Volume 7 Scene (1/2)
Youkoso Jitsuryoku shi+jou Shugi no Kyoushi+tsu e vol7Rooftop scene
Ibuki approached Karuizahile clicking her tongue ”What, what are you doing?” said Karuizawa ”I'ot my own circumstances to consider, too” Ibuki then quickly spun around to Karuizawa's back and restrained both her hands from the back ”Aaah!” Karuizawa screa this, she dutifully suppressed all resistance fro her hands Due to the experienced Ibuki holding her down, there was no way for Karuizawa to escape this hold ”Ishi+zaki, fill that bucket with some cold water, for now I have two such buckets, there's one more bucket downstairs in the toilet” said Ryuuen ”Water? What are you going to use it for?” said Ishi+zaki ”Don't rebel against et the water” ”Until Ishi+zaki comes back with the water, why don't you and I chat soed Karuizawa Karuizawa began to struggle against Ibuki's grip, but failed to escape She struggled so fiercely because she kneas going to happen next, and was terrified of it
It was either because she predicted or felt as co next, her desperate resistance continued and she flailed around trying to escape but in the end, all resistance stopped ”If you lay even one finger onto scream and tell on you” Karuizawa said ”Kukuku, you say that after coeous of you” replied Ryuuen ”Do you honestly still think X will protect you even now? Let uess, did the X that rules D-class from the shadows promise to protect you in a situation like this?” Karuizawa's eyes teared up She tried her best to hide her feelings yet Ryuuen still saw through that ”It's got to be that, otherwise the situation doesn't add up” said Ryuuen ”You're hated by females from the other classes and Manabe and her friends once even beat you up” Ibuki quickly shi+fted her gaze frootten the feeling of anxiety towards the people who know about your past and yet you live your days noithout fearing anything and without worrying about your past being revealed, why is that? I'm sure it's because there is a powerful presence that protects and supports you” ”Is that presence supposed to be X?” Ibuki asks a question ”Yeah, but that wasn't the case from the start, I'm sure it only happened recently, X made contact with Karuizawa after Manabe's contact with her and that's when his protection of her started” ”Before it was Hirata protecting you as your boyfriend, wasn't it?” Karuizawa's pupil widened ”N-no” ”I'ht” Ryuuen told Karuizawa ”Don't underestied out the darkness deep inside Karuizawa I'hts)
”Ryuuen, why do you know all that?” It was not only Karuizawa, but even Ibuki was not able to understand how Ryuuen knew ”It's intuition, up until now I've met a mountain load of rotten and broken people after all” replied Ryuuen ”I-I'” Ishi+zaki scra buckets of water
He was carrying 8 buckets full of cold water and was stuuys kno the security cameras in this school are set up and how ate all of them and I was able to learn exactly where the cameras are not present” It was just like how I (Ryuuen) knew there were additional buckets in the toilet below No matter how hard the board tries to hide this, it was an easy fact for Ryuuen to learn ”I always aim for the boundary between consent and violation” said Ryuuen ”What I'm about to do now to Karuizawa is one of those experiences” Ryuuen then duan to shake and treh one's actions than just ords alone” said Ryuuen If Manabe's words can be trusted, by doing this, Karuizawa's spirit should soon instantly break (Ryuuen's thoughts)
Just by locking eyes briefly with Ishi+zaki he instantly knehat I wanted him to do Ibuki released Karuizawa from the hold and she collapsed onto the floor And Ishi+zaki, as I commanded him to, threw another bucket of water onto Karuizawa's head Having received a tremendous shock, Karuizawa broke down on the floor and started tre, not just from the cold anymore She put her arht Her confidence and headstrong nature just now all vanished the instant the water hit her
”Do you res done to you in your previous school?” ”N-no” Karuizaeakly tried to cover her ears Alhost, her body just kept on tre to thoroughly break you” said Ryuuen Tears were co out of Karuizawa's eyes Ryuuen knew, at that point, that Karuizawabullied ”Now if you don't tellbullied to the whole school”
Of course that was a complete lie I did not know the details of her past But for Karuizawa, she's long since lost her rational sense of judg iveness” said Ryuuen ”N-no, n-no” Karuizawa kept repeating It seems the deeper the wounds of your heart, the better it feels to drag theht, I should have never agreed to help with this” Ibuki said as she diverted her eyes as if to escape this scene in front of her
