“I sneaked a shot while you were puffing away, sharing your sob story. Tee-hee!”
She stuck her tongue out and winked at me. She might be cute, but her behavior was not.
“Why would you do that?! You have to delete it! Come on!”
“Huh? I don’t think so. I’m keeping this one.”
I tried to grab the phone from her, but she slipped away, that mean smirk back on her lips.
“What do you think will happen if the teachers see this photo?” she mused. “Suspension? Expulsion? What kind of nasty insults do you think they’ll throw at you?”
“You’re really gonna rat me out?! Screw you!”
“Heh-heh. The teachers are gonna tear you apart! They’ll run your heart right through the shredder! You’ll hate this school even more than you do now—and I bet you’ll want payback. Just like I do.”
There was no guilt in that shit-eating grin of hers. She was the devil herself. Satan incarnate.
If the teachers found out about what I did on the roof, it would be bad. But my real concern was that they’d tell my parents. What would my dad do if he found out I was smoking? What would he say to me? What emotions would I see on his face?
I didn’t know. And not knowing scared me.
He certainly wouldn’t come to my defense. That much I was sure of.
Ugh, now I’m in trouble. I should never have gotten myself into this mess.
I had to get her to delete that photo. I frantically racked my brain for any way out, any solution—but I came up blank. Should I take a photo of her dye job and threaten her back? No, that was nothing compared to smoking. Plus, she was already planning to drop out. There was no point in even trying.
Fear wore me down quickly, and I put my hands up, surrendering.
“I’ll do whatever you ask,” I said. “Just keep that photo to yourself.”
“Oh? You’ll do anything? Gosh, think of the possibilities. I mean, all I really want is an accomplice.” She made a show of thinking about it.
“Fine! I’m in, Hoshimiya. I’m yours to command.”
“No last names. Call me Kurumi—no, Lady Kurumi.”
“Lady Kurumi, your wish is my command.”
“Pfft! Bwah-ha-ha!” She doubled over, laughing. “You actually said it! I was kidding! That sounds awful. Just call me Kurumi, please.”
This girl definitely had some issues. Though I guess I should have expected as much when she started talking about revenge.
“My sides are splitting!” she said. “You’re a blast and a half.”
“…Thanks.”
“Heh-heh. Okay, then we’ve got a deal, right?”
“…Sure.”
She held out her hand again, and this time, I took it.
Kurumi and I were going to be noble villains, out to change the school.
…Against my better judgment, of course.