Mikey! (Manjiro Sano x OC) [Tokyo Revengers]

V. Curiosity

After an hour, Mitsuya-san's busy mother comes to school to pick him up. Only then did Terada-sensei let him go.

Goro-san has been passing the time chatting with the school nurse, waiting for the kids to go home before going back to the convenience store. But, even though Mitsuya-san is gone, Emma insists on waiting for Draken and her brother.

Both Goro-san and Terada-sensei leave while Karina stays with Emma, the nurse leaving the key to the gray-haired girl. "Don't forget to lock the door with this key, Maya-kun. Some students find it fun stealing from my room." She shakes her head in disbelief. "Really. Kids these days." Then she pats Karina's shoulder. "I hope those two would come back soon. Or else you'll end up waiting all night." She follows the old man outside and shouts. "Still, don't be late for class tomorrow!"

Emma sits beside her. "Thank you for staying with me."

"I-it's no big deal." The blonde girl stares at her for a long time until Karina cannot help but ask, "W-why?"

"That bruise." Emma points at the purplish-black bruise near Karina's ear. "That wasn't there before. And it looks fresh." Curiously, she reaches for the girl's sleeves and exposes her arms. They're filled with wounds and bruises. "Karina-chan. Why do you let them do this to you?"

What answer could she give aside from the obvious?

She's weak.

"I'm sorry."

Emma puts Karina's sleeves back to cover her arms. "You don't need to apologize to me, Karina-chan. Still, you shouldn't let others treat you this way." A short moment of silence then Emma asks another question, "How did they end up bullying you anyway?"

"I forgot. Just, one day, I found a dead rat inside my locker and a note that said that I should die."

The beautiful blonde frowns at her story. "And they've been bullying you ever since?"

"Yes. Mostly Aiko and her friends."

"Yet you call her by her first name?"

Karina looks down at the floor, the memory of Aiko and her together flashes in her mind. In a small voice, she responds. "We were friends. At least I thought we were."

"And I'm guessing you're not sure what happened."

"Yes."

Emma stands up. "Come on, it's already dark. The guards should be locking the gates by now. Let's wait outside instead."

Karina agrees, locking the Nurse's Office and following the blonde.

It doesn't take long before Sano-san and Draken appear in front of the school. They look calm and confident, clearly, the meeting with the rest of Toman was a successful one. Karina starts to believe Mitsuya-san's words, that she should trust that Toman could handle such a hurdle.

Emma decides that they walk Karina home since the gray-haired girl's house is near the school, the beautiful blonde immediately taking the place beside Draken so that they can walk together.

Karina notices that whenever Emma is with Draken, she acts more cutely. Karina feels like someone is watching her. She turns to her side and sees Sano-san staring at her, but this time, once their eyes meet, he doesn't avert his gaze.

"I can't believe Emma took a liking to you. Who knows, you might be Masayoshi Aiko's pawn, and because of you, Emma might be in danger."

Ah, that's why.

He doesn't trust her.

Karina shakes off the sadness that suddenly envelopes her heart.

"I can't be" is all she can say. Besides, she doesn't trust herself to be someone who can successfully play a part in such a complicated scheme. In fact, she is too foolish to take part in any scheme, good or bad.