Ayumi crouched down on the pavement panting,  when she could no longer keep up with Nao's pace. Realizing that he too was short of breath, Nao stopped.

 He grabbed her backpack, lifting the weights off her shoulder. Ayumi looked at him for a brief moment, smiling.

"Thank you, Saeki-chan."

"It's nothing." Nao shrugged it off, embarassed. "Will you be okay, Ayumi? If Kisa tells your parents about what happened today, are you going to be okay?"

Ayumi nodded vigorously. "I'll be fine, Saeki-chan. How about you?  You told me once that your mom hits you a lot."

"Yes she does." Nao replied, with a grimace on his face. "I don't know if Kisa saw us but I think we should've run faster."

"She would've seen us either way, Saeki-chan." Ayumi giggled, covering her mouth.

"Don't laugh at me!" Nao huffed as a faint blush coloured his ears red.

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