It see Hirata and relying on X's protection ”You won't be able to do that so easily, you know?” Ryuuen said to Karuizawa Once the bullied get broken, the wounds run so deep you're unable to go back to the way you once were But that's the point of bullying fro it This time, after Ishi+zaki, I poured another bucket of cold water onto Karuizawa Karuizawa tried to let out a voice but could no longer even do so Karuizawa tried to curl up her body as if to shrink away froet so up the buckets that were now lying around, Ishi+zaki once again left the rooftop to fetch more water
”I heard from Manabe, someone protected you, who?” demanded Ryuuen ”There's no such person, no such person, no such person, no such person” desperately shaking her head Karuizawa tried to protect her secret
”You still refuse to tellelse, or is it that you're just accusto like this isn't even considered bullying to you?” Grabbing Karuizawa by her arms, Ryuuen suddenly yanked her up ”I can't watch this” Ibuki muttered as Ryuuen said ”The fun part starts here” ”This is just disgusting to watch” Ibuki said as she stepped away not off the rooftop but just far enough so she won't see the bullying ”Don't worry I'll leave once I confirm the identity of X” Ryuuen said and Ibuki responded ”Then that's fine” I'uys anyways, I' Karuizan cohts)
Her body was cold to the core Water was dripping fro her underwear Four times consecutively buckets of cold water was mercilessly poured on her head But it was not just fro It was also her heart, tre with a 'darkness' that wanted to lash out and curse at the whole world that was s like that start welling up inside her and turning her towards certain thoughts Why aan to look towards herself with those eyes Her frozen heart began to corrode her thoughts ”I think you've suffered enough, Karuizawa Let's give up already shall we?” said Ryuuen Ryuuen was laughing while approaching me slowly (Karuizawa's POV) but this is a dead end street, I cannot reply to anything he asks If, just if, I told them about Kiyotaka in less than one hour I could be completely free of thisbutthat road does not lead to my salvation
It's just like the situations you often see in draon attacks the damsel If so, I can only continue to hold onto my last hope, the hope that Kiyotaka promised to protect me I will just continue to believe in his words Those words are the last and only things left supporting , Karuizawa If you reveal X's invisible identity here, you will lose the protection you once had fro from both cold and fear She desperately tried to stop herself froing up terriblebetween the past and the present ”Do you want to die while e hope, do you really want to return to those days? Are you really ok with that?” asked Ryuuen A unilateral violent assault of te words attacked her
”But you see Karuizawa, the one who's going to save you isn't X who's not even here But ht now, I'm the only one who can save you from this situation” said Ryuuen
I' as you and I are ene but attack your weakness repeatedly” Ryuuen kept saying
Savethat has happened to you up until noill reveal everything all of it to this school”
I'ue)
”If that happens will you be able to reure in your class?” Ryuuen kept taunting her
Save ue)
The mely ”No, no, no, no, no, no, no” I don't want to return to such a miserable world where I would rather die than live ”Then let it end, Karuizawa, protect yourself” Ryuuen told her ”Please forgive ive me already” Karuizaeakly replied At that point her pride was shattered No that's not it, her pride was siinally broken is easily scattered again
”I'o easy on you like Manabe did, Karuizawa Re me from this school it's not just one or two people that know this secret Soon the whole school will know about you” continued Ryuuen ”Soon even your own class” ”No, no, no” ”Then remeo back to it” And Karuizawa could not help but re out before her eyes and the darkness that appears right after
Middle School Years
Fro, the hell oftype of girl From the irls from the same year as me That hen a new middle school life started for raffiti When I used the toilet I would get dumped wih dirty water from the toilet Beaten and kicked Photos were taken of that and spread around the class for cheap laughs Carcasses of dead animals and tacks were shoved intomy skirt flipped up in public by ot hidden after swi me with none Once, my uniform itself was hidden
Sometimes I was forced to confess to boys I didn't even like Sometimes food scattered on the floor like trash, I was ordered to pick it up and eat it Once I was even forced to lickknown as humiliation Yes Yes I know
Yes I remember all of it In times like this, the last defense humans use to protect themselves I should just accept it The reality that I a bullied by Ryuuen and his men If I can accept that fact, it'll be easier on o back to those days? If I do I know my heart will surely be unable to endure it If the only thread of salvation I had, the fact that nobody here knew one, then I
