A Hard-Boiled (Self-Proclaimed) Guy Like Me Doesn’t Suit a Romcom-Style Youth - Chapter 36 & 37 & 38 & 39

Chapter 36: Friend

It’s May.

With the holidays starting tomorrow, more students than usual remain in the classroom after school, their conversations blooming about holiday plans.

Speaking of myself, since I have time before driving school, I’m searching for nearby sightseeing spots on my smartphone.

Tomorrow, Kuu will arrive. Spending time chilling at home is nice, but as expected, I want to take her somewhere.

Since major places can’t be reserved starting now, I’m looking for hidden spots nearby.

“Hey Asou. Do you have any free days during the holidays? There’s talk of going out to play, but…”

I stop my finger scrolling the smartphone and look at the owner of the voice.

Kakizaki Kyousuke, a refreshing ikemen who has firmly settled into the friend position. Being in the “Go-Home Club” (no club activities) like me, he often invites me to hang out after school. That said, since I’m busy having started attending driving school, I’ve been declining all invitations so far.

And the answer to today’s invitation is also no.

“Sorry. My stepsister is coming to visit, so my schedule for the entire holiday is filled.”

I intend to use the entire holiday for Kuu. I don’t have even a single second to hang out with guys.

“You had a sister?”

“Yeah. She’s attending a boarding junior high in Tokyo right now. Because of that, I’m thinking of showing her around various places during the holiday, so it’s impossible.”

“I see. Then it can’t be helped.”

When Kyousuke makes an X with his arms toward the hallway, several male students who were there drop their shoulders and leave.

Just as I imagined, I sigh heavily.

Again…

“Really, it’s so obvious, isn’t it—”

Raising her voice in an exasperated manner is Ikoma-san from the seat behind.

The tennis girl who heads to club activities first thing after school is slumped over her desk lifelessly today. It seems her life points, reduced to zero by Yonezawa-sensei’s teasing in 6th period English class, haven’t recovered yet.

“Seriously. Sorry, Asou.”

“It’s fine. Kyousuke has a position to maintain too, right?”

“It helps that you say that.”

The male students from earlier were guys from other classes trying to get close to Mirai and Nadeshiko by getting along with me.

Mostly, they probably expected that if they invited me, Mirai and Nadeshiko might tag along, but using Kyousuke as a window instead of coming to me is petty. Or rather, just invite the girls directly.

Kyousuke doesn’t seem keen on it either, clearly conveying invitations with ulterior motives to me, and not being persistent when I decline. From the perspective of Kyousuke, who has a wide circle of friends, it’s probably hard to refuse when asked, but Kyousuke is a victim who got dragged into this.

“Kakizaki should just refuse too.”

“Regardless of their true intentions, the one being invited is Asou, right? It’d be wrong for me to refuse, wouldn’t it?”

Ikoma-san’s opinion is reasonable, but Kyousuke saying I should decide is also correct.

I don’t intend to spend my high school life as a lone wolf either. Playing with friends after school. I normally have the feeling of wanting to live such an ordinary youth.

I might have said okay to the earlier one too if my schedule was open. They might have approached with ulterior motives, but if we actually hung out, we might have hit it off, who knows.

“That said, it’s also a fact that Asou is bad at socializing. Do you really have plans?”

“Yeah. There’s driving school, and since my sister grew up overseas and it’s her first time in Japan, I want to take her to various places.”

“If that’s the case, can’t be helped, huh. Ah, me wanting to hang out with you is for real, okay?”

“I know, I know. Once life settles down, I’ll invite you from my side.”

“Oh! I’ve got your word on that!”

As we bump fists to confirm men’s friendship, there was someone intruding with a ‘Paper’. It’s Ikoma-san.

“Nn.”

“What? That hand. Does Ikoma-san want to play too?”

“Wrong. I want to see Asou’s sister you were talking about earlier. You have a photo, right?”

More brazen than Mirai.

“Ah, I want to see too.”

Kyousuke also jumps on the bandwagon.

