Akira and Mao entered a classroom. They scanned the classroom they were students in the class but they continued scanning they haven't seen who they wished to. Their eyes fell on a student who appeared older just about the age of the other students they saw in the class.
She was dazzlingly beautiful. She was as delicate and fair as a lily and as splendent as a rose. Sunlight streamed in her direction, enhancing her radiant beauty. Her small, elegant figure sat gracefully on her seat.
Akira and Mao giggled and ran towards her. She noticed them and smiled, revealing her sparkling white teeth. She opened her arms in embrace, and Akira and Mao hugged her.
"Senior Ren!" they exclaimed excitedly.
"My little cherubims!" Ren stroked their hair gently, genuine bliss unveiled on her face. "How are you?"
"We are fine," they squeed.
"Sit down," she gestured with her hand.
They managed to squeeze onto her small seat, beside her.
"We brought you cookies,", They handed them to Ren enthusiastically
Ren gasped. "Wow! That's so sweet of the both of you. "Thank you, my little cherubims." She took a bite, then paused, staring at them in astonishment laced with amazement.
"How is it?" they asked her, smiling as they ate their own.
"This is amazing! Where on earth did you get them? This is surely not from the school cafeteria." Her blue eyes widening.
"Our big brother made them," Akira revealed.
"He makes the best cookies," Mao chortled
"Actually!" she nodded in agreement. "This is the best cookie I've ever tasted in my life." She ate once more. "I didn't know you have a big brother."
"We have two brothers actually. They are twins," Mao stuck out her index and middle finger gesturing two.
"Best brothers anyone can ever have," Akira and Mao thrilled
"They are both unique in their own ways," Akira pointed out.
"Wow! That's a lot!" Ren mouth curved with a smile
***
Immediately after Kenji, Isao, and Tani left, Sota mischievously opened one of his eyes and scanned the classroom. Not seeing any sign of the bullies, he opened both eyes.
Everyone let out a whoop of delight. Applauding, pump fists in the air, goosebump on skins. They were truly overjoyed that he wasn't dead.
What would they have said had happened? How would they have been able to tell the school authority or break the unfortunate news to his father? Who could have been courageous enough to narrate what had occurred? His friends would. Only his friends.
Taku, Jin, and Midori beamed, squeezing Sota in an embrace.Sato was gasping for air. The radiant joy on their faces were as clear as the morning clouds when they arrived at school. They were crying and smiling simultaneously, tears of pure joy.
Midori didn't stop crying. She wept uncontrollably, as if Sato hadn't even woken up, as if he were truly dead. Her tears caused other students to become teary-eyed as well. Her shoulders were quivering from crying.
Perhaps it was the cry she would have cried if he had died. Maybe. Or maybe something even more profound.
They remained in the embrace, which made them cry even more, including Sato this time. Now it was more of a competition of weeping, because no one wanted to stop, or perhaps the tears just continued flowing from their eyes like a flowing stream, no matter how hard they tried to stop. The emotions were too overwhelming to control.
***
Kenji was in the music classroom, it was as serene as a fine summer morning, Its quietness after the sonorous blast of musical instruments. The chairs were arranged in an orderly pattern and had music stands in front. The music stands held a music sheet each lying delicate on it. At the pudium there was only a music stand with out a chair. There was music sheet also on it and then a baton by its side.
The music class had a grand piano at the side of the class with a piano stool facing the piano. They are several guitar stored vertically in guitar rack.
The fluorescent ceiling lights illuminated the music classroom giving it a unique interior design
They were no students present. Kenji sat on one of the chairs, anticipating something. He was rubbing his hand together and licking his chapped lips. His legs wobbled slightly.
Isao and Tani entered the classroom. They approached Kenji, appearing humble and meek in his presence.
"What's the news?" Kenji looked directly into their eyes. He ran his hand in his hair.
"The bastard is alive. He is in the cafeteria," Isao brow knitted.
"Was he taken to the hospital?" Kenji inquired.
"No, he was not," Tani put his hands in his uniform pockets.
"We will deal with Taku, but for now, let's keep things at a slow pace," Kenji reasoned thoughtfully. "Have you guys been able to find out who the demon slayer was, that killed that demon a few days ago?"
"We are still inquiring," Isao and Tani replied.
They swaggered out of the music class, Kenji leading the way. Their shoulders seemed to swell with pride and arrogance. Their faces were unsmiling and dangerous.
***
Taku, Sato, Jin, and Midori were in the
school cafeteria, eating at one table. Other students were also eating, the clatter of plates and spoons filling the air. Chairs scraped against the floor.
Different dishes were being served, and the aroma of food permeated the cafeteria. The chatter of conversations was punctuated by light laughter.
"We thought we had lost you," hint of sadness escaping through Jin's voice
"For real," Midori bit her lips
"We are really happy you came back alive from your journey of death," Taku added humorously.
Warmth of laughter crept out of their voices.
"The death was feigned," Sato revealed the shocking truth in a low whisper.
Taku, Jin, and Midori were astounded.
"A-are you being serious?" Jin stuttered incredulously.
"Yes." His voice was like a breathless whisper.
"Are you saying my wailing…our wailing, were all for nothing?" Midori didn't look like she had processed the news.
"If I hadn't done that, those bullies would have made sure one of us truly fainted, probably died. I did it to save us all," he ran his hand in his hair and puffed his cheek
"That's true, but you made us think you truly died," Taku gave Sota a knock on his head.
"Ouh!" Sota sighed in pain.
They laughed
"If you hadn't done what you did, those bullies would have made the worst out of us," Midori agreed munching her chip star potato chips.
Jin's frown deepened suddenly, his lips pressed together, "Taku, what can we do to stop these bullies? It's getting too much. You are their number one target, and it's affecting you critically, and us also. We can't watch you continue being bullied. Who can you tell so he would help us?"
Taku breathed out heavily. He couldn't answer. He didn't know what to answer. Was this the time for him to involve his brother? His brother killed demons, not hurt people. Even if he didn't entirely believe it, at least that was what they tried to convince him to believe. He didn't want his brother to go through all that stress for him.
He knew his brother's martial skills were exceptional, he could fight these kids and end up killing them. Taku knew he couldn't handle any of that in the least, but he wouldn't want and would never bring his beloved brother into this. It was his business, so he would try to deal with it himself.
Taku swallowed the lump in his throat, "I've no one."