HIH: A Chapter 26 (Intro) (Patreon)

Chapter 26: Runner

Makoto’s face lit up red. After all that planning and attempts to keep her distance from the club, she was exposed. Biting her lip, she tried her best to ignore Megumi and fall back before Kaede got too far. Something was off, however. As she turned away from Megumi, she felt something was missing. Before she even took a step, Makoto turned back to see that Megumi was walking away from her. Clenching her fist, she remembered the expression on her face from when they shared a glance. That disheartened and depressed look on her face pissed her off to no end. Closing the opened notepad app on her phone, Makoto quickly ran towards Megumi. Placing her hand on her shoulder, she confronted her with no hesitation.

“What the hell is wrong with you!” She yelled, catching the attention of both Megumi and some nearby students. Even if she was making a scene, none of that mattered to her at that moment. If just the memory of Megumi’s despondent look made her mad, seeing it directly in front of her made her blood boil. Avoiding eye contact, Megumi was completely silent. Makoto gritted her teeth as her grip tightened around Megumi’s shoulder.

“You…” Makoto held her head low as the chatter of students curious about their altercation got louder. “You can’t just give up like that!” She said grasping onto her shirt. Was she speaking aloud or to herself? Makoto couldn’t tell.

“You think you can just sulk around? Act like it's all over just because of one stupid failure?” Her voice echoed throughout the cafeteria. “I won’t let you. I won’t—” Before she could finish, she felt someone grab her shoulder. Before she could turn around to see who it was, she was already pulled away from Megumi who remained standing there holding her lunch tray with the same depressed look on her face.

“Leave her alone, Makoto. Hot or not, you already tried messing with Megumi already. Do you really wanna get burned twice?” A male student with the wrong impression said, holding her back and away from Megumi. Despite her struggles, she could escape his hold on her.

“Let me go asshole, this doesn’t concern a bland nobody like you.” She said, flailing her arms.

Any chance that their encounter would be discreet was gone with the wind. Pretty much everyone in the cafeteria had their eyes on Makoto and Megumi (mostly Makoto). She could feel the embarrassment from before joined the Micro Rep Support Squad pour in. She gritted her teeth as scornful laughter and muttered insults echoed around her. She couldn’t break free from the male student’s hold even with all her anger and adrenaline. All she could do was stand there like a freak at a circus. Resisting the urge to cry, she kept her eyes on Megumi. Her slightly raised arm, the slight look of worry in her otherwise saddened expression.