In the first-year, Class A classroom of Soyo Middle School's junior high division, Doraku Utage saw her students all acting obedient, which significantly lightened her mood.
Doraku Utage pushed off the floor with her feet, climbed onto the stool behind the teacher's desk, and took out a piece of paper. Then, she crunched the lollipop in her mouth and casually tossed the stick. It landed directly in the trash can at the back of the classroom.
This move stunned not just the regular students but even Hiratsuka Ryosuke. Many teachers are good at throwing chalk, but chalk is solid and has some weight. A lollipop stick is light, yet she was able to throw it from the teacher's desk all the way into the back of the room. The power, accuracy, and control over her muscles were incredibly impressive.
After this display, the classroom became completely silent.
"Roll call begins now," Doraku Utage announced loudly, holding the list and scanning the room. "Hirata Ichiro!"
"Here..." a plain-looking boy weakly raised his hand and responded timidly. He was already intimidated by this teacher. "Is this really a teacher? Or is it a delinquent loli who snuck into the school from some elementary?"
"Didn't you eat breakfast? You have no masculinity, boy! Speak up!" Doraku Utage scolded, a hint of displeasure on her face.
Hearing this, Hirata Ichiro immediately stood up from his seat and shouted with a full, resonant voice, "Yes! Teacher Doraku, I am Hirata Ichiro from Iwate Prefecture!"
With that, he bowed deeply, like a subordinate greeting a yakuza boss. Doraku Utage extended her small hand and waved it down.
Pleased, she praised him, "Good, very spirited! Now you're acting like a man!"
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri!"
"Here!" Eriri, following suit, leaped up from her chair and shouted loudly.
"Oh? A foreigner? You're quite cute. You may sit," Doraku Utage's eyes lit up, and she chuckled softly.
Hearing this, Eriri felt like she had been pardoned and quickly sat down. "This teacher is terrifying. Are all the teachers at Soyo Middle School like this?"
The roll call continued...
"Hayama Hayato!"
"Here!"
"Okay, next is the last one, Hiratsuka Ryosuke!"
"Here!"
Facing this strange teacher, Hiratsuka Ryosuke didn't want to be a rebellious troublemaker. He silently calculated in his mind that if he fought empty-handed without his sword, he might not be a match for this teacher. Being a person who had always respected his teachers, he cooperated fully with Doraku Utage's roll call.
However, Doraku Utage did not tell him to sit down immediately. Instead, she frowned behind the desk, and her expression even became a little sour. "Hiratsuka..."
That surname really bothered her! This was mainly because of one person, her nemesis for life—Hiratsuka Shizuka.
The old Doraku Utage was the head honcho of Seiran Girls' High School and was known by the terrifying nickname, "The Strangling Utage." Even the king of the "Crow School" next door, Suzuran Boys' High School, would not dare to offend her easily and would respectfully address her as "Big Sister."
That was until a woman named Hiratsuka Shizuka transferred to Soyo Middle School. The "Fist of Destruction" shook the foundation of her "Strangling Utage" name.
From then on, her nightmare began.
In their first match at the Tokyo qualifying tournament for the fighting competition, she was soundly defeated by Hiratsuka Shizuka. In the subsequent national fighting competition, she lost a second time. No one remembers the second place winner.
So, after graduating from university, she came to Soyo Middle School to be a teacher. She wanted to see what kind of school and environment could cultivate such a "monster" like Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Her thoughts went back to the previous year, a regular afternoon when she was driving from Chiba Prefecture back to Tokyo. On a road with an 80 km/h speed limit, an Aston Martin sports car zipped past her. Based on her driving experience, she was surprised to find the car holding a steady speed right at the edge of the limit.
"This is a pro," Doraku Utage, who loved to race, felt her competitive spirit ignite. She had once driven a Toyota Vellfire that could even overtake a Nissan GT-R. Because of her small stature, no one could see the driver's head from outside, earning her the racing nickname "The Dullahan of the Hill."
She floored the gas pedal and sped up to follow. The other driver didn't back down, and they both went faster and faster, neck and neck. They reached a maximum speed of 200, and averaged over 180.
