I

t's been a few days since Akane submitted the form Yuuka gave her the other day. It's been a few days since Yuuka hasn't bothered Akane anymore and Akane is grateful for that. She can focus on carrying out her daily activities as an ordinary student without fear of being disturbed by The Elites.

Speaking of the elites, she also didn't see the figure of Watanabe Risa. Even though her suspension period should have been over. She also did not find Risa on the basketball court, even their school basketball coach didn't seem to know the annoying girl's whereabouts. Not that Akane cares about Risa, but seeing the commotion who isn't curious?

That day, their class was scheduled for PE. Some students immediately changed their clothes, some chose lazing around in class. Akane had to struggle to get her friends to quickly change clothes. They are indeed slowpoke at times like this. After a few minutes, she finally managed to get her friends to the gymnasium.

Even though it was PE time, Akane realized that there were no teachers who came into their class to supervise the course of the lesson. She even glanced outside the big building to find the whereabouts of the teacher. Masumoto Kira, the student who is the most noisy, surprised by Akane's behavior and decided to approach her. "What are you looking for?"

Akane, still confused about how to answer. "Isn't there a teacher watching here?"

Hearing that, Kira laughed at Akane's question. Her laugh made Akane felt resentful that she stomped on Kira's shoes firmly. “Ow, it hurts! Yes, here we pay a high price in this school so for outdoor learning they provide more complete facilities. And no one is watching us here. "

"Eh? Why is that?"

"I have no idea. Wouldn't it be better if there were no adults to interupt with our activities? " Kira then turned around because her friend called her name.

Fuyuka then approached Akane. She invited the girl to pick up sports equipment from the warehouse. Their class agreed to do volleyball sparring so they had to take some ball and a net.

"Ah, the warehouse is huge." Akane spoke softly. She opened the warehouse door and immediately greeted by a dark sight. Her eyes were watching the warehouse door, it's a type of door that couldn't be opened from the inside. "OK, who will enter and who will be on guard outside."

Fuyuka then held the door. Her smile is fixed on Akane. "I'll be on guard outside, next week you are the one who will be here." Fuyuka's words success making Akane threw out. She let herself walk into the warehouse looking for the items she needed.

Between the large shelves Akane looked for the net that should have been placed on one of the shelves. The light that only came from the barn door felt useless because of its position. Her eye caught a white object on one of the shelves, and she had to tiptoe to retrieve it.

"Holy-that's hurt!"

Akane gasped when she heard the groaning voice. She jumped to the side so she could find out whose voice it was.

"Ouch, don't you have eyes?" the girl spoke again. Behind the darkness, Akane could see the figure standing up and approaching her. Akane eyeing the name tag on the girl's white blazer.

"W-What are you doing here?" Akane asked, to Fujiyoshi Karin. The girl gave a wide yawn and looked at Akane with a lazy gaze. "Where did you come from?" She followed Karin's eyes. She... got in through the ventilation window?

"Sleep." Karin replied. She then glanced up looking at the net, something that made Akane accidentally stepped on her foot before. "I'll get it for you." Karin pushed Akane aside so she could take the volleyball net. She give the net to Akane and walked towards another corner.

Akane followed the girl. Ah, apparently Karin opened a large cupboard and took the bag filled with volleyball. Karin then returned to Akane and give the bag to her. Akane was dumbfounded, she didn't expect Karin to even help her. Whereas previously she thought Karin would kick her for stepping on her feet.

Like telepathy, Karin seemed to understand what Akane was thinking. “There's no need to be afraid. I'm not as bad as those people. Let's get out of here, your classmates are waiting for that."

Fuyuka even surprised when she notice Karin come out of the warehouse with Akane. Karin just glanced at Fuyuka and strolled away. They immediately headed for the gymnasium. "What did she do to you? Why is she inside?"

"She slept there and I accidentally stepped on her feet."

Fuyuka sighed. She didn't know whether to pity or laugh because her friend was always dealing with the elites. Akane elbowed Fuyuka because she knew Fuyuka would laugh at her. "What should I do, damn it!"

“Looks like you have to change your name. Look, with the name Moriya Akane you always had bad luck since from the first day of school."

"You are not helping at all!"

----

Karin is doing a light warm-up on the sidelines. She jumped lightly while stretching her body muscles. The baseball players in white and blue uniform gathered at the basecamp. The baseball team coach blows the whistle, asking the players to assemble. That day they will do light sparring. Karin, run back to basecamp. Moriya Rena, her teammate threw her gloves while giving a cheerful gesture. Karin nodded and she returned to pitching point. Her gaze is focused on the catcher, her target as usual, strike out.

She inhales and holds her breath then exhales as she throws the ball. The ball travels at high speed until the batter cannot hit the ball.

Strike

She could see the coach nodding off proudly. Karin caught the ball again and prepared for the second throw.

Strike two

And strike out.

From the corner of her eye, Karin could see her friends — The Elites. But Karin doesn't care and chooses to focus on slaughtering the second better.

The practice went well, but not with Karin. Once again, she accidentally injured her wrist because she was pushing herself too hard. In fact she was injured during the summer match a few months ago, and it's still not fully recovered and she is aggravating the injury. She has not found The Elites. It seems they came to see Karin practicing earlier, and they also sent some photos of Karin in their private group. Yuuka gave her a message to taking care of her wrist — just like Yuuka usually does.

The pitcher gasped as she felt the cold temperature touch her neck. The girl looked up to find Riko laughing nosily. "This is for you."

Karin muttered thanks before receiving the cold water bottle and pouring almost half of its contents onto her head. She looked down for a few moments, feeling the cold water touch her scalp. Riko also seemed to have just finished training—judging by the way she wore, the not-so-tidy uniform. She also carries a sports bag.

