Every Sin Deserves Punishment - Chapter 2: Pieces of Revenge

Chapter 2: Pieces of Revenge

 A blow to my cheek.

My feet couldn’t keep up with my wobbling vision, and I fell onto the sandy ground. Ignoring the pain in my rear, I lifted my face and met the gaze of a senior student who was smirking maliciously at me.

There were two of them, and they were bigger than me. There was little chance of winning if I fought back.

 I don’t understand why they picked on me. They approached me, said a few things, and now I’m in this situation.

I was curious about why I got hit, but it was too late to ask such a question.

 I was hit, so I’ll hit back. That’s all I need to do with these guys.

 This time, I raise my right arm and lunge at them.

My fist connected, but in the next instant, another shock hit me from the side. I was slapped on the cheek by the second guy and fell to the ground again.

“Fufu, you can’t win when you’re alone, you know?”

A clear voice speaks up.

Startled by the sweet tone that seemed out of place, I forgot about the senior students and turned around.

A girl my age stood there. Her bright chestnut hair was tied up at the back of her head, forming a small tail like that of a small animal. She wore short sleeves and shorts. I’d seen her in the classroom before, but we’d never spoken.

My face flushed as if I had just gotten out of a hot bath. A classmate had seen me getting beaten up. The embarrassment made my ears burn.

“Do you need help?”

She even offers to help me.

How humiliating. Getting hit by seniors was one thing, but getting help from a girl was too lame. It was obvious those idiots who hit me would laugh and mock me for it.

I didn’t want to be ridiculed. I pressed my palms against the ground, enduring the pain in my cheek, and stood up.

“I don’t need your help.”

“Okay, then lend me a hand.”

“Huh?”

I turn around, forgetting about the upperclassmen.

The chestnut-eyed girl wasn’t looking at me. She was frowning slightly, staring at the space behind me.

“They harassed me yesterday. I want to hit them back, so help me.”

I widen my eyes.

I hadn’t expected such rough words from a well-dressed girl.

Behind me, I hear the sound of air being exhaled through the nose.

“Hit us? You, a little girl? Go ahead, try it!”

There’s no way you can do it. The seniors sneered, as if mocking her.

The upperclassmen seem to be mocking her small courage.

A smirk crept onto my face. A small laugh escaped from my lips.

Compared to these big seniors, this classmate of mine, who I was speaking to for the first time today, seemed much more mature. The contrast was amusing.

“Ah!? What are you laughing at?”

The upperclassmen furrow their brows.

Ignoring their grumpy expressions, I turn to the classmate.

“You’re quite a troublemaker. I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.”

I turn back to face the upperclassmen, standing side by side with my classmate.

I’ve found a comrade. A sense of excitement I can’t quite describe makes me smirk, and I approach the upperclassmen again.

From that day on, that classmate of mine was no longer just a classmate—she became my friend. Her name was Nakiri Yukiha.

◇

The upperclassmen have started their club recruitment.

It was after school. Club members tasked with recruiting were raising their voices all over the place. Big guys and girls with their sleeves rolled up were approaching the new students they spotted.

The air was filled with the energy of youth. Boys and girls eager to enjoy their school life were throwing themselves into the excitement. The scene resembled a lively auction market, but with more color and cheer.

I stood by the window, my lips pressed together.

Watching the festive commotion outside the school building, I felt as if I was being told, “You don’t belong here.”

Stay away from us. Go somewhere else.

No one actually said that, and I wasn’t close enough to hear any voices. But it felt like someone was condemning me.

Like I care though?

I had devoted a lot of time and effort to my goal. I was aware that others had worked hard too, but that didn’t mean I had to care about them.

I straightened my back and took a step forward, letting out a small sigh to relieve my frustration. This very thought proves that I’m still attached to the past.

The famous writer, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, once said, ‘What saves us from love is not reason, but busyness.’

Love consumes a lot of energy, and heartbreak causes immense stress. The only reason you get caught up in such emotional turmoil is that you still have the mental capacity to think about it. To escape the pain, you must occupy yourself to the point where your thoughts are overwhelmed.

I agree. When I’m busy, I don’t have time for unnecessary thoughts.

I have only one goal. I know what I need to do.

So there’s no reason to stop. I halted my steps and raised my hand to knock on the door to the broadcast room three times.

