Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu‎ Vol 9 Chapter 8

Me and Quarrels and Unbelievable Idiots

Me and Quarrels and Unbelievable Idiots

“Yuuji, you’ll be late for the opening ceremony if you don’t go out now, you know?”

Mom said as she saw me relaxing in the living room.

It’s now 8.30am. Considering the distance from my house to Fumitzuki Gakuen, I should be able to barely make it to the opening ceremony at nine.

“It’s embarra.s.sing if you’re late for the opening ceremony, you know?”

She had been nagging me over and over again, yet mom’s voice had merely a tinge of fatigue.

Middle school life was over. From today onward, my new life in high school will begin. Actually, I don’t want to be late.

“Yuuji, are you listening?”

It’s just that there was a very high chance that I’ll meet that troublesome person if I left at this time. I’m wearing time down to avoid trouble.

“Really…having such an att.i.tude even at the opening ceremony…”

Speaking of which, I had already tried to avoid going to the same school as that person before I actually said something, so I didn’t tell anyone other than the teachers which school I wanted to go to. But why…

“It’s rare for this okaa-san to tell Shouko-chan Yuuji’s choice of school so that you two can go to the same school together…”

“SO IT’S YOU—!!!”

“?? What’s the matter, Yuuji?”

Mom actually showed a ridiculous face without any signs of remorse. What do you mean by ‘what’s the matter’! Don’t just tell anyone else my secret!

“Also, Yuuji. How can you call okaa-san ‘you’?”

“Un? Ah, is that so…sorry, mom. I just blurted it out.”

“People nearby will think that we’re a couple, you know?”

“IT’S TOO EARLY FOR ME TO GET MARRIED AND YOU’RE MARRIED TO DAD AND WE’VE BEEN GETTING ALONG WITH THE NEIGHBOURS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THE COUPLE IS AND ALSO ANYONE CAN TELL THAT THERE’S A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN AGE BETWEEN ME AND MY MOM AND SPEAKING OF WHICH WE ARE REALLY BLOOD-RELATED HERE—!”

“Amazing, Yuuji. Impressive lung capacity.”

“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”

I seemed to hear my nerves been worn out like a chopping board being scratched. My body really can’t take this situation that I have to handle so early in the morning…

I looked up to see the time, and 5 minutes pa.s.sed. It’s about time.

“Then, I’ll slowly…”

I got up from the sofa.

I used up enough time. Time to go to school.

“Oh yeah, Yuuji. What time should okaa-san leave?”

I was stopped by this sudden question. To be honest, this mom of mine who was like a gathering of airheads will be troublesome if she comes along. I’ll just make up a lie here.

“Fumitzuki Gakuen’s opening ceremony doesn't allow for parents to come in.”

“Oh, is that so? What a pity~”

I started to worry about this mom of mine who doesn’t suspect others.

“Then, okaa-san will wear a uniform.”

And then, this mom of mine who could think of such an idea worries me even more.

“THINK OF YOUR AGE! IT’S OBVIOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE HERE, RIGHT!?”

“Yeah~I can definitely go in if I’m younger by two years.”

“2 YEARS!? YOU MISSED OUT ON AN EXTRA ZERO!”

“Really…you’re a man, Yuuji. Don’t worry about such a trivial thing. I just made a mistake in the number.

“IT’S JUST A MISTAKE, BUT THE MISTAKE IS THE DIGIT HERE!”

This is really a shameless mistake. I couldn’t help but sigh. Mom seemed to think of something and clapped her hands to say.

“Oh yes, Yuuji. Don’t buy any snacks on the way home, alright?”

Don’t buy snacks? What does she mean—wait, don’t tell me,

“Mom. Are you thinking of cooking again?”

“Yes. I want to make a few dishes to celebrate.”

Mom’s face showed a happy smile. No way. I understand that intention, but…

“Allow me to ask, what are you intending to make?”

“Oh yes, I went shopping yesterday, and the thing that’s similar to sea urchin is extremely cheap.”

“CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT ‘SIMILAR’ THING!? I CAN’T TELL WHETHER IT’S EDIBLE OR NOT!”

It’s okay if it’s chestnut, and kiwi is still acceptable, but I can’t agree if it’s a scrubbing brush…!

“And also, it came with detergent for was.h.i.+ng dishes.”

“AND IT’S REALLY THE LAST ONE—!”

Looks like I have to clear up the cooking that will shock the whole world after school when I get home.

“Haa…anyway, I’m going to school now.”

“Okay, take care.”

I grabbed my bag, got up, and walked to the corridor.

“Say hi to Shouko-chan for me.”

“…”

I didn’t answer those words before I stepped out of the house.

Fumitzuki Gakuen is built on a slope. No, it’s more like a hill. The slope steepness is different for each path chosen, and on this one, we have to get off our bicycles to go up. It’ll be a lot easier to go back, however,

“This slope…”

It’ll be dangerous if the cyclist doesn’t brake to slow down. Thus, the energy used to go up the slope in the morning will all be for naught when the bicycle has to keep braking and creating friction when going down. The energy will be all wasted.

“Do I have to climb up every day…”

I’m walking up to school, so I’m not having it as tough as the people riding the bicycles. However, I’m rather bothered when I think about the future. What in the world was the school committee thinking, choosing such a place?

“Oh yeah, the reason is just that simple.”

It’s either because the land price is cheap or that it’s easier to ensure a large land. This place is closer to the residential streets, but a lot further from the city. One can reach the outskirts if he goes off in the opposite direction, so there won’t be any compet.i.tion for land.

“The scenery is fine though.”

I stopped to look around. Below me, I could see two sceneries that unfolded in front of me, the city I know of and the outskirts leading to the unknown road.

As expected of an Opening Ceremony, most of the students have already arrived at school. I can’t see any students climbing up this slope behind me. Also, it’s obvious why I chose to come to school at such a time.

There were still 5 minutes till the Opening Ceremony. I heard that everyone will be gathered at the sports hall and leave the cla.s.s sorting aside first. Once the Ceremony’s over, everyone will then be a.s.signed to their cla.s.ses.

I might as well be late since I’m going to hear such stupid nonsense. I thought as I climb up the slope leading to the school gate.

“…Yuuji.”

And then, just when I was about to enter the school compound, I heard a faint voice.

Immediately, my mouth feels bitter. I was relieved that I didn’t see her at my house. So, she’s been waiting here…

“…”

I forcefully ignored those words and continued on.

“…Yuuji.”

“……”

“…Yuuji.”

