Yukimura nudged me in the back.

"Yo, you free?"

"Oh... yeah."

It was currently break time, so I wondered what Yukimura wanted from me.

"Did you get a message from Fujimura?"

"I'm not sure. Let me check my phone."

I turned on my phone and saw there was no notifications.

"I haven't."

"Weird. She messaged me saying to visit her, but told me to bring you along as well."

"That's weird... are you going to check it out?"

"Honestly, I kinda wanna blow her off."

Since Yukimura and Shouko had bad blood, I could see why.

"If you don't want to go, I'll go for you."

"Nah, it's fine. Let's just go together. I got nothing better to do anyways."

These days, Yukimura has been spending playing football less in his free time. This was partly due to the fact the other boys refused to let him join because of his violent tendencies, and this was partly due to the fact he was taking his studies more seriously.

"Alright."

As me and Yukimura headed to meet her, we crossed paths with Mitsuba, who had a confused look on his face.

"Yo, Mitsuba. You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I-I think I have."

"Huh? I was joking."

"I don't mean it literally! More like... metaphorically?"

"What happened?"

"Fujimura-san was nice to me."

Yukimura narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Huh?"

"I mean it dude! I just talked to her, and she wasn't a total bitch to me!"

"Hang on, me and Takanori are going to meet her right now. You just talked to her?"

"Uh, yeah? She sent me a message asking to meet up outside."

"What the hell... what's this gyaru up to?"

"Whatever it is, I'm a-okay with it!"

Mitsuba, being a pervert, was completely fine with improving his relationship with a lascivious girl like Shouko.

"Go back to obsessing over that Yogen."

Yukimura grunted, trudging past Mitsuba with suspicion for the upcoming meeting in his eyes. I was also confused on what was happening, but if I had to guess, I think Shouko took Mikitaka's advice from yesterday on board.

"Yuu-yuu, Yukimura-san! Over here!"

Noticing us as we got closer to her, Shouko waved at us to get our attention. She was waiting at a table and bench under the shade. I guess she didn't keep the ponytail look, since today she was also wearing twin tails.

"Yuu-yuu? What kinda stupid nickname is that? When'd you get close to her?"

Yukimura muttered, looking at me with judgmental eyes.

"I wouldn't say we're close... just that we're on better terms than before."

"Don't tell me, she was also "nice" to you?"

"No. I suppose I just saw a more genuine side to Shouko-san."

"Huh? You're also calling her by her first name now? What the hell..."

Yukimura narrowed his eyes and shoved me slightly. He really wasn't liking what direction this was headed.

"Hey, thanks for coming."

Shouko friendly greeted Yukimura, but he ignored it, slamming his fist on the table to assert his dominance.

"Aight, drop the cutesy act. What the hell are you planning, Fujimura?"

However, Shouko didn't looked threatened by Yukimura's accusation. Instead, she bowed her head at him.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done to you in the past, Yukimura-san."

Yukimura removed his fist from the table and raised an eyebrow.

Like I had guessed, Shouko was doing her best to make amends with Nora's friends. That's probably why she talked to Mitsuba earlier, and why he had that surprised reaction.

I soon realised that the reason she asked Yukimura to bring me along was to help her. Since their relationship was extremely strained, she'd need more help in convincing him to forgive her.

"Yea... I ain't buying into this crap. Takanori, let's ditch this bitch, I don't believe her for a second."

Despite her earnest attempt at making up with him, Yukimura thought she had ulterior motives and even insulted her at the same time. Although I expected Shouko to snap back, she kept quiet and prostrated her head lower.

"Hang on, let's give her a chance. She's being sincere."

"Ha, as if. She's probably trying to get something outta us by apologising."

While this was somewhat true, since she was making amends to improve her chances at going out with Nora, the fact Shouko was willing to go this far should be acknowledged.

"She's trying to change for the better. Give her a chance."

Yukimura snarled at me when I told him that. He snorted and turned his back on the both of us.

"I can't believe you of all people fell for her honey trap. Guess Kazuraba sucking you off wasn't enough, huh?"

Instead of replying back to me rationally, Yukimura insulted me and Yukina.

"What does she have to do with this?"

"It's obvious man, you just wanna screw Fujimura cuz Kazuraba ain't budging. That's why you're being nice to her, friggin simp. If you want to get in her pants so bad, just do it already. She won't fight back, bitches like her love whoring herself out."

