School's out—what a glorious time!
After a day of academic torture, Anji Seiji stretched with a yawn, exhausted from sleeping through classes. "Bro, heading home together?"
"Sure." Satoru didn't look up, packing his desk. The Blu-ray disc wasn't finished, so kendo club could wait.
Anji grinned, thinking his aibo was a true man. Miyajima-senpai had begged Satoru to join practice multiple times, but he stayed ice-cold, not even a hint of weakness. Says no, means no.
Though, Satoru was half-considering checking on Masafumi Kase's kendo progress… but no, nothing trumped disc-watching joy.
As he stood, Yamamoto Sento approached.
Satoru didn't track classmates much, but after lunch, Anji had nudged him. "Yo, Yamamoto's super down. Fell down the stairs or what?" Anji had snickered mischievously.
Satoru glanced at Sento then. In his memory, Sento was lively—maybe not calm, but energetic, hopping around during breaks. Yet this afternoon, he'd been silent, barely speaking.
Now, facing Satoru, Sento hesitated, starting and stopping.
Satoru knew Sento had trashed him to Kurashiki Rena, sparking yesterday's drama, so he gave no warm looks. Seeing Sento's awkward fidgeting, Satoru shot him a glance and sidestepped to leave.
"K-Kobayashi…" Sento called.
"What?" Satoru turned, annoyed. Sento's face flushed red, then pale, lips twitching, unable to speak.
"Ha? Yamamoto, you picking a fight again? I'm not playing!" Anji brandished a fist.
"N-No…" Sento shook his head but still didn't explain.
"Let's go. Ignore him," Satoru said.
He grabbed his bokken, slung his cheap backpack, and moved to dip.
Seeing Satoru leave, Sento finally burst out, "I'm sorry!!"
His thunderous apology drew stares from lingering classmates. What's going on?
"…Huh?" Satoru raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have badmouthed you to Kurashiki yesterday. I was wrong. Please forgive me!" Sento unleashed a full Bow of Yamato Craftsmanship, but Satoru just scratched his neck, unfazed.
"Oh." An apology fixes everything? Then what's compensation for?
"Please, you have to forgive me!" Sento rushed forward, nearly grabbing Satoru's sleeve, but Anji, the loyal bodyguard, blocked him.
"What's your deal?!" Anji barked.
"If you don't forgive me, Kurashiki's boyfriend will get his scary friends to jump me outside school! I don't want any trouble with them! Please, forgive me! I'm begging!" Sento pleaded.
Yesterday's cocky Sento was gone, replaced by a sniveling mama's boy, face twisted, eyes wet.
Satoru got it—Rena's threat had broken him. After realizing Sento misled her, she'd turned on the guy who embarrassed her.
"Oh, right." Seeing Satoru's hesitation, Sento yanked out his wallet, pulling several bills—thousands of yen, likely to repay classmates he'd scammed. "I-I've got money! Take it, please forgive me!!"
"Bullshit!" Satoru snapped. "Take your money? Me?!"
Sento froze.
Classmates, clueless about the context, found Satoru's outburst impressively righteous.
"Classmates bicker, have conflicts—it's normal. Talk it out, done," Satoru lectured. "Money? You think I'm that kind of guy?!"
Anji, who'd almost grabbed the cash—thousands of yen, enough for a feast!—reluctantly pulled back, echoing his bro. "Y-Yeah! You think we're blackmailers, punk?!"
Sento's fingers shook, staring at the duo glowing with saintly aura, choking up. He nodded hard. "Mm!"
He was moved.
"Alright, alright." Satoru spread his arms. "Come, hug it out. We're good, yeah?"
"…Yeah." Sento stepped into the embrace.
As classmates thought this was peak youthful friendship—even Sento felt it—Satoru whispered, "Slip me the cash later."
Sento jolted, face ashen!!
Satoru released him, patting his shoulder. "Go home. Don't linger. It's not safe lately."
Sento trembled again. Not safe screamed Rena's boyfriend's scary friends—a blatant threat!!
But he could only nod, muttering, "Mm," and bolted out.
"You should've taken it," Anji said.
Satoru shot his husky-like friend a disdainful look. No tact, Seiji!
Take it openly? That's corruption! Gotta keep the righteous facade—handle it privately, and the money's still yours!
Plus…
Satoru tapped his cloth-wrapped bokken on his back, strolling out confidently.
Now every classmate respects me.
"Hey, you're out!" A voice stopped him at the door.
…
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