My Friend the Harem Protagonist

Chapter 23: Craziest of All

I had to hurry. I didn't know if Haru could handle two of them. Three girls would be a death sentence. I was pretty sure Aya's house was just past the next yard. I picked up the pace, and sprinted around the corner into the front yard.

Ayami, Miyu, and Karin were all staring up at Aya's house. Shin and Aya must have already made it inside, so why were they still here? I looked past them to where Haru was lying at the base of a tree. He wasn't moving. Panic creeped up my spine as I realized I might be too late. The girls paid me no mind as I rushed past.

Ayami approached the house. I didn't know what she was going to do but I wasn't going to wait and find out. She made it to the front walkway, then the sound of a sliding deadbolt came from the door. Ayami stopped, and the door slid open. A thin yellow light peeked through the crack and slowly crept along the yard. Aya stood in the doorway with the light at her back, just a dark silhouette and not the twin-tailed girl I'd already met.

In the dark I could barely make out her face. She stepped down into the yard and crossed over to Ayami, who looked unsure of what to do. Aya stepped into Ayami's side and grabbed her wrist. In one smooth motion she twisted Ayami's arm up and with her other hand punched her clean across the jaw. Ayami went limp and collapsed at Aya's feet.

Karin charged, faster than I'd ever seen her move. Back when I was with the judo team I'd seen her get mad. She turned into a viking, storming in and ignoring every attempt to get an ippon. Her opponent might as well have been trying to flip a tree.

They were going to kill each other, I was sure of it. It didn't matter to me though, I had to get Haru out of here. They were almost at each other's throats when a voice called out from within the house.

"Aya, where did you go? The movie's about to start!" Everyone froze at the sound of Shin's voice. Karin and Aya lowered their fists. It would be over for everyone if Shin saw them like this. Aya backed toward the door. She never took her eyes off Karin. Once she was on the step she grinned down at us. Then she closed the door and was gone.

The yard was dark again. Miyu ran off, probably because she realized she was completely outmatched. Karin moved to where Ayami had fallen and easily pulled her into a fireman's carry. I turned my attention back to Haru.

I gave him a light smack on the cheek, just enough to elicit a groan. He was alright, just in pain.

"I need you to hold on tight, okay?" He nodded slightly. It was the first time I ever gave a boy a piggyback ride. He was surprisingly heavy. He'd have to pay me back somehow.

Karin had finished adjusting Ayami, who looked completely unconscious. We faced each other for just a second before she turned and sprinted off. I started jogging toward my house, since it was closer than Haru's. There was a whole side of Aya that none of us expected, but I could deal with that later. Right now Haru needed me.

Author's note: The big reveal! Aya has more going on than we originally thought. Stick around to learn how she's able to knock Ayami out with one punch. There's a reason she's with Shin, and it isn't just because she asked first.