italicized means flashback

Sakura is dumbfounded.

Never before had he been given such a task like this. Despite his appearance, multiple bags from various food stalls had given him hangs around his arms, but on his hands is a bento box covered in pink cloth with flower prints. Just imagining how he'll be giving this to her already flusters him. He doesn't know how to give gifts or anything, much less take in just how welcoming and friendly the people are of the town. He doesn't even understand why he's doing it when Kotoha could do so herself.

"Sakura" Kotoha spoke, picking up the wrapped bento box into her hands. "Do you got a minute?"

"Hm?" He hums, his cheeks puffed with the last of his morning sandwich.

"Think you can give this to Haruna?" She asks, showing to him the bento box. "The way to Sacred Heart is also easy!" But just as Kotoha started teaching him how to get there, no words of hers reached his ears, his face slowly turning bright red in color.

"W-What the heck?" Sakura said, stammering with his words.

"It's okay, isn't it? You're going that way anyways, aren't you?" The older girl asks.

"Uh, yeah, I guess so."

"Yay!" Kotoha exclaimed happily, a bright smile appearing on her face. "Thanks, Sakura. I really owe you one."

"Excuse me!

"AHHH!"

Though surprised, he throws the rest of the food stalls' bags away but held the bento box tightly in his hands. Turning around, a girl in distressed clung to his arm. "You're from Furin, right?! Please help!"

A body is thrown from across the alley, landing with a thud against the ground.

"And here I was, having fun chatting up with that girl" The male spoke, grinning down at Nirei. "Why'd you get in the way, punk?"

"That girl didn't want to talk to you!" Nirei shouts.

"What? Now you're making stuff up." The man replies, tucking his hands inside the pockets of his pants. "You said you were part of Bofurin, and you're here to protect the town. But you're the one who needs protecting now." From behind the man, a few snickers erupt.

Standing firm with his resolution, Nirei got up on from the ground and on his feet, wrapping his arms around the man's waist to halt him from his tracks; preventing him from going after the girl. 

"You still don't get it, do you?" The man spoke once more, tilting his head down to look at Nirei. "You're no hero!" With that, he places his hands on his shoulders, throwing him across the alley for the second time.

Just like earlier, Nirei's resolution is firm and he got up once more, throwing his arms around his waist to stop him.

"Listen, kid. I'm about to lose it." Just as he was about to go on, he could hear Nirei mumbling under his breath. "Huh? What was that?"

"...Those who cause pain, who bring destruction, who hold evil in their heart, will be purged by Bofurin. Without exception!"

The men blinked their eyes before sounds of laughter came out of their lips.

"The only guys who get stronger by yelling are the fake super heroes on television." The same man spoke, grabbing a fistful of Nirei's hair. As he does so, he could feel his hands clench around on the back of his jacket. A grin curling up in his lips.

"That's enough! Let go asshole!" He began shouting, throwing punches against Nirei's open back. "I don't care if you're called Bofurin or Brofurin, or whatever the hell you wanna be!" As he intertwines his fingers together, he raises both of his hands in an attempt to break his back. Clenching them together.

"The only one getting purged today is you!"

Just as Nirei braces for impact, it did not arrive. Rather, the man he held onto by the waist flew away, falling back down to the ground. "Why did you save me?" He asks as before him, the back view of Sakura could be seen.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, asshole?!"

"That uniform...you're from Furin too!"

"Here to save your pal, huh?!"

"Save my pal? Don't get the wrong idea, dumbass." Sakura replies, his face contorting at them. "I just can't stand people who act like they're strong when they're weak as shit. It makes me sick."

As the guys brace forward to take on Sakura, Nirei shouts. "You can't take them on your own!"

At his words, Sakura grins.

. . . . . . . . . . ♡

Keeping his head low, Nirei places his hands above his thighs. "Thank you...for saving me..." He spoke to Sakura, the latter's back facing him. "It's disappointing, isn't it? To have someone like me in Bofurin...and even in Furin-"

"Don't get the wrong idea. I didn't mean to save you." Sakura begins to say, his hands now tucked inside the pockets of his pants. "You can find people trying to act the part with flashy looks anywhere. I don't know why you came to Furin, but you better realize that your strength isn't-"

"I have been treated as a gofer ever since junior high." Nirei cuts him off. "Everyday they would beat me up and all I could do was obey. The only person who ever stood up for me...was someone from Furin. I found him really cool for it. I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to be strong, to be cool, that's why I chose Furin. But I'm absolutely pathetic..." As he relays his narrative, tears streams down his face, his hands clenching on top of his lap. Small sniffling sounds could be heard from him.

"You already can't fight. Don't be a crybaby too. You're only gonna look weaker."

Raising a hand to rub the his nape, Sakura looks away. "I'll admit. I don't think you're all that pathetic."

At his words, Nirei stops crying.

"Are you okay?"

As he hears a soft voice, Nirei tilts his head and comes face to face with the same woman whom the men were bothering earlier.

"Uh- yeah! I'm perfectly fine!" Nirei responds, his voice returning to it's usual pitch and the tears...miraculously disappeared from his face.

"I was so scared when they grabbed my arm. I'm so grateful you were there." The woman bows her head towards Nirei. "Thank you so much." As she tilts her head back up, she stands back on her feet, walking towards Sakura. "And you as well! Thank you!" She then proceeded to extend her hands out to him.

"Just as promised, I kept it safe."

At the scene before Nirei, his eyes widens as he notices the bento box being handed to Sakura. The woman leaving the alleyway just as he took it from her.

"Sakura!"

Sakura grimaces, gritting his teeth upon hearing his name being called. Turning around, Nirei is already standing in front of him.

"You really are a Furin student. You've already accepted Haruna into your heart." Nirei spoke, at which he then proceeded to take out a notebook and pen from the inner pocket of his jacket.

"What's your height, weight, blood type, birthday, hobbies, skills, best attacks, and what about Haruna that made you fall for her?"

Sakura becomes discomposed, his face turning bright red in color once more.

"Haruna" Nirei begins to say, pocketing back his notebook and pen. "Is the goddess of brains and beauty. From what I've gathered, ever since junior high, the guys at Furin would try their luck in an attempt to date her. No one can blame them, not even me too. She has pretty skin, always the top of the honor board in the whole school and she's very pretty."

Sakura turns to look away, the vivid image of Sakura from earlier resurfaces inside his mind. Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, he turns and begins to walk away.

"That's her bento box too, isn't it?"

"Hah?!"

"I might not be helpful in a fight...but I know all about the town and it's people!" Nirei beams, raising his hand with a finger up. He then holds Sakura by the arm, dragging him out of the alleyway and back into the streets. "Come on! The way to Sacred Heart is this way! I've already passed by that school three times this morning!"

"Hey! Don't touch me! Don't drag me!"

Petals from the cherry blossom tree began to fall down gracefully to the ground. They danced around in circles before settling down with the rest. The breeze blew through the path that leads to Sacred Heart's campus and the cherry blossom petals swirled around in the air, almost like they were performing a dance.

Before Sakura and Nirei, is a white colored three storey thin building which appears to be floating above the landscape.

"Welcome to Sacred Heart!"