14 Bullies & Reconciliation, Part II

After some time in class, I decided to take a nap that ended up lasting for the rest of the day.

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 disappearing for the rest of the day has already happened. I do wonder why because if I were Ms. Layne, I'd get a substitute teacher.

Kanna: "Pack your bag, we gotta split."

Steven: "You don't wanna stay?"

Kanna: "Why would we stay?"

Steven: "So we can talk and flirt."

She giggles.

Kanna: "We do that at home already."

Steven: "Is that why you're in a rush to get home?"

Kanna: "Don't get your hopes up, you big flirt."

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 exasperating seeing him do that, but something seemed off about Cynthia. I couldn't make it out until she punches him crazy hard on the liver and kicks him back to his group.

It happened so fast, but I felt the impact of that punch.

Malin was being dragged by his group away as he was unconscious. The group cussing Cynthia out with every swear word under the sun.

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: "Is it that one martial art?"

Kanna: "Yes, it's a club at the academy too."

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 real awkward ever since."

Steven: "And you never talked things out?"

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

It's none 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?"

Kanna: "Thank you."