“I think normally people don’t carry around photos of their sisters though?”

“You have one, right? Asou seems somewhat like a sis-con.”

“True. Since you’re dragging her around on holidays.”

Damn it. I regret giving unnecessary information.

Two against one. Especially Kyousuke and Ikoma-san, who are the pushy types, really demonstrate good combination at times like this.

“Good grief… absolutely don’t spread this, okay?”

“That sounds somehow significant.”

“You’ll understand if you see.”

I was just thinking it was bad to keep declining invitations. I show the two the photo of Kuu taken in Tokyo, which I had transferred to my smartphone.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

“Ehhhhhhhhhhh!?”

At the voices raised suddenly, I hurriedly put a finger to my lips.

“Shh! I want you to keep the matter of my stepsister just between us for now.”

“A-Ah. Sorry.”

Fortunately, Izuma-san who seemed likely to poke her nose in, and Class Rep Suzuhara weren’t there, so it ended with just gathering some gazes. Otherwise, the existence of a brown-skinned silver-haired beautiful girl would have been known throughout the school by the end of the holidays.

“Super beautiful girl… It’s not CG, is it?”

“She exists in reality.”

“No matter how you look at this, she’s not blood-related to Asou, right?”

“Because she’s a child Dad took in over there.”

“I see. Thinking she was so attached to that Miyazu-san and Masaki-san, and they were treating her calmly, so that’s what it was.”

Kyousuke’s words seem to have sensed something. With that, Ikoma-san seems to have realized too.

“Then, what about when you said you didn’t have a girlfriend before?”

“That’s a lie. My stepsister and I are dating. But socially she’s my sister, so I want you not to make too much noise.”

“A-Ah… got it. Ikoma is cool too, right? Oi, Ikoma?”

Ikoma-san, having received a shock, gives no reaction. When he waved his hand in front of her eyes, a voice like delirium could be heard.

“Even though I thought Asou was only interested in men… Even though I was expecting him to get together with Kakizaki…”

This girl, she was rotten (fujoshi)!

“Ikoma, you! Were you looking at us with those eyes from behind!”

“Because—! Ughya!”

Kyousuke ruffles (washa-washa) Ikoma-san’s head. Incidentally, Kyousuke, who apparently keeps a toy poodle at home, is skilled at ruffling. In no time, Ikoma-san’s head became fluffy (mofu-mofu).

“Ah— jeez, worst! I’m going to club!”

“Oh—! Go, go, pervert woman!”

“Hmph!”

Ikoma-san, angry (puri-puri), starts putting on the socks she always takes off in the classroom.

From between her semi-long hair, a white nape peeks out. The contrast with her tanned skin is sexy.

Even though she’s a cute girl who would rank high even in Class 5 which is said to have many beauties… how should I say, a disappointing (zannen) girl.

“Shall I go home too?”

“I’ll get going soon too.”

Just as I stood up to go to the bus stop. Fujisawa-kun in gym clothes entered the classroom.

“Asou! Thank goodness! You were still here!”

The one raising his voice at the classroom entrance was Fujisawa-kun of the basketball club, 181 centimeters tall. In gym clothes, he looks in quite a hurry.

“Could you come with me for a bit? A senior in our club is calling for you.”

“No, I’m going home already? I have driving school.”

“Please don’t say that! Think of it as for the sake of the basketball club!”

Don’t know, don’t care! Swallowing those words, Kyousuke and I looked at each other with incredibly disgusted faces.

I, who am not in a club, have no involvement with upperclassmen so far. Despite that, I can think of only one reason for using Fujisawa-kun to summon me.

“If it’s recruitment, I refuse? Also, introductions to girls.”

“N-No, it’s not that. Not that it isn’t… anyway, please come!”

As expected, aiming for Mirai and Nadeshiko.

Fujisawa-kun, who inevitably spills the beans when tricked.

“Sorry, Fujisawa. Asou is busy enough to refuse my invitations.”

“Don’t interfere, Kakizaki… really, please come, I’m begging… otherwise, I’ll be the one marked.”

