Translator: RaidenTL
What comes to mind when you hear the surname 'Yamaguchi'?
For me, at least, it's a square jaw and masculine eyes.
It's not a main character's name, though.
It's a perfect fit for a supporting role, or maybe a minor one.
And right now, I was looking at that very minor character, Yamaguchi.
He was sitting on the rooftop railing, enclosed by a high chain-link fence.
His expression was so indifferent it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.
His physique was insane.
Must've taken him five years to build that.
Surrounding him were quite a few of the delinquents from his circle.
Among them were Takashi, who was looking at me with concern, and Samoyama, who was grinding his teeth.
As I swaggered toward Yamaguchi, an agitated Samoyama tried to step forward.
But when Yamaguchi spoke, he had no choice but to return to his spot, unable to do a thing.
"Matsuda Ken."
His voice was ordinary.
Good thing it wasn't a deep baritone like mine. I might've gotten jealous.
"Yes."
"You want to leave the circle?"
He delivered the message properly. Good job, Takashi.
I nodded and replied.
"That's right."
"Why?"
Yamaguchi has a positive view of people with spirit—or, to put it less kindly, people who are like reckless puppies that don't know to fear a tiger.
He also tends to like honest people.
So, instead of making up excuses, I should just tell him the truth.
"Watching you guys get into gang fights with other academies is pathetic, so I'm just going to quit. We're not high schoolers anymore."
The one who flew off the handle at my words wasn't Yamaguchi, but Samoyama.
"What did you say, you son of a bitch?"
The guy next to Yamaguchi approached me, raising his fist.
He looked ready to slug me at any moment.
Yamaguchi stopped him with a quiet voice.
"Enough."
"...Yes, senpai."
Watching him whimper was quite the sight.
"Are you saying you'll turn your back on your family?" Yamaguchi asked next.
Family, my ass... I wanted to scoff, but I held it in.
"Yes. I want to turn my back on them. I don't want to play these childish games anymore."
As I said this, I stared hard at Yamaguchi, my eyes wide open.
I wanted my sincerity to reach him.
Did he sense my resolve?
After a moment of silence, his tightly shut lips parted.
"You know the withdrawal rule, right?"
I did.
Cut off one of your fingers.
It was an incredibly old-fashioned shackle, something you'd expect from the yakuza of old.
"You mean cutting off a finger? What kind of crap is that? Honestly, I bet there are a lot of guys who can't quit because of it."
"Is that so?"
"Pretty much. I don't want to cut off my finger. I'll let you beat me to a pulp instead, so let's call it even with that."
Think about it, Yamaguchi.
You find this yakuza roleplay pathetic too, don't you?
The only reason you can't leave is because of the bonds you've built and the sense of responsibility you feel for the circle members.
You're the type who would seriously consider quitting if you had the chance, right?
So I'll help you.
The Supuri circle will be completely disbanded as of today.
I don't know what kind of punishment you'll face, but since you've still got a bit of that delinquent spirit in you, just take what's coming to you.
"Hmm..."
Yamaguchi seemed to be contemplating.
I had a feeling a positive answer was coming.
"So you're saying we should end this with you taking a good beating?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll do that. On one condition: you don't breathe a word about anything that happened while you were in the circle."
"Deal."
Right. He might understand where I'm coming from, but he can't just ignore the other members' positions.
I'm satisfied just by the fact that he accepted my proposal.
"S-Senpai...!"
I heard Samoyama's bewildered cry.
Then, all the extras in the circle began to murmur...
They must be pissed that the rock-solid Yamaguchi accepted a first-year's proposal.
If you've got a problem with it, you should've analyzed Yamaguchi's personality and agonized over how to approach him.
"Samoyama."
"Yes...?"
"You do it."
At those words, the corners of Samoyama's mouth instantly shot up.
This guy wasn't just pissed; he just wanted to fuck me up.
Well, I was hoping Samoyama would be the one to hit me anyway, so I have no complaints, but...
You're really a lost cause.
"How hard should I go?"
"Until I tell you to stop."
"Understood."
The stage was set.
All I had to do now was get my ass kicked.
"You haven't listened to a damn thing since the break started... You'd better get ready to die, you fucker."
Samoyama said as he strode toward me.
I looked down at him with a bored expression.
