Chapter 265. [Nerd Vs. Bad Boys]

I stopped playing the social game and stared blankly at the locker.

During break time, when I came to pick up my textbooks, this was the situation.

“What… huh?… Huh?”

There was a sense of unease as I tried to open the door.

The lock was already undone.

It was clear that it wasn’t just forgotten.

The locker door was partially warped, with scratches that seemed forcibly opened.

“Why… is it like this?”

The merchandise pushed in was now in a state beyond recognition.

Torn apart, and even splattered with what seemed like paint…

The shock was so overwhelming that my mind couldn’t function properly.

I still couldn’t believe this was reality.

《─ You’re underestimating us too much.》

I heard a voice from behind.

I turned around abruptly to find the delinquents standing there, smirking.

《… What’s the matter? Trying to accuse us falsely? Cut it out!》

《Exactly! We have no idea what you’re talking about! Gyahaha!》

The delinquents burst into laughter.

Furthermore, they peered into my locker and said,

《Oh look, your precious ‘plushies’ are all torn up, aren’t they?》

How could they recognize these unrecognizable items as plushies at a glance?

If they could, then… no, even without that, these guys were obviously the culprits from the beginning.

《Seriously, something around here stinks! What’s that smell? Paint? No, it’s the stench of this nerdy otaku!》

《Yeah, Asians are all such nerds!》

The delinquents’ laughter echoed.

I trembled there.

《But hey, it’s not a big deal. Since there was nothing but trash in there anyway.》

《… What did you say?》

《Huh? What’s up with you guys? Did I say something wrong?》

《You guys don’t get it, huh?》

《Yeah, right? Well, if you learn your lesson from this, be careful with your behavior from now on, okay?》

Saying that, the delinquents turned and left… almost.

“Oh, by the way,” deliberately opening their mouths.

《Come to think of it, we picked up some trash too. Gotta make sure to dispose of it properly, right?》

《!》

They showed something quickly.

I couldn’t make it out in an instant, but it was probably part of the merchandise.

There were still intact items!?

Looking around, there seemed to be surprisingly few remnants in the locker.

《G… give that back!》

《Nope, Iroha-chan!》

Before I could charge, someone grabbed me from behind, restraining me.

My head felt like it was boiling. It must be anger.

《Let go! Stop interfering!》

《Calm down, Iroha-chan! It’s us!》

《If you chase after them now, that’s exactly what they want!》

“……Iroha.”

With that voice, I finally realized it was the girls who were holding me back.

Shitenno also stood nearby, gritting her teeth.

But my anger didn’t subside.

I still struggled to chase after the delinquents, thrashing around…

Flutter, flutter, flutter.

《Hey, just wondering, Iroha-chan, why are you resisting now?》

《Shut up!》

《But you understand, right? Iroha-chan is so fragile. You can’t beat them.》

Yet I continued to thrash my arms and legs desperately, only to flail in the air.

The difference in physique was too much, and I ended up floating in the air…

《Pant… pant…》

Unable to break free, I soon exhausted my strength.

The delinquents were already out of sight.

《… Ugh…》

Tears welled up with frustration.

The girls cautiously lowered me to the floor, now quiet.

I collapsed there, flat.

Did they think I’d start running again? The girls seemed worried now.

《Iroha-chan, about that…》

As the girls were about to say something, murmurs from the surrounding crowd caught their attention.

People had gathered without us noticing.

《What’s going on? This is bad!》

《Look, it’s them. As usual.》

《It’s better not to get involved.》

Their large group took out smartphones, photographing us and the locker.

The girls raised their eyebrows sharply.

《You guys, this isn’t a show!》

《It’s okay, Iroha-chan. Just call for a pickup and go home for today, okay? We’ll clean up the locker by tomorrow.》

《Thank you. I’ll do that.》

Nodding, I staggered to my feet.

Alone, I headed towards my “destination.”

“…Sorry.”

I muttered quietly.

I lied to the girls. I had no intention of going home like this.

“I can never forgive those guys!”

There was no plan.

But still, the burning anger continued to drive me.

But maybe, in the end, it was for the best.

At least I didn’t drag the girls into this.

“I’ll make them regret this!”

At that moment, consumed by anger, I didn’t even notice someone running away in the corner of my eye.

***

And then, I arrived at their hangout behind the school building.

“!?!?!” I was enveloped in confusion.

《Give me back what you took from Iroha!》

The voice that echoed was trembling with fear.

There, amidst the group of delinquents, stood Shitenno, facing them alone.