At Kyousuke entering to mediate and defend, Fujisawa-kun is already on the verge of tears. The senior who sent him seems considerably scary.

My true feeling is to bail just like this, but doing so might lead to something slightly troublesome. It’s an upperclassman, and the fact that they’re using Fujisawa-kun as a gofer without moving themselves suggests they lack common sense.

“Come to think of it. All the girls in the tennis club are told to absolutely refuse invitations from the basketball club, right.”

“Oh? Ikoma, details on that part.”

“That is—”

The story I heard from Ikoma-san was a very interesting one.

As a result, I ended up skipping driving school that day, and Ikoma-san was late for club activities and got severely scolded by the advisor Yonezawa-sensei.

And, Fujisawa-kun quit the basketball club.

Chapter 37: Violence

The ball bounces, shoes scuff.

Dan-dan! Kyu-kyu!

The drumbeat of youth heard from the gymnasium. Shouts and cheers.

The world of Japanese sports manga, which global athletes got hooked on, is right there.

Not bad.

This is an opportunity too. I think about maybe starting some sport.

Though, if I do, it’ll be anything other than the basketball club.

After hearing the story from Ikoma-san and having a sim-ple meet-ing, I headed to the back of the Second Gymnasium where I was summoned.

That place, which is a blind spot from other club activity locations too, is a perfect place for fighting or hanging someone out to dry. It’s so typical I was almost moved.

“It’s Asou. Are you the people from the basketball club?”

Three male students in gym clothes. Loitering with smartphones in one hand. When I speak to them, they direct piercing gazes at me. The so-called “cutting a glare” (menchi o kiru).

“You’re la-ate!”

“Come faster.”

Angry roars fly from two of them.

Toto High’s gym clothes have names embroidered on the chest. Kojima, Ueno, Sugiyama. Kojima and Sugiyama have height befitting basketball members, but Ueno is about shorter than me.

“While waiting for you, we couldn’t practice, you know? Apologize first, first-year brat.”

“Even though the summer tournament is close, can you take responsibility if we lose?”

The ones picking a fight aggressively are Kojima and Ueno. Sugiyama watches silently.

I see. This guy is the leader.

“I don’t know about that. Because Fujisawa-kun came crying to me, I reluctantly skipped driving school, you know? Will you pay the tuition for that?”

Perhaps not expecting a rebuttal, their anger intensifies.

“Ah? Why do we have to pay for something like that!”

“Oi. This guy is cheeky. Let’s do him.”

Oh, nice. If it’s a situation where I received a lynching from three upperclassmen, I could probably break two or three of their bones and pass it off as self-defense.

“Wait, Kojima, Ueno.”

Just when fists looked like they were about to fly, a low voice cut in and stopped Kojima and Ueno. It’s Sugiyama.

“But!”

“Calm down, Kojima. Asou, was it? Sorry for summoning you suddenly. I’m Sugiyama, the captain of the boys’ basketball club.”

Sugiyama patting Kojima’s shoulder looks decent if you only look at this part, but don’t be deceived. He is a scum captain who is skipping practice in the present progressive tense.

“I’m first-year Asou. So, what is your business?”

“Ah, about that. You are close with Masaki Nadeshiko, right? We’re having a gokon (mixer) tomorrow, and we want you to invite Masaki. I’m counting on you.”

“Please invite her yourself. I don’t know. Excuse me.”

I knew from making Fujisawa-kun talk that the third-years in the basketball club wanted to invite Nadeshiko.

I convey the words I prepared beforehand to them and try to leave the spot.

“Wait. You think it’ll end with that?”

Kojima drapes his arm around my shoulder and leans on me.

The smell of cigarettes comes from his mouth.

If I scream “You reek of cigarettes!” with all my might here, it seems it would end.

“Stop it, Kojima.”

When I make a face that says his breath blatantly stinks, Sugiyama pulls Kojima away. It seems they also don’t want to cause a commotion here.

