Chapter 82 Interlude – The Memoirs Of A Certain Delinquent III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, shrimp. Lend me your umbrella.”
The next day, during lunch break, Kurokawa and Takehata blocked Haraguchi’s path as he tried to leave his seat.
The other students, who were getting up one by one, gave him pitiful glances, but no one tried to stop them.
These 2 must be hungry too, so it’s unlikely they’d be dragged out during lunch break. It seems they’re still frustrated with Haraguchi’s recent calm demeanor.
Haraguchi was a bit scared about what he was going to do, but he recalled Higurashi’s advice.
Since he had already made a big show in front of Higurashi, there was no turning back now.
”What? Another ‘one-on-one’?”
Haraguchi looked up at the 2 with a loud, calm voice. Kurokawa and the others were taken aback, their faces frozen in surprise. The other students also stared at Haraguchi, who was acting differently than usual.
Haraguchi gulped and began to speak, trying to hide his tension.
”It doesn’t matter if you say you don’t want to, but you never listen anyway. You always end up ganging up on me with your big talk. Are you scared of a ‘one-on-one’ with me, Kurokawa-kun?”
Haraguchi forced a smile, his face stiffening.
One of the male students who was watching from a distance let out a mocking “Pfft!”
The next instant, Haraguchi’s chest was kicked, and he was knocked over, along with his chair. The girl who was sitting at the next desk, trying to open her lunchbox, let out a scream.
”Hey, what’s with you, shrimp?! You think I’m scared?! You’re just a weak little punk trying to act tough!!”
Kurokawa’s face turned red with rage as he yelled loudly.
He glared at the student who had laughed, then kicked the chair away and repeatedly kicked Haraguchi’s back as he tried to get up, coughing wildly.
”Did you get hit too many times and lose your mind?! Ahh?! You’re just a weak little brat trying to act smart!!”
Kurokawa’s face turned bright red with rage, and the female students were frozen in shock. However, as for this stomping, if Haraguchi curled up into a ball and used his arms and legs as cushions, the impact wouldn’t be as bad as it looked.
Haraguchi let out a pained cry as he was kicked, but he managed to keep his limbs flexible and shook his body to reduce the impact.
Just then, Takehata, who had circled around the desk, joined in on the stomping. With 2 people, the timing was off, and they couldn’t land a decisive blow.
But then, a jeer flew in from a male student who was watching.
”Hey, aren’t you guys going to have a one-on-one fight?”
”What’s with that, isn’t it just like Haraguchi said?”
Kurokawa, his face twisted in anger, turned around to shout back, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
There were more onlookers than he had imagined.
The entrance to the classroom was packed with students from other classes, and some had even entered the room. The windows on the corridor side were open, and unfamiliar students were peeking in, their faces lined up like ducks.
Kurokawa’s loud voice had caught the attention of the students from classes A and B who were passing by the classroom on their way to the cafeteria.
”Mitsuo, don’t get involved!”
”Ah, okay. Got it.”
Takehata also took a step back from Haraguchi, looking bewildered by the number of onlookers.
”Damn it! This is such a hassle. Hey, you! Want to have a one-on-one fight with me? Don’t regret it later. I’ll go all out!”
Kurokawa grabbed Haraguchi’s hair and lifted him up. But in the next instant, Haraguchi’s quick punch flew towards Kurokawa’s stomach.
It was completely unexpected, but Kurokawa managed to tense his abdominal muscles and block the attack.
Haraguchi also realized that his surprise attack had failed, feeling a hard, rebounding sensation.
(Damn it! I got too anxious and my hips didn’t rotate! I need to keep my guard up more! This won’t do!)
”You bastard!”
Kurokawa grabbed Haraguchi’s hair and pinned him down, delivering a knee kick to his face. Haraguchi quickly turned his face away and used the palm of his hand to block the attack, but a significant impact still hit his cheek.
Kurokawa continued to knee-kick Haraguchi’s stomach 2, 3 more times.
Haraguchi used his left hand to grab Kurokawa’s thigh and dodged the impact by jumping to the side at the moment of collision.
Usually, Haraguchi would let out a pained cry and crumple to the ground with just one kick to the knee. But Kurokawa, thinking he could kick Haraguchi while he was down, let go of his hand with a sneer.
However, contrary to his expectations, Haraguchi stopped himself from falling and looked up, their eyes meeting. Kurokawa’s eyes widened in surprise.
What he saw was not the usual flustered face or the futile resistance he was used to, but a ferocious expression that seemed to be trying to devour Kurokawa’s throat.
For Kurokawa, who was only in the mood for a casual play-fight, this was completely unexpected.
This wasn’t a fight or a one-on-one battle for Kurokawa, but just a way to blow off some steam. He might resist a bit, but he wasn’t prepared to put his life on the line.
It was like the feeling of a naive child who thought they could bully a weak dog, only to be confronted with the dog’s true wild nature.
Kurokawa was left stunned, like he had been doused with cold water, and couldn’t move even when Haraguchi’s fist came flying at him with a large motion.
With a dull thud, Kurokawa’s body crumpled to the side, his face averted.
