Chapter 7: Bullies
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[Iruma's POV]
The third day of school had arrived, and nothing was quite as thrilling as the typical high school routine. Each hallway I walked through, I saw the usual: groups of students gossiping, kids rushing to class, teachers who looked as though they were ready to clock out for the weekend, and the occasional "clumsy" kid who tripped and got caught up in a wave of awkward apologies. It wasn't exciting, but it was normal.
Astro seemed to be adjusting well to the mundane school life, but me? I was getting a little bored. There were moments when I'd find myself daydreaming about other realms, fighting battles, or just escaping to a quiet corner to tune everything out. Sometimes I'd look at the clock, counting down the minutes until it was time to go home.
But then, something changed.
It wasn't the start of the day or a particular class. It was a sound—a laugh. A laugh I knew too well. It was loud, obnoxious, and unmistakably malicious.
"You hear that?" Astro whispered to me, sensing the same shift in atmosphere.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing. "Let's go check it out."
We both followed the sound, our feet guiding us through the hallways like a magnetic pull. It didn't take long to find the source of the laughter: a group of bullies, as usual, standing in a circle around a smaller figure.
Mina Ashido.
Her usual bubbly attitude seemed crushed by the group, her golden eyes wide with anxiety as they circled her. A boy reached out and shoved her lightly, causing her to stumble. Her lunch tray almost went flying, but she caught it in time, her hands trembling.
I could feel the anger build in me. It was like watching a friend being slowly dismantled in front of my eyes. Mina wasn't the girl she used to be. She wasn't the confident hero in the making. She was... a victim.
Astro's eyes hardened, and without a word, he stepped forward, his posture shifting to one of authority and warning.
"Hey!" I called out, my voice cool but laced with a dangerous edge. "Back off."
The bullies turned, their smirks fading when they saw the two of us standing there, arms crossed. I wasn't the type to back down. Neither was Astro.
The leader of the pack sneered. "What do you want? Mind your business."
I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving his. "No. This is my business now."
Astro cracked his knuckles. "Got a problem with that?"
The leader looked from me to Astro and then back to Mina. He clearly wasn't prepared for a confrontation. His friends were already backing up, clearly unsure of how to react.
"Beat it, loser," one of them muttered, attempting to push me out of the way.
Before he could even get close, I pivoted, my arm snaking around to shove him into the locker with a gentle but firm push. "You really want to try me? Or is it your friends who need some lessons?"
Astro wasted no time. He was already on the leader, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground. "Do you wanna have a bad time?" he asked in a voice so calm, it was almost eerie.
The bully's eyes widened, clearly unnerved by the sudden shift in power. He stammered, his words getting tangled in his throat.
"What… what the hell is wrong with you guys?!"
I grinned, crossing my arms. "You know, I always wondered if even the worst people could change." I let the words hang in the air, the weight of the question sinking in. "But you're not exactly giving me hope."
"Let him go, Astro," I said, my voice cool again.
Astro lowered the guy slowly, his grip tight. "Get out of here. And don't come back."
The bullies, realizing that they had no chance against us, turned and ran off, their once confident swagger now replaced with fear.
I turned to Mina, who had remained standing there, still clutching her lunch tray in a vice grip. Her eyes were wide, a mixture of awe and disbelief swirling in her gaze.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice softer now, an attempt to break the tension that had built up.
Mina nodded quickly, but I could see the uncertainty in her. She was shaken, but she wasn't a broken mess. Not yet.
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice small but grateful. "Thank you."
"No need to thank us," I said, shaking my head. "People like that? They don't get to have their way."
Astro grinned. "Yeah. And if they ever try again, you know where to find us."
She gave us a small, shy smile, and in that moment, I saw a flicker of the person she'd grow into—the hero who wouldn't let anyone walk all over her. THE Alien Queen.
[Iruma's POV]
Lunchtime came quickly, and as usual, the cafeteria was buzzing with noise. Students chatting, laughing, and clanking trays as they moved around the room. The energy was high, but the mood was different today. Mina wasn't the same shy girl she'd been the first day. Her interactions with others had changed. There was a new confidence in her steps, a bounce in her voice when she spoke. She was standing taller now, more self-assured.
"Astro, Iruma!" Mina waved excitedly when she spotted us across the room. "Over here!"
She was seated at a table near the back, her usual cheerfulness slowly returning. I had to admit, it was a relief to see her like this again.
We walked over to join her, and she grinned at us as we sat down. "So, what did you guys think of those losers?"
"Pathetic," Astro said, grabbing a burger from his tray. "I mean, seriously, they didn't even try to fight back."
Mina snorted. "And you two? You guys are scary!"
I chuckled. "It's all in the delivery. And the attitude."
Astro leaned back in his seat. "I was just making sure they wouldn't mess with you again."
She looked at us, her golden eyes twinkling. "I really appreciate it, you guys. I didn't think anyone would stand up for me like that."
"Friends look out for each other," I said, giving her a casual wave. "And you're one of us now."
She blushed, her cheeks pink, but there was no denying the warmth in her smile. "Well, I guess that makes me part of the team now!"
"You're a natural," Astro added, leaning over and messing with her hair in a teasing way.
"Hey!" she protested, swatting his hand away. "I'm serious!"
We all laughed. It was like the tension that had once surrounded her had melted away. It felt... good to see her like this.
[Iruma's POV]
The next day at school, the pranks were in full swing. I had gotten to school early to set up one of the most elaborate pranks I had in mind for Mr. Tanaka, our overly-serious history teacher. His morning mood was always a disaster, and we had been planning for days to pull the perfect prank. Mina was all in.
"Okay," I said to her in a hushed voice. "Here's the plan. The glitter bomb is set. All you have to do is distract him, and then we hit him with it."
Mina nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "This is gonna be epic!"
"Remember," I added with a serious tone, "You gotta make it convincing. Keep him talking. We don't want him to catch on."
She gave a thumbs-up and strutted over to Mr. Tanaka's desk, starting up a conversation. I couldn't help but smile. Mina had become so much bolder in just a few short days. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I was proud of her.
Astro and I were hidden behind a row of lockers, waiting for the signal. The plan was simple. As soon as Mr. Tanaka walked to his desk, Mina would set him up for the glitter bomb, and we'd spring into action.
It only took a few minutes for things to fall into place. I could hear Mr. Tanaka's footsteps echoing down the hall. Mina was ready.
As soon as he crossed into the classroom, she began talking rapidly about some made-up history fact—something about the ancient Samurai battling in the moonlight.
Mr. Tanaka, ever the serious man, couldn't resist correcting her. "What are you talking about, Ashido? There's no such thing as moonlight battles."
While he was distracted, I gave Astro the nod. He pulled the string.
A cloud of glitter exploded across the room, raining down on Mr. Tanaka, covering him in sparkles. He froze, his jaw slack as he stared at the shining mess now covering his clothes.
I couldn't hold back my laugh.
Mina, ever the quick thinker, smiled innocently. "You look... shiny, Mr. Tanaka."
The entire class erupted into laughter, the whole scene chaotic with the sound of kids rolling in their seats and clapping their hands.
Astro just leaned back in his chair and casually said, "You look like a star?"
Mina joined in with a wink. "Guess this is just your fate, huh?"
Mr. Tanaka sputtered as he tried to get the glitter off, but the more he moved, the more it stuck to him. He could do nothing but stand there, humiliated.
After a few moments, he finally raised his hand. "Alright, alright! You guys win. Let's just start the lesson, okay?"
Astro turned to Mina and grinned. "We make a good team."
I gave a mock salute. "Welcome to the prank squad, Ashido."
She smiled mischievously. "This was just the beginning."