Just Want to Be a Slacker

Why would they still act so low-class?

Aren't they afraid of being socially dead on the spot and losing their right to choose a partner?

So Kamio Tatsuya immediately found an excuse to refuse: "Uh, I'm not really interested in this."

And then he was immediately looked down upon by Ike Kanji.

"You're really boring, huh."

Heh, you guys sure are interesting.

Seeing Kamio Tatsuya refuse, Ike rejoined the discussion group.

"I bet Hasebe for the chest size ranking, Hasebe's definitely number one!"

Kamio Tatsuya, sitting in his seat, perked up his ears.

Hasebe?

There's only one Hasebe in the class, named Hasebe Haruka.

She really did seem quite magnificent; he'd seen her twice before, and back then Kamio Tatsuya was even a little worried her shirt buttons might pop open.

"Hey hey hey, aren't you observing a bit too closely?"

"What can I do about it? We're men, men's heads are always filled with boobs and butts!" one guy said proudly.

You know, you really don't need to say that so proudly, even if what you said applies to most men.

Full bellies breed lustful thoughts. You guys are just too well-fed. Wait until next month when your allowances are all spent, see if you still think about it then.

Then only I'll be able to think about it!

And besides, I don't just have boobs and butts in my head—don't you guys also care about faces and legs?

Don't tell me it's all the same with the lights off. I like keeping them on.

As for why he didn't care about hands, Kamio Tatsuya indicated he didn't want to end up like some ordinary office worker.

That was still a bit too perverted.

"I'm in too."

"Me too, me too."

The boys gathered noisily, blatantly and heatedly discussing the girls' chest sizes.

Some of the girls in the classroom looked at them like they were trash, their eyes practically overflowing with contempt and disgust.

Those guys might have already temporarily lost their right to choose a partner.

But Kamio Tatsuya thought that many girls actually had no right to look down on the boys, because last night when he was browsing the school forum.

He'd found rankings related to the First Year boys.

Things like the Most Wanted to Date Boy Ranking, the Handsome Boy Ranking, and the Gloomy Boy Ranking.

If girls hadn't participated in those posts, Kamio Tatsuya would never believe it.

So all crows are equally black, regardless of gender.

"I'm betting too. By the way, I'm betting on Sakura."

The one who suddenly spoke was Yamauchi Haruki, a tough guy who once bragged about playing table tennis all the way to the national tournament in elementary school.

But after a week of observation, Kamio Tatsuya figured he was probably bluffing.

Then, he stood on tiptoe to look at a certain seat, bent over again, lowered his head, and dropped his voice: "I'm only telling you guys this, but actually, Sakura confessed to me."

"Really?"

The news was too explosive, so none of the boys believed it.

"Really, really. But keep it a secret! Still, I turned down that kind of plain girl. Back then I saw her in casual clothes.

But if she's not on Kushida or Hasebe's level, I don't want her. I'm not interested in that kind of frumpy girl."

What the hell, aren't you just spreading nasty rumors about a girl?

Kamio Tatsuya wasn't happy.

Sakura Airi was the girl he met on the bus on the first day of school. Since she had reminded him back then, Kamio Tatsuya had a good impression of her.

That shy girl who even stammers when she talks would confess to a piece of trash like you?

Are you trying to make me laugh to death and then inherit my three million yen inheritance?

You're only talking nonsense because she's not in the classroom right now, aren't you?

Bastard!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got!

Kamio Tatsuya had once heard a saying that he thought was very true.

If you're too strong, they'll alienate you; if you're too weak, they'll bully you. Only when you're about the same as them will they accept you with peace of mind.

So only those who know how to disguise themselves as being like everyone else can live freely.

But this day was never meant for Hirata Yosuke.

Because he was already different from the others, holding three million in his hands.

Though he'd made Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kouhei promise to keep the deal secret yesterday, Kamio Tatsuya didn't actually believe they would.

The first month would be fine, since that money was essentially hush money.

But the second month, after the school's rules were revealed, this deal would become leverage against Kamio Tatsuya.

Selling information to Class A could, if taken seriously, be seen as betraying Class D.

The fallout from that information leaking was easy to imagine.

He'd wanted to coast through a peaceful month, but now it looked like plans had to change. So why should he keep humoring them?

Thinking this, Kamio Tatsuya pulled a white-covered book from his bag and hurled it at Yamauchi Haruki.