“Asou, right? Please. Can’t you save my face here? If Masaki comes, I think everyone will be happy.”

Sugiyama shows a refreshing smile that looks pasted on. Even during that, Kojima and Ueno remain glaring at me.

“I’ll ask her directly once, okay.”

I call Nadeshiko on my smartphone.

『What is it? Ayataka-kun.』

Nadeshiko answered immediately. I put it on speaker so my conversation is conveyed to them too.

“Ah, Nadeshiko? Is now okay?”

『Yeah. Are you okay? What’s wrong?』

“No, a senior from the basketball club is telling me to invite Nadeshiko because they’re holding a gokon tomorrow. What do you want to do?”

『Ehhhhhhhh! Tomorrow, being told so suddenly is troubling! Can’t you refuse?』

“Not interested? His face is so-so (mazu-mazu), and he’s tall though?”

『It’s a problem before faces! My only acquaintance in the basketball club is Fujisawa-kun in the same class.』

“Yeah. Got it. I’ll decline for you. Sorry for disturbing. Bye.”

『Bye.』

I hang up the phone and turn back to the seniors.

“That’s how it is. Please give up.”

As expected, Kojima, his face bright red, grabs my lapel.

“What is ‘so-so’! You, are you messing around?”

“The ones messing around are you seniors. If you want to invite a girl, you have to approach her much earlier. Since the other party has plans too, it’s natural to be refused if invited the day before.”

“Call again. It doesn’t end with ‘she refused’, first-year brat. Absolutely invite her! If you can’t, I’ll kill you.”

“Even if you get angry or shout, no means no. You aren’t children, so don’t throw a tantrum.”

“Are you looking down on me, you bastard!”

“Did you seriously think you could invite the school’s number one beautiful girl just because you’re mere upperclassmen? The ones looking down on things are you seniors.”

How much trouble do you think other guys go through trying to be worthy of her?

At the very least, guys skipping practice to grumble in a place like this are out of the question. Nadeshiko wouldn’t even look at them.

“Oi, first-year brat. Don’t you know how to speak to your superiors? Ah?”

“That’s why I’m speaking with desu/masu (polite language), aren’t I? Generally, a high schooler talking about societal logic while breathing cigarette-stinking breath on me, is that a gag? It’s boring, you know?”

“You…”

I incite them, intending to pour aviation fuel rather than oil on the fire. That is for the biggest explosion possible. To blow them away with maximum firepower.

Because I came here intending to fight from the beginning.

I don’t mind them inviting Nadeshiko. If they invite Nadeshiko themselves and she responds, it’s wrong for me to complain. I have no right to interfere with Nadeshiko seeking a place for meeting people.

All I can do is follow up on the result of her choice.

If it’s a good result, rejoice together; if she gets hurt, comfort her. If she was hurt enough to cross a line, I would have retaliated using every means.

While deeply regretting not stopping her, I would have dropped the cause to the bottom of hell.

However, they involved me first.

Thank you. For involving me. Moreover, Ikoma-san being there, that timing was also perfect.

Thanks to that, I can protect Nadeshiko without holding back.

Finally, Kojima’s fist strikes my cheek.

Ah—

Lukewarm—

I look at them with cold eyes.

“Ah? Oi. What’s with those eyes!”

I take another hit.

Ueno kicks my stomach as I fall ungracefully.

Kojima and Ueno look down on me mockingly. Sugiyama watching silently.

“Hehe… how’s that, understand now? Speaking cheekily! Call Masaki Nadeshiko here right now! If we beat you half to death in front of her, Masaki will obey quietly too, right.”

Don’t joke.

I won’t let the likes of you have your way with Nadeshiko.

I stand up as if nothing happened and brush the dirt off my uniform.

Being punched and kicked isn’t painless. But if it’s just pain, I just have to endure.

Even though I gave them the first move, it’s to the extent they couldn’t incapacitate me. They act tough, but they are amateurs at fighting.

“Good grief. If I go home with a dirty uniform, Mirai will get angry. It’s lukewarm. Small fry.”