“……”

“…Yuuji.”

“……”

“…My b.r.e.a.s.t.s have grown to size C.”

GANK!!

My eyes saw stars as I knocked into the telegraph pole.

“…Yuuji. Is your head alright?”

“I’LL RETURN THOSE WORDS RIGHT BACK AT YOU!!!”

I roared at my worried looking childhood friend. It’s like we had such a conversation when we were young!

It can’t be helped. I can only give up on ignoring Shouko and face her.

“Shouko. We promised before about what you should do when we’re going to the same school, right? Don’t talk to me in school.”

“…But it’s still outside the school.”

“Then, I’ll correct that. Don’t talk to me on the streets too.”

“..That’s too much.”

Even I don’t understand why I want to keep my distance from her. Perhaps somewhere inside my heart, I want to abandon that embarra.s.sing past of mine.

“…I want to talk to you, Yuuji.”

Shouko has never changed her att.i.tude about this worthless me ever since grade school—or rather, she’s been treating me better.

“…Yuuji, what should I do to make you willing to talk to me?”

“Who knows?”

Ever since that incident 5 years ago, I consciously realized that I have to change my lifestyle in the future. I tried to argue, train myself and get away from studies. The opinions of the people around me went from ‘prodigy’ to ‘problematic’. But deep inside my heart, ever since 5 years ago, nothing has changed at all.

“…Yuuji, does being with me hurts you?”

I’m immediately left speechless.

Even as I continued to push her aside, this girl still looked over at me with innocent eyes. No matter how much I hate myself, she always said that she likes me. To me, that’s…really, really painful.

“…Yuuji, you hate yourself, right…?”

“……..”

I can’t answer.

However, Shouko suddenly says something weird.

“…I’ll be patient.”

Patient? What about it?

“…I’ll be patient with you until you’re willing to be with me, Yuuji.”

I’m really amazed by those words that were said inadvertently, and thinks,

(This girl is, really mature… compared to me…)

The person she likes is treating her so coldly; and yet she is not angry but thinking about others. If this is not maturity, I don’t know what is.

(Compared to her, I’m…)

My heart is filled with darkness.

Her worry seems to reveal my immaturity, and I feel even more d.a.m.ned…this is embarra.s.sing.

Shouko ignores my self-loathing and continues,

“…I’ll be patient, so—”

“Un? What?”

“—I want to kiss you.”

“……(ACK ACK ACK)!!!”

I’m being too foolish. My opinion on this girl really changed this moment.

“…Yuuji.”

“……”

“…Yuuji.”

“……”

“…Don’t ignore me.”

“……”

I continued to walk fast in front, and Shouko’s complaining followed behind me. Ahh, this is annoying.

How about if I run off like this? Just when I was thinking about that, someone suddenly called out.

“We, well, that student over there.”

It’s a voice I never heard of before. Most likely, it’s a student who’s coming to the same Opening Ceremony as us. From the sound of it, he sounds like a decent guy. He must be an idiot who’s trying to be kind after seeing me ignore Shouko.

How troublesome. I might as well ignore this guy as well.

I increase my pace again. It seem that Shouko has given up halfway as there are no movements at all.

However,

“That’s weird. Did he not hear me?”

I have no idea who continues to yap without backing away.

Never mind. I’ll just ignore him.

“Oi—the student over there—”

Anyway, I’ll just ignore him.

“Oi— oi—do you hear me—?”

I’ll still ignore him.

“Uu…this is troublesome…are his ears not working well…?”

It seems that he has finally given up. This weird battle of ignoring ends with the opposing stranger giving up.

How annoying. I sighed slightly and turned my gaze slightly to see the owner of the voice.

Standing over there was a male student of the same age, over 165cm, messy out-of-bed hair, and has an idiotic look.

—And for some reason, he’s wearing a sailor uniform.

“HOW CAN I IGNORE THIS—!!??”

I can’t help but exclaim.

What’s with this guy!!? A pervert!!? If not, someone with an abnormal personality!!?

“Ehh? What, what? What’s wrong? Is there something behind me?”

“IT’S ABOUT YOU! THE ONE STANDING THERE WITH A BLANK FACE AND WEARING A SAILOR UNIFORM!!”

WHY THE h.e.l.l MUST I BE LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE BEHIND!? DON’T YOU REALIZE HOW WEIRD YOU LOOK!?

That guy finally noticed that the ‘you’ was referring to him when I pointed at him, and says with a shocked expression,

“Ahh…! No, that’s not it!! This is!”

“Not it!? What about it?”

“This is a middle school uniform!”

“OI, WAIT A SEC! WERE YOU WEARING A SAILOR UNIFORM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!?”

HASN’T ANYONE TOLD HIM ANYTHING ABOUT IT!? HIS FRIENDS HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE YEARS WITH HIM EITHER WAY, RIGHT!!?

“No, it’s not like this! This uniform belongs to Seiran Girls Middle School! Nee—”

“AND A GIRLS SCHOOL AT THAT!? LETTING A GUY IN TOO!! ARE THE TEACHERS IDIOTS JUST LIKE THE STUDENTS!!??”

“AARRRGGGHHH!! THE MISUNDERSTANDING JUST GOT WORSE!!!”

“RELAX! I’M NOT MISTAKEN AT ALL!!’

THIS GUY’S MOST DEFINITELY A PERVERT! IT’S HARD TO MISUNDERSTAND THIS!

“LI, LISTEN TO ME!”

“DON’T GET NEAR ME!! PERVERTEDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS!!”

“THAT’S WHY I SAY THAT IT’S NOT—!!”

“DO, DON’T COME NEAR ME—!!

Before I realized it, I’m sprinting down the field, but I just can’t shake him off. This, this pervert, he’s really fast!

“I GOT IT! I KNOW, IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING! STOP CHASING ME NOW!!”

“LIAR! YOU WILL STOP AND LISTEN TO ME IF YOU KNOW THAT IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING!”

“STOP SPOUTING NONSENSE! HOW CAN I STOP WHEN I’M BEING CHASED BY A PERVERT!!?”

“THAT’S WHY I SAY IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING! d.a.m.n IT! LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO GO ALL OUT!”

“ALL OUT!? STO, STOP JOKING AROUND—!!”

“OHHH—!? A misunderstanding created another one? This is bad—!”

I still can’t shake off the pervert as I continued to play tag with him. No, it’s an understatement to say that we’re playing tag. The one chasing me is really a devil, a messenger of h.e.l.l spreading fear and despair.

