Chapter 26
“Your tooth nearly tore the inside of your mouth apart... Looks like you took quite a hit?”
You don't even ask how it got this bad anymore.
At the emotionless school nurse's words, Miyuki asked.
“Is everywhere else all right...?”
“Yes. Still, since you lost quite a bit of blood, you may experience temporary anemia. I'll put you on an IV, so you'd better rest quietly for the day. We should monitor you at least until lunch.”
No, why are you putting me on an IV?
There's oral rehydration solution in that medicine case on your chest, isn't there?
I'm going to be lying here alone, so couldn't you sneak over and give me some?
“Thank you...”
The school nurse gave Miyuki a kindly smile as she bowed her head, then went to fetch the IV and its stand.
I sat quietly on the bed and said,
“Hey, Miyuki.”
Miyuki jumped and turned around.
Seeing her pupils widen when she whipped her head around, I guessed she still hadn't gotten used to the new form of address.
“Oh, why...?”
“Aren't you going to class?”
“Ah... Well... Second period was canceled because of the commotion...”
“Really? Then stay here. We can kill time talking.”
“Okay... I will. Should I bring you lunch?”
“Isn't that obvious?”
Miyuki smiled innocently and shook her head.
“Yeah, all right...”
“But did you know something?”
“What...?”
“You haven't properly called me even once since earlier. You haven't used any form of address at all.”
“.....”
Miyuki was rendered speechless.
Since I was calling her by her name, it was obvious she was wondering whether she should call me by mine too.
After letting out a long sigh, she stammered,
“.... I... I've hardly ever called a guy by his name... I've called Tetsuya-kun this since we were little, so it feels natural...”
“But not me?”
“Well... It's still... a little awkward...”
Her fidgeting was cute.
I chuckled at Miyuki, then decided to ease her mental burden a little.
“You can call me whatever you're comfortable with. It's not like we agreed to use each other's names.”
For now, I'll be Matsuda-kun, but it won't be long before I become Ken-kun.
And eventually, she'll drop the “-kun” entirely.
I'll make sure of it.
“All right... Matsuda-kun.”
Miyuki addressed me with a much more relaxed expression.
I looked at her with a faint smile and said,
“Feel better?”
“A little...”
“My throat's a bit scratchy.”
I put a hand to my throat and coughed dryly, prompting Miyuki to look at me as if I were hopeless before heading to the water dispenser.
She filled a paper cup with water and was about to give it to me when, apparently struck by a mischievous idea, she smiled.
“Since you're a patient, I'll feed you. Say ah.”
Did she seriously think I'd be offended because she was treating me like a child?
She still didn't know me nearly well enough.
She could even spit in it, if she wanted.
“Just hand it over.”
When I deliberately responded gruffly, the corners of Miyuki's eyes curved upward.
“Why? Are you embarrassed?”
Fortunately, the awkwardness caused by dropping the honorifics vanished in an instant.
While I was bickering with her, the school nurse returned to the bed, dragging the IV stand.
“Could you two do your flirting somewhere else?”
Miyuki's face turned bright red at those words.
“Th-that isn't it... I'm sorry...”
Even though she'd been directly accused of ‘romance,’ she didn't seem to deny it...
Nurse, thanks for the assist.
So this is what a true teacher is.
And those breasts, too... They suit you perfectly.
**
When you're in the quiet nurse's office, you can't hear what's going on around the academy.
Since no one had come in injured, there was no helping it.
Besides, on the first day of school, everyone was being cautious because of the circle incident, so I was the only person in the nurse's office today.
But I was fine with that.
Miyuki came by during every break and told me what was happening with the circle.
She said the members of the circle were currently undergoing disciplinary proceedings under police supervision.
The disciplinary committee had already been convened.
The student council had been waiting to pounce on the circle, and it seemed this incident had finally made everything explode.
“What about me? Aren't the police coming for me?”
I wolfed down my food, swallowed, and asked. Miyuki, who was sitting on the edge of the bed and watching me eat, answered with a question of her own.
“Since you're the victim, the student council took that into consideration. But you look awfully calm. Guess you're used to going in and out of police stations?”
“Even if I look like this, it's not like I've often been to the police station.”
“So you have been there?”
“Yeah.”
Miyuki's eyes darkened at my concise answer.
She pressed me with her gaze, then asked,
“Why?”
“I got into a fight with someone who picked a fight with me on the street.”
“.... I figured you'd do something like that... Isn't it embarrassing to go around picking fights with people?”
“You don't trust me as much as you let on, do you? I didn't pick the fight; it was picked with me. If you ignore someone who picks fights with random passersby or try to reason with him, he'll only get more emboldened and shower you with abuse, right?”
