The next day at school, before class started, I went to Takashi, Yoru, and Youske.
"Hey, what's up, guys?" I said to them.
"Sup, Ren," Takashi responded with a smile.
"Yoo," Yoru responded.
"Hey," Youske added.
"Hey, you guys, can I ask you for a weird favor?" I said, rubbing my head and smirking.
"Yeah, what is it?" Yoru asked.
I told them.
"Well, yeah," Takashi said.
"When exactly?" Youske asked.
"When I ask Ms. Makemo if I can use the restroom, then you will ask also. She should let you all go because of the freedom rule. After all, we can do whatever we want," I said.
Then Ms. Makemo stepped into the classroom.
"Hello, students. Please sit down. Today's subject will be English," Ms. Makemo said.
"Man, English. I hate English," Takashi said.
"Man, how did you even get inside this school?" Youske asked.
"Luckily, I was good at soccer, and they asked me to attend," Takashi said.
"Well, what subject are you even good at, you dumb ball?" a girl said to him.
"Shut up, Mio!" Takashi screamed.
"Well, you were almost dumb in middle school," Mio teased him.
"Huh? Oh, really? The only reason you got in was because of your looks," Takashi said.
"Well, no, I didn't, but thank you for calling me pretty," Mio said, winking at him.
"I did not say that," Takashi mumbled.
Mio Suzuki—the prettiest girl inside our class, most would say. She's a popular model at her young age; even third-years and second-years want her. No doubt, she's the most popular girl in our class.
"Man, you're lucky you can argue with her. She's so pretty," Yoru said.
"Man, shut up. She's not even all that," Takashi said.
"Man, you know I'm right. She's literally perfect," Yoru said back.
"Now, now. It's time to get to work; fun time is over," Ms. Makemo said.
In about twenty minutes, it should be perfect.
"I hope you all know next week you have the five core classes test: Math, English, Science, Social Studies/History, and finally Foreign Languages," Ms. Makemo explained.
Some kids complained, and some kids accepted it.
"Seriously, what did you expect? You're at the most prestigious high school in the world. You're in the same school with a boy who is ranked among the highest in the nation. Of course, you will be getting a test," Ms. Makemo said.
And everybody just had to agree.
"Well, let's get to work now. Don't waste any more time," Ms. Makemo said.
Twenty minutes passed.
"Okay, everyone, now read this text alone and answer the practice questions," Ms. Makemo said. I kindly raised my hand.
"Yes, Ren, what happened?" Ms. Makemo asked.
"Can I please use the restroom?" I asked.
It all flashed through their heads.
"It's time."
"Yes, okay, make it quick though," Ms. Makemo said.
"Alright," I said, getting up and then looking at them as I walked out.
"Ms. Makemo," all three of them said.
"Uhh, can we use the restroom?"
"All at the same time?" Ms. Makemo asked.
"You retards! I told you I was going to ask first," Takashi said.
"No, I said I was going first," Youske said.
"You dummies! I said I was going first," Yoru added.
Man, how dumb can you be?
"Man, they're probably just going to play around like little kids," Mio said.
"You said what?" Takashi said.
"You heard me, dumb ball," Mio said.
"You know what? I think it's about time for you to understand who I truly am," Takashi said, rolling up his sleeves.
"Please, just go to the restroom. You're disrupting the learning environment," Ms. Makemo said.
"You got saved this time," Takashi said, walking away.
"Oh really, dumb ball," Mio said, getting back to her work.
"So now, do you three remember the plan I told you?" I asked them.
They all said, "Yeah," together.
"Well, let's make this quick, and remember to keep a good distance away from me," I told them.
They all agreed.
As I was walking through the hall, minding my business and acting like there wasn't a care in the world, suddenly a heavy force pushed me against the wall.
"Hmph," I said, feeling the pressure.
"It's time," Yoru said, as they were hiding behind a wall.
"Ahh, must have forgot what I told you yesterday—that I was going to handle you privately," Muscle Head said.