On the other hand, Haraguchi was also taken aback by the unexpectedly strong counterattack.
His fist had flown in a trajectory he had imagined, hitting its target. The sensation was unexpectedly light, but he was certain he had landed a solid hit.
Haraguchi was intoxicated by the unprecedented sensation of his spine tingling.
The thought crossed his mind that he might have knocked Kurokawa down with that one hit, but Kurokawa glared at him with a fierce expression and counterattacked with a hook.
”Uaaaaah!!”
The shout accompanied a fist that swung down and hit Haraguchi’s cheek, sending him tumbling backward.
”You think you can mess with me?! You’re gonna die! You piece of trash!!”
Kurokawa, who had gone half-mad, kicked the fallen Haraguchi mercilessly. Then, he picked up a nearby chair and raised it, but a male student intervened, grabbing the chair from behind.
”Hey, stop it! Are you stupid?! You’re gonna kill him!”
”Shut up! Don’t get in my way! I’ll kill you instead!”
Takehata stepped in, trying to stop Kurokawa, who had completely lost his cool.
”Tetsuto, calm down! This isn’t good We’re being watched!”
Even Kurokawa knew that if he seriously injured Haraguchi, the school administration might not be able to cover it up. That would affect his chances of getting into high school.
Kurokawa looked around, noticing the many cold gazes fixed on him.
”Tch…”
Kurokawa clicked his tongue and put down the chair.
”Hey, shrimp. This isn’t over yet. We’ll settle this later. Don’t think you can run away!”
Kurokawa spat at the fallen Haraguchi and turned his back on the classroom, walking away. Haraguchi’s voice reached him from behind.
”Ah, I’ll take you on. This isn’t over until one of us runs away.”
When Kurokawa turned around, Haraguchi was still lying down, his swollen face twisted in a glare.
At that moment, a mix of anger and fear exploded from the depths of Kurokawa’s heart. He felt an intense urge to crush Haraguchi right then and there, and he started yelling as he turned back towards Haraguchi.
”I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you right here and now!”
”Hey, wait, Tetsuto! Not now! Calm down! Let’s eat first, and then we can settle this with that shrimp later!”
Takehata grabbed Kurokawa’s arm and shoulder, trying to hold him back.
(Is it really going to be a one-on-one fight?)
The left side of his jaw throbbed in pain, and he tasted blood in his mouth.
(Who’s going to have a one-on-one fight? You’re talking like it’s nothin!g Why do I have to put my body on the line for this stupid reason?)
That wasn’t what Kurokawa had in mind. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
But now that he’s made a fool of himself in front of this witness, he can’t just back down. At this point, he’d be seen as running away. That’s something Kurokawa’s pride absolutely won’t allow.
(Damn it! Calm down I’m not going to lose to that shrimp. I let my guard down earlier, but I just need to land one hit and there won’t be a problem.)
Kurokawa was pushed by Takehata as he left the classroom.
* * *
Haraguchi, who was left behind, slowly got up and sat down.
”Ow…”
Pain was running through his left cheek and all over his body. Today, he was overwhelmed by Kurokawa’s intensity and took a pretty good beating. But…
Haraguchi looked down at his right hand.
There, he could still feel the sensation of punching Kurokawa’s left cheek. Unlike usual, he didn’t feel a miserable sense of defeat, but a small sense of accomplishment and pride in his fist.
”Uh… are you okay, Haraguchi-kun?”
”Huh?”
When he looked up, a worried-looking girl with a flustered expression was peering at his face. She was from the next seat over, but he didn’t know her name.
”Yeah, I’m fine! Ah, thanks!”
Haraguchi was surprised and didn’t know what to do, so he hastily stood up.
For now, he’d head to the rooftop of the C building. If he went to the cafeteria now, he’d end up at the back of the line. He wanted to talk to Higurashi soon, but that might take up too much time.
(Maybe I’ll just buy some tea at the shop…)
The high school shop sells not just bentos and onigiri, but also snacks, apparently. But unfortunately, the middle school shop only sells drinks.
As he was thinking about this, 3 male students approached him.
”Hey, Haraguchi…”
Haraguchi’s expression turned stiff. The 3 guys with a delinquent atmosphere were people he had seen hanging out with Kurokawa and others during the first semester.
”Here, take this.”
”Huh?”
One of the well-built guys pulled out a convenience store onigiri from a plastic bag and pushed it towards Haraguchi.
”So, I’ll just…”
”What’s wrong, you? Did you suddenly wake up?”
The remaining 2 people also put onigiri and yakisoba pan in Haraguchi’s hands.
”Ah, thank you…?”
(I think it was Nakamura-kun and Chiba-kun… who was it again?)
Since he hadn’t spoken to them before and his memories were hazy, he decided not to mention their names.
”Haraguchi-kun, take this too. Ah, it’s better to have a bag, right?”
A girl student he recognized but didn’t know by name handed him a triangular sandwich in a plastic bag with an apologetic face. Another boy student poured onigiri and pan into the bag.
”Ah, it’s better to have a drink too!”
The flustered girl student who had spoken to him first took out something from the cooler bag on the desk and handed it to him. It was a 600ml (≈ 20.3 US fl oz) pet bottle of Kiwi Smoothie.
