Kayako had noticed that too. She was also bullied, just in a different way. Everyone just avoided and ignored her. Meanwhile, she was being bossed around, beaten, and played pranks on by a delinquent in her class and her friends...
Now that Kayako had a friend, it was great. But who would save her?
Lunch time.
Kobayashi Junsuke, having just taken out his lunchbox, was about to call Lin Ze over to eat. He discovered that Lin Ze was actually standing up and walking backwards. He then said something to Kayako and, after seeing the obvious joy on Kayako’s face, they walked out together.
“Damn it! You traitor! You care more about your girlfriend than your friend! I was wrong about you, Lin Ze, woo woo woo.”
“Kobayashi, why did you go to school with Lin Ze and that Kawaguchi girl? I tell you, stay away from her! She’s a freak.”
“Shut up!” Grumbling, Kobayashi Junsuke munched on his lunch without paying any attention to the other person.
“We didn’t prepare lunches today, so let’s go eat at the school cafeteria.”
Most students brought their lunches from home, but some ate at the cafeteria. Kayako had been wondering about her lunch for today, and Lin Ze had already thought ahead for her.
The cafeteria wasn’t very crowded, so the two of them sat in a corner. Kayako had some money saved up secretly - the spare change her parents gave her when they asked her to run errands. She only had four hundred yuan now. Most of her money was spent on cat food for Xiaohei. So, she only ordered two vegetarian dishes and a bowl of rice.
“Why are you eating so little?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Hearing Kayako’s answer and seeing that she was only eating vegetarian food, Lin Ze got up and said he would go get another bowl of miso soup. He asked Kayako to wait for him.
Soon, Lin Ze came back with two bowls of miso soup. He then pushed a chicken leg and several egg rolls towards Kayako.
“You need to eat some high protein food even if you’re not hungry. You’re too skinny. You need to eat more.”
“I can’t keep spending your money.” Kayako’s head was down low.
“It’s okay. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Friends… you can’t keep doing this.”
“Kayako is very reasonable. But we don’t need to worry too much about that. Kayako can treat me next time.”
Lin Ze spoke in a teasing tone, but Kayako was listening very seriously. She thought for a moment, “But…it might be a long time.” Given the current situation, she couldn’t ask her parents for money. She also had to buy Xiaohei some cat food and nutrition supplements occasionally. In this situation, to save up money to treat Lin Ze…would it really be a few years after graduation and getting a job? (Ps: It’s said to be university, but it should be a lower level, just in case, you know.)
“Would ten years be long enough? Will Kayako no longer be friends with me after a while?” What to do, this Kayako really touched my heart.
“How could that be? As long as…as long as Lin Ze-san doesn’t dislike me and chase me away,” Kayako anxiously defended, her voice even rising slightly. But then, her voice gradually lowered.
“Haha, that’s all that matters. Eat, eat. The soup will be cold soon.”
…
“Hey, Hanako, your mom’s cooking is really good. Bring more egg rolls tomorrow. Just these few are too stingy!”
Lin Ze, having just walked into the classroom with Kayako, overheard these words. Following the voice, he saw that the lunchbox in front of Hiraki Hanako only had a little bit of side dishes and rice left. Right then, Kobayashi Junsuke walked over. “That girl, Sano Haruna, is bullying Hiraki-san again. She has been snatching most of Hiraki-san’s lunch since we started eating. She’s one of the people who bully Hiraki-san that I told you about.”
Looking at the forced smile on Hiraki Hanako’s face and the flamboyant Sano Haruna, Lin Ze said with a hint of disgust, “What? Does Sano-san not have any food to eat? It seems like Hiraki-san’s lunch has been eaten by you, Sano-san, by half. Does Sano-san’s parents not only not make you lunch, but also don’t give you lunch money? Then Sano-san is so pitiful. Why don’t I help you raise funds for lunch? Everyone will give you some of their food during lunch, and we’ll make you a lunchbox?”
“You! What business is it of yours, Lin Ze? Mind your own business!” Lin Ze’s sharp words broke Sano Haruna’s defenses. However, seeing Lin Ze’s tall stature, she dared not scold him out loud.
Kayako gently tugged at Lin Ze’s sleeve. She also felt sorry for Hiraki-san, but she didn’t want Lin Ze to get into trouble. As for Lin Ze standing up for another girl? Lin Ze-san was always so warm-hearted. Besides, Lin Ze-san hadn’t interacted with Hiraki-san before, so he was just doing what he thought was right.
Lin Ze patted Kayako’s hand lightly on his back, signaling her to rest assured. But this gesture made Kayako’s heart race. It was like touching hot coals, so she withdrew her hand. Then she cursed herself. She rubbed the hand that Lin Ze had patted with the other, and her legs involuntarily rubbed together for a moment.
No one noticed Kayako’s actions behind Lin Ze, but Sano Haruna saw Kayako’s eyes light up. Her voice took on an阴阳(yin-yang) tone. “What? Lin Ze-san, you’re friends with Kawaguchi-san and you’re standing up for Hiraki-san, are you trying to be a hero?”
“Don’t get me wrong.” Lin Ze walked towards his seat. As he passed by Sano Haruna, he left behind the words, “I just think your behavior is disgusting.”
“***” Lin Ze’s final words completely killed the conversation. Sano Haruna cursed under her breath. She glared at Hiraki Hanako and Kobayashi Junsuke, who was mocking her, and then walked out of the classroom.
“Lin Ze-san, thank you.” Someone was speaking up for her. This made her very touched. She thanked Lin Ze after seeing Sano Haruna leave. “Lin Ze-san, Kawaguchi-san, please be careful on your way home.”
Watching the two of them leave, Hanako’s heart became nervous.