She looked up at the sky
The tears she's been trying her hardest to hold in all fell out at once Why? Why ht now?I don't want it Such feelings of hatred unexpectedly were born in my heart
If I just tell Ryuuen who's in front offor In other words, if I just tell the will be over But even then, there's no guarantee that I'll be freed from this He may still reveal my secret the next day If that happens it'll be the sa even if I betray Kiyotaka now
If that happens, not only will I lose all my precious friends but I will also forever lose Kiyotaka's trust But there's still a way I can get out of this If I just spit out Kiyotaka's na will end, I will be freed Yes There's no other way It can't be helped 'I will protect you' Kiyotaka, who pro to save me Even if I wait for hie
Has he not seen the nal with edI thought he would Was I just being delusional? I don't understand anyer any way for me to confirm this After all, me and Kiyotaka's relationshi+p was too shallow fro thrown aside in such a selfish burial I was always the secondary priority
I was betrayed in the end ”Albert Did soain” said Ryuuen ”I' so after all” Ahh, I see, I really was throay after all (Karuizawa's internalis still better than nothing Kiyotaka said he'll come and save me And it is a fact that he protected me from Manabe
”It seems like you trust in X quite a bit, Karuizawa” Ryuuen looked atdeceived by him” ”N-no” ”Even on the shi+pboard test, there is a truth you were not told by X” ”T-truth?” The smile from Ryuuen's face disappeared ”Of course while Manabe was just planning on bullying you for the sake of petty revenge, she was not able to obtain the opportunity to lure you to a place with few people and yet you yourself went down to the bottom of the shi+p Why was that?” Ryuuen asks her ”T-that is” That was because Yousuke-kun was supposedly the one who called me down there
”Do you really think it was just a coincidence?” Ryuuen spoke once again as if looking into e shi+p like that it's obviously i only the option to appear theroup” Then does that mean Yousuke-kun was the one who betrayed me? NoI already knew the answerI just didn't want to believe it ”I'ineer the situation with Manabe and the others and you on that shi+p” Ryuuen told her ”So you see noas just using you, the person known as Karuizawa Kei, from the start” No It can't be I was fooled by Kiyotaka fro?
Iwasn't able to be of use to hih I fell into the trap Kiyotaka set, I still wanted to be of use to his and yet he threw me away at such a critical time It's almost like I
”I' 'tor ht I was unable to escape, even at the very end, fro'
It It can't be Ireally won't be saved by him I fell into the eneh I helped his, I'm simply throay like trash at this critical moment ”I'm sure you've realized it too, Karuizawa All of it was one big joke to hiain ”It's fine then, there's only one way left to escape this situation” said Karuizawa The naood, free yourself from this” plodded Ryuuen The only name I need to name, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka Once that name leavesand not believing anymore
But even if I screao according to what theI only had that one conviction But againstto forenuine wish for so to form words I must be so cold my lips cannot even form a word ”Its ok, take it easy, I just need that one name frogling to hear the name froiveIf I name him, I can be free ”One more time, let's hear it now” said Ryuuen
Ryuuen approaches his ear to”No out more clearly now No That wasn't true From the start, I should've done this from the start Yes, this should've been my response from the start After all I'm
”No matter how many times you ask meI will NEVEREVERtell you his na instantly
A ray of light parted the cloudy sky at last In a world where in reality, nothing has changed, I found my answer Even if tomorrow I lose ins anew ”The naht co into my chest ”Are you sure about this, Karuizawa?” Ryuuen finally said Yes I'ret this later But even so, I' you, why do you insist on covering for him?” Ryuuen finally said ”I don't know” That's what I want to ask”Even I have so I want to follow up to the very end” The blurred vision I had until now cleared up for that one moment ”I see, how unfortunate, Karuizawa You will lose your place at this school starting from tomorrow” Ryuuen said ”I did not want to do this to you but I really have no choice anymore”
”But I will ad exposed to your trau betrayed by the person you trusted most You still remain loyal to him”
