Chapter 5 – Awakening of the Fierce God

With the final homeroom over and school dismissed, everyone in the classroom started making their moves. Those devoted to club activities headed off to their respective locations, while the students not belonging to any particular club hashed out plans for the rest of the day.

“Hey, hey, wanna go to karaoke? It’s been a while.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, we didn’t go at all over spring break.”

It seemed a group of girls in the class had gathered to discuss their after-school entertainment. Looking closely, a few boys were participating too, making it quite a lively bunch. As Shinta was about to leave the classroom with that noisy circle behind him, Ichizu called out.

“Kamiji-kun, let’s walk home together.”

“Yeah…”

With an unclouded smile, Ichizu—the only person in this class who interacted with him without fear—said that. Unable to bring himself to brush off the girl who was going out of her way to care about him, Shinta simply gave a light nod. Just then, the girl who had been leading the group earlier invited Ichizu over to them.

“Hey, Arai-san, how about you come to karaoke with us? Y’know, to deepen our friendships for this year.”

“Um…”

Faced with a classmate inviting her with a welcoming gaze, she was at a loss for how to respond. Having just invited Shinta to walk home, she most likely didn’t know which side to choose.

“Go on. It’s a rare chance to deepen your ties with your new classmates.”

Saying that, Shinta gave her a push in the back. To be perfectly blunt, he genuinely believed it would be better for her to hang out with their classmates than with him. He intended it as an act of consideration, but the conversation took an unexpected turn.

“Ah, if you’re interested, Kamiji-kun, how about you come to karaoke too? Let’s all go wild and make some noise.”

Incredibly, the girl extended the invitation not just to Ichizu, but to Shinta as well.

“Eh, hold on, Chikai. Um, you’re inviting Kamiji-kun too?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. If the goal is to deepen our friendships, there’s no harm, right?”

Hearing that Shinta might come made the other members of the group pull doubtful faces. The girl called Chikai immediately chided her friends and assured them it would be fine. They bickered about it for a moment before everyone eventually agreed, allowing Chikai to formally invite Shinta and Ichizu once more.

“We’re all good on our end. So, let’s go, you two.”

“No, I don’t really… Just go without me, Arai.”

“Eh, but, Kamiji-kun, if you come with us…”

“Yes, yes, right this waaay, you two. Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Chikai Miina.”

“Um, well then, nice to meet you, Chikai-san.”

“Yep, yep, nice to meet ya. By the way, ‘Chikai’ and ‘Arai’ sound totally similar, don’t they? Don’t you think so too, Kamiji-kun?”

Before he could even nod, Shinta and Ichizu somehow ended up tagging along. Perhaps out of consideration, Miina aggressively talked to both Ichizu and Shinta. She pushily shoved the two of them out of the classroom, and before they knew it, they arrived in front of the specified karaoke place along with the rest of their classmates.

“Ah, excuse me! Do you have any open rooms right now?”

“Welcome. Um… we do have one room available, but…”

Acting as the representative, Miina checked for open rooms, but the clerk’s attitude was somewhat strange. Even though there was a vacancy, he spoke in an evasive manner and muttered something at a volume they couldn’t quite catch.

“Well, they came yesterday, so they probably won’t come two days in a row.”

Finishing his mumbled soliloquy, the clerk guided them to their seats. While harboring a strange sense of unease, everyone piled into their assigned box. Upon entering the guided room, the two of them unconsciously muttered.

“The interior of a karaoke place is a lot calmer than I expected.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I had this image of it being way more flashy and sparkly, but I guess not.”

While Shinta, a former Yankee, and the quiet-natured Ichizu flinched at the fresh environment, Miina spoke to them.

“Ah, by any chance, is this your first time at karaoke? In that case, I’ll teach you guys all about it.”

Miina proceeded to explain how to use the machines and the various options to the two complete beginners. While they were receiving their explanation, one of the guys started selecting a song.

“Alright, then I guess I’ll kick things off and sing first.”

During the walk to the place, everyone had constantly been reading Shinta’s mood, but arriving at the karaoke box must have raised their spirits. Everyone’s attention shifted to the guy about to sing first. Bathing in the gazes of his new classmates, he triumphantly tried to lead the charge. But the very moment he tried to sing, an irregular situation occurred.

“Hey, hey, why the hell is the room exclusive for us being used!!”

Accompanied by an angry roar, the room’s door was kicked open and caused everyone to freeze. Barging in roughly were three guys who looked to be around the same age, yet their appearances absolutely reeked with an outlaw vibe.

“We came here planning to sing our hearts out and feel good. Now I feel like someone threw cold water on us. Ain’t that right?”

“A-A-Ah, s-sorry.”

The intimidating guy standing at the front, covered in piercings, closed in on the guy holding the microphone. Overwhelmed by his sheer intensity, the classmate bowed his head even though he wasn’t at fault, causing the intruding group to burst into cackling laughter.

“Paaathetic. I feel bad for the girls who have to hang out with guys like this~”

The group turned their gazes toward the cowering girls. Perhaps getting cocky thinking that all the guys were terrified of them, one of the thugs grabbed the arm of Miina, who was sitting closest.

“W-Wait, stop!”

“Don’t say that. It’s your punishment for using our room without permission. Alriiiight, the men can get out. You women are keeping us company.”

Getting even more full of himself, the guy tried to pull Miina into a hug.

“Come on, we’ll at least treat you to drinks.”

“N-No! Seriously, stop it!!”

“I’m telling you, it’s useless. None of these chicken-shit boys here are gonna save—Wham!!”

The guy laughed with his filthy face twisted in amusement, but in the next instant, it was dyed in agony because Shinta’s fist had sunk deeply into the pit of his stomach. Taking Miina back from the guy crouching on the floor, Shinta opened his mouth.

“Jeez, don’t let trash like you trample all over other people’s youth.”

In that instant, Shinta’s switch flipped. The once-feared Fierce God had awakened once more.