In this type of crisis which I have never experienced before, my sanity finally gives up on working as my instincts are the only thing driving me.

I, who’s trying to escape from the terror, instinctively thought of seeking help as I dashed towards the opening ceremony in the sports hall.

>

>

“PERVERT—!!!”

“LISTEN TO ME!!!”

*Chatter—*

*“Pe, pervert!?”*

*“Is the princ.i.p.al here a pervert!?”*

*“No wonder the school fees are so cheap…!”*

>

As I ran into the sports hall, I’m already surrounded by buzzing. It can’t be helped since there’s a pervert appearing here!

However, I find myself calming down slightly because of the other people around me, who are already panicking. There’re a whole lot of people in the sports hall. With so many people around me, maybe I can shake off this pervert. If I have to ask for help, now’s the time!

I take a deep breath.

“LISTEN UP, YOU GUYS! ANYONE CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN THEIR FIGHTING ABILITIES, STEP RIGHT UP! THOSE NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH WILL ONLY GET IN THE WAY. BACK DOWN!”

My voice echoes through the hall.

“EH!? WHAT!? A FIGHT THIS TIME!? WHAT’S WRONG TODAY!?”

On hearing the voice, the pervert chasing me panicked. Idiot! I’ll finish off this pervert who’s attacking in the middle of daylight!

Just like a certain scene in the >, the crowd scattered with me at the center. Just like I ordered, those guys who weren’t confident in their skills kept their distance.

In that case, there won’t be people getting in the way. That’s good.

The problem is—

“ISN’T ANYONE CONFIDENT IN THEIR OWN FIGHTING ABILITIES!?”

The problem is that no one was willing to help me take on the pervert. Eh…! Even though this school isn’t ordinary, it is still a prep school. To think that there is a gathering of students who can’t fight.

All of them moved as I move, with me still at the center. d.a.m.n it! Someone, someone help me…!

I continued to move, and the s.p.a.ce moves as well. However, a student remained still even with everyone moving.

(Good! Someone’s willing to come over!)

I gave myself a victory sign secretly as I look at the courageous person. That person has long limbs, a long ponytail, and the head was swaying.

…Sleeping.

“YOU’RE SLEEPING AT SUCH A MOMENT—!!?”

THAT’S JUST NOT RUNNING AWAY! YOU Itsuki! YOU GOT MY HOPES UP FOR NOTHING! SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHY ARE YOU ABLE TO SLEEP IN SUCH A SITUATION!? DO YOU HAVE SOME DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE FROM ORDINARY HUMANS!?

“Forget about that. ANYONE WILLING TO STEP UP!?”

I change my mood and call the people around me. d.a.m.n it. No one is coming out. In this case, I can only go alone…!

Getting mentally ready, I stopped there.

After a while, a male teacher appeared there.

“Are you two freshmen?”

*BOING* A terrifyingly deep sound can be heard from the abdomen. The male teacher had muscles that look like they can rip up his suit. This presence just feels like a fighter who’s been through countless battles. This, this guy’s way too reliable…!

“It’s only just the start of school. You sure got guts.”

The muscled teacher folds his arms and smirks as he looks impressed. I’m really embarra.s.sed to be praised by such a muscular man.

“Don’t say that. I’m not that amazing.”

I have to deny his words.

Unlike me, who’s being chased, that teacher’s guts can’t be underestimated, even though he’s taking on a pervert for his students’ sake. How can I accept the praise when I’m the one asking for help? I really can’t accept that.

However, that teacher says the same thing again.

“No no. You really have guts.”

And then, he got into position.

“—Both of you.”

“……Eh?”

After that, the muscled teacher glares at me and the pervert. Un? Why are you standing opposite me?

“O, OI! WAIT! YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PERVERT DOWN THERE!”

“WE, WELL! I’M DIFFERENT FROM THIS GUY! I’M NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT!”

“YOU TWO—IDIOTS!!!”

““GGGYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!””

An unprecedented terror strikes me as a huge force I have never experienced hits me. Wha, what’s going on!? Is, is this teacher…really human…!?

“Why…did it end up like this…I’m just about to, tell you, that there was a girl talking to you…”

Before I fainted, that faint voice can be heard beside me.

Just like that, the worst ever opening ceremony ended (while I was still unconscious), and now, we’re sorted into our cla.s.ses and introducing ourselves.

My body endures the pain as I put my hand on my cheek and looked forward.

“—Ryo. Nice to meet you.”

There’s nothing out of the ordinary. Just a simple self-introduction in order.

“My name is, s.h.i.+mada, Minami. Nice to meet you.”

The strange feeling isn’t because of the words, but the p.r.o.nunciation. It doesn’t sound j.a.panese.

I thought that she’s an overseas student and opened my eyes wide to check. However, the owner of that voice doesn’t look like a foreigner, but a j.a.panese I’m used to seeing.

(Un? Isn’t that person the one sleeping in the midst of the buzzing—?)

Whether it’s the strange p.r.o.nunciation or the att.i.tude during the opening ceremony, I’m rather bothered by them. I then look at the name on the blackboard. Over there, the name ‘s.h.i.+mayumi Mikare’ is written there. Since she calls herself s.h.i.+mada Minami, I guess she probably wrote the wrong name.

“s.h.i.+mada-san is a j.a.panese from Germany, and she has just returned, so everyone, please help her out.”

The teacher helped s.h.i.+mada finish off. She’s a girl who came back from overseas? No wonder the p.r.o.nunciation and kanji are wrong. She was sleeping not because she was bored or it was spring, but the time difference. Maybe that’s the reason.

*Snickers* I can hear people around me snickering. Most likely, they’re laughing at s.h.i.+mada for writing the wrong kanji.

(Tch, how stupid.)

Deep inside, I mocked those idiots who were snickering away.

Just now, the teacher mentioned that ‘she just returned’. Also, I can tell from the p.r.o.nunciation just now that s.h.i.+mada has just started learning j.a.panese not too long ago, but now she’s speaking j.a.panese and using kanji to write her name. She’s entering what’s considered a high school life, and now has to be independent in such a different culture, yet she’s still pulling herself through like this. This itself is worthy of praise. However, I can tell how impatient this crowd is when they’re laughing away. The people laughing are laughing at their own ignorance.

“I hope we can get along!”

As I was thinking about this, s.h.i.+mada’s self-introduction ended. Then, based on the order, it’s my turn now.

I slowly walk to the front and immediately say my name out clearly.

