Chapter 6 Confrontation
Chapter 6 Confrontation
A week passed, and nothing happened.
Crap. I’m more of a coward than I thought.
We didn’t even see each other much that week. And when we did… my inadequacy showed. Every time, I froze. Every time, I failed.
Again, I was at school.
As I walked through the halls during lunch, I forced myself to decide—today. I would try. No more excuses.
Suddenly, someone pulled my arm—hard.
“Argh—!”
A hand clamped over my mouth. I struggled on instinct, but I was too small—too weak to break free.
Then I saw them.
Two guys, both taller than me. One was the gorilla from the other day. The other had bleached hair and an angry, twisted expression. They dragged me down the hall, shoved me into a restroom, and threw me to the floor.
“Ahh—!”
I rolled, my bag slipping from my shoulder and slamming against the tiles. Notebooks and loose papers burst out and scattered everywhere. In a panic, I watched my red letter—flutter away.
I couldn’t see where it landed.
Pain exploded across my back as a foot crashed into me.
“Argh!”
I flipped onto my side as both of them stepped closer.
“Why…?” I whimpered, clutching the spot where I’d been hit.
The bleached-haired guy crouched down, staring straight into my eyes.
“So this is the guy, Takeru?” he said. Then his lips twisted into a sneer.
“Hey, motherfucker midget. Who gave you permission to get close to Alessandra, bastard?”
The gorilla guy snorted. “That’s right, Ryuuji. He’s the same guy who was disrespecting us in our classroom—he even glared at me. Then yesterday, I saw this runt walking past our class like he owns the place. Next thing I know, he’s getting all chummy with Mamoru.”
He grinned darkly.
“Then they suddenly disappear together. This guy really thinks he’s got a chance, shooting his shot that high—so high the bullet’ll come back down and kill him. Hehehe.”
But the bleached-haired guy wasn’t laughing.
“Listen to me, twerp,” he said coldly. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near her again. Or I’m going to kill you.”
Thud.
His fist slammed into my gut.
“Ahhh—!”
The pain was overwhelming. No one had ever hit me like that before. Even those boys who punched me back then—it was nothing compared to this.
I coughed hard, gasping for air, my vision blurring as I desperately looked around for the letter.
Then I met the bleached guy’s eyes.
Kick.
“Ahh—!”
He struck my side. I sobbed, curling in on myself, covering my head.
“Don’t glare at me, bastard,” he growled. “You think you’re tough?”
The gorilla moved next, kicking my bag and sending my books flying even farther, turning the mess into complete chaos.
Then, just like that, they left.
The letter.
I forced myself to move, hands shaking as I searched frantically through the scattered papers.
Thank God—I found it.
It was slightly crumpled. Carefully, clumsily, I tried to straighten it, my fingers trembling. My face was a mess—tears, snot, everything.
I slowly stood and looked at myself in the mirror.
…I looked pathetic.
I moved slowly, pain spreading through my whole body. Every step hurt. I gathered my things into my bag and walked out, still sobbing quietly. I didn’t go back to class anymore. I hid instead, and as soon as I could, I slipped out of school and headed home.
When I passed by the park, a thought slipped out before I could stop it.
“Ah… Ale Onee-chan…”
Then the memory of those guys came crashing back. Fear gripped my chest—deep and heavy.
Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe they had the wrong person.
She wouldn’t be involved with people like that… right?
I looked down at myself, my body still shaking from pain and fear. I didn’t want to ask her—the very thought of doubting her hurt too much.
“…I can’t let her see me like this. Never.”
I turned away and rushed home, slipping inside quickly. I forced myself to walk straight so my mom wouldn’t notice that anything was wrong.
I was about to close my door when—
“Iryoku, dear, the food is ready.”
I froze in the doorway.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I just need to rest.”
Her voice came again, worried. “Are you feeling unwell? Do you want some medicine?”
“I’m okay!” I replied too quickly. Then my voice faltered.
