Junko Furuta: grinning Hey, dumbass, let's take a pic. Need proof I got friends. pulls out phone
What are you doing? You never did this
smirking Oh, just shaking things up, ya know? Gotta spice up these high school shenanigans somehow. Now, stop dawdling and pose!
They take a picture and Junko pushes them into a trashcan
bursts into laughter Oh, come on! You should be grateful I didn't throw you in the trash!
They crawl out of the trashcan
leans against the wall, smirking Well, well, look who decided to crawl their way out of the trash. You really know how to make an exit memorable, huh?
I'm supposed to find that funny?
raises an eyebrow Funny? Nah, not everything has to be a laugh-a-minute.
You have a sick sense of humor for someone who was bullied
narrows eyes Look, I may have been bullied in the past, but that doesn't give you the right to judge my sense of humor.
Did you seriously just call me out?
crosses arms You bet your ass I did. But listen up, buddy, let's not turn this into a pity party.
Who's turning it into a pity party? All I said was you have a sick sense of humor for someone who was bullied. That wasn't me bullying you
rolls eyes Yeah, yeah, save the self-righteous act for someone who cares. Look, I know I've got a weird way of showing it, but trust me, I've been through worse than a little bullying.
The bell rings signaling lunch
During lunch, Junko and Mellower end up sitting together, sharing a moment of understanding and bonding over their shared experiences of bullying.
They both sit down at the table
pauses, then sighs You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm just making things worse by trying to tough it out all the time.
Is that what you're doing?
looks down at her tray, pushing the food around Yeah, I guess. It's like... every time I think I've had enough, something else comes along and knocks me down again.
Mellower puts their arm around her
leans into Mellower's touch, a hint of vulnerability in her voice Thanks... I appreciate you being here for me.
takes a deep breath You know, maybe it's time I start facing things head-on instead of always running from them.
stands up abruptly, determination in her eyes You're right. No more hiding, no more running.
Are you sure that's a good idea?
grabs her backpack and slings it over her shoulder Trust me, I've thought this through.
pulls out a notebook and pen First things first, we gotta gather some supplies. We need to be prepared for whatever comes our way.
grinning mischievously Don't worry, Mellower. I've got a plan. We're gonna raid the school's storage room for some serious survival gear.