_Chapter 31~ Be Feared Of_

"Hey." I let out a loud breath, gazing sourly at the boy who continued to send the passing students menacing glares. "I'm trying to eat in peace here."

Turning his head away from the people before him, Ryu faced at me with a deadpanned look. "And? What's stopping you?"

My jaw fell in disbelief. I set down my lunch to scowl at the guy. "You!"

Rising to my feet, I latched onto his arm and pushed him to take a seat on the bench. Reluctantly, Ryu gave in and sat and I sighed as I fell down beside him.

"Why are you acting all hostile to every and all students we see? What'd they do to you?" I demanded, passing him a melon bread we'd purchased from the cafeteria. I surveyed our surroundings. "And you even brought me here. I don't mind spending lunch in the school courtyard for once, but why?"

Taking the sandwich from me, Ryu took a quick scan of the empty place. "It's nothing," he murmured, taking a bite.

"Yeah, right," I scoffed. "It's like you don't want to see somebody."

Brightening, I peeked his way.

"Wait, is that it? Is it Aki?"

Ryu avoided my eyes, and spoke after a pause, "Even though I warned you, you most likely won't stay away from him. This is a precaution."

I let out a gasp. "You're acting like I want to get involved with him! He's the one who keeps appearing out of nowhere like some kind of magician."

"He's a weirdo so he specializes in things like that."

"I've heard the rumours," I assured him. "Either way, I don't need you doing this. I can handle Aki myself."

"...Is what you'll say until Aki goes and takes you to see Raidon Tsuki. Then you'll bawl your eyes out, wailing 'Oh, how I wish I listened to Iwasaki. If only he was here to keep this nuisance away!' and other soap opera worthy things about how I was right."

I shoved Ryu's shoulder, rolling my eyes. "Very funny." I hung my head, biting the inside of my cheek. "Aki wouldn't... take me to see him though, right?"

"I don't know what he'd do," Ryu breathed out, tossing the last of his lunch into his mouth and meeting my eyes. "Look, I'm just stating the obvious. I didn't really think about it before because you voluntarily wanted to keep your distance from guys like Aki, but now it seems like you're doing it because it seems fun or something."

"Fun?" I said incredulously.

"Or something," Ryu repeated with a shrug.

I scowled at him. "It's not my fault those guys like being put down by me. I don't want to get involved with delinquents either but because of you, I ended up being surrounded by them. As ironic as that sounds considering you're supposed to be a class president."

I expected Ryu to immediately retort something back. Instead, however, he sullenly dropped his head.

"Sorry."

His serious response threw me for a loop. My widened eyes settled back to its regular state. "It wasn't like I was asking for an apology," I confessed. "What I'm trying to say is... you need to stop being so paranoid."

For some reason, that made Ryu snort. "I can't believe I'm hearing that from you." He shook his head. "But I'm not being paranoid."

"Yeah, yeah, you're being "cautious," right?" I stated, quoting our past argument and crumpling up my garbage. "Seriously, it's not like I'm at the risk of dying. I hope, at least."

"Ah, there you two are!"

Ryu and I craned our necks to find Daichi and Miyabi exiting the school building. Miyabi was waving vigorously as he approached all the while Daichi merely adjusted the glasses on his face.

Just as Miyabi reached me, stepping even closer with a smile, Ryu had risen from his seat, blocking him entirely from my view.

"What do you need from her?"

My eyes widened considerably. Wait, he was even wary of Daichi and Miyabi?

"Huh?" Miyabi asked, gazing up in surprise. "I was just going to say hi..."

Extending his arm to keep him back, Ryu turned to me. "Miyabi says hi."

I deadpanned. "I heard that," I said. "Can I say hi back?"

He faced Miyabi. "She asked if she can greet you back."

"Um... sure?"

Ryu sent a shrug my way, as if saying to go for it. Already annoyed by this invisible wall between us, I sighed.

"Well, tell him I won't."

Miyabi gasped before Ryu could speak. "Huh! Why not Sheep?"

