Sakuramoria

- I just happened to be there when and where I shouldn't have been," she wanted to add that anyone in her place would have done the same, but these words already sounded incredibly absurd in her head. Of course, no sane person would have done the same.
Futaba looked at the picture - nothing special, although it was pleasing to the eye. However, she couldn't figure out the meaning of the gesture.
What grade was that girl in? In the affected one or some other? She couldn't remember now, although who are you kidding - she didn't know it in the first place.
Another act of restrained altruism, just like in the case of Barbara? Very likely, but the function of giving is not obvious.
Maybe the offering is an analogy to a lamb on an altar in gratitude to the great forces of the universe for a successful outcome? Theoretically possible, but clearly not. No one would sacrifice anything to a person who is not endowed with administrative or mystical power, even just on principle.
Perhaps it was a form of bribery or a bribe? Next time you lose it and want to hack another person to death, and we end up in a narrow corridor, remember that we gave you a gift and go visit your neighbor instead. Yes, that's quite likely.
It is also possible that it could be a form of establishing economic relations. Perhaps these girls will need Futaba's "services" in the near future to eliminate unwanted elements - say, certain individuals from the male dormitory who may be bothering them. At first glance, it seems far-fetched and somewhat insane, but if you think about it, there are plenty of at least strange characters among the male classmates, and the offspring of wealthy parents are quite familiar with the concept of delegating dirty work to those who can handle it for money. Again, less competition in exams. The option has a good chance of being true.
But what if it was actually a sincere gesture of goodwill from classmates and roommates, designed to show solidarity and being in the same boat, perhaps to thank her for risking her life for the common cause? ...Well, no. That's definitely nonsense. Once, in childhood, Futaba might have believed in such a thing - that the sun shines and the birds sing, and people are ready to be friends and express positive feelings to each other without any ulterior motives. But this illusion lasted only until life began to kick her relentlessly in the teeth, grinding her heart and soul into a mess.
Well, if they insist on playing this game, why not? They think you're sitting down to play with them, not knowing that you have a handful of marbles hidden up your sleeve.
- Well... thank you. Unexpected.
She remembered the moment of cutting the flesh of the attacker with the blade of a sword, the feeling of excitement from the adrenaline and the satisfaction that her blow hit the target... The stupor and the feeling that a terrible mistake had occurred, when the severed strap of the hood revealed the face of the person hiding underneath. She remembered the convulsive sob with which their class teacher collapsed to the ground, the expression of confusion on the faces of the arriving students, and how the bloody traces of her clenched fingers were imprinted on the freshly lit cigarette paper.
Her right hand almost began to tremble, but with an effort of will, Futaba pushed these memories away.
- Not an act for which I would accept gratitude, but... if it helped someone in the end...