Chapter 46 After School

After School

“Eh? My loafers are still here….”

After the lunch break, some time has passed, and it’s after school.

Afraid of being bullied, Mizuki goes to the entrance with a stiff expression on her face. With a tense expression on her face, she opens the shoebox and finds her loafers inside.

“No! Maybe there is some mischief in the loafers. Maybe there is a bug or a thumbtack in them.”

Afraid of being bullied by the three girls, Mizuki timidly picks up her loafers.

She looks inside them while shaking her body because she is so afraid of insects that jump out. The black insole of the loafers appears in Mizuki’s field of vision.

“Eh? There are no bugs or thumbtacks….”

The object of her fear is not there, and she makes a confused face. The trembling of her body that had just occurred, like a reaction of rejection, immediately subsided.

“No! This is not possible….”

Holding the loafers in her right hand, Mizuki checks the inside of the shoebox from top to bottom. But there is no sign of bullying. There is nothing there. Not even after searching.

“There is no need to be so nervous and scared anymore. It’s all right now! Those annoying people who kept bothering you have retreated.”

Behind Mizuki, who is staring intently into the shoebox, Sou, who has also come to the entrance, calls out to her in a cheerful tone.

“Eh? What do you mean….”

In response to Sou’s voice and words, Mizuki quickly turns around, her mouth stopping halfway. She tries to find out the hidden meaning behind Sou’s words.

“This is what it means. With the bullying gone, Nakatani-san can now live her school life with peace of mind.”

After walking behind Mizuki, Sou replies while opening his own shoebox and taking out his shoes. Then he throws them on the floor of the entrance and slips both feet into them.

“That’s it. So your school life is back to normal. And I’m sorry. I couldn’t notice the bullying of my dear friend, who is also my classmate. To be honest, I feel pathetic.”

Haruki appears after Sou, gently touches Mizuki’s shoulder, and apologizes with a serious look on her face. Maybe she feels responsible for not noticing her friend’s predicament earlier.

“No, I can’t help it; I didn’t tell Haruki-chan or Manami-chan.”

Mizuki looks down uncomfortably after receiving Haruki’s apology.

“Yes! If you have a problem next time, I want you to tell me and Manami as well. I don’t want you to keep it to yourself. Mizuki is important to me and Manami. Just remember that!”

Standing in front of her own shoebox, Haruki expresses her honest feelings with serious eyes. Her words came from her heart and were full of emotion.

“…Uh, yeah! …I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Opening her eyes wide, Mizuki lifts her head and looks at Haruki. Mizuki’s field of vision expands.

Mizuki’s and Haruki’s eyes meet.

And then Mizuki’s face breaks into a happy smile. It was a smile that broke out naturally.

“Well, now that the work is done and the matter is settled, shall we go home together? Ah! Hey, Amane! Don’t go home first and leave me behind! You have to go home with me!”

“I-I’m sorry, Yakumo-san. I was inconsiderate. I’ll go home with you.”