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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: 2.4 Bullying
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-Scrape.
As soon as I opened the door, every eye in the classroom turned to me.
The lesson had already started.
"Sorry. I'm a bit late."
"Y-yeah. Take a seat."
I apologized to the teacher and headed to my spot... only to realize I had no idea where it was.
Naibusu. Over there.
As I glanced around, Akane, sitting right in front of me, pointed to an empty seat.
I waved in thanks and sat down.
『Whoa, the blond thug finally showed up.』
『Why'd he even come? Should've just skipped.』
『Ah~ the vibe's gonna suck again~.』
『Pulls the teacher's hair once and wipes him out. Power sure is nice.』
『If I piss off Naibusu, will I get killed too?』
『Strutting around with the student council president's backing. What a punk.』
『Scary.』
...Hmm.
My reputation wasn't great to begin with.
But today, it felt even worse.
Probably because I killed Tanaka?
If so, nothing I could do about it.
Still, I figured everyone would feel relieved that Tanaka was gone.
Didn't expect it'd tank my rep instead.
And how did the rumors spread so fast anyway?
How'd they even know it was me?
Hmph.
No need to sweat the small fry's opinions anyway.
With that, I dozed off to the lullaby of their mindless insults.
At some point, the class vibe shifted.
『She's here.』
I knew who it was without looking.
Yuuki.
-Tap tap tap. Scrape.
"Hah, hah, sorry I'm late!"
Yuuki apologized in a slightly higher-pitched voice than usual.
All eyes turned her way this time.
"You're late. Make sure to come on time next. It's a bother to the other students."
The old teacher lectured sternly, unlike with me.
"S-sorry."
Yuuki bowed deeply in apology.
Meanwhile, the classmates whispered among themselves.
『She really turned into a girl.』
『How?』
『Drug side effect?』
『Tsukimiya was right.』
『Can you just turn into a girl like that?』
『She's a girl but wearing the boys' uniform?』
『Sex change surgery?』
『How'd it happen so suddenly?』
『Kurosaki... I was aiming for her.』
Hmm.
How do these kids spot she's a girl at a glance?
It took me forever, and I've known Yuuki ages.
Talented bunch.
I was mulling that over leisurely when—
"Whoa!"
-Crash!
Yuuki tripped spectacularly on her way to an empty seat.
I reflexively started to jump up, then stopped.
"Kurosaki! If you're late, at least sit quietly!"
"S-sorry."
Yuuki apologized to the old teacher again and limped to her seat.
Giggles of mockery echoed after.
『Heh heh. Watch your step, Kurosaki-chan.』
I had to stay slumped over my desk until class ended.
Or someone might see my twisted face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
During morning classes, I diligently gathered intel.
Normally, in crowds like this, I narrow my mind-reading to Yuuki.
She blocks out all the annoying chatter for me, like a human jammer.
Without Yuuki, I spread it wide instead.
The noise fades to white static, barely noticeable.
Then I nap face-down.
No one bugs me—pure bliss.
But not today.
I scooped up every scrap of mindless chatter from the class all lesson long.
Class makeup: 4 boys, 11 girls.
Fewer guys since the Great Catastrophe drafted and killed so many.
Our class still has 4 guys at least—upper years are way more skewed.
Ah, but with Yuuki turning girl, it's 3:12 now.
Anyway.
I had the full picture in under 10 minutes.
Everything was in Tsukimiya Akane's palm.
Yesterday and this morning.
In that short time without me or Yuuki, Akane had seized the whole class.
She was already the girls' leader.
Yuuki led the boys, but with more girls in our generation, Akane held sway overall.
Minus us two: 2 boys, 11 girls.
Small group, but Akane conquered it with her signature leadership—in a flash.
Fine up to there.
Akane taking over was inevitable, with or without us.
But what she did after? Absurd.
Yuuki's TS was already class gossip via Akane yesterday.
Others reacted like her: "Creepy."
If Akane had said, "Let's comfort poor Yuuki," they'd have followed.
She didn't.
She framed Yuuki's TS as "creepy."
