The Strongest Loner Redo His Youth With Unmatched Prowess!! ~In the Second Round of School Life, He Made Beautiful Girl Friends!~ - Chapter 10: Wall Punching
A few days after starting school.
Proper classes have begun recently.
Yuito was slumped over his desk.
(Oh no, I can’t keep up with the classes at all!!)
A redo of school life.
Since it’s the second week, studying should normally be a breeze.
However, it’s been years since Yuito dropped out of school.
He hadn’t used any of the taught content at all.
As a result, it had completely slipped his mind.
Especially in science subjects like mathematics and chemistry, it’s hopeless.
In fact, he doesn’t even remember the content from middle school, so he’s starting from a negative.
It’s like a weak new game.
(I have to study hard…)
Reimei Academy is a school that focuses on training explorers.
However, regular academic subjects are also required for promotion.
If he wants to advance his exploration activities favorably, it would be better to have knowledge of survival and an understanding of monster ecology.
To thoroughly understand these, having an education is advantageous.
However, since Yuito has cut down everything in his path, it doesn’t matter to him.
For an ordinary explorer, knowledge becomes a strong weapon.
(What should I do? I don’t have any friends to help me study… Should I go to cram school?)
It’s even questionable whether he will be promoted to the next grade.
At this rate, it’s a problem even before thinking about youth and friends.
He really wants to avoid being a third-year first-year.
“H-hey, Akizuki-kun. Aren’t you going to the changing room?”
It was a girl from his class who spoke to him.
Changing room.
Hearing those words, Yuito remembered.
The next class was combat training.
He needed to change into his gym clothes and gather at the sports field.
Looking around the classroom, he noticed that most of the students were gone.
“Ah, I forgot. Thank you.”
“Y-yeah. Well then, see you later!”
The female student hurriedly left.
When she joined a few friends, they were making a fuss about something.
(Young people are so energetic…)
Yuito also decided to head to the changing room.
◇◆◇◆◇
Before and after the combat training class, a slightly longer break is scheduled.
This seems to take into account the time needed to change clothes and head to the arena.
Many students head to the area around the arena a bit early and chat.
However, Yuito doesn’t have any friends to talk to.
As he leisurely heads to the arena…
(…Huh? Is that a voice I hear?)
From behind the shadows, a girl’s voice could be heard.
An injury or sudden illness. Something might have happened.
Yuito decided to check it out.
There stood Hakari and a male student.
Both were wearing gym clothes.
They were probably classmates about to take a combat training class.
However, they weren’t chatting amicably.
The male student was blocking Hakari’s path.
The atmosphere suggested he might be threatening her.
“Hey, Hakari-chan. Can you at least give me your contact info?”
“No, I don’t need to share it with you. And please don’t call me by my name so casually.”
Is this just a pickup line?
If it were bullying, he could have stopped it without hesitation.
But should he stop him from hitting on girls?
“Hey, you know, since I just graduated from middle school, I have quite a few connections.”
The guy started to say.
Hakari also looks puzzled.
Reimei Academy has both a high school and a middle school.
It seems the guy trying to hit on her is from middle school.
“So, if you keep looking down on me, you won’t be able to enjoy school life, no?”
“…That’s the worst.”
Wow, saying something like that just because he isn’t getting any attention?
Even Yuito is surprised.
No matter how introverted someone is, they wouldn’t stoop that low.
It would be better to intervene and stop this.
Yuito decided to speak up.
“Um, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
The guy who had been hitting on girls turned around.
He was surprised. The guy hitting on girls was Arai.
He thought he was a cool, self-absorbed guy, but it turned out he was a real jerk.
“You, from the other day…”
Arai seemed to remember Yuito’s face.
“What? Do we know each other?”
“Yeah, a little.”
He wanted him to just walk away like this… but it seems that’s not going to happen.
Arai smirked.
“What are you, trying to show off in front of Hakari-chan?”
“Huh? No, that’s not it…”
“Then what? What’s the reason?”
This is bad.
He has no chance in a war of words.
He needs to come up with some reason to take Hakari out.
Yuito tried to come up with an excuse, but Arai wouldn’t wait.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but seriously, you’re so annoying. Don’t get cocky, you introvert!!”
“Huh!? I don’t think violence is good!!”
Arai raised his fist.
Bam!!
He punched Yuito in the face. Yuito staggered.
After seeing this――Arai’s expression twisted into a frown.
(…Did I hit him a bit too hard?)
Arai’s fist, accustomed to hitting people, was swollen bright red.
Just before being hit, Yuito generated a magical barrier on the surface of his skin.
If he had taken the hit directly, it would have been like hitting a steel wall.
He intended to deflect the force just enough to make it uncomfortable to hit.
However, he might have miscalculated and made it too painful.
“What is this, the texture…”
Arai stared at his fist with a puzzled expression.
Ding!
Thanks to being punched, Yuito had an idea.
“Um, I came to tell you that Jinguuji Kirika-san is looking for Amano Hakari-san, so…”
In the school hierarchy, Kirika is at the top.
Even someone like Arai, who has a self-important attitude, might settle down if Kirika said she had business with Hakari.
Besides, he will see Kirika every lunch break anyway.
He can make an excuse for using her name without permission.
It seems the plan was successful.
Arai clicked his tongue and passed by Yuito.
“Damn introvert…”
(That parting shot was pretty petty…)
After Arai left, Hakari bowed her head.
“Thank you, Akizuki-san.”
“Ah, no. I didn’t really…”
“..By the way, is it true that Kirika-san is calling me?”
“I’m sorry. It’s a lie…”
“I see.”
Hakari looked down.
For a moment, he felt like she smiled at the corner of her mouth.
“Class is about to start. Shall we go?”
“Ah, yes.”
Hakari passed by Yuito.
It would be awkward to follow her, so he should just go after she leaves, maybe through the roof or something.
That’s what Yuito was thinking.
“…? Aren’t you coming?”
Hakari turned around to look at Yuito.
It was like a cat guiding the way.
It felt like she was silently asking him to come along.
“Ah, no. I’ll go.”
Yuito nervously walked up beside Hakari.
Until they reached the stadium, a silence played between them.
Strangely, there was no awkwardness.