"Did Risa come to practice?" asked Karin.

Riko shook her head. She snorted, “No. She didn't come. Neither of us saw Risa."

Karin just nodded. Actually she was curious about Risa's whereabouts. Maybe she should invite her other friends to come to Risa's house just to check whether that punk is still alive or not. Or maybe Risa did that again? Karin brushed the thought out of her head. Impossible. Karin actually didn't know why she was so involved with The Elites, since when was it more precise. Maybe since the dark events of Sakurazaka where her name was involved as the perpetrator along with the other Elites.

"Hey,"

A voice startled Karin. She lifted her wet head, looking at Akane who walked over to her and Riko.

"Oh, you are Koike's friend!" Riko said. She then introduced herself to Akane.

"What are you doing here?" asked Karin. She looked behind Akane. "You even came alone."

"I just wanted to apologize about this morning." Akane said. It made Karin frown. But finally she gave a small smile, telling Akane that it was okay.

Riko then got up. She also brought her sports bag, “My driver has arrived. I have to go home first. Goodbye,” Riko turned and ran towards the gate, where her car waiting.

Now there are only Karin and Akane. After Riko returned home, Akane felt that her business with Karin was over. So she intends to go home too. “Moriya,” Akane surprised when Karin called out to her. The girl turned around, found Karin already standing with her bag and varsity jacket, walking over her. "Let's go home together."

Honestly, Akane didn't expect one of the elites to initiate an interaction with her—one that wasn't annoying, of course. Akane just nodded and Karin started equalizing her steps for her to walk beside Akane. “I'll take my motorbike. Do you want to come or wait at the gate?" asked Karin.

"I will wait." Karin nodded and walked towards the parking lot alone. Meanwhile Akane walked towards the gate. She could see Karin pulling out her Tiger Explorer.

Karin stopped in front of Akane. With a bit of hesitation, Akane got up behind Karin by giving her about an inch of distance. “Ah, by the way I want to stop by the convenient store. Is that okay?" Karin asked.

Akane just remembered that she still had to buy groceries. So she just followed. "No problem."

"Why do you want to take me home together?" Akane asked. "I personally think all those elite kids are rude."

Karin muttered. It seems that the title The Elites doesn't really stick with her. "I told you, I'm not as cruel as them." she answered. The truth is I just don't want any more victims from The Elites. "I don't know what was in your brain that you wanted to enroll in that school."

"Sakurazaka?" Karin nodded. Akane then replied, "no clue."

Akane seemed to feel that Karin isn't a dangerous person. But she should not be careless considering Karin is still part of The Elites. Their conversation stopped there. No more asking questions or just small talk. So that Akane could easily notice that they had arrived at the convenient store. She jumped off Karin's motorbike, watching the girl take off her helmet and smoothing her short hair in front of the rearview mirror. Karin then put her helmet on the motorcycle seat and walked into the shop.

Akane went straight to the vegetable section, choosing some spinach, carrots and green beans. Cheap food ingredients because she has to save money. She also took some canned food because it could last for long time. Not to forget she also bought some canned drink. While Akane chose her shopping, Karin chose to buy two cups of ramen and two hot coffees. She also brewed two cups of the ramen and brought them to the bench provided. Karin noticed that Akane is busy with her groceries and actually wanted to help, but she didn't want Akane to think of her as being pretentious.

So she chose to sit quietly waiting for Akane to finish paying at the cashier.

"You, sit down first. Accompany me to eat." Karin said when she notice Akane approaching her with a large grocery bag. Akane looked reluctant but Karin giving her a hopeful face.

Finally Akane sat across from Karin. She looked at the steaming bowl of ramen. The smell really excites her taste buds. She saw that Karin had eaten half of the her ramen, so Akane just silently ear hers.

"If I were you, I would quit schools."

Akane raised her head, swallowed the noodles in her mouth. Her face is full of a question.

"So I don't have to deal with The Elites."

"I'm even with one of them right now."

Karin frowned when Akane mentioned The Elites. She felt uncomfortable. "I'm not joking around. You have to leave this school, Moriya."

"I want to, but I can't." Akane answered. “I've been kicked out of my former school for take a fight with seniors. And once I moved here, I had to move again just because of those kids. My parents would kill me."

"Or you would rather choose killed by The Elites." Karin said that in a small voice. But Akane could catch what Karin was saying.

"What?"

"What? I didn't say anything. I'm just saying— "

"Fujiyoshi, I heard what you said."

Akane suddenly realized as Karin looked back at her with a serious gaze. Karin — who is a member of The Elites — asked her to leave so that her friends wouldn't do anything worse. Her memory returned when Koike wrote messages in the chat group. About a student named Hirate. "Does that have anything to do with Hirate?" I might be able to dig up more information from this girl.

Karin choked. She hurriedly took a cup of coffee and drink it — of course the coffee is still a little hot, so Karin cursed her stupidity for drinking hot coffee. That case is an old case. Seeing the person in front of her, Karin felt she maybe can trust Akane.

No. Not yet. I don't want to dig my own grave.

"Fujiyoshi!" Akane pushed Karin even further.

Quickly, Karin got up from her seat. She took Akane's groceries and walked out. "Never mind, let's go home." she didn't care about Akane who kept pushing her to tell her more. She have to hold back from telling about the burdens that had kept her sleeping for months. Karin quickly spurred her motorbike towards Akane's apartment. She was completely unaware of the black benz that stopped at the side of the road, the driver kept an eye on them until finally the driver turned the car around and drove at high speed.

----

Unknown Number
Hello, Moriya Akane

Moriya Akane
Who is this?

Unknown Number
Sugai Yuuka.

Moriya Akane
FUCK OFF.