Ishida brought up a good point. It didn't matter what plans they came up with, Mai was already going to be a target, and it would be stupid of them to ignore that little detail. She was still going to need protecting. And wouldn't it be better for her if having a bodyguard was part of a plan, and not an imposition? She had only just joined, she didn't need a reason for everyone to look at her like dead weight already.
“It won't be long before they take a swing at you. Think you can take one?” Ishida didn't give her a chance to respond, but he could probably already guess her answer. They all could. Mai wasn't going to back down, come hell or high water, and anyone trying to convince her otherwise was just going to be wasting their time.
Ishida went on to tell her the plan, and he must have noticed her wince when he said her first name. These guys were getting way too chummy for her liking. Yonaka could get away with, since those two were actually friends, but the rest of them were strangers to her. She had to wonder, were they treating her like this because she wasn't fully Japanese? Certainly, her classmates thought they could get away with that kind of thing, because apparently politeness doesn't apply for
hafus. Or was it her age?
At any rate, the plan was the one she'd been dreading: having to ask her classmates what they knew about the attacker. Mai had to groan. As if her classmates didn't have enough reasons to hold her in contempt, now she had to go around asking them intrusive questions like some low-budget rent-a-cop. Fuuun. Well, whatever. It couldn't all be fun and games. And hey, maybe if her classmates saw she was actually trying to help them, they might actually show a bit of respect for once!
Not likely...
Speaking of disrespect, the one in pink spoke up next.
“We know, Mai-chan. We just want to make sure that you are safe. You're our friend, ya know?” Koitsu! Who did this girl think she was!? She barely knew Mai for ten minutes, and she was already addressing her by her first name — and as “chan” to boot!
“I'm not as helpless as I look, Umeko-san” She stated with a voice like winter. Hopefully she got the message. She couldn't tell Ishida off, but maybe she could nip this “call Mai by her first name” thing before it became too entrenched. Maybe that was harsh of her to snap. Umeko was clearly just trying to be friendly. But darn it all, she was
not joining a street gang to get the same disrespect she got from everyone else! How was she supposed to feel at ease around these people if they were constantly looking down on her? Friendly or not, all she asked for was a little respect.
“Chump detectives it is, Mai Li-chan.” Mai felt Yonaka's hand clap against her shoulder, snapping her out of her mood. Knowing that Yonaka was going to be by her side made the coming task seem a little less daunting. People could ignore Mai all they liked, but no-one was going to refuse Yonaka, not unless they had a serious grudge against their own kneecaps.
When all was said and done, it was time to go. Yonaka turned on her heel and bid Mai follow, which forced Mai to swallow down a bitter retort. Seems like everyone was showing her disrespect today, even her friends.
When they were alone, Yonaka turned to her.
"So? You think you did good?"Mai shook her head.
"They think I'm a kid." she mumbled, morose.
"No one took me seriously at all."
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