Hearing him say all this without any remorse reminded me of just how barbaric Yukimura could be. However, hearing him insult her so openly caused Shouko to stand up for herself.

"I'm not trying to get anything out of this, Yukimura-san. I genuinely feel bad for the things I've said and done to you and your friends."

"If you feel so bad, how about you list 'em for me? If you can admit to all your disgusting behaviour, then maybe I'll believe you."

"Yukimura-san, let's not go that far. If someone asked you to do the same, would you?"

"Yes, I would! I ain't afraid to admit my mistakes, and so should she!"

I tried to wrangle him in, since I felt that he was being excessively unfair to her, but Yukimura was really stubborn. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of irony in his behaviour though, since he didn't like it whenever someone dredged up his past.

"It's fine if you don't want to forgive me, but at the very least, I'd like to start over."

Seeing as this was going nowhere, Shouko cut in.

"Oi, I ain't the type to forget the past. There's no way we're just gonna "start over", aight?"

"Then at the very least, I don't want to get into fights with you anymore."

"Then don't start crap with me, it's that simple. I won't bother you if you don't bother me."

That was easier said than done, since Shouko wanted to spend more time with Nora. Since Nora and Yukimura were close friends, these two would inevitably end up in a situation where they'd have to hang out with each other.

"Fine, fine... I'll settle for that much."

Yukimura clicked his tongue, unimpressed by how much she was backing down against him.

"I seriously don't get you, Fujimura. One moment, you're a stubborn bitch, the next you're not trying to fight back at all."

"What, do you prefer me being a stubborn bitch? That's what led us here in the first place!"

"Ha. See, that kinda response is what I'd expect from you."

"Mou, I don't get you either, Yukimura-san. I thought you didn't like it when I acted this way."

"I hate bitches, but I hate it even more when people try to bend over for someone else. I dunno what you get from making up with me, but continue being how you've always been. It freaks me out seeing you act so submissive, you friggin femdom."

In his own roundabout way, Yukimura matched Shouko's willingness to apologise by offering his thoughts about her, alongside some good advice.

"Hmph, I don't plan on changing at all. What I want is to improve my relationships with everyone in class. I simply realised I'm going to have a harder time at school if half of you hate me."

"Heh, what a shallow reason."

Flipping her twin tails pridefully, Shouko crossed her arms. Yukimura walked away, his hands in his pockets.

"Tough crowd, huh?"

"I didn't think Yukimura-san would accept my apology, so I saw it coming. I'm just glad I managed to make up with Mitsuba-san and Tanaka-san. I thought it'd be harder, but... showing goodwill is unexpectedly easy."

"Everything is easier when you're being sincere. I'm sure you'll change Yukimura-san's opinion one day."

"It's gonna take a long ass time though... he doesn't want anything to do with me at all."

"What you did is a good start. I think he inadvertently complimented you during that."

"I don't think being a bitch is a compliment."

"I more meant your ability to not back down easily."

"Hmm. Maybe I should've been more firm with him after all."

I wanted to talk to Shouko more about this, but Yukimura called out to me.

"Oi, Takanori! Ya coming or what?"

"Yeah, hang on."

I responded before turning back to Shouko.

"Sorry, I gotta go."

"You should hurry before he hits you."

Shouko joked, but that's something he'd legitimately do.

"Before you go, I'm having a party to celebrate my birthday this Saturday. Wanna come?"

"I'm not much a party person..."

"I could tell, but I thought I'd make the offer regardless. It's totally fine if you wanna skip."

"Who else is coming?"

"Mayuri-chan, Takayuki-chan, Alice-chan... you know, those kinds of people. Actually, I was gonna invite Yukimura-san too, as part of my apology, but eh... didn't get the chance."

"Let me guess, you invited Mitsuba-san and Tanaka-san too?"

"Mhm. Mitsuba-san accepted, but Tanaka-san rejected it."

"I see... to be honest, I probably wouldn't fit in, so I'll pass. Thanks for the offer, though."

"Alrighty, that's cool."

"Oi, Takanori!"

Yukimura called out to me again, this time more louder and more angrier.

"Ah, you should probably go."

"...yeah, I better hurry off now. See you."

"See you around, Yuu-yuu!"

Shouko threw up a peace sign to say goodbye, while I chased after Yukimura.