"Hi, Daichi," I spoke again, shifting my attention towards the brunet.

"Hey, Reina," he said. "We still haven't decided on a date, y'know."

"We haven't?"

"Nope. When do you want to go?"

"Where are you guys going?" Miyabi inquired.

"Somewhere," Daichi dismissively responded.

"—That I still don't know," I finished, recalling that one message.

Ryu was whipping his head back and forth trying his best to keep up with the conversation but ultimately couldn't in the end. He instead went on to pushing them away. "Keep your distance."

"Why?" Daichi was exasperated, trying to stand his ground. Against Ryu though, it didn't work out very well.

"Iwasaki, for some reason you're acting like Sheep's bodyguard today!" Miyabi somehow managed to break free from Ryu's grasps, beaming wide. "Can I play that too?"

"No," he immediately refuted. "And I'm not 'playing.' This isn't a game."

"Why is he acting like one though?" Daichi questioned, to me this time.

"Because he wants to keep me away from 'delinquents.'" I sighed. "He's over exaggerating."

"I'm not," Ryu defended. "You're getting too nonchalant about this. Do you seriously not care if Aki approaches you again?"

"I already promised I'd stay away from him."

"Will you run away, too?"

"I don't think it's safe if I run. There's red in our uniform. He might charge at me."

"...Is Aki a bull?"

Both Daichi and Miyabi shared one long look. Matching smiles simultaneously grew on their faces. It was quite creepy how in sync they were, but they spoke before much could be said about it anyways.

"Then, how about if we help?" Miyabi suggested.

"I'm even in Reina's class. I can guard her when you're not around," Daichi went on.

Miyabi's eyes twinkled. "So how about it, Iwasaki?"

"No thanks," he said. "Kikuchi doesn't need that from you two."

"I don't need that from you either!" I interjected, rising up and joining the conversation. "I'm fine, see?"

But the three boys weren't listening.

"C'mon, Iwasaki! We're bodyguard material!" Miyabi prodded, going so far as to flex his noodle-like arms. "Look at these guns!"

Both Daichi and Ryu stared at him, completely blank.

"Wait, what are we looking at?" Ryu paused to ask.

"I'm not sure," Daichi responded, earning a gasp of horror from Miyabi. He faced Ryu, almost tentatively. "But anyways, though I don't have much confidence in my arm strength, I do in my legs. I'll make sure she runs away safely."

"Are you three listening?" I demanded. "I'm perfectly fine! I do not need—"

"Pretty please, Iwasaki!" Miyabi begged, clasping his hands together in a praying manner. "With a cherry on top!"

"I offer two cherries if you pick me," Daichi spoke.

Miyabi frowned before quickly swivelling to Ryu. "I-I'll give three!"

"Four!"

"Five—"

Ryu reluctantly gave in. "Fine."

Miyabi let out a whooping cheer, and then held out his hand. "Then from today onwards, the three of us shall stick through thick and thin in protecting Sheep—"

"I don't need it," I interjected for the umpteenth time.

But, surprise, surprise—they weren't listening.

"—and make sure no harm is put in her way!" Daichi finished.

The two of them placed their hands in the centre. Ryu complied after much reluctance, then in unison, they tossed them into the air identical to how a sports team would.

I watched this unfold in utter horror.

There was no way this meant anything good...

* * *

When Daichi came to class the next morning wearing shades, I knew my premonition was proven right.

"Daichi," I began, furrowing my eyebrows. "This better not be apart of some elaborate plan to secure my safety."

Instead of responding to me, Daichi stood appropriately by my desk, crossing his arms behind his back like some kind of bodyguard.

The bell for class rang, and in entered Ms. Osaka. She set her papers down at her desk at the front of the class and was just about to start when she saw Daichi dressed in the full school uniform, shades and jelled back hair and all, standing instead of sitting in his desk.

"Sugiyama," she started, raising an eyelid, "is there an issue?"

The entire class twisted in our direction, successfully flustering me. I hated having attention on me like this. Then again, I guess they were more focused on Daichi at the moment.

