Why?
I heard a familiar voice call out.
“Naa—tsu—!”
She leaped into my arms with a whoosh.
Aaah, this full, soft sensation… This must be heaven.
“What’s with that weird nickname?”
“It’s short for Natsumoto-kun! Natsu…! Is it weird?”
“…Yeah. It’s weird.”
Natsu. If you mispronounced it, it sounded like those guys from Germany. After what happened yesterday, Yua had become far more comfortable around me. The way she openly linked her arm with mine and pressed her body against me nearly gave me an erection. It took serious effort to calm myself down.
Guess I couldn’t shake her off yesterday after all.
By the time I walked her home, it was too late, so I ended up carrying her the whole way. And now she was throwing herself at me like this. Just how far was she planning to test my patience?
“It’s not weird. It’s your name, after all, Natsumoto-kun.”
Yua giggled with a bright smile. I stared at her in a daze before shaking my head to clear my thoughts.
“…Do whatever you want.”
That face. That body. Smiling at me like that was straight-up cheating. I subtly turned my head away, suppressing the urge to grab those massive breasts with both hands, and kept walking. My mind felt like it was spinning.
“Hehe… Just a little more and it’ll be perfect.”
Because of that, I didn’t hear it—the quiet murmur that slipped from Yua’s lips.
I had thought the whole incident was neatly wrapped up.
Because what happened afterward was completely outside my expectations.
…Maybe I was thinking too simply.
I stared at the people in front of me with emotionless eyes. After all, these were the bastards who had tried to drug and rape Yua. Just protecting her once probably wasn’t going to make them give up.
I felt Yua’s small, delicate hand clutch tightly at the hem of my shirt.
“Hey, move.”
Takahiro, who still hadn’t given up on Yua, had come all the way to our classroom and was staring at her.
“If you don’t… I’ll tell my hyungs what you did to us.”
…Hyungs?
Come to think of it, Takahiro and his crew were supposedly under the protection of some Circle. The way they smirked with such pathetic threats nearly made me burst out laughing.
—They were trembling.
Watching Takahiro’s hands shake uncontrollably, I slowly rose to my feet.
They’re scared.
The moment Takahiro’s group met my eyes, they flinched hard. They were clearly terrified of me. Well, after I had effortlessly crushed all five of them at once, it would’ve been strange if they weren’t.
That raised a question, though. If they were that afraid, they could’ve just stayed away. Was Yua really worth that much to them?
…No.
Yua was certainly desirable enough, but they had their own secrets that could be exposed. There was no need for them to take such a risk. The whole thing didn’t add up. Was it just bravado? Were they simply unwilling to accept that five of them had lost to one guy?
Sigh… Whatever.
I let out a small breath. Takahiro must have taken it as acceptance of their demand, because a sleazy grin spread across his face. Without hesitation, I reached out, grabbed him by the collar, and spoke in a chilling tone.
“Circle or whatever—bring them all.”
“What?”
“If they’re the ones protecting trash like you, they can’t be much either.”
I knew about the Circle. I also knew it wasn’t weak enough for me to dismiss so easily. But right now, I had to come on strong. Behind me, Yua was anxious. In front of me, these guys were shaking with fear. They seemed to think they were safe because we were inside a school classroom and I couldn’t touch them here.
Like I give a damn.
I shoved Takahiro hard enough to make him lose his balance, then casually swept his legs out from under him.
Bang!
As he slammed into the floor, I looked down at him with icy eyes.
“You guys aren’t even worth being my opponents anyway.”
This wasn’t an impulsive fight. When I glanced sideways, I saw Yua watching me with uneasy eyes.
[I think it’d be better if we didn’t tell anyone about what happened today.]
[If people find out, it’ll definitely hurt Suzuki-san’s reputation.]
I recalled yesterday’s conversation and steeled my resolve. I had decided to protect her. I had promised her.
I subtly shifted my gaze to check on Daiki, who was watching us with a blank expression.
What are you thinking right now?
I pushed the thought aside and moved. I actively exploited the fear in Takahiro’s charging group and responded in kind. Just like yesterday, they were as light as their words and actions suggested. A single punch or kick was enough to finish them.
