Chapter 308 if – Ten Years Later ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I enter the courtroom.
In the gallery, I spot several faces I know all too well. The guy in the wheelchair is someone I spent plenty of time “playing” with. The other is that blonde woman I r*ped. She’s as beautiful as ever. I sneer at the two of them.
”Yo. Did you come to watch the play where the court declares me innocent? Too bad for you. The result you’re hoping for is never going to happen,” I said, approaching them with a laugh. Their faces twisted into masks of rage, but it was all for nothing. I’ve explained it over and over: I’m not in the wrong. That’s right. I haven’t done a single thing wrong. That’s why my acquittal is a sure thing. (Once this trial is over, I’ll play with that guy again. I’ll make that woman moan for me.) I waited for the verdict, my heart full of anticipation for the future.
The presiding judge struck the gavel with a sharp crack and pronounced my sentence.
”Regarding the main text: The court sentences the defendant, Sugita Kazuo, to death.”
…Huh? Death? Me? Why?!
”Stop screwing around! Why the hell am I getting the death penalty?! I didn’t do anything wrong! I haven’t done a single bad thing! This is insane!” I screamed.
”Order! Order in the court!”
Order? My ass. It’s too crazy to get the death penalty when I haven’t done anything wrong. If anything, the ones in the wrong are the old bastards-my parents and my grandfather-for failing to protect me. That’s why I killed them. What’s so wrong about that? I tried to scream my defense, but two police officers lunged forward and pinned me down.
”…The motive was entirely selfish and short-sighted. Furthermore, the act of persistently stabbing his biological parents and grandfather to death with a weapon was extremely cruel. The intent to kill is clear. Above all, the defendant shows no remorse and there is no room for rehabilitation.”
”Rehabilitation?! I didn’t do anything wrong! Take it back, you piece of shit judge! I’m innocent! I’m not the bad guy! I’m not!” I wailed.
No matter how much I shouted, the verdict was not overturned. I was dragged out of the courtroom, my heels scraping the floor. I filed an appeal the same day, but the High Court and the Supreme Court both dismissed it. My death sentence was finalized.
* * *
”And, well, that’s pretty much how it went,” Sasaki said.
Sasaki-kun¹ finished recounting the end of Sugita-kun’s trial. I’m so appalled I can’t even find words. The others seem equally paralyzed, the air in the room turning heavy.
Ever since those videos leaked to social media and the major video sites, almost everyone in our class had been doxxed. But in Sugita-kun’s case, his family background made everything worse. His father was a Police Superintendent; his grandfather was the Superintendent General himself. A son of “police royalty” caught as a bully? The scale of the internet firestorm made our scandals look like nothing.
Above all, the cover-up of his previous crimes was exposed. His parents and grandfather had buried his messes for years, but this time, they couldn’t hide it. It seems they finally realized they couldn’t protect him anymore and planned to disown him… or so the story goes.
Instead of accepting it, Sugita-kun took a knife and butchered his parents and grandfather before trying to flee with whatever cash he could grab. He tried to frame it as a botched robbery-homicide. But he was caught in no time. Of course he was-his fingerprints were all over the murder weapon. Plus, there were multiple sightings of a blood-stained Sugita-kun. He was behind bars in less than three days.
It was a massive sensation back then. A minor slaughtering his entire family? It was on every national news station. Though, because he was technically a minor, his real name wasn’t officially reported. As for the trial, despite the evidence and his own confession, he refused to show an ounce of regret. He spent the whole time claiming his parents and grandfather were the real villains.
Between the psychological evaluations and legal maneuvering, it took over three years to reach a conclusion. But in the end, he got the death penalty. The court ruled he was fully accountable for his actions. (If he’d been ruled mentally unfit, he’d have been sent to a psychiatric prison under 24-hour guard anyway.) Even as a minor, there were precedents for the death penalty, and the court didn’t hesitate. You could say it was the only fitting end for someone like Sugita-kun. For what it’s worth, the execution hasn’t been carried out yet.
”By the way… why are you here with a blonde beauty and kids? I mean, it’s a reunion, so bringing outsiders is kind of…” someone asked.
