Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Actually, school bullying was a very serious matter in Japan and had received vast media coverage. In recent years, repeated cases had been reported on victims of bullying throwing themselves in front of trains in an attempt to end their lives of humiliation.
Undoubtedly, though, this could partially be attributed to their students’ fragile mental resilience. Many Chinese students studying in Japan had realized that the education system there was not as good as expected, as it failed to groom their students into psychologically strong individuals.
Yet, one must acknowledge that mentally weak people exist in all societies.
And just like other countries, Japan has both the beautiful side and the ugly. Some girls even preferred gangster-looking boys because they were deemed to be more “manly”.
Thinking that Kirihara Yousuke’s bento used to be robbed everyday, Lu Shu loathed that people of Noguchi Yuki’s kind did not even suffer from any guilty conscience.
At this moment, a girl with a sense of righteousness suddenly stood up and confronted Lu Shu. “Kiriharakun, you must hate how others used to bully you. But please, tell me the difference between the current version of you and sorts like Noguchi Yuki. Can you answer me?”
The difference? Lu Shu gave it a serious thought and answered, “The difference is I’m stronger than them.”
“From Noguchi Yuki’s distress, +666!”
“From…”
Ouch! What a painful truth!
Lu Shu was amused too. Why didn’t you stand up earlier when Kirihara Yousuke was bullied in the past? Why? Do you think it’s easier to bargain with me?
Then, he slowly paced over to a window seat in the last row. Lu Shu looked at one of the seven boys and asked, “Can we change seats?”
Quietly the boy carried his bag and went to Lu Shu’s original seat. No one dared to raise any objection and they could only stare as the familiar yet alien Kirihara Yousuke transformed into a newborn bully.
But that by no means meant that Lu Shu was everyone’s enemy, because other victims of bullying felt that their justice had been rightfully upheld.
At the moment, Lu Shu was surrounded by many layers of aura, the most prominent of which was his role as Sakurai Yaeko’s swordplay teacher.
All of a sudden, he had become an existence close to a high school celebrity.
During morning recess, some girls came over to Lu Shu’s seat, hoping to clarify the myth whether he was really Sakurai Yaeko’s teacher. Even a few girls from other classes came to their class and asked to be introduced to whoever Kirihara Yousuke was. Not everybody knew how he looked like anyway.
Nevertheless, Kirihara had been sleeping all along, as if determined not to listen to any lessons.
That was astonishingly unexpected. Despite his cowardly personality, Kirihara’s academic results were reasonably good. Hence, there was nothing wrong with You Mingyu’s words that Lu Shu only had to act like himself.
Finally Lu Shu woke up before the start of the last lesson. A girl appeared outside their classroom door, surrounded by quite a few girls chuckling beside. Then, Lu Shu heard someone in his class murmuring, “Isn’t that the girl Kirihara confessed to in Grade 10?”
Lu Shu was shocked. I didn’t know there’s such a thing! Come on, it’s Grade 12 now!
Back then, it was quite a hit in the school, because the girl had actually posted Kirihara’s confession letter on the school notice board. The incident also contributed to Kirihara’s low self-esteem.
“Kirihara, someone’s waiting for you outside,” a classmate called him.
Chiba gave Lu Shu a concerned look. Having been his classmate for so many years, she knew full well just how hurt Kirihara was by that episode.
Even in Grade 12 some people still jeered at him for that.
Frowning, Lu Shu walked out, wondering what the girl was doing here. He asked her, “Yes?”
The girl smiled and said, “I was wrong back in Grade 10, because I did not know you well enough. Recently my friends have been telling me that you are a good person, so I’m hoping to get to know you again. Now, I want to give you one more chance to introduce yourself. What’s so good about you?”
Lu Shu drew a startled breath. Wasn’t it the usual question he liked to ask others? How should he answer his own question?! She must be an expert to anticipate her enemy this way!
The key strategy to defeat a strong opponent was to make a quick and fatal move. Lu Shu pondered for a few seconds and replied, “I’m good without you.”
“From Shirakawa Yuna’s distress, +666!”
He won!
Lu Shu let out a sigh of relief, yet looking serious. “My apologies.”
“From Shirakawa Yuna’s distress, +666!”
Under people’s astounded stares, Lu Shu returned to his seat. Supporting his chin on his hands, Lu Shu gazed outside the window. His high school life had never been so carefree. In those days, he was desperate to finish his studies in school so that he could have more time with Lu Xiaoyu or to help with her work. How could he have the time to admire the school scenery outside?
It felt as if it was a compensation for his lost youth. No one knew he was from the Heavenly Network, and no one knew he had just ended a man’s life the night before. Nonetheless, what a view, seeing so many girls in white T-shirt and shorts on the field attending PE lessons…
The girl called Shirakawa Yuna was still in shock outside their classroom. In the past few years, any mentions about Kirihara Yousuke often came together with her name, and her wise decision in rejecting him. It seemed that people were still living in the old days of Kirihara’s feelings for her, and her sense of superiority.
Maybe the real Kirihara would be happy to see this day coming. But, unfortunately, Lu Shu was not Kirihara Yousuke, and he had someone at home awaiting his safe return.
Just when the bell rang for the last lesson, the teacher led someone into the classroom. Immediately all movements in the class stopped as they stared in astonishment.
“Sakurai Yaeko!”
“Why is she here?!”
Standing on the podium, the teacher introduced her to the class. “Let me introduce a new transfer student to our class. I believe she is no stranger to you all. Sakurai Yaeko from Shiyoge Girls High School.”
Lu Shu was shocked. Did it really have to be like this?!
After the self-introduction, Sakurai walked towards Lu Shu casually. Then, with a smile, she asked the student sitting on Lu Shu’s right, “Hi. Can I sit here? I mean, could you let me take your seat?”
The boy immediately packed his bag and moved to an empty seat in the last row. Everyone in the class held their breath, not hoping to miss anything in a blink.
Following the news that Kirihara was Sakurai’s teacher, people were very interested in their relationship. Now, however, the answer was right in front of their eyes.
She had even transferred over for him!
