Chapter 7 – The True Nature of the Enamored Ichizu (Love, Love, Love♡)

Thanks to Shinta’s efforts, they successfully drove away the thugs without any casualties among the classmates, but the inside of the private room remained enveloped in silence. The reason everyone stayed quiet was due to Shinta leaving the room alone a few minutes ago. Faced with the strength he displayed in subduing three burly men in the blink of an eye, the fear felt by everyone present outweighed any sense of reliability.

“Is that the power of the guy they called the Fierce God in middle school? If he goes on a rampage, it’d be a disaster…”

One of the guys who had been trembling, unable to do anything during the situation, muttered to himself. Although Shinta was called the Fierce God in middle school, he had spent his time quietly without getting into any major fights or causing problems since entering high school. Because of that, nobody had quite grasped the reality of his strength. Even though they understood his bad reputation, they only recognized him as being somewhat used to fighting. Witnessing his actual rampage firsthand plunged them into a state of shock due to the massive gap between their expectations and reality.

While the classmates inwardly trembled at the recent events, a single girl in that place harbored entirely different feelings toward him.

(Haa~… Shinta-kun is just too cool~♡)

It was Ichizu, the person with the most points of contact with him among this group. Although she didn’t show it on her face, she was completely intoxicated inside her heart and melting over Shinta’s heroic actions.

(The way he acted so boldly without backing down at all against those dangerous-looking guys gave me absolute chills♡ And the way he settled the situation and walked away so coolly at the end was just too handsome~♡ I love him, I love him so much~♡)

Normally, Ichizu behaves gracefully in front of Shinta, but her mind was always completely lovestruck and melting over him. Perhaps a maiden in love still possesses reason, as she had never once exposed this true nature in front of him. If he were to find out about such a base true nature and become disillusioned, the shock would be too much.

While she inwardly agonized over his manliness, one of her classmates opened his mouth and made a remark.

“Maybe it really is better not to get involved with that guy. If he snaps like he did just now, we’re guaranteed to get seriously hurt.”

The casual words muttered by one of the guys were probably said without thinking, but to Ichizu, it was an unforgivable outrage.

(…Huh? Why do you think Shinta-kun would inflict an injury on you? He’s not the kind of person to unreasonably use violence against others.)

Although it didn’t show on her face, Ichizu’s euphoric mood instantly cooled and transformed into pure anger. Holding back from saying it out loud, she continued to inwardly spit venom at the guy badmouthing him.

(In the first place, how dare you insult him when you were just shivering in fear earlier? You’d never be able to say that in front of Shinta-kun, yet you proudly talk behind his back. You’re far too small as a man. Someone like you has no right to make a fool of my Shinta-kun. It pisses me off, it pisses me off, it pisses me off…)

Completely ignorant of Ichizu’s intense rage, the guy continued proposing this to the other classmates.

“We really should just keep shunning him from now on. You guys don’t want to cross a dangerous bridge either, right?”

At the words of the guy taking the initiative to ostracize Shinta, the sentiments of the other classmates began to sway. Ichizu was finally reaching the limit of her patience. Just as she was about to snap at the ungrateful guy who was hurting him after being saved, someone intervened.

“Hey, why are you saying things like that?”

The one who spoke up before Ichizu could shout was Miina.

“Every single one of us was saved by Kamiji-kun, you know? Despite that, don’t you think treating him like a villain is way too cruel?”

While the other classmates thought they should distance themselves from Shinta, she alone boldly opposed that opinion.

“What we should be doing is thanking Kamiji-kun for saving us. Under no circumstances should we be condemning him.”

Miina’s lecture had an immediate effect on the other classmates, all of whom made awkward, guilty faces. Ichizu, who had been holding back until then, jumped on her bandwagon and threw her own opinion at everyone.

“Let me say this again, too. I told you all in the classroom, but you’re completely misunderstanding Kamiji-kun. He wouldn’t unreasonably hurt innocent people. I can guarantee that. And…”

Getting that far, she paused her words. Piercing her classmates with a sharp glare, she declared firmly.

“If you’re going to continue badmouthing Kamiji-kun, I won’t forgive you. If you have a complaint you want to say to him, say it to me first.”

It was an overwhelming intensity that left no room for argument, something unimaginable from the usually gentle Ichizu. It was a pressure comparable to the aura Shinta emitted when he overpowered those delinquents earlier. Overwhelmed by her spirit, the classmates other than Miina nodded in silence to resolve this problem for the time being.

While looking at her classmates who still seemed somewhat unconvinced, Ichizu spoke to the Shinta who was no longer there.

(I will absolutely never forgive anyone who hurts my precious person. It’s okay, Shinta-kun, because just like you saved me, I can save you too.)

(I’ll keep protecting you from the shadows from now on, my beloved Shinta-kun♡ I love you… Shinta-kun…♡)