The students in the cafeteria seemed to be discussing hot topic. The news about The Elites fight was buzzing among students. They did not know about the brutal incident at that time, but they could see the impact of the fight today.

Risa came to school with a face full of wounds, and bandages on several parts of her body, the girl came with her face crumpled. Usually she always teased some of the other students but not that morning. After parking her vehicle, she immediately walked to the classroom. She also doesn't wear her white blazer and only wears a shirt with a gray vest.

Karin came in a situation that was not much different. Her wrists were bandaged, there was an stitched wound that still not dry on her left temple, swelling in the neck and her jaw. The bandage was also stuck on the bridge of her nose which was swollen.

Meanwhile, Hono was absent because she could not walk for a while. Keep in mind, Risa has broke her leg before.

Akane who already understood what happened wasn't surprised to see The Elites not interacting with each other. Even Risa, who is usually stick like glue with Yui and Yuuka, seemed to be moving away from them. The tall girl prefers to sleep in the clinic during breaktime.

Fuyuka came with a few slices of bread and 3 cups of milkshake on a tray. Matsuda helped pick up the drinks and return the trays where they were provided. Today they seem more serious than usual. Even the talkative Matsuda only responded with a few sentences. Koike wasn't with them. Habu picked her up to take her to lunch together on the roof. It's really romantic according to Akane. It made them make fun at Koike.

“Fuuchan. Who is Hirate?” Akane suddenly asked. With a curious expression, the girl looked at Matsuda and Fuyuka and hoped the two friends would give an answer.

"I told you she's a former student here." Fuyuka is silent for a moment, her eyes looked up, trying to think. “she's the only person who dares with The Elites. To the point that they bullied Hirate at school"

“If I'm not mistaken she dropped out of school when her friends died in a car accident. It's terrible, imagine 5 people, there are no survivors. Somehow The Elites seemed to grieve after that incident. They were quiet for a few days before returning to their activities."

Akane listened to Matsuda's explanation carefully. She even forgot to chew the bread that was in her mouth. She never knew about the 5 students who died in accident. The news didn't leak out at all, even the media didn't report the incident.

“It's… too painful to remember, Akane. Those five students are good people." Matsuda lowered her head. She couldn't hide the sad expression behind her voice. “Maybe you can find more information at the library. The school keeps files containing the identities of students, you can definitely find those students there.”

Five people died in a car accident? There are only two possible causes. First, drunk drivers. Second, the condition of the car and the slippery roads. If an accident occurs during the Christmas holidays, there is a chance that the accident occur because a car tire slips on the snowy road. Karin refused to explain things like that to her. Akane recalled the doubt that had appeared on her face as she seemed about to tell such a thing. If Karin's reason for refusing to tell her is that it's hard to reopen old memories it doesn't make sense. Okay, maybe it makes sense because maybe she doesn't want to remember someone who's died.

Or maybe she was involved?

Akane dumped the accusation without any reason from Karin. Karin was such a good person, she couldn't possibly commit such a risky murder.

“Akane? What are you thinking? Your phone is ringing." Fuyuka shook Akane's shoulders. The girl was too deep in thought that she didn't notice her smartphone screaming waiting to be seen by its owner.

Unknown number..

"Speak."

"You haven't forgotten your job?"

That's right, Akane had promised to help keep an eye on Risa. "Ah.. okay." From her voice it seemed that the one calling her was Kobayashi. She immediately hung the phone and sighed heavily. Regretting her decision to be in constant contact with these kind of students.

Akane took her milkshake and took a quick sip of the drink. It made Fuyuka and Matsuda look at her with strange looks. "Why is it in such a hurry?" Fuyuka asked.

"I have to go to the bathroom." With that, Akane walked rather quickly leaving the confused Matsuda and Fuyuka looking at each other.

"What's wrong with her?"

----

Risa wiped the paint liquid that was flowing from her head to her face. The sticky liquid flowed quickly through her hair and uniform. She didn't put up any defense when one person in front of her poured paint again. Risa could only protect her face by raising her arms over her face. The wound, which was still wet, stung when the liquid washed her. Risa couldn't fight back because her knuckles still hurt when moved. So she just gave in when the three girls mocked her again.

