Courage
"I'm telling you guys. You should totally start watching all the movies in chronological order. That's the only real way to watch them."
He puts his hand on his hips and stands confidently.
"I don't know Haru. Killer robots? Race cars? It sounds a little all over the place." Lucy says with a skeptical look.
"Yeah, I have a hard time watching something with a confusing plot."
Chizuru adds. Haru gets a shocked and offended look.
"Confusing?! It's not confusing! It just has deep lore but the animation is even better!"
Haru starts waving his arms around and talking with his body far more than he needs to, acting quite energetic and sporadic.
"There are so many scenes that are amazing! So much action, so much drama! There's a whole world there waiting for you guys to explore!-"
He throws his arms up and his body back in exaggerated fashion but this action causes him to bump into a small boy who happens to be walking right behind him, holding the trash of his lunch. He knocks the boy down on the floor causing the trash to fall everywhere. The group perks up noticing this, getting concerned for the situation. Haru turns around quickly with concerned for the boy. The boy sits on the ground holding his head low just like he was a moment ago, looking at the trash around him.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't see you! Here, let me help you-"
Haru reaches his hand out to help the boy up but instead he slaps Haru's hand away. Haru steps back a bit shocked by the action. The boy gets up and walks away swiftly, a frustrated look on his face. Haru stares at him as he leaves looking upset about what he had just done.
"It's okay Haru. I'd be just as upset and embarrassed if I was knocked over too."
Hikigaya says in an attempt to comfort him but it only makes Haru feel worse. He realizes this and starts thinking about what to say to fix it before Chizuru interrupts his stuttering by getting up and putting her hand on Haru's back. He looks at her softly.
"You offered to help. That's the best you can do. Try not to worry too much about it, okay?"
She smiles softly at him before she crouches down to start picking up the trash that was spilled. The other's join in to help clean up the mess. As Haru cleans, he looks regretful of his action, still thinking about what he did.
Eventually the day ends and the group parts ways the same way they did the day before. Haru waves goodbye and starts walking by himself as the warm orange sky hangs over him. Haru smiles for a bit but after his friends leave, he lowers his head and frowns as he walks.
'It was just an accident. No one was hurt. So why did he look so… sad?'
Haru thinks back to the moment when the boy fell on the ground and looks closer to his face. He notices tear marks around his eyes and on his cheeks. He had been crying before it even happened. Haru slaps his hands on his head, partly over his eyes, leaning his head up towards the sky in frustration.
"Ah and I just made it worse! Whatever he is going through, I just put the cherry on top."
He drops his arms to his sides as he sighs.
"I need to find him so I can apologize."
Focused in thought he didn't realize someone was running towards him down the sidewalk. The person isn't looking either and runs right into Haru. He falls on his butt from the impact of the collision.
Haru "Oof! Sorry, are you- Oh. It's you!"
Haru looks up to see the boy from earlier that he knocked over. He still stands right in front of him, panting.
"Well I guess we're even now huh? Haha!"
Haru says with an awkward laugh from the ground. The boy doesn't react, still not looking him in the eyes. Haru then notices that he's panting and covered in sweat. The upper buttons of his shirt are undone and his hair all ruffled but he's still in his school uniform. Haru gets a concerned look.
"Are.. you okay?"
He asks gently. There's a moment of silence but then the boy darts past him and keeps running. Haru turns quickly, watching him run off.
"Wait!- Why is he..? It might be best to leave it alone…"
Haru looks down and rubs the back of his head like he's debating.
"Still… He looks way more familiar than I thought.. Even before I bumped into him earlier…"
Haru puts his finger and his thumb on his chin, holding it, thinking. He then looks up as a sound catches his attention. He sees three grown men running down the sidewalk across the street. He tenses up when he notices one of them holding a bat.
"Where did he go?"
"I think he went this way!"
The men shout to each other angrily. Haru watches as the men continue running down the sidewalk. Haru sighs in relief a bit, glad they didn't acknowledge him. He turns and looks as they run down the street.
"They're running the same direction that… he…"
He realizes they're running the same way that the boy ran off to. He watches for a moment before his eyes grow wide with a terrified look. Without a second of hesitation, Haru starts sprinting after them, fear still across his face.
