"Who did you fight with this time?"
A question from the beautiful nurse.
Her ample breasts were visible beneath her gown.
They were large enough to strain her shirt. Truly impressive.
"I fought the villains disturbing society."
"That's not funny at all. Before you talk to the professor, tell me straight."
"Ask Hanazawa."
"Do you know Hanazawa? Who did you fight with?"
"Yeah. I saw it myself."
"That's strange… If it were Hanazawa, she'd have run to tell the professor the moment you started hitting someone. Why no word?"
"Isn't her staying quiet proof I fought a bad guy? Look here—no one hit me."
"I'll grant you that."
I felt it every time, but my image here was too tarnished.
At this rate, I might even get expelled.
Matsuda Ken, you bastard… At least don't mess with the faculty.
Everyone hated me, but the nurse seemed to have a sense of duty and treated my right hand with great care.
Gazing at the thick bandage wrapped around my wrist, I lifted my head at the nurse's words.
"You know that if you drink or smoke, your wounds won't heal quickly, right? If you can, avoid it."
"I won't."
"I mean don't do it even outside the academy. I saw you on the street the other day—you and your friends drinking and smoking at a bar. School rules don't apply outside, but…"
"If I want my wounds to heal fast, I should refrain, right?"
"Exactly."
"Thanks."
"…? Did you just say thanks?"
The nurse looked surprised, her eyes wide.
With a smirk, I raised one hand silently and left the infirmary.
The situation had ended well… but there was still work to do.
When Tetsuya went through this event, there was no fuss inside or outside the academy.
The perpetrator had backed down willingly, and Tetsuya's image at the academy was good.
But not for me.
I'd bloodied his face.
That molester might try to harm me somehow…
As I walked down the hallway pondering this,
"Matsuda-kun!"
Hearing Miyuki's urgent voice from behind, I raised the corner of my mouth.
Turning around, I asked.
"What now?"
"The principal told me to bring you to the staff room… That molester filed a complaint against you…!"
I figured as much.
I replied with a face full of annoyance.
"Just leave it."
"What…? Are you crazy? You don't know how big this is right now…? Anyway, let's go quickly."
Miyuki tugged at my clothes, urging me on.
It would've been nice if she'd grabbed my wrist, but too bad.
Licking my lips regretfully, I let Miyuki lead me to the staff room, clearly showing my displeasure.
**
"That man was a pervert… An unscrupulous person who touched my thigh… Matsuda-kun was helping me… I told you…!"
Miyuki defended me zealously by my side.
Ah… This was why I didn't want to miss this event.
Good thing I slept early yesterday.
The professor in his sixties, glasses perched on his nose, listened silently to Miyuki and smiled kindly.
"Don't worry too much. When we handed him over to the police, it turned out he had a long criminal record. He'd been arrested multiple times for molestation. A lawsuit won't even take root."
Relieved, Miyuki sighed as if a weight had lifted.
"I-Is that so…? That's a relief… But why does Matsuda-kun have to be punished…?"
"Even if you were beating someone, you went too far. Five teeth came out. An anonymous tip described the scene… You tried to stop Matsuda-kun too, right? Didn't you think it was excessive violence?"
"…Of course I did…"
"If even you, the victim, thought so, imagine how others felt? They probably thought he was going to kill the man. It's scary having a student like that at Yeboni."
"N-No way…! Are you punishing Matsuda-kun just to protect the school's image?"
Miyuki kept pressing.
With a weary expression, I interrupted and asked the professor.
"So what do I have to do?"
"Clean the men's bathroom in the first-year hallway for 15 days. Isn't cleaning punishment fitting for someone like you who causes trouble all the time? It wasn't intentional, but you caught a criminal the police were after and saved your fellow student Hanazawa-san, so consider this lenient."
Expulsion after 15 days?
I didn't want to clean toilets reeking of shit until then… but no choice.
As the professor said, this was a bargain.
I nodded and asked again.
"Is the complaint resolved?"
"Don't worry."
"That's fine then."
"Just a warning—if you skip the punishment or are absent during it, you're expelled. No matter the good intent, the violence was extreme. You're on thin ice now. Do you understand your position at the academy?"
"Roughly. I'm going. Do your best."
Shrugging, I left the room.
Miyuki followed immediately and called out.
"Matsuda-kun! Wait!"
"Can you stop yelling? My ears are ringing."
Shocked by my words, Miyuki leaned forward.
She looked ready to vent her frustrations, but soon paused and took a deep breath.
She regained her composure quickly.
Calm now, she said.
"You know what expulsion means? One absence, and you're out."
