Chapter 21: Destined to Clash

"Not at all!"

Angelie crushed the onigiri in her hands.

"Ah, the onigiri!"

Sanaka tried to reach out for the pieces of Angelie's onigiri. All the pieces fell on the floor even before she could touch them.

"What did the poor onigiri do to you? I could have eaten it instead…"

Sanaka was still drooling over the wasted onigiri on the floor.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have wasted food. It's just you said something unacceptable."

"Well, it's like you turn into a different person whenever it comes to him."

Sanaka was licking her fingers after she was done eating with her onigiri.

"I-I do not! What are you talking about? Tell her, Mimi-san."

Angelie crossed her arms and stared at Mimi eye to eye.

"Well, Sanaka-san, I believe you're right."

"Why are you agreeing with her?!"

"Because that is what I have observed as well. Though for me, it's only a natural course of action. No need to show him any mercy."

Mimi bit off from her onigiri.

"He must have really pissed you guys off before, huh?"

Sanaka was rubbing her stomach as she was staring at Mimi's onigiri.

"Well, you can say that."

Angelie slightly smiled at Sanaka.

---

For more than a week, the Help club continued on doing their jogging routine early in the morning. Angelie had virtually ignored Akuma all those times they were on their jog, even during class and after classes in their clubroom.

One afternoon, Angelie left early from their club and Akuma didn't show up. The three who were left behind conducted a meeting.

"Man, this is getting awkward. I liked it better when they were constantly at each other's throats."

Kiba had his hands behind his back. He slumped on the chair looking at the ceiling.

"While I do appreciate the peace and quiet, I can feel that it is weighing down on Angelie-san. It's not even her fault to begin with…"

Mimi was scribbling on her notebook.

"So, whose fault is this, then?"

Kiba directed his eyes on Mimi without moving.

"Of course, that accursed Demon Lord."

Mimi stopped moving her pen.

"I don't like the dude that much either but I don't see how it's his fault. He collapsed. He didn't do that on purpose."

"It can be argued that his very existence is the cause of all this."

Mimi put down her pen and glared at Kiba.

"Okay, you two. It's bad enough those two are having their lover's quarrel. Please don't add to the weird atmosphere by fighting too."

Sanaka was resting her face on top of her bag, so her voice was a little muffled as she spoke up.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

Kiba put his hands down and looked outside the window.

"I am sorry, as well. I just worry for Angelie-san."

Mimi closed her notebook.

After a few moments of silence, everyone packed their things and left the clubroom.

---

The following day, everyone met up at the scheduled time and place. Taida has always been on time the previous days. There has been a noticeable change in his physique, as his clothes were a lot looser than before.

"You look a lot less heavy than when we started, Futoi."

Kiba came up close at Taida and thoroughly inspected his appearance.

"Thank you, Ketsueki-senpai. I have been diligent at this diet thing. Instead of focusing on my hunger, I focus on my games. I've finished quite a lot, to be honest."

"I see."

Kiba went closer to Taida and whispered to his ear.

"You know, if you drop all this geeky stuff, you might be a hit with the ladies. Now that you're looking much cooler than before."

Kiba gave Taida the thumbs up and winked at him. Taida then pushed up his glasses and smirked.

"I have no use for 3-D girls. They are not nearly as interesting as my games."

Kiba's jaw slacked.

---

Everyone then started to jog. Mimi was still in front of the rest. Kiba was right behind her. Akuma and Angelie were beside each other, but with a sizeable gap between them. Surprisingly, Taida was now able to keep up with them. Sanaka was still left far behind everyone, so much so that they couldn't see her anymore.

Mimi looked behind her to check on the others.

"I'm pleased that you have improved and can match our pace now, Futoi-kun."

"Thank you… Furui-senpai…!"

Taida still had to catch his breath while talking and jogging.

"I've been meaning to ask, Mimi... How come you're used to exercise…?"

Kiba asked Mimi after she looked in front again.

"I've been in the Kyudo Club since middle school. We do this sort of activities often."

"Oh, I never would have thought of you as the athletic type."

"I wasn't. As others would regularly put it, I sucked."

"I see…"

Kiba took a peek at Akuma and Angelie. Both of them were still silent and mostly ignoring each other.

(I'm running out of topics to talk about to keep things from being awkward! Just talk to each other already!)

They finished their two laps around the school grounds. They stopped at the school gate to catch their breath before going back to the school building to change their clothes. After a while, they noticed that Sanaka still hadn't arrived.

"I wonder where Sentaku-san is. She wasn't this slow when we were jogging together…"

Taida was wiping his sweat with the front side of his shirt.

"You can go back now, Futoi-kun. I'll go and check where she might be—"

Before Angelie could finish, Akuma dashed towards the direction Sanaka should be coming from. Angelie clenched her fists and rushed after him.

---

Angelie caught up with Akuma after a while. They were by a busy street where there were buildings on both sides of the road. He was already running slowly and breathing heavily. She grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Running around and what? Collapse again? You've caused enough trouble as it is!"

Akuma slapped her hand away from his shoulder. He started to walk again.

"If you have… so much stamina… you should have… checked on… Sanaka sooner…"

"So, it's my fault now? You always put the blame on me, huh?"

Akuma stopped walking again, his back turned on Angelie.

"Isn't that… how it's supposed to be…? You and me… arguing…"

Angelie was taken aback. She couldn't answer back like how she usually does. Akuma calmed his breathing before talking again.

"I don't need your sympathy or concern or any of that crap. I actually thought that you'll roll over at my every command from now on."

Angelie had her head hung down. She was staring at the ground. But after hearing him, she had a smile on her face. Then she looked at Akuma and pointed at him.

"You've been gravely mistaken, then! I don't give a crap about you! What I care about is what happens to the others when you mess up. And I always clean up after you. That clearly makes me better than you in all aspects."

Akuma smirked while his back was still facing Angelie. He then faced her and condescendingly looked straight to her eyes.

"If you're so much better, then find that damn Sanaka already, you irritating Saint."

"Oh, I will. You can take your sorry ass back to school, scrawny Demon Lord."

Before Angelie could move, the door of a convenience store across the road opened. Sanaka stepped out carrying different kinds of snacks, while a steamed pork bun was already hanging from her mouth. Both Akuma and Angelie looked at her. They stared for a while, during which Sanaka just stood there with her eyes wide open.

"Tell me crazy Saint, am I just really so exhausted that I'm seeing Sanaka eat a bunch of junk or that's really her?"

"I'm so hungry that I just want to ask for that yakisoba bread she's holding… Wait, what am I saying? I'm on a diet! WE are on a diet, Sanaka-san!"

When Angelie started to move towards Sanaka across the road, Sanaka ran off while carrying all her food.

"Futoi-kun said the word 'diet' earlier! It can't be helped!! Get away from me! This is all mine!"

---

That afternoon, everyone was in the club room. Angelie was just finishing taping a signage on Sanaka's forehead that said 'Forgive me for being weak. I will be repenting by not eating dinner.' When she was done, she sat back down on her chair.

"There, I hope you've learned your lesson on keeping a woman's sacred pact."

Angelie's menacing smile was not lost on Sanaka.

"Yes, ma'am…"

Her tears were flowing as she was also writing on a piece of paper the phrase 'I'm on a diet' repeatedly.

"The health checkup will be by the end of the week and Futoi is exactly how I hoped he would turn out. The perfect example of the results my club can produce! My plan will finally bear results."

Akuma was rubbing his hands together while having a sinister smile on his face.