Chapter 16

"Do I really have to wear the wrap again?" Izumi complained as her mom put a support wrap around her ankle. "It always feels weird and gets itchy during school."

"Well, I got you this new one with a different material, so hopefully it won't be as bad as last time." She helped Izumi put her sock back on.

"Thanks, Mom."

"Of course, honey. So..." She sat beside her on the couch. "Are those two handsome boys going to come over again?"

Her face burned at her mom's tone. "I doubt it. I'm not looking to be carried home again."

"Not what I meant, but it was super sweet of him." She sighed. "Can't believe your first friends over are both boys. So unexpected."

"I made a female friend too! Shiori, though I wouldn't count on her coming over. She's..." Izumi tilted her head to the side as she thought. "Awesome, but doesn't seem to like a lot of people."

"But she likes you, doesn't she? She must if you're friends."

"I'm actually surprised she continued to talk to me and go along with my whims."

"Not everyone is horrible like in your old school." She stroked Izumi's head. "I'm glad you're finding better people."

"But what if I mess things up? What if they find out about my weird tastes, obsessions, or how my face—"

"Izumi." Her mom cupped her cheeks. "I've seen the way those boys treat you; they're truly your friends, and I don't think it'll matter to them. Try to stop living in 'what-ifs', please. It never leads anywhere good. Okay?"

Izumi nodded.

Bing. A text from Yanagi.

"See? They're even here to walk you to school again." She held Izumi's hand and pulled her up, helping her stand. "All set?"

"Yup." Izumi put her backpack on.

"Let me help with your shoes."

"Mom, I think I can manage that."

"So you say until you struggle to put it on and fall over. Just let me help."

Izumi pouted, but stayed silent as her mom helped. "Thanks, Mom."

"Have a good day at school." She opened the door and waved to the boys waiting for her on the sidewalk.

"Hello, Mrs. Hashito," Yanagi said, waving, and Kuruma waved as well.

They're so sweet. Taking careful steps, Izumi hobbled over to them.

"How are you holding up today? Do you need another ride?" Yanagi asked.

"It hurts a bit, but I'm okay. I can walk, just not as fast as usual." She smiled, trying to hide the wince as pain spiked in her ankle.

His brows furrowed. "Are you sure about that? I don't want you making it worse."

"I'm sure."

The boys flanked her as they walked, making sure to match her pace since they worried she'd fall.

"The mark is looking better already." Yanagi pointed at the bridge of his own nose.

Because I covered it with makeup. "The bump might take a while to go down."

"More importantly, does it hurt?" Kuruma asked.

"Mostly a dull ache, but it's worse when I chew. It's also why my mom packed me okayu today."

"Guess that means no cute animals this time."

"Yeah." Pain spiked in her ankle again, and she slowed her pace. I should've left for school earlier. "Ugh. At my pace, I'll probably make you two late for class, so you should go ahead. I'd rather not get you guys into trouble."

Yanagi and Kuruma glanced at each other, frowning. "You think we'd leave you to walk slowly on your own?" Yanagi complained.

"What if you fell?" Kuruma asked. "Your injuries could get worse."

"But—"

"Nope." Yanagi and Kuruma nodded to each other. "If you don't want a piggyback ride, and you'd probably get angry if I princess-carried you, we'll have to do it this way."

Yanagi and Kuruma each hooked an arm under her shoulders.

Izumi's eyes widened, and she shuddered. "What are you guys doing?"

They lifted her into the air and took off running.

"Ah!" Izumi squealed, kicking her legs as she worried about them dropping her.

"Don't worry, we've got you," Yanagi said, hoping she'd stop kicking.

"We won't drop you," Kuruma assured her.

When they got closer to school, they set her down.

"Oh!" She held her hand over her racing heart. "I was not expecting that..."

"It would've been easier to give you the piggyback ride, but you didn't want that." Yanagi combed his hand through his hair and let out a deep huff.

"At least we're on time now, and you can walk in with some dignity." Kuruma took a deep breath and stretched out his shoulder.

"Well... at least warn a girl, would you?" I did not expect that. The last time two people picked me up like that... Nope! Don't think about that. These two are different. Izumi smiled. "And thanks, guys." Though I'm sure some people saw their antics.

They both gave her a thumbs-up.

"Izumi!" Shiori rushed up to her. "Are you okay to come to school today?" She looked her over.

Izumi's eyes widened, and a few students around them whispered about Shiori. "Yes, though I have to be careful."

Shiori hooked her arm around Izumi's. "Let's get to class."

"Hello to you too, Shi," Yanagi said as they were already leaving.

"Not sure why you'd expect a greeting from her; she ignores you half the time," Kuruma said, following after them.

"True, but it's only half the time."

Izumi and Shiori sat in homeroom, and Izumi turned to her. "I never got to see your work after my spectacular fall—"

"You were pushed," Shiori interrupted her. "I found one of those squealing girls from the bleachers who admitted she saw another girls do it. She claimed she didn't know who it was, though." Shiori cracked her knuckles.

"You didn't hurt anyone, did you?"

"Oh, right, and you were saying about the notebook... wasn't it in your backpack?"

"No..."

"But I don't have it. Crap." Shiori facepalmed. "I must've missed picking it up in the panic." She stood, and Izumi grabbed her hand. "I need to check for it."

"Not now. Class will start soon." Izumi swallowed hard. "Chances are either someone picked it up, or it was left behind, but either way, we'll have to check for it later."

"But you put your name inside the front cover."

Izumi froze. Oh, right, I did.

"I should've added my name to it, and the boys. Make it the club notebook."

Shiori seeing it was one thing... but anyone else? I can't see them taking it well. If I'm lucky, they'll only look for the name on the first page. Her shoulders slouched.

"Tch. Can't believe I didn't put it in one of our bags," Shiori huffed as she shuffled her cards. "Queen of Swords reversed. Ugh."

"I take it that's not a good thing."

"It likely isn't. Might mean running into... less than savoury individuals with a harsh tongue, but I should be able to deal with them."

The teacher came in before she could finish her reading.

"Good morning, class. Hashito, I've heard about your ankle, and you're excused from P.E. and cleaning duties for two weeks."

"Hey, that's not fair!" one of the students complained.

"Yeah, I want to skip P.E. and cleaning, too!"

"Does that mean you're looking for an injury?" Shiori asked, and they went silent. "Thought so." She peeked at the next card before putting them away. "Damn five..."

"Now, now, no need to threaten your classmates. We should care for injured classmates, so stop complaining."

"Yes, ma'am."

Izumi leaned on her desk, covering her face with her hands. Did she really have to tell the whole class about it? Feeling eyes on her, she glanced around and locked eyes with Kuruma. Oh! Her heart skipped a beat.

"You okay?" he mouthed.

She nodded. Oh my gosh, he's checking on me! So sweet. She bit her lip as her cheeks burned. I can't wait to work closely on our game together.