During lunch break I received a text from the unpredictable Saito-san. She asked to meet me after school today but unlike other times the location would be different. She wanted to meet by the bikeshed. She also asked that I make sure I have plenty of time.

  While this caught me off guard I did not think about it too much and just responded with a firm “ok”.

  There was no point delving into the reasoning of Saito-san’s mind, it was a maze that would require satellite imaging to understand, she truly was a strange girl.

  There was one small problem and that was something that had arisen due to this morning's mischief with Arima; the problem was Nakamura-san and how I would need to turn down his confession before meeting up with Saito-san.

  Nakamura-san was a rather tall boy, he wore glasses and always remained composed. Like me his grades were top in the school and you could consider him a mascot of perfect conduct. Unlike me however, he wasn’t very popular due to his difficult to approach demeanor.

  We had known each other since we were both the presidents of our classes and spent many nights after school doing the teacher’s bidding and mundane tasks. We didn’t talk much but I put that down to his awkwardness, never would I have thought he would be confessing to me.

  During lunch I ate with my friends as we usually do. Arima and Haruka would prattle on about useless gossip and Hamada and I would ignore them eating in silence.

  Time passed and the chime rang throughout the school alerting all to the end of classes. I glanced across the classroom catching the eyes of Arima-san who smiled and gave me two thumbs up. I sighed inwardly at what I would have to do in the next coming minutes.

  If I had been more carefree I would be dragging my feet making my way to the meeting spot but wanting to maintain my image I carried myself high as I walked.

  Arriving behind the sports building I saw the tall figure with short black hair appear into view. I knew immediately that it was Nakamura-san. He stood fully composed and almost intimidatingly. He raised his head noticing that I had arrived.

  “Thank you for your time Shiori-san, I know you’re busy so I will make it short. Would you consider dating me?”

  He got the the point immediately and spoke with dignity, his voice was confident, there was not a hint of nervousness and in a way it was impressive.

  “Sorry Nakamura-san, I cannot reciprocate these feelings of yours, furthermore I am not interested in having a relationship at this time. Please forgive me.”

  After a few moments of staring at the floor he looked up at me with resolve in his eyes. I was expecting him to try and convince me but instead...

  “No need, I knew your answer before I asked you here. Actually Shiori-san, there was another reason I wanted to speak to you privately.”

  Catching me off guard I replied “Oh. What is it?”

  “My family owns a small business in the center of town and I often fill in on busy shifts. I’ve been seeing a certain someone around that area pass by and come back with injuries.”

  His face shifted to a stern concerned look.

  “At first I didn’t think much of it but after it happened a few times I realised who it was. I noticed that you’ve been able to talk to Saito-san from your class, you don’t look like friends but no one can ever approach her and I figured her class president would be able to help.”

  “Are you saying Saito-san is getting into fights around your family's store?”

  “Well I’m not sure what she gets up to but it is definitely worrying. It’s none of my business but I thought you would want to know anyway.”

  “Alright Nakamura-san, I will talk with her about it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”

  This was rather interesting news, I already knew about Saito-san’s injuries but I had no idea where they were from or why. Now I had a lead. “Wait, why am I sticking my nose in this, this is not my problem” the thought occurred to me.

  “Saito-san is not a friend, in fact she is the one blackmailing me, so why should I even care about her personal business?” I asked myself but deep down I knew that I had at least a shred of concern for the girl.

  Our relationship wasn’t particularly definable but whether I wanted to admit it or not I did have a level of worry for her.

  Bidding farewell to Nakamura-san I walked off lost in thought and lamenting at myself for exhausting my precious brain power for that violent creature.

  While I was walking over to the bike shed where we agreed me and Saito-san would meet, I could hear a familiar high pitched voice. I looked through students who were flooding out of school to see Haruka and Saito-san standing together.

  Saito-san had a look on her face that was uncomfortable and Haruka was raising her voice, they were arguing.

  I could not fathom why these two would ever interact and not a word of their conversation was making it to my ears.

  Choosing not to intervene I decided to wait until they were done. I felt that had I walked up and interrupted whatever was going on I would likely make it worse. Plus, I didn’t really want Haruka to see me with Saito-san.

  I felt a bit awkward standing in the stream of students unfolding from the school doors as they made their way home.

  Haruka and Saito-san seemed as though they would finish whatever this was fairly soon so I started to walk over towards the bike shed as Haruka stormed off, not looking back.

  “Saito-san.”

  “You’re late, Shiori-san, It’s not very nice to keep people waiting.”

  “Sorry, I had some business to take care of.”

  Her still swollen eye caught my attention and thinking back to what Nakamura-san had just told me I was a bit curious but I refrained from asking.

  “Well whatever, are you ready to go?”

  “Go?”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Uh yeah? Why do you think I asked you to meet me here?” She nodded towards the bike she was holding in her hands and I started to get the picture.

  “I see, so where are we going?”

  “It’s a secret,” She said with a smile on her face. Clearly plotting something. “Now get on.”

  “So demanding” I sighed and followed her instructions.

  “Hold on tight Shiori-san, it’s going to take a while.”

  “Yeah yeah.”

  I reluctantly wrapped my arms around Saito-san’s waist and held on as she took off far too fast, receiving a warning from the school monitors. Not that it stopped her.

  I had ridden bikes myself when I was younger but being the passenger was a new experience for me and knowing Saito-san this was probably going to put me somewhere between life and death.

  “Woah~ Slow down will you?” I pleaded with her but she didn’t listen.

  Five minutes passed and Saito-san was speeding down the roads like she was running about to be caught. The buildings blurred as they were consumed by the world out the corners of my eyes. She had not said a word since getting on the bike and to be honest it was a little irritating.

