The Idea Came Through

After obtaining his golden finger, what kind of life did Makoto Nishikado want to lead?

To become the strongest Go player?

To win the favor of countless beauties?

Perhaps he had thought of these things, but what he wanted most was to live with a clear and unburdened mind.

"Um, who are you?"

The students of Class D looked at Makoto Nishikado's unfamiliar face and asked with curiosity.

Horikita Suzune was just about to stand up, but Kushida Kikyo beat her to it.

Just as Horikita Suzune's fingertips touched the edge of her desk and before her body had fully straightened, a nimble figure had already darted out.

Kushida Kikyo wore her signature sweet smile, covering the distance to Makoto Nishikado in a few steps.

"Ximen-kun? Are you here to see me?"

At such a close distance, Makoto Nishikado could even smell the faint fragrance on the girl.

"Kushida-san, the favor you asked me for has already been scheduled."

With others present, Makoto Nishikado was quite polite toward Kushida Kikyo.

Seeing that Makoto Nishikado had no intention of exposing her, Kushida Kikyo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn it, who is that guy?"

Ike Kanji clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together.

The other boys nearby wore similar expressions, their eyes filled with hostility as they looked at Makoto Nishikado.

In Class D, Kushida Kikyo was the crush of many boys.

Even those who had other crushes still liked Kushida Kikyo all the same.

"Okay, should we leave now?"

Kushida Kikyo encouraged Makoto Nishikado with her eyes.

She really didn't want to stay and listen to Ike Kanji and the others continue their insolence.

Unfortunately, Makoto Nishikado wasn't going to take her away just yet.

"Kushida, I heard you say before that Class D was a harmonious and friendly group."

"Now that I've come and seen it for myself, why does it feel like this place is filled with such a foul stench?"

Makoto Nishikado's gaze swept over the small group that had been gossiping, sharp as a physical blade and heavy with pressure.

The few who had been spitting nonsense a moment ago fell silent instantly, panic appearing on their faces as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats.

Makoto Nishikado strode forward, walking toward them step by step.

Suddenly, a figure blocked his path.

"Hey, this isn't your class, get out of here."

Despite the imposing words, Sudo Ken didn't dare to look Makoto Nishikado in the eye.

"I am a friend of Airi Sakura, and I'm here to stand up for her today. Are you really going to help these pieces of trash?"

Makoto Nishikado stared directly into Sudo Ken's eyes.

[Triggered Sudo Ken's emotions, obtained 1829 emotion points.]

"She's your friend? They were just talking, that's all."

Sudo Ken didn't dare to meet Makoto Nishikado's gaze, nor did he even try to verify Makoto Nishikado's claim.

He had not yet undergone his transformation and was usually very hot-tempered and irritable.

In Class D, aside from Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, almost no one would go near him.

But that didn't mean Sudo Ken couldn't see the situation clearly.

He knew he was in the wrong regarding this matter.

"I just have a few words to say to them, that's all."

Makoto Nishikado's tone was calm, showing no intention of throwing the first punch.

He really was here to reason.

"..."

Having received Makoto Nishikado's promise, Sudo Ken sat back down in his seat in silence, resting his head on the desk to pretend he was asleep.

Not far away, Hirata Yosuke had been hesitating, unsure whether he should step forward to stop Makoto Nishikado.

Now, hearing Makoto Nishikado's promise, he also sat back down in his seat.

With the obstacles removed, Makoto Nishikado walked straight up to Yamauchi Haruki.

"Y-you, don't come over here!"

Yamauchi Haruki knew he was in the wrong, so he retreated with a show of bravado, using Ike Kanji as a human shield.

Ike Kanji hadn't even processed what was happening before he realized Makoto Nishikado was staring right at him. He shuddered instantly, hurriedly breaking free from Yamauchi Haruki's grip to scramble away.

"Kanji, are you going to abandon me too?"

"Haruki, don't drag me into this!"

After trading barbs, Ike Kanji hid far away in a corner.

A guy like Makoto Nishikado, tall, sturdy, and radiating such an imposing aura, was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

Even though they were brothers, even brothers had to draw a line when things got messy!

He had to deal with the trouble he'd stirred up himself!

"Y-you, you, you..."

Yamauchi Haruki was completely panicked, his forehead covered in a dense layer of cold sweat.

How could he have imagined that a bit of trash talk would lead to such a result?

"I am Airi's friend. Just now, outside, I heard you say she confessed to you?"

"Now, in front of me, do you dare say it again?"

Makoto Nishikado cornered Yamauchi Haruki, leaving him no chance to escape.

"E-even if you are her friend, would she really tell you about something like a confession?"

Yamauchi Haruki's eyes darted around, still trying to act tough.

At this moment, even the students of Class D couldn't help but feel disgusted.

Ever since the first self-introductions after enrollment, everyone in Class D knew that Yamauchi Haruki was a pathological liar.

Because this guy had claimed back then that he was the ace pitcher of his baseball team and had retired to undergo rehabilitation after an injury during the high school league.

The problem was, this was his first year of high school; how could he have participated in a high school league before?

A guy who spouted nonsense like that wasn't worth helping, even if he was a classmate.

Makoto Nishikado took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently as his suppressed anger simmered like a volcano about to erupt.

"YAMAUCHI! HARUKI!"

Makoto Nishikado enunciated the name syllable by syllable, each one landing like a heavy hammer on Yamauchi Haruki's heart.

He extended a finger and tapped it lightly against Yamauchi Haruki's forehead.

"If I ever catch you bullying my friend again, I will make you pay the price!"

His voice was booming, carrying an intensity that seemed to pierce the soul.

Yamauchi Haruki trembled, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.

He only had the guts to spread rumors behind people's backs; where would he find the courage to face Makoto Nishikado?

Makoto Nishikado turned his head, and Ike Kanji and Sotomura Hideo suddenly felt the Class D classroom was far too cramped, with nowhere to hide.

Without waiting for Makoto Nishikado to speak, the two of them hurriedly fled through the back door.

It felt as if staying for even one more second would result in them being swallowed by an invisible force.

Makoto Nishikado did not pursue them, his gaze returning to Yamauchi Haruki.

Looking at that face, pale as paper, Makoto Nishikado suddenly felt a sense of boredom.

In the end, he simply stepped forward and patted Yamauchi Haruki on the shoulder.

"You had better remember what I said."

Makoto Nishikado turned around and bowed his head to apologize to the surrounding students of Class D.

"I am deeply sorry for disturbing everyone's rest today."

Regardless of how the others reacted, Makoto Nishikado straightened his back and walked out of the Class D classroom.

In the ensuing silence, Koenji Rokusuke set down the mirror in his hand and smiled with great delight.

"What a beautiful man."