Chapter 264: [WRATH]

Chapter 264: [WRATH]

Delinquents board the school bus. Not just one, but several.

Hey, what's your deal!?

Oh, come on, we're students too, you know? What's wrong with us riding the school bus?

Who do you think you are!?

What's the problem? Can't we all get along as neighbors? You wouldn't want anything to happen to your family on the streets or at home, right? So, we should help each other out, just in case.

Hey, what are you thinking?

Hey, why are you getting all tense? It's like I'm threatening you or something!

Laughter echoes inside the bus from the delinquents.

The usually noisy bus is now eerily silent.

Sorry, Iroha-chan. It's our fault. He went to the same middle school as us. That's how he found out we ride the same bus.

It's not everyone's fault.

As they exchange words, a delinquent leans forward.

His tobacco-smelling breath hits us.

What are you whispering about? Let me in on it too.

Hey, what are you doing!?

Switch seats with me. I want to get friendly with that monkey over there. Animal welfare, you know? It's important, right?

Stop it Ouch!? Ah!?

He forcefully grabs a girl's arm and throws her into the aisle.

Then, he loudly sits down next to her.

Iroha-chan!

Hey, don't touch her! I'll Ugh!?

Shitenno!

As Shitenno tries to intervene, he's punched in the stomach by one of the delinquents and collapses.

One of the girls rushes to him in panic.

Even after I started attracting trouble from delinquents,

I continued taking the bus to school.

That's because if I stopped, the girls might become targets.

They seem to notice that consideration, hence their apologetic or regretful expressions, maybe.

But

Um, excuse me? I'm really okay, so please don't worry?

Hmm, what a hassle.

Honestly, I'm not really in much trouble.

If anything, it's kind of convenient not to be approached by everyone.

With more time alone, I could enjoy my social games.

Iroha-chan, this isn't the time for that! Right now, they might just be playing around, but it'll escalate for sure. And when that happens

And Iroha-chan, messing with them, playing games antagonizing them like that, you shouldn't do that now! Who knows what consequences

Y-Yeah

If it comes to that, the Secret Service guys will probably beat up the delinquents unilaterally.

They're kinda picking on the wrong targets, too.

Being hassled and ridiculed by delinquents every time is definitely unpleasant.

But honestly dealing with antis is a thousand times more persistent and troublesome than delinquents.

Iroha-chan! It's okay to cry if it's tough. To depend on others. They're not watching now. It's just us!

Um, well Thanks?

Maybe being so careless like that was my mistake.

The attack came from an unexpected direction.

***

"What is this?"

My locker had been ransacked.

The merchandise of the idols that should have been there had been reduced to a pitiful state.