"Hajime, what's wrong with you?"
"Yeah, you look so sleepy. Did you wank yourselves last night?"
"You are such a nerd, Hajime!"
Suzuki wasn't involved in this situation, and this scenario happened almost every day, which made him wonder whether this boy, Hajime Nagumo, might snap someday. However, inwardly, he wondered whether those guys weren't bored with bullying this boy all the time. More importantly, the entrance exam for their university would be held soon, yet they were still preoccupied with their silly exchanges among high school students that would stop in a few months.
Did they not even worry about their future when the results of their studies could lead them to either a third-rate university or a ronin (a student who failed their university entrance exam)?
Or did they think that they would be able to live well in the future?
Suzuki didn't think so, since he knew well that for those people, their future was as stagnant as it was stuck, or even spiraling into failure.
Why do some people love to bully others?
It was because those people wanted to assert their dominance, feeling addicted to escaping their failed lives, so that they would feel that they weren't the worst.
Yet, at the same time, he didn't like someone who let themselves be bullied in the first place.
Yes, he knew well that not everyone was strong. Still, if one considered the result of being bullied and wasn't just smiling and accepting everything, waiting till graduation, he might as well struggle, since at least, when one could fight in such a moment, it would give them an experience and also a certain quality that made him more special than many.
However, knowing the young man known as Nagumo, this silly, nerdy boy, Suzuki knew that he couldn't do so.
Knock! Knock!
The rhythmic sound of his knuckles hitting the wooden desk echoed in the class all of a sudden, as if asking the entire class to pay attention to him.
"Excuse me."
Suzuki didn't even flinch when he became the center of attention, including those who bullied Nagumo. "I don't know if you 'play' together in class, but pay attention to your volume, okay? We're all studying for the entrance exam after all."
When those words were spoken, he didn't need to do anything, as everyone else, especially those who had been focusing on their entrance exam, followed him and stared at the group of bullies in silence.
"L-Let's stop..."
If it were a powerful bully, they wouldn't back down, even being stared at like this, but this group only dared to face the weak as they gathered together; when they faced a bigger group, they moved away.
Suzuki no longer paid attention and continued his studies. His goal was simple: to live a quiet, easy, and stable life.
He was done with playing in a colorful life, and when given a second chance, he decided to live a gray life, which, despite its boringness, was comfortable.
As for high school life?
Suzuki didn't care about it, since it was just a short moment, and in three years everything would be over, but an adult's life was forever, so in terms of return on investment, it was clear which he should choose, right?
"T-Tanaka-kun, thank you..."
Suzuki, who was about to continue his studies, was interrupted once again. He wanted to ignore this young man, but his mature mind didn't allow him. "Instead of wasting your time playing a game all night, have you thought of studying for the entire night, Nagumo?"
"Eh?!"
Suzuki didn't even bother to ask Nagumo to fight, struggle, or change himself. To ask someone to change was troublesome. It was tiring. Instead of asking them to change, it was better for them to realize that decision on their own, as that way their dedication was stronger and their feelings were genuine.
"Well, your parents are in the creative industry and wealthy, so even if you enter a third-rate university, they might be able to help you with the works from nepotism."
"....."
Nagumo was speechless, but he knew that Suzuki was right.
If there was a reason why he could play a game at their third high school, when everyone was about to become university students, it was because his family was fairly well-off. His parents were quite famous in the creative industry, so even if he were to attend a third-rate university, he would be fine.
However, Suzuki?
The reason all the bullies could move away and everyone followed his lead was that Suzuki had been accepted into the Faculty of Economics at Tokyo University (Toudai), the best university in all of Japan!
Among everyone, he was someone chosen to enter the elite path, whose future was clear when everyone was still scrambling and blind to their own.
More importantly, Suzuki was also a strong marathon runner and had won the National High School Ekiden Championship three times in a row as the ultimate Anchor, who carried the team's burden, hopes, and everything, leading them to victory.
Suzuki's feats were blinding, and, more importantly, he was also good at judo, handsome, and a strong leader.
Still, did Nagumo want to be like Suzuki?
No, as Nagumo was sure that living like Suzuki was exhausting, and he knew well that it was damn hard for an orphan to live in the country, it was natural for Suzuki to work hard.
And, because of that, Nagumo knew that as long as they graduated, he and everyone else in the school would be two different people in society.
While others would have a hard time making a living, as they would spend their adult lives being told to work till late and join useless drinking parties, Suzuki was set up for life.
"But, you are going to be in the creative industry, so taste is more important than grade."
"Y-Yeah..."
Those words made Nagumo feel happy somehow. "But, what about you, Tanaka-kun? What are you going to do in the future? You have been accepted into Toudai. What are you going to do?"
On that question, everyone perked their ears, trying to hear Suzuki's answer.
"What else? I will either become a Mid-level Accountant or a Back-Office Administrator at a massive Public Utility Company like Tokyo Electric Power or the Waterworks Bureau, or become a Tier-1 Local Government Worker in a quiet, wealthy ward."
"So simple!"
"It is, but I will just work from 9 to 5, then go home, unlike you, who will have to spend the entire week burnt out in the office."
"....." Everyone.
They didn't know what to say.
Regardless, Nagumo's side was probably his only sanctuary, as he was a loner and had no one he was close to. More importantly, people would likely judge him, except for Suzuki, who thought his otaku hobby was nepotism.
"By the way."
"Yes?"
"Don't get close to me after this."
"Why?!"
"The loud group is coming. I want to study."
Suzuki continued to read his books, using the "Manager" to absorb all the law's knowledge, so he could find a loophole to exploit.
"What?!"
Yet Nagumo quickly realized what Suzuki meant, as, on his reminder, a soft, melodic voice was heard.
"Nagomu-kun~!"
This was the source of Nagumo's problem: he just wanted a quiet life and to stay by Suzuki's side, but what could he do?
As a young man in high school, whose hormones were high all the time, facing the most popular girl in the school, even if Nagumo became an edgy lord in the future, he still wanted to make a harem.
As for Suzuki, he just wanted a quiet, stable life, since that was what he had been lacking from day one.
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