Chapter Sixty-Six: Come Quickly, Hurry
The next morning, Aoki Satoru, dark circles under his eyes, yawned tiredly as he set out for school.
Ever since he had bested the so-called Black Cat, a chuunibyou girl, in his room yesterday, Aoki had become addicted to the game called Survivor, playing with Sora until well past eleven. Only by sheer willpower did he force himself to stop, despite wanting desperately to continue.
Now, he finally understood why his classmates had been willing to risk the teacher’s scolding for sleeping in class, just to keep playing games.
“Ao~ki~kun~” came a syrupy call from behind.
Aoki turned, seeing a man with dyed yellow curls waving at him, bouncing over with a spring in his step.
Yes—bouncing! It was remarkable how this delinquent managed to give off the air of a schoolgirl despite his tough appearance.
“Mitsuhashi, huh…” Aoki’s face remained weary, eyes lifeless as he glanced at him, then turned away.
“Ao~ki~kun~” Mitsuhashi Takashi, acting like a little girl, placed both hands on his waist and shuffled after Aoki.
Aoki shot him a disdainful look. “What is it? Someone chasing you again?”
Mitsuhashi caught up, slapped Aoki’s shoulder, and feigned bashfulness. “Oh, Aoki-kun, don’t say such things.”
“Enough! Are you trying to pick a fight?” Aoki’s brows drew together in annoyance as he brushed Mitsuhashi’s hand off.
Mitsuhashi’s expression shifted to seriousness. “Ahem, Aoki-kun, I have something to discuss with you.”
“What is it?” Aoki didn’t exactly dislike him, but felt they weren’t really acquainted—weren’t they only seen each other once? How was this guy so adept at getting close?
“I, Mitsuhashi Takashi, the strongest at Softleaf High, its leader, sincerely invite you to join me in a school alliance. Let’s form the Mitsuhashi Corps and challenge Suzuran High together!” With exaggerated flair, Mitsuhashi leapt in front of Aoki, bending backward in a C-shape to appear taller, raising his arm and pointing his thumb at himself.
Aoki shot him a lazy glance. “Not interested.”
With that, he sidestepped Mitsuhashi and continued on his way.
“Hey!!” Mitsuhashi hopped sideways to block his path, eyes wide. “Is it the name? How about Takashi Corps? The Triple Corps? Mitsu Corps?”
Aoki regarded him speechlessly, letting out a dry chuckle. “Why not call it Aoki Corps?”
A cold glint flashed in Mitsuhashi’s eyes as he snorted. “So that’s it… Impossible! I, Mitsuhashi Takashi, am the strongest high schooler in all of Japan—I could never name the corps after someone else!”
“Oh.” Aoki nodded calmly. “Then just do it yourself.”
Mitsuhashi instantly switched to a fawning grin. “Come on, Aoki-kun, we’re both leaders at our schools. What’s wrong with joining forces? When we defeat Suzuran High, we can settle things between us afterward.”
“Oh, the leader who’s always chased and beaten up.” Aoki lazily patted Mitsuhashi’s shoulder. “I’m not even my school’s leader yet. Go find someone else.”
Mitsuhashi bristled at Aoki’s remark, furious. “Hey, I wasn’t being chased! That was a strategic retreat, understand? Strategy!”
“Sure.” Aoki nodded, dull eyes fixed on Mitsuhashi. “Can I go now? I’ll be late in ten minutes.”
Mitsuhashi squinted. “Don’t you want to be the strongest in the country?”
“Is there some kind of Delinquents’ National Martial Arts Tournament I should enter?” Aoki gave him a calm look. “Besides, I doubt teaming up with you would make me the strongest.”
He shrugged. “Sorry, my short-term goal is to become my school’s leader first.”
Aoki certainly wouldn’t remain idle—the system would never let him become a couch potato. Still, he knew his current strength might seem formidable at school, but compared to truly powerful figures, he was still lacking.
Like that guy he met the other day—Serizawa Tamao.
Aoki thought of him and couldn’t help but grimace; that precocious fellow was probably much stronger.
Mitsuhashi let out a bizarre cackle. “So, you’re saying you’ll consider teaming up after you’ve become your school’s leader?”
Aoki thought it over, realizing that if he didn’t agree, Mitsuhashi would keep pestering him. He glanced at his phone—about six or seven minutes left before class started. He nodded, deciding to brush him off.
“We’ll talk about it then. Until that time, don’t bother me.” With that, Aoki walked around Mitsuhashi toward the school.
Mitsuhashi remained where he was, a sly smile spreading across his face. “Heh, looks like you don’t know how strong Mitsuhashi Takashi really is.”
“I, the clever and resourceful Mitsuhashi Takashi, will make sure you become your school’s leader!” He struck a ridiculous pose, but seeing Aoki already far ahead, he huffed indignantly, awkwardly shoving his hands in his pockets and muttering, “Just wait and see!”
Aoki, of course, had no idea what Mitsuhashi was plotting. Arriving at the school gate, he stopped, his expression darkening.
A crowd of suit-clad men surrounded the entrance; some carried cameras, others microphones. Judging by the various news insignias, they were all reporters.
“Hey, we just want to interview a bald student from your school, can’t you let us through?”
“Freedom of speech! Freedom of the press! You can’t just block us!”
“Excuse me, gatekeeper—do you know Aoki Satoru? Is he a delinquent?”
Even from afar, Aoki could hear the reporters’ clamor.
Standing at a distance, Aoki anxiously covered his head. Should he… take the day off?
“Boss!” A familiar voice rang out nearby.
Aoki turned to see Maeda Tora, cap on his head, looking delighted as he approached.
Aoki’s gaze sharpened, his mind whirring. He greeted Maeda with a gentle smile. “Ah, Maeda Tora! Come here, quickly!”
Maeda instinctively slowed his steps, a sudden unease rising in his chest.