Chapter 2: A Childish and Clichéd Trope

Ken Matsuda, like the real me, was never good at studying.

So I had no idea what that professor was talking about.

Looking at Miyuki, she was focused on the lecture, skillfully writing something in her notebook.

So studious. It was reassuring because it was the Miyuki I knew.

As I tried my best to follow the professor’s lecture, I felt eyes on me and turned my head.

Tetsuya was staring at me with a look of surprise.

He probably thought it was amazing that I was actually listening to the lecture.

I snorted and whispered, focusing straight ahead.

“What, never seen someone study before?”

“S-sorry… but you’re on the wrong page… you need to open to page 32, not 15…”

He’s timid, but he says what he needs to.

Well, that’s just how he always was.

Except for when Miyuki confessed to me at the end.

“Who asked you to tell me? Worry about your own stuff?”

“Ah, right…”

After our little chat, I noticed Miyuki glancing over here.

Still giving me that hostile glare. It hurts.

Annoyed for no reason, I tore a piece out of my textbook, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it at the innocent student in front of me.

Specifically, where Miyuki could see.

Thwack.

The trash hit the student’s head and bounced off.

Miyuki’s eyes widened.

She looked like she’d tell the professor if I didn’t stop immediately, so I shrugged and lowered my gaze back to my textbook.

Then, secretly, I poked the student in front of me.

“Sorry. It was an accident.”

He nodded slowly, as if used to it.

It wasn’t something you’d see in manga or anime, but it seemed like he’d suffered a lot from me.

Ding-dong-! Ding-dong-!

Before long, the familiar bell rang, signaling the end of class.

I glanced at Miyuki one last time before heading home,

Creak-!

“Ken! Ken!”

Someone called my name as the classroom door opened, and I scowled.

My friends were approaching.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and naturally, these guys were delinquents just like me.

Skipping class was routine, and they didn’t hesitate to do things forbidden within the academy, like drinking and smoking.

I didn’t want to hang out with these guys.

Not because they violated academy rules, but because they made lewd jokes about my beloved Miyuki.

Staring at her with lecherous eyes was just a bonus. That’s what annoyed me even more.

Miyuki could only look at me that way.

Anyway, they were guys I wanted to cut ties with, but maintaining a certain distance wasn’t so bad.

Why? Because they’d make excellent sacrifices for gaining Miyuki’s favor.

But I don’t know their names. Not that I need to.

Leaning back in my chair and sighing, I spoke as the most obnoxious-looking guy among my friends approached.

“What.”

“Are we going to Ikebukuro today? I booked a drinking spot.”

“Not going.”

“Huh? I even made a reservation, why not?”

That ‘Huh?’… Should I say his reaction is very Japanese…

But I don’t feel any aversion to it.

Maybe I… fit in perfectly here?

“I’m tired, so I want to rest.”

“Rest? You? Are you sick?”

“Shut up, I’m not going, so you guys have fun without me.”

“Oh…? Well, can’t be helped then. Hey! Hanazawa! How’ve you been today?”

The guy who immediately tried to tease Miyuki after our conversation ended.

Miyuki, who was packing her bag, looked up, her eyelashes fluttering, about to say something.

Seizing the moment, I…

Smack-!

I smacked my friend hard across the back of the head with my palm.

“Aaaargh!”

Then, I said to my friend, writhing in pain, in a nonchalant tone.

“This bastard is always like this. Get lost already.”

“What the…? Why’d you hit me all of a sudden?”

“Ah, fuck… Stop making noise and get lost. It’s hurting my ears.”

“You’re freaking out over nothing…”

The grumbling friend soon left with the rest of the riff-raff.

I could probably gain some favor with Miyuki even with things like this.

But not right now. Miyuki still thinks I’m the same as those guys… no, even worse.

‘Still, she’ll gradually change her mind.’

Deciding to hold onto hope, I left the classroom immediately.

I didn’t bother looking at Miyuki.

Because I knew I wouldn’t be able to tear my eyes away from her.

Back home, I turned the air conditioner to maximum and lay down on the bed.

I was worried I might oversleep and miss the timing for the event.

Unlike reality, it was very quiet here, so I fell asleep easily, even though I was sleeping on an unfamiliar bed.

Come to think of it, I fell asleep very quickly before coming here too.

Normally, I couldn’t fall asleep for hours even after closing my eyes, and I’d wake up several times in the middle of the night.

‘I hope I don’t wake up and find myself back in reality.’

Hoping desperately that wouldn’t happen, I pulled the covers over myself.

**

Subway, or rather, train gropers are a cliché as childish and worn-out as ‘Huh? Isn’t that the rude punk from before?’

However, if you resolve it, the effect is incredibly potent, enough to gain maximum favorability in any manga, anime, or dating sim.

‘There’s a reason everyone uses it.’

