"Record? What do you mean?" she asked.
"It means exactly what I said," I replied. "Do you think I'm stupid enough to jump into that situation without a plan? I need to act confident even if it's a lie so she'll back down at least a little."
And it actually started working. Sweat was dripping down her face, and she was digging her nails into her skin nervously. That alone was proof my bluff was landing.
Now I just needed to add more fuel to the fire.
So I said, "Before coming here to stop you all, I told my friend to record everything happening. And my phone was already on voice record mode, so it's captured everything you said. If you still insist on bullying her, feel free to continue."
God, please let this work.
I shot a quick eye-signal at Ren, hoping he'd understand—and he did. He stepped forward suddenly.
"If you trouble him one more time," he said in a cold, rough voice, "we'll make that video viral. And I don't need to explain what kind of place social media becomes once something gets uploaded right? I can't hear you."
He sounded like a police officer interrogating a criminal. I saluted him in my mind.
The girl was completely shocked. She couldn't say a single word.
I opened my mouth to add something, but she suddenly turned and bolted away. The ground was literally wet from her sweat.
Maybe we went overboard,
Well she kind of deserved it, so I guess it's okay.
I turned to Ren. "I didn't imagine you had that kind of character in you."
He smiled. "Well, some seniors tried to pick on my dear Aoi once, and I couldn't let that slide. This kind of thing helps make them shit their pants."
His eyes looked like a devil's for a moment. I was honestly shocked.
"Please don't show that face to anyone," I told him. "Not even Aoi. Someone might think you're a psychopath."
We both laughed and then a familiar voice reached us.
"Hey! We're back!"
Aoi and the girl returned from the restroom.
I asked her, "Do you feel okay now?"
She hesitantly answered, "Y-yes… I a-am o-ok… okay now."
Looks like she was still struggling to speak.
Suddenly Aoi said, "Ren, Ren! I'm so thirsty! I need a soft drink."
Ren replied, "Okay, I'll bring it. I saw vending machines over there."
"I'll come with you," I said. "So what do you"
Crap. I forgot. This is the second time in a row,
I turned to the girl. "Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Haruto Ito," I said as I bowed. "Nice to meet you."
Then Ren bowed as well. "I'm sorry too. I'm Ren Tachibana. Nice to meet you. And the one standing beside you is my cute girlfriend."
Aoi added, "We already introduced ourselves in the restroom."
The girl slowly stepped forward. She bowed and said, "M-my na-name is Mi-Miyu A-Aoyama. It's ni-nice to mee-meet y-you. I'm no-not goo-good wh-while sp-speaking… I'm so-sorry… p-please don't mi-mind m-me…"
She spoke so hesitantly it felt like someone was holding a gun to her head forcing her to confess something.
"Miyu. It's quite a nice name," I said.
She only nodded silently, and the atmosphere grew quiet.
I told them both, "Wait under that tree until we bring the drinks."
Aoi asked for mixed fruit juice, and when I asked Miyu, she shyly answered, "J-just water… wa-wait, I will gi-give you mo-money…"
Before she could finish, Aoi grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the tree, saying, "Bring her mixed fruit juice too!"
Ren and I exchanged helpless looks and headed to the vending machines.
On the way, Ren asked, "So what's the situation? You told me you don't know her, but you still helped her."
He was right. And I also dragged him into this without asking.
"First let's get the drinks," I said. "Then I'll tell you and Aoi everything."
He agreed.
At the vending machine, I said, "It's on me. I still haven't repaid you for your help. Think of this as a treat. Of course, I haven't forgotten the sweets I owe you."
"As long as Aoi and I get sweets, I don't have any problem," Ren said.
I smiled, inserted coins, bought two mixed fruit juices, then two cold coffees since Ren said he'd drink whatever I drink. We carried the drinks back toward the garden.
As soon as Aoi spotted us, she ran toward Ren, grabbed the juice, handed one to Miyu, and kept one for herself. I gave Ren his coffee, and we enjoyed the drinks together.
Other students enjoyed the garden view or clicked selfies.
