Chapter 18 The Madman, Kyogoku Arata
#18ZenkouSeitoThe Madman, Kyogoku Arata
“…Kyogoku?”
Kiriha looks at me, surprised.
I step up beside her, glaring at the rough-looking guys and those shitty girls.
“Why is Kyogoku here…?”
“You were acting weird earlier, weren’t you? I got curious, so I followed you.”
“You followed me? What about the committee?”
“I asked Suzaku-sensei to cover for me. Now I owe her a favor, which is terrifying, but… it was the right call to come.”
This situation couldn’t be worse.
And now they’re getting aggressive.
If Kiriha had been alone… who knows what might’ve happened.
I glare at the shitty girls again.
“You!!! …It’s you again!”
“I’ve been listening from the start, and honestly, Kiriha’s the one making sense. Everything you’re saying just suits your convenience. It’s revolting to even listen to.”
“Kiriha’s right?! Ha! You’re totally under her spell!!”
“Under her spell? Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not even friends or acquaintances—she trashes me every chance she gets. If I were ‘under her spell,’ I’d have to be a total masochist.”
The shitty girls smirk faintly at my words.
“What’s he even talking about, lol.”
“Seriously, he’s just rambling nonsense… so lame, lol.”
“I can’t watch this anymore, lol.”
“Then why don’t you leave? Promise never to come near Kiriha again.”
“Like we’d ever promise that, lol. I thought just dealing with Kiriha was enough, but… looks like you need some ‘proper’ education too.”
Proper education, huh?
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. If I’d had proper education, I wouldn’t be so hated. And if everyone else had proper education, maybe the world would be a little easier to live in.”
“Huh? What are you even talking about, lol?”
“Oh, my bad. I guess you wouldn’t understand since you’ve never had any ‘proper’ education yourselves.”
“““!!!”””
Their faces twist in anger.
Alright, enough chit-chat.
“I’m done talking to you!!!—Guys, take care of him too.”
One of the girls orders the thugs to act.
I quickly move my hand behind my back, ready to—but just then.
“W-Wait. Isn’t this guy… Kyogoku Arata from the neighboring high school?”
“…What?”
One of the thugs mutters, trembling as he stares at me.
When our eyes meet, he flinches and takes a step back.
“What are you doing?! Just take care of them already…”
“You don’t get it?! He’s the ‘Madman’ from the neighboring high school—Kyogoku Arata!!!”
…Huh?
M-Madman?
Where the hell did that nickname come from?
“You mean the guy who supposedly beat random people to death on the street—five of them?!”
What the hell?
Sure, I’ve got quirks, but who’s this story about?
“And they say he ran through town laughing while covered in their blood!!”
“I know someone who saw him! This guy’s seriously dangerous!”
How out of control have these rumors gotten?
My school’s reputation is way better than this.
Do rumors get this twisted just by crossing over to the neighboring school? …No, seriously, spare me.
…Still, this misunderstanding is way too convenient in this situation.
As much as it annoys me, I’ll play along.
“Heh… So you know all about what I’ve done, huh?”
“Hiiieeeekk!!!!”
One of the thugs collapses in fear.
…Wait, is this actually working? Yeah, I think it’s working.
Alright, let’s keep this up.
“N-No way…”
“Now that I think about it, isn’t there someone at the neighboring high school you’re not supposed to make eye contact with?!”
“Rika! This guy’s dangerous!!!”
“Eek…!”
The girls’ faces go pale with fear.
I deepen my scowl and take a step forward.
“Just so you know, I don’t hesitate to hit anyone—kids… or women.”
““““““!!!!!!!!!””””””
They instinctively back away.
I close the distance, cornering them further.
“Swear it. Swear you’ll never go near Kiriha again.”
“Y-Yes! We swear! Just please!!!”
I lean in close to the one who’s fallen on her backside.
“Really? Can you swear it while looking me in the eye?”
“Y-Yes! I swear!!!”
“I don’t believe you… Maybe I should teach you a little lesson…”
““““““!!!!!!!!!””””””
At that, the girls—and even the rough-looking guys—panic and bow frantically.
“We’re sorry!!!”
“We’ll never go near her again!!!”
“Please forgive us!!!”
“Just spare us, please!!!”
…Alright, that should be enough.
“Fine. I’ll let you off today. —But if you break your promise, I’ll come find you. I’m a madman, after all… Who knows what I’ll do?”
““““““!!!!!!!!!””””””
“Now get out of here! Don’t ever show your faces again!!!”
““““““Y-Yes!!!!!!!””””””
The girls scrambled to their feet and fled, stumbling over themselves.