Later, she did some research to find out who owned the car, and after many years, she once again heard the name that had brought her so much grief. Two weeks ago, she and Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed to a rematch. As a result, that "bitch" caused both of them to get caught by the traffic police. Her car was impounded, and she had to pay a hefty fine.
All of her recent unhappiness stemmed from this.
"Sit down. By the way, Hiratsuka, today's cleanup duty will begin with you. Any objections?" Doraku Utage stared at Hiratsuka Ryosuke and asked in an unquestionable tone. A student who hadn't made a mistake didn't deserve punishment, but that surname made her unhappy, so she decided he would be the first to do cleanup.
"Yes, Teacher," Hiratsuka Ryosuke obediently replied. Although he didn't know why he was the last to be called yet the first to do cleanup duty, he saw nothing inappropriate about the teacher's arrangement.
"Let's begin class now!"
"Yes, Teacher!" the entire class shouted in unison, their voices full of spirit.
After school, Hiratsuka Ryosuke was getting ready to start his cleanup duty and then head to the kendo club. He was going to start from this place and follow in his older sister's footsteps, just like Shizuka, and win a national championship at Soyo Middle School.
"Hiratsuka, doing it alone must be tough. Why don't I help you?" a gentle, cheerful male voice came from the other side of the classroom.
"I can't believe I'm meeting him so soon," Hayama Hayato thought to himself.
From the first moment he saw Hiratsuka Ryosuke, he was reminded of his old friend, Yukinoshita Yukino. He also vaguely guessed why Yukinoshita Haruno had taken notice of this person. But he didn't understand why, just for that reason, Yukinoshita Haruno had said what she did to him that day.
"'That child Ryosuke, although he can be a little difficult, in some ways he's a little stronger than you'," was what Yukinoshita Haruno had said to him with a smile. Yukinoshita Haruno was very skilled socially and rarely spoke so directly. The fact that she would say something like that could only mean one thing: she disliked him. No, perhaps even loathed him.
Fortunately, Yukinoshita Haruno had generously told him that Hiratsuka Ryosuke would be attending Soyo Middle School. That was why he and his father had come to Tokyo. He really wanted to know the real reason behind Yukinoshita Haruno's words.
This afternoon provided him with the opportunity. He would start by getting closer to him.
While Hayama Hayato's mind was racing, only a moment had passed in reality.
"Hm? Okay, thanks, Hayama, I appreciate it," Hiratsuka Ryosuke replied politely in a calm tone. He didn't refuse the offer because Ryosuke didn't sense any malice from him. His first impression of Hayama Hayato was a sunny, cheerful boy who seemed like a good-natured person who liked to help his classmates, completely different from a fool like Ishida Shoya.
Since Hayama offered to help, Hiratsuka Ryosuke naturally accepted. It was best for classmates to help each other and be friendly and harmonious. Ryosuke didn't think he was a completely unapproachable weirdo; it was just that no one usually dared to get close to him.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke's direct response, however, took Hayama Hayato by surprise. In his mind, the superimposed images of Hiratsuka Ryosuke and Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to suddenly separate. If it had been Yukino, she probably would have refused by saying something like, "Wild beasts walk alone; only sheep gather in flocks." In the end, he would have done the cleanup himself.
A while later, the cleanup was complete, and they washed their hands together at the sink.
"You're a really good person, Hayama. Thanks," Ryosuke said, his emotions not fluctuating much, but still expressing thanks to the person who helped him.
Hayama Hayato splashed water on his face, then ran a hand through his short blonde hair. He looked at Ryosuke and smiled brightly. "If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know. Classmates should help each other out."
Then, Hayama continued, "By the way, Hiratsuka, have you thought about joining any clubs?"
"I'm going to check out the kendo club in a bit."
"Do you mind if I come with you?"
"If you'd like to, I don't mind."
With that, Ryosuke turned and started walking toward the kendo club. Hayama Hayato, who had originally planned to join the soccer club, followed Ryosuke's footsteps, and the two walked together toward the kendo club.
Behind them, a girl was also following them stealthily.