The Song of Windchimes

Wisteria

┏━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┓

Chapter 4

┗━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┛

"Umemiya."
"We've got trouble."
"Yeah, I know," The male responds instantly, taking the group off guard. The sun was beating on their heads, a cool wind refreshing them.

"We don't have enough seeds!"
The white haired fighter turns around in his crouched position, pointing at his plants. Sparks of shock appeared behind the group of first years, everyone deadpanning at the response of the third year and their representative.
"There's one extra planting spot left over there! Is there anything you wanna eat?"

"Forget about the plants for now. Shishito-"
"SHISHITO PEPPERS?! DUDE, YOUR STOMACH FLARES UP LIKE A DISCO ALL THE TIME! YOU SURE YOU CAN EAT THAT?!" Umemiya cuts Hiragi off.
"They're... not even on the same page..." Nirei mumbles, nervous about the interaction in front of them.

"That's..." Sakura mumbled, being confused that this sunshine, all smiles, and green thumb of a man is- "...Umemiya?"

Ryuu pats Sakura's shoulder before the student is yanked by Sugishita, who glared at him.
"'That esteemed man is,' you mean!!" Sugishita glares, eyes wide and a large snarl on his face. "And it's Umemiya-san to you!!!"
'He's such a doberman...!' Ryuu sweatdrops, a picture of Sugishita and a doberman side by side.

"Oh, shaddup already."

"Oh, Whaaaaat?" Ryuu, Sakura and Sugishita turn towards the voice of their senior. "Why's everyone here?" Beside him, Hiragi trembles harshly, bringing a small giggle out of Ryuu.
Sitting down at the gazebo, there is a lot of chatter around. Umemiya rambled on about the different vegetables he has planted, Sugishita listens intently, nodding constantly at what Umemiya is rambling about, Hiragi angrily mumbles beside Nirei, while both Suo and Ryuu comfort and pat the middle schooler, who is about to have an anxiety attack.

"They're all just grass of some kind, aren't they?" Sakura, who seemed quite annoyed, asks. What he just said sparked an anger in Sugishita again, and made Umemiya keep talking about the difference between his plants.

Ryuu smiles before standing up and tapping Umemiya's shoulder.

"Excuse me, Umemiya-san," Ryuu gets the male's attention, "We have a guest that would like your attention, sir."

He presents the middle schooler, who stands up quickly after being given the chance.

"Please let me..." He stutters "Explain myself."

Ryuu sits down, patting the kid on the back to show his support.
"I saw someone shoplifting in the shopping district... I went after him... but before I knew it, I was already in Shishitoren's territory... and when their guys started chasing me around... I thought that was it... I was done for."

"But these two saved me..." Sakura and Sigushita perk up at the mention of their actions. "And... he patched me up..."
Ryuu smiled at the kid, who's tears started to drip down onto the picnic table. "I always wanted to be a member of Bofurin... and I got ahead of myself... But in the end, all I did was spark a fight with Shishitoren."

"I'm... really sorry..."
The boy bows in guilt, tears falling from his face in streams. "Sasaki..."
"How do you know my name...?"
The white haired male bows slightly, making himself visible to the bowing middle schooler with a large smile. "Thanks, man."
The air surrounding them became lighter and easier to breathe in as Umemiya spoke up. "I know what you did triggered a fight with them, but that's only a result of your conviction to protect the town and its people right?"