"Oh, looks like I did forget," I said with a smirk.
"I can't wait to wipe that smirk off your face," Muscle Head said.
"Give me your best shot, Muscle Head," I said, smiling.
"You don't deserve to call me that!" He screamed before pulling my shirt and then going for a punch.
All I got to do was take one punch.
Muscle Head's punch—his heavy fist—pounded me to the ground, and blood came out of my mouth.
Dammit. It was more powerful than I thought.
"Only Daiki can call me Muscle Head. It's Kaizouke Ouni," he said.
As I was getting up, wiping the blood from my mouth:
"So, Kaizouke, huh? That's all you got? You don't even deserve a name; I think I'll still call you Muscle Head," I said.
"You dumb first-year!" Kaizouke said, swinging for a punch. I dodged, then he went for another and I dodged again. He grabbed my uniform and threw me into the wall.
"You know what? I might just kill you on the way. I'm feeling it," Kaizouke said, smiling.
Anytime now, you three.
"Hey, what's going on?" Takashi screamed.
"Is there a fight happening by chance?" Youske screamed.
"'Cause if it is, we will have to report it to the principal," Yoru said.
"Tch! Looks like you got lucky this time, first-year," Kaizouke said, walking away.
And I was just on the ground, sitting there, until those three helped me up.
"You good, Ren?" Yoru asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Did you do what I told you to do?" I asked them. They all said, "Yeah."
"Send it to me right now," I said.
I guess we have to wait till lunch to see if it'll work.
⸻
At lunch:
After getting my food with the group, we found a table and sat down.
"Man, I'm going to fail that English test," Takashi said.
"Man, it's not even that hard. It's just common sense," Youske said.
"Don't forget he lacks common sense," Yoru said, laughing.
"Hey, Ren, do you have any problems?" Takashi asked.
But I wasn't focused on them; I was focused on Daiki's table, watching their every move.
Then Yoru tapped me.
"Huh? Oh, my fault. I was daydreaming. What happened?" I asked.
"Oh, it's just that Takashi asked if you were struggling with subjects we learned," Yoru said.
"No, not really. It's common sense when you think about it," I said. Yoru and Youske laughed.
"Looks like Takashi doesn't have common sense at all," Yoru said, laughing harder.
"Yeah, you're right," Youske added.
"Shut up! I do have common sense," Takashi said.
And I just took a deep breath.
"You good, Ren?" Takashi asked.
"Yeah. Sometimes it's good to just take a deep breath and restart," I said.
"You know that you're very weird, right?" Takashi said.
"Really?" They all laughed.
Then I saw Kaizouke getting up and leaving the cafeteria.
"Hey, you guys, I'll be right back," I said, walking quickly.
"Where are you going?" Yoru asked.
"To see if my plan worked," I said.
I walked out of the cafeteria and sped up my pace to catch up with him. I followed him from a distance, and then I saw him go inside the bathroom.
Well, we will finally see if it works.
I walked inside the bathroom, and he had just finished using the stall. He saw me.
"You first-year brat!" Kaizouke said, pushing me against the wall.
"Oh, you've got some nerve coming in here. You must be looking for a beating," Kaizouke said angrily.
"I actually have something to show you," I said.
"What is it?" Kaizouke asked.
"Well, if you let me grab my phone, I can probably show you," I said.
He backed off. "Make it quick," he said.
I took out my phone, went to Yoru's messages, clicked the video, and showed him.
"You see? I have proof of you beating me in the hallways," I said.
"How the hell did you get that?!" Kaizouke screamed.
"Well, let's not worry about where I got it from. Let's pay attention to what I aim to do with this video."
"What do you plan to do exactly?" Kaizouke asked.
"I plan to show this to the principal and get you expelled. Simple as that," I said with a cold smirk.
"You stupid bas—" Kaizouke started before I cut him off.
"I have a proposal," I said.
"What the hell is it?" Kaizouke responded.
"I won't show this to the principal on one condition." I said.
"What the hell is it?" Kaizouke asked.