“I’m Sakamoto Yuuji from Kannazuki Middle School.”

That one sentence caused everyone else to start muttering.

“That guy’s Kannazuki’s…”

“The infamous devil…”

“That guy seems really amazing…”

It seems some of them knows about my middle school past as they give me probing and disgusted looks. With the action during the opening ceremony just now, I’ll be viewed as a violent student with many problems.

“…Fu”

It’s fine. I don’t have to deliberately explain to them.

I slowly walk back like how I walked to the podium, and returned to my seat.

And then, the next student introduced himself.

“My name’s Kinos.h.i.+ta Hideyos.h.i.+. I’d hope we can get along.”

That weird tone caused me to widen my closing eyes to check…what’s going on? Why isn’t that person there wearing a girl’s uniform? No, wait, the name’s Hideyos.h.i.+, so that’s a guy, right/ but he doesn’t look like a guy in the first place…

I tilted my head to wonder, and Kinos.h.i.+ta’s self-introduction ended. The next student walked in front. I’ll just leave this memory of Kinos.h.i.+ta being ‘a really weird guy with an unspecified gender’ in my mind. Yeah, at least I should remember a name. Besides, there can’t possibly be a second strange person like this.

“…Tsuchiya Kouta. Interests are perv…no”

……There is one. And what follows next is.

“…speciality is stealing pho…nothing much.”

After saying that, a camera and recorder can be seen from Tsuchiya’s pockets.

………

……

…

(Why, why isn’t anyone telling him off yet…!?)

His interest is to take photos secretly, specialty is to eavesdrop, and the gadgets on him really have a criminal feel. That’s too weird. That’s way too obviously weird.

My common sense was about to collapse, and there was another self-introduction.

“I’m Yos.h.i.+ Akihisa from Nagatsuki Middle School. I hope we can get along.”

The one who said that as he kept his head low is that idiot who was wearing the sailor uniform this morning. I see, so this guy’s called Yos.h.i.+ Akihisa. I’ll remember that as an important person to be wary against. He’s a pervert.

After that, there weren’t any strange self-introductions, and the HR time ended. In the end, amongst the names I remembered, the once with the most common sense is that girl who came back to the country, huh?

As I got ready to leave, I heard the voice of that girl who came back from afar.

“Shut up, you swines.”

Looks like I have to take that back, I thought.

Before I noticed it, it’s been a week since that chaotic opening ceremony.

I managed to get used to school life, and I can finally enjoy a peaceful life.

—But that’s impossible.

“That guy is that Sakamoto…”

“He challenged all the students and teachers to a fight during the opening ceremony…”

“Looks like he’s looking for someone to fight against…”

“I heard that he had some grievances against people from other schools…”

I had been going through every single day uncomfortably with the strange stares coming at me from afar.

Let me state this first. I had never personally tried to look for trouble. What happened during the opening ceremony was a misunderstanding caused by an unfortunate situation.

They aren’t completely baseless, but these are rumors I don’t really want.

Even so, I can accept that. The problem is,

“I heard that Sakamoto-kun and Yos.h.i.+-kun had something strange going on between them.”

“Ah, I know. Those two were chasing each other during the opening ceremony, right?”

“Both of them were late at the same time. What did they do?”

The problem is the rumors coming from here. At this point, it isn’t a question of whether I can handle it. I have to eliminate this completely. This is the worst possible kind of rumor.

However, I couldn’t talk to the girls staring at me like this and tell them ‘It’s not like that between me and that guy. That’s a misunderstanding’. Not only that, the way I tell them might cause the opposite effect. It will be bad for me to let the rumors subside quietly. Anyway, Yos.h.i.+ and I don’t have that kind of relations.h.i.+p, and we haven’t even interacted normally before—

“Ah, Sakamoto-kun. Do you have time later? I have something to talk to you about after school.”

“YOU LOOKING FOR A FIGHT HERE!?”

“EH? WHAT WHAT!? WHAT’S GOING ON!?”

Actually choosing such timing to appear too! I couldn’t help but grab Yos.h.i.+ on the torso. This guy really doesn’t know what the situation is like now!!

“Sa, Sakamoto-kun. Why are you already so angry when I’m just talking with you?”

“Can’t you sense the mood now?”

“Erm…are you thinking, Sakamoto-kun?”

“THAT’S NOT IT. I’M SAYING TO CHECK THE SITUATION AROUND US BEFORE TRYING TO TALK TO ME! CAN’T YOU SEE THE STARES AROUND US!!?”

“Heh? Surroundings, as in…”

“Wah. Looks like they’re worried about others staring at them…”

“As expected, in places we can’t see…”

“There’re really people like this. High school is amazing…”

“??? What are those people over there talking about?”

Yos.h.i.+ just stood down there, stunned with a perplexed expression. So he can’t choose the timing properly and has such bad understanding ability? This idiot.

“…They’re saying that my relations.h.i.+p with you is very weird.”

“Ha? What does that mean?”

“Who knows? Also, don’t approach me randomly, to prevent further misunderstandings.”

“Eh? That means…”

After thinking hard for a little bit, Yos.h.i.+ seemed to finally understand what’s going on, and then,

“I, I’ll be bothered here! I’ll go correct it!)

He panicked and went to the girls talking away. Fm, this might be better for me anyway.

(If I were to go, I might not even be able to talk to them…)

I’ll wait for him to clear the misunderstanding.

After talking to the girls for a moment, Yos.h.i.+ returned. Now, what happened?

“Is the misunderstanding cleared?”

“‘Have they actually GONE to such a relations.h.i.+p!?’ they said in a shocked manner…”

“WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU TELL THEM!?”

Didn’t this make the misunderstanding worse!

“MOVE ASIDE. MY TURN!”

I pushed Yos.h.i.+ aside and walked to the girls. I was worried whether they would run away in fear because they were scared, but luckily, the girls were willing to listen to me normally this time as Yos.h.i.+ went to them before.

Several minutes later, I went back to my seat. This time, Yos.h.i.+ looked uneasy as he asked me.

“How is it? Do they understand?”

“Ahh, no problems.”

I straightened my back and answered.

“Really. That’s great~”

“I told them that you were a pervert who like to cross-dress, and I ran away in fear after seeing that. They immediately understood after they heard that.”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY—!?”

There’s nothing to deny about that. That’s the fact after all.

“GO CORRECT THAT, SAKAMOTO-KUN! I MERELY WORE A SAILOR UNIFORM WHEN I ATTENDED THE OPENING CEREMONY! I’LL BE TROUBLED IF I’M MISUNDERSTOOD!”