“Ah?”

Three against one.

Just a first-year brat. They probably don’t doubt their absolute advantage.

They probably believe they have the initiative.

But, you’re wrong.

The one you laid hands on is a man who has fought against true unreasonableness and violence.

I look them in the eye as if to pierce through. The opponent is Sugiyama.

“I’ll teach you spoiled brats what a fight is.”

He must have realized it was directed at him. Composure peeled off Sugiyama’s face. A brat who only has a big body throwing a tantrum is ready.

“Oi. What did you say just now? Don’t get cocky!”

Pushing Kojima aside, Sugiyama punches my stomach.

“Guh!?”

I hold my stomach, but it’s acting. The power is decisively lacking.

“Say what you said earlier one more time!”

“Spoiled brat. A coward obedient to Sanki Higashi who can’t even fight properly.”

“You!?”

Seeing Sugiyama’s face stiffen, I sneer.

Sanki Higashi is a technical high school with many delinquents.

From the story I heard from Ikoma-san, when I tricked him, he fell for it easily. I didn’t know how much was true, but just confirming the connection with Sanki Higashi is enough.

“Was that rumor real? You guys are the worst. It won’t end with suspension.”

“You bastard… Shut up!”

I stop pretending to be in pain. I grab Sugiyama’s hand that was reached out to grab my lapel, and twist his fingers in the reverse direction.

You guys tried to lay hands on my precious friend.

Tried to push through with violence.

I won’t forgive you. I’ll have you end here.

“It hurts!? Let go! You bastard!?”

“Sugiyama!?”

“Don’t move. I’ll break it.”

I quietly intimidate and restrain Kojima and Ueno who try to pull us apart.

But, there’s no way guys who can’t understand my seriousness would follow instructions. Their flinching was for an instant.

“This shitty first-year brat! Don’t get carried away!”

Ueno moves.

So—

“I said don’t move.”

Pakiri. (Snap.)

Unpleasant sensation and unpleasant sound.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

An unpleasant voice echoed behind the gymnasium.

Chapter 38: Madness

I’ve heard school violence has been a hot topic lately. I dislike violence, including verbal violence. If I were the protagonist, perhaps the ideal would be to fight using my brain and cooperation with allies without relying on violence. However, I want nothing to do with such lukewarm stuff. That is because I also hate people who don’t stand up to violence.

Sugiyama’s scream echoes behind the gym after school.

The sound of balls bouncing from the gym stops, and buzzing voices and numerous footsteps approach.

“What!? That voice just now!?”

“Isn’t that bad!?”

“Sugiyama-senpai!?”

“Kyaa!? His finger!?”

Sugiyama collapsed on the ground. Seeing his unnaturally bent finger, male students are at a loss for words, and female students scream and cover their faces.

The students in gym clothes are members of the boys’ and girls’ basketball clubs who were active in the Second Gymnasium. Are the ones in uniform art club members who were sketching outside?

“Sugiyama!? Kojima, Ueno… you guys…”

A male teacher wearing a jersey. Probably the boys’ basketball advisor. He also gasps at Sugiyama’s disastrous state.

Ueno, rushing to the advisor, points at me and accuses.

“Sensei! T-That guy… Asou broke Sugiyama’s finger!”

“I was being lynched by the seniors and just desperately defended myself. Crying to the teacher when you lose a fight, that’s seriously lame.”

“You bastard, don’t get carried away!”

Kojima charges at me to punch despite being in public. I accept the fist willingly. When I act blown away flashily to disperse the impact, screams rise from the female students.

“Stop it, Kojima!”

“Damn it! Let go! I’ll kill him!”

Ueno and the male students present restrain Kojima.

The male teacher was just flustered (awa-awa).

That might be unavoidable. A basketball club member he should be supervising got injured.

Situationally, it’s clear Sugiyama, Kojima, and Ueno were lynching me, three against one. Moreover, during club activities. It’s obvious he, as the advisor, let Sugiyama and the others do whatever they pleased, so punishment is inevitable.

