13 Bullies & Reconciliation

One Wednesday afternoon, it was lunch. I was in the library researching this world, which happened to be called Den Gi according to one of the geography books.

Seeing that Elves were considered mythological creatures back home, I assumed that it must be the same the other way around, with Humans being mythological. I went through several books, looking for "humans" or anything related, but no such luck.

If anything, I at least found out more about the Elves. There's Dark, Grass, High, Snow, Wood Elves. I hyped myself because I wanted to meet all of them, but it was cut short when I realized how homogenous Everhand is with High Elves.

And knowing my luck, I won't be meeting them anytime soon.

Librarian: "Lunch will be over in 10 minutes."

I'll come back later. I won't have enough time to read everything and I haven't had lunch yet. I left and headed to the cafeteria in disappointment. Maybe something to eat will make me feel better.

Along the way, I ran into Livia, the Headmaster's assistant, as she was being told off by a group of students. I recognized the group, they were nothing more than honor students that think they can step on anyone. I've had a few run-ins with them myself. Malin was the leader, and he was the worst of the group. I must've shown up when things were starting to get heated.

Livia: "Either stop or you'll all be sent to the Headmaster."

Malin: "Yeah, what's the Headmaster going to do? Scold us?"

Livia: "Yes, after your parents beg not to kick you out."

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Malin: "You don't disrespect my family, you don't have the right! They're members of the Queen's court!"

Brenner: "You're going to take that from the Headmaster's lapdog, Malin?"

Malin: "I don't have to take anything if I get my parents. But I can always give a punch!"

Malin throws a fake punch towards Livia, causing her to flinch and fall to the ground. Things will get worse if someone doesn't stop this. I never understood why people pushed her around. Sure, she may be the Headmaster's so-called "lapdog," but that doesn't mean she deserves to be bullied.

It must be why she's in Independent Studies.

Malin: "C'mon, say you're sorry or you're going to get it! You think I won't?"

Malin: "Shut up Ellis or you're getting it too!"

Brenner: "Ellis, he's serious, get away!"

Even Malin's group was cautious around him. I walked up to Malin, shoving him back to his group. They all fell like bowling pins. Malin becomes furious and tries to fight me, but his group's holding him back.

Steven: "Get out of here, before you all get it!"

Brenner: "The hell are you doing here, round-ears?"

Steven: "Go on, leave!"

Ellis: "Who the hell is this guy?"

Malin: "We'll come back for you, round-ears."

Brenner: "Wait right here, wait right here, we're coming back for you and your cat girlfriend, round-ears."

They eventually left, leaving me and a sore Livia to scold me. They usually run their mouths, but did they have to bring Kanna into it?

Livia: "Why'd you do that, you moron?"

Steven: "He was going to hit you."

Livia: "Great, I'll have to tell the Headmaster what happened."

Steven: "What was that about anyway?"

Livia: "He got mad because I bumped into him."

Steven: "It doesn't take much, I guess."

The bell tower starts to ring, lunch was over and time to head back to class. Curse my misfortune, Livia leaves without saying a word and I didn't get lunch in time. Here goes a day that went from good to bad in less than a minute!

I slowly made my way to class. Being greeted by Edward, claiming he witnessed the fight and told everyone, much to my dismay.

Edward: "Dude, I saw everything. You pushed him really hard."

Cynthia: "Yeah, maybe that'll keep him off you."

I didn't feel any better, it was only a matter of time before I was sent to the Headmaster. I hope Livia would do me the favor and keep it a secret. Ms. Layne walks in, causing everyone to scramble to their seats. As friendly and lax as she is, everyone treats her with a massive amount of respect.

Ms. Layne: "Sorry class, but there's something I have to tend to. It'll be study hall until I return."

Nobody actually bothered to do anything during study hall. We just relaxed and talked to each other, forgetting the fact that we're in remedial. Kanna enjoys the history and stories about my home, so I tell her about everything I can remember. Though, she seems skeptical about cell phones, no matter how much I insist. I would've proved it to her, but my phone and everything else is nothing more than paperweight now. Cynthia came up to us, with a spark of curiosity in her eye.

Cynthia: "Why did you get into it with Malin anyways?"

Kanna: "You what? What did I say about not getting into fights?"

Steven: "He was pushing Livia around, it pissed me off."

Edward: "Dude, she's the Headmaster's pet."

Steven: "Yeah, but that doesn't mean she's a bad person, does it? Yes, she might be a bootlicker; yes, she might be annoying. But that doesn't mean we should treat her as anything less than a person, should it?"

I ranted, going off on my group and the rest of the class that overheard me. I look to my master and I see her smiling, like she was happy I stood up for someone.

A silence filled the group, they must've realized that I was right. Even though Livia seems cold and distant at first, she's actually quite caring. I've seen her give some of the less fortunate students free lunches. Though, I doubt what I said will change their minds completely.

I laid my head down to nap but ended up sleeping through the rest of the day. To the point that Kanna had to wake me up.

Kanna: "Hey, wake up."

I slowly woke up to Kanna nudging me. I noticed that we were the only ones in class. I know there's barely any students in our class to begin with, but I've never seen the class this empty. It made the classroom feel depressing.

Steven: "Where'd everyone go?"

Kanna: "They already left."

Steven: "And Ms. Layne?"

Kanna: "She didn't come back, it must've been important or something."