"Oh, look. She's like a cute little dog."

“Rei, give her another color. She will definitely look pretty in that!”

Again, Risa didn't fight back when Ozono Rei, a senior student, poured paint on her. Then threw the bucket until it hit Risa's body.

"See what you can do without your friends, Watanabe." Endo Hikari said, followed by laughter from her friends. "You feel our revenge."

Akane, hearing voices and laughter from the end of the corridor leading to the empty classroom immediately ran over to the source of the sound. Her steps suddenly stopped when she saw Risa in a paint colored uniform being bullied by three senior students — what Akane didn't believe is, the three senior students were bullying a Watanabe Risa.

She hurriedly sent a message to Yui to immediately go to the intended place. After the message was sent, she immediately approached the four people.

"Hey! What are you doing to her, damn it. If you take revenge on her, how will you be different from Watanabe?” Akane shouted. She stood among them with a fiery gaze. Risa widened her eyes as Akane stood in front of her trying protect her.

After all, why would the girl she hated so much for ruining her reputation as the ruler of the school on her first day want to protect her from the seniors? Risa didn't understand.

Seeing Akane, Rei immediately narrowed her eyes. She looked at Akane with full of hate. “You're that new student, right? You don't need to interfere in our business. This is our problem with her." Akane did not move from her position, instead she ordered them to leave.

The three of them retreated slightly from their previous positions when they looking at Akane's terrifying expression. It was as if the girl was going to crush and tear them apart like a hungry lion.

"You all have never changed." Yui's calm yet firm voice made them suddenly look at the arrival of the girl who owned the school. "I'll give you 5 seconds to get out from my sight, or you will be dishonorably expelled from this school!"

Never been they hear Yui shout in such a loud voice. So jarring that her voice echoed in the hallway. Her sharp eyes could not be separated from the three seniors who looked scared.

"Shit. Kobayashi.. ” Ozono pulled her two friends away from there in a hurry. She didn't want to locking gaze with Yui who is in anger.

After the three of them left, Akane turned around and faced Risa's shoulders. After taking a closer look, it seems that the paint they spilled on Risa was a type of watercolor. So it won't be difficult to remove stains from Risa's uniform. But, still, the uniform she was wearing is soaking wet.

Yui touched Risa's shoulder, leading her away. "Come on, clean yourself. Moriya, can you please find a staff and ask him to clean up this mess?” Yui asked Akane. The girl nodded in agreement.

"Ah wait, Koba!" Akane calling out to Yui, causing the girl to stop in her tracks. Akane took off her white blazer and gave it to Yui. "She will need this, maybe? Just take it." Risa once again looked at Akane in disbelief. How could she acted so nice to Risa who is a bully?

"Thank you," Yui accepted Akane's blazer with a smile before walked away with Risa.

In the toilet, Yui waited patiently for Risa behind the door. She already brought a spare white skirt and shirt that she took from Risa's locker. After about 10 minutes, Risa knocked on the door three times. Gives Yui a sign to give her a change of clothes from the top of the high door. Yui threw it with a little effort because it's too high to reach the cavity. Risa came out a few minutes later. Her face is now clean of watercolors and her limp hair is clean too. Yui took a dry towel to dry Risa's hair with it.

"I thought you didn't care about me."

Yui stopped her activities to wipe the towel on Risa's wet hair. The girl was silent for a moment, thinking of a suitable sentence to reply. "Who said. I'm your friend, Risa."

She could hear Risa laughing bitterly. "I thought you would prefer your fiancé over your best friend."

Oh, Yui didn't expect Risa to to discuss her relationship with Yuuka again. "Risa.."

Risa smiled at Yui. Tried to organize her heart so that she was okay, so that she wouldn't feel sad anymore. However, to Yui it was a smile from a broken heart. She could feel Risa holding back the urge to cry.

"But it's okay. I will be fine. If you need help, you know who to ask." Said Risa. "I love you, Yui. I don't care if you think I'm stubborn or something.. but from the bottom of my heart. I'm really serious when saying that. "

Yui didn't know how to answer. Seeing Risa, she couldn't refuse the girl now. She didn't want to make Risa hurt even more. "What are you talking about," Yui replied. She hit Risa's chest half jokingly while Risa groaning in pain. Yui forgot that Risa had just fought two people.

