Sudou's Return

Yes, he already knew Eito was holding back. Otherwise, he'd be lying in the hospital getting surgery right now.

"I'll give you five minutes to think it over. Take your time, Sudo."

Eito sat back in his chair, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes to rest.

The air fell silent.

Sudo looked up at the man sitting in the chair.

He hadn't said anything, but the powerful confidence in his casual demeanor made Sudo feel a sense of admiration.

Who was this man, and why was he so strong?

For the first time, Sudo found himself curious about another man.

If he was willing to give in, could he become as strong as Eito, too?

What was he hesitating for?

Was it that damn pride of his again? Damn it!

Just then, he heard the other man speak in a calm voice:

"Truly strong people learn to control their emotions. Sudo, do you think you're strong?"

Strong?

What did it mean to be strong?

Was someone strong because he showed off his strength to others, or because he could let others insult him without wavering inside?

Yes, only someone who had both was truly strong.

Eito opened his eyes and came over to crouch in front of him again.

"Sudo, you're weak. Your heart is as fragile as a sheet of paper. The slightest provocation from someone else makes you fly into a rage. Next time you get angry, try thinking about why you care so much about other people's opinions. Are they your girlfriend?"

"I just..." Sudo opened his mouth to deny it, but when he met Eito's eyes, the words caught in his throat.

Those eyes were clear and transparent, yet held a warmth that touched his heart.

He could tell that this man might really have his best interests at heart.

"Fine. I give up."

Sudo still didn't understand what Eito had said, but he felt that as long as he stayed by Eito's side,

he would surely—

surely become strong.

"But," Sudo insisted, "I'm not going to be your dog. Yamauchi can be the dog. He's an idiot anyway."

"Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?"

Yamauchi, who had been watching from a distance, came running over to the two of them. He'd happened to hear Sudo's words, and immediately got angry.

Sudo seemed to have given in, which made Yamauchi's admiration for Eito rise another notch.

So he hurried to flatter Eito.

"You're amazing, boss! You got this dumbass Sudo to submit in no time!"

A few black lines appeared above Eito's head.

Was this guy here to cause trouble?

The guy he was talking about was standing right there. He was making Eito sound like some kind of con man.

Eito said coldly,

"Sudo, as your first trial, use Yamauchi for practice."

"Sure, Master, but... I can't right now..." Sudo glanced at his aching body, which wouldn't let him stand, and looked dejected.

Eito accepted the title without comment, then nodded and turned to Yamauchi himself.

"Then I'll train you, Yamauchi. You've been watching for so long. Is your skin itching for a beating? Want to see what it feels like to be Sudo?"

"Huh? No, no, of course not... I'm sorry, I'll get out of here. I'm leaving right now!"

Yamauchi's eyes widened in panic. Like a monkey, he scrambled away on all fours.

Eito said nothing and turned back to Sudo.

"I'll help you to the infirmary. Come on, give me your hand—"

"Uh, thanks."

Sudo blushed as he held out his hand.

Homo? Why are you blushing?

Eito felt a chill of revulsion.

But when he remembered that Sudo's sexual orientation was normal in the original story, and that he'd fallen for Suzune, he felt relieved.

This time, though, things would be different. The person who changed Sudo this time was Eito himself.

And so, he helped Sudo toward the infirmary.

Neither of them knew that someone was watching them from not far behind.

A man stepped out from behind a wall.

The setting sun cast his tall shadow across the ground.

Wearing smart black-rimmed glasses, he watched the two of them walk away with a sharp gaze.

He was the current Student Council president, Suzune's older brother, Horikita Manabu.

Sudo's Return

"I'm sorry!"

The day after Sudo had fully recovered.

At the podium during morning homeroom,

Sudo, who had once been so arrogant, stood there with his head bowed.

The sight stunned everyone.

Some even rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren't seeing things—that the person on the podium wasn't actually Yamauchi.

But Sudo's next words dispelled their doubts.

"I've caused everyone trouble these past few days. From now on, I'll take my classes seriously and follow the school rules."

"Huh?"

Ike said in surprise, "Sudo, did you take the wrong medicine?"

"What did you say?"

Sudo glared back at him, his eyes fierce. Ike shuddered and didn't dare say another word.

Realizing that his attitude was wrong, Sudo bowed his head again, his voice gentler than before.

"I truly think I was wrong. Please give me a chance."

"..."

Not a single person in the class spoke.

Sudo's change in attitude was so dramatic that it was hard to accept all at once. Some even wondered if he was only pretending to apologize, and was planning to do something bad again.

Just then, Kikyo, the class's little angel, stepped forward.

"If Sudo-kun is willing to admit his mistake, let's forgive him. Everyone makes mistakes, so let's give him a chance. What do you say?"

The students whispered among themselves.

Hirata stepped forward, too.

"Let's forgive Sudo. He's part of our class, and when something goes wrong, we all share responsibility."

At Hirata's words, Sudo looked at him, touched.

This playboy, whom he'd thought so little of, had actually spoken up for him.

Out of jealousy, Sudo had hated that handsome face more than anything. But now, it seemed especially endearing.

Hirata, I was wrong about you. You're a good guy.

In the end, the class chose to forgive Sudo.

After all, what good would refusing to forgive him do? Would they rather have him keep causing trouble?

Just as it seemed the matter was about to end, Kikyo asked,

"Sudo-kun, why did you decide to apologize?"

"Yeah, Sudo. Why are you apologizing?"

"Sudo, did you really take the wrong medicine?"

"Uh, I..." Sudo instinctively looked toward Eito, but Eito didn't even glance at him. Remembering the plan they'd agreed on the day before, he said, "It's because... yeah, I suddenly came to my senses. I don't want to get expelled. I want to study properly with everyone."

Clap, clap, clap.

Kikyo was the first to applaud. After a moment's hesitation, the others joined in.

Sudo stared at the enthusiastic applause from below the podium, stunned.

"..."

A warm current flowed through his heart.

"Everyone... I..."

"Sudo, why are you crying?"

"Yeah, how old are you? Aren't you embarrassed?"

Even so, the students joking with him wore smiles on their faces.

If anyone had still harbored doubts before, Sudo's tears dispelled them completely.

They had truly accepted him.

Sudo wiped his eyes and stubbornly insisted,

"Hmph, I'm not crying!"

With that, he returned to his seat.

As he passed Koenji's seat, Koenji stuck out his foot to stop him and flashed a meaningful smile.

"So you do have some redeeming qualities after all. I was wrong about you before. Still, someone else must have been the one to change you. Am I right, Sudo boy?"

"None of your business."

Sudo stepped over his foot and returned to his seat.

What Sudo didn't notice was that when Koenji spoke, he'd glanced casually toward Eito—and Koenji had already figured out the answer.

"This is getting more and more interesting." Sudo couldn't hear him say it.

"So, starting now, I'll be tutoring the three of you."

In the study room after school, Eito sat in his seat with the review materials in hand and looked at the others.

"Huh? More tutoring..." Ike grumbled.

Then he looked at his two friends.

"Hey, you two just gave in? This is tutoring, you know. Tutoring."

Yamauchi shook his head and said nothing.

He hated tutoring, but he couldn't ignore Eito.