Everyone was startled by Kamio's actions.

"Wha—what are you doing?"

Yamauchi Haruki was clearly shocked, and after recovering, he demanded angrily.

"Since I don't have white gloves, I used a white-covered book instead." Kamio Tatsuya dusted off his hands. "Let's duel, you bastard!"

Chapter 19: Just for Clarity of Mind

"Let's duel, you bastard!"

With that roar, Kamio Tatsuya charged forward, landing a flying kick on Yamauchi Haruki before he could react, knocking him to the ground.

Then he mounted him, ready to throw a couple of punches.

Kamio Tatsuya's body wasn't tall or strong.

But dealing with a piece of trash like Yamauchi Haruki was no trouble at all.

Especially since he'd struck first.

Just as Kamio's fist was about to connect with Yamauchi's face, he felt himself being lifted, his punch stopped mid-swing.

"Calm down, Kamio-kun."

Behind him, Hirata Yosuke's voice rang out. "Someone help me, separate them."

That last part was directed at the other students in the class.

A group of boys rushed over, pulling Kamio back to his seat while others helped Yamauchi up.

Watching Kamio held down by the boys, Yamauchi snapped out of his daze, anger replacing fear.

"What the hell are you trying to do?"

"Just teaching you a lesson. Spreading rumors about a girl to feed your own ego—is that something a normal person does?"

Even restrained, Kamio's presence didn't waver.

"Defending her so eagerly—got some ulterior motive?"

Yamauchi wasn't great at much, but his mouth had its moments.

"Heh, that's none of your business."

Kamio Tatsuya didn't admit it, because the girl in question was already standing at the door. From her expression, she'd heard everything.

And a guy fighting for a girl—no need to explain the reason.

"What are you doing?"

Just as Yamauchi was about to retort, Chabashira-sensei, noticing the commotion, walked in from outside.

"Nothing, just a typical high school fight." Kamio, now freed, rolled his shoulder and said casually.

A typical high school fight. Did you even hear what you just said?

Chabashira Sae sighed inwardly. It'd only been a week since school started, and there was already a brawl. What kind of class was this?

"Hirata, you explain."

Hearing Chabashira-sensei, Hirata sighed and gave her a detailed account of what had happened.

After listening, Chabashira's expression soured.

"Kamio-kun, is what he said true? Were you really about to use violence against Yamauchi-kun?"

Not even asking why, just straight to whether I was going to use violence?

You're not much of a teacher either.

But Kamio admitted it readily.

"That's right. If Hirata hadn't stopped me in time, my fist would've already met his face."

Then Chabashira turned her gaze to Yamauchi Haruki.

"Yamauchi Haruki, do you wish to file a complaint against Kamio Tatsuya for using violence against you?"

Hearing this, Yamauchi's eyes lit up. Oh, that's an option?

"I'm filing a complaint, I'm filing a complaint—he just kicked me hard, it hurts so much."

Seeing this, whether it was Kamio Tatsuya's imagination or not, he felt Chabashira Sae's expression darken even further.

"In that case, both of you stay behind after school at noon." Chabashira Sae delivered her verdict. "Get ready for class."

The morning's lessons ended quickly.

Because of the incident Kamio Tatsuya had stirred up, the boys' bet about chest sizes was shelved outright.

During this time, Yamauchi Haruki shot Kamio Tatsuya smug looks more than once.

And Kamio Tatsuya completely brushed it off, doing whatever he pleased.

"I didn't expect you to be so impulsive."

After school, Horikita Suzune, who was preparing to eat her bento, looked at Kamio Tatsuya with a complicated expression.

Kamio Tatsuya, who had seen through this school's true nature in just two days since enrollment, struck her as someone bold yet meticulous.

Yet she never imagined he would directly challenge someone to a duel in class.

"Just to clear my mind."

Just then, Chabashira-sensei appeared at the door, and Kamio Tatsuya stood up and walked over.

Yamauchi Haruki followed close behind.

"Yamauchi Haruki, I'll ask you one more time: are you certain you want to file a complaint against Kamio Tatsuya's actions?"

"Of course! That guy nearly killed me!"

Heh, it just keeps getting more exaggerated.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Kamio Tatsuya's mouth.

After hearing Yamauchi Haruki's words, Chabashira Sae gave up entirely, silently walking ahead.