Chapter 11
Scratch.
A red-colored pencil drawing an X.
I had kept my nerves taut, but the moment I confirmed that I'd gotten the last question wrong, I let out a sigh as though the ground had caved in.
“Haa...”
I got four out of five questions right—one short of a perfect score.
Unlike me, who was in despair, Tetsuya's face was bright.
He had gotten exactly seven questions right.
“Tetsuya-kun, good job.”
At Miyuki's praise, Tetsuya scratched his head, showing his embarrassment.
Of all people, I had to be compared to an idiot like that. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
I finally understood why Miyuki had set half as my target.
My disappointment was enormous, and my competitive spirit flared up.
I had been sitting at the round table as though I were about to bang my head against it when,
“Matsuda-kun... Honestly, I'm surprised. I thought you'd get at most two questions right, but I never dreamed you'd solve four. Your solutions were accurate, too.”
Following Miyuki's lavish praise, I jerked my head up.
Miyuki covered her mouth and laughed, then continued.
“I can tell you really studied hard. That's admirable, Matsuda-kun.”
It sounded like something you would say to praise a little kid, but I still felt fantastic.
This was why people had to work hard at studying or anything else.
Someone would acknowledge you, after all.
“I do tend to work hard when I get fixated on something.”
“You couldn't even wait before bragging? Even if you did well, you still have a long way to go. This is only the most basic of basics.”
Harsh.
Still, at least she hadn't compared me to Tetsuya.
I decided to think positively and was about to consider the next event when,
Vrrrr-!
When my phone vibrated, I looked at the screen.
[Shimoyama-senpai]
Shimoyama...? Who the hell was this guy again?
I racked my brain and soon remembered.
Akihiro Shimoyama.
He was the second-year leader of the Supree Circle I belonged to.
A guy just like my old self.
That one sentence was enough to explain Shimoyama.
But why was this guy calling me?
“Who is it?”
I gestured for Miyuki to wait a moment, then answered the phone.
“Yes, senpai.”
-You know the hideout, right?
He was referring to the basement of a building used by the Supree Circle, tucked away in a corner of the red-light district of Kabukicho.
“I do.”
-Come right now.
The call ended immediately.
Judging by his voice, he didn't sound like he was in a good mood. I wondered if I was going to get beaten up.
But this was a good opportunity.
A preview of the major incident that would happen as soon as vacation ended.
Miyuki must have had a change of heart over the weekend, so I needed to go right away and create an event that I would lead.
Honestly, I was scared shitless, but there was nothing I could do if it was for the sake of the future.
I put on a serious expression and spoke to the two of them.
“It would be best if you two studied together today.”
“Huh...? Why?”
“Something came up. Finish up, then head home on your own. The door locks automatically, so don't worry.”
Hearing my low, heavy voice, Miyuki sensed that something serious had happened and answered.
“O-okay... Contact us as soon as you're done.”
“Yeah.”
**
The Supree Circle's hideout didn't have the flashy, modern atmosphere of the gang hideouts that appeared in the media these days.
It was shabby and musty, like the headquarters used by villains in an old crime movie.
When I went down there, I found the first-year delinquents of Yeboni Academy lined up at attention.
About ten stood in a line on each side.
After exchanging a nod with Takashi in the middle, I tried to stand at the very end, taking my cue from everyone else.
But Shimoyama, who was sitting on the central sofa, stopped me.
“Ken! You come over here, you bastard. Why is the first-year captain heading over there?”
Captain? The way he talked made it sound like a children's game.
Still, I could take comfort in the fact that he hadn't called me oyabun.
Shimoyama was a gaunt, intimidating-looking man with two gold front teeth.
I'd heard he had chipped them on a curb while fighting... Somehow, that suited him.
I walked up to him and gave a single nod.
“Hello.”
Shimoyama's eyes twitched at my disrespectful greeting.
He glared at me for a moment.
His voice had sounded a little frightening over the phone, but in person, he looked so weak that I could only find him laughable.
As I continued staring Shimoyama down, he suddenly stood up and came right up to my face.
His breath absolutely reeked. Get lost...
Just as I was thinking that, Shimoyama stretched the corners of his mouth into a wide grin.
You know the type. Psychos who set the mood with a blank expression, then suddenly break into a bright smile...
Normally, it would have sent chills down my spine, but I felt nothing.
Maybe possessing Matsuda Ken had raised my own nerve to his level, too.
“You little shit... You've grown bold, huh?”
“Thank you.”
Shimoyama grabbed me by the back of the neck, patted it a few times, and said,
“Enough. You know Inagi Academy, right?”
Inagi Academy...
It was an academy located fairly far from the Yeboni Academy I attended.
The delinquents there had a poor relationship with the Supree Circle, if I remembered correctly.
“I do.”
“Take the guys there this Friday, beat up a few of those kids, and come back. Make sure you wear your uniform.”
Aha, so he wanted us to pick a fight and provoke a brawl between the schools.
What should I do?
Should I pretend I was still loyal to the circle and participate in the brawl?
Or should I start showing that I was trying to distance myself from it?
I chose the latter.
This wasn't about delivering justice to criminals through violence. It was just a fight caused by an argument between schools.
If I got caught throwing even one punch, Miyuki's affection for me would plummet.
