They thought someone was talking nonsense and making things up.
Her voice was pretty loud, loud enough for everyone in the class to hear her.
She was trying to help prove it.
Rather than saying Kageya Shinjitsu seemed like a delinquent, Ken Sudō fit the description better.
At least on the surface, Kageya Shinjitsu just kept to himself and seemed a little withdrawn.
Ken Sudō was the one who really had a short fuse.
The back of Class 1-D.
Kanji Ike couldn't accept it. He wasn't even paying attention in class.
He kept typing away on his phone.
"Why? Why is he so calm?"
"And why is Kushida-chan comforting him?"
"Do those people actually believe it?"
"Damn it, why is he so good at pretending?"
Kanji Ike had spent quite a few points, after all.
He'd even borrowed some from other people, so when the '100,000' points came in next month, he'd have less than half left.
"This has gotten so big. Does Kushida-chan really not know?"
"And even Sudō got put on the list."
"Why isn't she comforting Sudō?"
"Come on, how could anyone comfort Sudō when he looks like that? Even a dog would run away from him, afraid of getting beaten up. How could anyone not think he's a delinquent?"
"I bet no one in class was surprised that Sudō made the delinquent list. If he hadn't, that would've made people question whether the post was real."
"Kushida's just too easy to fool."
"Exactly. If he were like Sudō, Kushida-chan wouldn't comfort him either."
"You bastards, you're talking about me like that?"
"If I find out who posted me, I'm not letting them get away with it."
In the group chat, the Idiot Trio and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's four-person group were chatting away.
"..."
Looking at them, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could only hope things would end there.
But he'd underestimated them.
When class let out, he saw Kushida-chan about to talk to Kageya Shinjitsu again.
Kanji Ike walked right over.
He wore an excited grin.
"Kageya, did you see the school forum last night?"
"You're right at the top of the list. No one else in first year can compare to you."
"Your information's worth a lot. Aren't you going to make some money off it?"
"You're probably running low on points, right?"
He acted like they were old friends and even put a hand on Kageya Shinjitsu's shoulder.
Kanji Ike's expression quickly froze when Kageya Shinjitsu shoved his hand away in disgust.
Then Kageya Shinjitsu spoke, and his expression changed even more.
"Ike, don't get so familiar with me. We're not close, are we?"
"Or are you planning to take my clothes off again? I don't have anything against guys having boyfriends, but I'm not joining your group."
Kageya Shinjitsu wasn't sure what the other guy was after, but he didn't go easy on people he disliked.
Kageya Shinjitsu still looked disgusted as he patted down his clothes.
As if the place Ike had touched might be covered in germs.
And those words were even harder to stomach.
Kanji Ike's face flushed red. He hurriedly explained himself, glancing at Kushida Kikyo.
"Don't make jokes like that! I don't like guys. I really, really, really like girls. I'm always looking for a girlfriend."
"Kageya, we're classmates, aren't we? We're friends. We—"
"That's just what you think. I've never considered you a friend."
The truth was a sharp blade, and Kageya Shinjitsu had delivered it bluntly.
Kanji Ike couldn't stop his face from turning bright red.
Especially with Kushida Kikyo standing right there watching.
Wasn't that going too far?
Did Kageya not take him seriously at all?
Chapter 55: Just kidding— I'm pretty gutsy, Ike.
The humiliating words,
along with Kushida Kikyo's presence, got to Kanji Ike.
He felt like he'd been made a fool of.
"Kageya Shinjitsu."
His voice grew a little louder.
"Why are you yelling so loudly? Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Kageya Shinjitsu looked annoyed at the noise.
"You're the one who went too far."
Kanji Ike was irritated.
He looked ready to throw down at any moment.
"I don't remember doing anything to you."
"Now that I think about it, Ike, you seem like a pretty tough guy."
"Everyone thinks I'm a delinquent, but you still come up to me and act like you want to fight."
"You're pretty gutsy, Ike. What gang were you with before?"
"Are you upset that your name isn't on the post? Trying to prove yourself?"
"You care so much about the forum. I bet I could earn quite a few points by posting about you too."
"Want to give it a try?"
Kageya Shinjitsu smiled at the furious Kanji Ike.
He provoked him further.
"We can both make money. Share some information about yourself, and I'll earn some points too."
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Kanji Ike.
"Delete that!"
Kanji Ike panicked.
"Don't rush. If I earn any points, I'll give you half."
"This school doesn't seem to care much about image rights or delinquents. Don't worry, the school won't do anything."
Kageya Shinjitsu laughed as he worked on his phone.
Kanji Ike tried to snatch it from him.
"So stingy."
"Are you trying to fight me, Ike?"
"Or are you trying to rob me?"
"Go ahead and try, if that's what you want."
When Kanji Ike made a move, Kageya Shinjitsu shoved him away.
He crashed into a desk behind him.
"You bastard."
After being shoved away, Kanji Ike tried to force his way forward again.
But a small hand blocked him.
"Don't do this."
Their argument had already drawn the attention of the class.
Kushida Kikyo had had enough.
She stopped Kanji Ike from advancing.
"Posted. Once I get the points, I'll give you a cut."
Kageya Shinjitsu quickly typed a few words, posted Kanji Ike's real name, and put him on the list.
The caption read: A tough guy in class, getting bullied as usual.
He hadn't really cared about the forum before. He thought it was childish.
But Kanji Ike had come over to talk to him, so he might as well post about him too.
"You..."
"Delete it!"
Kanji Ike was furious.
He didn't want to be labeled a delinquent or anything like that.
They'd laughed at Ken Sudō for making the list last night.
"You should probably talk to whoever runs the forum, or someone at the school."
"Why are you so worked up? When you came to talk to me earlier, you didn't seem to care about this kind of thing. But now that it's about you, you care? Or are you worried I'll get the points and not give you your share?"
"Or did you come here just to pick a fight with me?"
Kageya Shinjitsu spoke bluntly.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Kanji Ike couldn't possibly admit it.
"Then don't worry about it. Post whatever you want about me, say whatever you like. And I'm allowed to post about you too, right?"
Kageya Shinjitsu waved his phone around.
Kanji Ike wished he could snatch it away and smash it.
"Please, you two, stop."
Seeing the two of them clash, Kushida Kikyo tried to break it up.
She looked at them pleadingly.
Kanji Ike had been the one to approach Kageya Shinjitsu and start trouble, but now Kageya seemed to be the one making a scene.
That break had turned thoroughly unpleasant.
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