Lunch Time
He eats lunch and thinks, I have today and tomorrow to find a group, and I hope someone finds me to help in their project. After all, I am good in…
His spoon drops into the lunchbox. His face turns pale. He holds his head with both hands and looks down so no one can see his facial expression.
"What the…" he mumbles. "Why does anyone ask me to join a group? What talent do I have?"
"Many people don't even have a friendly conversation with me," he mumbles.
Suddenly his tension is gone. He raises his head, picks up his spoon, and continues eating with a smile.
"Well, if I don't even have friendly conversations, then nobody will ask me. Then why should I blame my skills?"
AUTHOR: He does not take tension if he can do nothing about it, therefore he is chill now.
"But seriously, what can I contribute to a project?" he mumbles while eating.
He finishes his lunch while thinking about that. He goes to the washroom. As he enters, he sees three people. One of them is holding the shirt collar of a boy who wears spectacles. He is scared. Another one, shorter in height compared to Akira, stands next to him, trying to calm the situation.
Akira ignores them and starts doing the business he came for.
One of the three says, "We will deal with them behind the building outside. Other students might tell teachers about it."
He agrees and holds them from behind and takes them away, but the short guy says, "Come on, we are friends. We even agreed to do project work for you."
They don't care and take them away, but as Akira hears that, he starts smiling like he is thinking something.
"Are you looking happy while doing business? Do you enjoy it?" a student says while doing his business on the left side of Akira.
"What! No, I am just thinking something," Akira replies.
He finishes his business, washes his hands, and leaves.
He watches them while leaning. They are behind the school building.
Two boys are holding them from behind, and the third one stands in front of them.
"Sorry, I won't insult you again," the spectacle guy says.
"You are late for that," says the guy who stands in front.
"I am the one who did that, so please leave him," the short guy says.
"You both will pay for that and do my project without involving your names in it."
He makes a fist and moves it back as he is going to hit him on the face. Akira shouts from behind.
"Stop, otherwise I will tell teachers about it!" he shouts while standing confidently.
He stops his punch and turns to Akira. "Who are you?" he asks.
"I am Akira from class 3-B," he replies like a hero.
"I never heard your name," he says with confusion. "One of you know him?" he asks the others.
"No," everyone replies at once.
"Look, none of us know you," he says.
Well, I am not a famous student. Then how can people know about you, idiot, he thinks.
"Forget it. I just say don't bully someone," Akira says.
"Do you know who I am?" he asks.
"Who?" Akira says.
"I am Tiger from class 3-D," he says like a hero, just like Akira did.
"Yes," Akira replies.
"I know. Sorry, I didn't know your name, and you are lucky to know my name," he says while smiling and puffing his chest.
"Why am I lucky?" Akira asks.
"Because you know my name, you don't face my anger, and also you are scared of me now."
"I am not scared of you, idiot."
As Akira says that, Tiger freezes and the other four guys get shocked.
"What did you just say?" Tiger asks in anger.
"Idiot. That is what I heard from other students. Idiot student who named himself Tiger and bullies other students," Akira says with an innocent face and voice.
"You will regret it," he says and starts walking toward Akira.
He stops very close to Akira and stares him in the eyes.
"If you apologize now, then I may show some mercy," he says.
"Sorry," Akira says.
"Good, but you still need to pay for my insult."
He moves his fist back, ready to punch Akira.
"Sorry for I didn't introduce myself clearly," Akira says.
"I don't care," Tiger says.
"I am Akira. Akira Kagehiko," he says.
As Tiger hears Kagehiko, he stops, and those guys who were holding the other two start trembling.
"You… you mean you are…" Tiger tries to say, but Akira interrupts.
"Yes. Kanji Kagehiko is my big brother."
As he says that, Tiger starts sweating and trembling.
"Sorry, I didn't know about you. I just knew that he has a little brother, but didn't know that he is in my school," he says in fear.
"I don't want attention, therefore don't tell anyone. Also leave them," he says as an order.
Tiger shouts and orders his friends to leave them. They say sorry to Akira and leave.
"You two, are you guys okay?" Akira asks.
"Yes, because of you. Thank you!" the spectacle guy answers.
"Good. I am Akira Kagehiko, and you?" he asks.
"I am Yarik," the spectacle guy says.
"I am Kairis," the short guy says.
Yarik wears spectacles, height around 1.67 meters, and Kairis has tan skin color, height around 1.63 meters.
"Who is Kenji and why do they run like dogs when they hear his name?" Kairis asks.
"He is just a former vice gang leader of the Lizard Gang," he replies.
"That Lizard Gang that is ruling many schools in our city?" Kairis says.
"Yep"Akira says
"Which class are you from?" Akira asks.
"We are in 3-D," Yarik replies.
"I think break is going to end. We need to go to our classes," Akira says.
"You are right, and thanks for the help," Kairis says.
They walk together and separate when they reach their classes.
I try, but I can't say make a group project for me. Then what is the difference between those bullies and me? he thinks while putting his head on the desk.
After all classes end, many students leave school. Many talk with each other and a few stay in classes and talk, but Akira sits at his desk and looks at his wallet, which has only a few notes and coins, only enough for one-time lunch.
"I have some vegetables at home which can help me survive for two to three days. I need to find work very fast," he mumbles and decides to leave.
He just crosses the main gate of the school and sees Yarik and Kairis. It looks like they are waiting for Akira.
"Hey, you took more time than we thought. Talking with your friends?" Yarik says.
"No, I was just doing something. Why are you guys waiting here?" he asks.
"Well, we planned a treat for you as a thank you," Kairis says.
"You guys don't need to do that," Akira kindly rejects.
"Don't worry. Every Monday and Friday, we both go to a café, so join us, bro," Kairis says while putting his arm around Akira's neck.
"Okay, if you guys want," he accepts.
Well, at least I can save some money by joining this, and also I can ask for group project work, he thinks.
At the café, Akira sits on the window side, Kairis on Akira's right side, and Yarik in front of them.
Akira's eyes open wide as he sees Yarik order an expensive dish for him.
"Can you really afford these dishes?" Akira asks.
"Don't worry, Yarik is rich," Kairis says.
"You can order anything you want," Yarik says.
They start eating.
"So why did those people bully you?" Akira asks.
"Because those guys want us to make the project and add their names in it," Kairis says.
"When we said no, then they started bullying," Yarik interrupts.
"They bully us because you said, 'Why do you guys want that? Don't you have a brain?' in front of girls, and then the girls started laughing at them. Therefore, even when we agreed to add their names, they still wanted to bully us," Kairis yells at Yarik.
"What should I do then? Just become their slave?" Yarik yells back.
"What if Akira was not there? Then what would we do?" Kairis yells again.
"Can you guys stop yelling at each other? Everyone is watching us," Akira says while trying to calm the situation.
They sit, but both still think that I am right.
"What project work are you guys doing?" Akira asks, but in a lower voice than usual.
"We are members of the film club, and our club is working on a small film-making project," Kairis says.
"Then your club must have many members," Akira says.
"Our club has three female and two male students for acting, one script writer, and one editor," Yarik says.
"I am the cameraman," Kairis says.
"I am the director and also provide financial support," Yarik says.
"Can I join your project? I don't have any group or club," he says in one breath.
"Of course," both say at the same time.
"What? I mean, don't you guys want to ask others?" he asks in confusion.
"Well, I am the vice president of our club, so I will ask later, and also our club is friendly. They will welcome you," Yarik says.
"Thank you," Akira says.
"When we introduce you to our other members, then we will be able to do a welcome party," Yarik says while picking up his cold drink glass in the air.
All three of them pick up their glasses and cheer