While leaving the practice room area, I could overhear a girl bullying some girls about being in the competition. They were going off on it being absurd that a first year could compete and urging her to withdraw.

They were on the walkway between the school sections and I needed to cross. As I wheeled my harp nearer to them three of the girls stopped to stare at me. The girl they were harassing just had her head shyly bowed.

“Oh, this must be that general student who made it in,” one of the three chortled.

“I bet she cheated to get in as well,” another accused.

The three laughed then discussed which of us were worse and seemed to agree on the first year music student. I could see these comments were hurting her deeply.

“Now hold on,” I begged, “Who are you to tell us we can’t play? I can tell you this girl got in fair and square. Why don’t you swallow your silly pride that’s letting her age blind you to her potential! Wait until you hear us play in the competition before you write us off like that!”

The head of the trio scoffed, “Well if you’re so good, then play for us right now!”

I clutched my harp case handle, “Sure. How about you get your instruments and play for us as well?”

The lead girl brushed her hair back with a smile, “Why should we have to play for a nobody like you? We’re not the ones who need to prove ourselves in this situation.”

Her laugh dripped with venom. I could tell there would be no reasonable way to settle things with this bully. The first year music student looked at me with pleading eyes.

I smiled over at her, “Come, we don’t need to listen to uncultured swine.”

The girls fumed as the one stamped her foot and threatened, “You just watch it missy! You wouldn’t know culture if it bit you on the nose! You obviously can’t really play and come time for the competition, we’ll be sure you’re laughed off the stage with your ludicrous performance!”

“Hey girls, that’s enough,” a voice said behind me.

The three girls looked over while the other girl and I turned. Azuma and Kazuki came from the Music Department.

“Hey Refi, are you okay?” Kazuki called out to me.

The girls called out to Azuma in a flirtatious manner. He seemed to ignore them as he stood behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“A participant from the general education department may encounter some troubles that we don’t have to worry about, so we thought we’d help you out,” he comforted.

He was so close, and touching me. I resisted the childish urge to lean back into him. Could it be that he found me as attractive as I found him, and we only just barely met! Relief came over me with his words while the other girls were struck speechless.

Azuma turned me towards him and caressed the side of my face. He bent to look me in the eye and asked me if I was okay. His eyes looked sympathetic while his tone held deep concern for me. He must have been wearing woody toned cologne that seemed so divinely natural for him. I could feel my face flush as I desired to kiss him like a knight in shining armor that had come to my rescue. I shivered as I held myself back.

“Thank you,” I whispered, “I’m fine now.”

“Ah, that’s good to know,” he smiled.

“Everything is not fine!” shouted the head bully, “She was about to show us her skill and how she got in the competition as a normal student while the rest of us high classed musicians did not!”

A general student entered the walkway from behind the girls and said, “Too bad you’re plan fell through.”

“Huh. And who are you?” sneered the bully.

“I’m Nami Amou, a member of the Press Club,” announced the newcomer. She had wavy golden-brown hair and wore a second year kerchief. She continued, “How would you like to move her performance to a day and place that I can cover for the story I’m working on? After all, the Press Club wants a report on her abilities to go out before the concours begins.”

The girls conceded and agreed upon a time for next week. Wasn’t it great that they didn’t even take my personal schedule into account? But Nami winked to me like she knew what she was doing. With that set, the three bullies arrogantly said their goodbyes to Azuma and departed.

“The Bodyguards are scary as usual,” Kazuki commented.

“Bodyguards?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, The Yunoki Bodyguards,” he clarified.

“Azuma has bodyguards?” I nearly choked.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Azuma smiled.

The other girl that was first being picked on stepped up to introduce herself. Hard to believe, but I thought she was shyer than me to take this long to say something.

“I’m Shoko Fuyuumi,” said the teal-haired girl, “I’m sorry to get you in trouble like that.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I smiled to her with all the encouragement I could muster.

Then Nami jumped on me, “So Refi Chan! The Press Club would like you to answer a few questions about yourself for the school paper!”

“Oh right,” I grimaced, “How about you interview me before school tomorrow? I really have something I need to get to right now!”

I tugged my harp along, making a not-so-graceful exit.