“OI, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! YOU CAN’T SAY ‘MERELY’ WHEN YOU’RE A GUY WEAING A SAILOR UNIFORM!”

What kind of common sense does this guy have anyway!?

“AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO TALK TO YOU BACK THEN!”

“THAT’S JUST YOU BEING A BUSYBODY, PERVERT!”

“Wha…! YOU’RE THE ONE WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS! IGNORING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL!?”

“AHH!? YOU DARE TO SAY THAT—”

We continued to argue with each other, and just when we’re about to grab each other by the throats.

“What are you two doing?”

The crude voice entered our arguments. It’s the muscleman teacher who’s in charge of remedials who knocked Yos.h.i.+ (the pervert) and me out at the opening ceremony. He suddenly entered the cla.s.sroom, perhaps getting ready for the next cla.s.s.

“Tch.”

I retract the hand I reached out and sat back in my seat. My head unknowingly started to heat up, but on thinking about this carefully, there’s no point in punching this idiot up. It’ll only be a waste of time to be his opponent.

The teacher stared at the pervert and me with sharp eyes.

“Sakamoto. I heard a lot about you. Don’t do anything that will make the rumors come true.”

He warned. The ‘rumors’ the muscular teacher mentioned was most probably the violent incidents I will commit. It’s true that beside this teacher, the other teachers seem to be viewing me as a student who would use violence in school. If I make even the slightest move here, it will become a huge problem.

“Then, as Takenaka-sensei is seriously ill at this moment, I’ll take over the lessons. Flip open to page 13 of the textbook—”

The muscular teacher didn’t say anything more to me as he took the teaching materials and started to teach.

What appears in front of me is a scene of a lesson that had not changed much even though I'm a High School student now.

The explanation of the teacher just entered by one ear and went out by another ear, and I inadvertently looked out the window.

During this time, a figure of a single highschool girl entered my field of vision.

(…Still giving that bored look.)

The girl who returned back from overseas had her hand supporting her chin, and the textbook on the table wasn’t flipped opened at all, and she looked lethargic while sighing away.

(Looks like she’s still not used to life here)

I never actually saw her talking happily with others before. The words she said on the first day and her cla.s.sification as someone who returned from overseas caused the people in the cla.s.s to keep their distance from her.

“Yos.h.i.+. Do you know the meaning of this term?”

“Yes? E, erm, it means ‘interesting’—that would be great.”

“Why is it that your answer has your own wish mixed in at the end…”

The muscular teacher sighed, and everyone in the cla.s.s laughed heartily. s.h.i.+mada was staring at Yos.h.i.+, who’s standing in the midst of the laughter, with envy—hatred.

(That guy is being completely hated.)

I thought as I watched the eyes full of hatred. Looking at this, it’s not impossible for s.h.i.+mada not to pull Yos.h.i.+ out and vent her frustrations. This will only be a disaster for Yos.h.i.+, who doesn’t know that s.h.i.+mada hates him.

Even so, I can understand the feeling, why Yos.h.i.+ infuriates others. That’s because, even if my reason is different from s.h.i.+mada, I don’t like Yos.h.i.+.

(Even if that’s the case, I can’t think of anything…)

I’ll only waste my time and effort getting involved with such an idiot. It’ll be better if I don’t.

After making this conclusion, I give up on thinking and close my eyes silently.

Just like that, the boring day ended.

A few days pa.s.sed, and it’s been two weeks since the Opening Ceremony ended.

There was no change in the stares from the teachers and the students at me or the surrounding situation.

“How stupid…there’s nothing to talk about, and yet they’re nitpicking at my habits. Really…”

I muttered to myself.

After school, I was told to go to the staff room, so I thought something was up, but it seemed that a neighboring school had an incident of violence that caused the teacher to nag. It seemed that I was convicted just by suspicion, and I really wanted to actually take action.

“d.a.m.n it, judging others just by looks and rumors.”

I can understand that ‘it can’t be helped when others misunderstand’, but it’s a completely different thing emotionally. n.o.body will be happy being told off for something they never did.

The few people who were chatting on the corridors after school either looked at me or hurriedly left for the exit while looking terrified, thinking that I would find trouble with them, perhaps because they saw me being all unhappy. What idiots. How can I possibly fight them if they don’t provoke me?

I was really unhappy and walked back quickly to my cla.s.sroom to hurry up and head home. Is everyone already going out with their friends or taking part in club activities just two weeks since the school opening? I don’t know the specific reasons as there’s no one in the cla.s.sroom.

“What reason? What time is it now?”

After looking at the watch, I understood. Normally, students would have already gone home at this time.

I silently listened to the teacher silently and got detained for a long time with a ‘what’s with that look, are you thinking of fighting back’? If it wasn’t for the muscular teacher in charge of remedial returning to the staff room to stop that teacher, it could have been much longer.

Why must I suffer so much? I thought as I grabbed the bag that was placed on my own table and got ready to go home. As I was too forceful, I knocked into the table on my way out.

“…”

A lot of textbooks dropped out from the table. The owner of this seat didn’t bring the textbooks back home and only put it that.

“Already like this soon after school opening? How enthusiastic you are in your studies.”

I muttered this line that could be said to myself and reached out my hand to put the dropped textbooks back.

And then, I saw that pitiful state.

“That’s, way too much…”

The cover was wrecked and the pages were all messed up. Books that should have been just given were already in such a pathetic state. It wouldn’t be possible for this to happen if it’s used normally.

I picked up this book and looked at the thoroughly tattered cover, and the cover had the name ‘s.h.i.+mayumi Mikare’ on it. Such a weird name…that’s the name the girl who just came back from overseas wrote wrongly.

“Speaking of which, she called others in the cla.s.s swines back then.”

In that case, this disaster happened because of s.h.i.+mada’s words and enraged a certain person enough to bully her.

“Doesn’t look that way….”

To me, the people in our cla.s.s merely felt that the line was like ‘some foreigner who couldn’t speak j.a.panese well said something weird’ and ended it there. It shouldn’t be at the level where someone would bully her, and also, no idiot will enthusiastically get near anyone who said that.

Anyway, it’s really hard to imagine someone bullying her. In other words, it’s because this girl herself was enraged as she couldn’t get used to j.a.pan, right? And this method of wrecking is way too weird…

“…Well, never mind. It has nothing to do with me.”

I’ll just observe for the time being and put the tattered textbook back to its original position.

At this moment.

