Chapter 322: Good Karma or Bad Karma? #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 322: Good Karma or Bad Karma? #2
After lunch, I was worried about the student who was being bullied, so I headed to Class 1-C.
A big upperclassman with a different colored name tag loitering in the hallway naturally drew a lot of attention.
A few of them recognized me. It was probably because of the trouble I got into with the Judo Club during the winter semester.
“Hello...”
A female underclassman I didn't recognize gave me a timid greeting.
When I awkwardly returned her greeting, her friends started giggling amongst themselves, and it actually felt pretty good.
Goes to show, it pays to be handsome.
I went to the open back door of Class C and peeked inside.
Hiyori was... sitting in the back, chatting cheerfully with her friends.
Someone must have cracked a joke, because she clapped her hands with a loud smack! Her big reaction was cute.
The guy who was being bullied... he's in the middle of the room.
The jerk whose shin I kicked in the cafeteria was pettily kicking the leg of his desk, snickering with his cronies as he bullied him again.
Why isn't he bullying him openly? Why's he acting like such a little girl?
My question was answered soon enough.
The jerk stopped subtly poking at the student and went over to Hiyori.
“Asahina! You said you play Apex, right?”
At his booming voice, Hiyori stopped her conversation and looked at him.
“Yeah. I just started recently.”
“Wanna play together today?”
“No. I don't really play that much. And I have plans today, so maybe next time.”
“Oh, really? Okay.”
Wow... The same guy who was extorting people in the cafeteria completely changes his tone in front of Hiyori, turning into a gentle lamb.
He must be really interested in her.
It's only natural, I guess, but I can't help but feel annoyed.
After getting the gist of the classroom's atmosphere, I took a deep breath.
Then, in a low voice—but loud enough for most of the students in Class C to hear—I spoke.
“Hey, you. Come here.”
The noisy classroom instantly fell silent, and all eyes turned to me.
I could see the heads of the bullied kid, the jerk whose shin I'd kicked, Hiyori, and all the other students snap in my direction.
“Huh? Matsu...”
Just as Hiyori, her already large eyes widening even more, was about to call my name,
“Me?”
the guy who was the target of my glare pointed to himself.
He cluelessly cut Hiyori off. That's 10 demerit points. A death sentence.
“Yeah, you.”
“....What do you want?”
Look at that rude tone. He's got all the makings of a perfect problem child to make me look good.
As he came toward me, his friends swarmed out too, their expressions aggressive.
Such loyalty. And after only a few days of school...
I'm so lonely. If I had Takashi with me, I'd feel a lot more secure.
I wonder how he's doing these days. Maybe I should give him a call.
“What were you just doing?”
“What?”
“You were bullying him, weren't you?”
“No, I wasn't.”
“You just kicked his desk leg.”
“What are you talking about? I didn't do that.”
If you're going to deny it, at least do it shamelessly instead of glancing around at everyone.
His technique is so sloppy.
“Name tag?”
“On my desk.”
“Name.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“Name.”
When I asked again, my expression clearly showing my annoyance, the guy flinched slightly and answered reluctantly.
“....Nishida.”
“Is that all?”
“It's Nishida.”
“Nishida what, punk.”
“....Nishida Yuji. Why? You think you're somebody?”
Asking if I think I'm somebody without even addressing me properly.
I guess he'd rather die than call me 'senpai,' huh?
It's so obvious what a guy like that is thinking.
“Yeah. I am somebody.”
“What are you?”
“You don't need to know. I'll be watching you.”
Kids like Nishida in front of me now, the ones who openly act defiant, aren't that scary.
The really scary ones are guys like Tetsuya, who ooze a sinister aura.
The type to see a woman he likes getting out of her car on the street, find her number on the car, and start pestering her.
Just imagining it gives me the creeps.
“Do whatever you want. Whatever...”
Nishida muttered, as if to protect his pride, and left with his cronies.
I was lamenting how his disrespectful behavior showed that morality had hit rock bottom, when I remembered I wasn't much different as a first-year and inwardly clicked my tongue.
“What was that? What happened?”
Hiyori asked, having approached the back door at some point.
I deliberately pointed at Nishida with my index finger for all to see.
“That Nishida kid, or whatever his name is. You keep a close eye on him.”
“Whyyy?”
“He's bullying a classmate.”
“Who was he bullying?”
“That guy. The one with glasses sitting in the middle.”
“Noguchi?”
“I don't know his name, but watch him carefully. He was doing it in the cafeteria, too.”
“Oh, really? I didn't know. I'll be sure to tell Miho.”
“Don't just tell Mitsushima, you watch him too.”
