We return to the school field trip, specifically the moment the first group's sniper assassination attempt failed. This side story takes place as they make their way to Kiyomizu Temple—a memory of how the bond between Nozaki and Isogai first formed.
●○●○●
"The attempt failed."
"Yeah. Did he seriously catch those bullets with his fingers?"
I toyed with the BB Koro-sensei had intercepted, rolling it between my fingers as I agreed with Kurahashi. In my opinion, coating these anti-teacher pellets with that material creates unnecessary air resistance; how did they even fly that steadily? Then again, even if the trajectory wasn't perfect, the sniper surely adjusted his aim to hit the mark. The precision of professional killers is truly terrifying.
Koro-sensei had already flown off toward the second group, telling us to call him if anything happened. But what could possibly go wrong on a school trip? I suddenly recalled the delinquents bothering us on the Shinkansen and took it back. On this trip, anything was possible.
"Sigh... It's still a bit early. Should we head to Kiyomizu Temple?"
"Yeah, no point sitting here feeling depressed."
Isogai agreed with Kimura's suggestion to change the mood, and we all stood up from the station benches.
"Alright, let's head to the temple. We're having lunch in that area, right? A better mood starts with a full stomach."
"Will that really fix our mood?"
"Of course. An empty stomach only breeds anxiety."
"Is that how it works?"
"Exactly how it works."
"Well, if you say so."
"Yes, just trust me on this."
As I tried to poke holes in Isogai's theory, he pushed back with his usual bright smile, leaving me with no choice but to nod. I often feel like Isogai subtly imposes his will on me or ends up dragging me along.
"Just as I thought. Nozaki and Isogai-kun are really close, aren't they?"
"That's true."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."
Kimura and Maehara chimed in, agreeing with Kataoka's observation.
"Isogai, are we actually that close?"
"Very close."
"I'll take your word for it."
"You do that."
"See? This is what I mean. Honestly, the most shocking thing when I first came to Class E was seeing Nozaki and Isogai-kun talking so naturally."
I exchanged a glance with Isogai. Now that I thought about it, when did I even start talking to this guy? To be honest, I don't remember interacting with him at all back in Class A, even before my grades plummeted. I truly didn't know the reason.
"Look, Nozaki acts like he doesn't remember a thing."
Kataoka made a sharp observation.
"I think everyone in Class E wonders about it. It's always been a confusing mystery: how did the notorious delinquent and the top-tier Class Representative become such good friends?"
"Right. Even though you don't seem like a delinquent now, I was really worried when I first heard Nozaki was joining us in Class E."
"I can understand that feeling."
Even if they told me this, I was at a loss because I genuinely didn't remember. I couldn't recall doing anything that would make Isogai feel friendly toward me. I looked at Isogai, hoping for a way out of the conversation, but he just looked back at me with an expression of pure disbelief at my memory loss.
"Well, what kind of rumors were going around about a 'delinquent' like Keiichi?"
Following Isogai's question, the members of the first group put their hands to their chins and began listing my "evil deeds."
"A sudden, massive drop in grades."
"Constant fights with upperclassmen, classmates, and even students from other schools."
"Punching a teacher, which led to his transfer to Class E..."
Hearing my actions recounted by others made me realize just how wild I had been back then. But regarding the fights, I only ever fought back—I never started them. As for punching the teacher... they were in the wrong. And the grades? That was just pure neglect on my part.
"And I also heard he extorted a classmate at a cafe."
"Oh, was that in a cafe? I only heard the extortion rumor."
At that point, a memory I recalled vividly surfaced.
"Ah, the person who was 'extorted' in that cafe was me."
"... What?! Isogai?!"
Exactly. The person I had "extorted" in that incident was none other than Isogai himself. That was why I was so shocked when he approached me in Class E. He had greeted me with a bright smile, calling me "Keiichi" as if we were old friends. To be honest, I found it suspicious at the time.
