I returned to my seat five minutes after the bell. This was Mr. Zhang's class. Unlike the dawdling Teacher Yu, old man Zhang may have been a little forgetful at times, but he was no pushover. If you dared to doze off in his class, you'd pay for it.
Curious, I sneaked a peek at my neighbor, Renko. Was she still crying?
No… that was a smile—full of happiness. Where did she learn to switch expressions so quickly?
She hid behind her language textbook and giggled, realizing I was watching. She nervously curled a lock of hair.
"What are you laughing at? Weren't you just crying because I bullied you?" I asked.
"Because… after class, the class leader and the other girls helped console me."
"That's not really something to be happy about, is it?"
"But… they treated me like a girl! I'm really happy!"
"You are a girl!" I thought, facepalming internally. Her inability to distinguish herself from others will never be cured.
"They even invited me to the bathroom!"
"Why are you proud of that?"
"It was the girls' bathroom!"
Well, obviously! You're not going in the boys' bathroom! And when you say "girls' bathroom," cover up that crazed, triumphant expression—people will think you're some kind of cross-dressing pervert.
"Pay attention! Don't think just because Mr. Zhang usually smiles, he won't destroy you if you anger him!" I whispered.
"Yes—" Renko obediently replied, returning to class.
Not good. Talking to her again means I'm already breaking my own battle strategy. I should continue bullying her so she hates me!
Eh? Her shoes… they're new? Cute canvas shoes with pink stripes… if they're this fresh, they should be perfect targets.
I stretched my right leg to step on them—but my leg wasn't long enough. Too much effort… thanks, Dad.
I shifted my chair slightly to the right and now I could reach. Careful not to let Mr. Zhang notice.
Renko was sitting properly, feet square under her desk. I extended my foot and ruthlessly stepped on her shoes—not hard, just enough to dirty them and upset her. Don't girls care about that stuff?
I felt her body tremble and her pen slow down.
Haha, you're sad, aren't you? I'll keep my foot here all lesson! Kick me in the knees! Throw your textbook at my head! Stab me with your pen!
…Okay, maybe not the last one.
Surprisingly, she endured it, even as I added a little more weight. Her pen speed returned to normal, and her expression was eager to learn.
"Hey! I'm stepping on your shoes! Your new shoes!" I said first.
"U-uh… Haruya, am I… comfortable?" she replied, blushing like a newlywed.
"What did you just say?"
"I mean… you're using your foot to step on me. It must feel comfortable, right?"
Comfortable my ass! My leg isn't long enough, I'm pulling muscles trying to stay in this position!
"Are you crazy, Renko? I'm stepping on you and you're not angry?"
"I am crazy! That's why I want you to be my boyfriend… ah, I said it! So embarrassing!"
"Don't say it! Go back to being the 'Little Tyrant' and rule the underworld, or get a boyfriend somewhere else! Just leave me alone!"
"But… even though the other students say you're bad, that you stab people and sell Ecstasy, I know you're not that kind of person!"
Wait, are those the rumors they've been spreading behind my back? Class leader, did you buy Ecstasy from me? Did you see me selling it to your brother? Why are you framing me?!
Oh no… my legs… numb…
I snorted and removed my foot from Renko's shoes.
"Haruya, why'd you stop? Am I… not comfortable enough?"
She stayed in the same position, seemingly hoping I'd step on her again.
The bespectacled boy to my right was watching. I couldn't let him hear the conversation—otherwise he'd announce after class that Haruya stepped off Renko, dumped her, and all hell would break loose.
Last class I played with a girl, this class I "dumped" her? What a scumbag I am.
I ignored her, focusing on the lesson. My language grades sucked, and old man Zhang wasn't impressed with me anyway.
Sure, my speaking was decent, and I could even write poems. But my handwriting… looked like ants with broken legs. Tests? Forget it. If I didn't know a character, I'd just make one up. Like the word Wu Zetian created for herself. Now I can't even recognize it.
Essays with assigned topics? I liked to get creative.
Last time the essay was about patriotism, I somehow turned it into China's expansion plan. First, attack India—they're weak and fertile. Then we use that land to help China's poor regions.
Mr. Zhang gave me a big fat zero. "You went off topic, little fascist," he wrote.
Off topic? My essay was full of violent patriotism! And "little fascist"? He's worse than Shu Sha! In their eyes, I'm only a chicken… now I'm compared to Hitler!
While I was worrying about my language grades, Renko wanted to talk again.
"Haruya, yesterday I read the letter you wrote me…"
Letter? That was a challenge letter, not for her!
"Sleep earlier! What's the point of reading that scrap?"
"How could you say that? That's the first love letter I've received from you…"
"What love letter! It was a challenge letter!" I nearly crushed my pen.
"Anyway, I'll treasure it forever… pass it down as a family heirloom."
Burn it! That handwriting… it'll be laughed at for generations.
"You're not allowed to talk to me anymore! Or I'll bully you even worse!" I bared my teeth in a vicious grin.
"I'm not scared. If you bully me, it must mean you like me, right?"
She was pouting cutely while saying it. Ah no, my fortress is collapsing! The enemy fire is too strong! Steel yourself, Haruya! Become a devil without mercy!
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
"It's true! I bullied you before because… I liked you!"
"Don't lump me in with you!"
"Uh-oh… seems like someone's moving around!" Old man Zhang's sudden shout froze me.
If he calls on me, I have no clue where we are in the lesson!
"The female student not wearing a uniform, please stand and read aloud what I just explained."
I didn't expect him to pick Renko! Her lack of a uniform made her stand out—my scapegoat!
She calmly picked up the book and began reading.
"A swallow's arrival doesn't indicate Spring, but when a flock of geese breaks through the warm March fog, Spring has arrived…"
Perfect reading! Almost broadcaster-level. Classmates were already starting to respect her. And her soft, gentle voice… my heart is losing!
I had to make her hate me. I had to do something outrageous.
As she finished and returned to her seat, I yanked her chair out!
She fell hard on her butt—no cushion. Painful enough to cry, right?
I panicked. How do I deal with this aftermath?
"It hurts…" she said, bitterly, sitting on the floor. Yet she didn't cry or explode.
"Sorry, teacher, I didn't sit down properly…" She stuck out her tongue, picked up her chair, and made a guilty, apologetic face. Mr. Zhang was still focused on her reading, so he didn't notice me.
Shu Sha was glaring at me ferociously.
I'm doomed after class…