“That may be true, but wouldn't the Matsuda-kun back then have thought that deeply? I feel like you would've just thought, ‘He picked a fight with me, so I'll give it back.’”
She knows me well.
“Whatever I was thinking, the result was the same: I fought back. I'll be more careful from now on, so could you please stop nagging me? Do you have to do this while I'm eating?”
When I looked at Miyuki as if I were genuinely hurt, she flinched and said,
“All right... Eat your food... But will you be careful? Promise?”
“Hey.”
“Noo... I just want a definite answer... J-just eat for now.”
If you keep cracking the whip, a person will die...!
So give them a carrot sometimes too.
“I'm done eating.”
“There's still half of it left...”
“I can't eat when someone keeps making such a racket.”
“.... Sorry...”
Miyuki shoved both hands between her thighs, not knowing what to do.
As a result, her uniform skirt was pulled taut downward, revealing her Y-zone and delighting my eyes.
Look at those wide hips. My child will have a smooth delivery.
“I'm kidding. I just don't have much of an appetite.”
“Is it because of me?”
“I told you it isn't... What did you eat?”
“Tetsuya-kun and I had something quick at the school store. Oh, wait a second...”
Miyuki rummaged through the black plastic bag she'd left in the corner of the bed and handed me a strawberry cream bun and some milk.
“I was going to give them to you for dessert... Do you want them now?”
“Later.”
“Okay. I'll leave them here, then. Oh, by the way, your disciplinary committee hearing has been scheduled.”
The time had finally come.
A school story isn't complete without a disciplinary committee.
“When is it?”
“After all classes end today...”
“That's harsh. The school nurse told me to rest quietly for a day.”
“I even asked them to change the date... but they're being so stubborn...”
I could understand the student council's position perfectly well.
This was the infamous Supree Circle incident, serious enough that several professors had even abandoned their classes and rushed over.
Naturally, the student council wanted to deal with it as quickly as possible.
“You even made the request? Good for you.”
“If you feel too sick, I'll ask them again.”
“You might damage your image doing that.”
“If worrying about someone damages my image, then I'll be disappointed in the student council instead.”
She's got principles. That's why I like Miyuki.
“I'm fine. Let's just finish it today. It'll be more convenient that way, too.”
“I wish you'd rest a little longer, Matsuda-kun... You said you got hit in the head a lot. What if, on top of already being an idiot, you can't even speak properly?”
Miyuki's concern was half sincere and half joking.
I let out a hollow laugh and said,
“You're picking a fight again.”
“I'm not shameless enough to fight with a patient, so I'll let it slide today.”
I'll put one on you.
Later, I'll make you wear an anal plug with a fox tail and make it meow every time I thrust.
“And I'll be attending your disciplinary committee hearing too, Matsuda-kun. As an observer, though.”
At Miyuki's continued words, my eyes widened.
“You?”
“Yes. The student council invited me. They said it would be a good experience. I was originally supposed to attend other people's disciplinary hearings too... but I turned them down because I didn't want to miss class. And I didn't want to see their faces either...”
She turned it down because of class? That's so like Miyuki.
Speaking of which, if the disciplinary committee was already in session, I was worried about Takashi.
It had been pretty moving when he tried to charge at Samoyama, whom he was so afraid of...
It was a shame it happened when everything was almost over, but he had still done something pretty manly, so I wanted to repay him.
I wanted to ask Miyuki for news, but she couldn't stand hearing about Watanabe Takashi and probably had no interest in him, so I decided to drop it.
When I went to the disciplinary committee, I'd make sure he avoided expulsion, even if I had to bend the rules a little.
**
“Are you Matsuda Ken, a student in Class 1-A?”
The disciplinary committee had its own room.
The atmosphere was similar enough to a small courtroom to make me nervous, especially with three police officers present.
The student council president looking down at me from a judge-like seat was a cool, collected girl in glasses.
She had short, navy-blue hair and an unmistakably cool-beauty vibe.
She was the standard student council president type. Suddenly, I wanted to win her over.
“Yes.”
“Each of the students referred to the disciplinary committee has given a different statement. As the victim, please explain in your own words how the incident unfolded.”
“Well... It's simple. I wanted to leave the circle, so I asked a friend named Watanabe Takashi to pass along the message, but....”
The truth came tumbling out of my mouth.
After hearing it all, the president fell silent for a moment.
Now she needs to push her glasses up with her index finger, right?
Push.
See? Exactly as expected.
“So you're saying they beat you that badly because you said you were quitting...?”
“That's right.”
