Chapter 12: A Promise to Protect

Two weeks have passed since I became Ryuko, and I'm still adjusting. Sigh. It's not easy adapting to life as a woman.

Sometimes I still forget to sit properly, spreading my legs too wide while sitting, or, even worse, standing when I go to pee out of sheer habit. God, I hope no one notices.

And yes, my perverted mind is still intact-unchanged, though my current situation complicates things. To be clear, I still like women. It's just... strange now.

Today's February 26th. Rin's birthday. I wanted to buy her a gift, something to show I care, but I don't have any money yet. My salary isn't due for another week. I let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, Rin."

"Ryuko! Ryuko! Table two is calling for you!" Aki's shout snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, I'm on it!" I reply, rushing to serve the guests.

It feels like a slow day, yet the hours drag on. At 4 PM, Keiko announces that she'll leave early. She must be planning to celebrate Rin's birthday.

Just as Keiko about to clock out, my phone buzzes. It's Rin. I stare at her name on the screen, confused. Why is she calling me?

"Hello?" I answer hesitantly.

There's silence at first. Then I hear a faint, broken voice. "Hel-p... sch-ool..."

Before I can process it, muffled shouting and a loud smack echo through the line. My heart stops. Then the call ends.

Something is wrong. Something is terribly wrong.

Without wasting a second, I dart to Keiko. "Sorry, I have to step out for a bit!" I shout, barely waiting for her response before bolting out the door. Rin's school is less than 2 kilometers away. My legs pump hard, my mind racing faster.

A good thing about yesterday's conversation was that it brought up Rin's school, so it wouldn't seem strange if I knew where it was.

When I arrive, the school is mostly deserted. Most students have already gone home, and the quiet makes my anxiety worse. I search frantically, scanning the grounds and surrounding streets.

Then I hear it-a faint commotion coming from an alley about 500 meters away. I sprint toward the noise, and what I see stops me cold.

Four girls are standing around Rin, who's slumped on the ground. Her face is bruised and swollen, and her body trembles. One of the girls yanks her hair, sneering down at her.

My vision blurs with rage.

"Hey!" I shout, my voice booming.

Before they can react, I rush in and deliver a punch to the girl holding Rin's hair. She stumbles back, crashing into the wall. The other three whirl around, startled but quickly recovering.

"Who the hell are you?!" one of them yells, charging at me.

I don't answer. My fist connects with her stomach, and she doubles over with a scream. Another girl swings at me, landing a punch on my cheek, but I barely feel it. I grab her arm, twisting it just enough to make her yelp before shoving her away.

"Four against one? Pathetic," I spit, my voice cold. "Let me teach you cowards a lesson."

The biggest girl grabs a wooden block, raising it to strike.

"Behind you!" Rin's voice cuts through the chaos.

I spin just in time to avoid the swing, snatching the block from her hands. With a sharp crack, I slam it against the ground, splintering the edge.

"Listen to me," I growl, brandishing the broken block. "If you ever touch Rin again, I'll make you regret it."

The girls freeze, their bravado crumbling. One of them stammers, "P-please, have mercy..."

"Not until you promise!" I shout, advancing on them.

"We promise! We swear we won't bother her again!" they cry, their voices trembling.

"Now apologize to Rin!" I demand, my voice rising.

They hesitate, glancing at each other nervously. I take a threatening step forward, raising the block.

"We're sorry, Rin!" they shout in unison, their voices shaky and desperate.

"Get lost," I snap, lowering the block.

The girls scatter like frightened rats, disappearing into the street.

I drop the block and kneel beside Rin, my chest tight. Her face is battered, her eyes downcast. My heart aches at the sight of her like this.

"Come on," I say gently, offering her my hand.

She hesitates, then looks up at me. Her voice is quiet but steady. "Thank you..."

Those two words hit me harder than any punch. She's never thanked me before, not once. It feels like a small victory, though my chest tightens with guilt. I nod, managing a soft smile.

"Let's get you to a hospital," I say, helping her to her feet.

She shakes her head. "Please... don't tell my mom. I don't want her to worry."

I pause, staring at her. Even after what she's been through, she's thinking about Keiko. She loves her mom so much.

"Okay," I agree, my voice soft.

I crouch down, motioning for her to climb onto my back.

"W-what are you doing?!" she sputters, her face red.

"Stop being stubborn," I scold. "You're hurt. Get on."

She hesitates, then sighs and climbs onto my back. Her weight is light, almost too light, and I feel a pang of worry for her.

As I carry her, the silence between us feels heavy but not uncomfortable.

"You're warm," she murmurs, her voice barely audible.

I smile faintly. "You should rest. We'll be there soon."

She doesn't respond, but I feel her grip tighten slightly around my shoulders.

When we finally reach the hospital, I gently set her down. The nurse takes her in for treatment, and I sit in the waiting area, my mind spinning.

Today was Rin's birthday, and this is how she spent it-alone, scared, and hurt. My fists clench at the thought of those bullies. If I hadn't been there...

"Ryuko?"

I look up to see Rin standing in the doorway, her face cleaned and bandaged.

"Are you okay?" I ask, standing quickly.

She nods. "The nurse said I'm fine. Just some bruises."

Relief washes over me, and I smile. "That's good."

Rin hesitates, then steps closer. Her voice is soft but sincere. "I'm sorry I've been... rude to you. And thank you."

I blink, stunned. Rin has always been distant, guarded. Hearing her say this feels like a breakthrough.

"Rin..." I start, but she shakes her head.

"I'm not good at this... but I just wanted to say it," she mumbles, her cheeks tinged pink.

She looks up, her eyes meeting mine. For the first time, there's a flicker of warmth in her gaze.

"Let's go home," she says softly.

"Yeah," I agree, walking beside her.

While walking, I said to her, "Rin... Happy Birthday!"

Rin looked at me, confused. "How did you know?" she asked, clearly puzzled about how I knew her birthday.

I quickly came up with an excuse, saying I had accidentally seen her identity card earlier when helping her with the hospital administration. I let out a small, forced laugh, hoping she'd buy it.

Rin flushed, her cheeks turning pink. I could tell she was embarrassed and hadn't expected it. "I..." she began, as if she wanted to argue, but then she gave up with a soft sigh. "Thank you... Ryuko," she said quietly.

I smiled at her, a warmth spreading through me.

This day made me realize how little I truly knew about Rin. How was she at school? Did she have friends? The thought weighed heavily on me, and it hurt to think about how lonely she might have been.