Of the two children, the small blonde girl was perched on Sasaki-kun’s lap. The other one, a black-haired child, was practically glued to him.
”She’s technically a classmate. She only showed up for a few days, though. She became a shut-in because of what Sugita did to her,” Sasaki replied.
Sasaki-kun’s words jogged my memory. Right, she was there. A transfer student with that striking Northern European look. I didn’t remember much else, though. What was her name again?
”It’s Rieslett. I don’t really remember anyone besides Natsu and Tateyoko, either,” she said.
Ah, that was it. And judging by the way the two of them were acting, they must be married. Still… God, they’re so cute!
”What are your names? How old are you?”
”I’m Lilu. I’m four!”
”Leki! Two!”
”And both of them want to be Papa’s bride when they grow up,” Rieslett said.
”Haha…” Sasaki chuckled.
Sasaki-kun and Rieslett-san shared a wry, tired smile. It was obvious-both of them were total “Daddy’s girls.” Also, why are these kids wearing dog ears? I mean, it’s adorable, but still.
Sasaki-kun, meanwhile, has started his own agency for cosplay idols. The girls he manages are pretty popular, appearing in magazine gravures and such. Apparently, Rieslett-san used to do it too, but she’s retired now to be a mother of two.
”Would you want to give it a try, Narumi-san?” Sasaki asked.
”Ah-sorry, I definitely don’t have time for that…” Narumi replied.
”Yeah, figured as much,” Sasaki said.
Sasaki-kun didn’t seem particularly let down. After that, we caught up on the people who couldn’t make it.
Hidaka-kun is currently serving time for a random killing spree. Unlike Sugita-kun, he made a full confession. He said he just “wanted to know what it felt like to cut someone,” and he’s serving a life sentence now. He didn’t even bother to appeal.
Then there’s another one who ended up in the hands of the law: our former class president, Jinno-kun. He made it as a police officer, but his “vigilante justice” went off the rails. He racked up a string of assault charges, claiming, “I am justice! I will purge this world!” Apparently, he had some kind of psychotic break and is currently in a mental ward. When I asked how Sasaki-kun knew all this, he said he heard it from Kazamatsuri-kun.
Turns out, Kazamatsuri-kun is an internal affairs inspector now. He was actually the one who leaked those videos in the first place. Sugita-kun’s father and grandfather were corrupt as hell, but they were too good at hiding their tracks. Kazamatsuri-kun shifted his focus to Sugita-kun, and once the cover-up was exposed, everything else-the embezzlement, the bribes, the collusion-came tumbling down. The whole Sugita bloodline was rotten to the core.
By the way, Kazamatsuri-kun wasn’t an inspector back then; he was just a “collaborator.” When someone asked if he was a ninja or something, he just laughed it off. He-or rather, the government-is also footing the bill for all of Sasaki-kun’s medical expenses as apology for the trouble they caused. Naturally, Kazamatsuri-kun was too busy to show up today.
Nishiyama-kun is still a dedicated shut-in. When his face first got out, he was all, “I’m finally famous!” and loved the attention. But then his “chuunibyou” phase ended, and the sheer cringe of his past self hit him like a freight train. He’s so mortified now he won’t step foot outside. His old “edgelord” videos are still being shared everywhere-he’s basically the internet’s favorite meme to clown on.
There are a few others we’ve completely lost track of: Himuro-san, Suzuki-kun, and Sato-kun. I can guess what happened with Himuro-san; given her albinism, she’s likely just staying out of the spotlight at home. But Suzuki-kun and Sato-kun? They’ve vanished off the face of the earth. There is one unsettling rumor, though. A few years ago, two unidentified bodies washed up at the docks. They were so badly mutilated they couldn’t even determine the gender at first, though later tests confirmed they were both male. I can’t help but wonder if those two were Suzuki and Sato…
I wonder how the rest are doing? We weren’t that close, so I’m not exactly losing sleep over it, but still…
* * *
”Sorry! I’m late!” a woman shouted as she burst into the room.
”It’s fine, we haven’t even started. But looking at the guest list, you’re the last one to arrive. Kasumi Hina-san,” someone said.
