No Bitches

It happened when we were wandering the streets on a route back to the college, and I was still talking smack about the Union for dumping this dangerous job onto Mamie. “At times like this, you can’t just lie down and take it. You have to stand up for yourself.”

She loosened her grip on my arm. “You do know that lecturing a girl who’s clinging onto you will leave you with no bitches, right?”

“Not in this case. You’re holding my arm out of pity anyway.” We were only fake friends with benefits. Who knew if the ‘benefit’ or the ‘friend’ part was fake? It didn’t bother me before, but now, knowing that Mamie’s touch meant nothing frustrated me to no end.

“That reminds me. Why are you still doing this? We have successfully escaped from that criminal area, and I thought you found me…” I stopped the word ‘repulsive’ from leaving my lips. Even in my irritated state, either from the Union’s reckless actions or from my shallow relationship with Mamie, I knew intuitively that there were some things I shouldn’t say.

My self-restraint couldn’t clear the awkwardness between us. And I made a mental note to speak less to Mamie until I could find the time to reread Professor Silva’s tomes. Something did break the silence, but the moment it happened, I found myself preferring the imposing quiet over this development.

“Shuntaro, is that you?”

I recognized that voice. I had spent my three years of high school with it. My facial muscles also recognized it, warping into a smile on their own.

Turning around, with Mamie still latched onto my side, I nodded at the pleasant-to-look-at man who was speaking to me: Odate Norihisa. A person who had used a fake ID to get a dragon tattoo on his shoulder because “it would look cool,” and then only to conceal it under his uniform. He kept it hidden from everyone at school, except for his close friends, which included me and two other people.

Those two other people were standing next to Norihisa right now. Their names were… they were… Crap. But at least I remembered their nicknames: Water and Suzuki. Yep, Suzuki’s real name wasn’t Suzuki.

The three of them crossed their arms, jeering at Mamie and me. Their narrow eyes spent more time sizing up Mamie than me. Typical behavior for heterosexual males, especially since Mamie had her bare thighs exposed below her shorts, but one would typically do it more discreetly. Groupthink is a scary thing.

“Norihisa, Water, Suzuki! How are you? What a coincidence that we run into each other here.” My throat dried up speaking empty words, as the dangers of this encounter became apparent to me. It was on the threat level of the decrepit karaoke bar that I had just fled from. But instead of literal death, one mistake here could send me to social death, which was arguably worse.

Although the best course of action would be pretending not to notice them, that was hard to do when the five of us were the only humans present in the whole length of the street.

“We’re hanging out. Sorry we didn’t invite you, bro. After all, you are supposed to be in Osaka.” Norihisa gave me a wild grin as if he had caught me watching yaoi hentai.

Water and Suzuki both nodded with similar grins. What? Did they lose their voice or something?

“Hahaha. I’m just back for a day because of a family emergency. Got to go. We can catch up in the group chat later.” I waved preemptively, but Norihisa ignored my forced attempt at a quick goodbye.

“And who is this chick?” He pressed on.

What lie should I tell? Truth was never on the table. It was only a matter of what deception would be the most convincing and could get us out of here the quickest. Mamie was still carrying the important duffel bag on her shoulder. The longer it took us to get back to the college, the more things could go wrong.

“We are friends with benefits,” Mamie said with a wide, unnatural smile, which looked scarier than her usual scowl. Also, she could have just told them that we were friends… Maybe even ‘siblings’ or ‘cousins’ would be better.

Norihisa burst out laughing in the meanest tone possible. His two lackeys copied his gesture awkwardly. I couldn’t blame them, because a few faint chuckles also slipped from my throat. It was a reflex that had taken root forever ago. When Norihisa laughed at something, I would follow regardless of how I felt. Not just him either; I did that with everyone.

Mirroring, conforming, guessing the correct answer. That was how I got popular in high school. That was how I got many people to call me their friend.

But where did that get me?

Oh, no. I was spiraling. I forced my thoughts back to the problem at hand. Professor Silva’s work wouldn’t have helped here. I needed to read more books on Practical Psychology and Expressive Arts, maybe. Maybe they would tell me.

What should I do?

