was a boy she didn’t know, asking if they needed help.

At a loss of what to say, Tomoyo glanced at Kojiro, hoping to get a clue from him, only to find that their eyes met. They’d glanced at each other, both seeking some sort of solution.

“Tomoyo... if the teachers heard... you could get in trouble. If you don’t wanna stay, you can go hide.” Kojiro said. Why was he so worried for her and not for himself? He was the one who had been in the fight.

Tomoyo shook her head. “I wasn’t involved in the fight, so there’s no reason I would get in trouble,” she said in a hushed voice, refuting Kojiro’s logic. She would just need to tell the truth to any authorities who asked and she would be excused. She was merely a witness at most. The only thing she did was break up the fight by yelling. Did that move her any distance away from being a witness? Wherever it placed her, she knew she wouldn’t be punished for it.

“Kojiro, you’re more at risk than I am. You can argue it was self-defense, but even that would be troublesome,” she told him seriously. Schools were annoying and harsh when it came to fights. It was difficult to prove anything was self-defense. Tomoyo wouldn’t hesitate to testify what Kojiro did was him defending himself, but if facing that was avoidable, they might as well avoid it.

Knowing she shouldn’t leave the two other guys hanging for too long, she turned to address them. Now, what to say...?

“You’re just in time, Narukami,” Tomoyo forced a relieved smile. “Kojiro here... well, he fell out of a tree and hurt himself... Would you mind getting some ice for him?”

Yes, she was a horrible liar... but she hoped that was enough to deceive Narukami and protect Kojiro. She just needed to cover for him and avoid letting any talk of a fight float around, lest teachers begin investigating. Her original plan was to go and get ice for Kojiro herself, but if someone else were to do it, she’d be able to continue to help Kojiro to feel better in the meantime while they waited on ice.

As for the other guy... she was unaware that he had watched the entire ordeal unfold. Tomoyo’s gaze landed on him, thinking he’d just stumbled upon the scene as Narukami did, and only saw the aftermath of the fight.

“If it’s not too much trouble, can you get a bottle of water for him?” she requested. “I think he’s a little disoriented after his fall. But, you don’t need to tell anybody. It’s a minor thing,” Tomoyo added on. She was feeling terribly guilty about lying to the two of them... especially after she asked that they both go run around to fetch this and that. It wasn’t that she was trying to shoo them away by asking them to do things; the things she asked for would honestly be useful, and their presence here was helpful.

Tomoyo glanced over at Kojiro again. “We should find some place less visible,” she suggested to him. “Behind that wall over there seems like a good idea. Plus, you’ll be able to sit and lean against it.” If they stayed out here in the opening with people coming with ice and a water bottle, they’d just attract even more attention.

[Narukami Akira]

That guy fell off a tree??! Then how on Earth did he end up here??? Sakagami really is not made for lying, that's for sure. But if there is something she can't tell anyone else, then I won't pry any further. The important matter at hand is that there is an injured person, and I got to help him.

"Uh... Okay, Sakagami. I think I'll go buy an ice pack at the convenience store nearby. I'll be back."

After changing my clothes and getting out of the inn, I can't stop thinking. It is very likely that the guy is a victim of bullying, or anything of the sort. Especially with that kind of widespread injury all over his body. He was very likely to be beaten up. If my speculations are true, then this is intolerable. Bullies, who find enjoyment in tormenting people for whatever reasons they see fit, are scums of the earth that need to be set right, no matter who and what they are. I've seen classmates of mine becoming victims for very stupid reasons. Heck, this is one of the major contributing factors to the record number of suicides in this country.

Even so, if I delve into this matter any further, I have to tread softly. In those kinds of situations, the good guys are more likely to be punished than the bad guys. The autorities tend to believe what they see before their eyes, nothing else, and that really frustrates me. Besides, my aikido instructor once said: "The best fights are the ones we can avoid". In other words, don't resort to violence if not necessary.

After paying for the ice and breaking out of my train of thought, I hurried back to the inn. Hope I bought enough for him. Never thought I'd meet Sakagami again in this kind of circumstance. Well, even a heroine needs help sometimes, and I'm glad there's something I can do to help her.

[Densetsu Karu]

According to Sakagami, this guy fell from a tree... What kind of explanation was that? There were no trees nearby, and no reason to get up one if there was. It was obviously a lie; Karu would even be able to tell if he hadn't seen the actual scene unfold. Karu guessed that the reason for her to conceal the fight was surely to deter talk of it; that way it would never reach teacher's ears and get the guy in trouble.