“Kawai-sensei, pull yourself together!”

The one who scolded the male teacher who was spacing out was a tall female teacher, probably the girls’ basketball advisor.

“I will take Sugiyama-kun to the hospital! Kawai-sensei, please manage this situation!”

“Ah, yes. Understood. Please take care of Sugiyama, Minami-sensei.”

The female teacher called Minami-sensei takes Sugiyama away. Is the remaining Kawai-sensei okay? Kawai-sensei is still in his twenties and about 190 cm tall, but slender and doesn’t look like a sportsman.

In the first place, Sugiyama and the others doing whatever they pleased was because Kawai-sensei was looked down upon. He seems like a nice person, but honestly, leadership cannot be expected.

Considering Sugiyama and the others’ behavior, there is room for sympathy. Cutting off uncontrollable delinquents is also one choice.

In fact, other members are practicing seriously. The entire club wasn’t rotten.

But—

The boys’ basketball club is holding two big bombs.

One is a powerful one involving the entire school.

The other, I found by chance just now, but it still has enough power to blow the club away.

I detonate the one I found by chance.

“Sensei. That senior reeks of cigarettes, you know? Shouldn’t you do a belongings check?”

If I had succumbed to their violence, I would have given Kojima an opening to destroy evidence, and it would have ended as a dud. It’s a bomb obtained precisely because I fought and didn’t lose. There’s no way not to use it.

“Asou! You!”

Ueno shouted.

If smoking becomes clear in this situation, the boys’ basketball club is finished. The causes, Sugiyama, Kojima, and Ueno, will lose their place in this school.

“It’s true! You! Were you smoking while skipping practice!?”

A male student restraining Kojima raises his voice.

“Kojima… show me inside your pockets.”

The advisor stands in front of Kojima, looking like he has no choice in front of the gallery. There is no longer vitality in his expression and voice. He is also in trouble if cigarettes come out. But he probably realized he couldn’t run away in front of the students.

“Found it!”

One of the basketball members pulls out a small paper box from Kojima’s back pocket.

“This is already… isn’t the boys’ basketball club finished?”

One of the female students mutters. Probably everyone thought that in their hearts.

Lynching alone is a huge problem, but it came to light that members were smoking. Even if the club barely survives, participation in the summer tournament is hopeless.

“What’s gonna happen! Even though we practiced so hard!”

Voices of anger and lament rise from the boys’ basketball members. Those looking up at the sky, those hanging their heads and kneeling.

They are surely third-years.

Because of just three selfish students, their youth bet on the court has ended.

That anger is naturally directed at the culprits.

“Ueno!? Did you know too!?”

“N-No!? I didn’t know! I didn’t notice at all!”

“Even though it smells this much, there’s no way you didn’t notice being together!”

“I said I don’t know, so I don’t know! I was just dragged along by Sugiyama and Kojima!”

Ueno tries to escape by shifting responsibility. At that moment, he fell. It was Kojima.

“Gaaaaaaaah!”

Kojima, who punched Ueno, shook off the restraint and grabbed me. Losing his reason, directing bloodshot eyes at me, he presses me against the hard concrete wall.

The ugliness of a deranged human. Witnessing the ferocity, everyone present trembled in fear and couldn’t stop him.

“Die! Just die!”

A fist raised high. But, the moment I was about to be punched, I dodged. Kojima punching the wall with full force.

Idio~t.

“Ugaaaaaaaaah!”

Kojima writhing on the ground.

There’s no way he’s unharmed after punching a concrete wall with full force. The skin on his fist is torn and dyed with blood, and the hand bones are probably shattered too.

“Was it better if I got punched?”

I ask the dumbfounded gallery.

No one answers.

Kawai-sensei remains frozen. The boys’ basketball members, and everyone present, just stare coldly at the injured Kojima.

“Sorry Asou! I’m late!”

“Kawai-sensei! A student is seriously injured, what are you doing!?”

