40 Not Much of an Air Ball (2/2)

”What? Why?” Arata stopped what he was doing and stared at his best friend. ”Why would you quit this early?”

”Guess... I'm not really welcome there.” She chuckled as she rubbed her neck. ”It was like a nobody just went to audition and became part of the team. She was too busy to commit and got kicked out... even to the point of... not being allowed to return... so...” She trailed her voice, finding words to fill the attention span Arata had given her. ”Hah, it's really bad. I can manage...”

”Those girls had been bullying you a lot, haven't they?” The player almost hissed as he turned away from Yukari's face, angered by those girls in the basketball club. ”I wonder if I can use my influence to take care of them...” Those last words were not something he wanted to say out loud, and yet his annoyance had left his mouth run free. He twitched and casted his gaze back at Yukari's surprised face. ”You have practice today, right? I'll go see you!”

”Stupid. What about Student Council?” The best friend crumpled her face in annoyance. She was trying to hide her appreciation by dissing Arata. In fact, she was just taking it out on him since she had the reason to hit him. Not to mention the capability to do so. It was like breaking one's pencil because one owns it. She snuffed to the side. ”It's fine. I'll just leave the club.”

Arata would try to convince her, but Cora went to her side and held her arm. ”Yukari-sempai, please. You wanted to be part of the club. Not to mention your aptitude in playing the sport. Please reconsider. Let Arata-sempai help you.” She lowered her head, keeping up with the walking pace of the two older students next to her. ”Please don't be discouraged...”

Yukari only sighed as she was placed in a lock between the two. She moved her head to see Attori walking behind them, fiddling with her phone and wearing her creepy smile. The best friend took a deep breath and looked ahead of them as they saw the waiting shed. However, the bus came to their sight, and saw they all panicked and ran just so they would not miss it. The admirer sat next to Attori as she chose not to sit next to Arata this time. Yukari looked at the mad girl before sneaking a look at her phone.

”Do you want it?” Attori hummed as she figured Yukari was looking at her phone. ”Hamada-sempai's number?”

”What for?” She leaned against the seat, taking her glance off of the mad girl. She looked at Arata who was chatting with Cora, looking a music sheets for their performance soon.

”I don't know. It seemed to be useful.” Attori chuckled as she seemed to get excited by the information she just received from the text.

”Are you really sending messages to Hamada-sempai? Aren't you too happy?” She shrugged as she shifted her weight and decided to face Attori despite the creepy grin she had on her face. Her arm was behind her head, not minding getting close to the mad girl. The admirer still had not asked her where they went last weekend; why they were at the airport yesterday. ”Are you gossiping about something?”

”Huh? No, I wasn't sending messages to Hamada-sempai. I'm talking to Ruru-chan.” She moved to show her screen to the admirer, letting her see a screen of their conversation.

What frightened Yukari about the text was not because Ruby was responding to Attori casually, or the fact that she was leaking harmless student information to the blue-haired girl. It was because the students being inquired where the ones who came after her. They were different from those who locked Tohru in the shed, but they were entirely in the same circle of friends. The information had nothing confidential, but Yukari reacted to the part where Attori now knew where their homeroom was. Also which clubs they were part of and their supposed school schedule.

This part made her remember what Attori did to those who locked Arata and Tohru. In the middle of a night when the rain roared its most powerful, the mad bitch walked the streets to knock on their doors. She dragged them out of their houses and forced them to come with her to school. Yukari only managed to come along because she was the one who told Attori that Arata had not come home yet.

”What are you planning to do with that?” Yukari backed away in fear, but she was curious. She was not one who wishes misfortune to befall on others, but she needed to know what could be thrown back at her.

”Of all people, you should know that.” The blue-haired girl giggled, just until the bus arrived in front of their school. ”Gear up, Yukari. It's hunting time!”