The classroom door slams open. Shizuku steps inside looking behind her as she drags something through the door. She is holding a foot, which is followed by a leg.

"Itai, itai itai!"

I recognize the whimper as Shizuku drags Akiyama into the room and down the aisle.

"Er, you shouldn't..." Takasagi-sensei starts to admonish her. She fails to even acknowledge him and he falls into an anxious silence.

Shizuku grabs Akiyama's collar and, with one arm, picks him up and flings him at Himura's feet. "Apologize." Her voice carries the hollow echoing finality of the tomb.

It reminds me of the disembodied voice I heard on the day of the sports festival. Mizu...Izu... The name taunts me from the edge of memory.

Akiyama writhes on the floor whimpering.

Shizuku grabs him by the ear and slowly pulls him screaming to his knees. "Apologize, you scum!"

"I'm sorry!" He wails. Shizuku lets go. He falls into a full dogeza, touching his palms and forehead to the floor. "I'm very sorry! Please forgive me!" He raises his tear-stained face and gives Himura a pleading look.

 Himura's mouth slowly slides open.

Shizuku plants her heel between Akiyama's shoulder blades and shoves him down, grinding his right cheek against the floor. "Not good enough," She snarls. "You insulted her, you shit-eating worm. You belittled her. Take responsibility!"

"It's all my fault!" The floor muffles Akiyama's voice. You did nothing wrong. It was me. I was wrong to say you were ugly. You're not ugly. You're beautiful! I'm the one who is not worthy to date you."

Shizuku removes her foot from his back. "You can say that again."

"I was wrong," Akiyama whimpers, "I'm not worthy."

Shizuku steps back and glares down at him as if she couldn't believe she had put her foot on something so vile.

The classroom's gaze cycles between the sobbing Akiyama, the frozen Himura and Shizuku who smolders with barely checked rage.

The tense silence drags on, then Takasagi-sensei finds his voice. "Shi-Shi-Shizuku-san, return to your seat. Himura-san, your friend needs to go back to his homeroom."

Himura takes a deep breath. With dry eyes and a determined expression, she calmly replies, "He's not my friend."

Akiyama crawls to his feet and, keeping his head down, shuffles rapidly out of the classroom door.