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Dropout's Turnaround

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The Ninety-third Day

“Good morning Kalitashi-san!” Nishira greeted Hajite as he enters the usual fast-food, “Did you do the homework?”

“Yes, I did,” Hajite ordered his usual meals, “How about you?”

“Well, you see,” Nishira took out a notebook from her bag, “I don’t get this.”

“Show it to me later, will you?” Hajite waved his hand.

After they ate their breakfast, they arrived at the school’s gate.

Hajite brought out his I.D.

“Oh,” Nishira peered into Hajite’s I.D., “you have one now? Will you please show it to me?”

Hajite hesitated “What good will that do?”

“I want to see how you look like.” Nishira looked at Hajite with innocent eyes.

“I’m literally right here,” Hajite swiftly presented the I.D. to the guard, “You can look at me and have a good idea.”

Nishira sighed. “But you rarely ever smile.”

“I don’t?” Hajite murmured and looked at Nishira and shrugged, “Well, I guess that’s good.”

“How? Are you just a lonely person?”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” The guard returned his I.D.

“Just show me the I.D. already,” Nishira snatched the I.D. from Hajite’s hand.

“Hey!” Hajite grabbed Nishira’s shoulder.

Nishira’s eyes looked between the I.D. and Hajite. “So, that’s how you smile?” She said wonderingly.

Hajite smiled while his eyes glared at Nishira, “Give me the I.D., please.

Nishira flinched. “Ehhh? Why does your smile look scary right now!?”

Hajite dryly laughed. “Please.” Hajite stretched his arm.

“H—here you go!” Hajite’s I.D. almost slipped out of Nishira’s hand as Nishira gave the I.D.

Hajite straightened his face as if nothing happened. “So, about that homework…” Hajite quickly looked around his surroundings and noticed a group of girls talking amongst themselves.

“Yes, yes, it was that guy.” A girl pointed at Hajite.

Then another whispered. “That’s to no surprise. He certainly could have done something like that”

A red-haired girl spoke to the crowd, “I tell you, he tried to do something to me.”

“D—d—d—d—d—did h—h—h—e.” A shy blue-haired girl stuttered

“No! Of course not!” the red-haired girl shouted at her, “I defended myself against him!”

Hajite walked toward the classrooms feigning ignorance.

“Hey, something wrong?” Nishira followed Hajite.

“It’s probably a misunderstanding,” Hajite replied dejectedly.

“Huh?”

The bell rang signaling lunchtime, but Hajite took no heed to it. Nishira approached Hajite with her lunch bag on hand.

“Let’s eat together!” Nishira declared enthusiastically.

Hajite remained engrossed in his studies.

Nishira nudged Hajite, “You wouldn’t want me to eat alone would you?”

Hajite packed his things and took his lunch. “That’s an unfair way to put it.” Hajite sighed.

The pair sat at their usual spot at a corner of the school grounds. Nishira grunted as she pointed to a question in her notebook, “Do you get this?”

Hajite glanced at the indicated question as he ate slowly, “No, I don’t.”

“Eh? Well, I guess it can’t be helped,” Nishira glanced at Hajite, “but wouldn’t you try to help?”

“I would only be a burden.” Hajite immediately responded.

“That was quick!” Nishira jolted in surprise.

Hajite chuckled.

Nishira pouted. “You definitely know how to answer this don’t you?”

Hajite shook his head trying to stifle a laugh. “No, I don’t.”

“Then, how did you answer the homework?” Nishira lightly slammed the table.

Hajite extended his arms to the side and shrugged, “I was only putting random answers.”

“Quit dodging my request for help already!” Nishira lightly slammed the table.

A red-haired girl approached the table and asked interruptedly, “Is this guy bothering you?”

Nishira looked up at the questionnaire. “No, of course not!”

The girl pointed to both Nishira and Hajite. “Are you sure? Did he threaten you in any way?”

Hajite, irked by the question, glared at the girl. “We were just eating lunch. How did you come to that question anyway?”

The girl looked at Hajite smugly. “I keep seeing you two together at school. Unless you are her girlfriend, then you threatened her into being with you.”

Hajite with his fists clenched stood in front of the girl, “What are you trying to say?”

“Hmph!” The girl looked away, “Two loners finding friendship, how sad.” She covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers.

Hajite slowly walked menacingly up to the girl, “And what else?”

The girl staggered backward until she pressed up to a wall, “I’m just saying, the worst trash do stay together, especially for you.”

Hajite cornered the girl, “That is a rude statement. You should take that back.”

The girl tilted her head from side to side, “Why would I?” The girl screamed, “Help! Help! This guy is trying to grope me, kya~!”

“Hah!?” Hajite quickly backed off with his hands raised in the air, “That’s false!” He pointed at the girl.

A group of girls surrounded Hajite with their various fighting stances.

“I knew it you were a pervert!”

“Criminal!”

“Drop dead!”

The group of girls simultaneously pointed and accused Hajite of various sentences.

Nishira tried to get through the angry mob but couldn’t, “You are wrong! He didn’t do anything wrong!”

The group of girls looked at Nishira with condescending pity.

“You don’t have to cover him!”

“Did he do something to you?”

“Did he threaten you?”

The accusers raised their voices until the guards dispersed them, and a woman figure appeared. “You two! Kiena Fujima, Hajite Kalitashi, my office, now!”

“Ah, crap.” Hajite gritted his teeth.

“It was his fault!” The girl pointed at Hajite.

“Are you actually keeping that up!?” Hajite shouted at the girl.

The principal separates them. “That’s enough! You two!”

The three sat in silence inside the principal’s office.

“What was that all about?” A woman in a blazer asked with an authoritative tone.

“It was his fault!” The girl pointed at Hajite, “he tried to make a move on me, and so I simply asked for help.”

The principal looked at Hajite, “Is this true?”

“No,” Hajite answered with confidence.

“He is lying!” The girl struggled, “He tried pinning me on a wall and lifting my skirt!”

The principal looked sharply at Hajite, but Hajite didn’t react nor respond. “It seems to me that you are lying, Fujima-kun.”

The girl’s eyes went wide. “What? But I’m the victim here!” She pointed at herself

“Don’t lie, I saw the whole thing anyway,” the principal dismissively waved her hand, and the girl, Fujima, fell silent. “Why did you make such a story, Fujima-kun?” asked the principal. The room stayed silent for a few moments, and the principal turned to Hajite. “Kalitashi-kun, I understand the cause of your anger, but why did you go to this extent?”

“I’m sorry for that,” Hajite slightly bowed, “I couldn’t control myself.”

“Very well,” the principal nodded, “but why are you not defending yourself?”

Before Hajite could speak, Fujima spoke up, “K—kalitashi-kun, I’m sorry for tricking you.” Fujiima bowed to Hajite.

Hajite looked at her in surprise. “O—okay. It’s fine.” He waved his hand up and down.

“Very well, but I won’t let this slide. Both of you shall clean the hallways on this floor after class. Understood?” The principal looked at both of them.

“Yes,” answered Fujima.

“Will do.” followed Hajite.

Hajite checked his watch which read 4:47 P.M.

“I think this is enough.” Hajite declared.

“Looks clean over here,” Fujima reported.

Hajite and Fujima returned the brooms and the dustpans to the cleaning room and prepared to leave.

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you,” apologized Fujima.

“It’s fine. I had my fair share of faults too,” Hajite sighed, “please don’t do anything like this again.”

“Yes, I won’t.”

As Hajite walked out of the building, Fujima called to him, “Kalitashi-kun.”

Hajite turns to face Fujima, “What is it?”

“S—say, would you like me to treat you to dinner?” offered Fujima.