(Uh… I couldn’t say I didn’t want it in this atmosphere)
”Thank you…”
I received it with a deadpan expression, and the girl student smiled sweetly.
Haraguchi took the bag with the pan and bowed his head while walking out of the classroom.
Then, he met Higurashi, who was leaning against the wall in the corridor.
”Ah…”
He was hesitant to call out to her, but Higurashi started walking without saying a word.
He knew where she was headed. Haraguchi followed her from a short distance, silently.
* * *
”Is that delicious?”
While eating lunch silently on the rooftop of the C building, Higurashi asked him, looking at the green liquid in the pet bottle in his hand.
”It’s not bad… but it doesn’t go well with onigiri at all.”
”Hmm.”
Higurashi, who had asked him himself, seemed uninterested and continued eating his lunch silently.
Higurashi’s lunch was a simple one, consisting of 3 handmade onigiri in a bento box and some pickled vegetables.
”That ‘fight’ with Kurokawa-kun earlier… was a perfect score as a first battle, I’d say.”
Higurashi said while eating onigiri. It was only now that she realized he was fighting with Kurokawa for the first time. Until now, he had only been on the receiving end of violence, and couldn’t even direct his anger.
”From now on, they’ll be on guard, so it’ll be tough to land a clean hit. Even if it gets dirty, as long as you can make it hurt, that’s all that matters. You can even bite down hard and make it painful.”
”That could be fatal for both of us, you know.”
It was an unpleasant image to imagine during lunch. If a video of that were to be taken, both of them would be socially dead.
Higurashi’s perfect score wasn’t just about landing one hit, but also about making Kurokawa declare “Tai-man” (a one-on-one fight) in front of many students. This meant Kurokawa had no way out, and when Takehata and the others ganged up on Haraguchi, it would be seen as running away.
After finishing her lunch, Higurashi started rummaging through Haraguchi’s shopping bag without permission.
”Can I have an onigiri?”
”Help yourself. I couldn’t finish it all by myself anyway.”
Higurashi chose the tuna mayo and seaweed, and began to unwrap it with a serious face.
As she carefully peeled off the film, Haraguchi couldn’t help but comment on how peculiar it was.
”Why did everyone suddenly become so kind?”
”I think it’s because they were inspired by Haraguchi-kun and wanted to clear their guilty conscience. It’s not more or less than that.”
”Inspired by me?”
Higurashi gave a quick conclusion, but Haraguchi still didn’t quite understand.
”Everyone feels sorry for Haraguchi-kun, but when it comes to taking action, Kurokawa-kun’s target might change. There aren’t many heroes who would fight on behalf of someone they don’t even know, just for the sake of justice. That’s why everyone is silently watching, feeling guilty. This time, seeing Haraguchi-kun trying his best, it’s a good excuse to give him a ‘reward’. Plus, there’s the psychological effect of ‘red light, let’s cross together, it’s not scary’.”
”Ah, so this is a reward…”
It finally sank in.
”Looks like you’re happy, huh?”
”Yeah, I’m happy. It means my efforts were recognized.”
”……Well, being honest is a good thing, I suppose.”
Higurashi muttered, looking fed up, and took a bite of her onigiri.
* * *
”Hey! What’s with you, shrimp! Come at me!”
Haraguchi glared at Kurokawa, panting heavily.
After school, he was called out to the usual spot behind the school building, just like Higurashi said.
Kurokawa was being much more cautious than usual. Instead of attacking carelessly like before, he would quickly back off whenever Haraguchi showed signs of counterattacking.
Haraguchi wasn’t aggressively attacking either, but was waiting for an opening to land a hit. Since Kurokawa was on high alert, Haraguchi’s attacks weren’t getting through. He was just getting beaten up one-sidedly.
(This is no good! I need to get closer and…!)
When he tried to close the distance, a kick came flying at him and sent him stumbling back.
Haraguchi lost his balance and stumbled backward, and this time Kurokawa closed in and attacked.
Haraguchi desperately guarded his head with both arms, but Kurokawa stopped in his tracks and kept punching over the guard. Haraguchi realized that Kurokawa was feeling safe because his hands were tied up guarding.
(That’s it, then…!)
Haraguchi matched Kurokawa’s powerful punch and released his guard, then boldly thrust his head forward.
THUD! A dull sound echoed, and Kurokawa’s fist struck Haraguchi’s forehead.
”Ugggh…!”
”Guh…!”
The shock and pain pierced Haraguchi’s brain, and he involuntarily dropped to his knees. He could smell the metallic scent of blood in the back of his nose, and his vision was filled with twinkling stars. Although he was completely defenseless, Kurokawa’s face was also twisted in a grimace as he stumbled backward.
Before he knew it, Haraguchi’s face was kicked upward, and he fell onto his back.
As he lay there, Kurokawa approached him with slow, dull movements and kicked his curled-up back with a loud thud.
”You damn shrimp… Don’t ever show me that face again! You got it? If I see you tomorrow, I’ll make a fool of you in front of everyone!”
Kurokawa yelled, kicked Haraguchi’s back once more, and then walked away with a smug look on his face.
