【005】True Nature

【Tanaka Akio】

I am the strong.

I entered that prestigious university and was celebrated as a genius. The people around me were jealous of my abilities. That must be it. They rejected my submitted papers one after another. Well, this is what they call the anguish of genius. I could forgive them.

What I couldn’t forgive was them looking down on me. Those bastards said I had an oversized pride and was a coward.

I couldn’t forgive them. You’re all just jealous of me, just filled with hatred.

My current teaching position is merely a foundation.

Eventually, I’ll become one of those whose names are listed among the geniuses. Right now, I’m just biding my time.

Who would willingly want to teach stupid brats? With their brains, they can’t even reach one-millionth of my understanding.

Yes, recently I found something interesting.

I call on students and have them solve problems.

Of course, the problems are somewhat difficult.

Original problems I devised.

Naturally, idiots can’t answer them. I demean those people. When I first did it, I was immersed in a sense of superiority. Before I knew it, it was a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. It awakened another sensation within me.

The joy of looking down on people.

Ah, I could understand why they tried to look down on me back then. Taking meaningless high ground, appealing as if they were superior—I could accept all those behaviors.

Looking down on someone.

That’s the pleasure that fills me.

I’m completely hooked.

It’s the best. It feels incredibly good.

And now, I have the perfect prey.

Tamura Misaki.

Apparently, he’s being bullied in class. The school recognizes it but pretends not to notice. Even if it’s exposed, they’ll probably maintain a facade of ignorance. The school is desperate to hide scandals.

The cause of the bullying apparently started from a rumor that Tamura Misaki groped a female classmate. From his appearance, he doesn’t seem like the type who could do such a thing, but sometimes those types have abnormal sexual preferences. He must be one of them.

So then.

I also targeted Tamura Misaki.

He’s a punching bag.

A good stress outlet.

I thought the weak were unnecessary in this world, but I reconsidered—people like them are necessary.

The weak are needed to make the strong appear even stronger. This class is twisted, but that’s why it’s stable.

So that’s Tamura Misaki’s role.

Heh, truly ironic.

◇

That day, I finished my usual classes and then did administrative work like grading tests and processing grades.

Why must I do such menial tasks… This isn’t fitting for me. Even while thinking that, my hands keep moving. I’m not like those incompetents who just complain and do nothing. When I do something, I do it thoroughly.

That aside.

Tamura Misaki was a bit different today.

The guy whose selling point was not reacting no matter how much you hit him—that day he hung his head and trembled. Was he quite shocked?

Because his parents were brought up?

Come to think of it, I heard Tamura Misaki is an orphan. That might have hit home.

By the time I finish the menial work, the sky has already darkened. In the staff room, there are still a few comrades being driven into processing their own tasks.

I’m about to stand up to leave when I notice a memo on my desk. An ordinary memo you can find anywhere.

The letters written on it are oddly linear. The spacing between characters is abnormally narrow. As if written that way intentionally.

One line on the memo.

After school, I have something I’d like to discuss with you in room 2204 on the second floor of the old school building.

No name was written.

“…?”

I hesitate. At first, I think it’s a prank.

But while an ordinary person could ignore this, as a teacher I can’t overlook it. If someone is waiting there, I might be held accountable. That would tarnish my career.

I clean up my desk and head to the old school building.

The old school building is the one Akigaoka Academy used before. When I came to Akigaoka as a new teacher, the new school building was already completed and it wasn’t being used much anymore. It’s become something like a storage shed for clubs and various subjects. I’d heard there were plans to demolish it.

The old school building is dimly lit.

The very end of the second floor. Room 2204 is there. The room’s lights are on.

“Ah, good evening, Sensei.”

I’m surprised.

There is Nakano Nanaka.

The student called the school’s number one beauty.

I’m uncomfortable around Nakano.

Before, I called on her with the light intention of showing the girl being fawned over as a high-class flower a painful lesson, and she answered easily. It was a first for me.

But what surprised me wasn’t that.

—That was easier than I thought.

Afterward, Nakano, who was being fawned over by students, muttered that. My original problem—easy?

It’s hard to mess with people like that.

I developed a sense of discomfort.

But her facial structure is good. She’s truly exceptional among the women I’ve encountered. She has a good body too.

Well, putting her aside.

…Why did she call me here?

I can’t understand.

“Sensei, I’m sorry. I really wanted to talk to you alone.”

Nakano says this with an embarrassed manner.

Despite myself, I’m stimulated in a sexual sense.