XVI — My Angry, Repulsed Comedian

How disgusting.

Riku still smiled in front of him.

Kaze Fujimoto was begging for the cash again.

As bitter as it was, the corner of his mouth was lifted to the point it seemed terrifying unless you were as clueless as Kaze Fujimoto himself. The spoiled child who couldn't even bear with his own demands. Not to mention about what he was spending those money for as well.

His hands were curled, as if making a prayer in front of him.

He dropped his knee, begging like a child he was.

He had been doing it almost everyday, as if it was a routine of his.

Anna deep down knew, but she had no rights to speak.

She had been observing them for a long time without ever interacting, and her cynicism couldn't help but imply the negative scenario too. After all, it wasn't exactly uncommon to find such phenomenon at school. Except this time the one who asked for those was a beggar.

Not some kind of thief bandit.

This isn't gonna end well...

Anna thought to herself in the most realistic perception ever.

After all, no matter what she did. It probably was pointless.

She had no presence yet so it couldn't have been any useful.

The silence lasted for several seconds before Riku purposefully broke it.

"So, Kazecchi..."

His smile getting wider than ever.

"Where are your parents again when you need them., huh?"

That was... cool.

In Anna's eyes, his intimidating roast appeared so brave.

Kaze then, who finally realized the situation, was suddenly awake.

He raised from his kneeling position, and suddenly becoming more manly.

"Are you not gonna give it this time? Huh?!"

He grabbed his sleeve this time. The spoiled kid in an instant was ready for a physical combat throughout some kind of friendships. Her friends meanwhile didn't do anything.

They were just standing, doing nothing.

Meanwhile, still as composed as ever, Riku never faltered against his threat.

Instead, they were now looking at each other.

Riku looked below at him. His gaze was condescending and showed it was enough.

But then—

A small, friendly tap on Kaze's shoulder.

"Hey, I was just kidding! Of course, I would give you that money, Kazecchi."

Wait, no. Not like this.

Anna realized something was clearly off immediately.

What should I do?

Could it be her chance to intervene? After all, she was the outsider right?

The boundary between her and his friends definitely was nothing. 

However, it's different when she was involved as the part of Riku's close circle.

Riku then took his wallet out of his pocket, grabbing the money to give it to him.

But before it reached him-

"Don't do that, Reita-kun."

A voice, sharp and blunt, echoed throughout the atmosphere. 

Cutting any unnecessary drama by slicing it like a knife. 

Anna, for the first time, was having her existence known for speaking.

It's not like she never did before. She would explain things in front of the teacher and was in-fact quite fluent herself. She once dealt with a maths teacher's mistake, correcting him on purpose.

However, those were ignored until today.

Maybe because everything she explained was something a model student would do. Some girls even started making some rumours about her being their favourite teacher just to discredit her capability and competence. Jealousy was everywhere, yet she couldn't careless.

Meanwhile, boys always avoided her. Because nothing about her screamed reputations, let alone popularity in the slightest. And getting closer to her would exist as a prank instead.

And she knew.

"W-wait...

Anna Kanzaki?"

Kaze was shocked. All of a sudden, he moved backward for a bit.

He fell into his ground dramatically.

And no, not because he was seeing a ghost all of a sudden. Partly, it might be the case but what did him the most was that dry, lethargic voice. After all, no one would realize she was speaking.

However, what comes next should be enough to clear everything.

This is it...

"Anna..." 

Riku never expected it was coming to this at all.

He always thought everything would be solved.

"Be quiet. I'm not done speaking yet."

"Also, don't call me that."

Her voice attracted other students attraction. Some girls were speaking, gossiping in the corridor. Anna also took a glance into the classroom. They were also whispering to each other.

After all, it was their first time seeing Anna to be this furious.

"Kaze Fujimoto-kun."

She spelled out his name. Not as a recognition, but repulsion.

"Not only you begged for Reita-kun to give you money."

"You also wanted to punch him."

"I will report everything about this to my uncle, if you keep going."

A silent threat, the one that didn't seem recognized yet by others.

Kaze was effectively silenced, unable to fight or as if he didn't know how to.

Uncle? Which one? And why?

Riku's mind was swirling, begging for any possible explanation.

His pupils dilated. After all, he could no longer make sense of the situation.

Meanwhile, those whispers were getting louder.

"Wait, uncle? He is teaching here?"

"Yeah, I heard she was sent by him to this school."

"Really? What a cheat."

"Heh... no wonder, it was a bribery after all."

"Yeah, maybe she paid to get here or something."

"That's right! I couldn't believe it."

The rumour got even worse, and the misconception was spread even louder as if no one ever listened carefully. All they did was to twist all of those facts so they could become more comfortable.

At least, for themselves.

"CAN Y'ALL PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP?!"

A scream, the one that was much louder than the crowd this time, violated the atmosphere.

Riku, you don't have to do this...

Anna looked down, while clenching her fist.

Riku Reita couldn't take it anymore. And for him, it was more than enough. He couldn't careless if one day anyone would hate him. He also wouldn't even try to uphold his image anymore.

After all, everything about it was just a lie.

And he would be the one who was gonna break it for goods.

However, that dramatic performance was ended by the first lesson's alarm.

Soon, all of students entered the class, pretending that drama never existed.

"Let's go, Anna." He insisted, followed by a nod.

As they entered the classroom. Together.