This is Ishikawa-kun's true nature...
Kita didn't know what she was feeling at that moment. As an ordinary person, she couldn't comprehend the thoughts of the person on stage.
Individualistic, unconventional?
No, he was someone who truly let his true self shine. He said it very clearly.
He simply wanted his surroundings to be good. He wasn't saving anyone, helping anyone, but rather changing the environment.
A person facing a wall of despair, where even those who agreed with him dared not help, facing this small society.
Yes, even if Hayato hadn't said, "Don't speak up for me in class."
Kita still wouldn't have dared to say a single word to Hayato at that moment.
Returning to his seat, he was all alone.
However, by the afternoon, a boy who looked like a punching bag gathered around him.
At the same time, two people were missing from the class.
Everyone knew that those two were still in the infirmary.
Many people had witnessed the punching bag being forced to attack Hayato at lunchtime.
The next day, at lunchtime, three people gathered around him, eating lunch together.
The once unified class seemed to have shattered into pieces. The atmosphere became strange, and many people secretly eyed the four people who were happily chatting and laughing.
The next afternoon, someone who seemed completely unrelated to being bullied joined his group.
Laughter began to spread from a corner of the classroom.
On the third day, the person who seemed completely unrelated to being bullied had some injuries on his face.
But at the same time, that morning, a fight broke out directly in the classroom.
Two people were beaten to the ground by Hayato without any mercy. He held their heads down, making them apologize, and if they didn't, he continued to beat them.
In the class, some of the guys who used to bully others watched the two beaten and utterly disgraced individuals with pale faces.
Thugs who lose face are the lowest of the low in school.
Then, the morning assembly was taken over by Hayato.
As if to bring a final end to this drama, he leisurely walked onto the podium.
All the students in the class watched him, watching this man who seemed to want to change this small world.
As Hayato walked, he casually said, "Gentle people are fools."
"Because they dare not hurt others, and are even afraid, dare not see harm, so they will avoid it."
"But when they can't avoid it, they can only accept the harm."
He occupied the teacher's position.
But Mr. Ishida didn't stop him; he backed away a little, somewhat afraid.
"But some people are pure idiots. They act on their instincts, with an innate malice that hasn't moved past childlike behavior."
"They carry uneducated childish habits into adulthood, knowing pain, but still tirelessly creating pain."
Hayato pressed his hands on the podium and asked, "What is your life?"
"Bullying the weak to boast of your strength, without ability, without foundation, boasting in a small corner."
"Then, when you are eventually defeated, the balloon bursts, and you are met with disdain and cold stares from others."
At this moment, someone made a defiant sound.
"You're no different. You're just a bit more capable, lecturing others here."
Hayato didn't look to see who said it. He didn't care about that at all.
"That's how it seems to you, isn't it?"
"But have you thought about why the principal stands behind me, why a law firm supports me?"
"I'm just bringing you into the adult world ahead of time."
"Stupid children, accept the beatings from adults early."
"Oh, and."
"People like you need the fear of others, the awe of others to form your dignity and support yourselves. I don't need that."
"False dignity, obtained from others, is an obstacle on the path to happiness. I, Hayato, do not need it."
"Next, if anyone else wants to make a move, I will make him kneel on the sports field and apologize in a voice that the entire school can hear."
"As you've all seen, no one has been able to endure it without crying out so far."
"Because those who bully others are often the weak holding knives."
After saying that, Hayato walked down from the podium. He began to bow and apologize to each classmate who had observed the situation over the past few days.
"Furutani-kun, I'm very sorry to have dragged you into this."
"Ryugu-kun..."
"Mizuya-kun..."
Then, amidst the classmates' bewildered expressions, he returned to his seat. After the morning assembly, Kita felt that the atmosphere in the class had actually improved.
Everyone fully understood who Hayato was. They knew that by gathering around him, they would be protected, without having to suffer the oppression brought by small groups.
During lunch break, most of the class greeted him and asked about his daily life. After learning that he had joined a Band, they all expressed their desire to see his performance.
Hayato, however, said that the Band hadn't fully formed yet, and they should come and enjoy the music once it was complete.
On the fourth day, the class atmosphere completely changed, becoming more relaxed and casual.
Those who used to bully others and rule from a high position became isolated instead.
Hayato changed the environment.
He shattered and reshaped all the cliques that had formed since the beginning of the school year.
Kita felt as if he was a heroic figure, like a god who, seeing her boredom with everything, descended before her eyes.
A Pervert hero.
And tomorrow was the day of the LIVE performance.
Kita's heart was clouded with a layer of gray. Ryo-senpai, Hayato-kun, Ijiichi-senpai, their Band must be very interesting.
She wanted to join, but she knew it was no longer possible. "The Pervert has arrived!"
Hayato shouted loudly from a corner by the entrance of STARRY, flipping over the railing by the door in one breath and leaping into the sight of the others.
He half-knelt on the ground, looked up, with an expression that seemed to say, 'Come praise me.'
"If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it," Manager Hoshika said coldly, turning around from the bar and glancing at him.
Heartache...
Hayato's wallet still hadn't returned to the safe line.
He immediately became reserved, bowing to Seika and saying,
"Sorry, it won't happen again…"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he put on a lively, cheerful smile and walked towards Nijika and Ryo.
The change in his expression left Seika, who had just started smiling, full of questions. How could this guy apologize sincerely yet give the impression that he hadn't apologized at all?
"Nijika~"
He walked with a strange smile towards Nijika, who shivered at his call.
He slid into the seat opposite Nijika, looking at her wary expression and saying,
"Nijika looked so cute just now, watching the door with anticipation."
"I'm telling you…"
Nijika was exasperated by him and didn't follow his topic.
"The performance is tomorrow, Hayato-kun, you should be a little nervous."
She knew that if she followed Hayato's topic, she wouldn't be able to get out of it, and even her own thoughts would be muddled by him.
Looking at the two people beside her, Nijika started to worry.
Because Hayato and Ryo showed no signs of nervousness, their calm demeanor was as if they had forgotten they were going on stage tomorrow. Nijika felt as if she had somehow taken all their nervousness onto herself.
She couldn't relax for a single moment now.
"I perform every day, tomorrow is just a different stage, no problem!"
Hayato said, blinking continuously to signal Ryo.
Ryo hesitated, appearing slightly indecisive about Hayato's invitation, but after seeing 'let's test Nijika's reaction' in Hayato's eyes, she took action.
Watching her move, Hayato knew his coaxing had succeeded.
"Because we are…"
Nijika looked at the two suddenly acting in unison with surprise.
Hayato said, moving closer to Ryo. The two stood in front of Nijika, arms crossed, back to back.
"Freaks," Ryo said.
"Perverts," Hayato affirmed with a nod.
Thump.
This was the drumbeat Nijika made by banging her head on the table for them. What a desperate drummer.
Nijika, collapsed on the table, felt her stress levels skyrocket.
"Pfft."
Ryo covered her mouth and chuckled… A moment later, Ryo looked at Hayato, who was continuously comforting the pouting Nijika.
She recalled Hayato's goal for joining the Band and the information Kita had sent her earlier.
"I want to create music that makes people feel relaxed and at ease. I want others to listen to such music together, relax together, and enjoy together."
Others listen together, relax together, enjoy together… others… this man really does whatever he wants.