  I had tried to make conversation but she just ignored me or mumbled.

  I was getting used to the fast paced rhythm of Saito-san’s frantic pedalling, that was until she hit the brakes bringing us to a sudden and violent stop. It shook me and I let out a scream while squeezing Saito-san’s waist impulsively.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “I just realised… I left my purse at home.” She turned around with a displeased look on her face like I had just taken her precious chew toy.

  “Do you want to turn around and we can go get it?”

  Catching my breath after Saito’s sudden stop exorcised my remaining air I asked. She sat on her bike frozen in place as she thought.

  “I think it’s fine, I know where I can get some money. We just have to take a small detour.” Her voice was a little distant. I got the feeling she was not too pleased about said detour.

  She turned the bike around and we set off again, this time she wasn’t in a rush as if we had been chased out of town with torches and pitchforks.

  Taking a much more leisurely pace I started seeing familiar sights pass us by. I knew where we were and I was feeling a bit more comfortable now that the pace had slowed.I still gripped Saito-san’s waist as there was no telling when this erratic animal would get worked up again.

  Since we had left the school grounds there was a question on my mind that had been eating away at me but knowing Saito-san I had refrained from asking it, however I just couldn't hold it in any longer.

  “Saito-san. What were you talking to Haruka about?” I asked knowing fully well that I was unlikely to get a response. That’s just how Saito was.

  “Oh that, I’m not sure, I wasn’t really listening. Something about not being a bad influence on you.”

  It was just like Saito to ignore someone who is shouting at you in front of your face so this didn’t surprise me.

  After hearing that Haruka was trying to look out for me again I lost my composure and burst into a small laughing fit. “Yeah, that’s just like her.”

  It was honestly quite heartwarming to have someone care about you so much, but it was also overbearing and it walked a fine line between breaching personal space and being a heartfelt gesture.

  If Haruka had been worried about me because of the conversation we had the previous night, that would make sense why she would seek out Saito-san. Plus she was intently staring at her this morning.

  “That’s funny is it? I found it irritating.”

  “That’s just like you too.”

  “Tch, don’t pretend you know me well.”

  She clicked her tongue at me and picked up the pace.

  I remained quiet and clung to Saito-san for the rest of the short journey. I knew trying to have any more conversation would wind up fruitless.

  We arrived at a series of short apartments that looked like they would house the elderly, the street was dusty and lacked a road. It was as if we had entered a rural village. You would not think we were in a town.

  Saito-san told me to stay put as she rushed off into one of the dainty apartment buildings.

  The area was quiet and a soft warm breeze would shoot down the corridor of houses every so often.

  The place felt comforting and the quiet was something I could appreciate, it was an environment where I could get lost in my own thoughts and emotions.

  My fantasy was quickly torn apart as the quiet was fractured with the sound of a violent scuffle coming from the direction Saito-san had left.

  First the shattering of a glass like object could be heard, then loud thumping. An aggravated deep voice rumbled throughout the once silent street shaking me to my roots.

  The voice’s words couldn’t be made out and the house shook.

  I was fearful hearing such a violent commotion and deeply unsettled. The thought of Saito-san flashed into my mind as I worried she might be in danger.

  I was told to stay put but could I really after hearing such disturbing sounds?

  I gulped and shook as I attempted to start moving, but my body was not going anywhere. Before I could find my courage a booming voice rang throughout the street followed by a deafening slam.

  “... AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU FOR ANOTHER MONTH, YOU WRETCHED GIRL!”

  My focus was grabbed as I looked out to where the voice had come from to see Saito-san’s shadowy figure pitifully dragging itself toward me.

  Blood flowed from her forehead and dripped down from the curvature of her eye socket, it was fast and constant splattering on the ground painting it red as she walked. Her clothes were tattered and ragged, and her face was covered in scratches.

  If I had not known better I would have thought she was hit by a vehicle.

  My face sank with gloom as I rushed towards her and the pieces of what had happened began to fall in place.

  She had been beaten by whoever that voice belonged to, I had always wondered where she got her injuries from but never inquired about it. I was feeling guilty for not ever taking an interest. Seeing her now my heart felt empty as I lashed at myself for being so inconsiderate.

  As I looked up however I could see Saito-san smiling and waving a sleeve of cash around, blood still pouring from her head. How could she smile right now?

  “Got the money, should we go?”

  “...”

  I was dumbfounded and completely taken aback. I couldn’t find the words to reply and my throat clenched. How could she still be so nonchalant after what just happened?

  The disconnect between the feeling of sorrow I had and her smiling face was frightening. However, a part of me understood the feeling of smiling through the pain, I wondered to myself “If it had been me, would I also be smiling?”.

  I shook the thought away and returned to my senses. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief wiping away the blood, she tried to shake me away but I insisted.

  Despite wiping the blood away it continued to flood her features, a cut on the forehead never closed quickly and blood would continue to pour for a while.

  I wanted to ask what that was all about but I knew she would probably just brush it off and tell me to forget it, plus I wanted to get her cleaned up and disinfect the wound as soon as possible.

  I sighed and grabbed her arm dragging us over to the bike, I sat on the front seat and readied myself to pedal.

  “Get on.”

  I could see her face contort in confusion but I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her so I dragged her over by the arm once again. She got the message and sat on the back, I passed her the cloth so she could freely wipe herself down.

  I kicked off and Saito-san grabbed onto my back.

  I didn’t know exactly where I was but I had recognised a few shops on the way here and I knew I would be able to figure out where my house was from there.