First Sight

92: Hurt

( Flashback )

"Kota, why do you keep following me?" Eri asked. 

"Because I have to, who knows when Dahlia will show up to hurt you." Kota said as they were walking through the empty hallway. 

"That happened on Monday, there's nothing to worry about." Eri said. 

"You don't know that, and Deku asked me to protect you when she isn't here. So that's what I'm doing." Kota said. 

"Aw how sweet, Water Boy's gonna protect little Eri." a voice teased. 

Both Eri and Kota turned around to see Dahlia standing a few feet away. 

"Dahlia..." 

"Arg- let's go Eri, she's bad news." Kota said, grabbing Eri's hand.

"Oh I'm bad news huh? It's that old lady's fault for embarrassing me that day, and since she's not here, I have to take out all my frustration on somebody. How about... you!" Dahlia yelled as she ran towards them and tackled Eri onto the ground. 

"Eri! You let go of her!!!" Kota yelled and tried to break Dahlia from basically punching Eri on the ground. 

"What's wrong, Eri, can't handle my punches?!?!" Dahlia yelled as she punched Eri in the stomach. 

"Stop hurting Eri!!!" Kota yelled, as he grabbed the redhead and pulled her away. 

But his strength alone wasn't enough, as Dahlia kicked Kota and he hit the wall and fell back to the ground.

"C'mon, little Eri, let's see you fly!" Dahlia said, as she grabbed helpless Eri off the floor and lifted her to stand up and held her right by the staircase. 

"Eri! Let go of her!" Kota yelled. 

"Heh- Like I'll do that. And that old lady was wrong, I don't need to apologize to someone who can't help themselves. But maybe I can let you off the hook if you can say sorry yourself." Dahlia said with a smirk. 

"Let go of Eri!" Kota yelled, trying to get on his feet. Eri tried to speak, but because of all the kicks and punches on her body, she was out of breath. 

"I-I- I'm..." 

"What's that? I can't hear you~" 

"Don't apologize, Eri!" Kota yelled. 

Kota looked up and froze when he saw a subtle smile on Eri's face, but also a single tear stream down her cheek. 

'I have to.' 

Is what she tried to say.

"I-I'm... so...rry..." she muttered. 

"Hmph, that's more like it, but I think everyone in the entire school should know you're sorry too. What d'you think, Water Boy?" Dahlia said with a smirk. 

Kota grit his teeth as he ran towards Dahlia with all the energy he had and tried to fight the redhead back. 

"You can't win, Water Boy, you can't even throw a-" and before she could finish her sentence, she realized she lost grip from holding Eri's shirt and let go of the girl and watched as she fell down the stairs! 

Dahlia and Kota stood there in shock to see the unconscious Eri on the floor and not getting up.

"What- What have I done?!?! Oh no, mom's gonna kill me!!!" Dahlia yelled, as she held her hands over her head. 

"E-...Eri... Eri wake up!" Kota yelled.