I glanced up at him. What in the world was he up to?

"Oh," Daichi coughed, clearing his throat, "don't mind me, Ms. Osaka. Just begin with the lesson."

She didn't take his words kindly. "I will," she said, "once you sit down."

Daichi swallowed hard, but his poker face didn't fall. "I have a duty I must fulfill. I will be standing like this all day if you don't mind."

"But I do mind. Take your seat this instant."

"I... cannot, ma'am."

Pursing her lips, Ms. Osaka didn't waste another second to barrel in our direction. From the buckling of Daichi's knees, I knew he was scared of getting into trouble, and yet he still didn't relent. Weird.

"Are those shades apart of this joke?" Ms. Osaka demanded once hovering before him.

"It's not a joke." He darted out his arm in front of me, taking cautious steps back. "I have a duty to fulfill. Please stand back, miss."

"Sugiyama," she began, her heels clicking scarily against the floor, "you are the class president of this class. Do you understand what kind of example you are setting?"

"I-I'm warning you—"

"Is this drama-related?" she practically bellowed. "Then keep it in the drama room! I do not want to hear it!" She turned to me. "Kikuchi, are you apart of this?"

My mouth fell at her accusation. "Me? No!" I denied. "I swear I'm innocent!"

"Like I'd believe that!" She thrust a pointed finger at my chest. "If you do not tell him to stop this right now, I will—"

Without wasting a second, I frantically tugged on his sleeve, hissing, "Daichi, she's serious! Stop this!"

Just as her patience snapped, Daichi dragged his mouth over his watch and whispered into it. "Requesting backup. I repeat, backup is needed in room 2-1 pronto. The witch has caught onto us."

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask for you to step away from our client."

Oh no, my mind seemed to cry.

Shamefully, I rose my head. Ms. Osaka spun around to see who had entered the classroom. I literally gawked upon finding Miyabi strolling into the room, shades on and a frown painting the bottom half of his face.

"Miyabi?" Ms. Osaka practically exclaimed. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm sorry to intrude, but I've been notified by the Student Council to excuse Sheep and Bodyguard #2—I mean, Daichi Sugiyama—from classes today. As it's Thursday morning, it's been deemed to be extremely mentally taxing and, to quote a very respected individual, "Ain't nobody got time for that.""

Miyabi performed a mannerly bow. He then trekked up to us. He met Daichi's gaze from behind his translucent shades.

Daichi nodded, stepping aside. I was still trying to make sense of stuff. "Hey," I hissed to Miyabi, as quietly as I could. "This is getting out of hand—"

"Miss Sheep, please allow me to escort you outside," Miyabi said, gently grabbing me from the forearm and yanking me to my feet.

"Huh? Wait—"

"Mr. Sugiyama, grab her bag."

Daichi did as told, and with a final apologetic bow Ms. Osaka's way, they led me out the doors. I felt my classmates' piercing gazes watching me even as I left, which was partly why I went along with this, but...

Coming to a halt in the hallway, I smacked Daichi and Miyabi off of me, allowing them to lurch away.

"Ouch!" Daichi cried.

"That hurt, Sheep!" Miyabi agreed, pouting and rubbing his arm.

"I'm glad it did!" I crossed my arms. "Why the hell did you two abduct me?"

Miyabi let out a laugh. "You make it sound like we're aliens. How awesome would it be if we were, though?" Brightening at the idea, he halted in place, doing odd movements with his body and voice. "Beep, boop, boop, I come in peace."

I rolled my eyes. Daichi appeared equally uncomfortable.

"Ms. Osaka was catching onto us," he explained, feeling at his jelled up hairdo. "Fleeing was the safest option."

"No," I refuted. "If you weren't wearing those ridiculous glasses and didn't do your hair up like it's some kind of pineapple—"

"Hey," Daichi defended, touching his head. "Miyabi suggested this."

The said male grinned, rolling down his glasses to the bridge of his nose and wriggling his brows. "It makes us look cooler, you have to admit."

"It makes you two look like ginormous idiots," I snapped.