I shrugged it off, Ms. Layne sometimes disappeared for the rest of the day after excusing herself. I packed my bag and left with Kanna. She wanted to go to the bakery for her favorite, cherry cheesecake. Pretty much the only thing she ever buys. Though I was too hungry to say anything about it and she was scolding me for earlier.

Kanna: "I told you not to get into any fights."

Steven: "I'm sorry, my dearest master."

Kanna: "Don't get smart, I'm serious. Don't get into any fights with Malin or anyone for that matter. Understood?"

Steven: "I do, master."

Kanna: "And call me Kanna!"

Steven: "Yes, Kanna."

Malin: "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you!"

Speak of the devil.

When we arrived at the bakery, Cynthia being harassed by Malin and his group. Seems like this guy has trouble follow him around like a pet. Kanna grabs me by the wrist like I'm a child, to keep me from getting into another fight.

Kanna: "Don't. stay here."

Steven: "But Kanna–"

Kanna: "No, believe me, just watch."

Doing as she instructed, I watched from the distance. Malin was pushing Cynthia around, throwing his fake punches. It was really annoying, seeing him do that, but something seemed off about Cynthia. I couldn't make it out until she punches him really hard in the liver and kicks him, sending him flying back to his group. It happened so fast!

Brenner: "Malin! Crazy bitch!"

Ellis: "Let's get the hell out of here!"

I turned to Kanna looking for an explanation. She just stood there, trying not to laugh.

Kanna: "I saw it coming, Cynthia knows Koita Kolo."

Steven: "The martial art?"

Kanna: "It's a club at the academy too."

Koita Kolo, a military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Ostroven Army. It's known for its focus on real-world situations and its extreme efficiency. How did someone like Cynthia come to learn it?

We walked towards her, as she sat back down at the table. Unfazed by the events that just unfolded.

Steven: "Hey, Cynthia. That was quite the display."

Cynthia: "Steven, Kanna, oh, it might not be any of my business, but when did you two start holding hands?"

Kanna still had me by the wrist, though, we weren't holding hands exactly. When Kanna realized, she quickly let me go, hiding under her sun hat like a turtle hiding in its shell. Running inside the bakery to buy her dessert, leaving me to sit down embarrassed by Cynthia's wit.

Cynthia: "Ahaha~ it's nice to see that she still gets flustered easily."

Steven: "You're friends with her?"

Cynthia: "Well, we're best friends, but we had a fight a while ago and it's been really awkward ever since."

Steven: "And you never talked things out?"

Cynthia: "N-no, it felt weird when I tried."

It's not really any of my business, but I should try to help. Friends eventually get into fights, so they should iron things out. At least, talk to each other!

Steven: "Oh, I have an idea."

Cynthia: "What is it?"

I told her what I had in mind. That I would go inside the bakery after Kanna comes back out and leave them alone. Giving Cynthia a perfect chance to talk things out with Kanna.

Cynthia: "Kanna would know you set it up, she's not an idiot."

Steven: "That's fine, I doubt I'd get in trouble for it."

We waited in silence until Kanna came out. As planned, I got up and went inside, explaining that I forgot something. It seemed like it worked, she sat down at the table with Cynthia. I went inside and sat at the tables they had inside, watching over them. Everything looked like it was going well when I was called out from behind.

Jesse: "Steven, you too? Everyone wants my cake today."

It was Jesse, he was with us in class E-3. He sat across the classroom and worked as a part-timer here at the bakery. Though, I didn't know it was him at first as he was in a uniform.

Steven: "Jesse? Oh, I didn't notice you in the uniform!"

Jesse: "Anyways, Cynthia and Kanna are outside, did they finally make up?"

Steven: "They're talking right now."

Jesse: "Well, that's good, it seemed to everyone that you were the only one that Kanna would talk to."

Steven: "Do you know why they got in a fight?"

Jesse: "They got into a nasty argument from what I've heard. It left Kanna crying."

Steven: "What about that fight Cynthia had with Malin earlier?"

Jesse: "She sat where Malin always sat and told her to buy everyone cake as an apology. Pretty small minded if you ask me. I didn't expect her to fight back, took everyone in here by surprise."

Steven: "You're telling me. Anyways, what's on the menu?"

Jesse: "We have a special today, Ostroven's chocolate cake."

Steven: "Sounds good."

Jesse returned with the cake as I watched over Cynthia. I wasn't sure what they were talking about, but it looked like everything was going well. A plan I came up with on the spot and it was going better than I had expected! Half an hour went by before Cynthia stood up, saying her goodbyes to Kanna and waving towards me. An obvious sign that she's finished talking. I went outside to check on Kanna, who was smiling profusely. I don't even need to read her to tell that she's happy.

Steven: "I never knew you two were close."

Kanna: "I knew her since I was a little."

Steven: "You go back? I didn't know."

Kanna: "Let's go home, it's getting late."

We headed home as the sun started to set. I become filled with curiosity about the fight between her and Cynthia.

Steven: "Why did you fight with Cynthia anyways?"

Kanna: "I'd rather not say."

Steven: "What did you two talk about then?"

Kanna: "That's a secret between girls."

Steven: "A girl's secret?"

It didn't look like she was going to tell me anytime soon. Instead, I took comfort knowing that they're at least on good terms with each other again. Though, I realized I don't know her as well as I thought. I still basked in what felt like the glory of a silent victory.

Kanna: "Steven."

Steven: "Yes, master?"