Sakagami told him to get a bottle of water for the tree-jumper, so Karu nodded to show he understood and rushed off. Water, water, where would he find some? There was probably a vending machine in the inn. He walked briskly, and upon entering the inn lobby, Karu spotted a vending machine. He fished in his pocket for some spare money, and found just enough to pay for a bottle of water. It was ridiculous; why would anyone have to pay for water? It's like paying for air. It just shouldn't be done.

Karu wondered again why that guy was being beaten by those thugs, and also why those thugs were so scared of Sakagami. Had she done something to be scared of? She seemed like a nice girl, so the idea of fearing her was absurd. He needed to find out more, so he decided to ask about it when he returned with the water. Speaking of which... Karu broke from his thoughts and took the water bottle from the machine.

Rushing back, he pondered the other bystander who was sent to get ice. He knew Sakagami, since he called her name. He wasn't scared of her like those thugs were... she called him Narukami, didn't she? If those men were the only ones her feared her, maybe she had done something to those particular thugs. Maybe they had attacked her before, much like when they cornered the "tree-hugger", but she had fought them off?

Arriving at the scene, Karu saw that Sakagami had moved the injured guy behind the wall he had seen the scene from. Karu went behind the wall and offered the water bottle. "Here," he said. Then he added quietly, "I know w-what really happened. I m-mean, about those men. I want to know w-why they did this." It wasn't really a question, but he wanted to get an answer.

[Otomo Kojiro]

I felt utterly ridiculous. These two strangers, silently judging me. What on earth could they be thinking about me? That I was gullible, doing it as part of a dare? A lecherous pig spying on the girls from up high? Or just an idiot that climbed trees for no good reason? Oh boy, did I feel foolish. But it couldn't be helped. Tomoyo was obviously as good a liar as I was. I guess that made us both honest idiots. She was being very kind to me. She even stayed with me, ushering the two people I didn't know away to fetch water and ice. Supporting myself as best I could, I rose my head to meet Tomoyo's concerned eyes. Yet again, I found myself drowning in them. When she wasn't looking I gave my face a harsh pinch.

"Tomoyo. I meant what I said earlier. Thank you. I don't think I'd have gotten off this easy without you. You really are like a guardian angel."

I realized, very soon what I had said. Embarrassed, my face turned a light pink, though I felt more ashamed than embarrassed. Here I was, staring at Tomoyo like some creepy guy, and saying such weird things to her. What would have happened if Kyou had seen us, seen me, staring into the eyes of another girl? Would she call me a creep and break off our friendship? It seemed I couldn't help myself. Tomoyo did have really pretty, bright eyes.

"Oh... I'm sorry about that. We don't really know a great deal about each other, and already I'm calling you such things. I hope you don't think I'm crazy..." I apologized. In a way, it felt like I had meant it. Suddenly appearing, causing them to flee before they could really hurt me. I know she isn't a real guardian angel, but she certainly acts like one.

Then there was Kyou. She and I were friends... But that was it. Was I doomed to being friends, and nothing more with these charming, beautiful young women? Was I actually punch-drunk? Because I couldn't believe what I was thinking.

"Say, Tomoyo, are you... If you're not doin-"

"Here,I know w-what really happened. I m-mean, about those men. I want to know w-why they did this."

I was handed a cool bottle of mineral water by one of the strangers, thanking him with a smile. It was good he turned up, or I might have made a rash decision. The student before me revealed he had suspicions about the authenticity of my story, and Tomoyo's. I sighed, not wishing to fabricate more lies.

"I'll level with you. Those guys are some thugs from school. I used to use my kick boxing to go around campus beating guys like that up to stop them from picking on people. I felt I had to. I couldn't do nothing with my skills." I began, on the cusp of starting yet another dramatical argument over why my methods and my reasoning were effective. Clearly they weren't, given what had just taken place.

"I guess they ganged up on me for a little revenge. Luckily Tomoyo was here... And... Well... She rescued me, for which I am very grateful, and will find a way to repay you somehow..." I said, looking at Tomoyo, attempting to bow my head in thanks.

Maybe over dinner? Ugh! Shut up you idiot... You're concussed or something. Your head isn't on straight. Speak sense, or don't speak at all!

"Thank you also, by the way. For the water. I don't think I've met you before. I'm Otomo Kojiro. Most everyone calls me Koji, but whichever is more comfortable for you." I explained, holding out my hand for a handshake, considering it would be rather painful for me to attempt another bow.

[Narukami Akira]

I hurry back to the crime scene, well, where that guy was found. Ah, man. I spaced out too much. Hope I didn't make them wait long.

