• “Miki, let’s eat lunch together again!” The same crowd from yesterday appeared. As welcoming as ever, I smiled inside. I nodded politely.
    Half-way into eating, Jiro showed up.
    “Hey Miki?” He called. All the girls screamed. Well of course, Jiro was like the school’s prince charming!!!
    “Yes?” I walked over to him.
    “It may be too soon, but I wanted to ask you…”
    “Jiro you got to help us!” Some guys pulled him away before he could finish. What a lovely conversation. I thought. As I was about to walk back to the class, Aya came running out first.
    “That wasn’t nice you guys!”
    “Yeah, that was just too overboard! You shouldn’t have spilled her food all over her!” Some girls were yelling to the students in the front of the class.
    “Hey, she said she wanted it.” The guys in the front were laughing. I narrowed my eyes while I ran towards the girls bathroom. I could already heard her crying when I entered.
    “Aya?” I said as she was cleaning the food off her clothes.
    “Leave me alone!” She said when she saw me, and ran out of the bathroom. Another conversation well said, I rolled my eyes. Yeah right, I thought as I walked out of the bathroom.
    “Yo.” Kei was standing by the wall facing the bathroom, looking at me. I ignored him as I walked back to class. What was he doing there? Chasing skirts?
    “You’re not going to say anything?” Was he following me? How annoying!
    “I know you can talk.” This guy was so irritating! Is this punishment because of this morning?!
    “You know, you still haven’t thanked me for this morning.” He bent down over my shoulder when I stopped. From a side glance I could see him smirk. I’ve already had enough of this.
    “Thank you for this morning.” I smiled like I did to everyone. Except this smile felt a little more like fake.
    “Not cute at all.” He said then walked off ahead of me as the bell rang. I REALLY DON’T LIKE THAT GUY!!!

    The next two days felt the same. But today the bullying for Aya just increased. Did she not have any friends? Was she really alone?
    “Hey, hey! Miki, do you want to hang out today after school?” A bunch of girls asked.
    “Yeah, ok.” I smiled.
    “Ha-ha, Aya.” The same group surrounded Aya. I couldn’t stand this anymore, everyday it would be the same thing! Didn’t she know how to stand up for herself?!
    “Looks like Rui is still his usual self.”
    “Yeah and looks like Mami is getting irritated again. She thinks Aya is trying to take him away from her, but she can’t say anything because she doesn’t want to upset him.” The girls that asked me to the outing whispered. It was sad how I didn’t know their names yet.
    After school, I was excited to have my real first friends outing since I had gotten here. It’s been a while since I’ve been out with friends. I could almost sing, as I walked out of school. The girls told me to wait for them outside as they finished their duties.
    “How dare you steal the attention of my Rui.” I suddenly heard.
    “You’re not even cute. I don’t even know why he wastes his time on you in the first place.”
    “Yeah, you make us all sick Aya!” When I heard Aya’s name, I rounded the corner at full speed.
    “You should know your place nerd!” I see them! They had caught Aya into a corner. Five girls against Aya.
    “Yeah, do you think you’re hot or something? Well maybe this should cool you off!” I flew in front of Aya so fast, that I was the only one now, who was soaking wet. What was wrong with these girls? Water? Really? And I was all prepared to break my good habits and fight them back if they were to attack. But water? It’s not really a big deal, it sounded even childish.
    “What the?!” I’m guessing this was Mami. The head of the group.
    “She’s the new transfer student, Mimi something.” The girl on the side said. My name is Miki!!! Not Mimi something!!! Just hold it in, I reminded myself.
    “Miki!” The girls who invited me out, were running
    towards us. Their eyes went wide as they took in my appearance. They looked at Mami, then back at me. Mami and her group just left the scene without a word, only a snap of her finger. So familiar…
    “Miki…” The girls looked sad for me. But I only smiled at them.
    “Sorry, I guess I can’t go out with you today.” I grabbed Aya’s hand and dragged her away. I could feel them stare at me as we rounded the corner. I know it was weird, even at my old school; I would have never done this. I never made an effort to lend a hand. Even though that’s what Asami was always looking for…
    Suddenly Aya pulled her arm away. I turned back to look at her. She was crying, but she also looked irritated, and a little happy? I’m not sure, she had mixed emotions.
    “Um, Aya…”
    “I don’t want your help!” She ran off again. Just like that? She didn’t even want to talk about it? I know she didn’t want help…but she needed it. I looked towards the ground. Why did this feel almost the same as last time? I’m helping someone Asami, but why doesn’t she want my help? I don’t want to see anymore people hurt…
    “What happened to you? You’re all wet, did you get bullied?” I didn’t even look back up to see who was talking to me.
    “Hey, did you hear me?” All I could think about was Aya. She had that same expression, like the first time I tried to help Asami.
    “Come with me!” I was being pulled back into the school. Where was I headed? I don’t really care, so I didn’t even struggle.
    “Through here.” I felt like a lifeless doll. Just like I was
    when people bullied Asami.
    “Hey, are you just standing there? Hurry into the shower or you’ll catch a cold.”
    “I just stood there…” I said out loud, I could feel the tears strolling down my face.
    “You stood where? What are you talking about?” I just stood there while Takeru and his group bullied Asami and other students. I just stood there while Shin had forced himself on Asami. I just stood there, when I could have helped her. Of course she hated me…because I didn’t help her soon enough like I was supposed to! I dropped to my knees and began crying
    “Hey, what’s wrong?” I felt someone cradle me into their arms. I didn’t deserve anyone’s help since I didn’t do a thing!!!
    It must have been a while until I had calmed down and fallen asleep. I lifted my head from where I was leaning on. There was a towel wrapped on my shoulders. I looked over and saw Kei sitting down next to me, sleeping. He looked so peaceful, so I shouldn’t wake him. I need to get home before Shiori calls me, since I didn’t call her. I knew he was just trying to help me but…I really didn’t deserve his help. In fact, I didn’t deserve anybody’s help. I pulled off the towel, placed it on Kei and secretly told him goodbye and thank you before I left the locker room.