Chapter 112: Listen, a Chorus of Cries (End of the Third Watch)

Aoki Tsukasa had just opened the door and stepped out of the principal’s office when he nearly slammed the door shut again in fright. Standing pressed against the wall beside the door were five figures: Maeda Tora, Fujiwara Mio, Matsuzaka Take, Teruhashi Kokomi, and Matsushita Kazuo. They were crammed together like a human tower, each holding a finger to their lips in a silent shush directed at him.

“You guys…” Aoki Tsukasa looked at them with a mix of amusement and disbelief, chuckling softly. “How long have you been eavesdropping out here?”

“Keep it down, keep it down! Don’t let the principal hear,” Maeda Tora whispered excitedly, looping an arm around Aoki’s neck with a flushed face. “Boss, you’re incredible! The fierce tiger Aoki Tsukasa—I was on the verge of clapping for you out there!”

Fujiwara Mio was equally fired up. “As expected from the boss!”

“Is this a movie? Am I dreaming?” Matsuzaka Take looked dazed, as if lost in a dreamlike reverie.

“Tsukasa-kun…” Teruhashi Kokomi’s cheeks were bright red, her fingers intertwined nervously at her chest, her eyes practically shining with adoration.

Even Matsushita Kazuo, a teacher, couldn’t hide his respect. He gave Aoki a sincere thumbs-up. “Impressive! You’re the most outstanding student I’ve ever taught! Not even the teachers can maintain such composure and reasoned argument in front of the principal.”

Sure enough, this guy’s family must be involved in the yakuza! Such practiced negotiation skills, such deft handling of interests—there’s no way a high schooler could possess this! Matsushita felt a chill run down his spine. Luckily, I’ve always been polite to him; otherwise, who knows what might have happened! I must tell the other teachers about this—it’s too thrilling!

Teruhashi Kokomi stared at Aoki Tsukasa, utterly enamored. He truly was a powerful man, able to speak so sensibly even under the principal’s pressure. It was like a ruthless CEO from a novel—no, their conversation was so well-crafted that even the male lead of a romance novel might not have managed it so well!

I can’t hold it in anymore—I’m about to scream out loud! Kokomi hurriedly held her breath, unwilling to reveal such weakness in front of Aoki, her cheeks growing even redder.

Aoki Tsukasa shook his head in silent exasperation, looking at the flushed, overly excited faces before him, and let out a helpless chuckle. “Well, putting that aside, hasn’t the class bell rung already?”

“You guys are willing to be late for class just to eavesdrop?” Aoki shot a pointed glance at Matsushita. “You’re a teacher—don’t you find it embarrassing to be crouching with students, spying by the door?”

Matsushita suddenly seemed to realize his position and straightened up. “Everyone, please head back to class. We’re already five minutes late.”

“Boss!” Maeda Tora hugged Aoki’s neck so tightly he nearly rolled his eyes. “Following you is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life!”

“I—I’m truly honored!” The sentimental Fujiwara Mio almost teared up, rubbing his reddened eyes. “To have a boss like Aoki Tsukasa, the Tiger of Maiyo, I could die tomorrow and have no regrets! I never imagined that a delinquent like me would ever become what you call a ‘fierce tiger’!”

“I will never forget this day, boss! I’ll prove worthy of being your subordinate all the way through graduation!”

Hey, hey, hey! That’s way over the top! If you die now, how will you date your salted fish-chan! Aoki Tsukasa carefully edged away, worried that idiocy might be contagious, then turned to Matsuzaka Take. “Take, don’t you think he’s exaggerating a bit?”

Aoki’s words trailed off, because at that moment Matsuzaka had thrown himself into Maeda Tora’s arms, burying his face as tears welled up and he let out a shameful sob.

Hey! You two big guys crying like this? Even Teruhashi Kokomi, this delicate girl, is much calmer and more composed! Look at her—so quiet, so normal! What’s wrong with my subordinates?

“Tsukasa! Quick, Teruhashi has fainted!” Matsushita’s frantic voice reached Aoki’s ears. He turned, bewildered, to see Kokomi’s face flushed to the point of steaming, her hands clutching her chest, eyes shut tight. She was sliding down the wall to sit on the floor, muttering something under her breath.

Aoki knelt to check on her and realized she was repeatedly whispering, “Oh-ho… oh-ho… oh-ho…”

She had passed out from holding her breath trying to suppress a scream!?

My goodness!

Aoki stood, leaning against the stair railing, genuinely fearful that one day he might become like these people.

At that moment, Kokomi seemed to come to her senses, realizing how ridiculous she looked sitting on the floor. Catching Aoki’s horrified gaze, she felt as if the sky were falling and let out a startled cry, scrambling up.

In her panic, she lost her balance, about to fall, and instinctively grabbed onto the head of the still-squatting, concerned Matsushita beside her. Her hand slipped, and with a tug… she actually pulled out a handful of hair!

Matsushita felt a sharp pain on his scalp, then a cool sensation. He stared blankly at the sparse strands in Kokomi’s hand, trembling as he touched the top of his head.

Where there had once been a few strands of flowing black hair, now only a few thin hairs clung to the edges.

Swallowing hard, Matsushita’s hands trembled uncontrollably, and he fumbled for his phone. The screen displayed a horrifying image: a bald crown with only a few remaining strands of black hair hanging on the sides.

“It took me so long… so long…” Matsushita’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor, dropping his phone as he covered his face and sobbed loudly. “I barely managed to keep any hair! Half my monthly salary goes to hair care! Why, why is heaven punishing me like this? I just wanted some hair—just a little hair!”

Kokomi immediately knelt beside him, apologizing profusely, tears nearly flowing. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…”

Watching this farce unfold, and seeing Maeda Tora, Matsuzaka Take, and Fujiwara Mio holding their heads and crying, Aoki Tsukasa turned away numb.

The thought that one day he might see Senior Dokujima suddenly burst out with an ‘oh-ho’ scream, or sit in the living room under Sorami’s disdainful gaze, laughing uncontrollably at a ridiculously dumb, passionately yakuza-themed drama, filled him with dread.

The so-called Fierce Tiger of Maiyo? More like the Cute Kitten!

Imagining those delinquents arrogantly calling him the Cute Kitten Aoki Tsukasa, he felt like giving up entirely.

“I’m going to class!” Aoki dashed off like a flash, tapping into a burst of speed faster than ever before.

“Creak…” The principal’s office door opened, and Nemura Jinnosuke furrowed his brow, turning to see who was making such a racket outside. Then he saw Matsushita covering his face, sobbing uncontrollably, and his hair reduced to…

Nemura counted for three seconds: only five strands left.

Without a word, he quietly closed the door.

Returning to his swivel chair, Nemura hesitated before pulling out a small mirror hidden in his cabinet. Grasping his hair, he gave a slight tug and then removed what looked like meticulously styled, salt-and-pepper hair.

It was a wig.

Staring at the wig for a moment, Nemura then glanced at his thinning hair in the mirror. After a long pause, he pulled a business card from his holder.

“Custom Wig Services.”

He took a photo of the card with his phone and quietly sent it to Matsushita’s phone.

As the principal, this was the last thing he could do for him.

Nemura silently put the wig back on, his sparse expression listening to the intermittent sobbing outside, his eyes growing misty.

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P.S.: Ruri Gokou, deadpan and ominous, whispered: I heard that anyone who reads this chapter but doesn’t vote will become bald.

To those who think I’m too short and won’t vote—are you devils or what!!!