“Is that a requirement for quitting?”
“No. Normally, they cut off one finger.”
The president and her two loyal subordinates flinched.
I guess Yamaguchi hadn't mentioned that to them.
Miyuki was covering her mouth with one hand, looking horrified.
She must have been very surprised.
The president regained her composure and said,
“It seems that's the rule.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did it end with just a beating?”
“I made a deal with Yamaguchi. Luckily, he agreed.”
“Yamaguchi—you mean the leader of the Supree Circle? Yamaguchi Daimon.”
Yamaguchi's name was Daimon?
He had a tough-sounding name that suited his looks perfectly.
“Yes.”
“It's an unauthorized private organization, so why go through getting beaten just to quit? Couldn't you have simply left?”
“I thought it would cause a lot of trouble if I did.”
“What kind?”
“Retaliation.”
“I see. All right. I heard you're close friends with one of the ringleaders, Akiro Samoyama. Is that right?”
“Huh? What the fu...”
I hurriedly shut my mouth, having almost let a profanity slip out.
After confirming my reaction, the president raised one corner of her mouth and asked,
“I take it that's not the case?”
That smile is seriously irritating.
After clearing my throat several times, I answered casually,
“No.”
“What kind of relationship do you have?”
“We're like oil and water. That bas... Hmm... What happened to him?”
“He's been expelled and criminally charged. It was not only related to school violence; many people also had plenty of negative things to say about him.”
One of the hallmarks of an academy story: the guy jealous of the protagonist charges at him in front of the students.
I should've taught the guy who came running at me with a scream a lesson with a hip throw, but this one broke the cliché.
What a shame. Such a shame...!
But it seems Samoyama had piled up too much bad karma.
If even his fellow circle members were willing to say things like that.
“What about Watanabe Takashi?”
“Why are you curious about Watanabe Takashi's punishment?”
“We're close friends. He wanted to quit too, but he was too scared of the upperclassmen.”
“He never said anything like that.”
“He was probably afraid of retaliation.”
“You're defending him.”
“That's right.”
The president smiled faintly.
Did she like me being honest, even a little?
Then could you wear contact lenses?
Let's commit an indecent act together.
“You're honest. Watanabe Takashi has been suspended for a month for delinquency.”
If it had been expulsion, I would've tried to stop it somehow, but a month was lenient.
Get plenty of rest and see you later, Takashi.
“Understood.”
After discussing several other matters, I was sentenced to fifty hours of campus service by the president.
Although I'd caused the incident, I had only wanted to quit and was technically the victim. Because of how diligently I'd behaved before vacation, they seemed inclined to go easy on me.
Honestly, it was unexpected.
I thought I would receive at least a week's suspension.
Is this the protagonist's plot armor? Sweet.
“Fifty hours of campus service... I have to clean bathrooms again?”
It was Miyuki speaking, her notebook held tightly against her chest.
I snorted and answered,
“I'm never cleaning bathrooms again. The student council president never specified what kind of service I had to do.”
I had club activities after school too. I couldn't go around cleaning other people's shit.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I'll focus on cafeteria duty. Most students bring packed lunches, so it's quiet there.”
“You're really good at finding loopholes...?”
I had no intention of working in the cafeteria every time.
Why? Because I wanted to eat lunch with Miyuki on the rooftop.
“Or I could clean the clubroom around the time club activities end.”
“That sounds good. I'm really glad it ended with campus service.”
I rested one arm on top of Miyuki's head and stretched with the other.
“That ended well. Feels refreshing.”
“I feel stifled. Move your arm.”
“Shut up. Where's Miura?”
“He's touring the kendo clubroom.”
“He's surprisingly thorough?”
“It's natural to tour the club you want to join. You're the carefree one, Matsuda-kun.”
“I couldn't help it. I was at the disciplinary committee.”
“That's true. And speaking of disciplinary matters... You almost swore unconsciously back there, didn't you?”
I stopped dead and looked at Miyuki with an exasperated expression.
Then I nodded with a mischievous smile.
“That's right. Are you going to punish me for it? Should I take off my pants?”
“W-why are you taking off your pants...?”
“Weren't you going to spank me?”
“.... You're unbelievable... Do you really have to make perverted jokes like that?”
“Why? You look like you enjoy them too. The corners of your mouth are turned up.”
“W-what are you talking about...! When did I ever...? Don't assume things when you don't know anything...!”
Miyuki grumbled and began walking faster.
As I watched her back moving briskly across the corridor, I grinned and shouted,
“Miyuki! Wait up!”
Her footsteps only grew faster.
I knew she'd react like that.
I let out a shameless laugh and hurried after her.