The one who appeared on the scene is Kyousuke, bringing Yonezawa-sensei.

You’re late.

Thanks to that, the boys’ basketball club is finished, isn’t it.

Chapter 39: Bomb

The time I heard that rumor was before heading to the back of the Second Gymnasium. It was from Ikoma-san’s mouth.

“You know our boys’ basketball club? There’s a rumor they’re fixing matches (yaochou) with the Sanki Higashi basketball club.”

“Match-fixing?”

“Yeah. It’s famous among girls that if you go to a gokon invited by the boys’ basketball club, boys from Sanki Higashi are waiting. So, the rumor is they might be introducing our girls in return for fixing matches.”

“Oi, isn’t that way beyond ‘bad’?”

Just as Kyousuke says, it’s not just ‘bad’. Match-fixing is a taboo in the sports world, and if true, it won’t end as just a problem for the basketball club. It’s national news material involving an apology press conference by the principal.

“What’s the credibility of the rumor? If there was proof, it seems like it would have become a huge problem long ago?”

“Of course there’s no proof. But, it seems a girl from the tennis club who accepted an invitation from the boys’ basketball club last spring stopped coming to school the next day. In the summer tournament held after that, the boys’ basketball club beat Sanki Higashi and advanced to the prefectural tournament, but apparently Sanki Higashi’s misplays in that game were clearly conspicuous.”

“Seriously…”

If they introduced a female student as compensation for match-fixing, and as a result, the female student was hurt to the point of becoming unable to attend school—

Bribery and assault. Completely criminal.

Gazes from the three of us, including me, turn to Fujisawa-kun.

“I don’t know anything about that story!?”

“Is that true?”

“Really?”

“Really! Besides, I just joined the basketball club!”

Pressed by Kyousuke and Ikoma-san, he denies it desperately. Even I don’t think Fujisawa-kun, who just joined as a first-year, is involved.

“How far has the rumor spread?”

“It’s not content you can talk about carelessly, you know. But it’s spread among girls in sports clubs. Even the girls’ basketball club avoids the boys’ basketball students to the point of not even speaking to them.”

“Ah—! Is that why!? Even when I called out to girls from the girls’ basketball club, I was ignored!?”

Fujisawa-kun holds his head as if shocked.

“Damn it—! Even though I joined the basketball club thinking I’d be popular!”

“In your case, wasn’t it because your ulterior motives were transparent and they were put off? Even seniors in the boys’ basketball club who practice seriously have girlfriends properly, you know?”

“I’m quitting the basketball club already. Damn it. I thought it was strange there were no female managers.”

I stand next to the dejected Fujisawa-kun and pat his shoulder.

Kyousuke on the other side.

Even if he’s unrelated to the match-fixing, there’s still something I want to ask him.

“So, how were you told to bring me?”

“At first, I was ordered to invite Masaki-san. But since it would be useless if I invited her, when I mentioned you, they said bring you.”

“Only Nadeshiko? What about Mirai?”

“No, I didn’t hear anything about Miyazu-san.”

That’s strange.

Mirai and Nadeshiko are the two great beautiful girls our school boasts. While summoning me who has connections to both, asking only for Nadeshiko is too unnatural.

“Maybe it was an order from Sanki Higashi.”

“Ah. If they wanted to invite cute girls, there’s no way Miyazu-san’s name wouldn’t come up. If the rumor is true, maybe that basketball senior is being threatened by Sanki Higashi using the match-fixing as leverage?”

I share the same opinion as Kyousuke.

Sanki Higashi Technical High School is a high school in Nadeshiko’s local area. If Sanki Higashi students are behind this, it makes sense that they only called for Nadeshiko. They don’t know Mirai.

The situation of wanting to summon only Nadeshiko resulted in raising the credibility of the rumor.

Interesting.

I decided to skip driving school today.

“Got it. I’ll go.”

“Sorry. Asou.”

Fujisawa-kun suddenly bowed his head.