When I reach the final corner, a quiet male voice was heard:

"Here,I know w-what really happened. I m-mean, about those men. I want to know w-why they did this."

I take a peek and see the other bystander talking to the victim. Guess he figured the incident out on his own too, eh? This is a great chance to get some information without doing the prying work myself, so I decide to step back and listen for a bit.

"I'll level with you. Those guys are some thugs from school. I used to use my kick boxing to go around campus beating guys like that up to stop them from picking on people. I felt I had to. I couldn't do nothing with my skills. I guess they ganged up on me for a little revenge. Luckily Tomoyo was here... And... Well... She rescued me, for which I am very grateful, and will find a way to repay you somehow..."

So there is another person with fighting skills who tries to be an ally of justice aside from Sakagami. He was probably ambushed, a common tactic employed by thugs. Sakagami came across the incident and scared them away. That's how it happened. That girl really is something. I guess those who know Sakagami can be splitted into two categories: Mesmerized (like me and her other fans), and Afraid (like those thugs).

"Thank you also, by the way. For the water. I don't think I've met you before. I'm Otomo Kojiro. Most everyone calls me Koji, but whichever is more comfortable for you."

Otomo Kojiro, eh? Hope I can befriend him, since he shares my ideals after all. I decide to step in.

"I'm back. Did you guys wait long?"

[Sakagami Tomoyo]

Sakagami Tomoyo
______________________________________________________

Tomoyo knelt beside him against the wooden wall. It was quiet now, save for the far-off voices of those in the hot springs. She searched Kojiro’s blue eyes for any hints of lingering pain, but instead, found only the eyes of a person lost in the fog of a distant world. A normal girl would look away immediately in a potentially awkward situation like this, with two people gazing at one another, but Tomoyo had no sense of it and only looked away when she was satisfied, which really only took five seconds.

“Tomoyo. I meant what I said earlier,” Kojiro said, drawing Tomoyo’s attention toward him again. “Thank you. I don’t think I’d have gotten off this easy without you. You really are like a guardian angel.” The senior student’s cheeks were tinged with pink.

Tomoyo averted her eyes, focusing on the forest that expanded out into the mountains.

“If you say it like that, it’s a little embarrassing,” the sixteen-year-old said, frowning slightly. “Being called a ‘guardian angel’ and all.”

Even though she was called ‘cool’ many times before by the students from their high school, it was never flattering. It was just something she put up with and even accepted. She never reveled in it, and this was the same case; although now it was even uncomfortable with Koji’s grand choice of words.

She turned to look at him again. He was apologizing for going too far with his words, but Tomoyo only shook her head.

“Don’t worry. I only think you’re a little crazy,” she said, trying hard to lighten the mood.

Kojiro wasn’t a person who was easy to talk to; he was just like most of the students in that regard. It wasn’t that he was hard to talk to, but he just didn’t have a casual atmosphere surrounding him. Of course, it was probably because of the events that had just occurred. ... Yes, that was it. Every other time she had met him, it’d always been easier than now. Her mind drifted to the last time they’d talked to each other. Hadn’t he been creeping after Tomoya? She grinned to herself as she remembered it. Yeah, so he was crazy... not even a just little.

She heard a set of footsteps approaching when Koji began to speak again, this time sounding extra-fidgety, but he was interrupted by the voice of the male student who had returned with a bottle of water. However, the student wasn’t talking about the water, even as Koji was handed the drink, but instead, was asking for the truth of why the fight had broken out. He wasn’t exactly asking... This was more like a weak demand.

Of course, Tomoyo already knew the truth. Kojiro told her about it before. The silver-haired junior girl looked over at him, but he had a smile on. Did he not have a problem with that request? Tomoyo decided to stay silent during the exchange, leaving it up to Koji to tell the story, which ended up being more or less the same as she had heard, this time only in a more concise way by skipping out on the unnecessary details.

As soon as her own name was brought up in the conversation however, Tomoyo turned her gaze away from the two guys. Being talked about always seemed to have that kind of an effect on the subject of the conversation; it was hard to act engaged in the conversation when being referred to in third-person. Naturally, she looked at Koji again when she realized she was now the one being addressed, but Koji only spoke of how he would find a way to repay her for her ‘rescuing’ him. Tomoyo gave him a smile and let out a light sigh. Something like that was unneeded.

“It’s fine, Kojiro. You don’t need to repay me,” she said, giving a slight shake of her head.

Tomoyo thought back to the time when she’d first met him. Things led up to other things and Koji ended up being the one to speak up for her against a friend of his own. In a way... she was the one repaying him for his kindness. That seemed to be the case, now that she thought about it.

