All day, Yukiko Fujimine kept her word.
She handled Shuichi's classroom duties and even took extra notes for him during class.
After school, as Shuichi and Eri walked to the entrance hall, Yukiko caught up.
"Your arm's hurt. I'll grab your shoes," she said, opening his locker and setting his outdoor shoes by his feet. After he changed, she quickly stowed his indoor shoes. "Let's go to the izakaya."
"Don't you have drama club?" Shuichi asked, surprised. "Skipping's okay?"
"It's just one day," Yukiko said, chin high. "I promised to cover your work as an apology. I'm not backing out."
"You're really…" Shuichi trailed off, unsure what to say.
Tell her now that my arm injury wasn't her fault?
After her hard work all day, Yukiko would probably throttle him.
Fine, just one more night. Tomorrow, it'll be over…
With that thought, Shuichi didn't stop her.
The trio headed to the izakaya. As soon as they entered, Yukiko changed into her work uniform and bustled into the kitchen, prepping ingredients for dinner and the evening shift.
Shuichi, with a rare break, sat at the counter chatting with Eri.
"Why haven't you told her your arm injury wasn't from her?" Eri asked.
"You noticed?"
"Only an idiot wouldn't," Eri said, glaring at her childhood friend. "That bruise was clearly from a hit, not a collision!"
"Heh, you're sharp, Eri," Shuichi said, flexing his arm with a grin. "I didn't make her do anything. You heard her this morning—she volunteered."
"You…" Eri shook her head, exasperated. "So, how'd you really get that injury? During the nightclub case last night?"
"No, this morning—"
The izakaya door swung open, cutting him off. A girl with shoulder-length hair, wearing a pleated skirt that nearly touched the floor, strode in with a bold air, carrying a schoolbag.
"Excuse me!"
"Uh, why's she here…" Shuichi's expression shifted.
"Sorry, we're not open yet," Yukiko called from the counter, apologetic. "If you're here to eat, come back after 6:30."
"I'm not eating. I'm looking for someone…"
The girl scanned the room, her gaze landing on Shuichi. "Senpai, thanks for saving me this morning. I brought medicine for your arm."
Before Shuichi could respond, Yukiko frowned. "Arm medicine? How'd you know he's injured?"
"This morning, during my workout…"
The girl recounted the alley incident in detail. "If it weren't for Senpai, I'd be in the hospital. So I brought this as thanks…"
Her words were cut short as Yukiko grabbed radishes from the counter and hurled them at Shuichi.
"Shuichi Hayashi, you liar! You tricked me into doing your work all day!"
"Hey, I didn't ask you to do anything!" Shuichi dodged the flying radishes. "You insisted on helping, so I let you!"
"You're still talking!" Yukiko's face flushed with anger. "I should've known! No way you'd get hurt just from me bumping you!"
"I'm gonna kill you!"
Brandishing a large radish, she stormed out from behind the counter.
Shuichi scrambled to dodge, but the girl with the wooden sword, seeing Yukiko's advance, dropped her bag and stepped in front of the counter. "You can't hurt Senpai!"
"Move!" Yukiko panted, furious. "This is between me and him!"
"Senpai saved me this morning. I promised to repay him!" the girl said, standing firm.
"That jerk probably tricked you too!" Yukiko snapped. "Move, or I won't hold back!"
The girl didn't respond. Instead, she lifted her long skirt and drew a wooden sword from beneath it.
The sight left the other three stunned. Is she Doraemon? She's actually got stuff stashed under her skirt?
"Hmph, just a wooden sword. Big deal!" Yukiko said, undeterred, raising her radish to charge.
The girl stepped forward, and with one swift strike, knocked the radish from Yukiko's hand. "I won't let you hurt Senpai!"
Before Yukiko could react, the wooden sword rested against her slender neck.
Shuichi jumped in. "Whoa, easy! She's my friend!"
He'd seen the girl's sword skills that morning—three grown punks beaten black-and-blue. Yukiko wouldn't stand a chance.
"Sorry," the girl said, lowering her sword slowly.
"Shuichi Hayashi!"
Yukiko, teeth gritted, tried to advance, but the sword swung back up, blocking her.
"You!" Yukiko stomped her foot in frustration. "Where'd you find this delinquent, Shuichi?"
"She's Midori Orisaka, the flower shop owner's daughter from the commercial district," Shuichi said, realizing he hadn't asked her name earlier. "What's your name?"
"Midori Orisaka," she said. "Senpai, you can call me Midori."
With Midori loyally guarding Shuichi, sword in hand, Yukiko's revenge was a lost cause. She stormed back to the counter, grabbed a kitchen knife, and resumed chopping ingredients. Slicing another radish, she froze.
"Wait, his arm wasn't my fault. Why am I still working for him?"
But then she thought of Shuichi's injury. It looked serious. Doing his work…
After hesitating, Yukiko kept chopping, imagining the radish was Shuichi. I'm not worried about him. I'll cut you to pieces, Shuichi Hayashi…
"Senpai, I got this ointment from a pharmacy," Midori said eagerly. "Let me apply it for you."
Shuichi started to refuse but gave in to her enthusiasm, rolling up his sleeve to let her tend the wound.
(End of Chapter)
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.