Day 2 of "enjoying the school week" with Hanako

Hundreds of eyes were staring at Y/N as she walked down the school halls.

"Hey, look at that!" Yashiro teased, nudging her friend. "You're popular now!"

But Y/N wasn't happy with the notion at all.

"Did you hear how she beat up Tobara?"

"She has more fight than I thought."

Y/N was crestfallen. Now people would only fear her; she had become the bully.

Hanako, who had been floating alongside the girls and listening intently to the crowd of students, took notice of her crestfallen expression.

"Hey, Y/N!" He piped up quietly, tugging gently at her arm. "Listen more closely."

Y/N looked up at him questioningly, but played along.

"The way she could defend herself... that was so cool!"

Y/N's eyes lifted almost instantly. She listened more.

"I thought I was the only one Tobara picked on. I must talk to her; I hope she knows she's not alone..."

Y/N's eyes shimmered with a light Yashiro and Hanako thought was the brightest they've ever seen. She turned to listen even more-

BAM!

Y/N fell harshly to the floor. Yashiro gasped in horror; Hanako's eyes were wide. It was hard for him to keep quiet (due to many students turning to look at their direction) as he helped Yashiro pull her up.

"O-Oh! My bad! I'm so so sorry!"

Y/N looked up a little angrily at her assailant.

He was a rather tall boy, with blonde hair and electric blue eyes. Y/N's eyes narrowed at his features.

'Awfully familiar.'

The boy shyly extended a hand, which Y/N doubtfully took. Hanako stiffened.

Passerby students whistled at this awkward exchange and went on their way.

"Watch where you're going," Y/N cradled her right arm, still gauzed.

"Y-yeah! You almost hurt Y/-" Yashiro began, but she cut off abruptly once she met eyes with the intruder.

"Kou?!" She exclaimed.

The boy named Kou looked up at Yashiro with wide eyes.

"Ah! Yashiro-chan!"

Y/N looked back and forth between the blonde and her friend.

"Who is...?"

"Ah, Y/N!" Yashiro smiled. "This is sen- Minomoto Toru's brother! I met him along with Toru when I was looking for you..."

"Ah, no wonder why you looked familiar!" Y/N noted. "You're the brother of Yashiro's cru-!"

Yashiro clamped a hand on her friend's mouth, embarrassed. A concerned but bemused Kou looked back and forth between them.

"Again, sorry for bumping into ya' there, Y/N-chan!" Kou laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair. Y/N forced a smile, waving it off.

"By the way!" The blonde looked up out of the blue. "Who's this?"

Yashiro and Y/N stiffened as he gestured to Hanako.

Y/N noticed he had been awfully quiet, trying not to catch attention. However, it seemed like Kou could see him as clear as they did.

'What's going on?!"

Luckily, Hanako had removed his hat just in time so that he looked less like a mischievous delinquent and more...

'...cute?' Y/N thought at the back of her head. His tousled black hair suited him quite well.

"My name is Yugo!" He put on his iconic, coy grin.

"Y-yeah! Yugo!" Yashiro hastily added, nudging Y/N ("Ow!") for her to play along.

"He's a transferee, and we're showing him around!" Y/N forced a smile.

Kou raised a brow.

"A transferee? 2 months before the school is going to end?"

"H-He got in early for next school year because he was extremely smart!" Y/N put in brusquely.

"Aww, thanks, Y/N!" Hanako broke character, genuinely looking flattered at her words.

Y/N blushed a little, Yashiro gently pushing Kou and forcing him to turn away from the pair.

"Anyway, Kou-kun! We were happy to see you, but we really gotta' head to our classrooms now. See you later?"

"Oh, alright!" Kou chuckled. "It was nice meeting you again, Yashiro-chan."

He turned to Y/N with a shy smile.

"You too, Y/N!"

"Thanks..." She awkwardly waved goodbye, turning a little red. Hanako laced his fingers with hers, affixing Kou with a grin.

Somehow, the blonde thought it was a little less warm.

'The hell are they? Boyfriend and girlfriend?' He thought in amusement. He could sense the transferee had an obvious fondness for Y/N.

Finally, they walked their separate directions. The trio let out a sigh of relief.

"That was close?" Yashiro breathed.

"Very close!" Y/N grumbled.

"It's alright!" Hanako patted both of their heads affectionately. "You're not in trouble if you don't get caught!"

However, even with his words of optimism and encouragement, Y/N couldn't help but think:

'How did Kou see Hanako?'

~

Dear Y/N,

I heard the news of you standing up for yourself. Is that it? Is that why you have a bandaged arm? Because you defeated Tobero?! That's so cool! He scared me and my friend for a long time. We are grateful. Do you mind if we become friends...?

- Tazumo and Aborochi



Y/N,

You might not notice me because I'm so quiet, but I understand you're an introvert like me. We both have our troubles. And to hear that notorious bully get whooped in the ass by you? Cooler.

I decided to push aside my nervousness and ask this question:

Can we hang out sometime?

- Sabiro



Y/N,

Futama was a big headache. Thanks for silencing him.



"Look! This note came with chocolates!" Yashiro chirruped with delight, holding up the small bag of Kisses.

"Fanmail already!" Hanako chuckled, reading through the notes for a second time.

Y/N had been very surprised when she saw the small pile of notes on her desk. They filled her heart with joy, amazement, and a pang of embarrassment.

She looked up at the sound of footsteps entering the classroom. It was another gang of her bullies; Eto, Shibara, and Kyomo.

When the troublesome three laid their eyes on Y/N, they did something quite unusual; their lips began to tremble in fright. Rather than gang up on her, they sat far, far away.

Feeling rather awkward, she looked instead at her other classmates; the quiet kids (the people who never harmed her, nor talked to her) seemed to have an aura of respect in their eyes as she gazed upon them.

"See that, Y/N?" Yashiro smiled gently. "I think all you've been is a little too shy! I'm sure all of them want to be your friend."

Yashiro took notice of a girl in deep conversation with her friend. She wondered thoughtfully.

"I think those are Tazumo and Aborochi! I'll go approach them!"

The white-haired girl got up to walk over to their desks, leaving her two friends alone.

An awkward silence. Finally...

"How can Yashiro be so sure?" Y/N weakly asked, feeling overwhelmed by how much people were suddenly fascinated in her.

"You did well, Y/N!" Hanako patted her shoulder. "It's as simple as that!"

"No!" Y/N exclaimed in protest.

Numerous students turned to look at her.

"I-I mean - no!" Y/N said in a more hushed tone, bashfully looking at the floor.

"Hanako-san, you're the one who defended me! You're the one who helped me through all of this! I merely..."

"Hey."

Y/N turned red as Hanako leaned in, his face close to hers.

"You were the one who summoned the courage to stand up for yourself; If anything, I'd say you can kick their ass without me!"

He jokingly imitated her uppercuts, referring to when she had hit him before. Y/N furtively looked at the floor.

"Still... there must be a way I can thank you?"

"Oh, there is!" Hanako hummed.

"Wh-what is it?" Y/N looked up in an instant, a flash of determination in her eyes.

Hanako chuckled in amusement.

"You're willing to?"

"Of course!" She nodded profusely.

"Alright, then." The ghost grinned. "Kisses."

Y/N blinked. She had expected a more harder request.

"If you say so!" Y/N reached for the chocolates. Hanako abruptly gripped her wrist.

"Not from there!" He smiled innocently. "From you."

Y/N turned beet red in an instant.

"H-Hanako, I c-can't-!"

"Oh? What happened to all that determination?"

And that was how Hanako got an uppercut for the third time.