Kasumi Hina. A former delinquent… well, a straight-up yankee. She used to dye her hair blonde, but now it’s a natural black. The change is night and day. Back then, she was terrifying, but now she looks like a total career woman. She’s even in a sharp suit. Suddenly, a phone starts ringing. It’s Kasumi-san’s.
”Hello?” Kasumi said.
’Seriously, Haru-san! What the hell is with this mountain of paperwork?!’
A voice I vaguely recognize blares from the phone. Kasumi-san has it on speaker.
”What do you mean ‘what’? I told you I had a reunion today. I’m going; you aren’t. That means you’re covering the rest of my shifts, Masaki,” Kasumi said.
’That’s cold, Hina-san! You’re gonna kill me-yo!’
Masaki… Ah, Hagimoto-kun. He used to be one of Sugita-kun’s lackeys, but before I knew it, he’d defected to Kasumi-san’s side. I think it was right before Sasaki-kun’s suicide attempt. He must have realized that staying with Sugita-kun was a sinking ship. He’s always had a weirdly high “survival instinct” for that kind of thing. Though, judging by the call, he’s totally whipped by Kasumi-san now. Wait, are they on a first-name basis? How did that happen?
”Besides, if you showed up, you’d just kill the mood. Sasaki is here, too,” Kasumi said.
’I know, I know… but this workload is… Wait, you’re there already? Then put Sasaki on, will ya?’
”He’s asking for you, Sasaki. You want it?” Kasumi asked.
”Sure. Give it here,” Sasaki said.
Sasaki-kun took the phone from Kasumi-san.
”Hello? This is Sasaki. What is it?”
Damn. His voice is like ice.
’Ah-er-Sasaki… Look, I’m sorry! I know an apology doesn’t fix anything, but…’
”You’re right about that. I haven’t forgotten a single thing you did to me, Hagimoto-kun,” Sasaki said.
’Right… I figured,’ Hagimoto replied.
Hagimoto-kun’s voice goes quiet. He sounds genuinely remorseful.
”Masaki transferred schools right after everything went down, right? But his past followed him. People found out what he’d done, and he ended up getting bullied himself. He managed to graduate, but the bullying didn’t stop in college. He eventually dropped out. I mean, he brought it on himself, but seeing the teachers just look the other way… it was pretty disgusting,” Sasaki said.
That’s… yeah, he definitely reaped what he sowed. Apparently, that bullying incident blew up later, and everyone from the students to the Principal of Viede² was held to account.
”And… Sasaki, I have to apologize, too. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you when it mattered most,” Kasumi said.
”Don’t worry about it. You were suspended at the time, Kasumi-san. And if you go back to the root of it, that was Sugita’s fault too. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Sasaki replied.
”I appreciate that. But a debt’s a debt, and I plan to settle mine,” Kasumi said.
Kasumi-san bowed her head to Sasaki-kun. Unlike with Hagimoto-kun, he was much warmer toward her. It’s true-Kasumi-san had been suspended just days before Sasaki-kun’s attempt.
Officially, it was for “unprovoked assault” on Sugita-kun. In reality, she’d saved a younger girl from being raped by him. Sugita’s father and grandfather had used their police influence to barge into the school and frame Kasumi-san as the aggressor. The Principal of Viede was too terrified of them to say a word. Naturally, the video of that attemptedr**apeand the frame-job were also part of the leak. Seriously, who was filming all this? Is Kazamatsuri-kun actually a ninja?
”By the way, do you know what happened to the others who didn’t show?”
”A few of them,” Sasaki said.
Hino-kun is reportedly a suit actor now. But he doesn’t play the heroes; he specializes in the villains. For a guy who loved Sentai shows, maybe this is his way of atoning.
Mizuki-kun joined an NPO called ‘The Bullying Prevention Alliance.’ He wanted to be a lawyer, but after the way he brushed off the bullying, he gave up on the bar exam.
Todoroki-san… well, she got exactly what was coming to her. She kept calling Sasaki-kun and the others s*x offenders even after they were proven innocent. Now she’s a total shut-in, still blaming Sasaki-kun for all her problems. Some people never learn.
