280 Chapter one, 2017, a new year: 3 (1/2)

Kyoko pretended she didn't see the gang of third years following her. She might not be the fastest on the uptake in the boy meets girl game, but she knew trouble heading for Kuri-chan when she saw it.

'Idiots! I have to pretend to protect Kuri-chan while she hurts you all over again.' But then some people really never learned. This time it was Ryu walking around with Kuri-chan as his new-won prize that fed their anger. 'And Kuri-chan, you're an idiot as well.'

Kuri-chan saw her, and Kyoko waved to her friend, all too aware the gang behind her would catch up when the two of them met. Kyoko barely had time to get away from Kuri-chan's mandatory hug before the voices reached them from behind.

”And she goes for the kill again. What's with you and hooking up with lookers?”

Kyoko noted how Ryu had made himself scarce, but she had no doubt he stood hiding somewhere close.

”With her grades, how did she even end up here in the first place?”

The mood was turning just as ugly as Kyoko suspected. She could understand why the girls felt the way they did when Kuri-chan showed up on Ryu's arm the very first day of the new school year, but still.

”I got a scholarship,” Kuri-chan answered.

Kyoko knew that voice. 'Don't make it worse, Kuri-chan!'

”Scholarship? What need would this school possibly have for you?”

'You just had to, Kuri-chan!'

Kuri-chan turned, ever so slowly, and faced her adversary. ”The school was in desperate need of a makeover. I make it look better. One me can easily make up for an entire class of ordinaries like you, wouldn't you agree?”

'Kuri-chan! That was brutal. That was totally uncalled for. You'll never keep friends that way.'

Then Kyoko recalled that the only real friends Kuri-chan had made were all members of the club.

The girls flinched.

'Here we go again.' Kyoko made ready to face the group together with her friend. This time she only felt sorry for them. She had seen Ryu pretend to walk away, and Kyoko knew he was somewhere near waiting for the perfect moment to arrive.

'Stage monkey!' The right wing classrooms towered close by, and Kyoko saw students looking out the windows. They didn't want to miss the latest show featuring their famous fellow student. 'And you, you deserve getting your faces chewed off! What kind of morons stage an attack like this in full view of half the school?'

”You bitch! Just because you got a little famous you think you can say whatever you want?”

Kuri-chan grinned. ”That's wrong,” she calmly stated.

'Don't fall for it. Don't be as stupid as you look!'

”What do you mean with wrong?”