Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: 2.7 Bullying 3
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Day 3 of the bullying.
Yuuki was being tormented today as well.
Especially today—swimming class too (since physical strength is life for Rune Holders, there are lots of sports-related lessons)—Yuuki must have suffered even more.
The swimsuits at Rune Academy, with its erotic game worldview, were outrageously lewd.
Men wore speedos, women the blue school swimsuits.
But these women's school swimsuits were far from ordinary.
They barely qualified as "school swimsuits" while maximizing skin exposure.
Chest, back, armpits, legs.
Every cutout plunged deep.
It was a swimsuit only possible in an erotic game worldview.
During the two-hour swim class, Yuuki rested with the girls on their periods.
Of course.
There was no way the now-female Yuuki could wear a male swimsuit.
Nor could she wear a female one.
Amid the girls, Yuuki resting in her male uniform naturally drew curious stares.
The teacher asked what was up, students snickered, and those in the know hurled sexual harassment without a second thought.
...Sis had set a deadline, but even I, just watching, couldn't take it anymore.
If nothing happened by today, time to end it.
That's what I'd decided.
Today too, I lay face down, pretending not to notice the bullying aimed at Yuuki.
Then a shadow approached.
"Naibusu."
"...Why."
I opened my eyes and checked who it was.
Well, I'd already known before looking.
Shiina Nanami.
The girl who'd secretly crushed on Yuuki before all this.
Dyed hair skirting school rules, short skirt, flashy look.
Shiina Nanami rocked her own "soft gal" style.
Nanami had some sway among the girls, but this semester, she'd been totally sidelined.
Because Nanami opposed Akane.
"What're you gonna do?"
"About what?"
"Don't play dumb? Kurosaki."
I glanced at Yuuki.
Today too, she was scrubbing her desk with a rag.
Sometime when I wasn't looking, a massive graffiti had been added to Yuuki's desk.
A crude drawing of a naked woman thrusting her ass backward.
Bonus: both hands spreading those cheeks wide.
The figure was clearly female, yet bizarrely, dangling below wasn't a woman's pussy but a man's cock.
Anyone could tell it mocked Yuuki.
And the damn thing was sketched so realistically, it made your skin crawl.
"Kurosaki? Why tell me?"
"You're friends."
A mismatched line drew a sigh from me.
"Not that. If you wanna help Kurosaki, tell Akane—not me."
"You know best she won't listen to Akane."
"You know she doesn't listen. I agree."
"But she pretends to listen to you."
Yeah, she'd pretend.
Not out of fear for me, though—for the president backing me.
In other words, use the president's name to rein her in.
Couldn't pull the president's clout for something this petty.
"So? Want me to tell Akane?"
"Or just watch it continue?"
Nanami protested, clearly dissatisfied.
Her sense of justice was admirable.
But I couldn't go along with it.
"What's in it for me stepping in?"
"Huh?"
"Pretty girl versus crossdressing perv. Which side you think I'd pick?"
Objectively, reining in Akane made me look like an idiot.
Akane acted so cozy with me, everyone figured she was my girlfriend—or fuck buddy.
Shiina Nanami standing there thought the same.
Meanwhile, Yuuki: my old friend who'd shown up this semester in drag. Total perv.
Common sense dictated my choice.
Nanami knew it too.
Well, I was 120% Team Yuuki, but still.
"If I told Akane that, it'd sour things between us. What do I get? You're not seriously saying 'date the crossdressing perv,' right?"
Words that seemed to confirm the rumors about me and Akane.
Akane wasn't here, but her lackeys in class tracked my every twitch.
Couldn't give them ammo with careless talk.
"Or... Nanami, you wanna take Akane's place?"
"What?!"
I grinned vulgarly, testing her.
"Take Akane's place" meant exactly that.
Not serious—just playing my trash thug image.
To catch a tiger, enter its den, right?
To smash abusers, gotta act the part.
Hm. Close enough.
Image-building to crush the real abusers.
"...Idiot me for telling you."
