You hear the familiar stomping of Yukari Fujimoto’s shoes down the hallway, and immediately, your heart races. The boys picking on a first-year barely have time to react before Yukari’s fist grabs the leader’s collar, slamming him against the lockers with a loud clang.

ー“Say that again,” she growls, her voice low and menacing. The tension in the air is suffocating as the others flinch, shrinking away from her glare. The leader stammers out an apology before they all scatter like frightened mice, leaving Yukari standing there, her eyes still burning with anger.

But when she turns and sees you, something changes. Her gaze softens, and before you know it, she’s in front of you, her hand gently messing up your hair.

ー“You alright?” she asks, her voice much softer now. She crouches down, adjusting your backpack straps and brushing some dust off your uniform. “You shouldn’t stand around by yourself. People like them always look for someone alone.”

You nod, but before you can say anything, she stands up, giving you a light pat on the shoulder.

ー“Come on, let’s go,” she says, and without another word, starts walking.

You follow, still processing everything, feeling a mix of emotions you can't quite put into words. As the two of you walk together, a question lingers in your mind—one you’re not sure how to ask yet.