141 Chapter one, 2016, the value of friends: 2 (2/2)

”Noriko, you have to answer him. Are you going to accept those?” Kuri said from behind her.

”Am I going to accept what?” Noriko looked at Nao-sempai. He sat by his desk again and gave her a smile filled with sadness... and hope? ”Am I going to accept what Kuri?”

The hands on her shoulder tightened. ”Look inside your shoes stupid!”

'What?' Noriko did as she had been told. ”What!”

A pair of earrings, one in each shoe glimmered and glittered in the light. Two hearts with a white stone set in one and a red in the other. She took them out. They felt heavy in her hand. ”Nao-sempai,” she said and looked across the classroom. ”I can't… I couldn't possibly...” 'I can't hurt him anymore. I won't!' ”I won't accept these without knowing why I would deserve such a gift.” 'What am I saying?'

He rose again. ”I think you know, but just leave them on my desk if you don't want them,” he said and walked for the door. She just had time to see his eyes shift with disappointment.

'Is he crying?'

A low murmur of surprise rose in the classroom. The earrings were large enough for all students to see what she had been given.

Just as he passed her Noriko's hands acted on their own. She reached out and pulled at the back of his shirt. He must have felt the tug, because he turned and looked at her. His eyes glimmered just like the earrings.

'He's crying. I'll make it work. I have to.' ”Nao-sempai, I like you. Please go out with me!”

”Oh dear!” her brother said from where he stood by the blackboard.

Even the teacher turned and stared at the unexpected turn of events. Noriko could see his reflection in the doors. Then she saw nothing at all, because her face was buried in Nao-sempai's shirt. His hands were on her back and she could feel his fingers, long and graceful like the rest of him.

Whatever comment her brother made was drowned in the shouts filling the room.

'What am I doing?' Noriko smiled through her tears. 'I promised I'd move on. I'll make this work.' She moved her arms and held the small of his back. Nao-sempai was just too tall for her to reach any higher.

From the back of the classroom she heard Yukio shouting for silence. The second part of their plan was about to unfold, but she could just as well listen to it while embracing. It would be less embarrassing that way.

”Class 1:1,” Yukio said, and his voice was a mix of amusement and anger. ”State your errand!”

”I'm Okamoto Akira. Anyone bullying Noriko-chan will answer to me.”

”Class 2:1. State your errand!”

”I'm Kimoshita Midori. Anyone bullying Noriko-chan will answer to me.”

”Class 3:1. State your errand!”

Over half her class had joined and the names kept rolling. ”Anyone bullying Noriko-chan will answer to us,” thundered through the classroom. The implicit threat hadn't been lost on anyone.

The class rolls kept coming, and when Yukio began calling up the second years the mood had turned grim.

Nao-sempai never let go of her, not even when he answered for 7:2.

When the Suzuki third year finally answered the roll the class was thoroughly subdued.

The teacher looked at his class with open disgust in his eyes. ”I think that concludes the lesson. Class dismissed!”