“!?”

A fast moving thing flashed past my eyes.

My body naturally reacted before I could make a decision and backed away from there. I dodged the danger at the last moment, and a certain person’s fist grazed right past the front of my eyes. At this moment, I finally saw what was trying to hit me.

I adjusted my position and watched the owner of the fist.

Standing over there was,

“…”

That idiot who had quite the fate with me ever since school started.

“What are you trying to do, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”

Yos.h.i.+ asked silently.

Both of us know that we hated each other, but even so, it’s not so bad that we would actually start punching each other.

“……What…are you doing……”

Yos.h.i.+ rotated his fist as he said. Asking me what I’m doing?”

“I’m about to ask you—”

“I’M SAYING WHAT THE h.e.l.l YOU ARE DOING AT HER SEAT!!!”

Yos.h.i.+ let out a roar that I couldn’t even imagine. Then, his eyes moved to my right hand…or more accurately, the tattered textbook in my right hand.

Right now, my hand has a thoroughly tattered textbook, no one’s inside the cla.s.sroom, there’s all sorts of rumors in school, and Yos.h.i.+’s words just now.

I got a conclusion from this.

“…Don’t tell me—”

That Yos.h.i.+, does he think that I wrecked this textbook to bully s.h.i.+mada?

“Oi, wait a sec, Yos.h.i.+. I’m”

“GRIT YOUR TEETH HARD, YOU PIECE OF TRAs.h.!.+”

“Tch—this idiot…!”

Yos.h.i.+ couldn’t listen to my words at all as he clenched his fist hard to attack. I bent my waist to dodge and said to Yos.h.i.+.

“Calm down! I didn’t do this!”

“I’LL KILL YOU!!!”

“LISTEN TO ME!!!”

Not good. I’ve been misunderstood completely.

…Can’t be helped.

“Then, I’ll play along with you!”

He was already someone I didn’t like anyway. Fine, I’ll just give him two, three punches to shut him up! That’s the best way to deal with such an idiot!

Just as expected of an idiot, he won’t cry until something’s smacked into him. Yos.h.i.+ attacked from the front for the 3rd time. I dodged it from aside and hit the defenseless face.

“KGAA!”

The tables and chairs got involved, and Yos.h.i.+ flew out in an exaggerated manner. I didn’t use all my strength, but there’s a huge difference in our body types. He’s less than 170cm tall, and it’s to be expected for him to be sent flying by me, who’s almost 180cm tall.

“…That…b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

Yos.h.i.+ again stood up and leapt over. This time, I grabbed him on the chest and threw him back in the opposite direction.

The tables and chairs have collapsed there on the floor where Yos.h.i.+ landed.

“!!”

And then, he pushed aside the tables and chairs clinging onto his feet and stood up. I really couldn’t tell from his appearance, but he’s really a stubborn person.

Yos.h.i.+ continued to leap over like before, and this time, I sent him flying back with a kick. He landed between the tables and the chairs again, and again stood up.

Again and again, this process continued to repeat.

“…Must definitely…send you flying…!”

“You really can take hits, huh! WANT SOME MORE!?”

I couldn’t help but roar as I saw Yos.h.i.+ try to stand up again.

He got punched, kicked, thrown and I never got hit even once. That’s to be expected. Yos.h.i.+ was fast, but his body was too light and his movements were too direct, and to be honest, he wasn’t much of an opponent to me. He should have given up a long time ago when he was losing to me like that.

“…!!”

However, Yos.h.i.+ gritted his teeth and stood up again.

At first, I just wanted to calm him down by punching him 2, 3 times, but before I knew it, it’s been more than 15 rounds.

“d.a.m.n it…! How many times must I beat you before you give up…!”

As the one dealing the beating, I started to grumble as I continued to repeat the same motions, again and again.

At this moment, a certain thought appeared in my mind.

(Why isn’t this guy giving up…?)

He’s been beaten so badly, and he knows he can’t beat me no matter how stupid he is. Or rather, he should have expected the outcome before we started fighting.

(Isn’t it obvious who’s the stronger one between us…)

On a side note, I can tell the huge difference in ability between us. It’s the skinny and short Yos.h.i.+ versus the physically strong me, who’s already used to this kind of situation to a certain extent, like how the rumors went. A normal person will never rush at me after seeing such a thing in the cla.s.sroom after school. Normally, that person will pretend not to notice and run away or call a teacher here. That’s a smart and correct choice.

“…”

Suddenly, I was reminded of a painful emmory.

In a cla.s.sroom after school, opponents I couldn’t beat, being bullied, a girl without friends. That was 5 years ago, when we were still in grade school. It was—a painful memory I didn’t want to remember.

I roared to Yos.h.i.+, who was standing up again, to shake aside these memories.

“THAT’S ENOUGH, YOU IDIOTIC b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!!”

My brain was filled with blood, and my face felt hot; my emotions were agitated, and my eyes were red. How can I continue to play around with him!!

On hearing my words, Yos.h.i.+ trembled as he got to his feet, and finally responded.

“…Don’t you feel…it’s really pitiful…”

“Aah?”

I didn’t understand what he was saying at first, and asked back,

“DON’T YOU FIND HER PITIFUL!? SHE JUST CAME BACK TO j.a.pAN, DOESN’T HAVE ANY FRIENDS, DOESN’T UNDERSTAND j.a.pANESE, BUT WAS STILL WORKING HARD ALONE! WHY MUST YOU BULLY SUCH A PERSON WHO’S WORKING HARD!!”

The thoroughly wounded Yos.h.i.+ yelled with a powerful voice.

Pitiful? Working alone? I know that. You don’t have to explain that. I saw such a similar situation before.

Yes. Under the same situation, the same conditions.

—No, it’s different.

While the person who summoned her courage for my sake was being bullied right in front of me, I was hesitating beside her, trembling, thinking of running away. I put myself first.

However, this guy—

“HOW CAN I FORGIVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU, YOU b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!!”

This guy actually…!

GANK!! A loud sound rang.

Yos.h.i.+ was sent flying with such force that couldn’t be compared to those hits before.

And I took Yos.h.i.+’s punch right in the face. My vision starts to waver. It was because I didn’t think of dodging and only focused on hitting him…however, it doesn’t matter whether I want to dodge or not. I’ll just focus on beating this guy up…!!

“FINE, IF YOU DON’T LIKE ME THAT MUCH, YOs.h.i.+, TRY AND BEAT ME UP THEN!! I’LL BEAT YOU UP UNTIL YOU CAN’T STAND UP!!!”