Amanozuka-san had a mental breakdown, convinced she was the one who drove Sasaki-kun to jump. She still falls into these fits where she can’t stop apologizing to thin air.
No one knows about Kakei-kun. Same for Kagaya-san. We know she’s overseas, but she’s a ghost. Mayuzumi-san is being sued for defamation after lying about a celebrity.
And then there’s Ise-san. She used to be part of Kasumi-san’s circle, but now she’s a “Twitter Feminist” who spends her days getting shredded for nonsense and making new accounts when she gets embarrassed. She’s a lost cause.
”Man, everyone’s had a rough ten years.”
”That’s putting it lightly. Everyone’s carrying something, one way or another,” Chihiro said.
”No, Chihiro-san… that’s not quite what I meant.”
We all have our scars. Some on our hearts, some on our bodies. Sasaki-kun will never walk again. And that is a sin that belongs to all of us. But for now… let’s just celebrate seeing each other again. Even if I can’t say I’m enjoying this from the bottom of my heart. We’ll keep living, carrying the weight of our sins. We always have. And we always will.
—
Summary:
The chapter follows the bleak conclusion of Sugita Kazuo’s trial, where his lack of remorse leads to a death sentence. Ten years later, the surviving classmates hold a reunion, revealing the varied and often tragic fates of those involved in the original bullying incident. The atmosphere is heavy with the weight of past sins and the permanent physical and psychological damage left behind.
—
Trivia:
- Sugita’s reaction to his sentence highlights his complete inability to perceive his own guilt, framing his family as the villains.
- The mention of unidentified bodies at the docks suggests a dark end for Suzuki and Sato, possibly hinting at extrajudicial retribution.
- Sasaki’s marriage to Rieslett and their daughters wearing dog ears serves as a bittersweet ‘happy ending’ amidst the surrounding tragedy.
- Kazamatsuri’s role as an IA inspector who orchestrated the leaks reveals a long-term plan to dismantle the corrupt Sugita family power base
—
Character Insight:
Sasaki has found stability and a family, but his cold interaction with Hagimoto Masaki proves that forgiveness is not universal. Kasumi Hina has transitioned from a scary delinquent to a responsible career woman, though she still feels a deep moral debt to Sasaki for not being there during his suicide attempt.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘if’ scenario explores a world where certain supernatural interventions did not occur, leading to a more grounded but grim reality where police corruption and high-level cover-ups are systemic until dismantled by internal whistleblowers like Kazamatsuri.
—
TL Notes:
The author uses this chapter to provide closure for various side characters, often applying ‘poetic justice’ (karmic retribution) that aligns with their original flaws, such as Nishiyama being eternally haunted by his cringe-inducing past.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Sugita Kazuo – Naked, lean, sharp‑featured Lesser Vampire, once a human male classmate of Natsumi Sasaki and heir to a police dynasty, now stripped to Level 7 with erased identity and cursed as a Hero after crimes of manipulation, assault, impersonation, mockery and assaulting Reese & Yukiko; criminal defendant, former bully, son of a Police Superintendent and grandson of the Superintendent General, black‑haired and sneeringly entitled, currently reduced to autonomous flesh pieces in a Lustful Prison.
• Sugita – Sugita Kazuo, heir of police elite, leads the Sugita gang and bullies Natsumi Sasaki. Cold, lean, sharp‑featured with an arrogant stare. Uses Steal to manipulate women, impersonated hero Sieben, was stripped to Level 7, cursed as a Hero, became a Lesser Vampire, executed and erased. He assaulted Reese and Yukiko, mocked for a small member, embodying irredeemable evil.
• Sasaki – 168‑171 cm, 57‑59 kg; baby‑faced, black bangs, green scale armor, red muffler, dual longswords. Former outcast gladiator “Seven”, now wheelchair‑bound, runs a cosplay idol agency, married to Rieslett, father of daughters Riru and Reki. Vengeance‑seeker, bears Predation & Usurpation, carries Lil’s soul, seeks revenge in Maginoia with a self‑made sword that cuts divine armor.