Class leader Akane marked Yuuki for bullying.
I'd been through it as a kid—ijime in this trash world ain't a joke.
Makes Korean group bullying look like kids' play. You'd want to die on the spot.
I survived thanks to hero Yuuki as my shield.
Now the arrows pointed at Yuuki herself.
Some kids secretly like or want to help Yuuki.
But defy Akane? Arrows turn on you.
One dissenter can't stop it—just adds another victim.
Unrealistic to expect that here.
Takes a Yuuki-level force.
Still, no bullying yet.
Main reason: me.
They're watching my reaction to Yuuki-bashing.
They'd have started already, but me wiping Tanaka yesterday spooked 'em.
Borrowing the student council president's tiger? Not worth poking.
That leg trip when Yuuki entered? Testing me.
If I'd jumped in, Akane's crew would've pivoted.
But I stayed silent, pretending to sleep all class.
Keeps my stance ambiguous for later.
While they're guessing my move, no one dares touch Yuuki.
If I sit it out too? Bullying kicks off.
...I'd already talked strategy with Yuuki before academy.
Pretend to fight and drift apart for now.
Original Naibusu and Yuuki quarreled and split; pervs exploited the gap.
This time, bait 'em with Yuuki, crush the pervs at once.
But now I'm torn.
Plan didn't account for Yuuki getting bullied.
Stick to it, and I watch her suffer.
Yuuki saved me from bullying hell.
Can I just watch her go through it?
──Decision time approaching.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Naibusu!"
Lunchtime.
A repulsive presence approached.
Tsukimiya Akane.
"Lunchtime. Get up."
"Ugh..."
Akane shook me awake as I refused to stir.
I groggily lifted my head, stretched.
"...Yawn. Already?"
"Sleeping all day! Why come to academy then?"
Why does he even come? Sleep at home.
"Tired. Classes suck."
"Can't be helped."
Akane unpacked her bento on my desk like it was natural.
I rummaged in my bag for mine.
Yuuki watched us sidelong, eating alone.
"Naibusu. How'd you get chummy with the student council president?"
"Dunno. Just happened."
Akane started prying as we ate.
This is why I hate standing out.
"Not 'just happened.' Yesterday you were holding hands."
-Clink.
Yuuki's chopsticks hit the floor.
Yuuki's grip weakened post-TS?
"Don't say stuff that sounds wrong. Just helped her up."
"Still. Her casually holding a guy's hand? Not normal."
"Dunno."
"Related to last year's 'incident' maybe?"
"Dunno."
Akane switched topics, sensing I wouldn't spill on the president.
"Naibusu. Know Kurosaki turned girl?"
"...Saw this morning."
Finally the main point.
Kurosaki, huh.
I call everyone by name for simplicity, but Japanese folks don't unless close.
Akane usually called Yuuki by name as a friendly thing.
Using the family name now? Drawing a line.
Cunning bitch.
"What do you think?"
"About?"
"Kids all hate it. Not you, right? You're friends."
"Ha!"
Akane's fake concern for Yuuki was so phony, I snorted.
Lent realism to my crappy acting.
"Friends? Me? With a pervert playing dress-up?"
-Clink.
Yuuki's chopsticks dropped again.
She didn't even pick them up, shoved her chair back, and bolted from the room.
"Yuuki!"
Akane called after her, sounding concerned.
Her mouth twisted uglily.
Perfect. No one left to get in my way.
Hmph. Ridiculous.
Even twisted, I thought her feelings for Yuuki were real.
That's why I'd just watched her and Yuuki.
But the second Yuuki turns girl, this attitude?
Should've known from the start──
"Naibusu. President's calling."
"Oh. Senpai."
A familiar guard senpai stood beside me.
When'd he sneak up? Ninja?
I hid my churning guts and grinned welcomingly.
"Gotta go now? Mid-meal."
"No chit-chat. President's waiting."
Even I ain't that bold on an empty stomach.
Meekly followed.
"Have fun, Naibusu~."
Akane, in high spirits, waved me off.
...Just hang in a few days, Yuuki.
I'll repay what you took several times over.
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