The afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long, melancholic shadows across the desks in Class 2B. The air was thick, smelling of old paper and the collective exhaustion of thirty students trying to pretend they cared about advanced mathematics. Kenzuki sat in his corner, his gaze fixed on the teacher, though his mind was miles away, likely pondering the optimal way to cook instant noodles without dirtying a pot.
For some reason, I don't understand any lessons, Kenzuki thought, his inner monologue a slow, rhythmic mantra of confusion. It's like they're speaking a different language. A language where x equals something other than 'total despair'. And for some reason, That Girl is Looking back at me sometimes.
He shifted slightly, catching a glimpse of Aris, who was supposed to be looking at the blackboard. Instead, her purple eyes were darting toward the back of the room, specifically toward him.
Why is she looking? Did I forget to wash the tamagoyaki sauce off my face? Is there a booger hanging out? No, that's impossible, I'm too lazy to have boogers. Maybe she's looking at the window behind me? Yeah, that's it. I am not worthy of the gaze of the school idol. I am the background character, the NPC, the guy you walk past without noticing.
Aris, on the other hand, was having a mini-existential crisis of her own.
Why did I do that? Aris thought, her heart hammering against her ribs, a stark contrast to her calm demeanor during lunch. Why am I looking at him? He was so... calm. When he ate my lunch, he didn't make a big deal out of it. He just... enjoyed it. And he knew. He knew I was sad about Hitashi. How did a loser like him know what love felt like?
She stole another glance, watching Kenzuki stare blankly at the wall.
He's so lazy, yet... there was something sharp about his eyes earlier. No, I must be imagining it. He's just a lazy, poor, parentless loser. A loser... just like... She stopped herself, unable to complete the thought.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. The classroom immediately devolved into a chaotic exodus. Kenzuki methodically began putting his books and pens into his academy handbag, acting with the precision of a man who has perfected the art of not looking busy.
"Gotta go home," he muttered to himself, the mantra of the overworked and underpaid.
As he walked out of the classroom, he saw Hitashi chatting animatedly with Ruki, who was pretending to be annoyed but was clearly listening to every word. Aris stood nearby, looking at the pair, her expression a mix of longing and resignation.
And there they are, the main characters, moving on to the next plot point, Kenzuki thought, walking past them without a glance. And I am going back to my solitary apartment to watch anime and feel sorry for myself. The perfect ending to a perfectly mediocre day.
However, Aris, driven by a mixture of curiosity and a sudden, inexplicable need to understand the boy who had eaten her sad lunch, decided to follow him. She slipped out of the classroom and trailed him down the hallway and out into the bustling city street.
Kenzuki was walking down a narrow alleyway, a shortcut to his apartment.
I hope I don't get to deal with Those assholes again... Kenzuki thought, referring to the local delinquents who occasionally targeted quiet, unassuming students. I have three hundred yen in my pocket. If they take it, I won't be able to buy dinner. That would be a tragedy.
"Yo, Dummy!"
Kenzuki stopped, his shoulders sagging. He turned slowly to see a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek, flanked by four smaller, equally menacing-looking guys. The leader, known as Goro, smirked, stepping forward to block the path.
"Usual," Goro said, holding out a large, calloused hand. "Your pocket money. Hand it over, and maybe we won't break your jaw."
I am damn Penniless right now, Kenzuki thought, his inner monologue dripping with self-pity. I'm such a loser. I can't even get robbed properly. I have to explain to a delinquent that I'm too poor to be targeted. This is the peak of my loserdom.
"I don't have any..." Kenzuki said, holding up his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "Seriously. I have three hundred yen for the whole week."
Goro narrowed his eyes, disbelieving. "Don't lie to me, brat. I saw you walk out of the academy. You all have money."
"Believe me, I'm a student at Jerochiko," Kenzuki said, trying to inject a note of sincerity into his voice. "We're all poor. It's in the motto. 'Learn to be Poor'."
Aris, who was hiding behind a large trash can at the edge of the alley, watched the scene unfold, her hands covering her mouth.
