Chapter 55

Mita's situation, which I thought would eventually return to normal, seemed to be dragging on contrary to my expectations.

It wasn't clear-cut bullying like being called out, being scolded to their face, or having things hidden, but it seemed that people were whispering words like "gloomy" and "morose" in a way that Mita could just about hear, mocking her.

I thought, "They must be enjoying it."

Mita herself could pretend not to hear and live her life as usual, but she was becoming more and more withdrawn and gloomy, giving them even more opportunities to target her.

Once a person's thoughts start to lean towards negativity, they can really spiral down.

I only knew Mita from our tutoring sessions, and even then, she seemed to be a quiet type. She was the kind of person who could easily become a target.

For example, Aoi may seem quiet, but she is good at studies and sports, and she enjoys outdoor activities, so she is less likely to be targeted.

But Mita, who was being tutored, probably wasn't doing well in her studies, and from the results of the sports festival, she didn't seem to have good athletic skills, and her appearance was also plain. She was full of vulnerabilities.

She seemed to have friends, so she wasn't completely isolated, but I wondered when the situation would calm down.

While thinking about all this, since we were in different classes and not particularly close, and it wasn't outright bullying, I had been a mere observer. However, one day, I happened to meet her in the infirmary.

I had come to get a band-aid because I had cut my finger, and Mita was there to get medicine for stress-induced nervous gastritis. Oh...

When she saw me enter the infirmary, Mita flinched and looked frightened.

I must look intimidating.

Mita looked paler and thinner than when I had met her during tutoring.

It seemed she was more sensitive than I had imagined.

"Hello, Mita. Is the nurse here? I need a band-aid."

"...Ah, she just left a moment ago..."

"Oh, I see. Can I just take one then?"

Maybe I was overreacting to a small cut, but it hurt, and I wanted a band-aid.

My friends had said, "Rika-sama, take care of your hand quickly!" and even offered to go with me to the infirmary, but I thought it was a bit much to go in a group for something so minor, so I declined and came alone.

But it was a good thing I did. I might have made Mita even more frightened.

I picked up a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic with tweezers and started to disinfect my finger.

But it was difficult with my non-dominant hand. I'm clumsy.

"Hey, Mita, can you help me put on the band-aid? I can't do it well with my left hand."

"Uh..."

Mita, who had been sitting with her head down and holding her stomach, looked up in surprise.

I handed her the band-aid.

Mita, though hesitant, started to put the band-aid on my finger.

"Are you okay, Mita?"

"Uh..."

"You look unwell."

"Ah... Yes, I'm fine..."

"I see."

There's no superhero who always comes to the rescue in times of need. In the end, you have to deal with things on your own.

But I think emotional support is necessary.

"Hey, Mita, do you want to be friends with me?"

"Wh-What!"

It would probably be difficult for Mita to join my group. We are too different. If I asked, the others might accept her, but she would probably find it hard to fit in.

"Like, greeting each other in the morning, sending emails, that kind of friend. Oh, do you have a phone?"

"Yes."

"Then, can we exchange addresses? You can send me emails whenever you want, during breaks or whenever. I might not be able to reply immediately, but I will."

When I was ignored for a short time in my previous life, the breaks and lunchtime were the most painful.

I would talk to my imaginary friend in my head.

If Mita had someone to connect with, she might feel a bit better.

And if people knew she was friends with me, it might change how they saw her.

"By the way, I kind of know what you're going through. But I don't think it's a good idea for me to confront them directly. It might just make things worse, and you probably don't want to be labeled as a victim in front of everyone, right?"

"..."

"So, try to be a bit more resilient. Mita, you don't need to look down; just be confident. And maybe you should cut your bangs a bit shorter. It might make your face look brighter. If you need to vent, you can send me emails. If things get really bad, I'll definitely help you."

Mita started to cry.

I silently patted her thin back.

From the next day, I greeted Mita warmly when we passed each other.

My friends were surprised, so I explained, "She helped me put on a band-aid in the infirmary." One of the older girls said, "Rika-sama was helped. Thank you," as if she were my guardian, and everyone laughed.

I received emails from Mita, like "I was insulted again" and "It's painful to see everyone laughing at me."

Hmm. It's even more painful because she thinks school is her whole world.

I found out that Mita likes drawing, so I suggested she try making friends with similar interests online.

One day, as I was walking down the hallway, I encountered a group of gal-like girls.

Manga-san looked at me, and I quietly looked back.

I don't know what will happen next, but at this point, I have more power in the school, and our group is the largest among the first-year girls.

Right now, I won't lose.

I stared at her with a message in my eyes: "Lady, are you trying to start a fight with me?"

I could feel a combative atmosphere from the girls with me.

After a moment, Manga-san looked away first, and they walked past.

...I won.

I was scared. I've always been afraid of those flashy girls. I'm glad they backed off.

The other girls were angry, saying, "What's with that attitude!" but I could hear them, so I wished they would stop.

I'm a coward, and I'm afraid of fights.

After a while, Mita gradually became brighter and started to talk to her old friends again.

She seemed to have regained her weight. My advice on how to gain weight seemed to work. The key is to eat before bed.

The gossip from Manga-san and her group also decreased.

After about a month, the emails from Mita completely stopped.