“I just… I just want to be alone. Please. Don’t—please let me be alone for a little while.”
My voice had risen at the beginning, and I hated it.
“…I’m sorry,” I added softly.
Before she could say anything else, I closed the door and locked it.
I took off my clothes and slipped into bed, exhausted. I lay there sobbing, feeling inadequate—weak, like always.
“Why… why… why…” I muttered, hating how powerless I was.
I reached into my bag and pulled out the red letter. Just looking at it made my chest ache. I fell asleep with it still in my hands.
I woke up tired the next morning. It was Saturday.
I tried to move.
“Ouch.”
I went to the mirror and checked my stomach and back. Dark bruises had formed there.
“Crap…”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Honey, are you up? Breakfast is ready. Aren’t you going to play with Ale?”
I flinched, quickly pulling on a shirt to cover myself.
“I’m coming down.”
I ate quietly, then returned to my room. In the mirror, my appearance looked worse than usual—pale, tired, weak.
I’ll see her later… maybe.
That day, I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t look for her, and she didn’t come by either.
I was glad.
Over the following days, I avoided her completely. Even at school, I stayed on edge, terrified I might suddenly run into those guys again.
I didn’t tell anyone what had happened. I didn’t want to burden my parents… or Ale either.
I tried especially hard to stay away from the third-year side of the school. Even after classes ended, I waited before leaving, making sure the halls were mostly empty.
Then I walked home alone.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone collapse in an alley.
Then came the laughter.
“Eh, what a dumbass.”
“Seriously, such a pussy.”
I recognized them immediately—the gorilla guy, a couple more dudes, and several girls, all surrounding a kid with glasses. He was on the ground, clutching his stomach.
Thud.
One of them stepped forward and kicked him.
Thud.
“Uuugh…” The kid gagged, nearly throwing up.
“Hahahahaha!”
The group burst into laughter.
“Oh shit.”
I turned quickly and kept walking.
“Hey—who’s that?”
I hurried down the street. The voices behind me faded but didn’t disappear. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. I rounded a corner—then realized I was heading the wrong way.
Idiot.
I kept running anyway.
A small park came into view. Beside it, a public restroom. I rushed inside and stopped, breathing hard, hoping they’d pass by.
They didn’t.
Laughter drifted closer.
My hands were shaking. I headed for the stalls—but every one of them was locked. A sign hung crooked on the door: Out of Service.
“…No way.”
The restroom door slammed open.
Someone kicked it in.
Footsteps entered.
I froze.
I turned toward the urinal and pretended to pee, staring at the stained tiles, praying they wouldn’t look my way.
Footsteps stopped behind me.
“…What’s this guy doing?” someone said, amused.
“Dude, is he serious?”
A sharp pain exploded in my back.
I hit the floor hard, my head cracking against the tiles. The room spun. When my vision cleared, they were standing over me—the gorilla guy, the bleached-hair one, and a couple of others.
The gorilla crouched, grabbed my uniform, and hauled me up.
“Hey—wait!” My voice cracked. “I didn’t do anything. I don’t even know you—”
“Still running your mouth?” he said flatly.
The bleached-hair guy stepped closer, smiling.
“Turn him around.”
Hands forced my arms behind my back. I struggled, but it was pointless.
The punch came without warning.
My breath vanished.
“Gah—!”
“There it is,” the bleached-hair guy said. “That sound never gets old.”
Another hit. Then another.
“Please—stop—” I could barely get the words out.
The gorilla shoved me away. I hit the floor again, coughing, gasping for air.
“Pathetic,” someone muttered.
They laughed.
As they turned to leave, the bleached-hair guy knelt beside me.
“Listen carefully,” he said quietly. “You say a word to anyone, and this gets worse.”
He leaned closer. “And don’t even think about going near her again.”
He stood.
“See you tomorrow.”
Their laughter echoed as they walked out.
I stayed there on the floor, shaking, my stomach twisting.
The sound wouldn’t stop.
The next days were hell for me...