Chapter 36 - A Different Smile

"Oh yes! Money!"

Suddenly, in the midst of the atmosphere that could currently be said to be peaceful, with smiles visible on everyone's faces, one girl with a loud voice spoke.

She was Sayaka Mayu.

'Money? Money... Oh yes! That's right, money! ' Ryousuke recalled the conversation he had overheard earlier while he and Mayu were eavesdropping outside the club's door. Indeed, the book club members had clearly said that they were taking money from Kawajima. Knowing their behavior, he felt that they must have done it more than once.

"Yes... Right, you girls did say that you forcibly took money from Kawajima-san right? I think we should talk about this matter" Ryousuke said. "Anyway, I think you should return all the money you took from her" he continued.

"Well... We'll return it" The six girls of the book club looked down, feeling that they seemed to be unlucky. Why did that demon girl have to remember it when everything was almost done? Damn it!

Ryousuke and Kawajima just smiled awkwardly at them. But what could they do? Because it was their fault in the first place.

Sayaka Mayu, seemingly satisfied with their answers, nodded and asked Kawajima. "So, Midori-chan. How much money did they take from you?"

Kawajima tilted her head. Starting to recall the amount of money they took from her. After counting and being sure of the amount, she answered.

"About 24.000 yen, I think."

"Humu humu, then you have to return the 24.000 yen you girls took. I don't want to know, within a week, you have to pay it back. Understood?"

"ugh... Okay."

"But... The money... "

"Just shut up, Kouhai C-chan! Sheesh, don't protest too much or they'll report us! "

"O-okay... "

The club member girls replied. Feeling helpless. After that, they handed the money they had taken from Kawajima today back to her. And they also didn't forget to promise that they would return it before one week ended.

Sayaka Mayu nodded her head, Kawajima was also satisfied with the result. And with that, Sayaka Mayu and Kawajima started to leave the club room, with Ryousuke following behind.

Ryousuke, throughout the conversation had his usual calm face. He maintained that face until he finally said goodbye to the two of them and walked back to his home alone.

.....

'What the hell?! 24.000 Yen?!!!' he screamed in his heart. Very surprised by the amount that was just talked about.

After all, what the hell was 24.000 yen? He thought they had only taken 3.000-7.000 yen from Kawajima. But it seemed he was wrong. He underestimated Kawajima so much, who would have thought she had that much pocket money? What is she, the son of a conglomerate?!

And Sayaka Mayu didn't sound surprised by Kawajima's words either. Which could only mean that she was used to it, or that she also had the same or even more pocket money.

Sheeez, he once again remembered that the school he was attending was an elite school with equally elite students. Not including himself.

Ryousuke went home, feeling both satisfied and surprised.

----------

It was a while before Ryousuke parted from Kawajima and Sayaka Mayu.

After the three of them left the club room, with their bags in their hands, they walked towards the school gate to go home.

"But yeah, today really went well didn't it? With all the things that happened earlier, Midori-chan finally doesn't need to be bothered by them anymore. I hope something like this doesn't happen again"

Sayaka Mayu, standing to Kawajima's left, said with both hands raised up. Seemingly satisfied with the matter being resolved.

"Yes, I thought so too. After all, Kawajima-san now doesn't need to associate with them anymore"

"Un, but then again... Everything happened thanks to the help of you two, Sayaka-Chan, Toru-san. Thank you very much."

"Huhuhu~~ that's why, Midori-chan. If you ever have a problem, tell me or Toru-kun. Don't cover it up like you did this time!"

"A-ahh... Hehe~ sorry. I'm used to covering up things that happen to me and being helped by you guys like this is new to me" Kawajima replied. Smiling while thinking about her past.

She too, during her elementary and middle school days, had been bullied like this by her classmates. But even back then, no one had even thought of helping her. She was forced to realize from a young age that the world was cruel. But now, she was beginning to change that mind.

The world was unfair, the world was cruel, but within this cruel world, there were still good people. People who accepted her to be a friend, and people who helped her when she was in trouble.

She made up her mind, that with friends like Sayaka-Chan and Toru-san, she was still a blessed human being. And from now on, she would try to be more open to them. Her precious friends.

"Fufu, good!"

Sayaka Mayu gave her thumbs up with a happy smile. Ryousuke also looked at them from the side happily.

"Thank you very much, Sayaka-Chan, Toru-san. Thank you very much."

"Midori-chan~~!"

Seeing her innocent friend, Sayaka Mayu couldn't help but hug her. She also felt very happy, because Kawajima was her first friend. A kind and precious first friend.

The three of them walked with smiles on their faces. Until they finally reached the front gate, and just like any other day, for some reason Ryousuke's way home was different from the direction the two of them were going. Because of that, Ryousuke stopped and said goodbye to them.

"Then, I'll see you again, Kawajima-san, Mayu-san. I'm going home this way."

"Un, see you later Toru-kun! Thank you so much for today!" Sayaka Mayu waved her hand.

"Thank you very much... Toru-san, see you soon" Kawajima bowed. Without looking him in the eye.

Ryosuke was used to it, Kawajima was probably embarrassed at this point. So he nodded and waved his hand. Leaving and walking home alone.

The two also continued their way home, with Ryousuke no longer in sight, Sayaka Mayu said,

"Midori-chan~~ why did you lower your head earlier hmm? Why why~~?"

A teasing smile appeared on her face.

"Sayaka-Chan, no... It's nothing, fun fuu fuu~" Kawajima, with a flushed face, didn't dare to look at Mayu and just directed her gaze in another direction while whistling a whistle that didn't even make a proper sound. Obviously trying to avoid.

"Hmm, is that so~~?"

"Y-yes, that's right."

Kawajima nodded quickly. As if she wanted Mayu to really believe her words. Although her face did not stop blushing.

"Is that so? Well, that's okay. By the way, Midori-chan, I saw a really delicious looking cake in a magazine... -"

Sayaka Mayu didn't take it any further. And they went home with the usual cheerful chatter of girls, especially about food.

.....

Although... Sayaka Mayu knew. There was something else about this friend of hers. The flushed face, not daring to look her in the eye, and most importantly...

Her smile. The smile Kawajima gave to that guy was very different from the smiles you usually saw.

She could feel it, a smile that looked sweet, a smile that was only given to someone special...

"fufu"

It looks like the relationship between Kawajima and that guy will be more serious in the future.