'Oh crap! What am I doing?! I can't fight them! But I'd never forgive myself if I let something bad happen to him!'
He thinks with a scared tone. As Haru runs after them he pulls out his phone and tries calling any of his friends. He calls Ryuji but he doesn't pick up.
"Oh c'mon! The one time!"
He shouts angrily. He follows the same path the others went, off the sidewalk and down a hill through some trees and bushes. He then calls Hikigaya who picks up almost immediately.
"Hey man, what's up-"
"Hiki! I need your help! Some bad looking guys are chasing after that kid! I need you to- WOAH!"
Haru trips over a thick tree root sticking out of the ground. Hikigaya calls out Haru's name a few times before the call is disconnected. Haru tumbles hard down the short hill before landing on his stomach and chin on the dirt. He coughs a bit in pain before looking forward and realizing the three men had caught up to the boy and trapped him in an open grassy area surrounded by trees and woods with a fairly steep drop into a small river behind them.
"Come on kid, it's not that big of a deal."
"Just give us some of your family's tech and we'll be on our way."
"It'd really save us a lot of time."
They pressure the boy, obviously trying to intimidate him.
"I told you guys, I don't know what you're talking about!"
He shouts back. They get an irritated look on their faces as they begin to get closer to him. The boy cowers back a bit before they're interrupted.
"Hey, you guys leave him alone!"
Haru shouts as he stands up to them. They turn and look at him. His legs are shaking a bit and he sweats nervously.
'Am I crazy?! What am I gonna do?!' He thinks. "You heard him! He doesn't know what you're talking about so you guys should just go!"
He says through his shaky voice. He tries to look determined but he can't control the fear he feels in his chest. The men stare at him, shocked and almost amused by him.
"It sounds to me like you don't know what you're talking about."
The boy looks at Haru, relieved that someone came to his aid. One of the guys turns and walks closer to Haru.
"You're getting involved in things way over your head. So why don't you get lost before you get hurt, punk!"
He looms over him despite Haru's tall height, giving him a death glare trying to intimidate him. It works greatly as Haru has been terrified from the start, lowering his head trying to avoid eye contact with the man standing over him. Haru clenches his fist tightly, still shaking.
"I-I won't! Not unless I get to leave with him!"
He points at the boy. The first guy, obviously a sort of leader, nods at the other standing in front of Haru. He smirks as he turns back to face Haru who tries to keep a determined look as he shakes more. The large man raises his fist in the air getting ready to strike Haru.
"Way to play the hero kid. Now it's time to snap back to reality."
Haru closes his eyes tight, terrified, waiting for the strike… but it doesn't come. When the man swings his arm down, he is suddenly falling face first to the floor, completely confused as to what's happening before face planting into the dirt. Haru looks to his right and sees Shiori walking past him. He then looks down to see Hikigaya had swept the legs out from underneath the man. Hikigaya stands up in front of Haru as the man begins to push himself up from the ground angrily. Hikigaya then lifts his leg up and stomps the man's head back into the dirt. He leans on his knee on the man's head.
"Okay, which one of you ordered the full lesson in manners?"
He taunts. The other 2 men watch with shock in their eyes. Shiori steps forward.
"Let me guess. You guys are with that big gang a District over, looking to make a big score. Unfortunately that led you straight to me."
She begins walking forward as one of the guys yells and runs at her swinging both of his arms up to bring down on her. Before he can do that, his jaw is struck with intense speed. His eyes shake in his head for a moment before stopping. He looks down at Shiori who has her arm across her body like she just threw a right hook. She smirks at him before his eyes roll back into his head and he falls on his back. She turns her back to the final guy holding the bat.
"Right on the jaw. Works every time."
She gloats a bit to Hikigaya. The guy holding the bat clenches it hard in his fists, shaking, before deciding to fight.
"You little punks! You're ruining everything!"
He shouts, getting ready to swing at her. She turns around wide eyed for a moment before Hikigaya grabs her by the wrist and pulls her around. The guy then lands a heavy strike to the side of Hikigaya's head, breaking the bat on impact. Everyone looks shocked for a second as Hikigaya stands there with his head cocked to the side a bit. He straightens up his neck and turns to look at the guy. The attack seemed to have no effect besides making him angry.