I was looking around when Aoi suddenly exclaimed, "I've decided!"
Ren asked, "Decided what?"
"We should be a squad! All four of us! Let's stick together until the end of the summer camp! Isn't that nice, Haruto?"
I was shocked. "Why do we need to be a squad?"
"Didn't you read the pamphlet?" she said. "It says we must form groups of four on the first day. It's mandatory. You can choose your own group, or teachers will assign one."
I see…
It wasn't a bad idea. Better to stay with them than with strangers.
I gave her a thumbs-up.
Then I looked at Aoyama-san. She looked confused and started stuttering, "S-sorry… I ca-can't be wi-with you… I have to go ba-back to my frie-friends…"
Her speech had improved a bit—maybe thanks to Aoi's energy.
I told her, "I don't know every detail, but don't worry. They won't do anything to you. I told them I recorded everything outside. For now, they believe it's true, so you're safe."
"B-but sti-still… I ju-just can't…"
"Okay, stop," Ren said. "First fill us with the details. We still don't know anything."
They were right. I couldn't hide anything anymore.
So I explained everything that happened outside.
Aoi and Ren both raised their hands and saluted me.
Aoi said, "Haruto! You're so cool! I wish I could've been there to see the moment when the prince charming appeared to save his princess!"
She was completely lost in her fantasy world.
Ren also praised me. I felt genuinely happy.
"No need for that," I said. "Anyone would've done the same. It's not like I'm special."
Ren just stared at me without saying anything.
Then clap clap! Aoi started clapping with a fiery aura around her.
"Alright! Let's go and kick those girls' asses!" she said. "How dare they bully someone as cute as Miyu-chan! They should pay! Let's eradicate them from this world!"
I looked at Ren. He understood immediately and patted her head. She melted instantly, flowers blooming around her.
Ren said, "Why don't we tell the teacher? This is too much for students to handle."
"I thought the same," I replied. "But they have something of Aoyama-san. They said if she goes against them, they'll use it to destroy her life."
"So we can't tell the teacher. If we do, teachers will confront them, and they'll instantly assume she complained."
"Then what do we do?" Ren asked.
Suddenly Miyu spoke. "P-please do-don't thi-think that mu-much… It's ju-just a sm-small fi-fight between us… It's not like they're bu-bullying me… And the thing they have is just some u-ugly ch-childhood ph-photos of mine… nothing more… So don't worry… and thank you for helping me… and thanks for the j-juice… but I should go… They might be waiting…"
Her lie was obvious.
Who uses a shock device over a "small fight"?
Even Ren's eyes said, Come up with a better lie.
Still, I said, "Okay, we'll believe it." I bowed. "I'm sorry for interfering without knowing the situation."
She panicked. "N-no! I was ha-happy you came! Otherwise things could've end..ended dan...dange...dangerously rously. I'm really grateful!"
For me, the right thing was not to get too involved.
Life is unpredictable—anything can happen anytime. I can't get into trouble for a stranger I barely know. I just have to survive this one month. The emotions welling up inside me right now aren't new.
They're the same ones that haunted me back in middle school.
Of course, not everyone in this world is the same… but memories like these cling to you for years. Even if you try to forget them, they crawl right back into your mind the moment something triggers them.
That's why I have to be careful.
I can't afford to get too involved in this situation,
not with Miyu,
and not with Aoi and Ren either.
Even though they seem like genuinely good people.
I can't let myself sink too deep into this.
Not again.
So for now, I should keep some distance.
Aoi suddenly said, "Okay! So your friends and you had a little fight. I understand!"
Then she pointed at Miyu and declared, "But I don't care! You're staying with our group until the end of camp. That is decided by me. Any objections?"
Ren and I looked at each other, then shook our heads. "No ma'am."
Aoi grabbed Miyu's hands. "From now on, I consider you my friend! You must stay with me! And you'll be the perfect room partner for camp!"
Before Miyu could say anything, Aoi raised her hand. "Alright, let's cheer, guys!"
Ren placed his hand above hers. I slowly placed mine above Ren's.
Then we all looked toward Aoyama-san, waiting for her response.
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