“Before, it was bad of me to pick a fight with you over Masaki-san. Because I really admired Masaki-san… despite that, this time I tried to sell Masaki-san using you. I’m the worst, right?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s right.”

Kyousuke and Ikoma-san nodding “un-un”. No mercy.

As for me, I honestly forgot about it.

“I don’t really mind you picking a fight or involving me. But, apologize to Nadeshiko too when this is all over. Okay?”

“Yeah. I promise.”

I can sympathize with not being able to disobey seniors’ orders. However, if a situation arises where I get threatened, Nadeshiko’s anger will likely be directed at Fujisawa-kun too.

Nadeshiko looks calm usually, but actually she’s the emotional type. On top of that, a master of martial arts. Hope you get off with being half-killed.

“Asou, what are you laughing at? It’s creepy.”

Ikoma-san looking at me smiling creepily. It’s unexpected given I’m forgiving a classmate with a smile.

“Kyousuke, sorry but could you follow secretly?”

Kyousuke floats a smirk. It seems he doesn’t intend to back down here either.

“Filming duty, right?”

“It helps that you catch on fast. If it turns into violence, I want you to leave your smartphone and go call a teacher. Someone other than the boys’ basketball advisor who seems reliable.”

If boys’ basketball students cause violence, the advisor with supervisory responsibility will receive punishment. I don’t want to think they’d try to cover it up, but involving a third-party teacher would be good.

“Okay! It’s getting interesting!”

“It’s imprudent given there’s a female student who might have been victimized, you know?”

“You say that, but you’ve been grinning the whole time too, haven’t you?”

Yes—

At that time, I was laughing.

Now, I am enjoying days of youth that people would envy.

Having a girlfriend, making friends, reliable guardians. Life with a cute childhood friend and her best friend.

It’s a daily life sweet like a dream, something I was desperately trying to grasp until just the other day.

But, deep in my heart, I was bored.

『Japan is spoiling me.』

A sentence sent by Kuu before. It’s exactly as she says.

Life without tension ruins me.

I’ll return to being the weak Ayata again.

Just as I was thinking that, prey of just the right condition appeared.

There’s no way I wouldn’t be happy.

Now, mission start.

First, after calling the driving school to say I’m absent today, I call Nadeshiko.

When I told her what just happened and explained the future arrangements, Nadeshiko rode along finding it interesting, but the problem was Mirai. Hearing the phone content together in the club room, she said she would follow me out of worry.

But, this matter. I think it won’t end with just talking. Depending on the opponent’s move, but in some cases, I was thinking of daring to turn it into violence and bring punishment to the seniors in question.

My way involving violence and pain. I didn’t want that to be seen, so I asked Mirai for a different job.

“Hey-hey! What should I do?”

Ikoma-san is looking at me wanting to be included.

However, the answer for her is decided.

“””Go to club.”””

My voice and Kyousuke’s harmonized beautifully.

And—

That day, an unprecedented school announcement flowed.

『This is Principal Asama. Students currently remaining on campus, please cancel club activities and extracurricular activities and leave school immediately. I repeat. Students currently remaining on campus, please cancel club activities and extracurricular activities immediately and leave school.』

The sudden order to leave school. At the dignified voice of a woman of mature age, the tone of youth echoing in the school stopped all at once.

I was listening to it in the infirmary. Since I myself was beaten quite a bit, I was in the middle of treatment.

A compress is pasted betatto on my swollen cheek. Worst, even though I’m meeting Kuu tomorrow.

In the infirmary are the school nurse teacher, and homeroom teacher Kuki-sensei. And Kyousuke who filmed the whole thing.

The teachers’ smartphones begin to vibrate simultaneously. It seems a notification to hold an emergency staff meeting arrived.

Does the school side grasp the match-fixing? I asked Mirai to confirm with the principal.

The result is a staff meeting after sending all students home.

A bit exaggerated… or not.

Suspicion of bribery using female students and match-fixing. A student thought to be involved suffered serious injury, and there is a student who was hurt and stopped attending school. How they will dispose of this much of a bomb, let me see the school’s skill.