And—though I hadn’t told Yua—
“That’s enough.”
“Haa… Haa…”
I caught my breath as I looked at the man wearing a Student Council badge. Violence within the school was handled by the student council. No form of violence on campus was ever justified. Therefore, both sides would be punished.
I met their cold stares head-on and nodded. I hadn’t expected this exact development, but I had foreseen something like it.
“All of you, follow me.”
I gave a small smile to Yua, who was staring at me in a daze, then followed him. By the way, up close, this guy didn’t look like a student council member—he looked more like a teacher. Those arm muscles and the back muscles visible even through his shirt… If I got caught by him, I doubted I’d survive. I seriously considered running, but it was obvious he’d catch me quickly, so I gave up.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Beyond where this man was leading us lay another purpose of mine.
A person I could never meet under normal circumstances…
The fourth heroine of this novel.
I steadied my mind and followed him. Takahiro’s group staggered along behind us as well.
The Student Council held absolute power within this school. That authority extended even to students protected by the Circle. When I first heard about it, I thought this school was insane…
But if the council officers are this strong, it makes sense.
I clicked my tongue as I watched the student council member walking ahead. Oblivious to my reaction, he continued walking in silence until he stopped in front of a door and stared at us quietly. Like a vassal inspecting his subordinates before they met the king, he swept his indifferent gaze over us, then knocked on the wooden door.
Knock. Knock.
Two concise raps. He spoke softly.
“President, I’ve brought ‘him.’”
I swallowed dryly at his words.
[Come in.]
A clear, beautiful voice like rolling jade beads came from beyond the door. The moment that pleasant voice granted permission, the door creaked open with a groan.
—Student Council President—
I looked at the nameplate on the desk. Turning my gaze, I saw a woman seated there, handling some documents. She didn’t even spare a glance at those entering, completely focused on her paperwork. She looked less like a student and more like a corporate employee.
A woman with white hair and black eyes. The way she concentrated on the documents while wearing thin-rimmed glasses was beautiful. Her skin was as pale and translucent as white jade, and her expression was cold and haughty. Gentle, yet sharp and frigid at the same time.
As I entered the student council room, she lifted her head from the documents and looked at me. It wasn’t my imagination. It wasn’t a delusion. She was clearly staring at me.
The moment our eyes met, I drew in a short breath and exhaled. The feeling that she could see right through me sent chills across my entire body.
“You’re here.”
With those words, she removed her glasses and set them down. The moment I saw my reflection in her black eyes, I realized something. But now wasn’t the time to speak, so I remained silent.
“As reported, this is a case of school violence.”
She listened to the student council officer’s report while scanning me and Takahiro’s group. Even Takahiro’s crew—who were known as delinquents even within the school—became as meek as lambs in front of her, saying nothing and simply staring at the floor.
Everyone waited silently for judgment. That was the power of the Student Council in this school. They held near-absolute authority. Ordinary people couldn’t understand how such power was maintained. Even I only knew because I had read the novel.
Hasebe Ren. The daughter of the head of the Hasebe Group, one of Japan’s largest conglomerates. Because she—the daughter of a family that even members of the National Diet wouldn’t dare touch carelessly—was the student council president, no one could defy the council. That was the setting.
“School violence results in a one-week suspension. There are no exceptions.”
The fact that even judgments like this were made by the student council president left no room for objection. Takahiro’s group and I simply accepted the punishment in silence. When I nodded, the student council officer took Takahiro’s group and left.
A simple, swift decision. And swift acceptance.
I remained in place, staring at her.
“Why did you call for me?”
The reason the student council had specifically summoned me along with Takahiro’s group. From the series of events, I had realized it was to call for ‘me.’ So I spoke first.
Ren, who had been quietly gazing at me with her black eyes, answered slowly and calmly.
“Natsumoto Ryu. I know what happened.”
“……”
“If you need help, feel free to tell me anytime.”
At Ren’s words, I nearly broke the poker face I had been maintaining. I tried to determine whether she was sincere.
Why?
Hasebe Ren. Even in the original story, she wasn’t someone you could easily approach or meet. So why…?
“The student council is always open to helping students.”
Was that goodwill I saw in those eyes?