“Okay. Is that why you came here?”
“Basically.”
I could ask her to be nice to Noguchi, but that might make the guy develop a huge crush on Hiyori, so that's out.
You have to separate public and private matters.
Truthfully, even if I didn't say anything, once Hiyori figures out the situation, she'll be nice to Noguchi on her own.
“I'll keep a close watch. Don't worry.”
Hiyori closed her eyes gently, nodded, and spoke in a mature tone.
Her expression just now reminded me of Chinami for some reason, so I said,
“Right, but why do you keep talking so...”
“Quiet...! Lower your voice...! You just gave him a warning. If you suddenly act all flustered, you'll look weak.”
“To whom? To you?”
“Nooo...! Not to me, to everyone else.”
“Aren't you the one making me look weak?”
“I am not! Anyway, senpai. Did you actually see Nishida bullying Noguchi?”
Look at her changing the subject. I really want to give her a forehead flick.
“I did.”
“So you saved him?”
“It's a bit of a stretch to say I 'saved' him...”
“I guess you scolded Nishida in your own way, then? With a bit of a... brawny feeling?”
If by 'brawny feeling' she means violence, then she's spot on.
“Why are you asking so many questions?”
“Are you embarrassed? Want a Suichu to feel better?”
Hiyori's expression was quite bright.
She wasn't happy because she was talking to me, but because she was proud of me for protecting Noguchi.
She could have listened to Nishida's side and cross-referenced, but it seems Hiyori just decided to trust me.
Well, we did see each other occasionally during the break at the cafe as a customer and a part-timer, and we got closer by talking a lot, so she probably has a rough idea of what kind of person I am... If I were her, I'd trust me over Nishida too.
Wait, but why is Hiyori proud of me?
Hiyori isn't Miyuki... I guess this is what they call the tables being turned.
“I don't want one. I'm leaving.”
“Okayyy.”
Hiyori grinned and waved her hand wildly.
I let out a dry laugh at her naturally slipping into informal speech, but I let it slide and left Class C.
I think I scored some points in my own way... but I have a vaguely uneasy feeling.
First thing's first, during club activities today, I'm going to give Renka a tight hug without saying a word.
Of course, Renka will probably snap at me, asking why the hell I'm acting up all of a sudden.
* * *
Miyuki, who had been wondering where I'd gone before class started, asked me about it.
When I explained the whole story to her, her eyes widened.
“Something like that happened? Before you gave me some of your sausage, Matsuda-kun?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn't I see it?”
“You were talking with the others then.”
“Was I? Sorry. I'll keep a better eye out from now on.”
What's there to be sorry about?
But her saying she'll 'keep a better eye out' from now on sent a chill down my spine.
“So, did you lecture that underclassman, Nishida?”
“Not really a lecture. I just told him I'd be watching.”
“You wanted to punch him but held back?”
It wasn't that I wanted to punch him; I wanted to break his neck, but I held back.
As if to show I couldn't be bothered to talk anymore, I leaned back against my chair and tilted my head back. Miyuki then gently stroked my hair as if to say 'good job'.
Mmm... The feeling of her slender fingers combing through my hair isn't bad.
The way she occasionally taps my scalp is nice, too...
My Miyuki really has a knack for turning people on.
Though, it's all stuff she learned from being with me.
“Nishida Yuji, you said? I'll keep an eye on him, too.”
“Do what you want. But is he one of those freshmen you told me to watch out for before?”
“No. That's the first time I've heard that name. If he were one of them, I would have known as soon as you said his name, Matsuda-kun.”
So he's no big deal, then.
I thought he was some dangerous figure and wasted all that mental energy for nothing. I should get that glasses-wearer, Noguchi or whatever, to buy me something from the school store later.
“So what's the criteria for this 'dangerous figures' list?”
“It's not a list or anything. I just briefly mentioned the kids who caused trouble before enrolling here. What do you think this is, some corporate blacklist?”
“But if you would've known his name as soon as I said it, doesn't that mean you already have those names in your head? How is that any different from having a list?”
“Why are you being so logical today? Your brain seems to be working fast. Should we study right now?”
“What are you talking about, study? Class is about to start.”
“Let's just do it until class starts. Just a little.”
Miyuki has gotten pretty bold lately.
Sometimes she's prim and proper like a graceful lady, and other times she's lively and cheerful like she is now...
My Miyuki is so multi-faceted. I love it.
Anyway, God, I've accumulated some good karma today.
There was a little violence involved, but that won't come back to bite me, right?
Please take care of any bad karma for me, and let only good things happen.
Having offered this tribute of gratitude to God in my head, I took a workbook out of my desk drawer.