My mind was blank. This guy in front of me really p.r.i.c.ks my nerves to the worst. No need to hold back! I’ll thoroughly beat this annoying idiot into a pulp.

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH! I’LL SEND YOU FLYING AND MAKE YOU REGRET IT !!”

“SHUT UP! YOU TRAs.h.!.+”

He doesn’t consider his own defenses as he swings his own fist in a momentum that can crush the cheekbones. This idiot…! I’ll really beat you up!

And then, while both of us are so close that we can beat each other up,

“…That’s enough.”

““—!!??””

A shadow suddenly b.u.t.ts in and pointed pen tips in front of Yos.h.i.+ and me. Thi, this guy…this guy’s called Tsuchiya, right? When did he get in!?

“DON’T GET IN OUR WAY! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!”

And I temporarily diverted my target from Yos.h.i.+ and Tsuchiya.

“…I’ll be troubled if you continue to wreck havoc like this.”

Tsuchiya continued to say to us while pointing the pens at us, but his eyes were looking at a corner of the cla.s.sroom. What’s going on?

“…The camera will be wrecked.”

““…………Hah?””

The vague words caused Yos.h.i.+ and me to have question marks above our hand. At this moment, the guy who appeared in front of us lowers the pens and walks over to a corner of the cla.s.sroom, rummages through there to find something. Is that…a CCD camera? Is he saying that he doesn’t want us to wreck it with our fighting? That’s not really a prob—but why did he have a camera there?

“Were you taking shots secretly?”

“…!(Shakes head violently)”

He shook his head hard to deny it. Speaking of which, this guy seemed to have said something about this during his self-introduction…

I recall what happened on the day of the opening ceremony, and Tsuchiya was checking his camera will fail. He himself denies that he was taking shots, but I can only imagine it like that when he placed it at such an angle…or is there any other motive? I’m not sure.

“…Tch. Lost my interest.”

The rage within me immediately diffused. It’s pointless going hard on an idiot. Better go home early.

“You managed to keep your pitiful life there, Yos.h.i.+.”

I again sling my bag on my shoulder, face Yos.h.i.+ and turn around.

At this moment.

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, YOU b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!”

“KGAA!”

I realized that my shoulder was grabbed, and then there was a punch to my face. This…b.a.s.t.a.r.d…! It’s rare for me to say that I let you go…!

“…Looks like you still want to fight, Yos.h.i.+.”

“Of course! Do you think I’ll let you go unless you apologize to s.h.i.+mada-san!?”

I said before that an idiot’s an idiot, but to be honest, I never expected him to be so stupid. As expected, taking on such a guy is—

“WILL YOU UNDERSTAND WHEN I SEND YOU TO YOUR GRAVE!?”

“THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO SAY, YOU b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!”

It’s already the umpteenth round. However,

“d.a.m.n YOU, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!!”

““EHHH!?””

This time, we were stopped by a familiar gruff sounding voice. Wait…this voice belongs to that muscular remedial teacher…!

Better hide my fist and pretend nothing happened now. But even so, I can’t hide the terrible state of the cla.s.sroom. This is bad…! Getting into trouble after entering school like that…!

I can’t escape, and I don’t know how to deal with this situation.

My heart sinks as I turn around.

“How’s that? Have you calmed down?”

Standing over there is the weird cla.s.smate of mine who has a feminine face and speaks in an old-fas.h.i.+oned manner.

“Was that voice just now your doing?”

“How about it? Sounded like it, didn’t it?”

He smiled happily as he said this. I had an impression on this guy as well. I remember this guy’s name is called Kinos.h.i.+ta Hideyos.h.i.+. It’s really hard to forget anyone with such a special appearance, tone and gender.

As my attention was diverted over there, Yos.h.i.+ immediately rushed over here.

“MOVE ASIDE, KINOs.h.i.+TA-SAN! GO TO h.e.l.l, YOU Sc.u.mBALL—”

“Tch! Such an annoying person—”

“DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO STOP!!?”

““Urk!!!???””

My eardrums and even my muscles trembled. Yos.h.i.+ and I had to stop. How large of a vocal range does this guy have?

“Really, just look at this mess. For what reason are you fighting for?”

It looks like a typhoon just swept by the cla.s.sroom as the tables and chairs were scattered all over the place. Looking around, I realize that we really created quite the ruckus.

“I understand your feelings, Kinos.h.i.+ta-san. But it’s dangerous for a girl here, so please quietly—”

“You’re called Yos.h.i.+, right? I’d just realized that you’re treating me as a girl.”

“Un. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“……Yos.h.i.+ yo.”

“Anyway, hurry up and leave this place, Kinos.h.i.+ta-san.”

“Tei!”

Stick.

“………Hee!?”

Kinos.h.i.+ta grabbed Yos.h.i.+ on the hand and pressed it against his own chest. Oi oi, what’s going on now? What’s the situation?

“……..(Pacha pacha pacha)”

And then, at a corner of the cla.s.sroom, there’s a pervert with a camera aimed over here like a tank. That’s too weird. The development of things here are far beyond my common sense.

“How about that, Yos.h.i.+? You can tell that I’d am a man, right?”

“Ki, Kinos.h.i.+ta-san…”

“Un?”

“You’re already a high school student. It’s better for you to wear a bra…”

“Has my words fallen on deaf ears already!!?”

Yos.h.i.+ blushed as he drew his hand away from Kinos.h.i.+ta’s chest.

“…!!(Pacha)”

Beside him, Tsuchiya moves behind Kinos.h.i.+ta at such a speed where only afterimages can be seen. Is he trying to check if there are any signs of bras there? This guy’s…really an enigmatic guy…!”

“…Such immeasurable…feelings……!!! (Bushaa)”

After getting a satisfactory result from his investigation, Tsuchiya collapses onto the floor with a nosebleed. Why, why is it that he’s the one bleeding the most when Yos.h.i.+ and I were the ones fighting?

“Anyway, you can tell that I’d am a man, right?”

“…”

Yos.h.i.+ looks troubled as he can’t eliminate the possibility of a small-breasted girl.

“Muu…if you insist, I’d have to take off my bottoms reluctantly…”

“DON’T DO THAT! IT’LL FEEL LIKE A CERTAIN FORBIDDEN LINE WILL BE CROSSED IF YOU DO THAT!!!!!!”

Regarding this, I agree with Yos.h.i.+.

“Never mind. Since you’ve said it to such an extent, Kinos.h.i.+ta-san, I’ll have to treat you as a guy for now.”

