"Rihana, do you know what you're saying? Everyone and I are taking a risk to come here to avenge you. We're not even afraid of the punishment of expulsion, just to let you vent your anger. Now you're telling us you don't need it? Are you saying that even after all this, you still want to keep your hands clean? Or are you planning to betray us in exchange for an agreement that you won't be punished?"
Manabe's angry gaze sent shivers down Morofuji's spine. Manabe, controlled by her emotions, already had a touch of Ryuuen's tyrannical demeanor.
Seeing Manabe's displeased expression, Morofuji quickly began to explain.
"I, I absolutely have no intention of betraying everyone. I just..."
"You're our comrade too, right?"
Manabe's single sentence blocked all of Morofuji's escape routes.
Yes or no.
In the confined environment, Morofuji had to make a choice.
Looking at the wailing Karuizawa, who was being beaten, she could easily imagine that if she refused at this moment, the enraged Manabe would treat her like Karuizawa,
Pinning her against the wall and inflicting even more cruel methods.
Fear made Morofuji abandon her last shred of hope.
"Then I'll try..."
Morofuji slapped Karuizawa across the face.
Karuizawa dared not resist in the slightest.
Just like that, Morofuji began to gradually increase the force.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
"It seems... quite fun."
Morofuji gradually began to understand Manabe's enjoyment.
The exhilaration of bullying the weak made Morofuji continuously slap Karuizawa, even starting to use both hands.
Soon, both sides of Karuizawa's face were swollen.
If she went out looking like this, it would be immediately obvious that she had been bullied. At this moment, they didn't care about such things; they were completely immersed in the pleasure of bullying the weak.
When a person is in a weak position, they hate those who bully and humiliate them immensely, even extending that hatred to their status, power, and money, because they attribute the bullying they experience to material differences.
If only they became strong, this wouldn't happen. If I had their power, I would definitely protect the weak.
Some people who move forward with such thoughts also reach the level of those bullies. But when they first crack the whip on the weak, seeing the weak only able to cower and wail for mercy, they too become part of the bullies.
The hero defeated the evil dragon? No, it's just that a stronger person defeated a strong person. The evil dragon died, the weak still exist, and as long as the weak exist, the strong will continue to become the next evil dragon.
Because those who have truly experienced "power" cannot forget the feeling when bullying the weak, when the other party is powerless to resist and even begs for a miracle.
In the eyes of others, they are no different from gods who control destiny, and what they enjoy is the feeling of being treated as gods.
"Stop, stop! Please forgive me..."
Karuizawa then begged for forgiveness.
Morofuji, as if in a trance, completely ignored Karuizawa's pleas. At first, she was punching and kicking Karuizawa's face, but eventually, Morofuji began to assault Karuizawa's body, continuously stomping on Karuizawa's abdomen.
Karuizawa stopped screaming.
Tears of despair streamed down her cheeks.
She knew she had no means of resistance left.
Even if she knelt down and licked her shoes clean, she wouldn't escape a beating. Rather than being defiant to the end, it was better to accept.
That's right, after being bullied to the extreme, Karuizawa chose the same path as before: accepting the bullying, accepting reality, accepting that she was just a pathetic wretch!
Accepting that there are no miracles in this world!
Accepting that no one in this world would come to save her!
Accepting that she... deserved to be treated this way.
After an unknown amount of time, Manabe and the others left, satisfied.
Karuizawa, her voice hoarse from crying, clutched her abdomen and lay curled up, motionless.
Her gaze had become vacant.
It's ironic, but precisely because she became like this, no longer crying or resisting, Manabe found it boring and let her off.
So, the question is, when facing bullying, the weak resist and get severely beaten, but choosing to endure allows them to escape. What is the correct approach then?
Next time, if Karuizawa is asked to lick the dust off the shoes, she probably won't hesitate for a second.
As long as there is endurance, there is hope; as long as there is endurance, the pain will pass. It is precisely because this imprint is deeply etched into the minds of the bullied that they do not resist.
"Now it's my turn... If you look at me with that kind of gaze, I'll be very displeased, you know. If you want to tear into prey, look, there are four guys over there who haven't gone far. Go on, Kiyotaka, how about you let them witness your cruelty?"
Amane even smiled in such an atmosphere.
The next moment, Ayanokoji punched Amane's face as he had before, but this time his fist was firmly grasped. Amane's fingernails even dug into Ayanokoji's skin, leaving streaks of blood.
"Although we have a cooperative relationship, you also need to realize that you are nothing more than a pathetic wretch protected by me. If he wants to take you away, only I can protect you. If you want to go back to that place and continue being your artificial genius, I don't mind helping you, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
Amane lowered her body, adopting a stance used only in combat.
Ayanokoji and Amane stared at each other for about ten seconds before he shifted his gaze.
"Sometimes I really wish you could be my opponent."
"Who knows, maybe one day it will come true."
"That would be for the best."
Ayanokoji unbuttoned his school uniform as he walked in the direction Manabe had left.
Amane, on the other hand, first took out a small mirror she carried with her to confirm that her makeup and expression were fine.
To make Karuizawa feel her love, she had even prepared what she considered her most perfect smile. Such a smile could even capture the likes of Sakayanagi and Horikita, so there was no reason for Karuizawa to see through it, right?
Amane gently pushed open the door.
Moonlight streamed into the warehouse.
Karuizawa's body finally reacted a little when she saw the bright moonlight.
Amane smiled and came to Karuizawa's side, gently holding her in her arms.
"Kei, are you alright?"
The dying Karuizawa only reacted after Amane shook her a few times.
It must be said that Manabe and the others... or rather, Morofuji had hit her a bit too hard.
Ayanokoji should have instructed them not to attack vital areas or leave visible marks.
But Karuizawa's cheeks were swollen like a lump, and she winced in pain with every movement. Would anyone believe her if she said she fell?
Amane believed it, at least.
"Amane..."
"I'm here, I'm here. Does it hurt a lot? I'll help you stop the pain right away."
"You..."
Karuizawa's hoarse and intermittent voice made Amane a little confused, so she couldn't help but lean closer to Karuizawa's lips.
"Kei, what did you just say? Can you say it again?"
"I... said... Amane, your... smile is so fake."
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