Chapter-03 · EP-052
Episode 52: Incident
"Shirou! When did you disappear yesterday?"
"Sorry, sorry! I was a bit tired, so I went back early."
On Tuesday morning, I was being scolded by Iori for sneaking away yesterday.
"What? What happened?"
"You don't know the half of it. All sorts of things happened yesterday."
"Tell us!"
Yuno and Maika joined in.
I hadn't done anything myself, but I proudly told them about Iori's exploits.
How after Murasakimura was defeated by Haijima in the First Swordsmanship Club, Iori defeated Haijima and the second-year. How she also fought the First Club's president and unfortunately lost. And how after that, they went to the Second Swordsmanship Club, and everyone started training under Iori's guidance to get stronger.
"When you exaggerate like that, it's embarrassing."
"I wish I'd seen it! I should have gone with you."
Maika muttered regretfully.
Ah, speaking of which, these three were together. I'd ask them.
"By the way, I'd like to get some potions. Would you three come dungeon exploring with me again? With Maika's Water Magic, it seems like it'd be efficient."
"I'm fine with it. I want to repay Shirou-kun anyway."
Maika seemed grateful to me for helping her use her Water Magic properly.
Even though I hadn't done anything that great.
"I don't know if I'll be useful, but okay."
Yuno also agreed. As expected of my childhood friend.
And Iori said,
"I'm fine when I don't have club activities."
"Ah, speaking of which, did you end up joining?"
"I did, but for some reason, I joined as an instructor."
"Ah, that might be good."
Frankly, the skill level of the Second Swordsmanship Club and Iori were too different. Iori would probably just be teaching them one-sidedly. It might be a waste of time for Iori, just instructing.
"I talked with my father on the phone yesterday. He said that teaching others is good because it lets you reconfirm your own skills. He said that teaching well would lead to my own improvement. So I plan to do my best as an instructor."
So it wasn't a waste of time. But she was so serious. I wasn't good at steady practice. If it was more active, I'd enjoy it, though.
"Murasakimura and Sendo officially joined too. What about you, Shirou?"
"I'll pass."
"I see. Then we'll consider you a provisional member. Come by anytime."
"That's fine then."
With those casual promises, the day began.
That peaceful atmosphere was about to be overturned by an incident that happened at noon.
During lunch break, as I was leaving the cafeteria to eat at my usual spot, Murasakimura called out to me.
"Ah, Ichinose-kun! Want to eat together?"
Murasakimura and Sendo were having lunch together.
"No, I always eat alone. Well, then."
"I see."
Murasakimura was talking to me familiarly. Did he think I was his friend? I was getting uneasy. Getting friendly with him would drag me into trouble. Like yesterday. I already regretted going club-hunting with them.
He wasn't a bad guy, but it was probably better to keep some distance.
So today again, I ate lunch alone on the cafeteria terrace.
Just as I finished eating and was about to return my dishes, something noisy was happening outside the cafeteria.
That area was behind the building; it wasn't usually a crowded spot.
I returned my dishes and headed towards the commotion.
Stepping outside the cafeteria again, I saw a crowd had gathered. Full of nosy curiosity, I peered through the crowd.
Some students were making a fuss, apparently having been in a fight.
Several were down, bleeding.
And one man was standing alone… Akaishi. Tetsuya Akaishi, who sat next to me.
Among the fallen, I recognized a face.
"Murasakimura?"
Murasakimura was bleeding from his head. Was he okay? The others were unfamiliar faces.
Pushing through the crowd, I approached Murasakimura and the others.
"Murasakimura! Are you okay? What happened? Did Akaishi do this?"
"N-no. Those guys over there, Haijima and his group, attacked me. Akaishi-kun defended me."
"Is that right, Akaishi?"
"Yeah… Sorry."
"Sorry?"
Then I looked at one of the fallen students and remembered. The nasty guy from the First Swordsmanship Club yesterday, Haijima from Class 1-B. He looked at me and said,
"Don't think you'll get away with this. I'll tell my father and have you all expelled."
"Tch…"
Murasakimura gritted his teeth.
I didn't understand the details. Why did Haijima, the perpetrator, act so arrogantly, while Murasakimura, the victim, looked so frustrated? Wasn't Haijima the one at fault?
As I was confused, a teacher who had been called for pushed through the crowd.
"What are you doing?!"
It was our homeroom teacher, Majima. I didn't really like him. Especially in trouble like this; he was useless.
"Get up! All of you, come to the guidance office!"
No, that's not right when they're bleeding!
I suppressed my anger and advised Majima.
"Sir, please let the injured students go to the nurse's office for treatment first."
"Hmm? Haijima-san, are you okay? The nurse's office. Any free students, take them there!"
This guy… he uses "-san" for the noble students.
Well, fine.
"Murasakimura, can you stand?"
"Ah, yeah…"
I put Murasakimura's arm over my shoulder and headed together to the nurse's office.