(Ugh, full-scale humiliation… in front of everyone…)
Haraguchi was bewildered by the unexpectedly weak counterattack and couldn’t hide his agitation.
* * *
”H-Higurashi-san, what should I do? If I meet Kurokawa-kun tomorrow, he’ll humiliate me in front of everyone!”
Haraguchi ran to the rooftop, his pale face conveying Kurokawa’s warning to Higurashi.
”I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. If Kurokawa-kun is going to humiliate Haraguchi-kun, it’s probably because Takehata-kun and 2 others are involved. It seems they’re planning to break their promise of a one-on-one fight.”
”Even if Kurokawa-kun ran away, the damage is greater on my side… What should I do… If it ends up like this, I won’t be able to come to school anymore…”
Haraguchi’s face was on the verge of tears as he recalled last week’s events.
”Calm down. As I said before, this is an opportunity. There’s no need to hide. If you take a bold stance, it’ll create an atmosphere that says, ‘I’m not going to back down.’ You’ll take down Kurokawa-kun, whether it’s in a one-on-one fight or with d*ck!”
”It’s impossible… I don’t get what you mean by taking him down with a one-on-one fight or d*ck…”
”He’s only thinking of running away, Kurokawa-kun. He’s planning to make Haraguchi-kun even more embarrassed. But if Haraguchi-kun stands tall, Kurokawa-kun will just end up more humiliated. Can you really lose at this point? What’s the one thing Haraguchi-kun is most afraid of? It’s just a matter of being bold now!
”Just being bold now…”
For Haraguchi-kun, the scariest thing is losing his heart. If he gets completely humiliated in front of the whole class and ends up crying, he might not be able to recover. But running away from Kurokawa and not going to school is not an option. So, there’s no choice but to do it.
”Ah, I got it… I’ll do it.”
Haraguchi-kun had made up his mind, continuing from yesterday.
──The next day.
”What, what should I do… I’m getting too nervous and feeling sick… Maybe it’s impossible after all…”
Haraguchi-kun was grasping the railing with both hands, muttering to himself with a pale face.
In the morning, on the rooftop of the C building.
Haraguchi-kun, who had heard that Higurashi spent his morning, lunch, and after-school hours here, had come to seek help before going to class.
”If it’s Haraguchi-kun, you can do it. Imagine yourself as someone who’s pathetic and can’t do anything, and someone who’s dignified and can stand up to Kurokawa-kun with confidence. It’s clear which one is more manly.”
Higurashi was giving advice while reading a book, looking uninterested as usual.
”Ugh… Yeah, you’re right… It’s just a matter of being bold now, just a matter of being bold now…”
Higurashi glanced at Haraguchi-kun, who was chanting like he was about to die, and closed his book with a “pat”.
”I guess I have no choice. I’ll help you out a bit.”
”Huh?”
A soft sensation pressed against Haraguchi-kun’s back, and a hot breath touched his ear. An arm wrapped around his waist from behind, and the other hand grasped his crotch tightly.
”W-what are you doing, Higurashi-san?!”
Haraguchi’s body bent forward without warning, and soft hands wrapped around his crotch from above his pants, gently massaging it.
”Ah, it’s so soft I thought it’d be like a twig, but it’s more like… well, you know.”
”Wait, wait! I don’t get it!”
Ignoring Haraguchi’s protests, Higurashi continued to explore the sensation, applying varying levels of stimulation to his private parts.
”Ah, it’s getting hard! Amazing… it’s getting so stiff! This part is the underside, right? How does it feel?”
As Haraguchi’s private parts began to er*ct, Higurashi started to fondle them with both hands, using her slender fingers to tease and rub them.
”No, stop it! I’m gonna… This is crazy!”
The rough and clumsy caress was more than enough stimulation for Haraguchi, a middle school virgin.
As Haraguchi’s body began to shudder, Higurashi released her grip.
”Listen, Haraguchi-kun. By showing off this fully er*ct d*ck, you can deal the maximum damage to Kurokawa-kun.”
”Why… do you have to make it er*ct?! Can’t we just… you know, normally…?”
Higurashi switched to lightly touching Haraguchi’s private parts with her fingertips, but even that was enough to make Haraguchi’s body tremble.
”No, it’s meaningless unless it’s er*ct. Just like how a peacock spreads its wings to compete with its rivals, an er*ct d*ck is necessary for intimidation. And Haraguchi-kun’s d*ck, when it’s er*ct, is strong. I guarantee it. Have confidence, Haraguchi-kun.”
”I-I understand… This is crazy…”
What’s the point of being strong, anyway? What would happen to the fight with Kurokawa? Haraguchi couldn’t think calmly about it right now. At least one thing was clear: he couldn’t c*m here and now.
”Then, let’s head to the classroom before things get out of hand. Don’t think too much, just trust me! Come on, let’s go, Haraguchi-kun!”
No matter what, Haraguchi has no choice but to trust Higurashi now. Feeling pressured, Haraguchi headed towards the classroom.
* * *
”Hey, Tetsuto. Are you really gonna do it?”
