A Born Protector

Chapter 2: A Branch Full of Nonsense

Shiratori Aira's day started out well enough until it didn't. She was greeted by all who saw her. She would wave back at them as expected of someone of her status. She talked with her friends some bit and she then set her sight on one person in particular. A boy from her class that was kind of an enigma to many amongst them. He was Ayase Mamoru. Considered to be one of the most popular males of their school. He was also pretty smart, scoring the top 5 in terms of academic studies and was also an athletic person. Yet despite all this achievement, he never bragged about it. To Aira who always desire the attention given to her, she would have used that kind of feat to her advantage.

Yet the most defining feature about him was that Mamoru acted casual around not just her but pretty much everyone. Even when around her, she treated him no different and Aira kind of like the treatment for once. No fawning over her like she was the best thing in the world. (Personally, she felt she was) What's more she does see him go out of his way to helped people where he can. He was the very definition of the silent type yet he wasn't afraid to be gentle either.

And now said person had collapse in class and everyone immediately panic and few of the more sensible students decided to helped carry him to the infirmary. Aira decided to volunteer to helped bring Mamoru to the nurse in question and after a few check up here and there, she wrote something in her note and look at Aira.

"There's nothing wrong with him physical wise. But there's tell tale signs of fatigue, so when he wakes up be sure to give him some few vitamin prescription to helped him with the exhaustion. You're his classmate, right?"

Aira nodded at that.

"Well, he's free to head back home for the day when he wakes and I need to write up some letter to the principal's informing her about his permission to finish up class early."

With that the nurse, stood up with notes in hand and leave the two of them alone in the infirmary. Aira was seated just beside the bed where Mamoru was resting. When she looks at him with that face...it made Aira saw how peaceful he looks. Like he was finally looking his age. And what's more a part of her feel he was actually kind of cute. But she immediately shakes her head off that imagery because now wasn't really the time.

Aira was now wondering what could drove the usual pillar like Mamoru to the brink of exhaustion. He was always so unphased by everything. Even when he was supposedly in an argument with his sister, he never got riled up and yet he suddenly fainted.

'Must be from stress. Poor dude might have it rougher than we all thought.'

Aira thought to herself when suddenly the door of the infirmary opens with a loud thud that nearly made her jump. She looks behind her and was actually surprised to see a girl with near same facial appearance as Mamoru. She quickly realized this was Ayase Momo, one of the admittedly popular girls in school and Mamoru's twin sister. However, what's more shocking instead was the look of worried and clear concerned on her face when her sole attention was on the person currently laying on the infirmary's bed.

"Mamoru..."

Momo quickly walked towards said bed and to Aira's further surprised, she was holding his hand in hers and was holding it firmly yet gently as to not hurt him. Her attention then shift to the other person in the room and Aira had to admit that look was pretty scary like a mother bear would tear you to shred at any moment.

"What happened?"

Two words yet it conveyed so much emotion that it was honestly surprising to hear it from the girl who from what Aira heard was pretty infamous for her explosive temper and head strong attitude. But she demanded an answer and Aira was more than obliged to give it.