“Come in~”

A relaxed voice called from the other side.

I grab the doorknob and pull it towards me.

“Hello.”

I’m greeted with a calm smile.

A girl, who seemed more mature than a typical student, was sitting in a chair.

Her glossy black hair framed her face, contrasting with her pale skin. The level of sexiness she exuded was something I hadn’t seen even in Nakiri during the entrance ceremony. The faint traces of youth in her features seemed like they were only temporary.

Before I could return the greeting, a tuft of hair in the back of the room bounced. The soft, unguarded motion reminded me of a puppy’s tail.

“Welcome! Are you here to join the club?”

Her smile bursts like a sparkler.

The small girl with tea-colored hair ran across the floor. She leaped around two long tables that had been pushed together, landing in front of me with a dance-like flourish.

She was as lively as a burst of fireworks. Her small face was full of innocence, and her cheerful smile made her look even more childlike.

Though her energetic approach was overwhelming, backing down now wouldn’t get me anywhere..

I force a smile and nod.

“Yes, I’m here to join the club.”

Her face brightens up.

“That’s wonderful! Please, have a seat!”

The petite girl spun around and hurried to the table. She pulled out a nearby chair and patted the backrest.

I wondered what she would do if I suddenly turned and walked away. Would she panic and cling to my back? The thought sparked my curiosity like a bubbling spring.

“Then, excuse me.”

I headed straight for the chair.

The person in front of me was an upperclassman. And it was our first meeting. No upperclassman would enjoy being treated like a toy by a new student.

I suppress my playful urge and sit down.

The room was filled with various small items. Among the personal belongings like an electric kettle and a tea canister, there was also a stuffed rabbit.

“Are the other club members out recruiting new students?”

“Yeah. They’re probably running around trying to get new members. But I wouldn’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I mean, I didn’t send out a surveillance drone or anything. If it were me out there, I’d probably be sipping juice in some corner of the school instead.”

The mature-looking senior nibbles on a rice cracker.

That was unexpected. I’d always thought she was the type who only drank tea and ate cakes. The casual way she acted, despite her sophisticated appearance, strangely warmed my heart.

But drinking juice in the corner of the school building?

I tried to imagine this sexy older girl sitting on the ground, drinking juice.

It would be an image that would shatter many boys’ dreams. How scandalous.

“You’re surprisingly childlike, Senpai.”

“I get that a lot. The names Suda Maki, a second-year student.”

She suddenly introduces herself.

The small animal-like girl then raises her hand.

“I’m Namisugi Futaba! What about you~!? Who are you?”

Namisugi-senpai inhales sharply through her nose.

Being asked so eagerly makes me feel affirmed. I imagine the thought of her being unable to smile like this anymore, and it didn’t feel good.

“I’m Ichigaya Yuu.”

“Ichigaya-kun huh~!? Wait, I’ll make you some tea!”

“I want apple juice.”

“We don’t have that here!”

Namisugi stops in front of the electric kettle and picks up the tea caddy. She picked up the tea canister and began measuring the weight with a spoon.

Despite her lively, firecracker-like impression, she seemed quite serious about making tea. Was it bancha? Sencha? Or perhaps matcha? In any case, it had been a while since I’d had tea like this, not since visiting my maternal grandfather’s house.

“Ichigaya-san, do you know what the broadcasting club does?”

I turned to the sexy older girl.

“It’s the club that talks about various things during lunch break, right?”

That’s why I wanted to join the broadcasting club. If I can’t do that, there’s no point in me coming all the way here.

“You’re right, but that’s not all we do. We also make announcements during events, adjust the sound system, and even create short films for competitions.”

“There’s a lot to do, huh? I didn’t know that.”

Suga-senpai shrugs her shoulders playfully.

“Yes, it’s quite a lot. We repeatedly practice vocalization, and we also run on the field to build stamina. Many students join because they want to experience being an announcer, but most of them give up during the practice.”

“So, you get to experience the feeling of being a soldier on the battlefield?”

Suga-senpai blinks her eyes.

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

“New recruits would be surprised to learn that breathing and stamina are part of the process, you know? Because that’s a first for me too.”