Takehata asked Kurokawa, who was sitting at his desk with a sulky expression, to confirm once more. If Haraguchi ignored the warning and came to school, they would make a fool of him in front of everyone.
Kurokawa had declared yesterday that he would take on Haraguchi one-on-one in front of everyone. Haraguchi’s rule of “the match continues until one of us runs away” was practically a public promise.
If he could make Haraguchi back down, he could humiliate him, but that would mean giving up on the match.
Unlike during the new semester, the two of them were now shunned by their class, and it didn’t seem like things would end well. Kurokawa must have known that, but Takehata couldn’t understand why he would make such a choice.
”I’ll settle this ridiculous matter today. Can I really do it?”
Kurokawa spat out, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
The right hand that Kurokawa had shoved into his pocket was throbbing with a dull, aching pain. Yesterday, he had felt an unfamiliar pain, different from anything he had experienced before, and had gone to the hospital, where an X-ray had revealed a fracture in his third metacarpal bone.
Fortunately, the break was clean, so he wouldn’t need surgery, but he would need to rest for a month. If he did something reckless and the bone shifted, he would need surgery. Let alone getting into a fight.
The rule was set: the match would continue until one of them ran away. But Kurokawa wasn’t acknowledging Haraguchi’s tenacity, even though he knew it well. He didn’t think the match would be settled in such a short time.
Additionally, just the 2 fights yesterday were more intense than he expected, and he got a serious injury that’s worse than a broken bone. If he continues to fight like this, he’ll end up in an even worse situation, and if he gives up because of his injury, it’ll be like he lost to Haraguchi in a fight. He can’t stand that.
He took off the bandages and splints when he left the house, but his hand is swollen and feverish. He wants to keep the fact that he got a broken bone a secret, and make it seem like he got injured after settling the score.
Sitting there looking unhappy, nobody comes to bother Kurokawa. Usually, he’s the one who goes out of his way to pick a fight, but somehow everyone’s avoiding him, giving him weird looks and keeping their distance.
This always happens when the school year changes and they have class rotations――he has no idea why it happens. Only Takehata, who’s similar to him, sticks with him, but even Takehata looks down on him like he’s his underling.
Haraguchi usually arrives at school earlier than Kurokawa, but today he’s still nowhere to be seen. He’s thinking he might be running away in fear, and he’s sneering at the thought, when Haraguchi suddenly appears in the classroom.
Haraguchi is walking unsteadily, his face red from fever. He might be injured like him, Kurokawa, but seeing him ignore the warning and show up anyway makes his blood boil.
”Let’s go, Mitsuo.”
Kurokawa stands up, and approach Haraguchi with a menacing tone.
”Hey, what’s with the brave face? Do you know what’s going to happen?”
As soon as he enters the classroom, he looks up at Haraguchi with an unhappy tone.
Seeing Kurokawa’s and Takehata’s angry faces, he finally remembers what happened.
He’s calmed down a bit, but just a little while ago, he was so desperate to hold back from eja***ing just from the friction of his pants rubbing against his thighs that he couldn’t think of anything else.
Haraguchi was dragged away by Kurokawa and Takehata, with his arms pinned to his sides, like an alien being taken away by the MIB.
”Are we gonna do it here?”
”Nah, let’s take you to the courtyard instead.”
Kurokawa’s words finally registered in Haraguchi’s mind, and he felt a sense of crisis wash over him.
”No, stop! Let me go!”
He struggled and kicked, but his feet were still floating in the air.
”What about the one-on-one?”
A scolding voice could be heard, but Kurokawa shouted back, “Shut up! Don’t say a word!” and dragged Haraguchi out of the classroom door.
The third-year classroom on the first floor had a window facing the courtyard, with a hedge blocking the view, and a door that led directly to the courtyard.
Haraguchi was dragged out into the courtyard and pinned down by Takehata.
”Damn it! Let me go!”
As Kurokawa tried to approach him from the front, Haraguchi kicked out wildly, not caring where his feet landed, and Kurokawa backed off, looking unhappy.
By this time, not only the students from Class C but also students from other classes had gathered in the courtyard, drawn by the commotion.
”Mitsuo, pull him down and pin him!”
Kurokawa yelled, and Haraguchi was slammed to the ground, his chest pinned down.
”Whoa, this is crazy…” someone muttered, and Haraguchi’s eyes widened as he realized the crowd of onlookers. He turned pale.
Meanwhile, Kurokawa reached for Haraguchi’s pants.
”Time for a show, then!”
”No, stop! Please!”
But without mercy, Haraguchi’s pants were pulled down, along with his underwear, and he frantically covered himself with both hands.
Kurokawa and Takehata grinned as they stepped back from Haraguchi, who was left crouching on the ground, his hands covering his crotch.
(Ugh, this is impossible! This can’t be happening!)
The excitement that had been building up until just now had suddenly deflated, and Haraguchi was surrounded by an overwhelming crowd, his face pale with panic.
His mind went blank, and all he could think about was hiding his embarrassing situation.
And then──
”Get ere*ct! Get pumped up Haraguchi-kun!”
A cute anime-like voice echoed, one that he was familiar with.
