Chapter 264. [WRATH]

Delinquents board the school bus. Not just one, but several.

《Hey, what’s your deal!?》

《Oh, come on, we’re students too, you know? What’s wrong with us riding the school bus?》

《Who do you think you are!?》

《What’s the problem? Can’t we all get along as neighbors? You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your family on the streets or at home, right? So, we should help each other out, just in case.》

《…Hey, what are you thinking?》

《Hey, why are you getting all tense? It’s like I’m threatening you or something!》

Laughter echoes inside the bus from the delinquents.

The usually noisy bus is now eerily silent.

《Sorry, Iroha-chan. It’s our fault. He went to the same middle school as us. That’s how he found out we ride the same bus.》

《It’s not everyone’s fault.》

As they exchange words, a delinquent leans forward.

His tobacco-smelling breath hits us.

《What are you whispering about? Let me in on it too.》

《Hey, what are you doing!?》

《Switch seats with me. I want to get friendly with that monkey over there. Animal welfare, you know? It’s important, right?》

《Stop it… Ouch!? Ah!?》

He forcefully grabs a girl’s arm and throws her into the aisle.

Then, he loudly sits down next to her.

《Iroha-chan!》

《Hey, don’t touch her! I’ll… Ugh!?》

《Shitenno!》

As Shitenno tries to intervene, he’s punched in the stomach by one of the delinquents and collapses.

One of the girls rushes to him in panic.

《…》

The driver’s bitter expression is reflected in the rearview mirror as he tries to speak but restrains himself.

It’s the right move.

If harm were to come to the driver… especially while the bus is in motion, the consequences would be unthinkable.

《So, let’s be friends from now on, okay?》

《Iro… ha…! Ugh!?》

The delinquent wraps his arm around my shoulder.

As if to stop him, Shitenno stands up and receives further violence.

《Stop it already!》

One of the girls shields Shitenno.

Seeing this, the delinquents laugh.

《Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.》

《Damn, there’s no way you’re fine!》

《Iroha-chan…》

《We…》

《Hey, even he says so. Sit down already. Otherwise, the bus can’t leave.》

The engine roars and the high school bus starts moving.

The delinquent pulls me closer with the arm around my shoulder.

《We’re friends now. Right? Let’s get along.》

He whispers in my ear with a malicious grin.

***

Since I started attracting trouble from delinquents both on the bus and in school, people have started keeping their distance from me.

Well, it’s understandable. Nobody wants to make an enemy out of a dangerous person.

《Iroha-chan… I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I couldn’t do anything for you!》

During class, while the delinquents are away, the girl cries and hugs me.

Shitenno, perhaps out of frustration, mutters with tears in his eyes.

《Why am I so weak? Why…》

Even after I started attracting trouble from delinquents,

I continued taking the bus to school.

That’s because if I stopped, the girls might become targets.

They seem to notice that consideration, hence their apologetic or regretful expressions, maybe.

But…

《Um, excuse me? I’m really okay, so please don’t worry?》

Hmm, what a hassle.

Honestly, I’m not really… in much trouble.

If anything, it’s kind of convenient not to be approached by everyone.

With more time alone, I could enjoy my social games.

《Iroha-chan, this isn’t the time for that! Right now, they might just be playing around, but it’ll escalate for sure. And when that happens…》

《And Iroha-chan, messing with them, playing games… antagonizing them like that, you shouldn’t do that now! Who knows what consequences…》

《Y-Yeah…》

If it comes to that, the Secret Service guys will probably beat up the delinquents unilaterally.

They’re kinda… picking on the wrong targets, too.

Being hassled and ridiculed by delinquents every time is definitely unpleasant.

But honestly… dealing with antis is a thousand times more persistent and troublesome than delinquents.

《Iroha-chan! It’s okay to cry if it’s tough. To depend on others. They’re not watching now. It’s just us!》

《Um, well… Thanks?》

Maybe being so careless like that was my mistake.

―The attack came from an unexpected direction.

***

“What… is this?”

My locker had been ransacked.

The merchandise of the idols that should have been there had been reduced to a pitiful state――.