"I can't believe Nozaki-kun would actually extort someone. What really happened?"
Kurahashi asked curiously.
"Ah... am I allowed to talk about this?"
Isogai asked, a bit late. I had no choice but to let him; in fact, I wanted to know his true intentions for being so friendly despite the "extortion."
"It's fine, go ahead. Honestly, I don't even remember how we started talking."
"I see. I'll tell you the story while we walk to the temple. The first time I talked to Keiichi was in our first year ──"
Isogai began to recount his memories.
●○●○●
The first time I spoke to Nozaki Keiichi was in our first year. He was one of the two students who gave the freshman representative speech at the entrance ceremony. I don't remember the content of the speech, but the fact that Gakushu Asano and Keiichi Nozaki had both achieved perfect scores on the entrance exam was common knowledge.
We were in Class A together, but our first real conversation happened during lunch break while I was studying at my desk. I was preparing for the next math lesson and asked Nozaki, who happened to be walking by, about a section I didn't understand. It was something we hadn't covered yet, but I figured he'd know. Sure enough, he answered without a single complaint.
"Keiichi, do you want to study at a cafe today?"
"A cafe? I'll be nervous; I've never been to one."
"Haha, you'll get used to it."
"Alright. Hey, Asano, I'm heading to a cafe to study. Does anyone else want to join?"
At the time, Class A revolved around Nozaki and Asano. Asano was the genius who got top marks without anyone ever seeing him study. Nozaki was the high-achiever who never stopped preparing or reviewing, no matter the time or place. Class A was influenced by them; our average score was twenty points higher than other classes. The top of the class consisted of a genius and a hard worker who could answer any question thrown at them.
However, I believe Nozaki's effort was excessive. Everything in his life centered on studying; even if he was teaching someone or hanging out with friends, his books never left his side. In a way, his image back then resembled the students who are now doing everything they can to avoid falling into Class E. In fact, I think his effort surpassed them all—the proof being that his health eventually collapsed.
Before the first-semester midterms, Nozaki caught a fever and went home early. He barely made it to the exam the next day, but his condition took a toll and his ranking dropped. He fell from first place to second. He only lost two points. To us, losing only two points in that state was an achievement, but Nozaki began to spiral from then on—both in his ranking and his passion for school.
He fell to 20th in the finals, 50th in the second-semester proficiency test, and 80th in the midterms. He slid down gradually, and once he dropped below the top 50, people stopped treating him like a top student. Everyone began to avoid him.
"N-Nozaki. About this part..."
"I don't know. Besides, you guys are better than me now. Don't ask me."
"Keiichi, what's wrong with you? Your rank only dropped once."
"It's none of your business, Asano. This is between me and my father."
Nozaki treated Asano, who was genuinely worried about him, with coldness. From that point on, no one saw them walking together anymore.
While Nozaki was declining, I was doing something forbidden due to my family circumstances. My family isn't wealthy; my father is deceased, and my mother works hard as a temporary employee. So, I started working an unapproved part-time job to help with expenses. Delivering newspapers, milk, odd jobs at home—I did everything. And that job was how one student caught me... Nozaki.
I ran into Nozaki by chance one morning while delivering newspapers. It was a literal collision at a street corner.
"N-Nozaki..."
"Who are you? Wait, aren't part-time jobs forbidden?"
He wasn't classified as a delinquent yet, but I felt absolute terror. I began explaining my situation with a stammering tongue, trying to keep him quiet. But Nozaki just...
"Ah, I see."
He turned and walked away with complete indifference, as if it didn't concern him. I was anxious, but I had to finish my route. For a while, I trembled with fear that he would report me. But days passed and no word came from the school or the Student Council. I decided to confront him when I ran into him at school.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Isogai! Yuuma Isogai! We're in the same class, remember?!"
"... Ah, the illegal worker."
"You didn't report me?!"
"I didn't. Do you want me to?"
Nozaki hadn't reported me at all. It was lucky for me, but I didn't understand why.
