The Delinquent Circle Sca

To me, who had already encountered and vanquished two ghost stories, ordinary academy classes weren't much of a challenge. After finishing my lecture, I left the classroom with a relaxed smile.

But putting that aside, three characteristics of gifts, huh. It was downright hilarious to think that I, the one teaching them, was directly violating two of those three rules myself.

Innate—the idea that they could only be obtained from birth, no other way. Yet I'd beaten an infinite loop ghost story and acquired Observation.

The second trait, Limited, was the same. Sure, the abilities manifested by gifts varied wildly from person to person, but in the end, they were just capabilities that "ordinary" humans could perform.

But the translucent status window floating before my eyes was proof positive of something no ordinary person could do.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You're the one loitering after class is over—what's your deal?"

I shot back at Elaine, who was naturally sticking by my side.

"Because you never know when another ghost story might barge in. So I have to stay by Teacher's side, just in case."

No way it'd come crashing in that soon... right? I wanted to say it, but the harsh reality that I couldn't deny her words was depressing. We were running into ghost stories at least once a day, after all.

Still, I didn't want to agree with her outright, so I trotted out an excuse I didn't fully believe myself.

"But even so, do ghost stories really come one after another without a break? Don't you think it's about time for a little rest?"

That was when it happened.

"Kyaaah!!"

A student's scream pierced my eardrums like a knife.

"...No way."

"Let's go."

Elaine and I rushed toward the source of the scream. There, a group of students had surrounded one lone student.

What the— Thankfully, it looked like plain old school bullying.

"P-please don't...!"

"Hey. Anyone hearing you might think we're the ones bullying you."

"Y-you actually are bullying...!"

"What? Say that again."

"Eek!"

It was a clichéd racket straight out of some old comic book. Turning my gaze, I saw a bunch of delinquents ganging up on some timid-looking kids. And among the thugs, there was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠familiar face.

Specifically, one I'd seen just earlier during lecture. The blond guy leading them—the one who'd slouched defiantly in my class.

"Come on. If you bump into someone, you apologize, right? Am I wrong?"

"Y-your shoulder hit ours because you bumped into us while passing by...!"

I could piece together the situation just from the snippets. My first thought upon witnessing it?

Even a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prestigious academy has delinquents. And not just any—they're organized into a pack.

It was so clichéd it almost felt unreal. But thinking about it, this world had spent three years masquerading as a romance fantasy, scamming everyone right up until graduation loomed—except for those last few months. A bit dated, sure, but a few cartoonish delinquents strutting around the academy? Totally plausible.

With that thought, before their antics could escalate further, I sighed and approached them. I wasn't usually the type to jump into this stuff, but if I was going to teach here, building a positive image wouldn't hurt.

"Elaine, this doesn't seem tied to any ghost story, so stay put for now. I'll handle these guys first, then we can talk—"

"Stop that!"

But someone beat me to intervening. And she wasn't even a teacher—she was a student.

I recognized her. She'd been in my lecture hall just moments ago, actively participating. With her fluffy hairstyle and petite build, of course she'd stuck in my mind.

Her attitude was brave, but to anyone watching, her tiny frame—head and shoulders shorter than the delinquents—made it recklessly foolish.

"Huh? What's this? Some little brat."

"Ganging up on one person? Aren't you ashamed?"

"Mind your own business! Think we'll go easy just 'cause you're a girl?"

Something felt off. Every word was unnecessarily emphasized, like some retro Japanese delinquent manga.

But despite the overwhelming size difference, she faced them without a hint of fear, standing tall. Truly astonishing bravery.

Yet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the delinquents were astonishing in their own way—shamelessly threatening this girl who was so much smaller than them.

This is gonna end badly.

"What do you think you're doing in this sacred academy?!"

"Tch. Old fogey. Count yourself lucky, wench."

As I bellowed and stepped forward, even they couldn't openly defy a teacher. They scowled and slunk away.

Look at that dialogue. Straight out of some ancient comic—quaint as hell.

I considered grabbing the ringleader for some guidance but decided they were too spooked and let it go. Instead, I approached the student who'd been their victim moments ago.

"Thank you. You saved me."

"No need. I showed up late and didn't do much. Thank her instead." I gestured to the girl who'd boldly stood up to the pack.

"You're Rone, right? Rone Yustria?"

Before she could even respond, the translucent window confirmed it, popping up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as if to affirm my words.

Her name was Rone Yustria. The petite girl with fluffy hair who'd passionately questioned during my lecture.

Unlike with Elaine, her gift details weren't visible.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, another message appeared. It seemed the info varied because all I knew about her was her name and face.

"Oh? You know my name?"

"Of course. I make a point to remember every student in my class."

"Ah... I see."

Rone looked oddly disappointed for some reason.

"Anyway, Rone, that courageous act of jumping in to save someone deserves praise, but it was too dangerous. In the future, think about your own safety before helping others."

"Oh, that's fine. I've got a gift."

"A gift...?"

Did she have some special gift? Before I could ask, the bullied student voiced her concern.

"...But are you okay? You got on Muchia Leoporte's bad side."

"Muchia?"

"The leader of that group just now."

"I know the name. He's in my class too. But what do you mean 'got on his bad side'?"

"That Muchia guy's got a bad rep. Word is, he's the head of Sca—the circle where all the academy delinquents gather..."

"Sca? There's a circle like that here?"

Prestigious academy, my ass—it's got everything. Or maybe I should view this through a romance fantasy lens? This world's genre was cosmic horror ghost stories now, but before drifting into that, it was straight-up romance fantasy.

In a ropan, they'd toss in a mismatched delinquent circle or two for contrived crises, right? Totally fits.

"I hope you didn't get targeted by Muchia's crew just for saving me..."

The rescued student fretted over dragging Rone into danger, but Rone just flashed a confident grin.

"Thanks for worrying, but I'm good. As long as I have my gift, those punks can't beat me. Thanks for the help too, Mr. Allen."

The student and Rone exchanged thanks and left.

As they departed, Elaine sidled back up to me.

"Good thing it wasn't a ghost story, Mr. Allen."

"Saying it's a relief because it was just school violence? You can't say that."

"B-but honestly, you were relieved it wasn't a ghost story too, right!?"

"But I didn't say it out loud, did I?"

"Eeeek...!"

I teased her like that, and surprisingly, the rest of the day passed without further incident—completely ordinary.

For the first time, a full day free of ghost stories slipped by.

If every day could be this peaceful, it'd be perfect.

......

And the next day.

The academy had been taken over by delinquents.