12 Class is in Session (2/2)

”It's perfect!” Grabbing Mai's hand, the two girls rushed forward and took a seat. Mai sat her lunch box on the table as Shirone took out Maria's, before setting it on the table. Once the lid was opened, the two girls couldn't help but be awed at the contents inside. Which were a few sandwiches, all cut into perfect triangles, a few sliced apples in the shape of a flower with a cup of caramel sauce in the middle, along with a few bright colored macaroons and decorative bite-size cakes.

'Okaa-san, you truly spoiled me too much!' Maria felt nothing but undying happiness, promising to thank her overly affectionate mother when she returned home later. Looking over at Mai's lunch box, Maria saw that Mai was just as fancy looking, but with more meat dishes piled into hers.

”Wanna share each other's lunches?” Maria offered, after eyeing a juicy sausage that was in Mai's lunch box.

”Sure~!” excitedly answered Mai, who was also eyeing one of the delicious cakes that was inside Maria's lunch box. The two continued sampling each other's lunches as Shirone politely served them tea while Kuroka amusingly stood to the side, giggling whenever one complimented a sample of the other's lunch.

Lunch would have continued peacefully if the sound of a few boys nearby in the area hadn't interrupted them. Looking towards where the noise was coming from, Maria saw a few boys from her class; one was holding a cute blonde lolita looking doll.

”My dad told me that a real man shouldn't play with dolls! That those who do are weak and a pansy just like you!” The boy holding the doll taunted as the two other boys who were standing alongside him laughed as another boy tried to reach for the doll, only to have it thrown towards one of the three boys who was bullying him. Narrowing her eyes, Maria soon realized that the boy who was being targeted by their bullying was the cute little lamb Julian who was in her class.

'Precious little lamb, it's already your first day and you're surrounded by bullies.' Seeing the three boys who were much taller than Julian, sending mean taunts his way and tossing around the doll that was obviously precious to him, caused a sense of anger to rise from Maria.

”Mean stupid bullies. I should go over there and teach them a lesson.” Sharing Maria's feelings was Mai, who began glaring at the three boys, hands balled up into fists.

'I want to go over there and help, but a part of me is afraid of making the situation worse. But... I can't stand the sight of this treatment. If I turn my head away, I'll never be able to forgive myself.' Turning her eyes towards Shirone, the white-haired cat maid seemed to have understood her ojou-sama's thoughts and made her way over to the group of boys.

”You three are disturbing my ojou-sama. Please leave,” Shirone spoke, voice unwavering and polite, showing them no sign of hostility. Though it seemed the boys were not happy to have someone interrupt their fun.

”Stay out of this! If your ojou-sama has a problem, tell her to come out and face me herself!” yelled the boy from before who was taunting Julian. Speaking of Julian, the lamb was caught by surprise when a beautiful white-haired cat maid stepped in front of him.

'So you can bully me next? No thank you!' Maria took a sip of her tea, keeping a watchful eye on the situation. Shirone tipped her head to the side, showing the three a beautiful, bright smile, and in a saccharine voice said,

”My ojou-sama's attention shouldn't be wasted on such low-filthy garbage. So once again, I'll tell you to leave...” Maria almost dropped the teacup in her hand when in that next second Shirone's eyes flashed a chilling bright red, eyes sharp like a predator's, sending utter fear into the hearts of those three boys as she finished saying, ”Before I do something I won't regret.”

Watching the three boys run away like the devil was after them to steal their souls, Maria couldn't help but think. 'Yep. I did right by sending out Shirone. Also, gotta promise myself to never in my life piss her off.'