"Thank you, but why?"
"You're doing it to help your mother, right? Well, do your best. Whether you work or not doesn't matter to me at all."
He said that and walked off. I remember the contrast between his initial kind tone and that final, apathetic one. I think I started watching him in class from that moment on—the way he began to isolate himself from everyone.
A year later, Nozaki dropped to the very bottom of the grade. Rumors began to swirl about his transfer to Class E, and then an incident occurred that confirmed them: Nozaki got into a fight with students from another school.
By then, we were in different classes and our connection had been severed. But in the summer of our second year, the "extortion" incident happened. Or more accurately, I caused it. During that summer break, I got into trouble. It wasn't a fight or an injury; the victim was Nozaki's reputation.
Our financial situation had worsened again, so I went back to working part-time. And I met Nozaki again. I was working in a cafe outside the school's residential zone.
"Welcome ── Nozaki...?!"
"Ito... Ano... Ah! ...Isomaki. You're working again?"
"I appreciate the effort, but my name is Isogai, not Isomaki."
"Ah, right. Sorry. So, you're working without permission again."
"Please! Ignore it! I need the money quickly, otherwise we won't be able to pay the rent."
"... I see."
He said it coldly as usual, then asked, "Can I sit?" and started studying at a table as if he didn't care that I was breaking the rules. I remember being moved seeing him still studying so seriously despite everything.
After that, he kept coming back to the cafe. Since he had overlooked my secret, I served him without worry, watching him study out of the corner of my eye until he left.
Then one day... Asano walked into the cafe. Asano and his followers, the Big Five, entered my workplace.
"Welcom—"
"── Isogai?"
"A-Asano ──"
"My, isn't this Isogai-kun? Our top student is working in a place like this? Araki, did he get a work permit?"
"I don't think so? What should we do, Asano-kun? He's working without permission."
"Right. Working without permission means a transfer to Class E ──"
At that moment, he appeared.
"What's going on here?"
Nozaki's voice carried clear confusion, and Asano was the first to respond.
"Keiichi. I didn't expect to see you here. By the way, did you know Isogai was working here?"
Nozaki had known about me since our first year. For a split second, I thought he was the one who told them, but I dismissed it—if he wanted to, he would have done it long ago. But the real question was: how would I get out of this? I couldn't deny I was working, and I couldn't claim the owner was a relative. How could I survive this?
Then Nozaki answered Asano's question.
"I knew."
This was bad. His answer would reveal that I had been working for a long time, proving this wasn't a first-time mistake. But Nozaki remained silent after that. I couldn't drag him down with me after he'd kept quiet for so long.
"You knew? And you didn't report it? That's very inappropriate, Keiichi."
Asano criticized Nozaki, and his followers began to berate him as well.
"Wait, Asano, I ──"
I tried to draw attention to myself to protect him, but Nozaki cut me off coldly with shocking words:
"And why should I report something that would hurt my own interests?"
"Your interests? What are you talking about?"
I didn't understand what he meant, and I don't think Asano or his followers did either. While we were in a daze, Nozaki walked toward me and grabbed my collar roughly.
"Hey, Isogai. What's with this pathetic failure you've made?"
"Nozaki ── Ghu-?!"
"Shut up and play along."
He whispered in my ear, then began berating me with harsh words. I was stunned, so I feigned fear as he wanted.
"What are you going to do now? If you can't pay this month's 'protection money,' I'll beat you senseless. Do you think your mother will be able to work if her eldest son comes home injured? Huh? Do you hear me?!"
Nozaki... Keiichi protected me in a very clumsy way. A cliché, movie-like method. His voice was strong, but his word choice was a bit stumbled. That was the first time I'd ever heard anyone demand a "friendship fee" in real life. But that threat was the most he could pull from his vocabulary to try and play the part of the delinquent he was becoming famous for.
"Are you saying you were extorting Isogai?"
"Extortion is such an ugly word."
