The boys apologized to Orihime. Almost excessively. They truly felt guilty. They had just dealt with a pervert, and now—
"It's okay," Orihime said with a blinding smile of forgiveness. "Just try not to do it again..."
"I'll buy you lunch at school tomorrow," Ryuji said. "Eating just bread every day isn't healthy. You need protein."
"I got you this," Ren said awkwardly, handing her the plush.
"Ren... a leek?" Shiho eyed him.
Ann gave him a glare!
Orihime was silent for a moment before smiling widely.
"Thank you, Ren. I love it!"
She began to hum a tune and bob her head while spinning the leek in her hand.
"Why is she also so dexterous?" Shiho muttered.
"Orihime," Shiho asked. "I don't mean anything by this, but—"
"I've always been weird physically," Orihime said without offense. "I need to eat a lot all the time to keep up my energy. And I've always been fast and strong. I really don't know why..."
She seemed embarrassed, so Shiho gave her a hug and apologized, whispering in her ear about how she acted in the Metaverse. This led to a giggle from Orihime.
"I can't imagine it!" she snorted in laughter.
---
"Please come over for a while!" Orihime asked with her hands pressed together. "It's only fair I host too! We can't bother Sakura-san too much!"
Before the boys could respond, Shiho and Ann had already agreed and were following Orihime to her apartment.
They gave up. In the Metaverse, Joker was the leader. But in reality, the girls were too fierce to deny!
---
"You live alone here?" Ann asked as the group walked up the stairs of the apartment complex.
It was close to Shibuya, but far enough away that the area began to look more residential than like a city. The team walked past a strange house that was essentially a shack on the way there. Ren noticed that there was a man who did a double take and frowned. Maybe he recognized someone?
"I'm back!" Orihime called out before walking to the side of the room to a small shrine and giving a smile to the photograph in it.
"Orihime..." Ann whispered and approached. Seeing the shrine, she gave a bow. The team followed along.
"It's... it's for my brother..." she choked out. "I miss him so much."
Suddenly, a rough-sounding female voice sounded.
"I was going to punish you for running off, but I'm glad to see you're doing well."
Orihime spun around with a shocked look on her face before breaking into the biggest smile the team had seen.
"TATSUKI~~!!!"
"Huh?!" Shiho did a double take in shock. She wasn't expecting to meet her new idol today!
Orihime transformed into an orange missile and smashed into Tatsuki with a tight hug.
"I'm sorry. I needed a fresh start, and when I was offered the transfer to Tokyo..."
"I'm not upset because of that. I'm upset that you didn't tell me about it until you had already left," Tatsuki replied with a smile, petting Orihime's hair. "Introduce me to your friends."
Orihime gave another bright smile and began to introduce the group, showing off her leek plushie.
That led to Tatsuki looking at Ren in shock. Orihime hadn't been here long, but he already understood her so much?
'She seems airheaded, but she's really smart. He shouldn't be dangerous... He seems familiar, though?' she thought with an inward frown.
---