I ripped the glasses from his face.

He was too late to grab it back in time. His brown eyes widened in fear as I lifted it before him.

"No! My eyes!" Clasping his hands over his eyelids, he sobbed. "They feel naked!"

Shooting me a scornful look, Daichi placed a hand on Miyabi's shoulder. "Just look at the poor guy! His eyes are being exposed, you monster! You better give it back! Do you know much these cost us?"

They got them for so cheap...! I exhaled heavily, shifting my gaze from the tiny price sticker.

"Listen," I groaned, already done with them. "You're taking this way too far! Even if Iwasaki agreed to letting you idiots team up for something so stupid, dressing up as... whatever this is, and wearing these stupid shades, is utterly—"

"Are you okay, Kikuchi?"

My lungs stopped working from surprise. Putting a hand to my chest, I recollected myself before spinning around to find the culprit. When I found that it was Iwasaki who was standing there, similar shades and jelled back hair as Daichi and Miyabi here, my jaw had fallen incredulously.

"You're doing this weird look too?" I cried in disbelief.

Ryu, as if understanding what I was referring to, immediately blushed. He turned his head away, slipping off his shades in embarrassment. "L-look, I didn't want to wear this stuff either. Miyabi forced me into this."

"It suits you the most out of all of us, Iwasaki!" Miyabi tried to reason, shimmying his way into the conversation. For some reason he swung the conversation in my direction. "Don't you agree, Sheep?"

Not expecting it, I flinched. Well, I guess... it did suit him fairly well. Typically, he styled his hair in a spiky-ish way while now it was more towards a prim, professional kind of look. Considering his proper uniform as well, this hairstyle suited him a lot more.

Somewhat awkward, I peered up at Ryu. The way he wasn't meeting my eyes proved he was curious about what I'd say.

"Um," I started, timidly veering my gaze towards my shoes. "It doesn't look bad..."

His eyelids rose slightly, and he subconsciously reached for his hair. "Huh? Really?"

"Really," I assured him, more confidentially this time. A smile was growing on my face. "It kind of suits you, actually."

Ryu's tensed surprise soon melted into comfort. A matching smile took hold of his face as well.

"Um, I hate to interrupt this endearing moment," Daichi coughed, stealing our focus. He gestured towards the doors. "But we technically 'ditched' class so we shouldn't stay in the halls like this."

"It's fine, we've got status," Miyabi cooed.

"So what? If the principal catches us, that's pointless."

"I still can't believe you guys used your powers against me like that," I spoke. "Ms. Osaka must hate me now."

"I doubt it." Miyabi brushed it aside.

"Yeah, me too," agreed Daichi.

Ryu nodded. "It's hard to hate you."

All eyes darted to Ryu while my very own grew large.

Ryu flinched at our obvious shock. More so, when he caught my gaze. He quickly glanced away from me, pink dusting his cheeks. "I mean, um..."

"I... have a place we can go," Daichi said, successfully diverting our attention.

"Huh? We're seriously not going back to class?" I asked.

"It's too dangerous," was his excuse.

I frowned. I was seriously skipping class with two class presidents and also the vice president of the Student Council. As you could see, Akelius Academy wasn't exactly an upright school.

* * *

"So, can someone explain to me why we're in a coffee shop?" I inquired, taking a good look around the shop we had strolled into.

"Don't worry about it too much," Daichi said before bashfully steering us towards an empty booth.

"Daichi's family runs this shop," Miyabi interrupted, excitedly. "The 'Sugiyama Coffee Shop', all his!"

"No way!" I cried.

Daichi didn't quite find my gaping comfortable. "Ha ha, yeah. But it's really just run by my parents. I only help out from time to time."

Miyabi touched his hair. "Speaking of that, we so have to greet them." Scanning the front counter, he brightened at the sight of a young female taking orders. "Hey...! Is it you? Are you Daichi's mother?"

Ryu and I prepared ourselves as well, about to follow after a bounding Miyabi.