He quickly looked up to see Higurashi, who was standing in the front row of nearby students, hugging a book to her chest with both hands and staring down at Haraguchi. Some students around here searching for something, and it seemed like she was using ventriloquism.
The image he had imagined just a moment ago flashed in his mind. Right now, he’s the most pathetic version of himself.
”No… that’s not it… that’s not it at all…”
Haraguchi removed his hands from his groin area. Still looking down, he slowly stood up, placing his right hand on his knee and pressing his left fist onto the ground.
(Open up. There’s no escape route left. I hate being a pathetic version of myself!)
He focused his mind and recalled the soft touch of Higurashi’s hand from just a moment ago. The concentration of a middle school student in puberty can instantly make the audience disappear, and his groin started throbbing with a “twitch” sound.
With each “twitch” sound, his strength and hardness returned.
(Energy recharge 120%!)
Then, Haraguchi suddenly opened his eyes wide.
”Hey, Kurokawa. Is this a continuation of our one-on-one match?”
(Huh?)
Haraguchi, who was about to look up, froze.
Kurokawa, who was staring down at Haraguchi, also froze with a shocked expression.
”So, you want to compare our… d*ck?”
(Huh? Is that my voice?! Why?! How?!)
Haraguchi thought it was some kind of paranormal phenomenon, but Haraguchi had a strong suspicion.
(Could it be… could it be Higurashi-san!?)
Ventriloquism is a technique where the voice is produced in the back of the throat, and the sound waves spread evenly around the surroundings. In other words, the way the sound spreads is completely different from a normal voice.
That’s why, if one recognizes it as a voice, one’s brain will malfunction and one won’t be able to locate the source of the sound. In that state, if one is guided by a ventriloquist’s doll or something similar, one’s brain will recognize it as the source of the sound.
(In other words, if I could just guide him, Haraguchi-kun’s “Chatty Chin” might have exploded already. Unfortunately, Kurokawa-kun was more of a wimp than I thought, so he didn’t have time to prepare.)
Higurashi glared at Kurokawa, who was standing across from Haraguchi, with her sharp, piercing gaze.
(That swollen right hand… He must have gotten hurt in yesterday’s fight with Haraguchi-kun. This explains why he’s in such a hurry to settle the score. Either way, he’s destined to lose to Haraguchi-kun completely.)
Then, Higurashi started teasing Kurokawa using Haraguchi’s voice, which she had practiced for a week.
”You’re not going to run away now, are you, Kurokawa? Then, I’ll brand my ‘Dragon Slayer’ onto your eyes!”
(Higurashi-san! Higurashi-san Higurashi-san! Higurashi-sannnn!!)
The phrase “You’re not going to run away now” felt like it was directed at him too.
Either way, there’s no escape now. Haraguchi lifted his face and stood up in a flash.
The air shook with a “swoosh” sound.
”Ahh!” The girls screamed, covering their faces with both hands. But even with their faces red, their gazes peeking through their fingers remained fixed on Haraguchi’s crotch, not moving an inch.
”Wow! It’s so majestic and grand!”
Someone in the distance let out an anime-like cry of admiration.
(Higurashi-sannnnn!!)
The “Heaven-Piercing Rod” that would normally be impossible for a normal person to achieve, a symbol of Haraguchi’s bravery, was telling a bold story──it was indeed the “Dragon Slayer”!
(Why the narration?)
Kurokawa and the others were sweating bullets, intimidated, and took a step back.
From Kurokawa, who was standing in front of Haraguchi, it looked like the tip of the “Heaven-Piercing Rod” was drooling like a ferocious carnivore.
But then, Haraguchi can’t let Higurashi tease him anymore.
He glared at Kurokawa with a strong determination in his heart.
”Alright Kurokawa-kun, it’s on! Show me your stuff!”
”Gu…!”
Kurokawa’s face contorted as he gritted his teeth.
”Kurokawa! Kurokawa!”
And then, out of nowhere, the Kurokawa chant started.
Kurokawa was frantically scanning the area, trying to find the culprit, but it was impossible to catch them.
The handclaps started, and soon several people joined in. It happened quickly.
As the handclaps spread throughout the room, the Kurokawa chant began to gain momentum.
””””Kurokawa! Kurokawa!””””
The loud Kurokawa chant echoed through the school building early in the morning.
”Hey What’s wrong, Kurokawa-kun? Are you going to run away?”
”U… Shut up!”
Cornered, Kurokawa charged at Haraguchi, who reflexively guarded his head with both arms. But Kurokawa stopped his raised right fist in mid-air.
”!?”
Kurokawa grabbed Haraguchi’s hair with his left hand and kneed him in the face.
Haraguchi’s eyes were fixed on Kurokawa’s knee, which was closing in on him. But this attack was one he had endured countless times before, and his body had learned to defend against it. And Haraguchi wasn’t going to settle for just defense.
Haraguchi swiftly dodged to the side, bringing his elbow down on Kurokawa’s thigh.
”Ga!?”
Kurokawa slammed his own thigh into Haraguchi’s elbow, which was already in place.
A piercing pain shot through him, and Kurokawa’s legs buckled.
”Kurokawaaaa!!”
