Chapter 6: teased by friend

The classroom was filled with its usual noise, the clatter of desks and the chatter of students echoing through the air. But for Izumi, it was all muffled. His thoughts were elsewhere.

His mind kept replaying the events from earlier that afternoon. Ren's mocking grin. The way the girls always flocked around him. The frustration bubbling inside him. And then there was Marina, looking at him with that unreadable expression. Had he really stepped up for her?

Izumi couldn't stop wondering. He had done what he felt was right, but now... what was he supposed to do? Did she even care? Or had he just made a fool of himself?

Izumi sighed, his pen hovering over his notebook.

"Hey, man, you alright?"

Izumi blinked and looked up to see Anzu and Yuki staring at him, their faces full of curiosity.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine."

"You sure? You've been staring at that notebook for ten minutes," Anzu said with a raised eyebrow.

Izumi groaned. "It's nothing. I was just... thinking."

Yuki grinned. "About Marina, right?"

Izumi froze.

Anzu's grin spread wider. "Oh, man, we saw what happened this afternoon. You went off on Ren like you were some kind of hero or something!"

Izumi felt his cheeks warm. "It wasn't like that!"

"Really?" Yuki snorted. "You marched right up to Ren and told him to stay away from Marina. That's not something you do if you're just 'thinking.'"

Izumi glared at them. "It wasn't a big deal. It just slipped out."

"Slipped out?" Anzu laughed. "Oh, no, man. You were straight-up challenging him! You even looked like you were ready to throw down."

"I wasn't!" Izumi's voice cracked slightly, betraying his own nerves. "I just... didn't want him messing with her. It was the right thing to do."

Yuki leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Uh-huh. Sure, man. And what exactly were you gonna do if Ren said something back? You gonna fight him for Marina?"

Izumi sighed. "I didn't think it would go that far. I just didn't like the way he was acting."

Anzu raised his hands, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Hey, we're not saying it's a bad thing. I mean, you've got guts. But the way you walked up to him like that? Pure classic Izumi."

"Classic Izumi?" Izumi asked, narrowing his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Yuki leaned in, teasing. "Oh, you know. Mr. I-keep-my-head-down, Mr. I-don't-stand-out. But suddenly, today, you're all... Mr. Hero. You're trying to fight for Marina. What's next? You're gonna challenge Ren to a duel?"

Izumi's face turned crimson. "I—I wasn't trying to be some hero!"

"Right, right," Anzu said, his tone exaggerated. "Next time, don't forget your cape, man. You might need it."

Izumi groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I didn't ask for this!"

Yuki and Anzu exchanged knowing glances before bursting into laughter.

"You really like her, huh?" Anzu asked, still laughing.

Izumi froze. He hadn't expected them to go there. He quickly shook his head, trying to hide his blush. "What? No! It's not like that. I just... didn't like how Ren was acting around her."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "So it's not about her, huh? You just want to defend her because she's... what? A damsel in distress?"

Izumi shot him a glare. "No! I just—look, I just think people should respect her."

Anzu leaned in closer, his grin widening. "Uh-huh, and do you think she noticed your little 'hero moment'?"

Izumi's heart skipped a beat. That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it?

After school, Izumi couldn't get the teasing out of his mind. As he walked through the hallways, his thoughts were all over the place. What if Marina hadn't even cared about what he said to Ren? What if she just thought he was some idiot who didn't know when to keep quiet?

His mind kept racing, making him feel more and more self-conscious. And as if on cue, he spotted her in the distance, standing by the school gate. She wasn't looking at him, but he couldn't help but feel his heart race a little.

He wanted to approach her. He wanted to know if she'd thought anything of what he said, but before he could make a decision, he was interrupted by Anzu and Yuki—again.

"You're not seriously gonna leave, right?" Yuki teased, grinning from ear to ear.

Izumi frowned. "What are you two up to now?"

Anzu wrapped his arm around Izumi's shoulder. "You can't leave without telling Marina goodbye, can you? I mean, after your big heroic stunt today."

Izumi's cheeks flushed again. "It wasn't a big deal," he muttered.

Yuki leaned in, his voice low but mischievous. "Maybe now's the time to give her that 'goodbye' with a little extra flair. You know, like a kiss on the cheek or something?"

Izumi's eyes went wide. "What?! No way! I'm not doing that!"

Anzu laughed out loud. "Come on, man, what's the worst that could happen? A little kiss, and suddenly she's head over heels for you. You'd be unstoppable!"

Izumi felt the blood rush to his head. "Are you guys serious right now?"

Yuki shrugged. "Hey, no harm in trying. If you don't go for it, someone else will."

Izumi scowled, embarrassed and irritated at the same time. "I'm not doing anything like that."

But as he walked past them toward the school gate, Izumi couldn't shake the thought. What if he did something bold? Something that would show Marina he wasn't just some quiet guy who never took chances. What if—just what if—he could be the one she noticed?

When he finally reached Marina at the gate, she turned to him, her gaze a little softer than before.

"Izumi," she said, her voice calm, but with something else beneath it, "about earlier... Thanks."

Izumi's heart skipped a beat, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "You're welcome! I just—"

But Marina held up her hand, stopping him. "You didn't have to, you know? I can take care of myself."

Izumi nodded, swallowing his nervousness. "I know. But still... I don't like seeing people mess with you. Because you are the only one that I can talk to with my favourite anime."

Marina smiled faintly. "I appreciate it. But you don't need to go out of your way for me. I can handle my own problems."

Izumi smiled back, feeling a little less awkward, but still unsure. "I just wanted you to know."

She nodded again. "I know. Thanks, Izumi."

As they stood there, the weight of the moment settled between them, and for the first time, Izumi felt like maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get somewhere.

But just as he was about to say something else, Anzu and Yuki shouted from a distance.

"Yo, Izumi, hurry up, man! Stop flirting and come on!"

Izumi's face went red as Marina chuckled softly. "Looks like your friends are calling you."

Izumi groaned inwardly. "Yeah, they never let me forget anything."

But Marina just smiled and turned away, waving him off. "Don't let them tease you too much. You did well."

Izumi watched her walk away, his heart fluttering. Maybe he didn't have to be perfect. Maybe he didn't have to be the hero to get noticed. He just had to be himself.

But as he walked back to join his friends, he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't let Ren win. Not when Marina had taken the time to thank him.