Falling For You || Otaku Boys x Reader

18 - True Friend

Akari went to school just like a normal student would do. Except that her 'friends' were waiting for her.

"What took you so long?" Himari asked slightly annoyed. Ichika was looking at her new polished nails as usual.

"I'm sorry...I helped my mom wash the dishes because there was a lot of it" Akari said holding on her bag tightly. Himari rolled her eyes and went inside followed by Ichika who never cared about her.

Akari looked at the ground feeling sorrowful. She thought she can trust them but they bullied students that she doesn't want to get hurt. Even Anna was kicked out of the group, the one who trusted her the most.

Himari glared at Akari "Are you coming or what?" She asked. Akari jumped and followed them. "Whatever happened to you? Your clothes look so old and your hair does not match it" She said while applying lip gloss on her lips.

"I wanted to use my old clothes since I haven't been using them, I wanted to wear them until I have to throw them away," Akari said. The two didn't answer and continued walking.

They meet up with Nanae and Asami. Akari felt uncomfortable because she was bullied before from Nanae. Now? They are freaking allies. Akari wasn't happy about it.

Nanae looked at her up and down and rolled her eyes as well as if her dress style was old stuff. Asami didn't care about her and paid attention to the plans to destroy the L/N sisters.

Akari had enough from everything and decided to leave the group later. She had to listen to the plans first to tell Anna about it.

"Now, we need to know their secrets and their past. I cannot let her take Hachiro away!" Nanae whined and the others comforted her except for Akari.

"Ugh, you never even cared about me! Why do you have to be in this group if you can't even utter a single word!" Nanae said and threw Akari a crumpled paper. The others glared at Akari. Akari crushed the crumpled paper and glared at all of them.

"Am I always have to be the weak one here!? I had enough with all of you treating me badly! I thought all of us are friends but you didn't even care for me once!" Akari said and threw back the paper on Nanae's face. She walked away ignoring the insults from her 'friends'.

Himari watched her leave. "Don't worry, she just needs to cool off, she can be mad about little things already. She would go back crawling to us and apologize" She said. Ichika laughed.

Akari sat down to a near bench to calm herself and watched as the other friends have fun together. She felt jealous to see them and wished that she was also with them.

"Hello! You look a bit lonely there, do you want to join us?" A girl said and smiled at Akari. One of her friends pulled her away from Akari.

"Rin, don't talk to her! Do you know she is one of Himari's friends who bullied Hinata?" Her friend whispered to her. Rin started glaring at Akari.

"You know what, never mind. I don't want you to join us" Rin said and left with her friend. Akari looked down and felt guilty. Being Himari's friends might be the reason why she was getting fewer friends.

Himari put her hand on her shoulder. "Don't think about those two nerds, Come on, let's go back?" Himari said and walked away without waiting for Akari. Akari sighed quietly and went back to them.

---

At the playground, Akari tripped over a rock and received a scratch on her knee. Crying, someone approached her and helped her.

"Do not worry! My mommy always said to bring bandages in case one of us gets hurt! Here!" The kind girl said and gave her a bandage.

Akari took it and looked at the girl with a smile on her face.

"Thank you! My name is Akari Ito!" Akari said while applying the bandage on her knee.

"Himari Akato! Nice to meet ya!" She said as the two formed a new friendship.

---

"Back then you were so innocent and kind...I wonder why did you become like this..." Akari muttered and looked at Himari and compared her to the old Himari.

Himari caught her looking at her. "What?" She asked. Akari shook her head telling it was nothing. Himari suspiciously looked at her and went back to talking with Ichika.

---

It was still the same. Akari was still treated badly. Himari was the least one who was treating her badly. Akari trusted Himari and stayed by her side all the time. Even if the others dislike her.

"But I think I should better tell Anna about it...I'm sick of these people..." Akari thought and excused herself to them that she had to go somewhere.

She collected all the information about the plan and looked for Anna. She saw her on the entrance with her sister Y/N and the three boys who were always with her. Akari nervously went to them but Hachiro and Kioshi blocked her path.

Anna saw what happened and stared at Akari who looked nervous from the two boys glaring daggers at her.

"Let her go," Anna said sighing with Y/N holding her arm.

The two boys went back to Daichi and watched Akari approach, Anna.

"Anna...can I talk to you privately please...?" Akari asked.

"Why? I'm not gonna fall for your traps" Anna said with her arms crossed acting brave. Though, she felt mostly scared.

"No, it's not that," Akari said. "I just need to tell you something," She said. Anna sighed and nodded following her somewhere quieter.

"What is it you want to say?" Anna asked. She looked everywhere in case something happens.

"I don't want to stay with them...they treated me badly Anna," Akari said. Anna can see the pain and guilt in her eyes. Anna sighed once again and embraced her tightly.

"If you needed help, you could just ask me," Anna said patting her back.

"I also wanted to tell you about their plan," Akari said. "It's really bad, to be honest". She said.

Akari explained to Anna about the plan that Nanae and the others were doing. Anna looked terrified after hearing the plans they're making.

"Akari...stay with them for a while to gather more information..." Anna said and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Tell me everything when school ends and maybe we can report this".

Akari nodded and saw Himari and the others coming. She pushed Anna away from her. "I'm sorry! Please pretend I'm hurting you so they won't suspect a thing!" She whispered.

Anna nodded and her expression turned calm to angry.

"What the heck! Why did you push me!?" Anna shouted. Himari and the others saw the two and watched the scene. Nanae looked impressed.

"Get away from me! Your filthy arm almost touched me!" Akari barked. As the two argued. Akari stopped the fight and went to the others who clapped at her looking proud.

"My, my, I'm impressed," Nanae said and grinned at Akari.

Anna looked back at then and smirked knowing that Akari is a true friend.