And in Tokiaka, that classic cliché happens.

When? Right now.

Clackety-clack! Clackety-clack!

A packed, rush-hour train so crowded people could barely move.

Having secured a spot in the car Miyuki was in beforehand, I used my height to scan the surroundings.

Tetsuya wasn’t visible.

Naturally. He was running over from three cars away after receiving Miyuki’s ‘Help me’ text.

And Miyuki… was leaning against a train pole not far away, reading a book.

Her focused expression, with her head slightly bowed, was so beautiful it was like looking at a painting.

Though the groper behind her was ruining the mood.

The guy behind Miyuki… with a villainous face that screamed ‘I’m a criminal,’ glanced around subtly before starting to fidget.

He was trying to touch Miyuki’s thigh.

‘Ugh… fuck…’

To think I had to let a groper touch Miyuki’s thigh before I even had!

Irritation surged. Originally, I planned to wait until he tried to slip his hand under her uniform skirt, but I’d have to intervene the moment Miyuki sensed something was wrong.

While I was watching them with that thought in mind, Miyuki’s body flinched shortly after.

“…?”

Her eyes widened as she looked around, discovering the groper right behind her.

But seeing the guy’s nonchalant face, she tilted her head quizzically and returned her gaze to her book.

She seemed to think it was just people bumping into each other due to the crowd.

And the groper, seeing that Miyuki didn’t react even though she’d seen him, grew bolder.

Through a tiny gap created among the dense crowd, I could see the groper’s hand moving towards Miyuki’s butt.

He was still touching her thigh with his other hand. It looked like he’d slip it under her skirt any second now.

Only then did Miyuki intuitively realize something bad was happening, her face flushing with confusion.

Disgust, and fear.

Both emotions coexisted in Miyuki’s eyes.

Seeing her fumbling nervously in her bag for her phone with trembling hands, I…

“Hey! You fucking bastard!”

I yelled loud enough to drown out the clackety-clack of the train car.

All eyes focused on me, just like when I entered the classroom yesterday.

Miyuki, who had been grinding her teeth, also spotted me.

“M-Matsuda-kun…?”

Miyuki called out to me, sounding surprised.

Her trembling voice held a hint of desperation.

The timing was perfect. The groper had also flinched and pulled his hand back.

It was fortunate I stopped him before he went any further.

I pushed through the crowd and approached the groper, who was hesitating in confusion.

As soon as I reached him, I threw my head back and then thrust it forward.

Very forcefully, with all my might.

CRACK-!

The sound of something breaking,

“GACK!”

And the groper’s short gasp.

It was a perfect headbutt. Enough to make the groper’s large frame lose balance and stagger.

I immediately ducked down and tripped the groper.

Ignoring the murmuring crowd completely, I started raining punches down on his face.

WHAM-! BAM-!

Every time a dull thud echoed, the groper’s head snapped back and forth.

Near his head lay a few small, blood-stained chunks.

His teeth had been knocked out.

If we’d fought properly, I probably would have lost, so honestly, I was glad it turned out this way.

WHAM-! BAM-!

As I continued beating the groper,

“Matsuda-kun…!”

Miyuki called out to me cautiously.

I pretended not to hear her, continuing to beat the groper as if worked up.

WHAM-! WHAM-!

As the groper’s face became increasingly smeared with blood, some of the murmuring crowd pulled out their phones.

They were clearly intending to call the police.

Seeing this, Miyuki seized the moment I raised my fist and grabbed my arm with both hands, pulling with all her might.

“Matsuda-kun!! You’ll get yourself killed!! Stop!”

The feel of Miyuki’s ample bosom against my arm was intoxicating.

As the train happened to stop at the next station, I ceased my assault.

Then Miyuki said urgently,

“L-let’s get off here… the doors opened… we have to go…”

“I haven’t beaten him enough yet?”

“Matsuda-kun…! Please stop and let’s go…! People are scared… Hurry…!”

“Alright, alright.”

Pretending to reluctantly get up, Miyuki grabbed my wrist and pulled me off the train.

The warmth I felt from her wrist was incredibly comforting.

Just like her heart, perhaps.

**

“What were you thinking? Why did you beat him like that?”

Sitting on the bench, listening to Miyuki, I frowned in disbelief.

“Seriously, you’re saying that even after being targeted by a groper?”

“Well, even so, beating someone senseless who was unconscious…”

Her suddenly hesitant demeanor was cute.

I scoffed and retorted.

“He was screaming his head off in pain, not unconscious… And if it weren’t for me, your panties would already be gone! You were chirping indignantly at me, so why are you quiet about something like that? Is that sort of thing your type?”

“W-what are you saying…! You’re being too harsh…! I was just so flustered and scared…”

“You airhead…”

Miyuki, provoked by my words, shot back at me.