"You betray Daiki to help me get him expelled, and I won't get you expelled," I said.
And then he just looked at me.
"Deal," I said.
"No," Kaizouke responded.
"Why? It's a good deal," I said.
"Because I would never betray Daiki like that. He was my first friend at this school," Kaizouke said.
"He doesn't consider you a friend. He's only using you," I said.
"Isn't that exactly what you're doing also?" Kaizouke said.
"But you'd rather choose expulsion than betray Daiki," I said.
"Yes, I will gladly do so," Kaizouke said.
"Then he's got you wrapped around his fingers," I said.
"If I'm expelled, then I'm going out with a bang," Kaizouke said before throwing a punch.
"I let you hit me for the video, but I'm sure as hell not going to let you hit me again," I said.
"Oh, you're sure about that!" Kaizouke said before throwing a punch. I easily dodged it, got behind him, and punched the wall.
"C'mon, the offer is still on the table," I said.
He turned around quickly.
"Hell no!" Kaizouke said before throwing two punches and missing. Then he tried grabbing my shirt; I shifted his hand to the wall, got behind him, and he turned around quickly and kicked toward me. I avoided it by jumping onto the sink.
"Last chance, then. The offer is off the table," I said.
"Then take it off the table!" he screamed, throwing a strong right jab, but I jumped over him, and he punched the mirror, breaking it.
"Looks like you've got a fine to pay with that expulsion," I said.
"Come here, you little rat!" he said, rushing toward me, but I ducked down, pushed the toilet stall door open, making him hit it.
"Man, just give up. At this point, it's useless trying to keep fighting me," I said.
"I don't care!" he said, rushing at me full speed. I simply closed the door, making him hit it at full impact and knock himself down onto the toilet seat.
"Yeah, just sit down and take a deep breath. You're out of control," I said, walking away.
Then I walked back to the cafeteria and sat down with the group.
"Hey, did the plan work out?" Takashi asked.
I took a deep breath, then responded, "Not even close."
I knew he would be loyal, but his loyalty was on a different level.
"Dang it! It was a good plan. I thought it would definitely work out," Takashi said.
"Yeah, for real," Youske said.
"Yeah, me too," I said.
"Actually, how did you know all that would happen?" Yoru said.
"Yeah, it's like you predicted everything," Youske added.
"Yeah, it was quite simple. I had a little altercation with him on the first day of school and just had a gut feeling that he would be waiting for me out of class. See? And then that's when I came to you with the plan.
Earlier that day in class:
"Hey, you guys, can I ask you for a weird favor?" I asked.
"Yeah, what is it?" Yoru asked.
"See, I need you to follow me from a distance, and when a person comes up to me, I want you to record at least 45 seconds of the altercation. And if you feel like it's getting out of control, you will stop it."
"How will we stop it?" Youske asked.
"Yeah, what are we supposed to do?" Takashi asked.
"It's simple. Just act like random students who were just passing by and saw the altercation. Because no student dumb enough would want to fight in front of other students. That will increase their chances of getting expelled if the student has proof of the altercation."
"So just act like random students and just say stuff?" Yoru asked.
"Yeah, that's all," I said.
"And how do you know this person will attack you?" Takashi asked.
"Simply because this particular student is filled with rage. And people with his type of rage just can't hold back from a fight."
"Okay, so just say everything goes right. What do you plan to do with the video?" Youske asked.
"To simply make a deal with him," I said.
"What type of deal?" Youske asked.
"Either he doesn't mess with me or any other first-year, or he gets expelled. Quite simple," I said.
Now:
"Man, the plan was too good. It's just his rage took over him, and he couldn't control it," I said.
"Well, if a person like that can't control his problems, he deserves to be gone," Yoru said.
"Yeah, you're right. How did someone with that type of behavior even get into this school?" Youske asked.
"That's a good question. How?" Yoru asked.
"I don't know," Takashi said.
It's simple. There are three ways a student can get into this school: Academic, Sports, and Money.
To Be Continued