Chapter 158 | Driven Into a Corner, She Goes Berserk (Failed)

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I was called by Imoko.

Since we couldn’t seem to have a proper conversation, I decided to confirm something.

It turned out she actually thought I was still in love with her. I was dumbfounded.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“N-Nonsense?”

She looked at me with her tear-streaked, yet vacant face. If it were Rika crying, I would do anything to stop her tears.

But seeing Imoko cry didn’t stir my heart in the slightest. It was probably different when we were dating.

“I haven’t forgotten what you did on Christmas.”

I waited for her in the freezing cold for our date, only to be stood up. And even at that point, she had already moved on, hadn’t she?

If it weren’t for Rika, I might have had a mental breakdown.

“You seriously think someone you treated so cruelly would still be in love with you? Are you delusional?”

There really are people in this world who have no understanding of other people’s feelings. I’d forgotten, since I’m surrounded by kind people like Rika and Dahlia.

It’s almost pitiful. But I don’t feel any sympathy.

“I hate you. I never want to see your face again.”

“W-Why?”

“Why…? Seriously, are you okay in the head? I told you, you hurt someone important to me.”

“Shinji-kun’s pride… Eek!”

“No.”

Imoko seemed scared. I didn’t know why, but I wanted this to be over quickly.

“You hurt my precious Rika. That’s unforgivable. Absolutely, completely unforgivable.”

Rika is a part of me. That’s how precious she is to me.

That’s why I snapped when she was bullied. But Imoko’s attitude made me realize something.

She didn’t know that my heart belonged to Rika. That’s why she could so casually do such terrible things to her.

Well, even if that weren’t the case, I think anyone who bullies others is the worst. I wonder why bullying happens.

No, how can we make it stop? How can we make everyone at school enjoy their school life?

“Ah, I see.”

An idea suddenly came to me.

“I just need to maintain peace and order at school.”

Yes, I’ll try it next year.

“…Hey, hey, are you even listening?”

The idiot was crying.

“You’re still here?”

“That’s so mean! Hey… why are you treating me like this?”

“You treated me like a disposable object too.”

“Sob…”

I’d had enough. She only called me out to ask me to plead with my grandfather.

She showed no signs of remorse.

“I’m done talking. Don’t bother me anymore. Just go away.”

I tried to leave. Imoko let out a nasty laugh.

“Ha, hahaha! Everyone! Get him!”

As Imoko shouted, something emerged from the shadows of the rooftop.

“I’ve been waiting for this, Imoko!”

A group of thugs appeared one after another.

“Who are these delinquents?”

“Ahaha! They’re my friends!”

These are her friends, huh? She should choose her friends more carefully.

It reveals her character.

“Hey, Imoko, are you seriously gonna give us a million yen if we beat this guy up?”

Does she even have that kind of money?

“Yes! If you hurt him, I’ll give you a million yen, or however much you want!”

…Is she stupid? If she does that, my grandfather will be furious.

I’m sure he’s already incredibly angry.

But, I see.

She’s trying to intimidate me into asking my grandfather to make everything go away. Do it, or else they’ll hurt me, or something?

Or maybe beat me up, strip me naked, and threaten to spread the photos unless he complies?

“Sigh…”

“W-What?”

“You’re beyond saving, aren’t you?”

Her plan is so foolish and shortsighted.

“I’m not afraid of some amateur thugs like you.”

“Hmph! You’re the idiot! It’s 15 against one, and you’re just a weak, lonely nerd!”

Her eyes were bloodshot. She must have been quite desperate.

…Fifteen, huh? Where were they all hiding?

Ah, they were probably hiding in the classroom. They must have come up the stairs and waited after I entered.

“Now, Shinji-kun! If you don’t want to get hurt, listen to me!”

Sigh…

“That’s my line. Though,”

I looked at the closest thug and said,

“It’s too late now.”

Pang! There was a dry sound.

Squish!

“…Huh? Eek!”

One of the thugs collapsed on the spot. His eyes were rolled back, and his face was stained crimson.

“Huh? Huh? W-What?! What’s happening?! Could it be… b-b-bl-blood?!”

Imoko was terrified. Well, it was true, something very red was dripping from the thug’s head.

It was dark, so it probably looked like blood.

Pang! Squish!

Another thug fell with another dry sound. The thug’s face was stained crimson.

“A gun?! Was he sniped?!”

Ah, so that’s what it looked like. Well, I guess so.

“Eeeeeeek! No! H-Help me!”

Mistakingly thinking I had a gun (or that a sniper was targeting us), Imoko clung to the thugs.

“Are you stupid?! We can’t fight against a gun!” “Damn it! Let’s run!” “Eeeeek!”

The thugs ran away together. But…

Clang.

“Ta-da! It’s the Terminator!”

“Saburo-san!”

The muscular, black-suited man, Niekawa Saburo-san, arrived.

“I was worried about Shinji-kun, so I came to help!”

Saburo-san!

“Hey, hey, you chicks! You won’t get away with hurting Shinji-kun! I’m gonna teach you a lesson!”

The thugs’ faces were filled with despair. Imoko’s face turned white, and she collapsed on the spot, trembling.

Well, I don’t feel any sympathy for her.

“Saburo-san, and Ichika-san. Do it.”

“Roger that!”

Pang! Squish!

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