"You were gonna hit her with that?!"
The man drops the remnants of the bat and puts his hands up in defense, shaking and stepping back. Suddenly, the man goes flying through the trees, flipping through the air and lands in the river with a big swollen cheek, unconscious. Hikigaya's fist steams and his eyes are all white being so mad. He huffs and straightens up.
"Good riddance."
Haru and the boy both finally calm down, seeing that the situation has been fully handled. Shiori walks up to Hikigaya
"How'd you do that?"
"Trade secret."
He puts his finger to his mouth and winks at her smugly. She rolls her eye and casually smiles a bit. Haru approaches the boy who is simply standing there dumbfounded, staring at the beaten men.
"Are.. you okay?"
He asks gently as the boy looks at him and the others.
"You guys were amazing…"
Haru looks down a bit.
'Even though I didn't do anything…' He thinks. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no. I'm okay. How did you guys find me?"
He asks, pleased but confused by the arrival. Hikigaya lifts his hand, motioning to Haru.
"Well, Haru here called me. So I came rushing."
"I heard the commotion and followed."
Shiori says. The boy looks at Haru who notices and gets embarrassed. He blushes and rubs the back of his head while looking away.
"I saw them chasing you… I couldn't just stand by and do nothing…"
The boy looks at him with shining eyes from tears forming in his eyes. He gives Haru a warm, grateful smile.
"Thank you."
Haru smiles back at him timidly. They all begin to walk back to the school along the same path as Hikigaya speaks.
"So, what's your name?"
"Sugawara Ito."
"What did those guys want with you?" Shiori asks.
"I'm not sure… They kept asking me questions about tech of some kind? Some stuff that belonged to my family? But I have no idea what they were talking about. Then they started pressuring me and when I saw the bat, I ran."
He answers genuinely and still a little shaken up by the whole thing.
Eventually, they make it back to the entrance of school. They stop and talk for a moment before Shiori and Hikigaya head on home once again. Haru stands next to Sugawara, waving to them before he turns and looks at Sugawara.
"Want me to walk you home?"
He asks with a smile. Sugawara looks surprised for a moment before accepting with a shy nod. Sugawara starts walking, leading the way timidly as Haru follows. As they walk in silence, the same way Haru usually walks home, Haru eventually speaks.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you earlier. And right before all of this.. And not really helping save you from the men…"
Haru stares at the ground while saying this, upset with himself for everything he did. Sugawara timidly looks at him from the corner of his eye for a moment, not wanting to fully look at him as he apologizes, before lowering his head too with a regretful look as well.
"I'm sorry too... for smacking your hand away earlier. You were only trying to help…"
Sugawara says, obviously regretting that he reacted so harshly. Haru notices his look and stares at him for a moment before shaking his head quickly but subtly. He then smiles a big smile before patting Sugawara on the back.
"Hey don't worry about it! No one was hurt, that's all that matters, right?"
Haru says with a giggle. Sugawara blushes at Haru's bright smile and nods softly. After a bit of a walk, they eventually come to a large, luxury apartment building that looks very new. Only a few years old at this point, built right next to a housing area filled with casual one or two story houses.
"Well, This is where I live."
Sugawara says as they stop in front of the entrance. Haru watches as Sugawara takes a couple steps up the stairs before he stops. He stands there for a moment before swaying side to side a bit, looking hesitant like he wants to say something. He then turns around with a shy look.
"I'm not good at these… socializing things, but… thank you. For coming after me even if you were too scared to. I say that's brave enough."
Sugawara smiles and blushes a bit as he turns back around and runs inside before Haru can say anything back. Haru blushes, surprised by his words. He slowly turns and takes a step forward before he stands there for a moment. He then smiles a proud smile before beginning his walk home. He takes a couple steps but suddenly stops. He looks around for a moment, a little confused.
"Wait a minute…"
He says softly before a look of shock spreads across his face as he turns around sharply.
"No way!"
Despite the crazy events of the day prior, the group meets up and goes to class like normal. They're all in their seats talking and having a good time when Ms. Samuel walks in, getting ready for class to begin.
