“Waaa~ Onee-sama, did you not sleep well? You’re looking abnormal today!”

As usual, Shiori was surrounded by a gaggle of overly talkative girls. However, today’s Shiori was not the usual Shiori. It could be seen from a single glance that this was the case.

For example, her kind onee-san demeanor was gone.

“Please leave me alone.”

This was definitely out of character. The girls instinctually backed off.

---

People were quick to notice. The goddess was ignoring her childhood friend. Out of all the signs, this was the most suspicious. Could that guy have done something to piss her off?

“Oi, Saito.”

“Hikawa-san?”

“Tell me. What happened?”

“I didn’t expect you to care. Isn’t this a favourable development for you?”

“It might be, but I’ll have you know I’m not so low as to kick you while you’re down.”

“It's very complicated.”

“I’ll listen.”

“Fine-”

“That's him! The piece of sh*t is right here!”

They were interrupted by a bunch of older male students.

“So you’re that ‘childhood friend’ that pissed her off, huh?”

“That would be me.”

“Being cocky, huh?”

“Perhaps.”

The usual Yuudai might have backed down, but the storm of emotions inside him made him decide to stop caring.

“Yo, senpai, you wanna give me a piece of your mind? Fine. Afterschool. Behind the school building. All of you. If you bail, never bother me again.”

Yuudai stood up, walked out of the classroom and slammed the door shut.

---

“I never thought you were the type to skip lessons, Saito.”

“Shut it, Tanaka.”

“Sure. I’ll just enjoy my manga then.”

---

“Man, he actually came?”

“And I thought he was gonna bail despite saying all those rash things.”

“Looks like he’s really stupid.”

A small crowd had gathered. Seems like someone had spread the word.

“You ready, little stickman?”

“Yep.”

Even the gang leader of the older group seemed taken aback by his curt answer.

“Fine. I’m not stopping no matter how much you scream, you little piece of sh-”

“STOP!”

A female voice. A very familiar one.

“If any of you lay a hand on Yuu-kun, I’ll never forgive you!”

The crowd that was murmuring went silent. The goddess had arrived!?

“Yuu-kun is someone precious to me, so anyone who hurts him is unforgivable! It doesn’t matter what happens between us two, that will always be true! So stop bothering him!”

“Shiori-”

“Don’t call me by my name!”

The entire scene went silent.

“You’re the one who pushed me away, so don’t give me any more false hope!”

With that, she ran.

I have to go after her!

“Oi, you punk, we’re not done yet!”

A fist was swung at Yuudai’s face at full speed. Just as it was about to hit…

The punch hit nothing but air.

Yuudai had suddenly moved backwards by half a meter, almost as if he had teleported.

“Wha…”

The gang leader’s exclamation was met with a crescent kick that hit him squarely in the face.

“I don’t have time for the likes of you!”

With that, Yuudai too was off running.