"I know."
"But why'd you say that? Are you going to make other classmates cover for you?"
It'd be fun to make Tetsuya do it.
"You think I'll definitely skip?"
"…. Yeah. It's happened often."
"Huh… Can't argue since it's true. Anyway…"
I trailed off, eyeing Miyuki slyly, and she stepped back half a pace.
"W-What? What's with those eyes? Creepy…"
"You'd be thrilled if I got expelled, right? I don't want to see you clapping like a seal…"
"…Who said I'd be happy…"
"No? You were desperate to get me expelled."
"Ah, I was never desperate… Don't overthink it…"
"So you did want me out?"
"…Well, honestly, I did think that…"
If you'd just say no, even if it's a lie—where's the harm? Sad…
"Did you?"
"Not anymore… It'd be too unfortunate now… So come to school every day for 15 days… Don't be late… Then the professors might see you in a better light… You want to graduate too, right?"
"Me? Really?"
"Matsuda-kun, when someone worries about you like this, don't smirk—just pretend to understand at least."
Miyuki's face turned serious.
Let's back off for now.
I shut my mouth briefly, then replied as if subdued by her intensity.
"Fine."
Surprised by my compliance after all the pushback, Miyuki's large eyes widened further.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"This isn't just empty words to shut me up because you hate my nagging?"
I never planned to skip anyway.
"Nope. I'll show up consistently. Done now?"
"…. I'm skeptical… But… I'll believe you."
Do you know how much those words mean?
My desire to steal you from Tetsuya intensifies.
I'll clean diligently for 15 days.
So Miyuki can look at me and think, "Maybe he can change…?"
**
As soon as the last class ended, I kicked open the classroom door.
I didn't forget to glance at Miyuki once, acting like I'd bolt no matter what.
I stopped by the men's bathroom at the hallway's end and spoke lowly to my academy classmates chatting there.
"Everyone out. I have to clean, so go next door."
"S-Sorry… We're leaving soon… Huh…? Clean?"
They perked up as if they'd misheard.
With an annoyed expression, I fetched a hose from the cleaning closet.
"If the toilet clogs starting today, I'll find you and beat you half to death."
"….."
"If it sounds like a joke, try me."
"B-But what if it wasn't us…?"
"Still dead. If you don't want that, tell everyone to use it cleanly. Keep the toilet spotless. That way, the next person won't mind. Did you wash your hands?"
"…. Uh…? Yeah…? What…?"
"Just get out quick."
"Y-Yeah…"
After sending the confused guys away, I attached the hose to the faucet and started spraying the urinal.
Then, as I diligently mopped the bathroom floor,
"…Doing well?"
Miyuki's voice came from behind.
I trusted you, Miyuki. I knew you'd come.
That's why I acted like that before leaving the classroom.
Without turning, I said.
"Here to watch?"
"Just… You looked like you were running off…"
"I keep my promises."
"…Good then… But Matsuda-kun, wouldn't it be better to mop last?"
"Is that right?"
"Isn't that usually how it's done?"
"Then… Should I clean the toilet first?"
"Yeah. I think so."
Taking Miyuki's advice, I grabbed a plunger.
"But you know this is the men's bathroom, right?"
"I know. No one's here."
"Don't interrupt and go."
"I'll watch you for now. I need to check carefully."
"Miura must be waiting anxiously, right? Won't you go home together?"
"I usually do… But as class president, I'll verify… And I owe you today…"
"Owe me? Then clean instead."
Miyuki crossed her arms in response.
A clear refusal.
I burst out laughing and headed to the farthest stall.
Seeing the majestic pile of filth in the middle, I shouted in anger.
"Oh, fuck!!"
This wasn't acting—it was genuine.
Why didn't they flush? Those damn kids…
Find this bastard and I'll really kill him.
I barely pressed the handle and stepped out, all arrogance gone.
"Filthy bastards…"
And Miyuki, facing away, giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
After a while, she asked.
"Can you finish today?"
"You see it. Does that even need asking?"
"I don't want to. And you can't say shi… Heh… Stuff like that to people. Don't do it."
"The shi… is too much… Ha… Fuck… This is beggarly."
"Cut back on swearing. It makes you seem low-class."
Yeah. Tell me again later—I'll try to fix it.
Pretending to pick my ear, I entered the next stall with tissue, nose covered.
A tightly shut toilet lid. Something ominous.
Having to do this for 15 days… The road ahead already seems dark.
But today, with Miyuki here… I'll quit complaining and work hard.
To save Miyuki from Tetsuya, I need a good image.