"But that excuse is incredibly weak."
Asano was right. The excuse was thin and an obvious fabrication.
"Weak or not, Asano. Can you prove I'm lying? This is your first time in this cafe. As for my threat, you can only verify it through Isogai and me, and that's the only evidence you have."
Keiichi spoke with such sophistry, showing no guilt at all. Asano looked at him with wonder, then backed down. Now, I think his withdrawal was his own way of showing friendship to Keiichi.
"Fine. I can't actually prove it. Isogai was forced to work without permission because of your threats. I'll leave it at that this time."
"Asano-kun! But what about Isogai?!"
"We'll do nothing. We found an ordinary student who was threatened by a delinquent and forced to work in secret. We have given him a stern warning to consult the Student Council next time. That is enough."
"But...!"
"Besides, rumors will spread even if we don't report it. The school will move sooner or later."
"I... I see..."
Asano said his piece and left the cafe, followed by the rest. Keiichi and I were left alone. He let go of me once they were out of sight, and I asked him:
"Nozaki, why did you take the fall for me?"
The question came from pure curiosity. Keiichi rubbed his cheek awkwardly, remaining silent for a moment before answering.
"I don't have a mother. So I felt a bit jealous that you're putting in so much effort to help yours. I just thought I wanted to help you with that. That's all."
That was the first time I heard Keiichi talk about himself. Everyone praised him as the son of "Professor Shinichi Nozaki," but I'd never heard anyone mention his mother. In that moment, I realized he lived only with his father. I also realized my interest in him when he isolated himself in class was because I felt a kind of kinship with him, even though I didn't know his circumstances then.
"Like Asano said, rumors will spread because we caused a scene. But the school will need time to figure out the details, so you've bought yourself some time. Collect the money you need quickly and quit this job."
Keiichi said this and left. I couldn't even thank him. He never came back to the cafe after that, and we didn't meet again until the end of summer break. Just as he and Asano predicted, rumors began to spread about a Kunugigaoka student working without permission. I quit after gathering the required amount before I was caught. And I decided in my heart that I would definitely thank Keiichi when we met again.
A few days after school started, I was looking for Keiichi when I overheard... "Did you hear? Nozaki punched a teacher and got suspended." "Yeah, and he's being transferred to Class E. He's finished."
That was how I knew Nozaki was going down to Class E.
●○●○●
"Did I really do all that?"
"You did."
The past story Isogai told made me feel incredibly embarrassed. Hearing it was mortifying. I remembered protecting Isogai, but was that really how it went? I didn't remember the details at all.
"And then? What happened to you, Isogai?"
"Huh? Oh, I quit the job, but the school found out eventually anyway. I was sent to Class E for the violation. Honestly, I'd been prepared for it ever since Asano saw me."
"So the only difference was whether you were transferred via Asano's report or the rumors?"
"Exactly."
"So the reason you're so overly friendly with Nozaki is..."
"Well, after he protected me like that, my view of him changed. And I figured there had to be a reason for him punching that teacher, too."
"Heh..."
That was the reason for Isogai's exaggerated friendliness since the beginning of Class E.
"Was your worry when Nozaki yelled at us before because of the same thing?"
"I was worried you were going to use the same clumsy method of taking all the blame on yourself again."
I never imagined I had made Isogai worry about me to that extent.
"Well, we've arrived at Kiyomizu Temple. The trip down memory lane ends here."
Isogai clapped his hands, ending the conversation. Since I had nothing left to say, I walked ahead of everyone into the temple corridors.
Suddenly, my phone rang in my pocket. The name "Fuwa" appeared on the screen; I didn't even remember when we exchanged numbers.
"Hello?"
"Ah, hello, Nozaki-kun?"
It really was Fuwa from our class. I wonder when we swapped numbers?
"Tell me... is Isogai-kun the heroine of this story?"
"What are you talking about?"
I hung up immediately in the face of such a bizarre question.
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