• Rieslett – Half‑Japanese, half‑Swedish beauty with a forever‑young look—often mistaken for her mother’s sister. Blonde (sometimes appears brunette). Wears a black cloak, white shirt, red ribbon tie, navy pleated skirt, knee‑highs, brown leather shoes. Former transfer student, retired cosplay idol, mother of two, married to Sasaki, works at Natsumi’s manor and got tangled in Sugita’s mess.
• Natsu – The protagonist and ‘Avenger’. Formerly considered a plain, powerless loner before being summoned. Currently possesses Sin Magic and a connection to his true comrades.
• Tate – Male Otaku friend of Reese. Gaunt and thin, wears glasses. Possesses Materialization Alchemy skill.
• Lil – 166 cm tall, hourglass 90‑56‑90, long indigo waist‑length hair, sharp golden eyes, wolf ears, dog‑like tail, scarred abdomen; silver‑haired human form, Fenrir‑kin Queen and Demon King, wife of the protagonist and Natsumi, mother of Leki, Van, newborn Mana and Luca, former Sub‑Master, called “number one” by Mitsuba, cherished companion of Sasaki, body hijacked by Aurelia while her soul remains protected.
• Leki – Lil’s eldest daughter, 140 cm tall, 70‑54‑69 measurements, dog/wolf ears and husky‑puppy look, once a stuffed toy now human. She wields a great axe, smooth‑skinned, keen‑eyed, can split a King Basilisk’s skull, calls the protagonist ‘Papa’, and discovered the floating temple. Current Master of the Renegade clan, succeeding Natsumi, a Barghest of the highest order—powerful, loyal, energetic.
• Narumi – I, a former classmate, watch Narumi Honoka—petite, black‑haired, in a crisp transistor‑glamour nurse uniform—cold‑hearted, mocking Sasaki while wielding healing magic. Ten years after surviving a school‑bullying scandal, she now uses a wheelchair, is married, and raises two daughters; seeing her success fills me with defeat.
• Hidaka – Hidaka Keiji, 182 cm, 79 kg muscular ex‑Sugita gang member and Kendo club alum, now Hero‑class wielding the Holy Sword Ame‑no‑Murakumo‑no‑Tsurugi. He leads bullies, wears white armor, carries a replica Nagasone Kotetsu, and is a sadistic swordsman known to Tatei.
• Kazamatsuri – Kazamatsuri Gyobu is a quiet, observant member of the Knights, noted for his crew‑cut, thin eyes and a green‑tinged, wind‑clad look. He possesses the Protection of a Spirit King, wields the spell Vortex, and was ultimately turned into an ice statue. As an informant he let bullying happen to gather evidence against the Sugita family.
• Jinno – Jinno Yuto, a former classmate of Yamato Hina and Sugita, now an Apostle of Aurelia. He dons heavy white‑and‑gold armor, bears a holy sword, and wields the Unique Skill ‘Protection of Uriel’. Once a self‑righteous hero, he leads campaigns against Sasaki while protecting allies like Nagase.
• Nishiyama – A former classmate of the protagonist who was killed by Killer Army Ants. Resurrected as a ‘Holy Knight’ for the Goddess. Uses the skill ‘Class Faker’.
• Suzuki – Suzuki Morio, 192 cm, 102 kg, the class’s largest student with a terrifying bull‑like face, teamed with Sato to ‘guard’ Himuro Yukiko, controlling her meals and bathing. He wears white armor, wields light‑attribute magic and barriers, and opposes Yukiko.
• Sato – A man clad in white armor and partner to Suzuki. He possesses a power similar to Yukiko’s Aegis.
• Suzu – A high-ranking Insect-person (Mushibito) and one of the King’s Kin. She possesses a noble and proud personality but is physically submissive to the King. She has a ‘muscle-brain’ and pure maiden-like disposition beneath her dignified exterior. The Killer Hornet Queen and the final member of the Three Insect-Kin sisters. She has orange-blonde hair tied back, sharp upturned eyes, a crown, and antennae. Standing over 180cm, she is slender (flat-chested) and wears a lavish, high-slit royal dress. Despite her haughty ‘Queen’ persona, she is a ‘meathead’ (noukin) and sexually inexperienced.
