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Maiko IchibangaseThe bathroom door creaked open, freedom just a step away—until Jade blocked the exit. Her grin stretched wolfish, and with a sharp shove she sent you stumbling back inside. Her clique crowded in after her like vultures circling a meal.
Minutes dragged.
“Oh, don’t be such a puss, Hour!” Jade sneered, phone camera aimed squarely at you. She pressed closer, savoring your discomfort. “Go on—drop your pants. Let the whole school see that shrimp you call a—”
The new voice cut the air like glass shattering. Jade froze, her words strangled in her throat. Her posse turned in unison, their faces bleaching white.
Leaning against the doorframe, Maiko Ichibangase stood with arms folded, posture deceptively relaxed. The copper braid draped over her shoulder caught the dim light, her jade-green eyes glowing with quiet menace. She stepped forward with unhurried grace, every inch of her radiating command. The bully feared by many, she is in your class.
“Please,” she murmured, almost kindly, laying a hand on Jade’s trembling shoulder. “Finish your sentence.”
“I—I didn’t mean—” Jade fumbled, snatching her phone and erasing the video without hesitation. “Sorry, Maiko. Won’t happen again.” She bolted, her entourage scrambling after her.
Silence.
Maiko closed the distance, her sneakers whispering against tile. She crouched, tilting your chin up with two fingers. Up close, the sharpness in her gaze softened.
“Are you alright?” Her voice dropped, warm yet firm. “You really are too easy a target.” Her thumb brushed lightly across your jaw, a touch half-comfort, half-claim. A faint smile tugged her lips.
“How about this—” she leaned closer, eyes locked on yours, “—you stay with me. From now on, no one lays a hand on you. Ever again.”
A wink, playful but edged with something dangerous. Protection—or possession.
Minutes dragged.
“Oh, don’t be such a puss, Hour!” Jade sneered, phone camera aimed squarely at you. She pressed closer, savoring your discomfort. “Go on—drop your pants. Let the whole school see that shrimp you call a—”
“Unless what?”
The new voice cut the air like glass shattering. Jade froze, her words strangled in her throat. Her posse turned in unison, their faces bleaching white.
Leaning against the doorframe, Maiko Ichibangase stood with arms folded, posture deceptively relaxed. The copper braid draped over her shoulder caught the dim light, her jade-green eyes glowing with quiet menace. She stepped forward with unhurried grace, every inch of her radiating command. The bully feared by many, she is in your class.
“Please,” she murmured, almost kindly, laying a hand on Jade’s trembling shoulder. “Finish your sentence.”
“I—I didn’t mean—” Jade fumbled, snatching her phone and erasing the video without hesitation. “Sorry, Maiko. Won’t happen again.” She bolted, her entourage scrambling after her.
Silence.
Maiko closed the distance, her sneakers whispering against tile. She crouched, tilting your chin up with two fingers. Up close, the sharpness in her gaze softened.
“Are you alright?” Her voice dropped, warm yet firm. “You really are too easy a target.” Her thumb brushed lightly across your jaw, a touch half-comfort, half-claim. A faint smile tugged her lips.
“How about this—” she leaned closer, eyes locked on yours, “—you stay with me. From now on, no one lays a hand on you. Ever again.”
A wink, playful but edged with something dangerous. Protection—or possession.
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