Chapter 3

**Chapter 3: I Don't Need You to be my Friend!!!!!** is the third chapter of vol. 1 of *We are Magical Boys*.

## Summary

*Kaito worries about Makoto after he defends him from a group of bullies. He offers his protection but Makoto rejects, leading them to get into a disagreement.*

## Synopsis

Another school day has concluded and Kaito eagerly leaves to return to his heroic duty of protecting the town. However, he witnesses a trio of sixth graders bullying someone and rushes to their defense. He doesn't need to transform for the likes of them, quickly scaring the older boys away after they recognize him. Kaito is alarmed to discover the boy being bullied was Makoto.

Making their way through town, Kaito tells Makoto to yell for help when he needs it. Makoto seems offended, and reminds Kaito that he is *still* a boy. He doesn't really care about what happened anyway, he'd rather forget it so that they can focus on their duty.

This frustrates Kaito, and that night while doing dishes, he complains over how selfish Makoto is. He does whatever he pleases, it's no wonder he was being picked on. But even then, he worries about Makoto because Yamikumo can be dangerous, and he doesn't seem like he could hold his own. The bullies might come back to get even with him, so because they are friends, its up to him to keep him safe. Even if there is a chance he's been using him since they met, he doesn't want to take that risk of someone seriously hurting him.

- - - - -

After school, Kaito meets up with Makoto and offers to walk him home from now on. He wants to make sure he will be okay. Makoto's lack of care causes Kaito to get frustrated again. He tries to express that he wants to help keep Makoto safe, leaving out his reasoning: Makoto is so proud of his appearance, he doesn't want him to risk ruining it. Makoto rejects his answer and tells him to leave if he won't give him a better one, telling Kaito that they can be friends even if he turns him down. Kaito becomes angry and tells him to keep his friendship for himself, he doesn't want it. Makoto doesn't understand why he got so worked up, considering how arrogant he was being, but Kaito insists that he wasn't. He tells Makoto that he regrets helping him and storms off.

The boys go their separate ways, trying to ignore each other after they both meet up by the bridge out of habit. They transform into Thrilling♡Pink and Rowdy◇Blue to begin their duty of protecting the city. Pink refuses to apologize when he didn't do anything wrong, so he goes about his day helping others and feeling good. He thinks about how he's better being alone when Blue doesn't help out anyway.

Just then, he discovers an accident scene; a truck fell over and the steel beams it was carrying are all over the place. Pink is surprised to find Blue trying to clean the mess up; but he's going so slow that he brags that he would have cleaned it up much quicker, because he is stronger than him. He decides to lend a hand, but Blue rejects him for not asking. He then goes on to insult Pink, discouraging him from trying to help anymore.

- - - -

Three days have passed since then, and whenever they cross paths at school they ignore each other. Kaito sadly heads for home and considers leaving the Magical Boy lifestyle behind. It doesn't seem like he needs to be one anymore. But just as he rejects this sudden thought, he is grabbed by the older brother of one of the sixth graders who were bullying Makoto. He throws Kaito into a large pile of trash and demands an apology. But further angered, Kaito fights back regardless of how many times he gets battered and thrown down.

The guys are confused by his stubbornness as he spots Blue flying by. They lock eyes and Kaito looks away, assuming he isn't going to help. He forces himself to rise as Blue disappears, returning as Makoto and attacking the bullies. The sixth grader tells his big brother that Makoto was the boy from the other day and Makoto gets thrown into the garbage with Kaito. He ignores his bloody nose as Kaito scolds him for trying to protect him like this, but Makoto reasons that he owes him. Kaito tells him that he shouldn't have undone his transformation in that case, but Makoto wipes his nose while telling him that Thrilling♡Pink wasn't the one who saved him.

Kaito is so surprised by this that he bursts into laughter. He grins at Makoto, reasoning that it can't be helped as the bullies look at them with confusion. With that, Kaito suggests they fight them off together.

- - - -

At the end of school the next day, the boys meet up -with bandaged faces- and Kaito confesses his true reasoning for wanting to protect Makoto. Makoto tells him that he should have just been honest and Kaito apologizes, causing Makoto to tease him. Kaito gets flustered as they leave school and after a moment, Makoto remarks that he needs Kaito to protect him from now on, since they are friends. It would be a pain to have to deal with those guys again. Kaito's anger flares up after hearing this.

## Quotes

* Makoto: *Then let's just forget... about me thanking you!*
* Kaito: *Why!?*
* Makoto: *Well, we're friends, so that was the natural thing to do.*

* Kaito: *Wait a second!!! In the first place, is he really my friend!? He's been using me this whole time, so hasn't he just been playing me for a fool!?*

* Makoto: *The one who saved me, wasn't Thrilling♡Pink.*