“Did the Inagi side do something wrong?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Shimoyama cupped a hand to his ear as though he hadn't heard me.
I scratched my chin with my index finger and put on a troubled expression.
“It's just a little... troublesome to provoke people who've been keeping quiet for a while.”
Smack-!
My head snapped around.
It stung. He was stronger than he looked.
Could you hit me a few more times, just until one spot swells up?
After being slapped out of nowhere, I turned my head back into place and rolled my neck.
Shimoyama rolled up the sleeve of the Yeboni uniform shirt he was wearing.
“You little bastard... Who the hell do you think you're talking to? When have we ever held back because of their circumstances? You fucking punk?”
“Even so...”
Thwack-!
This time it was a fist. Very good.
I straightened my head just as I had before.
Shimoyama apparently took offense at my attitude and reached out to grab me by the hair.
Then he started pummeling me in the face without mercy.
Thwack-! Whack!
Every time he hit me, my nose started bleeding, my cheekbones burned, and the area beneath my eyes and my jaw grew numb.
Still, by focusing all my nerves on suppressing Matsuda Ken's rebellious nature as it tried to awaken, I could at least endure it.
If this guy had been just a little bigger, it really would have fucking hurt.
After hitting me nearly ten times, Shimoyama stared at me as though he couldn't believe I hadn't even screamed, then stopped punching.
Then he turned to Takashi, who was closest to me, and asked,
“Hey, you little shit. Did this guy eat something strange?”
“Huh...? N-no, sir. I'll talk some sense into him.”
“Enough. You take responsibility for handling the Inagi matter. Got it?”
“Ossu!”
It was a greeting used in Japanese martial arts.
I never expected to hear it here, in real life, and I couldn't hold back a burst of laughter.
“Pfft!”
It had just occurred to me that Takashi was like a comic-relief supporting character in a romantic comedy, with great reactions.
I covered my mouth and snickered, then looked around.
“.....”
The basement, already tense and chilly, grew even colder.
When I saw Shimoyama's eyes blazing, I clenched my teeth.
I'll let him hit me again. Just not too much.
**
“You fucking idiot... What the hell were you thinking, laughing at a time like that?”
That was Takashi scolding me as he helped me walk.
I spat out the blood pooling in my mouth and said,
“No... It was funny...”
“What was?”
“Ossu...”
“Did you really eat something weird? I almost got beaten up because of you. It's not like I've only seen you act like that once or twice.”
“You didn't do it that often...”
“That's true, but... Jeez... Fuck... I don't know. Just get plenty of rest when you get home. You look awful.”
I'd thought he was just a delinquent, but he had some loyalty after all.
I'll give him credit for that.
I answered with a silent nod and arrived home with Takashi.
Seeing me take out my key with trembling hands, Takashi asked worriedly,
“You look like you're going to collapse on the way. Want me to help you inside?”
“Forget it... Just go...”
“You've still got your pride, huh...? Am I really leaving?”
“Go... Thanks for helping me...”
“Really?”
“Damn it... I said go, you bastard...! Ngh...!”
I tried to kick Takashi in the butt, but my ribs suddenly throbbed, forcing me to hunch over.
Takashi snickered at me and said,
“Idiot... I'm going. Call me right away if anything feels wrong.”
“Yeah...”
I opened the door listlessly and headed straight for the bathroom.
After somehow managing to take off my clothes, I filled the hinoki bathtub with cold water.
Then I climbed inside and squeezed my eyes shut.
The ice-cold water contracted every muscle in my body.
There wasn't a single part of me that didn't ache. That was the result of getting beaten far more than I'd expected.
I should've just held back instead of laughing... All because I had to hear something I never expected...
I grumbled inwardly, soaked in the cold bath for a while, then took a quick shower and sprawled out in the living room, looking around.
The legs of the round table had been folded up, and it was standing in the corner.
The tray and bowls we'd used for the melon had been washed as well.
Miyuki and Tetsuya must have cleaned up. They sure were tidy.
I checked my phone and saw that Miyuki had sent me a message.
[Is the matter still unresolved?]
Judging by the time it was received, she'd sent it while I was being beaten earlier.
I laboriously moved my fingers and sent a reply.
[I've taken care of it.]
A short while later, my phone vibrated.
[You didn't look well... What happened? Can you talk?]
Ah, Miyuki... Were you waiting for my reply?
I could feel the sincerity of her concern in her words. It felt like the pain was fading away.
You'll put a bandage on me with those delicate hands tomorrow, right? I'm counting on it.
[Sorry, but I'm really tired right now. I'll tell you tomorrow.]
[Okay. Go straight to sleep when you get home.]
[I'm home now. You even did all the dishes. Thanks.]
[Of course. Go to sleep soon, and see you tomorrow.]
[Yeah.]
After ending my conversation with Miyuki, I spread my arms and legs wide and lay down flat on my back.
I really got the crap beaten out of me today.
Even so, I felt refreshed.
I wondered how Miyuki would react tomorrow.
Would she scold me at first, thinking I'd gotten into a fight?
Or would she make a huge fuss and ask what had happened?
I didn't know.
But one thing was certain.
If I explained the circumstances honestly, Miyuki's affection for me would rise rather than fall.
So enough thinking for now. Let's go to sleep.