Day 2 of "enjoying the school week" with Hanako

Y/N woke up to find that her uniform had been magically fixed; the button was back in its place.

'Huh....?'

She woke up to find that she was still in her classroom... she checked the wallclock on the far corner.

6:30 am.

But classes didn't start until 7:00!

'Why am I here this early?' Y/N thought to herself, looking around at the empty classroom. 'This isn't even my section...'

Her fingers kept fumbling with the fixed button, when suddenly, it all came crashing down on her.

Hanako-san.

She remembered, now. She had wanted to kill herself, but couldn't bring herself to... other than her fear of blood, there was something else holding her back. She had asked for a School Wonder, Hanako, for help. He had refused. He went on to give her the gauze she wore, then brought her here, slept next to her...

....wait, I slept next to him?

She turned a little red at the memory, patting her cheeks to try and fight down the small blush. Never again will she be open to a boy. Ever.

But still... maybe she could settle her qualm and trust him. He had been very nice (save the irksome, perverted teases he had thrown at her) and Y/N still believed that was too good to be true.

'If it was a dream, it was the best dream I've ever had.'

"Ohayou, Y/N!"

'Or maybe not.'

Y/N turned around to find the peculiar ghost boy opening the classroom door.

"Did you sleep well?" He grinned, tilting his head.

"God, this is all so surreal..." Y/N ran a hand through her H/C locks, massaging her temples.

Hanako perked up curiously. He hovered towards her, by her side in an instant.

"Whatever do you mean?" He frowned.

"You're my friend, right?" Y/N asked, clasping one of his hands.

The corners of Hanako's mouth twitched into a small grin.

"You bet! Accept it already."

Y/N had never felt more happy in her life.

For the first time in a long while, she managed to smile back.

Hanako looked down at her in surprise. As a wanderer of this school, he had never seen her smile. It was a small, simple one.

And he liked it an awful lot.

He was a sucker for rare things, and he knew Y/N rarely smiled. And to think he was the one behind it. It was indescribably-

"Hey, look. The nerd's so insane she's talking to herself now!"

Both highschoolers whipped their heads to the doorway. Y/N's eyes grew wide in fear... Hanako's narrowed in irritation.

There stood a redhead all too familiar for Y/N. She stood her ground shakily.

"Who is that?" Hanako whispered, his voice uncomfortably close to Y/N's ear. She shivered at the dangerously low tone; so different from his usual cheery one.

"Tobero...." Y/N tried to reply quietly, but he had heard her.

"Yes, nerd? Will you quit talking to yourself?" Tobero's partner-in-crime, Futama, lazily leaned against the doorway.

'They can't see Hanako...?'

"Y/N, let's get out of here." Hanako attempted to reach for her wrist, but she pulled away.

"They'll just hurt me."

"Then fight back!"

"They'll hurt me even worse."

Hanako's eye twitched at her words. Y/N had never felt more afraid in her life; the ghost looked so angry. He looked scarily intimidating.

"I won't let them." He said flatly.

"H-how...?"

"Do as I say." He crouched to a fighting stance by her side.

Y/N's heart was racing wildly. What the hell was happening?!

"Tell them to fuck off."

"Hanako!"

"Sorry." He cleared his throat. "Tell them to get out of the clsssroom."

Y/N nodded determinedly, trying to summon all her courage.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" She squeaked, her voice high as ever. "G-go away..."

Tobero scowled, waving a fist. Y/N flinched in fear.

"Tell me, crybaby," He approached her, now a few steps away. Futama followed close behind.

"Why are you talking to yourself? 'Ya mental or something?"

"Plus, this is our classroom." Futama snickered. "You disabled? Blind?"

Y/N, who already had been through a lot, wasn't hard to tear down with words. Hanako could see her straining not to cry and just flee. Her legs were jelly at this point, but she still wouldn't move.

'What a strong girl.'

"Tell them, 'I'll punch you if you don't get out of my way.'"

"H-huh?!" Y/N whisper-yelled in fright "But what if-?!"

Hanako held her hand, looking up at her with his sincere amber eyes.

"Fight back."

Y/N gulped, a bead of sweat running down her temple. The last time she had tried to make a stand.... well, her mother had slashed her.

With Hanako's hand in hers, she fought down her worse fears, staring her two bullies straight in the eye.

"If you don't get out of my way," she said in a steely voice, "I'll punch you."

"Ha!" Tobero cracked his knuckles, approaching the girl. Futama did the same, both boys surrounding her.

Y/N found it hard to breathe, but Hanako's tight grip on her hand kept her down on earth. The next command, however, made her want to scream.

"Now punch them."

Y/N, holding back her regrets, worries, and fears, shut her eyes tight, folded her hands and aimed to uppercut Taboro.

Her hand never met his skin.

But she could hear bodies falling; parts being punched and kicked and thrown...

Y/N slowly opened her eyes.

The scene around her was chaotic.

Tobero was on the floor, bruised and knocked out for dear life. Futama, losing his comrade, looked up at Y/N in terror, pointing a finger at her.

"You!" He screamed. "How did you do that?!"

"Why, do you want more?" Hanako spat.

"Wh-Why, do you want more?" Y/N stammered, still shocked by her sudden victory.

Futama shook his head in disbelief, then ran out of the classroom. Y/N let out a shaky breath, all her stress finally gone.

"Ah, what impudence!" Hanako laughed, brushing his shoulder pompously. "These two guys were so easy to beat up!"

"You did all of that...?" Y/N gasped incredulously.

"I'm amazing, aren't I?" He smirked, pulling out his knife. "But I only used the butt of this knife. Had I used the actual blade..."

Y/N shivered at the sudden gleam of hunger in Hanako's eyes.

"I'd gladly stab them!"

"O-Oh no, it's fine, really!" Y/N nervously laughed. Hanako looked at the girl in surprise.

"Please put that sword..."

"Knife."

"Yeah, whatever - put that butterknife, down."

Hanako was greatly offended. He stroked the blade with great care.

"This? A butterknife?"

"Why not?" Y/N let out that small smile from earlier. Hanako dropped the fact that he was offended.

"I suppose it does look like a butterknife..." He trailed off, hoping to keep the grin plastered on her face.

Sadly, Hanako's wish was cut off yet again. But this time, it wasn't by a bully...

"Y/N!!" A certain white-haired girl cried from the doorway, her eyes wide in relief. "Y/N, I'VE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU!"