“Matsuda-kun, your crude way of speaking is the problem. Why do you keep provoking people? Is it fun for you? Does it boost your self-esteem?”

Looking at it now, it is fun.

Since you react to everything, it makes me want to do it even more.

“Shouldn’t you be thanking me first? Why do you keep lecturing me?”

“I-it’s not lecturing… uh…?”

Miyuki’s voice lowered again as she glanced at my hand and flinched.

Seeing the blood trickling between my fingers, she continued,

“Matsuda-kun, your hand is bleeding…”

“I’m used to it.”

It’s not easy to bluff like this.

“U-used to it…? Here, wipe it with this…”

Miyuki, closing her eyes as if disgusted, pulled a handkerchief out of her bag and offered it.

A handkerchief as white as a snowflake. Seeing it, I shook my head.

“It’ll be hard to get blood out if it stains.”

“That’s not the issue right now…”

“Forget it. I’ll wash it at the restroom. The train’s coming soon, so you should hurry back to the academy. You’ll lose points if you’re late. Can the class representative afford that?”

“B-but still…”

“If you’re really worried, buy me a drink from the store later. I’m leaving. Take care.”

Waving dismissively, I headed for the restroom without looking back at Miyuki.

Turning on the faucet and holding my hand under it, it genuinely stung.

I felt like screaming my lungs out.

As I carefully wiped my hand and exited the restroom,

“Matsuda-kun. Did you finish wiping?”

Miyuki calling my name from so close startled me so much I nearly fainted.

I hadn’t expected her to still be here.

“Ah, fuck…! You scared me!”

The people in the station stared at me, who had cursed in shock.

Noticing their stares, Miyuki brought her slender index finger to her lips, gesturing for me to be quiet.

“Could you keep it down…? You’re startling people…”

I muttered, bowing slightly and taking a deep breath.

“Haaah… Just don’t startle me then…”

Miyuki watched me, who was acting like this.

Suddenly, she slightly curved her lips into a smile.

The moment I saw it, my vision swam.

It was far less radiant than the smile she showed Tetsuya, but it was truly beautiful enough to brighten the surroundings.

So beautiful, I wondered if anyone else in the world could be like that.

Barely calming my pounding heart, I deliberately acted gruff towards Miyuki.

“W-what…? Why are you grinning like that?”

“Thank you…”

“What was that?”

“I-I said thank you… for saving me…”

I’m glad I saved her.

No, I’m glad I was born.

Scratching my sideburns awkwardly, I said,

“Never mind. I didn’t do it expecting thanks.”

“But earlier you said I should thank you?”

“I didn’t actually expect you to.”

“What do you take me for? I’m someone who knows how to show gratitude, unlike some people…”

“Are you implying that ‘some people’ is me?”

Miyuki didn’t answer and changed the subject.

“And Matsuda-kun, you should probably cut down on the swearing.”

“First you complained about my crude language… Stop nagging and just go.”

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’m going to a PC… no, like an internet cafe to kill some time.”

“You’re wearing a uniform, why are you trying to skip?”

“Wearing the uniform makes me want to skip. Once you get a taste for it, you can’t stop.”

“I don’t understand…”

The way she tilted her head was so pretty… I wanted to pounce on her right then and there.

“I wasn’t saying it for you to understand.”

“Don’t do that, let’s go. You need to put on ointment and bandage it, or the wound will get infected if left untreated. I’ll talk to the professor, so Matsuda-kun, head straight to the infirmary when you arrive. You can rest for about the first period.”

Hearing her say all this, she seemed genuinely grateful.

Maximum favorability… I really got it.

“What’s gotten into you? Encouraging skipping class…”

“It’s for treatment and rest. But come to class starting from the second period.”

“Are you my mom?”

Miyuki looked at me, who kept being prickly, with a look of exasperation.

She sighed deeply and said,

“Haaah… Fine, I don’t care if you skip or whatever, but go to the infirmary first.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then do whatever you want!”

She raised her voice slightly before turning away.

I chuckled and moved right next to Miyuki.

“But Hanazawa.”

“What…! Why!”

“You have blood on you too, you know?”

“Me too…? Where?”

“It’s right there.”

I pointed towards her chest area with my index finger, and Miyuki’s gaze followed.

Seeing the bloodstain near her chest, her face instantly turned bright red.

Quickly covering her front with her bag, she narrowed her eyes at me.

“Y-you’re not a pervert…?”

“I just said it out of goodwill, why are you being so sensitive? Aren’t you the pervert?”

“It was something you could have just ignored…”

“If I hadn’t told you, you would have gone to school with blood on your chest. You’re good at studying, but when it comes to things like this, you’re a bit… dense.”

“I-I don’t want to hear that from you…”

I was just stating facts.

Grinning, I waited for the next train, bickering with Miyuki.

Today’s event was a great success. I quite liked it.

Even though my hand hurts.