“Hold it. In that case, why are you calling me ‘-san’?”

“More than that, I have to beat up this sc.u.mbag good!”

“Tch! Try it if you can!”

This guy still doesn’t seem like he will give up. How stubborn is he actually? No, it’s an idiot’s trait to run in a straight line.

Just when we were getting ready to fight,

“Really? Do you really want me to roar again?”

Kinos.h.i.+ta’s words caused us to freeze. If that loud voice rings again, I don’t know what will happen to my eardrums.

Seeing that we barely managed to keep our fists back, Kinos.h.i.+ta sighs and says,

“Really…I don’t know the reason, but the other cla.s.smates and I can’t ignore it when you’re messing around in the cla.s.sroom. Can you let bygones be bygones?”

““…Fuun””

Even if I’m to explain, I don’t exactly know what to say. Also, Yos.h.i.+ beside me seems like he doesn’t know what to say like me too. This guy, even though he’s an idiot and a really weak fighter, he doesn’t intend to talk about how I bullied s.h.i.+mada (even though it was Yos.h.i.+’s misunderstanding)? Such a weird guy. Small fry will say things like small fry, distorting facts all over the place. Go beg others for mercy.

“Yare yare. My head hurts. It’s really hard to explain.”

“…(Suu)”

“Un? What’s that?”

“…Just watch.”

At this moment, Tsuchiya operates the camera and shows a certain recorded part for us to see.

“Tsuchiya yo, what’s that?”

“…The entire situation will be cleared with this.”

It’s a little hard to understand Tsuchiya’s overly simplistic explanation.

Anyway, I’ll just look at the screen like him—

However, even if he said that it’s the entire thing,

“…Nothing else other than the legs?”

“Tsuchiya, you’re really taking shots secretly, huh?”

“…!!(Shakes head violently)”

Tsuchiya continues to shake his head to deny it. Why is it that he’s still denying it when the decisive evidence is right in front of our eyes? In a certain sense, it’s really scary.

I’ll ignore that for now and continue to watch the footage Tsuchiya provided. Yos.h.i.+ is somewhat unhappy, but intends to watch it first before continuing,

“Oi, Tsuchiya. When was this?”

“…Cleaning time?”

“Cleaning?”

Tsuchiya pressed a switch to fast forward the image, and at this moment, the tables and chairs were moved to the back as they started to clean up.

“So what about the cleaning?”

The crystal display shows the students feet as they walk around the cla.s.s.

“…Watch this.”

Tsuchiya pauses the image and points at a certain place.

The image is very small and couldn’t be seen easily, but I can still see something had dropped onto the floor. That’s…

“Is that…a textbook?”

“Hoeh?”

It’s just like what Kinos.h.i.+ta said. On the screen, a textbook dropped onto the floor, and the students in the cla.s.s didn’t notice that as they continued to drag the tables and chairs back. The book got caught under them.

“Everyone was busy talking and didn’t notice what was below their feet.”

The people in charge of cleaning didn’t notice the textbook held underneath as they moved the table filled with stuff back to the cla.s.sroom.

Fuun, I see. So that’s how it is.

“Ah, arre? Don’t tell me, that’s…”

I ignored the flabbergasted Yos.h.i.+, and Tsuchiya presses the switch to move to the next scene.

The speaker of the camera let out some voices.

“…This is, what should we do…”

“This is bad…we didn’t notice it…”

“Isn’t this the textbook of the girl who came back? If that’s the case, even if we go explain it—”

“She won’t listen to us and call us swines…”

“An, anyway, let’s put it back into the table. We’ll think of a way tomorrow.”

“Tha, that’s right. Let’s do it.”

“……This is the truth.”

Tsuchiya switches off the image of the camera. At this moment,

“Sososososorry!!!”

Yos.h.i.+ lowered his head and bowed hard at me…ha?

“What’s with that out of a sudden?”

“We, well, how should I apologize here…! Anyway, Sakamoto-kun, just beat me up until you've calmed down!”

“No no, I don’t want to beat you up anymore.”

“Ah, in that case. Eh, well—”

What’s with those words? Yos.h.i.+ just continues to look around the cla.s.sroom in a frantic manner. Seriously, what’s with this guy? Where has the momentum he had up till now gone to?

Seeing Yos.h.i.+ change his att.i.tude so quickly, Kinos.h.i.+ta asks,

“What is it, Yos.h.i.+? Is there something wrong?”

“Ah, un. Well—”

“—It’s like this. I misunderstood Sakamoto-kun.”

“I see. So that’s the reason for this terrible state.”

“Un…I’m really sorry about this, Sakamoto-kun…”

Yos.h.i.+ looks at me, seemingly trying to probe for my expression. Ahh, d.a.m.n it, what’s with this guy actually?

“But you’re also in the wrong too, Sakamoto. Couldn’t you have explained it well just now? Don’t you feel that Yos.h.i.+ could have listened to you when you saw him like that?”

“…Fuun.”

Kinos.h.i.+ta’s words made sense. I might be able to convince him if I explained things. In fact, I was planning to do this right from the beginning, but I gave up on this thought halfway through…because I thought of something unnecessary.

“Are there any hidden feelings inside you?”

“You won’t understand even if I tell you this, Kinos.h.i.+ta.”

I don’t want to explain the feelings back then, and besides, I’m not really on such good terms with this group of people.

“Alright, if there’s nothing, I’ll be going.”

“Ah, un. See you tomorrow. Also, I’m really sorry about that.”

“Ke.”

He got tangled up with me while we were fighting, and this guy is apologizing non-stop now. Really, if he’s so worried, he should have used his brain so that things wouldn’t have happened like this. Even if this never happened, the textbook is still like that—s.h.i.+mada, she might be hurt emotionally after seeing her textbook end up like that because of this bullying that never existed in the first place.

“…”

The hand that reached out for the bag stops for a moment.

There was a slight yet stupid thought appearing in my mind.

What will Yos.h.i.+ do after this?

A normal person will just go home and explain the reason why the textbook was tattered to s.h.i.+mada. That will just solve this problem easily and beautifully. It doesn’t matter to Yos.h.i.+ whether s.h.i.+mada can understand j.a.panese well. Once he tells her what he needs to say, there’s nothing else for him to do.

Yes, that’s the normal trail of thought.

“Kinos.h.i.+ta-san, do you know where you can get new textbooks?”

“Un? No, I have no idea at all. Also, I am a guy.”

<>