Try Your Hardest | Ushijima Wakatoshi

Year 2: Part 3

"Uta, calm dow-" Eri was quickly cut off.

"Calm down?! Did you see what he did?! I hate how they've been looking at me, at all of us! This was such a stupid idea! I was against it and I knew it was going to end up with idiots gawking at us, but I am the only one getting picked on because they're scared of the rest of you!" Uta yelled in a way Eri had never seen her before.

So, context:

This week is Shiratorizawa's summer cultural festival. Every class and most clubs do something special to celebrate before their finals and summer break.

The third years in the swimming club decided to do one of the most mainstream ideas that a few of the members were against: a maid cafe. They picked out the outfits and everything, giving Iriye a special light pink one that made her stand out compared to everyone's black Lolita looking outfits. They loved and appreciated Uta, but also enjoyed to pick on her because she was the smallest member even compared to the first years.

And of course, boys being boys decided they wanted to pick on her as well, but in a way that made her feel completely humiliated.

At first it was boys calling her cute and asking her strange questions that made her uncomfortable, then a guy tried to force her to sit at a table with him, and what made her lose it was when a third year pulled up her skirt and laughed about it even after getting kicked out. She was so fumed that she left into an empty classroom to cool off, Eri following to support her.

"Just sit down, I'll bring you some water and something to eat," Eri raised her hands defensively.

"I don't WANT TO SIT DOWN!" she lashed out.

"Stop yelling! People outside can hear you!" Eri pointed at the door.

"Well let them hear me!" she stomped towards the door and slid it open to see a crowd that had formed outside the door, "I HATE MEN! YOU'RE ALL-AH!"

Eri pulled her collar and pulled her back inside the room and poked her head out to address the students, "sorry about that, please go on with your day." She closed the door and sighed in annoyance, turning back to Uta who was still pacing back and forth with her arms crossed.

"Please sit down, Uta," Eri spoke seriously, in a demanding tone.

Uta stopped walking and stared at Eri for a moment before taking a deep breath and sitting down on a chair. Eri walked to her and spoke down to her, which was intimidating for Iriye.

"I know you're frustrated and yes, those boys are disgusting. But next time someone is picking on you, you have to tell us before they do something like that," Eri scolded. Uta has failed to mention in many instances what the guys were doing to her until they caught them in the act.

"But I can-"

"'Handle it myself'. Right?" Eri took the words right out of her mouth. She sat down and took one of her friend's hands. "I'm sorry to say, but you didn't handle it. I know you hate to hear this Uta, but these people are much bigger and stronger than you, that's why they pick on you. They know you can't do anything to them, and you know that you can't..." her voice trailed off when she saw Uta's sad eyes that already knew where the conversation led to.

Eri has said it a billion times before. These words weren't meant to hurt Uta, they were to protect her.

"You know you can't do much against them."

Uta slapped both her hands on her face and yelled loudly in them. "I know, I know. I just want to be able to do something about it myself, but no one takes someone who is smaller seriously. I don't want to trouble anyone..."