They were on the topic of introductions now. Kojiro introduced himself first, and at the end of his own formalities, Tomoyo took it as her cue to give her own name. It was just a standard introduction. Sakagami Tomoyo. Unlike Kojiro, she expected people to call her by her family name unless she was on good enough terms to be on a first name basis with somebody. She gave a nod at the end of her own introduction and also nodded to greet Narukami Akira as he walked up to them, bag of ice in hand.

“No, you were pretty fast. It’s not like we could complain if you were slow, considering you’re doing us a favor,” Tomoyo gave him a smile. “Thanks.” She took the pack of ice from him and handed it to Koji. Hopefully this would help ease some of the aches he was still feeling.

[Densetsu Karu]

The injured guy took the bottle of water and smiled a thanks. Karu smiled back, to lighten the mood, because he was sure his question may have done the opposite. Then the guy explained that he had beat those thugs up previously to prevent them from picking on other people. Was he the type to fight fire with fire, then? Helping others was a great thing to do, but in Karu's opinion, doing it with violence should be a last resort. Karu disliked violence, because it usually never solved anything. Still, he didn't lecture the guy for what he had done since he wasn't sure he'd word it right.

Now the poor guy was thanking Sakagami for "rescuing" him. . . that wasn't really a rescue, per say. . . Sakagami only had to show her face to scare off those thugs. Then he turned to Karu and said, "Thank you also, by the way. For the water. I don't think I've met you before. I'm Otomo Kojiro. Most everyone calls me Koji, but whichever is more comfortable for you."

Oh, an introduction. . . Karu's mind blanked for a brief second. "Y-you're welcome," he said for a start. Then the girl introduced herself as Sakagami Tomoyo, which confirmed her name to him. "Hello to both of you. I'm Densetsu Karu." Then he gave a polite bow. He wondered if they would notice if he was foreign like Aizawa-senpai did the other day. . . he wondered if she was at the springs, too. . . no, no, that had nothing to do with now.

"Do you need anymore help?" he asked. Asking a question helped keep his mind from wandering. He could wonder about Shou later. . . for now he had to stay focused on helping Otomo.

[Otomo Kojiro]

I couldn't help but chuckle at Tomoyo's words. It was good that she didn't think of me as a total wacko. I probably did seem a little strange. My thoughts drifted back to my frankly senseless tailing of Tomoya. It did seem awfully stalkerish and creepy. Luckily Tomoyo was there too, to stop me from doing something foolish. In a way, she'd helped me out twice. For that, I was very grateful to her, helping out someone she didn't know very well.

"I guess they must've hit me harder than I thought. I'm saying such strange things to you Tomoyo." I said, sheepishly, trying to cover up my embarrassment with laughter. Boy, it sure was lucky that excess steam was flowing out here. My face felt warm, I must've been pretty red. I accepted the ice, and pressed it gently against my shoulders, soothing the dull pain, which had been alleviated slightly by the work of Tomoyo's hands. I hoped these other two guys didn't think we were doing something, or at least planning to do something lewd. After I thanked Tomoyo and offered... No, insisted, rather, that I repay her kindness, she rebuffed the notion with a shake of the head. She, too, it seemed, had no thought of asking for repayment. I was silently thankful that this Densetsu person had unintentionally cut me off. I'd nearly asked Tomoyo to spend time together, alone. Was I really so taken by her kindness, that I'd forgotten all about Fujibayashi-san? I'd remembered what Okazaki had told me. About being bolder. I was being bold, just... With the wrong girl.

Though I would be lying if I said I was unattracted to Tomoyo. As much as she had an air of 'coolness' about her, she was still a very charming girl. Did she have her eye on anyone? As much as I tried thinking about Kyou, I found myself admiring Tomoyo instead. I couldn't possibly be falling for her too. I barely knew anything about her, other than the sliver of truth in some of the vicious rumors about the poor girl. I didn't think she was a thug at all.

"Do you need anymore help?"

Again, I was broken from my wistful observations by Densetsu-san. I'd made the observation that his accent was slightly odd. I couldn't help but notice something familiar about it. Something that my grandmother shared. So, on an inkling, I switched from speaking Japanese, to English.

"I'll be fine. You are not from Japan are you?" I asked, hoping that my sudden usage of English wouldn't throw off the two others who'd aided me. I spoke English, as did all my family, through necessity. My grandmother was originally a Japanese-American that my grandfather had met when he himself, had moved to America in his youth. He'd fought in the Vietnam War for the United States, and returned to Japan with my grandmother. She didn't speak a word of Japanese, so all Otomos learned English, though Shou wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it. She never uses it anyway.