Today, unlike at the hideout, I won't bow my head while taking the hits—
CRACK—!
Underestimating him, my head snapped to the side with a heavy thud.
I think my lip split from that one punch... It hurts more than when I got hit at the hideout.
Should I just grovel pathetically and take it?
No. Once you've put on a front, you have to stick with it.
If I do, Yamaguchi might even stop Samoyama.
I turned my head back to its original position, swished my mouth, and spat out the blood that had started to pool inside.
Then, I gave the biggest grin I could manage.
All to make Samoyama even angrier when he saw my blood-stained teeth.
"Which crazy son of a bitch do you think you're glaring at..."
WHAM!
As expected, Samoyama took my bait and began to beat me in earnest.
WHAM! THWACK!
I have club activities to think about, so I shouldn't let him hit me hard enough to get a concussion like last time.
I just have to take the hits well enough for Samoyama to feel the impact.
Just as I was thinking that,
Thud!
The moment Samoyama went for what's commonly called a wasabari—a leg sweep—I knew I was fucked.
Well... I guess not everything in the world can go my way.
But aren't I the protagonist?
Getting humiliated by a minor character... Of course, I brought this on myself, but still, this is a bit much.
CRASH!
How long was I beaten?
I counted up to thirty hits, but I lost track after that.
It felt like it went on for a while, but my mind is surprisingly clear.
Samoyama isn't a weak puncher... Is this some kind of protagonist durability buff?
It's not just slightly bearable; it's very bearable.
Except for my split lip, that is.
"Hah... Hah...! This fucking bastard keeps blocking...!"
Samoyama gasped for breath, clearly getting tired of hitting me.
I glanced at Yamaguchi and saw he was about to step in.
But Takashi was faster.
"You son of a bitch...! Hey, you fucker! Stop hitting him!"
Unable to watch me get beaten any longer, he started screaming curses and was about to charge at Samoyama.
The moment Samoyama's face crumpled at the insults,
CLANG! CLANG-CLANG!
A loud noise came from the locked rooftop door.
Screech...! Squeak...!
Followed by the sound of something being picked open...
I had a hunch that the faculty and the student council had arrived.
Miyuki must have gotten worried when I didn't come back after a while and told them.
That's our Miyuki for you, always getting involved.
CLANK!
While everyone was frozen in shock, the handle of the rooftop door was torn off, and the door burst open.
From within, several students wearing the student council emblem on their chests and a group of faculty members, led by the PE professor, came pouring out.
"You little...!"
The PE professor, who was built like Yamaguchi, growled, then flinched when he saw me getting up.
"You... Are you okay...?"
I answered with a grin, swallowing the blood that kept welling up from my busted lip. I picked up my phone from the ground and stared intently at Yamaguchi.
He gave a small nod.
It was his signal that the withdrawal process was complete.
Finally, I've cleaned up the mess Matsuda Ken made and escaped that childish circle.
Even though it was a group I had almost no connection to in my original life, the sense of liberation is incredible.
It was a hell of an ordeal.
I pushed through the crowd and left the rooftop.
On the way, a young professor offered to help me, but I told him I'd go alone.
The one to help me up has to be Miyuki.
By the way, isn't it second period right now?
For so many professors and student council members to come up here when they should be in class, this incident must be a pretty big deal.
'I'm exhausted...'
My mind is fine, but my body is tired.
The accumulated damage hasn't gone anywhere, and the arms I used to guard myself are throbbing.
My face is numb, too.
As I carefully made my way down the stairs, I just plopped down in the second-floor hallway.
While I was catching my breath, scaring off curious students with just a glare,
"Aaaah!!"
Miyuki, who had been rushing up the stairs, saw me and let out a scream.
Seeing the blood on my face and uniform shirt, she covered her mouth with both hands.
It was a similar reaction to the one she had the day after I got beaten up at the hideout.
My face scrunching up, I picked at my ear with a weary look.
"Why are you so loud... You'll burst my eardrums. Quiet down a little..."
Did my voice sound okay?
Miyuki slowly approached me and spoke.
"M-Matsuda-kun...?"
"What."
"Are you okay...?"
"Of course I'm okay."
"There's blood on your face... and... on your clothes..."
"It's just a cut. I'm fine everywhere else. Want me to prove it?"