Haraguchi, who had stood up, grabbed Kurokawa’s chest with both hands.
Kurokawa, who was now standing on one leg, was completely unable to resist the force pulling him in. Haraguchi’s head, filled with momentum, crashed into Kurokawa’s face.
”Puah……”
Kurokawa’s face was twisted in agony as he spat out blood, and then he collapsed to the ground.
Haraguchi gazed at Kurokawa with a blank expression. After a brief moment of silence, applause erupted from somewhere, and soon it spread throughout the entire school, surrounding Haraguchi.
”I… won!”
As Haraguchi declared in a trembling voice, Kurokawa bowed his head, defeated, and froze in place.
The cheers and shouts of “Haraguchi!” continued to echo.
* * *
”Did Kurokawa-kun come to school today? Was there some kind of problem?”
Higurashi asked Haraguchi in a casual tone, while reading a book.
”No, nothing. He hardly ever comes to class, and he never even looks at me.”
”He’s been completely crushed. I’m sure he doesn’t want to have anything to do with you, Haraguchi-kun, anymore.”
The following week, Kurokawa returned to school after a brief absence.
He was no longer his usual loud self, and instead kept to himself, quietly sitting in a corner.
After that, someone called the teacher, who rushed over to the scene and scolded Haraguchi. However, when they saw Haraguchi standing tall, unfazed, the teacher’s expression turned sour, and they backed off.
Many students who witnessed the scene testified that Haraguchi was the victim, and some even had video evidence. As a result, Haraguchi was let off without punishment. However, it seemed that Kurokawa received some kind of disciplinary action, but in the end, it was as if nothing had happened.
However, Haraguchi’s school life had dramatically changed.
”It seems like you’ve made more friends since then.”
”Yeah. Everyone talks to me now. The kid sitting next to me even gives me kiwi smoothies every day, which is a bit of a problem.”
”That’s a luxurious worry, isn’t it?”
”Definitely.”
Haraguchi chuckled wryly, remembering the girls who had fawned over him.
”You’re all set now, Haraguchi-kun.”
”Huh?”
It felt like there was some kind of determination in her usual tone, and Haraguchi couldn’t help but look at her as Higurashi raised her face from her book and gazed at Haraguchi.
”My role is over. I won’t come here again. Even if we meet somewhere, don’t talk to me. Haraguchi-kun, go back to your own world.”
Her expression was devoid of any emotion, and her voice was cold and unyielding, as if she wouldn’t let anyone get close to her.
”W-what’s going on…? We just got to know each other, and I’m grateful to Higurashi-san. I mean, it’s not just gratitude, I have all sorts of feelings…”
”I’ve decided not to get involved with anyone. This time, it’s really special. So, this special thing will end today.”
”Liar! You’re not the kind of person who doesn’t get involved with anyone! Didn’t you have fun last week, too?”
”No, that’s absolutely impossible. I just acted according to the optimal solution that was presented to me.”
Although she was convinced that it was impossible, Higurashi stubbornly refused to acknowledge it.
”What will you do from now on, Higurashi-san?”
”……I won’t do anything in particular. I’ll just continue reading books quietly, like I always do.”
”And college?”
”I’ll attend, but I’ll quit the special advancement class. I think I’ll transfer schools and disappear, so forget about me.”
At that moment, Higurashi showed a soft smile for the first time, and for some reason, it made Haraguchi feel sad and want to cry.
”Can’t I…be of any help to you?”
”Haraguchi-kun, you’re not at fault. There are things in this world that can’t be helped, no matter who you are.”
Then, Higurashi turned her back on Haraguchi, as if she had nothing more to say.
Ah, the door was closing.
It was probably a door that had opened by chance, but would never open again.
Haraguchi bit his lip, clenched his trembling fist tightly, and said,
”I’ll become a strong man!”
Haraguchi shouted, pouring his heart out into the narrow gap that remained.
”I’m telling you, I’ve always loved delinquent manga! I want to be a hero like the ones in those stories, saving everyone while rising to the top in the world of delinquents! I’ve always dreamed of being that kind of person! That’s why I couldn’t forgive Kurokawa! I’ll become the person I want to be! I’ll become stronger than Kurokawa, even in the world of delinquents! And the one who gave me the push I needed was… Higurashi-san!”
The sunset-tinted, dreamlike figure behind him wavered, and for a moment, his profile was visible.
”You’re really strong, Haraguchi-kun. I don’t think I have the courage to die or the resolve to give up. It’s often just going with the flow or taking the easy way out. But you, Haraguchi-kun, have made up your mind to live. That’s really amazing, I think.”
”Higurashi-san…”
”Alright, I’ll go now. Goodbye, Haraguchi-kun.”
”Goodbye… Higurashi-san.”
And with that, the door closed.
From then on, Haraguchi was able to live a fulfilling middle school life.
But sometimes, when he least expected it.
When he was walking to school, his chest swelling with excitement for the high school life that was approaching. When he was joking around with his friends and leaving the school gate. He would suddenly hear a sweet, gentle voice that didn’t match her appearance, and he would look up at the school building.
Higurashi must still be standing alone there, he thinks.