Daichi who had caught onto what was happening a little too late, emitted a loud yell, racing after Miyabi and tugging him back by the collar.

"She's not my mom!" he shouted, urging all three of us towards a set of seats. "My parents aren't in today. Sit down and be quiet."

Miyabi struggled to be let liberated as Daichi dragged him away. The cashier gawked at them, startled. With a nonchalant wink, Miyabi merely mouthed at her to call him.

As soon as we reached a vacant booth, we all took a seat, me beside Ryu and Daichi and Miyabi across from us.

"Man, today took forever!" Miyabi groaned, kicking back in his seat.

"You guys are the weirdos who kept stopping passersby to pat them down and say 'you're clear.'" I cringed at the memory.

"They looked suspicious," Miyabi defended. "A bodyguard's gotta do their job, right?"

"You're not a bodyguard though!"

"Yes, I am! I'm Sheep's!"

I turned to Ryu with a sigh. "Why did you agree to let them do something so stupid?"

"Sorry," he apologized, almost empathetically. "I wasn't thinking about anything but your safety."

My cheeks grew hot, but I did my best to ignore it.

"I appreciate it, but you don't have to." I looked at all them. "I'm fine. These delinquents aren't even scary enough for me to want to freak out anymore."

"You've got a point," Miyabi said, seriously this time. "Typically, the delinquents of this school have always been so hard to manage—they didn't listen to anybody and got into many moronic fights around campus. And yet now they're no longer causing any trouble at school. What's even more surprising is that they're actually listening to what you say so easily. If showing them a bit of concern was the solution all along, the Student Council would've tried that tactic years ago."

"It's still kind of unrealistic, right?" Daichi agreed. "They all used to be so terrifying, too. But yesterday when I spotted one of them at school, even though they accidentally bumped a student over, they actually helped them up and apologized! I had to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing that right."

"No way!" exclaimed Miyabi, bug-eyed. "Whoa, you're so amazing, Sheep!"

"I don't even know what I did to cause this, so please don't thank me," I said, sagging my shoulders. "It feels like just yesterday I cried myself to sleep after realizing I had to visit my locker the next morning before class. Last year, it was located in a delinquent haven. They were always fighting."

I shivered at the memories.

"Oh, you poor soul," Miyabi sniffled.

"You hate them that much?" Ryu inquired.

I digested the question.

"I had always done my best to avoid them because of my blind fear of them. But... they're actually not that scary. I think they all just had trouble expressing themselves before." As I reasoned, I recalled the scenes in the infirmary. "They all have names, and families, and they get extremely angry when people hurt their loved ones. Plus, they're really considerate and always offer to buy me something to eat or drink. It's almost comical how excited they get whenever I open my mouth, too."

"Reina... do you like having them around you?" Daichi gasped.

I comprehend then that I had subconsciously smiled, and that was what had caused them all to gape.

"N-no," I protested. "I just realized that they aren't such bad human beings. That's all."

When I gandered at Miyabi and Ryu, they both appeared entirely against what I had uttered.

"You need to keep in mind not all delinquents are so kind," Ryu said. "The way you treated them in the infirmary... you're lucky they listened to you. You need to stop acting without thinking or else you'll really get hurt one day."

I frowned. "Are you only saying that because of Aki?"

He flinched. "No—"

"Iwasaki's right, Sheep," Miyabi interjected. "Besides those delinquents that fought all day long before you showed concern for them, there are ones—especially the delinquent leaders—that are to be feared. They don't like being pitied on and ordered around, especially by a cute little sheep like you." He winked as he said that. "And at Akelius, we have a lot of them. Aizen, Los Sakamaki, Rudolph— pfft."

Though he'd tried to wave off his laughter, we couldn't.

"I think they named it after he got his nose broken and refused to get it treated," Daichi explained. "So it was all red and swollen for a few weeks."

"Still, Rudolph," Miyabi guffawed. He doubled over. "It's so funny!"

Ryu and I sighed, brushing it aside. Even Daichi shook his head before training his focus onto me.

"Anyway, on top of the obvious Raidon Tsuki, there's also Satoru to be feared of, too."