As I tried to jump to my feet, Miyuki quickly grabbed my wrist.
"N-No, stay seated...! I'll go get the school nurse...! Just... just wait a little...! Okay...?"
She then turned to go back down the stairs.
"Don't go."
But she froze at my low, subdued voice and turned her head.
I gave her a weak smile, swallowed the blood in my mouth once more, and patted the step next to me with my palm.
"Stay with me."
"...But the blood..."
"I said, stay with me."
"....."
She seemed taken aback by my calmer demeanor, but she soon came back and sat down carefully beside me.
Then she took out a handkerchief and began to wipe the area around the cut on my face.
I watched her quietly for a moment before speaking.
"You called them, didn't you? Those people."
"...I did. It had been five minutes since you went to the rooftop, and you weren't back, so... I told the faculty office..."
"What did you say?"
"That they were causing some huge trouble on the rooftop..."
You did? Good job.
"Did you really think I could quit the circle in just five minutes?"
"I don't understand you, Matsuda-kun. Why do you have to follow the rules of an illegal group...? I know you're worried that Tetsuya-kun or I might get caught in the crossfire, but... even so, they can be punished within the school rules..."
"You said you'd trust me today. If you couldn't even wait five minutes... does that mean you didn't really trust me?"
"If I had just stood by... you would've been carried out of here by now, Matsuda-kun. It's not that I don't trust you, I was just so worried..."
"It's fine. It all ended well, so I'll let it slide this time."
Miyuki's head snapped up.
"Ended well...?"
"Yeah. I quit. I didn't fight back and just took a beating as soon as we met, so I guess he took a liking to me and let me leave. Unlike you, I kept my promise."
"...What promise?"
"You told me not to fight. So I didn't. I never planned on fighting in the first place."
Miyuki's lips formed a pout.
She had an expression that said she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
After a moment of silence, the words that came out of her mouth were a rebuke.
"Who told you to just stand there and get hit for over fifteen minutes just because I said not to fight...? Even I wouldn't do something like that...!"
It's been fifteen minutes?
I was getting hit for that long.
"Well, you should have been more specific then."
At my playful joke, Miyuki bit her lower lip.
"...I'm sorry..."
Sorry? Then you have to wear the bunny girl outfit and fishnet stockings for me.
A nurse or police uniform would be nice too.
I could see Miyuki's eyes getting moist.
She seemed genuinely sorry that I had taken her words so literally.
She was probably also grateful that I was showing signs of turning over a new leaf so quickly after meeting her.
Miyuki's fist, clutching the handkerchief, tightened.
She's going to get blood on it.
I flicked the corner of the handkerchief sticking out of her fist with my finger.
"Hey."
"...Whaaat...!"
"I did good, right?"
"You did... You did good...!"
Her tone was like a pouting girlfriend throwing a cute tantrum.
I chuckled at her reaction and, just as her face was about to crumple, I said:
"Then I'm calling you Miyuki from now on."
Can I call you Miyuki?
Can I use a more casual name?
I didn't ask questions like that.
I just did it my way—like an announcement, half-joking, with a double meaning.
Even so, my true feelings would get across.
Because this is who I've always been.
And because Miyuki knows very well what kind of person I am.
She stared at me in silence for a long time with her teary eyes, then wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Then, sniffling, she replied as if scolding me.
"Do whatever you want... you idiot..."
Is this what they call being happy even when you're being insulted in a situation like this?
Hearing her consent felt good.
I gave Miyuki a bright, wide smile.
At that, as if finding the situation absurd, Miyuki turned her head slightly and let out a small, wry laugh.
"...You should brush your teeth properly... It's funny..."
It seems the blood stuck between my pearly whites ruined the mood... It's embarrassing, but who cares.
Causing accidents unintentionally like this,
Being clumsy at expressing emotions honestly,
Being confused about the other person's feelings,
And in the end, realizing our love for each other.
Isn't this what youth and romantic comedies are all about?
From now on, it's time to build our love by experiencing all the clichés that happen inside and outside of school.
While I'm at it, I'll develop my relationship with Renka, and subtly increase the level of skinship with Miyuki.
Kids these days move fast, right?
There are plenty of people who are all over each other the moment their eyes meet. It's totally possible to do that kind of thing even while you're in the flirting stage.