CH 19

After we finished our club activities, we returned the key to the staff room and I headed to the entrance of the school building with the rest of the Literature Club.

I walked through the dimly lit school building with the club members, chatting and laughing.

It’s one of my favorite moments of the day.

“Good work, everyone!”

“Well~, it was another fulfilling club day today! Though I was just reading history books for fun, that I am sure. Haha.”

“It doesn’t matter, you can learn about history through the written word and still deepen your knowledge of literature and art. Nothing is wasted. Besides, our club’s motto is to ‘Have fun’!　That’s why!”

“No, no, I want to have some high goal like Takamine-shi who has already published three books!”

“Haha, because your writing is really fascinating, Takamine-senpai. I’m learning from you too.”

“ —Hou?”

As we all turned down the hallway, enjoying our conversation, a burly male student resting on a chair noticed my presence and raised his voice.

It seemed that Sayama, the ace of the boxing club, having just finished practice, was making three gals, his managers, fan him with Uchiwas (Japanese fans).

Sayama, who beats and bullies me on a regular basis, bursts out laughing when he sees me.

“Hey, hey, Pig! You’re in a club?”

“Funny~ww, what are you enjoying yourself for, ww?”

“If Takamine’s here, then that means that that’s the Literature Club~?”

“Uwa~, the Literature club is seriously  full of guys who look like shady nerds~ww”

“This is really creepy~, aren’t you ashamed to be alive~ ww?”

Saying that, the gals laughed hysterically.

“I mean, I didn’t know there was even a club that even a pig could join. ww”

“Right! If it were me, I’d never join a club~”

Well, they were right.

Because of my appearance, I was ignored by all the clubs at the entrance ceremony when they were recruiting.

“ — Umm, I was wondering… if you’re interested, would you like to join the literature club…?”

Except for Ajiro-senpain and the seniors who approached me that day.

I can’t tell you how much I was saved by the warmth of this literary club in my later school life.

I’m really grateful to Ajiro-senpai for letting me in.

— As I was thinking back to those days, Ajiro-senpai shook my hand and said in a small voice, 

“… It’s Yamamoto-kun.”

The gals glared at Ajiro-senpai.

“Haa?”

“Y-Yamamoto-kun is not some thing! I wanted him to join because he’s Yamamoto-kun!”

“What’s with this ugly betch? Her bangs are so long, I can barely even see her face.”

Leader Takamine-san seconded Ajiro-senpai’s words.

“That’s right! Stop being so cynical just because we took your beloved Yamamoto!”

“What the h**l is this guy even talking about?”

“No one wants this fuking Fatso.”

Perhaps no longer amused by all the club members defending me, Sayama started to target Takamine-senpai this time.

“Say, the book that Takamine published. I hear it didn’t sell at all again. ww”

With those words, the gals followed suit with smiles on their faces.

“Everyone thinks you don’t have a talent, though they just don’t say it. ww”

“How come publishers don’t dump you after every failure? ww”

And again Sayama laughs.

“Wouldn’t it be better for the people around you if you just quit now~? Gyahaha!”

Hearing this, Yoshino-senpai stood in front of Sayama and the others with his glasses shining.

“Gosh, don’t you understand despite all your boxing? If you don’t punch, you can’t hit your opponent. Takamine-senpai is standing in the ring right now in the world of literature, desperately punching and fighting. I wonder if all the punches Sayama-dono has ever made have hit the target without missing even a single one?”

Those words must have completely pissed Sayama off.

Exhaling one big sigh, he glared at Yoshino-senpai.

“ —Tch, it’s true that if you don’t punch, you won’t hit anything!”

Sayama snapped at Yoshino Senpai’s words, hit a jab with all his might.

With a sharp sound of the wind cutting through the air, his solid arm roars in front of Yoshino-senpai’s face.

—Thud!

A dry thud sounded, a fist striking flesh.

“… Hey, what are you doin?”

Sayama’s fist was right in front of Yoshino-senpai’s eyes…

As it was stopped by the palm of my hand.

“Pig… you dare to.”

It’s a punch I’ve seen hundreds of times already, it’s something this body of mine already experienced.

I knew he was going to jab at him based on his last action, so I had to move my hand out as soon as I could.

With a fist slamming into my palm, Sayama taunted me this time.

“That’s right, Pig. I heard you’ve been going out with a crazy girl lately. I don’t know what kind of s***k she is, but I’ll take her—”

The moment I heard the mention of Chieri from Sayama’s mouth, a feeling of anger that had never existed before welled up in my heart.

If this guy lays a finger on Chieri, even though I know I’m no match for him, I will stand up to him like a mortal maniac.

Without being aware of it, I tighten my grip on Sayama’s fist, squeezing it.

“ —- Ack!?”

““Kyaaa!!!!””

Immediately after Sayama’s expression twisted in some way, the gals around Sayama also twisted their expressions and suddenly screamed.

I looked at the end of my gaze and saw that Yoshino-senpai’s trousers were wet.

“Aba, ababa…”

I guess he was really scared, but he forced himself to be a daredevil.

He had reached his limit the moment Sayama’s fist was stopped in front of him.

Yoshino-senpai remained incontinent while standing.

And the gals screamed making a fuss.

“ — Seriously, I’m done. I ain’t interested in Yamamoto’s girl anymore. We’re going home.”

Sayama’s face was pale with obvious dismay.

Guess it was because he was fed up with us.

(T-thank God, that was close… I’m sorry for Yoshino-senpai though…”

As the strength drains from my hand, Sayama pulls his fist out.

“… Let’s go to the hospital, just in case.”

Muttering something like that he went away with the gals.

[Postscript]

Sorry for so much foreshadowing!

I hope you’ll stick with me for maximum enjoyment!