“Oh, really. Well, it might be a somewhat similar experience. It was tough when I first joined too. But once I built up my stamina, it didn’t feel like a burden anymore.”

Suga-senpai rests her cheek on her hand, lost in thought.

If they have to do running and voice training, it means that it requires quite a bit of stamina to stay in the broadcasting club. The two of them here, despite their appearances, must have considerable stamina.

“So, you two are, what, Macchos?”

Suga-senpai’s eyes widen.

“Maccho!? How could you say that to a girl!”

“I actually meant it as a compliment.”

Muscles are heavier than fat. Many people avoid muscle training in their diet because of the increase in weight.

But slender models without exception build muscle. They run, train with equipment, and some even drink protein shakes to maintain their physique.

A low weight with an unbalanced appearance and a slightly heavier but well-proportioned look—it’s obvious which one is more appreciated in society.

“Your compliments are terrible.”

It seems my compliment wasn’t well-received. Her pale cheeks puff up. I can only smile wryly at her childlike protest.

The sound of pouring water fills the room, along with a fragrant and elegant aroma.

I turn around and see Namisugi-senpai pouring hot water into a teapot.

“The tea is ready and dandy!” 

Her voice bounces, followed by the sound of a teacup on a saucer hitting the tabletop.

The transparent dark brown liquid ripples. From the smell and color, it’s bancha. Its slightly bitter taste is addictive.

“Listen, Futaba. This first-year student called us Macchos!”

A pleading voice is accompanied by a smile.

“That’s great! It’s like, ‘Mukki!'” (T/N: A playful touch to how she perceives being muscular is.)

Namisugi-senpai raises both arms, forming a sixty-degree angle with her forearms and upper arms, but there’s no sign of any muscles.

Namisugi-senpai’s reaction wasn’t what Suga-senpai was expecting. A frown appears on her well-proportioned face.

“Ah right, Futaba was that kind of character.”

“Am I being made fun of?”

“Do you want some protein?”

“Yeah yeah!”

Muscles solve everything. Namisugi-senpai bounces with joy and takes a seat after pulling out a chair.

“Suga-senpai drinks protein shakes?”

“Yes. Protein is also good for beauty. By the way, where’s my apple juice?”

“We don’t have that here!”

“Will you gladly become my fetcher if I give you some money?”

“I won’t! I’m a fairy that lives in the clubroom.”

She won’t do it, she says. A fairy in the form of a girl who occasionally appears in the broadcasting room. Yet she won’t do favors for her friends, no matter what.

What kind of fairy is she? Is she waiting for my retort?

“You’re stingy.”

Suga-senpai pouts.

Seeing this, Namisugi-senpai’s small body shakes with amusement. The two girls look like complete opposites but seem to get along well. Despite complaining about the club’s activities, they seem to be enjoying their student life.

Truly an ideal picture of youth. Their smiles are as dazzling as the sun at noon on a clear day. I avert my gaze, feeling like my eyes are being scorched.

“Sorry, I got sidetracked. Our club activities are quite challenging, but do you still want to join?”

“Yes.”

“That was a quick decision. It’s okay to think about it a bit more, you know?”

“It’s okay. My decision won’t change.”

I’m here after much thought, tilting my head. The stage of pondering has long passed. I am, after all, a seeker of revenge. I just need to do what I must and leave.

“That’s so cool! I wish I could say that to an upperclassman just once.”

Namisugi-senpai wriggles her body. It seems like she’s admiring me, and I’m sure it’s not just my imagination. She’s like Yoshiki in that regard.

“That’s cool. How marvelous of you.”

Suga-senpai leans in and whispers.

The tickling breath near my ear sends a shiver down my spine, but I maintain a blank expression reflexively. I have an inkling that reacting naively here would turn me into her toy.

“Please don’t tease me.”

I’ve learned something. If I show any weakness to Suga-senpai, I’ll be rolled around in the palm of her hand. I need to stay alert in various ways from now on.

The little villainess laughs mischievously.

“Sorry, sorry. Welcome to the broadcasting club. We’re happy to have you, Ichigaya-san.”

She extends her slender arm and offers me the club application form. The piece of paper looks like a contract with the devil.

It’s just my perception clouding my view. What’s in front of me is the senpai’s kindness. There’s no reason to refuse.

I raise the corners of my mouth and take the paper.