My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 13: The Boundary Between Teasing and Bullying

With repeated harassment like this, just one week into being class president, my mental state had taken quite a hit. I realized that ignoring them was the best option since they'd just call it a joke or play, but even so, the damage slowly accumulated.

It had only been a week, but it felt like a long time had passed.

At that time, there was a student assembly, a school-wide meeting organized by the student council.

Chairs were set up, and the whole school gathered. There was an introduction to the student council for the first-years, club budgets, volunteer reports—honestly, I wasn't that interested.

But since lining up randomly would lead to chaos, the teacher ordered us to line up alphabetically by roster. That turned the 90-minute assembly into pure torture.

The person right before me in the roster order was Sotomachi-kun, the main instigator of the teasing (or maybe giving orders behind the scenes?). I thought this wasn't good.

Right at the start, Sotomachi (I don't even need to call him 'kun' anymore) said to me in a low voice, loud enough for those around to hear.

"Tachibana-kun, are you poor or something?"

The people around reacted immediately.

"What?! Really?!"

"That's hilarious!"

"Yeah, I can kinda see it, lol!"

'Huh?'

I couldn't hold back and couldn't ignore it.

Sotomachi continued.

"I mean, you can't even join the class group chat on LINE because you don't have a smartphone, right?"

"For real!"

"That's wild!"

"I shouldn't laugh, but lol!"

It's true, I don't have a smartphone. A lot of people in class do, but about 40% don't. Though many classmates got one when they started middle school.

'...I don't really need one. I live close by, and my only friend is Kousuke, so I don't need it.'

"He's trying so hard!"

"So few friends, lol!"

"That's funny!"

"Want me to be your friend? (lol)"

I'm not laughing at all. I definitely don't need friends like these.

"If it were just the smartphone, it could be a family policy or something, but lately, Tachibana-kun's lunch is just two rice balls and tamagoyaki, or two rice balls and a sausage. It's super meager. Don't they make lunch for you?"

"That's seriously hilarious!"

"If you're struggling that much, just say so!"

"Being poor must be tough."

I'm supported by the money my dad and mom earn for food, clothes, and shelter. Even if there are some inconveniences, they're minor.

My little brother Hikaru, who was born last year, has a congenital heart condition and has been in and out of the hospital, racking up medical bills. Because of that, my mom can't work, so our family finances are indeed tight.

I've talked about it with my parents and understand the situation. My mom takes on extra work when she can and is busy, so I told her rice balls are fine.

Ignoring me, their conversation seemed to heat up.

"I saw Tachibana walking barefoot!"

"I heard Tachibana-kun say he knows a place with tasty food scraps, lol!"

"Let's all chip in for him, hey! Here's 10 yen, go pick it up!"

The sound of a coin dropping rang out, and a teacher came over to reprimand them. Too late, Teacher. I wish you'd come sooner.

"You guys are too loud! Tachibana is the class president, isn't he? Why are you messing around with him?"

I got angry. If this is fun for them, then it's just play, and getting scolded is expected. But does enduring one-sided teasing and insults look like play to you?

My opinion of the teacher dropped another notch.

The long 90 minutes finally ended. It's Wednesday, so there are no club activities, and I can go home right after homeroom.

Kashii-san, since she has no club activities either,

'Tachibana-kun, can we discuss class president duties this week? Do you have time?'

'...Sorry, not today...'

'No, no! It's fine! It's my fault for asking out of the blue!'

I turned down Kashii-san's invitation. My classmates were watching.

I apologized to Kashii-san and went home.

I didn't want the girl I like to see me in such a bitter mood.

The next day was the same. Teased, harassed, ignored—I spent the day like that.

I did my best with class president duties. I didn't want to burden Kashii-san.

Even after another week, they kept pushing the line of what's worst every day. My heart grew colder.

Today, as I was about to head home after leaving most of my tools at Kousuke's place,

'Tachibana, let's play baseball.'

He usually calls me Sho, but this invitation was like Nakajima-kun from Sazae-san! I wish he'd said it with a slightly higher voice.

'I'm more of a soccer guy, you know?'

'I know. Just come on.'

Kousuke was in the baseball club in elementary school, so he has the gear. Carrying two bats, two gloves, and a ball, we headed to my house to drop off some stuff first.

Complaining a lot, I walked home with Kousuke. Since his house is in the opposite direction, walking together for so long felt refreshing!

Lately, I've been feeling down, so just having Kousuke with me made me feel stronger.

As we turned a corner on the way home, a few people suddenly jumped out.

I was so startled I couldn't even make a sound.

It was the four most persistent guys from the popular crowd in class.

"Tachibana, you've been acting cocky lately, huh?"

"Let's have a little chat with us, yeah?"

Seriously? This kind of thing actually happens?

Even without being delinquents, they ambush and attack (sort of)? Being naturally timid, I honestly panicked.

Still in shock, I couldn't even speak.

"!! This guy's got a bat!"

"No way! That's so unfair!"

Kousuke said calmly.

"Got some business? I'm about to play baseball with Sho."

I almost fell for him. So Kousuke is this kind of guy, no, this kind of man.

So that's why he invited me to play baseball. I just realized that if two people are playing, having two gloves and a ball makes sense, but two bats aren't necessary.

"We've got something to say to Tachibana!"

'Surrounding him with four people?'

"This doesn't concern Kousuke! It's our class's problem!"

'Hurry up then, I'll wait.'

Kousuke casually swung the bat. Being a former baseball club member, his swing was clean.

Standing there holding the bat, the four of them started throwing words at me as they pleased.

"You ignoring us all the time pisses me off!"

"Don't act all high and mighty as class president when you're poor!"

"Bringing a bat is such a cowardly move."

"I'm gonna tell everyone about today."

I was shaken, and being surrounded by four people, I was honestly scared.

But as a guy, I can't show fear. The men in the books I've read were all like that.

'You won't mention that four of you ambushed and threatened me.'

I've got one more thing to say to these noisy jerks!

Thinking back on everything made me angry.

I ignore you because you say unpleasant things. You're the ones who forced me to be class president. I don't want to be called a coward by guys who surround me four to one!

'You're gonna tell everyone about today? That you ambushed me with four people to threaten me, but since I had a bat, you just argued and went home? That's hilarious.'

I was scared and stumbled a bit, but I taunted them.

It might have been a bit much, but I was so angry I didn't think about the consequences and just did it.

Cursing at me, the four of them left.

'Sho, that was cool.'

'Thanks to you, Kousuke. I'm always getting saved by you.'

'Good thing we didn't have to use the baseball gear.'

He must have known this would happen and made me carry the gear while coming with me.

Honestly, I could almost fall for him. I don't have many friends, but the one I have is definitely too good for someone like me.

Kousuke and I played a little catch with the ball.

We made sure to leave a record of actually playing baseball before heading back.

Carrying baseball gear around gives us an excuse, after all.

Being teased every day like that, and today even facing the possibility of violence, I couldn't help but think this might already be bullying.

I felt like I was just giving back a tiny bit of the teasing and harassment I usually endure.

After all, even though they kept pestering me relentlessly, making me feel awful and almost surrounding me, I let them go with just an argument despite having a bat, so I actually felt like they owed me, but it seems they didn't see it that way.

And so, days like a quagmire began.