Chapter 17: Physically defying online slander part 3

Translator: Soafp

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When Sousuke returned to the low table, Nanaka was gone. He had not seen her, but apparently she had gone to the bathroom. Wakaba, on the other hand, was shaking slightly.

“…… What happened, Hashirama?”

“The trauma that Sou-chan planted in her mind came back to her mind. ……”

　Shion makes a distant look.

“The trauma?”

“You’ve killed at least one person, haven’t you?”

　Wakaba has a straight face.

“What kind of question is that?　I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m not a strong fighter.”

“Rather, I’m rather weak.”

“Lies, you definitely have beaten someone to death.”

　She is very serious.

“I’ve almost been beaten to death by a guy who was trying to get me to fight him.”

“Ha?”

　Wakaba looks at Sousuke with a look of disbelief.

Shion laughs bitterly.

“Sou-chan, you go out to agitate the other party, even though you are prepared to be beaten to death.”

“It’s normal. They say to challenge a bully with a mind to make him hit you once and throw the bully in jail. It’s the quickest way to get evidence of a crime.”

“Who told you that?!”

　Sousuke did not answer the question, but indicated Masaki with her thumb.

“If anyone has a chance, it’s Harigaya.”

“No way.”

　Masaki shrugged.

“Eh? Harigaya?　Why?”

　Shion wonders. Wakaba let out a small breath.

“Don’t you know, Izaki-san?　Harigaya is so strong in fights that she was challenged to a one-on-one duel by a delinquent. Legendary junior high school student, right?　That’s a lame nickname.”

“Eeh?!”

“I don’t care what you say about others. The woman on the phone just now also looked pretty bad.”

　Sousuke was startled. The conversation had somehow gotten sidetracked.

“Either she’s making a lot of assumptions or she doesn’t listen to others. Either way, she’s a pain in the *ss.”

　And then Nanaka was back. She looked pale. She should not have been the only one to hear the content of the call. Sousuke reflected on this in his mind.

“Are you alright?　Nanaka.”

　She nodded with a blue face.

“Sugaya-kun, right?　Thank you. Because I can’t talk back.”

　She smiled happily.

“No, that was just momentum overwhelming her.”

“But I feel a little better now. That’s great.”

“……Why are you blushing?”

　Wakaba’s replied.

“It’s just your imagination?”

　Sousuke returns with a blank look.

“I never got to hear the end of the caller’s story, but I was afraid she thought of you that way.”

　The atmosphere in the room became as heavy as ever.

“Uhm, how about Nanaka following Sugaya’s example and going in strong? After all, you can try it.”

“I don’t think she should do that. The flames are directed at Notake-san, and if she were to respond to them in a strong manner, it would accelerate the flames even more. It’s anonymous and there is more than one person on the other side, so it’s going to be a hellstorm.”

“By the way, Sou-chan, did you say earlier that the number is wrong?”

“If a third party were to argue on behalf of Notake, the hate would go to her, so I decided to say it was a wrong number. That way, I could do my best to argue back.”

“You were cursing so much that I thought it was personal.”

“To be honest, I lost my temper when he said something about a head injury.”

“Ah.”

　Everyone seemed to agree.

“And after a few words like that, I thought if I put out a message in the chat room dedicated to slamming Notake-san that Nanaka Notake had changed her store number, the number of calls criticizing her would decrease.”

“Oh, the anonymous variety”

　Sousuke nodded.

“So, Notake-san, I’ll take care of this for the next two or three times.”

“Thank you ……, Sugaya-kun.”

　Wakaba then glared at Sousuke.

“So you’re saying you won’t talk back to them with a good argument?”

“Righteous arguments, and talking back won’t touch their hearts. To people like that.”

“So, just leave it unsaid?”

“No. What is your point, Hashirama?”

“I want you to argue with them that Nanaka would never do such a thing.”

　Wakaba clenched her fists.

“If I do that, it will put Notake-san in a bad position, okay?”

“I know, I know. I know, but it’s frustrating.”

　Shion and Masaki also looked at them without saying anything.

“Wakaba, it’s fine. It can’t be helped. It’s bad enough that I didn’t respond to the strange comments right away and left it for a day.”

“But…”

　Sousuke nodded at Wakaba.

“I understand. I’ll try. I’ll try to argue the next call by saying that it was connected to this store. But I think it would be best if Notake-san does it. It’s not good for a man to argue instead for her. I’ll tell Notake-san what to say.”

“No, you should do it. Why do you think I brought you here?”

“I’m trying to do you a favor and you act like you are doing me a favor ……. I’ll tell her what to say.”

“No.”

“Then you’ll do it for me.”

“No.”

“What are you, a kid? Well bye.”

“Why?!”

“That’s why girls cause more damage.”

“Sou-chan, I have something called a voice changer”

“Eh ……?”

　Sousuke stopped moving.

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