Yes I know It's fine This is fine (Karuizawa's internal oing to broken after this But even so, surprisingy, I was proud of h I was betrayed by him, I did not betray him in the end If this act helps hiet the peaceful life he alanted, if I was of use to hih , the ti and never a bad thing I had fun Somehow aren't I like a heroine who quietly supports her hero fros I never really understood, it was always unusual and fun for me And even so, in whatever forrets No regrets at all ButBut somehow, from the bottom of my heart, the truth is, a small hope still existed That Kiyotaka will still come and save me after all this I was surprised I still held out hopeaahthat's just stupidity There's no way he'll co in the paloes around comes around after all I had Hiratkun protect irl incapable of doing anything on her own Under the cold winter sky, somewhere inside my heart I felt warm Farewell, to the me who always lied to herself And welcome back, to the me of the past
=====
(Kiyotaka's POV)
About 2 hours before Ryuuen invited Karuizawa out to the rooftop Precautions for the winter vacations were provided to D class by Chabashi+ra sensei While I was packing ht to Karuizawa As it happens, she was also looking at me at the moment and our eyes ency e It seems she's been called to the rooftop in 2 hours I did not look at theup the stairs now Slowly going up step by step, but there was a giant black shadow blocking my way It's Albert Yamada of Class C It doesn't seem like he's noticed me yet Perfect He seems to be a lookout I don't know the details but, there's nothe fact that he's also one of Ryuuen's hench at a prey
”Can you let me pass please?” I ask him politely in japanese but I'e Albert didn't eventhat words alone will no longer work I try calling out to hi for
Today I'll solve the trouble by myself, and no one interferes
I said to hiain said in japanese ”I' to crush Ryuuen into pieces now, if I take you out, without you he has no chance of victory againstat me
Albert then quickly put his hand on the doorknob to the rooftop and went out to the rooftop I quickly followed hi soon Near the fence of the rooftop I could see a gli the door to the rooftop were Ibuki and Ishi+zaki And then Ryuuen was also there and he finally turned his gaze towards me I make sure to check the surveillance caht to make sure whatever happens, ere completely unobserved
Now that I have ascertained there are no surveillance ca us, I calmly turn my eyes back to Ryuuen ”Ayanokouji?” Ibuki was the first one who utteredthat name, Karuizawa also immediately turns to look at me but she wasn't able to speak immediately But our eyes met, and her eyes seem to ask me in surprise why I was here ”I'm sorry I'm late, Karuizawa” I said ”Whywhywhy did you co atme that? I made a promise to you, didn't I? Whenever you're in trouble, I'll definitely save you” I told her ”Ryuuen-san? Is this Ayanokouji guy X?” ”Of course not, this guy definitely isn't the one we're looking for” Ibuki quickly rebukes Ishi+zaki who asked that question ”Ryuuen, X is definitely just trying to use Ayanokouji he's definitely not X don't be deceived” Ibuki tells Ryuuen ”Karuizawa must have asked him to come help her” ”Shut up, Ibuki” Ryuuen fir Ryuuen distances himself from Karuizawa and slowly approaches uy who alwaysobts Suzune What are you doing here at such a place in the winter holidays?” Ryuuen asks me
”I came because I received a mail from Karuizawa I came here to save her” I said ”Hou” ”Its i you to save Karuizawa” Ibuki quickly tried to defend me to Ryuuen She see for ”What's wrong, Ibuki? Do you really not believe Ayanokouji is the X we're looking for?” Ryuuen asks her ”It's not about believing or anything, this guy is, this guy is, he's definitely not X He's actually a very kindhearted person I' ”Ryuuen-san, do you really believe Ayanokouji is X?” ”I always thought it was strange that he would always stick to the more capable Horikita like that” ”Perhaps I was just blind, to not see soht” Ryuuen says
It seereements here and there Admittedly the situation must seem bizarre to them, I don't blame Ibuki for her denial ”I always stuck to Horikita because otherwise I would appear suspicious to you guys Leaving me with no choice but to stick with the more capable Horikita to hide myself” ”B-but!” ”Don't worry, I a for” I calmly said ”S-see, it is doubtful after all Do you really think theis suspicious” Ibuki was still trying to reject the truth
”I feel the same way I feel like he's meant to be the decoy to the real one” Ishi+zaki said ”Either way it looks like you've been dealt a bad hand, Ayanokouji” Ryuuen says ”The logical decision you should have made was to sacrifice Karuizawa to seal your victory overin, I can't speak for Ibuki and the others but I want you to show”I don't have any ulterior motives, I can here purely because Karuizawa asked me for my help that's all” I replied