The confrontation went on, with no regard for my inner turmoil. “So… you’re telling me that you two are fucking?” Norihisa could barely speak amidst his laughter. Water and Suzuki muttered in agreement while forcing out snickers.

“Is it that unbelievable? Shuntaro is handsome.”

Which should I be more surprised by? Her compliment or her casual use of my first name?

“He is a pushover! A Beta! Why would a hot girl like you be with him?” Norihisa flexed his muscles, but managed to keep his dragon tattoo perfectly obscured from view.

“Are you hitting on me?” Mamie scratched her forehead. Although Norihisa had been following Professor Silva’s advice of being assertive, I somehow got the idea that it wasn’t very effective.

“Nope. I’m just concerned about you. That said. I’m down for a fun time, if you decide to pick someone better.”

“Wow, and is there a reason you are berating your supposed ‘friend’ so much?” Mamie shoved the duffel bag into my hands. I felt myself shivering as the strap squeezed against my skin. Mamie was still smiling, and she had been using that cutesy anime voice since she first spoke to my high school… acquaintances. Her saccharine tone would delude any average male into interpreting sexual interest.

But I had spent enough time with her to glimpse her true feelings.

“It’s all fair game. Professor Silva said that there is no honor among males when it comes to women.” Norihisa held out his hands as if reciting the Bible. Who would actually tell a woman he was courting about Professor Silva? I didn’t realize Norihisa was this stupid.

“All fair game… huh…” Mamie surveyed her surroundings. My heart stopped, because I could tell that she was about to do something reckless. The three dunces though, they probably thought she would give them back-alley head or something. Even though it made no sense for her to do it. Wow, porn really was destroying the minds of the young.

Before I could applaud the genius of Professor Tsuyuki for her hatred of porn, it happened.

Mamie dashed towards the trio, faster than they could react. In mere seconds, she was right up to them. Her leg arced upwards, the kick connecting with the spot between Norihisa’s legs. He clutched his wound and collapsed onto the ground, writhing and whimpering.

I chuckled, not at his misfortune, but at the fact that I had never heard him make this sound in our three years together in high school. Oh, maybe I was reveling in his misfortune.

Water and Suzuki floundered after Norihisa fell. I couldn’t quite understand what their thought processes were, but they got into a parody of a fighting stance. A few punches and two more kicks in the balls later, the two of them joined their spokesman on the cold concrete.

It took me a few more seconds to comprehend what had just transpired. This is plain assault. If the three victims here were to call the police, it would be over for Mamie. Her dreams, her goals, and any chance she would become the college representative would all collapse.

The panic was about to overtake me, but then something else sent my heart pounding at an even higher rate. Mamie rushed towards me after defeating her easy opponents.

Wait, is she thirsty for more blood?

My hands lurched to protect my private parts, but Mamie merely grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction away from the groaning mess.

“Aren’t you glad that I know Taekwondo?”

I didn’t share her enthusiasm. “What should we do? We will both get expelled at this rate. You aren’t supposed to beat people up like that. There are laws.” I spat the words out, interrupted by rhythmic breaths, and the heavy duffel bag weighing down my shoulder didn’t help me run any faster.

Mamie ignored my plea and showed no signs of slowing. We wove through alleys and main streets, crossing quiet roads and under urban foliage.

A few more turns later, she laughed. “But was that the wrong thing to do?”

What? Of course, it was. It was literally against the law.

“Besides, what are they going to do? Tell everyone that a girl messed them up?”

My heart wound up in speed from her carefree voice. She was right. And the more I thought about my current situation, the less I cared about the rules. The rules of the college, the rules of society, the rules of Professor Silva, and the rules of life. Rules, rules, rules. Maybe this was my first step into becoming a drug-addicted criminal.

The wind brushed against us, sending her green hair flopping toward my face. Under the fading light of the sunset, her side profile looked absolutely stunning. More beautiful than the image of the Ace Maiden in my memories.

I stopped thinking and burst out in a maniacal giggle, which actually caused Mamie to decelerate a little. Did I surprise her? It didn’t matter, so I just ran with the girl, letting her lead me according to her whims.