I couldn't hide my bitterness watching Shiina Nanami turn away coldly.
Noble.
Like Sinozaki Shinobu throwing herself for Mizuki's president.
Shiina Nanami's spirit—defying class tyrant Tsukimiya Akane for Yuuki's sake—shone noble in my eyes.
One of this trash world's rare hopes.
Shiina Nanami!
You deserve pure love with Yuuki!
I'll root for you!
Ah. But first, turn Yuuki back to a guy.
...How, though?
Wish on that creepy hand again? "Make me a dude"?
But the original wish hadn't been "make me a girl."
Wishing "guy" might twist into something weirder.
Like... uh...
Never mind. Just thinking taints the soul.
──And so, with no gains beyond Yuuki's bullying...
Day 3 drew to a close.
My sanity was shot.
Time to tell Sis and the president—wipe 'em out tomorrow.
That's when it happened.
"Yuuki~!"
A girl calling out to Yuuki so chummily.
None other than the bullying ringleader, Tsukimiya Akane.
Akane approached calling her "Yuuki"—not "Kurosaki"—like nothing was wrong.
She started to perch on the desk, spotted the graffiti covering it, and recoiled in disgust.
"Yuuki! Wanna call it quits on this?"
Akane beamed, probing her.
Yuuki didn't even glance or acknowledge.
"You and I are friends, right? I could tell the others to stop. If you want."
Hah. Friends.
Which lying mouth spat that?
Did Akane have two pussies or what?
"But the other friends can't just forgive you either. Gotta show you're one of them! Get me?"
...What scheme now?
Yuuki hadn't done jack wrong.
Forgive what?
Akane set a hidden paper cup on Yuuki's desk.
Then wiped her hands with a handkerchief like it'd touched filth.
"Here. Dump this on Shiina Nanami's head. Then you're forgiven."
Akane's voice—clear as tinkling jade—rang through the classroom.
No one missed it.
Akane smirked cruelly, lip curling.
Nanami, eavesdropping, froze at her name and stared at the two.
Faint steam rose from the half-filled yellow liquid in the cup.
Piss—from one of the class's four guys.
The whole room's eyes locked on Yuuki and Akane's exchange.
Disgusting. Stinks. Such thoughts raged like a storm.
Nanami's was among them—the one Akane just name-dropped.
...Harsh.
Why suspect me?
Your fault for blabbing where everyone could hear.
"Yuuki, you can do it, right? I went to lengths to help you—"
But.
Akane's words cut short.
Splash.
Yuuki hurled the cup's contents right in Akane's face.
Oooh! Prime-time drama!
Badass, Yuuki!
"Uwah!"
"Gross!"
The kids nearby scrambled back to dodge stray splashes.
Nanami—bracing as next target—gazed at Yuuki with renewed admiration.
"No need, Tsukimiya Akane."
Yuuki stared her down, eyes rock-solid.
"I don't obey trash like you."
"...Ha. Haha."
Hahaha.
Dry laughter escaped Akane.
Her face smiled, but her eyes blazed fury.
Art club Satomi rushed over with a towel, draping it over Akane's head.
Satomi was trying to soothe Akane—out of worry for Yuuki, probably.
No need to baby her kind, Satomi.
"...Fine. I admit it. But how long can you keep that up?"
Akane stormed out, piss dripping from her hair.
Leaving that ominous thought behind.
...Hm.
Wonder how Akane'll hit back.
Today? Tomorrow?
That vibe screamed aggressive moves incoming.
But Akane—I warned you.
Don't cross the line.
I'd rather not kill the girl Yuuki once crushed on.
Afterward, Akane never returned to class.
But I could guess what she was up to behind the scenes.
Group chat—she was barking orders at the others.
I wasn't invited, naturally.
All gleaned from their minds.
Pathetic.
I'm the outcast.
Sob sob.
"Sigh~."
I sorted the details in my head, then sighed.
──Akane. You finally crossed it.
I grabbed the sword from the president—Moonlight—and left the classroom.
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