You Damn Consumptive Ghost

The dismissal bell had barely rung when a figure appeared at the classroom door.

As though he were being chased by some terrifying monster, Kamigami Haruo hurriedly pulled open the door. Only after leaving the classroom did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But before he had taken more than a few steps, rhythmic, forceful footsteps rang out behind him.

Sweating buckets now, little bro.

What was coming would come sooner or later. The sooner you gave up, the sooner you could enjoy yourself.

"Yo... beautiful."

Kamigami Haruo stiffly turned around, trembling as he took out the throat lozenges he had bought yesterday and held them out to the long-haired girl in the mask.

Horikita Suzune accepted the lozenges, lifted her mask, and ate one before speaking.

"Come with me."

She then passed Kamigami Haruo and headed toward the faculty office.

Sigh, I really don't want to wade into this mess.

But there probably would not be much trouble if he went. At worst, he would get mocked a few times.

With that in mind, he started walking, quickened his pace, and caught up with Horikita Suzune, walking beside her.

As they reached the hallway outside the office, they ran into the person they wanted to see.

Chabashira Sae was opening the office door, though it was unclear where she intended to go.

"Chabashira-sensei, I have something I'd like to ask you about."

Hearing that, the female teacher in office attire looked Horikita Suzune over with interest. Then, the moment she noticed Kamigami Haruo beside her, her face went blank.

Seriously? Was he really that hated?

After examining them for a while, Chabashira Sae returned to her expressionless state and said,

"Come with me."

She walked past the two of them, taking out her phone and fiddling with it as she went. She was probably sending a message to the announcer.

"Understood."

After saying that, Horikita Suzune glanced at Kamigami Haruo and followed after her.

Seriously, we were practically bros already, but she would not even say a word to me in front of someone else?

Though Kamigami Haruo felt helpless, he could only follow along.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Chabashira Sae made her way to the rooftop on her own, pulled a cigarette from her pack, placed it between her lips, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled as she gazed over the school grounds.

After a while, presumably once she had smoked to her satisfaction, she finally spoke.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

The two of them had been standing behind her the entire time. One waited seriously, while the other had already taken out his phone, put on his earphones, and started listening to music.

After all, this woman came to the rooftop for nothing but smoking. Damn consumptive ghost.

"About Class D, I..."

Horikita Suzune had barely said a few words before Chabashira Sae interrupted her.

"Class D's problems? That will take a while to discuss. In that case, come to the Counseling Room in five minutes."

Chabashira Sae said this while checking the time. It seemed she had arranged to meet someone, and since there was not enough time, they could only talk in the Counseling Room.

And who could that person be? Obviously, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.

But what was this nonsense? First the rooftop, then the Counseling Room. Could they not have just gone directly to the Counseling Room from the start?

"...All right."

Horikita Suzune seemed a little speechless as well, but she could only agree helplessly.

After receiving her answer, Chabashira Sae stubbed out her cigarette, intending to take it back and throw it away, then turned and returned to the office.

"That damn consumptive ghost. I'm telling you, instead of asking all those useless questions, you might as well think about what to eat later."

"I'll wait outside the Counseling Room."

Kamigami Haruo said this after removing his earphones.

"May I take that as you backing down because you're scared?"

A provocation? Too bad she had picked the wrong person.

"Yeah, I am. So what? I'm backing down, so what? I'm so scared. What should I do? I got a zero—if I go in there, will I get scolded? I'm so scared, boohoohoo. Hurry up and comfort me. Can I have a hug, Horikita-san?"

Well, the sudden sensation at his waist successfully shut him up.

Seeing that it was about time, the two headed toward the Counseling Room.

"May victory be yours. Go on."

At the entrance to the Counseling Room, Kamigami Haruo looked like an emperor waiting for a triumphant general to return.

The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from Kamigami Haruo's face. He put on an indifferent expression, listened to the music in his earphones, and waited.

But he had not waited long before someone familiar approached from the direction of the office.

"Yahallo, are you waiting for someone?"

Kamigami Haruo looked over at the voice. Oh, it was Ichinose.

"You came too? I'm waiting for Horikita, Ayanokōji, and our homeroom teacher to finish talking."

With that, he put on a smile, took off his earphones, and started chatting with the girl.

"What a coincidence. I came to ask the teacher about Student Council matters too."

"It really is. I was dragged here against my will. You have no idea what Class D is like. It's an absolute disaster, like walking into a zoo."

Kamigami Haruo was telling the truth. Rather than a gathering place for defective products, it was more like a zoo. Everyone had their own distinctive traits.

"You shouldn't talk about your classmates like that. Calling it a zoo is too exaggerated."

"It's fine. Most animals in zoos are rare creatures—cuter and rarer than humans. Besides, you look a lot like one kind of animal."

Kamigami Haruo waved his hand, indicating that he had not meant to insult his classmates, while also casually bringing up Ichinose.

"Eh!? What kind? Tell me, tell me."

At that, Kamigami Haruo's lips curled up. He reached out with both hands, grabbed Ichinose's cheeks, and tugged them around however he pleased.

"Like a panda. Not only chubby, but silly too. Innocent as can be."

"Chaimi is as cute as Feng Mao."

Ichinose seemed to have grown used to Kamigami Haruo's cheek-pinching attacks. She did not resist at all and even seemed to enjoy them a little? Though she was somewhat embarrassed.

"Forget it, let's go to the café together. There might be fewer people today."

"But will Horikita be okay?"

"Dumb jio bu. Worst case, I'll go apologize to her later."

Kamigami Haruo said this in an unquestionable tone.

"Even if you try to sound tough, that doesn't hide the fact that those are weak words."

The girl exposed the boy's childish behavior. Now he had no choice but to admit he was afraid.

But it was fine. He had someone to protect him.

"Then I'll be counting on you to protect me. Let's go."

After saying that, Kamigami Haruo headed for the stairs. Ichinose composed herself slightly and followed.

Meanwhile, a discussion was taking place inside the Counseling Room.

Though Horikita Suzune had prepared herself mentally, she still could not help asking why she had been placed in Class D. Her tone was simply not as forceful as usual.

Perhaps she had already realized that this school did not determine everything based on academic ability alone. During this time, she had also observed students from other classes after school, and all she could say was that the difference was immense.

Just comparing the classroom discipline during lessons in Class A and Class D, they were as different as heaven and earth. She simply could not understand why she herself had been assigned to Class D.

Perhaps it was because she tended to keep to herself, but that should not have been such a big issue, right?

Could it have been because she had talked back to teachers in middle school? But those teachers had been wrong, which was why she had refuted them.

So if Kamigami Haruo had been there, he definitely would have said that she should not have made the teachers lose face.

Just like an emperor: I know I was wrong, but you cannot say it out loud. So of course I'll hold it against you.

Having received an answer that was not really an answer, she planned to leave as well. After all, someone was waiting for her outside. Though he had already left with another girl, she did not know that.