”But if you still need proof that I'ainst me” I said ”That's not it, the fact that your identity is now revealed to us does not change” Ryuuen retorted ”Not only that, we also have Karuizawa's secret now, if you just take her and leave noithout doing anything on't spread her secret all over the school” ”Now make your choice” ”Choice? I don't really have to make any choice here” I said ”Ryuuen-san, I' nearby ready to help him if needed” Ishi+zaki interjected ”Nope They're not here” I swiftly replied ”That's enough right, Ryuuen By now it should be clear that he clearly isn't X There's no way so to defend rief, it looks like Ishi+zaki and Ibuki just won't aded his shoulders looking exasperated at Ibuki and Ishi+zaki ere in denial ”But still, even if you won't do anything, I need to personally confirht?” Ryuuen said with a s atto give youI' to snap a photo of the leader's key card using your digital caital camera broke halfway into the test It was me I poured water into the camera to break it” I calmly explained to her ”H-how did you know about that?” Ibuki is still soernails were dirty with dirt You were digging to hide the radio you used for coive them all these details only I could have known, even they will have to acknowledge the fact that I' Ibuki then and X couldn't have been either of them ”Just admit it, Ibuki, Ayanokouji is X” Ryuuen finally said ”W-wait Please wait I'm a bit confused You can't say for sure that X is just one person, right?” Ibuki still defended me ”No, there's no need to doubt anymore” Ryuuen said at last Ryuuen's face was finally filled with a threatening expression which showed hostile intentions towards , if Ayanokouji really were X pulling the strings ould he show himself like this to us and o to waste?” Ibuki still defended me ”You have prepared yourself for this, haven't you? You've clearly performed a miracle that exceeded our expectations, if not you would've just looked like an idiot during the island test” Ryuuen said to rounds is rewarded with an expulsion, but it's not always the case, you'd have to prove the dae taken in said violence too
”X should have been the type of person to cruelly abandon Karuizawa or save Karuizaithout revealing his identity to us” Much to Ryuuen's glooree with her assessment on that, the fact that you couldn't do either of those things is the reason you were driven out before us” Ryuuen countered ”I could have easily done this, like you said, if I had decided to sacrifice Karuizawa” I replied ”I'ht I would sacrifice Karuizawa for sure, but you were all thrown into disarray because I suddenly decided to appear in front of you like this Either ith just the 4 of you here, there's no way you can stop me”
”its okIf they know about you now, Kiyotaka, I don'trevealed as well” Karuizawa said weakly while fraily trying to push her fallen body up I pay her no attention and refocus instantly on Ryuuen ”There you have it, whether you believe or not is up to you now” I told him ”See That seems to be Ayanokouji's final word on the matter, you need to show him that you can rule with violence, show me that confidence of yours Ishi+zaki” Ryuuen said ”are you sure?” Ishi+zaki replied He was indecisive on thewith savages like Sudou that fight constantly is one thing, but to him, Iviolence is so Ishi+zaki would hesitate to do
”Hurry up and do it” ”But” ”If you can thoroughly beat Ayanokouji to a pulp, I assure you there's nothing to be worried about” Ryuuen reassured Ishi+zaki ”Wait” Karuizawa screaain even if you hurt Kiyotaka, there's no , please don't” ”Oi oi, don't suddenly butt into this Karuizawa, your purpose is already over” Ryuuen told her ”There's no need to worry about your past being revealed now, since Ayanokouji here was kind enough to reveal hirabs Karuizawa's hair and yanks her up and casually tossed Karuizawa to the back of the rooftop ”Like I said, don't butt in, Karuizawa” Ryuuen told her However, even after that, Karuizawa still gets back up and pulls on Ryuuen's feet to keep hi me ”Don't worry, Karuizawa” I try to reassure her and make her stop ”B-but”
”You don't need to worry about ht, you need to worry about yourself” Ryuuen tells es forward at me ”Please don't think badly ofRyuuen-san's orders” he tellsso far has gone exactly according to my plan Ishi+zaki softly raises his fists to hit hihty baby It was a slow motion even a middle school kid or an ele a big swing at ht hand ”W-What?” Ishi+zaki was surprised ”Ishi+zaki, if you're going to fightto warn hih I stopped his fist he still moved forward towards me from his own momenturasp Ishi+zaki's right fist in ht hand with the force of my left hand ”AAAAAH!!!” Ishi+zaki's facial expressions contort and his knees begin shaking in pain
”Ishi+zaki? What's wrong” Having realized that so, Ibuki calls out to Ishi+zaki ”N-n-n-n-o p-p-please s-stop” Unable to even correct his stance and noling in pain, Ishi+zaki desperately tries to use his left hand to grab my argest threat I was able to assess so far is Albert Ryuuen, Ibuki and Ishi+zaki can easily be dispatched after I take down Albert