mottainai | h. sakura

三

italicized means flashback

Sakura is dumbfounded.

Never before had he been given such a task like this. Despite his appearance, multiple bags from various food stalls had given him hangs around his arms, but on his hands is a bento box covered in pink cloth with flower prints. Just imagining how he'll be giving this to her already flusters him. He doesn't know how to give gifts or anything, much less take in just how welcoming and friendly the people are of the town. He doesn't even understand why he's doing it when Kotoha could do so herself.

"Sakura" Kotoha spoke, picking up the wrapped bento box into her hands. "Do you got a minute?"

"Hm?" He hums, his cheeks puffed with the last of his morning sandwich.

"Think you can give this to Haruna?" She asks, showing to him the bento box. "The way to Sacred Heart is also easy!" But just as Kotoha started teaching him how to get there, no words of hers reached his ears, his face slowly turning bright red in color.

"W-What the heck?" Sakura said, stammering with his words.

"It's okay, isn't it? You're going that way anyways, aren't you?" The older girl asks.

"Uh, yeah, I guess so."

"Yay!" Kotoha exclaimed happily, a bright smile appearing on her face. "Thanks, Sakura. I really owe you one."

"Excuse me!

"AHHH!"

Though surprised, he throws the rest of the food stalls' bags away but held the bento box tightly in his hands. Turning around, a girl in distressed clung to his arm. "You're from Furin, right?! Please help!"

A body is thrown from across the alley, landing with a thud against the ground.

"And here I was, having fun chatting up with that girl" The male spoke, grinning down at Nirei. "Why'd you get in the way, punk?"

"That girl didn't want to talk to you!" Nirei shouts.

"What? Now you're making stuff up." The man replies, tucking his hands inside the pockets of his pants. "You said you were part of Bofurin, and you're here to protect the town. But you're the one who needs protecting now." From behind the man, a few snickers erupt.

Standing firm with his resolution, Nirei got up on from the ground and on his feet, wrapping his arms around the man's waist to halt him from his tracks; preventing him from going after the girl. 

"You still don't get it, do you?" The man spoke once more, tilting his head down to look at Nirei. "You're no hero!" With that, he places his hands on his shoulders, throwing him across the alley for the second time.

Just like earlier, Nirei's resolution is firm and he got up once more, throwing his arms around his waist to stop him.

"Listen, kid. I'm about to lose it." Just as he was about to go on, he could hear Nirei mumbling under his breath. "Huh? What was that?"

"...Those who cause pain, who bring destruction, who hold evil in their heart, will be purged by Bofurin. Without exception!"

The men blinked their eyes before sounds of laughter came out of their lips.

"The only guys who get stronger by yelling are the fake super heroes on television." The same man spoke, grabbing a fistful of Nirei's hair. As he does so, he could feel his hands clench around on the back of his jacket. A grin curling up in his lips.