"I'm serious, Kobayashi Yui."

"I'm serious too. "Yui replied. She took the blazer from Akane and gave it to Risa. "You have to thank her later."

"I will." Risa patted her head softly. It made Kobayashi playfully tilt her her head to the side. They both chuckled. Yui really missed the time when she and Risa laughing together like this. She always liked Risa's laughter, considering that the girl rarely laughed and always cold and stiff.

"Since when did Rei dare to touch you again?"

"I have no idea.. I will kill that kid after my hand is healed." Risa shrugged her shoulders. In her heart she swear to teach Rei a lesson, but it can wait. Right now, she want to spent her time with Yui.

----

"Ah. This book?" Akane notice a thick book from the library shelf. She took it and bring it to the seat.

She is in the library alone. Intentionally skipping school until later because she would prefer to seek more information about the five students who died in car accident. Actually it didn't have much effect, but she was just wondering why the accident wasn't reported by at all. Akane opens every page and looks for student profiles that are no longer updated. It's a bit difficult, but at least she managed to find one profile that was not updated. The statement also says the student's status—deceased. Cause of death, car accident. Akane paid attention to the name of the girl, Ishimori Nijika.

She immediately opened another page. Akane finds Hirate Yurina's profile. A girl with no smile on her face. She resigned from school without any explanation.

"This too." Akane muttered. Other student names. Nagahama Neru, Sato Shiori, Yonetani Nanami, Suzumoto Miyu with deceased by car accident status. Akane closed the profile book. She sighed. Even though she doesn't knew these people, she felt a great sorrow. It would be better if they were still alive, maybe they could be friends today. Especially Ishimori Nijika who apparently came from the same region as Akane.

"What are you doing?"

Akane turned quickly when she heard a voice appear from behind her body. She found Yuuka walking over to her desk. The girl was a little shocked when she looks at the profile book on the table, but Yuuka quickly hid her shocked expression.

"Alone?" Yuuka asked again as the previous question was ignored by Akane.

"You already noticed. I'm alone here." Akane finally answered.

Yuuka then took a seat beside Akane. "Then, I'll be here." she smiled—again, her smile made Akane freeze. She would be lying if she said that she didn't like seeing Yuuka's smile like that. Not the annoying smile she usually gave her.

The library is not quiet enough. There were other students there, but of course they were busy with their own business. With Yuuka beside her, Akane became confused about what to do. She watched the girl do some physics problems in her notebook.

"I should be the one who asking that." Akane swore she should have said that to herself. But instead she said it with her voice.

"Seki accompanied Karin. They will go to Hono's house later. Yui already told me that she was going with Risa." Yuuka answered. She put her pen down, deciding to ignore her task for a while. "I didn't think you would want to chat with me."

"You're not afraid your girlfriend going out with Risa?"

"Why am I afraid," Yuuka laughed at Akane's question. Yuuka's gentle laugh made Akane feel like she was talking to someone else. Even though a few weeks ago this person in front of her made her hate to death, and now Yuuka made her want to get to know her more.

“I just don't want you to feel neglected. I think it's rude not to talk to people who are beside you." Akane explained briefly. She then took her smartphone and opened a social media page.

Akane wasn't unaware that Yuuka was actually watching her side face. That is precisely what makes Akane try not to care and decided play with her phone. Really, if there were only the two of them in the library, Akane would yell at her so Yuuka wouldn't looking to her like a stalker.

"You're cute."

"Please remember that you already have a girlfriend."

Yuuka laughed again at Akane's reply. And it made Akane feel weird. She didn't know why she liked Yuuka's smile so much. Even though the girl was annoying sometimes.

“Are you alone after this? I mean, are you going to be with your friends or else? ”

"I have business with Fuyuka."

“Call her. Tell her you have urgent business. I'll be the one who take you home."

Akane didn't know how many times she had promise to herself that she would throw her shoes on Yuuka's face.