"Alright everyone, start settling down the bell is about to ring."
She says this which makes the all the class start getting organized in their seats as one last student comes in through the door. Haru is busy rummaging through his bag trying to pull out his notebook while Shiori and Hikigaya look at the student. They get looks of surprise as the student sits to Haru's right, behind Ryuji. Haru sits up finally getting his notebook and notices Shiori and Hikigaya turned around, looking in his direction.
"What?"
He asks confused before turning and following their gaze. He looks to his right and sees Sugawara. His eyes widen and he gets a look of surprise, the starting bell ringing in the background.
"You! I knew I recognized you!"
"Haru Tanaka! Quiet down, class is starting."
The classes giggles to themselves at Haru while he blushes in embarrassment. Sugawara smiles a bit at him while leaning on his hand before looking ahead. Ryuji leans over to Hikigaya and whispers.
"Is this the one you guys saved yesterday?"
Hikigaya nods with a smile. Ryuji nods back as Sugawara smiles warmly with a soft blush on his cheeks.
Once break rolls around, the group meets where they usually do only this time with a new, yet familiar face.
"My name is Sugawara Ito, nice to meet the rest of you."
He says with a bow to them.
"No need to be so formal. It's not like we're your superiors or anything."
Lucy says, sitting on the bench, leaning into her hand. Sugawara stands up, still a little shy. Chizuru approaches him and starts inspecting him. He gets embarrassed as she walks around him, observing him up and down.
"You're so cute and small. Are you sure you're not a girl?"
He blushes as he gets a slight, softly upset look.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Chizuru just giggles at him. He exhales softly, relaxing just a bit as a subtle, conflicted look appears on his face. He fidgets with the ends of his skirt a bit as they all look at him. Hikigaya sits on the bench leaning his elbows on his knees and his hands folded in front of him. He stares at Sugawara for a moment before speaking up.
"Is there something to want to tell us, Sugawara?"
Sugawara's eyes perk up a bit as he looks at Hikigaya before looking away.
"It's just... I..."
He struggles to get the words out as the others look at each other, confused on what to say. Haru sweats a bit but steps closer to Sugawara a bit with an awkward smile.
"If it's about yesterday, don't worry about it. Shiori and Hiki already told me they don't need thanks and hey, if those guys come back, they can protect you-"
"N-no!.. It's not that..."
Sugawara interrupts Haru a bit. Haru looks confused and concerned as Sugawara takes a deep breath before looking at the group.
"All my life, I've never had any friends.. and that really sucks..." He says with a subtle laugh of shame. "I just.. don't want to be alone anymore. So I came here because I... I want to be your friend!.."
He says with a sudden moment of soft determination. The others all get warm smiles on their faces excluding Shiori who just watches. Haru sighs in relief as he smiles at Sugawara.
"Well you came to the right place! I've known these guys for the longest time. They'll never leave you in a pinch!"
He says, throwing his thumb over his shoulder at them. Chizuru takes a step towards Sugawara with a soft, caring look.
"You really don't have any other friends, Sugawara?"
He shakes his head softly. They give him sympathetic looks before Ryuji speaks.
"Well," He says while leaning on his elbows on the bench table. "We could be your friends."
He says before giving Sugawara a cool smile. Sugawara perks up with a smile on his face.
"I... would like that very much..."
Sugawara says softly. Chizuru gets excited and giggles, doing a little happy dance.
"Oh main, this is great! Only a couple days into high school and we've already made two new friends! Could life be any more exciting?"
She asks enthusiastically, looking at Lucy who just smiles back. Hikigaya leans over to Shiori who was more concerned with her sandwich as she just met them as well, not being very invested in the conversation.
"Hear that? They called you their friend. You okay with that? Not gonna melt?"
He teases. Shiori rolls her eye before bumping him away with her shoulder aggressively.
"Oh shut up."
She says with a frustrated tone. She then looks up as Sugawara who's getting hugged by both Haru and Chizuru at the same time, blushing intensely with a confused but happy look, not sure what to do. Her gaze expressing what can only be seen as a slight bit of jealousy.