He's so brave... or just incredibly stupid, Aris thought, her heart pounding. He's standing up to them, even though he's terrified. Why is he doing this? Just for three hundred yen?
Goro, losing his patience, punched Kenzuki hard in the stomach. Kenzuki, too lazy to react or even tense his muscles, doubled over and fell to the ground with a soft groan.
Ow. That actually hurt, Kenzuki thought, lying on the cold concrete. He should have aimed for the chin; it would have been faster. Now I have to stand up.
He slowly pushed himself up, wiping dirt from his blazer.
"I.... Think.... that's too much," Kenzuki said, his voice surprisingly calm, almost flat.
He stood up, looking at the broken pieces of a wooden chair from a nearby cafe that had been left out for trash. He grabbed the Broken chair chair with one hand, Yes, A whole Chair, But He thought it was just a Leg of The Chair.
FEEL THE HAYMAKER OF DOOM!! Kenzuki's inner monologue shouted, adopting the persona of a protagonist from a battle manga. That's the only fighting style I know!! Full body rotation Haymaker!. Miss and I'm dead! This is it! The moment I become a side character who suddenly has a hidden past!
With a roar that sounded more like a startled shout, Kenzuki swung the wooden chair leg with all his might. It was not a refined move. It was a full-body rotation, powered by sheer, desperate energy and the memory of every action movie he had ever watched.
CRACK!
The chair struck Goro square on the head. The chair comedically broke into three pieces with a loud sound. Goro's eyes rolled back, and he fell backward, completely unconscious.
Factory reset.
Kenzuki stood there, looking at the broken wood in his hand, then at the unconscious delinquent on the ground.
SHITTT!! I DIDN'T KILL HIM, DID I?! Kenzuki's mind screamed, his cool facade shattering instantly. I just wanted to scare him! I'm going to jail! I'm going to be a criminal loser! My life is over!
The other four delinquents looked at their leader, then at Kenzuki, their eyes wide with terror. They didn't know if Kenzuki was a master martial artist or just incredibly lucky, but they weren't about to stick around and find out.
"Run!" one of them shouted, and they all scrambled away, leaving Goro behind.
An awkward silence descended on the alley. Kenzuki looked around, realized he was safe, and did the only logical thing.
He ran.
HAHAHAHA! Bye Assholes! Kenzuki thought, sprinting with surprising speed toward the main road.
After running for three blocks, he stopped, panting, and leaned against a lamp post.
Introvertic shut-in neet trainings really paid off, he thought, catching his breath. Who knew that spending eighteen hours a day running away from social interaction would turn me into an Olympic-level sprinter?
Aris, who had witnessed the entire scene, was speechless. She was blushing, her heart racing not just from fear, but from a strange, overwhelming feeling of admiration.
He... he just took them down, Aris thought, her mind trying to process what she had seen. With a broken chair! And then he ran away! He's not a hero... he's just... a lazy, brave, terrifyingly efficient loser. And he did it all while complaining about being poor!
Kenzuki walked away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Aris standing in the alley, still trying to make sense of the world.
Later that evening, in the luxurious Kataromi Mansion, Aris was sitting on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
What is wrong with me? she thought, rolling over and burying her face in a pillow. Why am I thinking about him? Hitashi is the one I love. Hitashi is kind and warm and... dense. Kenzuki is lazy and poor and... terrifying. But... Kenzuki ate my lunch. Kenzuki defended himself. Kenzuki didn't care about the rules.
She sat up, a determined look on her face. I need to understand this. I need to understand Kenzuki Goddomori.
Meanwhile, Kenzuki was taking a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the dirt and the adrenaline.
That was too close, he thought, scrubbing his hair. I need to avoid alleyways. I need to avoid Goro. I need to avoid everything that requires effort.
He got dressed in his pajamas—a plain grey shirt and sweatpants—and decided to go for a walk in the local park, just to calm his nerves.
Maybe I can find a quiet spot and just... not exist for a while, he thought, walking toward the park entrance. Just me, the trees, and the blissful lack of plot development.
To be continued.