From the corner of my eye, I caught Ryu and Miyabi tense from their seats. I blinked slowly, taking in the familiar name.

"Satoru?" I asked. "Wait, isn't he that delinquent you once told me about?"

Daichi nodded. "Like I already told you, I witnessed something I shouldn't have. I was coming home from a short meeting with Ms. Osaka when I stumbled upon it. A bunch of delinquents ganging and and beating an innocent boy."

I stiffened. His lips met in a thin line.

"They were delinquents from another school, but I felt bad and discreetly got involved to scare them off. The reason they were beating him up in the first place is because they were after a delinquent named Satoru who crossed them in the past. Apparently, in middle school, he was a monster. He stood on par with Raidon Tsuki, and nobody messed with him. Then, come high school, he mysteriously vanished. Rumours say he's enrolled at Akelius Academy but so far nobody's been able to identify him. It's probably because he skips all the time like Raidon Tsuki."

I couldn't stop my trembling. On par with Raidon Tsuki? He was as scary as him? And he—

"—goes to Akelius?"

My heart dropped in my chest. I whipped my head in Miyabi's direction. Unlike the typically nonchalance he emitted, this time, his expression was nothing but hollow. His voice was unbelievably low as well.

He narrowed his eyes at Daichi. "Is that true?"

"Based... off what I heard around, yes." He gulped. "Miyabi, you good, man?"

As if it was never there in the first place, his lips peeled back in his trademark grin. He airily chuckled, "Fine. I've heard about him, is all. Midnight black hair, piercings, and a glare as cold as ice... Since his disappearance, this entire time I was assured he quit being a delinquent and attended a regular school in the city. But he doesn't, huh? That's very scary knowing he goes to our school."

He played it off with another laugh. My shoulders sagged in relief. Seeing Miyabi anything but cheerful was definitely unnerving. It gave me chills. But considering even Miyabi lost his cool about it... just how scary was this Satoru?

"Hey, can I order something to drink?" Miyabi said, slapping his hands onto the tabletop. "I want a drink. Can I get one?"

Daichi swivelled his way, raising a brow. "Um—"

Before he could finish saying anything, Miyabi lurched to his feet. He dashed off, hollering his order from a mile away.

"Pretty girl who's not Daichi's mother, I want to order!"

Daichi had evidently lost all the colour in his complexion. He rested his chin on his palm. "Jeez... thank God my family's not in today. Well, even if they were, I'd probably get in trouble for ditching school..."

"Sheep, Iwasaki, Daichi!" Miyabi screamed, waving at us. "Do you want anything?"

Residents of the shop were staring at us like we were crazy, making me want to burrow into a hole.

"Hey! Hey! Do you?" he continued to shout.

"I'm fine!" Daichi called over to satisfy him, burying his face into his arms.

I meekly smiled as Miyabi continued to yell over at us like a madman. I peered over towards a silent Ryu. "Hey, Iwasaki, do you want anything?"

I noticed then that Ryu was lost in his thoughts. Gazing out the adjacent window, and at the passing crowds, eyes glazed over. Puzzlement consumed me.

"Iwasaki?" I tried again.

This time, he jolted. Eyes wide, he twisted my way. "Wh-what?"

Despite being curious of what was keeping him so occupied, I spoke, "Miyabi. He's asking what you want."

Ryu shifted his focus ahead to the said boy. His relentless shouting settled in for him.

"Do you want coffee, or," I began.

"I don't like coffee." Ryu rose to his feet. "I'll go shut him up. And stop him from ordering too much sweets. What do you want?"

"Any drink's fine," I told him. "Surprise me."

With a nod, he sauntered off towards Miyabi.

I looked to Daichi who seemed to want nothing to do with anything or anyone at the moment. I let out a breath, sinking in my seat.

Satoru, huh...

___________________________________

Ooh. A new name :o Hopefully this chapter was better structured & made up for yesterday's. Tell me what was your favourite part if you had one!

Thanks for reading, as always ♥

—Misty