"Stop right there!"
An angry roar exploded through the classroom like thunder. Nishikawa's trio, who were doling out the abuse, and their classmates, who were enjoying the spectacle, all froze for a second before turning their heads in unison.
"Did we have someone like that in our class? He's got some guts."
"Isn't he the idiot who suddenly shouted in his sleep during class? I remember his name was Kurogane or Kuroishi?"
"Whether he's scrap metal or a rock, we've got another show coming. Nishikawa hates people making him look bad."
The crowd parted on its own, allowing Teruzo Kurogane to face Nishikawa's trio.
"Who the hell are you?"
Taking his shoe off Gao Xiang's head, Nishikawa walked over, swearing, and glared ahead with a vicious look in his eyes.
Teruzo Kurogane kept his face lowered and his fists tightly clenched, saying nothing.
Nishikawa advanced step by step until he was almost pressed against Teruzo Kurogane.
In front of the broad, burly Nishikawa, who stood over six feet tall, Teruzo Kurogane looked like an underdeveloped middle schooler.
"Why aren't you talking? Weren't you so tough just now? Why are you hiding in your shell now?"
Nishikawa reached out and shoved Teruzo Kurogane, making him stagger.
Teruzo Kurogane did not know why he had stepped forward, either.
Was it a rush of hot blood?
Or was it guilt over losing Teacher Arisa's photograph, or perhaps seeing Gao Xiang bullied and trampled underfoot had reminded him of himself and struck a chord?
Perhaps it was all of those things, but now that he had come this far, he could not back down.
"You're going too far with this bullying. Enough is enough," Teruzo Kurogane forced out through clenched teeth.
The corner of Nishikawa's mouth twitched, and his expression grew uglier.
"Don't talk