• Kasumi Hina – Former delinquent ‘yankee’ with dyed blonde hair, now a career woman in a suit with natural black hair. She holds a position of authority over Hagimoto Masaki.
• Hina – Yamato Hina, a serious, beautiful student‑council vice‑president with long straight hair and sharp eyes, is the Apostle of Pride. She wields fire magic and a sword, trained by Sieben and reborn as her Master’s servant; she sometimes calls him ‘Onii‑chan’ and her mind regresses to childlike. As a Japanese associate of the protagonist, she despises nuclear‑scale destruction, her mind infantilized and corrected to serve the Goddess, viewing conflict as a battle against a rebel.
• Haru – The authoritative leader of the Merchant Guild Royal.
• Masaki – Masaki (Hagimoto Masaki) is a former subordinate of Sugita who once bullied Natsuki as part of the Sugita gang; he presents a cool, glasses‑wearing, seemingly smart exterior but is actually vulgar and foul‑mouthed. After defecting to Kasumi’s side, he now works under Kasumi Hina, driven by a strong survival instinct.
• Hagimoto – Ex‑classmate and Sugita gang member who bullied Natsumi. He appears cool and smart in glasses, but is vulgar and foul‑mouthed. Dressed in impenetrable white plate armor, he wields a great scythe called Grimm Reaper and uses the Unique Skill ‘Sariel’s Protection’ that debuffs foes. Mihiro eventually slays him.
• Mizuki – Mizuki Ren, 169 cm, 50 kg, cool‑headed lawyer‑aspirant and Knight, wears glasses, bears a forehead‑to‑cheek scar and is blind in his left eye. He views bullying as minor, stood by while Natsuki was tormented, possesses Protection of a Spirit King, summons scales across his body, casts ‘Maelstrom’, and can turn into an ice statue.
• Amanozuka – A petite girl, formerly the class mood-maker. She is mentally broken after giving birth to multiple orc children. Classmate of the narrator. Possesses Protection of a Spirit King. Radiates intense light that blurs his outline. Uses the spell ‘Plasma Cannon.’ Turned into an ice statue.
• Mayuzumi – Mayuzumi Yoshino, a former classmate of Jinno and Manabu High, Earth‑born, modest‑breasted and sensitive, now a masked Level‑36 antagonist and recovery specialist for Sensei. She bears the Unique Skill “Protection of Gabriel” and Oracle power, wielding water miracles, acid and fire, with a shocked expression. Trapped in a stone chamber, immortal yet cursed, she serves as a breeder and, after tens of thousands of years, has become a matriarch to numerous creatures and monsters.
• Kagaya – Female student from Earth. Specialized in sorcery and information gathering. Obsessed with knowledge and has mastered the local language through self-study. Yamato Hina’s classmate. A sorcery specialist who uses a staff. Capable of ‘Fire Wall’ and ‘Aqua Spread’. Has purple hair.
• Kakei – Kakei Seijuro, also known simply as Kakei, is a 173 cm tall, 59 kg slender male with seaweed‑colored hair. He wields modern firearms via his Unique Skill, has Infinite Ammunition and Aurelia’s Curse, and feels guilt over harming children. He is selfish, elusive, indifferent to class drama, and well‑versed in guns.
• Chihiro – 178 cm, 70 kg, handsome and athletic; former top student and soccer-club star, childhood friend of Natsuki. Trans man (formerly Yuki) with a sturdy build and husky voice, now runs gay bar ‘Peche’. Denies past as a woman despite Natsuki’s claims; classmate of the narrator, reunion attendee who supplies information, using he/him pronouns.
• Hagimoto Masaki – Masaki (Hagimoto Masaki) is a former subordinate of Sugita who once bullied Natsuki as part of the Sugita gang; he presents a cool, glasses‑wearing, seemingly smart exterior but is actually vulgar and foul‑mouthed. After defecting to Kasumi’s side, he now works under Kasumi Hina, driven by a strong survival instinct.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply