[Chapter 19: I'll Always Be There]
The silence in the old clubroom was heavy—like the air right after a thunderstorm.
Dust floated in the fading sunlight, and the unconscious groans of Ryo and his gang echoed faintly behind them. But Takumi didn't care. His attention was on one person.
Yuri.
She was still sitting on the cold floor, hugging her knees tightly, her light brown hair hiding most of her face. She didn't want him to see her like this—torn, trembling, weak.
But he saw everything.
Takumi walked over slowly and crouched in front of her. "Yuri."
She flinched slightly, but then looked up.
Her eyes were red. Her lip had a small cut. Her hands were shaking.
Takumi gently reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You should've told me what they were doing."
"I… I didn't want to trouble you," she whispered.
He exhaled softly, his expression serious but calm. "Don't ever think you're a burden to me."
Yuri's breath caught.
"I'm not some hero," he said, voice low but unwavering. "I'm lazy. I avoid people. I don't care about a lot of things. But when it comes to you… I'll always show up."
Her eyes widened.
"I'll always be there for you, Yuri. No matter what."
She bit her lip, tears welling again. And this time, she didn't hold them back. She threw her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. He held her close, letting her cry—softly stroking her back, steady as ever.
In that abandoned clubroom, they weren't the "angel" and the "quiet genius."
Just Takumi and Yuri.
Two people who needed each other more than they realized.
The news spread like wildfire.
By the next day, everyone in school had heard about the fight—how Takumi single-handedly took on Ryo's gang to protect Yuri.
Some thought it was exaggerated. Others swore they saw bruises on Ryo's jaw.
But one thing was clear: Takumi was no longer "just a lazy guy with good grades."
He was feared.
Respected.
And even admired.
Whispers filled the halls. Girls peeked from classroom doors, blushing when he walked past. Some bold enough to try talking to him got a quiet nod—but nothing more.
Yuri, now walking beside him again, noticed the change too.
The way people looked at him.
But he remained the same.
He only looked at her.
---
After school, Yuri found Reika alone in the stairwell.
She stepped into view slowly.
Reika tensed. "Come to gloat?"
"No," Yuri said softly, but firmly. "I just came to tell you one thing."
She met Reika's eyes without fear. "I don't hate you. But I won't forgive you either. What you did wasn't just jealousy—it was cruel."
Reika scoffed but looked away.
"You're not a bad person. You're just lost," Yuri continued. "I hope someday you figure out how to be better."
Then, without waiting for a reply, Yuri walked away.
Leaving Reika speechless—for the first time in a long while.