I Will Always Be By Your Side

Chapter 10

That night, Rena lay down on her bed after taking a bath and changing clothes.

"I can never be mad at you... Because we're friends."

"... Isn't that why you came in the first place? Because you're afraid that I'll be mad at you because you think of me as a friend?"

Jurina's words played in her mind as she lay down. Rena placed her hand over her chest. "Because... We're... Friends?" She muttered. "But why do I feel like it's more than that?" She sighed and then she turned to her side to try to fall asleep and then Jurina's smiling face flashed on her mind. She opened her eyes and turned around and closed her eyes again in hopes of falling asleep. "I must sleep. I'm probably just thinking too much."

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"Jurina, you seem to be so happy today." Her mother said. "Am I?" Jurina asked. Her mother nodded. "Yes. You've been smiling since you came back after walking Rena to the bus stop. Seems like you two had fun earlier, am I correct?"

Jurina just replied with a smile. "You really know everything about me." She said. "Of course! You are my daughter. I can sense it even if you don't tell me." Her mother replied. "Uhm well, you are right mom. I'm happy. I think today I just gained a new friend in Rena-chan." Jurina said, which made her mother look at her with confusion. "What do you mean? Aren't you two already friends when you first brought her here in our ramen house?"

"Actually, that day, I brought her here as my way of thanking her for the time that she saved my life." Jurina said. "Eh?" Her mother has become more confused with what she just said so Jurina told her everything that happened the first time that she met Rena few months ago and how the two of them met again as classmates in her new school.

"I see. So that's what happened." Her mother said. "I guess there is more reason for me to thank her." She continued.

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"It's a surprise that you're not yet asleep at this time of the day." Rena looked back and saw Yuki standing behind her with arms crossed. "I'm about to sleep but sleep won't come to visit me." Rena replied then she looked down again to the school ground. "I see. If that's what you say so." Yuki said then she sat on the bench where she used to read and opened her book. "Let me guess, you're waiting for someone?"

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"Come on Mayu! I want you to meet someone." Jurina said while dragging Mayu to the rooftop. "Wait, Jurina, you are dragging me a little too fast. Just who is this person that you want me to meet that you are dragging me like this?" Mayu said looking annoyed. "Sorry. I'm just afraid that she's already asleep when we get there." Jurina replied with a smile.

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"Let me guess, you're waiting for someone?" Yuki said before she started reading, which made Rena blush.

"What? No, I'm not wa-" Before Rena could finish her sentence, the door suddenly opened and from it came Jurina together with Mayu who looked surprised upon seeing Rena and Yuki.

"I see. So you're NOT waiting for someone huh?" Yuki said with a meaningful smile, earning her a glare from Rena.

"Waahh I'm glad that you're not yet asleep Rena-chan." Jurina said as she catch her breath. "Why?" Rena asked. "Here!" Jurina said, handing her a lunch box. "What is this?" Rena said as she accepts the lunch box. "Mom said that I should give it to you. She wants to say thank you for what you did for me when we first met few months ago." Jurina explained. "Eh? But she doesn't need to."

"Also, I want you to meet my best friend." Jurina said that she pulled Mayu who was hiding from her back and bring her in front of Rena. "Her name is Mayu from 2A."

"H-Hi! I... I'm W-Watanabe M-Mayu." Mayu said as she stutters in fear. "Nice to meet you Mayu." Rena said with a smile, offering her hand. "I'm Rena. Matsui Rena."

"I... I know." Mayu said as she reluctantly accepts Rena's hand. That's when Rena realized that Mayu is afraid of her. Well, who won't be afraid, given her reputation as a Yankee. She guessed that even the students from their rival schools are afraid of her and the only students who aren't afraid of her are probably just Jurina and Yuki. "Don't be scared Mayu-chan. I'm not going to hurt you." Rena said with a reassuring smile, which made Mayu looked at her with a surprise look. Mayu then felt a tap on her shoulder.  "I told you, Rena-chan is a nice person." Jurina said then she turned to Rena. "We won't be disturbing you and your friend here." She looking at Yuki. "We will be going now."

"W-wait!" Rena said, slightly blushing. "Since you two are already here, why don't you two eat your lunch here as well."

Mayu and Jurina looked at each other. Mayu shakes her head lightly but Jurina already said yes. "Yuki, you can join us too." Rena said. "But I didn't bring any lunch with me. You know that." Yuki said. "It's fine. You can share with us." Rena said then she turned to Jurina and Mayu. "By the way, I forgot to introduce to you, that girl over there is Kashiwagi Yuki from 3A." The two girls bowed to her. "Pleased to meet you Kashiwagi senpai." Jurina said. Yuki just replied with a nod then she moved to join the three of them for lunch.