Wakaba-chan's harassment increased following midterms. Mostly insulting her, vandalizing her locker and desk, or bumping into her or attacking her during P.E… Not much different from before, but there are more boys involved, jealous of her grades, on top of the usual dislike of external student approaching the Emperor.

Even some external students seem jealous, and treat her badly.

Zuiran allows everybody to advance unless their grades are especially bad, but they won't be able to get into a competitive department or another college.

The last midterms proved that those students had gotten serious. My ranking dropped a surprising amount despite studying the same… This is bad. I might not even make it into the department of my choice. Plans of my future will be crushed! I understand how they feel, I do, but this is…

"You're poor. That's why you work so hard for the scholarship."

I was changing classes as I saw Wakaba-chan being insulted by a group of boys. Girls tend to harass without witnesses, but a lot of boys do it openly to show off. I wonder which is worse. To be pricked repeatedly, or cut down at once.

But I can't allow this. Wakaba-chan's cake shop is doing well, and they're not poor. They're a normal family. And how rude can you be? Insulting the Takamichi household is insulting me.

I raise my chin and have Serika-chan and the other follow as I stride down the middle of the hall. The students who noticed move to the side, but those surrounding Wakaba-chan haven't noticed. I stomp once.

"You're in my way. Will you remove yourselves?"

They turned around shocked, and leaped back a few steps. Looking at them fidget, I asked, "Serika-san?" while playing with my perfect curls. "Do you know who these obstacles to my passage are?"

The boys gasped and their eyes jumped out.

"So troubling. We may be late for class with these things blocking the way." To finish, I add, "How irritating," with a sigh.

Serika-chan and the others stepped forward, their eyes blazing.

"Step aside, pebbles! Before we kick you aside!"

"How dare you block Reika-sama's way! Be ready to get struck down!"

The boys cries ring out. Ohohoho. Serika-chan, Kikuno-chan, chastise them. I feel like Mito Koumon. The boys flee shouting, "I'm sorry!" Humph, as if there are any who would stand up to the Reika, at the top of the Zuiran caste.

Only Wakaba-chan stood there, her mouth hanging wide open. Wakaba-chan, close your mouth!

"Reika-sama, what should we do? We can make them pay for making you…"

"Oh, Kikuno-san, don't say such things. The hall has cleared, so that should be enough this time."

Ohohohoho, I laugh generously, and all the students who were watching became one with the walls. They've picked up ninja moves to hide like that.

A rattling sound comes from my side. Wakaba-chan is shaking her pen case rhythmically… What's she doing? I move on the now clear hallway with Serika-chan and the others.

Oh? I know that stone statue. He was class rep with me in junior high, Bouda-kun. He still has the shaved head. I stop to greet him and he crumbled to the ground.

I entered the classroom to fund a smiling Satomi-kun. "That was impressive," he congratulated clapping his hands as he approached. "Kisshouin-san, I think calling you a yakuza boss is more fitting than calling you class rep. Do you have a red peony tattoo on your back?"

Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan started beating him that instant.

"Ow! Boss! Your henchmen are committing violence! Ow! OW! Not the liver!"

I advise them to use their fists before heading to my seat. Serika-chan, Kikuno-chan, chastise him!

That night, I called Wakaba-chan, worried. She thanked me immediately guessing my intent.

"Thank you for today, Kisshouin-san. That was to help me, right?"

"Don't. I didn't do much." Truly. If you have time to be jealous, work on your own. I intend to study and return to my rank.

"No, it was incredible. It was like watching a movie, Kisshouin-san."

What genre would that be…? That better not be a yakuza movie. I wasn't wearing a black ceremonial kimono, was I?

"Oh, did you notice my sound effects?" So that's what the rattling was about?

"What was that?"

"Ahaha. I thought about whistling, but I remembered I couldn't."

If you did, my henchmen might have pummeled you for mocking them…

"But the harassment against you has picked up recently. Maybe I should step in directly."

The Pivoine president who hated her graduated, and there are some who think like her, but I should be able to shut them up as a senior.

"Oh, no, you don't need to," she declined.

"Why? Isn't it difficult?"

"Don't worry. I'm used to insults, and it doesn't bother me. The vandalism a little bad, but it's okay."

"But…"

"I only have to put up with it for a year until graduation. I'll be fine. You don't need to put yourself in a difficult spot over me."

That hurt. It was shocking… To Wakaba-chan, leaving Zuiran wasn't sad, but something she was looking forward to. That stung… Well, of course. Just because she lets everything slide, it's not like she's not hurt.

"…"

I bit my lip. I've been at Zuiran since grade school, and love it as my school, and I treasure the 10 years or so I've spent here. But Wakaba-chan is different. She was marked as an enemy by those who value social status and money and had to put up with standing out at anything. Of course, she would want to say goodbye and graduate.

"Oh? Kisshouin-san, is something wrong? Hello-?"

…I may be selfish, but I don't want her to graduate thinking like that. I want her to look back at high school as a fun time, if possible.

"…I'm sorry, Wakaba-chan."

"Huh? About what?"

For not trying to help you seriously, valuing my safety over my friend.

"I'm going to do it."

"Huh? What?"

"Different things."

I'll make you graduate with a smile!

"I don't get it, but good luck! By the way, Kaburagi-kun and I went to a dinosaur exhibit the other day."

Oh! The date with Kaburagi!

"How was it?"

"It was really good! Exciting!" She does sound excited. So the date went well?! Good job, my unworthy disciple. "I was surprised when the director greeted us, though."

"Eh?" The director? What's that?

"Kaburagi-kun was welcomed, and the curator and others joined us explaining the exhibits carefully."

"Eh?"

…That fool. He used his name instead of buying a normal ticket. Or maybe he simply used an invitation sent to his home. If he did that, the organizer would entreat him. Does Kaburagi know what discreet is?

Rounding the exhibits with attendants explaining everything from start to finish? That's not a date, but some…

"But the specialists were great. The curator was easy to understand and taught me so much I didn't know."

"… I see. So you had fun?"

"Of course! It was really worthwhile!"

"…I see. As long as you had fun."

"Yes!"

Okay. As long as she enjoyed it, that's fine. Even if it turned into something other than a date with a massive following.

She went on to talk about the evolution and extinction of the dinosaurs. She's really into dinosaurs.

"Oh, I also bought you a gift. Dinosaur cookies. I'll give it to you next time."

"Oh, thank you. You didn't have to."

"Just wanted to! And I also have a dinosaur key holder. You want that? It looks pretty realistic and neat. Also has a flashlight, so it might be useful at night."

…A realistic dinosaur flashlight key holder…

"Umm… You should keep that for yourself, Wakaba-chan."

"Huh? You don't have to mind me. You're always helping me!"

"No, the cookies will be plenty. Thank you."

"You're so reserved, Kisshouin-san."

Sorry, Wakaba-chan, I can't handle reptiles…

Once we were done, I went to bed. I'll start studying tomorrow.