The hidden Masks has Finally been Broken

The next day, as Tatsuya walked into the classroom, a wave of displeasure washed over the students. It was as if a prince was accompanied by a slave; the sight of Sakura with Tatsuya was unnerving. The contrast between Sakura’s radiant presence and Tatsuya’s gloomy aura made everyone uneasy. Whispers and gossip quickly spread through the room, but Tatsuya, engrossed in his manga, seemed oblivious to the hostile stares.

The gossip became louder and more malicious. "Why are you talking to that loser?" one of the girls asked Sakura, unable to hide her disdain.

"What's wrong with being friends with him?" Sakura replied, genuinely confused. She was met with scoffs and sneers.

One of her friends, who had known Tatsuya in middle school, spoke up. "He was always like this, even back then. Always getting bullied and never standing up for himself. He's just a scum who doesn't do anything."

The words stung, but Tatsuya remained silent, though his fists clenched tightly around his manga. He was boiling with rage inside but didn’t want to jeopardize his fragile friendship with Sakura. Meanwhile, Sakura, unwilling to let the insults slide, argued back, "He's good and kind, just misunderstood. That's why I became his friend."

Her words shocked everyone, including herself. The room fell silent, and rumors began to swirl that Sakura had feelings for Tatsuya. The boys in the class, fueled by jealousy and anger, decided to take action. As the school bell rang, they cornered Tatsuya, pretending to want to be his friends but instead dragging him to the washroom where they ganged up and beat him mercilessly. His clothes were torn, his nose and mouth bled, and his manga was shredded to pieces. They warned him to stay away from Sakura before leaving him battered and broken.

Somehow, Tatsuya managed to crawl back to the classroom, tears mixing with the blood on his face. Sakura, returning after her class rep duties, found him slumped over his desk, thinking he was spacing out again. She approached to hit him with his manga to snap him out of it, but then noticed the torn pieces of his books. As she shook him, her hand came away wet with blood. She screamed upon seeing the state he was in – his face bruised and bloody, clothes in tatters.

"What happened to you?" she cried, shaking him. Tatsuya, barely conscious, muttered that he had fallen down the stairs before collapsing again.

Horrified, Sakura dragged him to the infirmary and insisted the doctor treat him immediately. When he woke up, she hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face. "What happened?" she asked again, and this time, Tatsuya told her everything. Overcome with guilt and anger, Sakura took him to the principal’s office, where the bullies were called in and subsequently suspended.

Feeling a sense of relief, Sakura took Tatsuya to a manga shop and bought him new manga to replace the ones that were destroyed. At first, he refused the gift, but eventually accepted it. As an apology, she treated him to a meal at a restaurant. This small gesture meant the world to Tatsuya, who was not used to such kindness.

On Saturday, as school ended, Sakura asked Tatsuya if he would come to her house the next day. He nervously agreed. That night, he couldn't stop thinking about the invitation, feeling both excited and anxious. Sakura, on the other hand, was meticulously tidying her room, eager for his visit.

The next day, Tatsuya arrived at Sakura's house. Both were nervous as she led him to her room. He was shocked to see her room filled with manga, games, cosplay outfits, and anime figures. It was like discovering a hidden treasure trove.

Sakura revealed her love for anime and manga, surprising Tatsuya with their shared interests. "What can I do for you?" he asked, still in awe.

Sakura hesitated before speaking. "Do you remember when we first met and I said I love you? You asked to be friends first... Well, about that..." She trailed off, blushing.

Tatsuya, misinterpreting her hesitation, said, "I knew it. Who would want to be friends with someone like me?"

"Baka," Sakura laughed. "I was saying that I love you."

Both of them blushed deeply, looking like tomatoes. Tatsuya stammered, "I...I like you too, Sakura."

Overwhelmed with happiness, Sakura kissed him on the cheek. Embarrassed but overjoyed, Tatsuya asked if she would like to go to a restaurant. Realizing he was asking her out on a date, Sakura quickly agreed. She started changing clothes right there, much to Tatsuya’s shock.

As he turned to leave the room, she stopped him. "It's okay if it's only you," she said, making him sit on the bed with his back to her. She then tied his hair neatly and put on a pair of fake glasses from her collection. They both looked perfect.

They arrived at the restaurant, and while waiting for their order, a guy from middle school recognized Tatsuya. "Tatsuya, is that you? What the hell are you wearing?" he laughed, pulling off Tatsuya's glasses and messing up his hair.

"Yes, it's me," Tatsuya said quietly.

The bully laughed harder. "This is the pathetic loser I remember. Who's this chick? Your sister?"

Tatsuya introduced him, "This is Sakura, my girlfriend."

The bully laughed even louder. "Who would date a loser like you?"

Sakura, her temper flaring, stood up. "Yes, I’m his girlfriend. Do you have a problem with that?"

The bully sneered, "Oh, you're his girlfriend? What a joke. You don't look half bad. Want a ride?"

Tatsuya, unable to contain his anger, punched the bully with all his might. "Try anything and you'll end up in the hospital."

Shocked and humiliated, the bully ran off. Sakura, amazed by Tatsuya's sudden show of strength, asked, "Why didn’t you do anything at school?"

Tatsuya explained, "I thought they wanted to be friends. I didn't realize until it was too late."

As their order arrived, Sakura felt a newfound respect for Tatsuya. As they left, she said, "Maybe you should get angry more often."

He shook his head. "I can't control what I say when I'm angry. I don't want to hurt my first friend and girlfriend."

Blushing, Sakura smiled, and they walked home together. At her door, he hesitated. “Next time, come to my house,” he said, smiling shyly. Sakura agreed, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

AS she closed the door, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something more awaited them. Little did they know, the real challenge was yet to come. Secrets and hidden pasts would soon surface, testing the strength of their bond.

And so, the story continues...

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