Haraguchi couldn’t help but feel a pang in his chest, as if he had left something precious behind, and it made him feel sad.
* * *
”That’s what happened, half a year ago.”
”Hmm.”
Haraguchi was having lunch with his party members in the Student Council’s waiting room.
The only ones present were Isurugi Honami and Onitsuka Momoko. The other members must be eating in the cafeteria or special zone. They would gather here after finishing their lunch.
While eating, Haraguchi was telling his friends about his encounter with Higurashi half a year ago.
”I see. Higurashi Asuka, huh? I saw her yesterday and heard her story today, and it’s like she’s a completely different person!”
Momoko, dressed like a delinquent from the Showa era, sucked up her coffee-flavored milk from a triangular pack with a straw, looking bored.
”That’s right. Her voice is completely different too. But when I looked closely, I realized it was really her. I even passed by her during the First Dive, but I didn’t notice at all.”
”Aww, it’s over. That’s minus one billion points, anyway.”
”But, Kouki-kun, you also look different now from your bullied self, so maybe she didn’t notice either.”
Just as Honami said, Haraguchi now had short, golden hair standing upright, and was wearing a student uniform with short sleeves, not the usual blazer.
”There’s a possibility of that too…”
”And what’s with you, always sulking? You’re so short, it’s annoying.”
”Height has nothing to do with it, Momoko! I mean, I want to apologize for back then, but I was told not to talk to her, so I don’t know what to do…”
Haraguchi scrunched up his face while eating his curry pan.
”No, it’s okay. She said she wouldn’t get involved with anyone, but she’s getting involved left and right. Maybe there’s been a change in her mindset? Think about it before you talk. Your head is messed up, anyway. And then, get dumped and forget about it. That tall, beautiful woman is out of your league. Know your place.”
”That’s not it, Momoko! If she’s doing well, then that’s fine! But saying that, and then pretending not to know her if we pass by each other, is just annoying!”
”You two, stop! There she is, Higurashi-san!”
Honami pointed to the open door and stood up with a clatter.
”What! Is that for real?”
Haraguchi also turned around to face the door, but there was no one there anymore.
To get to the special building’s entrance, one had to go through the corridor in front of the waiting room on the 1st floor. Honami must have seen Higurashi’s figure heading towards the entrance through the corridor window.
As three of them stepped out into the hallway, it seemed like someone was talking to the school gatekeeper. During yesterday’s Student Freedom Alliance meeting, they said they’d regularly provide information, so maybe she came to meet with the president.
”Hey, go ahead, shrimp. I’ll pick up your bones later.”
”K-Kouki-kun, do your best!”
”O, okay…”
It seems like there’s some misunderstanding, but explaining it is a hassle.
Haraguchi fixed his hair and took a deep breath.
(Damn, my heart is racing…)
”Are you okay? Do you want to drink some Kiwi Smoothie, Kouki-kun?”
”No, I don’t need it.”
Haraguchi stopped Honami from taking out a pet bottle from her insulated lunch bag.
As they walked, Higurashi, led by the gatekeeper, entered the school gate right in front of them.
(What’s with this, she’s still ridiculously beautiful…)
He couldn’t help but stare at her beautiful profile.
(But her appearance and atmosphere are completely different. This is the current Higurashi. I’ll show her the current me too. I’ll try to act like an outlaw.)
Haraguchi furrowed his brow slightly, then looked up at Higurashi with a piercing gaze and called out to her.
”Hey, Higurashi. Long time no see. You seem really energetic.”
Higurashi turned to Haraguchi, momentarily looked surprised, and then broke into a slightly mischievous grin.
”Ah, I’m doing great! Probably the best I’ve ever been! How about you, Haraguchi-kun? Are you doing well too?”
”Yeah! As you can see I’m doing great too!”
Higurashi laughed and raised her hand towards Haraguchi. Haraguchi also smiled and raised his right hand, and they high-fived each other with a “slap!” sound.
Then, she turned around and walked away without looking back, returning to her friends.
”Huh? That’s it?”
Momoko looked at Haraguchi with wide eyes, as if she’d been left in the dust.
”Yeah, this is enough. The grudge I’ve held for half a year has been settled with this.”
Maybe he had been wishing for this to happen.
”Ugh, gross! Something about this is annoying! You’re so annoying, shrimp!”
”It doesn’t matter if I’m short!”
”There is a connection! The range of tolerance for being flashy is proportional to one’s height, you know.”
”Huh… did you know that the range of tolerance for being cocky is proportional to the size of one’s chest? You’re already out with just one word, Momoko!”
”Huhhh? Are you picking a fight? You’ll apologize on your hands and knees right now! Hey, you bastard!”
”Both of you, stop it! Look, everyone’s watching!”
”Shut up! You big-breasted girl!”
”Momo-chan, that’s mean!”
As Haraguchi looked at his lively friends, he thought that if he hadn’t met Higurashi back then, he wouldn’t be who he is today.
(That person, she’s not the kind of person who still holed up in that corner.)
Even though their positions were different back then, he could still spend the same amount of time with Higurashi. Just thinking about it made Haraguchi’s excitement unstoppable.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.