The bully strikes Akari’s arm, killing her grip, but not her will.

He then throws a punch to her face, but she dodges instinctually.

What the hell?! She’s fast! He unleashes punch after punch, but Akari dodges them all so gracefully, making him appear a desperate fool. Finally, the frustrated man commences an uppercut, which Akari refuses to dodge. Instead, she grasps his forearm midway before it can land, freezing it in place with both her burly hands. Squeezing and squeezing it, the man is utterly trapped, suffocating under her seemingly endless strength.

Even though his other arm is free, he just knows that if he tried anything, she’d seize that one too!

And the pain… This woman’s grip alone threatens to destroy the very foundation of his arm!

He realizes, without a doubt, that he’s gone over his head here.

How the hell… How the hell is a woman so…? She suddenly lets his arm go, then just after gifts him her own uppercut. Finally, she strikes the stunned man’s stomach, ending the fight. Stumbling backwards with twitching eyes and a grimacing face, his fragile pride has been torn to shreds by the strongest woman. As he hunches with his throbbing head low, grabbing his stomach, all he can give in return is a desperate, hollow warning. “Asshole. Little boys like him will be eaten up at this school.” He darts his eyes over to Akira, who stands at the corner of the lobby with Emilija. “You think a woman can protect you?” the bully growls.

Emilija laughs. “You don’t know who you’re talking about, idiot.”

“You three clearly don’t know your place. This isn’t over!” The bastard stumbles away, still holding his stomach, making his way out of the lobby in pathetic defeat.

Akari, her adrenaline fading, starts to tremble.

But Akira runs up to her with an enthusiastic shout, “You’re so strong!”

Akari, blushing hard, stares down at Akira with uncertainty. “I-I’m sorry, though,” she laments. “He still touched you. I was too late.”

“No, no!” Akira shakes his head with adamant kindness. “That’s okay! You were hesitant to attack him, weren’t you? You didn’t want to scare me or get us in trouble.”

Akari gasps, surprised he figured that out. She knew that if she engaged the bully for a second time, a battle would commence. It wouldn’t have ended as quickly as it did before.

Akira chuckles adorably. “It’s fine! Thank you so much!” He beams, and gazes innocent eyes upon her body, up and down. “You’re really so tall! That’s so cool!” His exclamations show nothing but pure admiration. “How tall are you?”

Akari looks down at him meekly. Akira, do you not know any hatred? You’d think a man belittled for his weakness would despise stronger and taller women, but even with all of his hardships, he’s managed to keep such a pure heart.

As for his question, Akari replies, “I’m… not sure.” That’s not a lie. I don’t want to know the number. “Somewhere around six-and-a-half feet? Though if I hunch like this, I guess I stand a little shorter.”

“Oh! No, you shouldn’t hunch! Doesn’t it hurt?”

Akari blushes further. Does this man not mind being around a constant reminder of his small build? He’s inches below my shoulders. The highest he goes is my breast. Such a vast difference… I’d never seen such a short man, let alone one accepting of such a tall woman. Was he just too kind to deem me hideous? “It’s fine. I don’t like being so tall.”

“What’s wrong with it? I’m honestly a bit jealous.” Akira chuckles. “No wonder you can protect others. You can loom over any baddies just like that!”

“It’s not like I really want to intimidate people, though.” I want to be gentle. I want to be passive. But no, it is true. If they hurt you, this height would be a blessing then and there.

Akira smiles wide. “Well, you also look really elegant. Your outfit fits you so well! All you have to do is stand more confidently, and then you’d own any room you’re in!”

Akari’s heart races. Is this guy flirting with me?! No, he’s just trying to cheer me up with his admiration. Even so, he’s so upfront! And my clothes… They’re undeniably masculine. Does he just not care? I wear them because I’d look horrible in women’s clothes, but it’s not like I look good in these either!

Akari gulps, struggling with what to say. But, she manages to murmur, nearly whisper, “Th-Thank you, Akira.”

“Akira Aoki!” A voice calls from down the hallway.

“Oh, it’s interview time,” Akira remarks, as gentle as ever.

“So that guy skipped ahead of you too?” Emilija rolls her eyes. “Then when the hell was his original slot? Don’t tell me we’ll be waiting here for hours…”

“I’ll ask the advisor!” Akira volunteers.

Akari smiles. “Thank you, Akira,” she says warmly.

“Then, I’ll see you two on the other side.” Akira waves and walks towards the door.

Akari waves back, utterly smitten.

Gentle words carried by a warm voice, she reflects. A beautiful face, adorned with a delicate smile. Those eyes, wielding a bold happiness, resisting woe evermore.

Are you an angel, Akira?

Then, why? Why must you go to the Troubled District?

Why must you suffer?

But she lets him go. All she can do is wish him well.

“Good luck, Akira,” Akari murmurs, wondering if he can even hear her. 

But Akira turns his head to Akari, and smiles once again…

Before closing the door, leaving her sight.

With him gone, Akari gulps, and then turns to face Emilija. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Emilija, unsurprised, just goes, “Mhm.”

Akari sprints down the hallway, her arms extended out. Before anything else, now that he’s gone, I have to deal with this.

I… don’t like touching others, or, well, anything touched by others. It was going to be difficult living on-campus. Using public bathrooms, touching so many door handles…

Akari sighs as she washes her hands.

People not washing their hands, touching the toilets, the door handles, the sink handles… Ugh! It feels like I’m surrounded by other people’s germs. But there’s no way to protect people without physical contact.

I used to get blood on my body all the time. It’s not like I ever got sick from it, but those people’s inner fluids were still all on my form… It makes me want to puke!

Akira’s face flashes in her mind. Akira’s germs… I wonder how I could handle those. If he reached his hand out to me, how would I feel? If he kissed me…

She interrupts the thought by splashing water on her face.

Akari re-enters the lobby, just for Emilija to greet her with a smirk and a certain comment. “Mission complete.”

“What do you mean?” Akari sits back down beside Emilija.

“Congrats on your first college friend. And he’s quite the sweet young man, to boot.”

“Y-Yeah…”

“Not entirely sure what you have in mind, but take things slow. Don’t think of him as some pure saint either; no one is, especially someone like him who must have been through the wringer.”

“He’s so strong though…”

“He seems quite smart and in touch with his inner self, but he’s got some weird ideas too.”

“Even so, he doesn’t seem the type to take his angst out on others. I can’t imagine how he truly feels about himself. I don’t know what kind of environment he grew up in, but it concerns me. I don’t see a frail man like him ever growing physically strong.”

“You’ve got an in to see. And maybe, through connecting with him, you’ll be able to get over yourself.”

“Myself?”

“‘Oh, I’m so ugly! I’m not feminine at all!’ Your male counterpart has arrived, missy, and he seems to appreciate you.”

“Th-There’s a difference… between a man being cute and small, and a woman being ugly and lofty! It’s not a two-way street.”

“Seriously?”

“In any case, if he becomes stronger and happier thanks to my direction, that’s all well and good. But I can’t help but wonder if he actually wants physical strength.”

“Well, you’ll find that out.”

“If his goal stems not from desire, but obligation… I don’t think I’ll be able to train him in good conscience.”

“Probably not. Take it step by step.”

“Y-Yeah…”

After about fifteen minutes, Akira meekly opens the door to the lobby.

“Everything okay?” Akari asks.

Akira forces a smile, and replies, “Ah, well… It looks like I’m rooming in the Honors District.”