My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 23: A Time to Get Angry

I think there are times when people should get angry and times when they shouldn't.

Dignity? Profit? Family? What's important differs for everyone, and I think the point at which people get angry depends on what matters to them.

I return to the classroom still harboring anger toward the homeroom teacher. The lessons end without incident, and it's time for final homeroom.

During the 15-minute gap before the teacher arrives, the popular kids start messing with me, but Koishi and one of the popular kids, Aoi, are especially harsh as usual.

Aoi, who's in the kendo club, has a reputation for being hot-tempered, always aiming for the gaps in the opponent's armor during matches to cause pain.

'Hey, poor kid! Your parents are pathetic!'

'Can't do anything without Kousuke, huh? Should we give you a lecture along with Kousuke?'

I'm no longer the class president, and I've been putting up with this since middle school. Feeling both the release of anger from no longer needing to endure and the fear of unfamiliar violence, I slowly stand up, grab Aoi by the throat, push him against the blackboard at the podium in a chokehold style, and slam him hard against it.

(Scary! I don't want to do this anymore!)

I thought that, but there was an anger surpassing that which wouldn't let me stop.

'You can say whatever about me.'

(My voice is too quiet, speak up!)

'You can say whatever about me!! But I won't forgive you for talking about my family! Or my only friend, Kousuke!'

The popular kids, who've only ever seen me take their abuse, are stunned by me slamming someone against the blackboard and yelling. Especially Aoi, who was dumbfounded, snaps back to reality and starts getting furious. I think this person lives purely on pride and physical strength.

'Tachibana! You little bullied kid!'

'The one who bullies is obviously the one in the wrong!'

It's almost time for the teacher to arrive, but Aoi, who's grabbing my collar, gets spotted by the teacher, who restrains him. Both Aoi and I are taken for questioning.

It's obvious the homeroom teacher wants to settle this as just a verbal argument turned physical.

I explain that I've been bullied recently and couldn't take it anymore, but the teacher is truly trash and just wants to avoid trouble, so neither of us gets punished. However, since I'm currently under scrutiny by the teachers due to the complaint my mom filed, Aoi gets a stricter warning than expected. That made him so irritated that when I provoked him by saying, "Let's walk home together, huh?" he looked like steam was about to come out of his head from anger.

I was thinking that to stop the bullying, I have to do something about Aoi.

When I return to the classroom, everyone keeps glancing at me. I guess I stood out by doing something noticeable.

Do I look scary? Slamming someone against the blackboard shouldn't cause that much damage, right?

Everyone's whispering, but I thought this is better than being looked down on, as it might prevent future trouble.

On the way home, I stay on guard, but I'm not attacked. It's dangerous to be exhausted after club activities, so I catch my breath and walk home carefully. But nothing happens?

Could it be that my mom's complaint had an unexpected effect, and the other teachers are keeping an eye out, so there's no chance for bullying?

Or did they think that if they strike first after I fought back once, I'd retaliate?

Either way, I figured this wouldn't be the end of it, so I stayed on guard every day.

Then, a week later, Tanaka, one of the three timid students in class, came to consult me.

The consultation was about him being bullied. Aoi had started directing his stress toward the timid students.

'Ever since Tachibana-kun fought back, Aoi's been shoving us around...'

'Tanaka-kun, what do you expect me to do about it? Why not tell Aoi directly?'

'Yesterday, I got hit, and I've got bruises on my chest and stuff...'

I kind of understood what he was trying to say.

'What? Since I stopped getting bullied, it's all coming down on you, Tanaka-kun, so you want me to do something about it?'

'...That's not exactly it... but isn't there something that can be done?'

'Something...? Do you want me to get bullied again instead?'

Tanaka-kun mumbles awkwardly as he speaks.

'When I tried to back you up before, last week you said I was annoying, meddling, and acting like I saved you, didn't you? But I think Aoi will probably escalate things further. You'd better think this through carefully!'

To fight, I need allies, but it's easier to do this without them if they're just going to stab me in the back. So, I went to Kousuke's house to ask for a favor.