My name is Yukimura Sato.
The entire time I was in school, I was a bullying target. By Kazuya Kurogane, and his best friend Takeshi Sousuke.
At times I'd have begged God for him to stop tormenting me so much, that I didn't care if he moved to bully someone else.
Then came Makoto-kun. He transferred to our high school the same time Rina—his childhood friend—did. She had an easy time adjusting, so her mother suggested that to Makoto's.
He stuck to her like glue. Seemed even more closed-in than I ever did. And whenever I looked at him, then back at myself... I'm ashamed to admit, I felt pride in myself.
That at the very least, I don't get stuck to a girl all day all quiet. He'd even be silent, standing next to her while she mingled with her friends. Him not saying a single word at all.
To someone like Kazuya... who loved the weight of his foot over someone else, who hated seeing other people exist without ever looking at him...
That was just too tempting a target.
He'd start subtle. Pretend he was Makoto's friend next to Rina and her friends. Then, he'd be friendly with her. But behind the scenes...
He'd throw erasers at the back of his head in class, then when Makoto turned around, he'd blame him for looking at him.
The teacher would follow Kazuya's lead, because the rest of the class would quietly bend to Kazuya's reality; so Makoto was the one who got punished for losing concentration, or harassment.
Then, when Makoto didn't fight back... he'd tell him things.
Like comment on how cute she was, and how he's tempted to take her away. The type of shit you'd only hear in NTR mangas. Complete nonsense to anyone who knows what a real relationship looks like.
But for someone like me, and him who are drowning ourselves with fiction...
...that was a real threat.
And Kazuya knew that. So he'd tell him to back off Rina, tell her off. Not walk home with her.
Claiming he'd do it for her. Because Makoto was seen like a creep following her around, and her friends secretly hate her for it.
He'd believe it. And they gradually grew more distant... That's when Kazuya swept in. Wondering why isn't Makoto with Rina? Then he became her new comforting force... Then her romantic partner.
Rina is a good girl. Kind.
She's just so pathetically naive. Everyone knew behind the scenes what fucking snake Kazuya was. But everyone was too afraid to say it.
And Rina was too engrossed by his charisma to notice it, either.
Since Makoto and Rina were separated and no longer talking to each other, Makoto was basically all by himself. No one to notice something was wrong, except maybe his mother.
But Kazuya took care of that, too.
"Rina doesn't talk to you because you burden her," he said. "No need to do the same to your mother, too, right? You don't want me... taking her away too, right? Oh, I saw her picture. She's kinda hot. Takeshi, you seen his mom? She's a fucking baddie... Would look great in a bunny suit, I bet."
And after a few days, like a predator, he'd just watch and see if Makoto really took the bait. And when he saw no nagging from his parents or the school...
The bullying got even worse.
He'd practice his kicks on him.
Force him to pee with everyone around him in the bathroom.
Ambushed him on his way to school.
They'd often show him that they're spying on his mom too, just to mess with him.
When I looked at him...
I thought that this must be what hell was like.
But I was glad that at least it wasn't me...
So despite how me and him shared the same interests...
We said nothing to each other.
And now...
"This hero is cursed. Send him to the abyss dungeon," the king said.
'... Now I'm forced to see Makoto, who went through ALL of that, getting executed!?'
I clenched my fist, biting my lips as I looked down. The guards taking him away to the circle.
'No... This is just... Too cruel!'
"Wait!" I yelled suddenly. "You can't just—!"
"Be silent, Sage," the king snapped. "You are heroes. He is not. His presence may harm you all. We can't have that. This is for our safety, and yours. We do not have the luxury nor resources to see if we're wrong."
Now.
Only now.
When there's no chance to save him from dying.
I just shout and let my cries be shut down on the spot.
'I... I wanted to ask him... His favorite manga...' I thought as I watched it happen.
Makoto's expression changed. I froze.
"If I... survive..."
Shivers down my spine.
"I'll fucking kill you a—"
Rock thrown at him. Kazuya.
Of course it was Kazuya... Robbing him of his last words.
'If only you'd said it, Makoto...' I thought as I looked down, unable to watch him anymore. Unable to see him vanish.
'Maybe... Would I have gotten braver, too?'
"Hey. HEY! Yukimura!" Takeshi called, snapping me out of my memories.
"A-ah, yeah. His favorite stories," I cleared my throat. Takeshi was also a part of it, so of course I'm reeling. Especially since I'm just... Some B-rank, while he's A-rank. Even if I wanted to refuse him, I... I just can't.
But talking about Makoto-kun... Somehow, I don't mind as much.
"Uhm... I'd... I'd see him reading... Uh... "SSS-Class Dungeon Reviver: I got ISEKAI'D, Now Surrounded by The Affectionate Elves?!". I think was the name..."
"PFFt," a laughter erupting. Coming from Mika, our Arcane Archer, "What a dumbass name—"
"AND?!" Takeshi interrupted, still looking at the sky; silencing Mika.
"A... And...?" I muttered, clearing my throat.
'What else does he want?'
"FUCK, MAN! WHAT'S IT ABOUT!? What's the STORY ABOUT!?" Takeshi snapped his head to me, glaring.
Mika's laughter immediately died down.
"I, uhm, not sure," I let out, "I-I... Never really asked him what's his favorite story or read that one in particular... And all."
"What the fuck!?" Takeshi's body snapped up, "Weren't you two nerds butt-buddies? You were friends, right? What kinda friends don't know about their favorite stuff?!"
I looked down. A thought hitting me.
He already thought we were friends. And that's when I realized that he and Kazuya must've thought that even before coming to this world.
That means... That if I talked to him at least once...
... I still wouldn't be bullied.
I avoided him for nothing.
"Nerds... Are... Not all friends by default." I let out, my voice no higher than a whisper.
"What was that!?" Takeshi called loudly.
"WE WEREN'T FRIENDS!!" I yelled. Louder than Takeshi. Louder than I've ever been my whole life.
Silence. Rustling in the trees around us. Birds flying off. Everyone in the group heard that... But... No one said anything.
Not even Sir Hicks.
My eyes widened. Hurriedly, I looked away. Fuck. I yelled. At HIM. I'm done for...
"... I-I mean... We... I..." I'm unable to meet his eyes. He's angry.
Damn it.
Damn it.
"Why're you fucking shouting?" He let out, "Jesus. Middle of the night. Just fucking speak louder next time, oh my god..." He spat, looking to the side, rolling on his night-sack.
"Forget about it. Who gives a shit anyways..."
'...'
'I should probably sleep... Tomorrow. We go into a dungeon.'