Pocketing extra cash, Anji Seiji bolted the second school ended.
No clue if he was chasing a junior or hitting the manga shop.
Satoru had planned to swing by the kendo club. He'd promised Miyajima Sakura he didn't need to show up daily, but ghosting right after joining felt wrong. Sakura might get flak for recruiting a slacker, and he was invested in Kase Masafumi's training.
But Anji's words about the Alpaca Princess anime BD and the shop's address changed his mind.
"Alpaca Princess BD! Your boy's coming!!"
His new earnings had a purpose!
Satoru clenched his fist, determined.
Following the crowd out of class, he walked down the hall, swapped his indoor shoes, and headed for the school exit.
His heart danced with visions of the Alpaca Princess's glorious figure, now animated, not just words.
After school, what a beautiful thing.
"Coach Higashi."
"Teacher…"
"Good afternoon, sir."
Students' respectful greetings echoed as Satoru neared the exit.
PTSD from that name in his past life snapped him back. He braced for the encounter.
But, distracted by alpaca dreams, he was half a beat slow.
Coach Higashi spotted him from afar—a lanky figure towering over the crowd.
Yellowed teeth clenched, Higashi grinned.
Not a stakeout—just inevitable in a school this small.
Since they crossed paths, time to teach this kid a lesson.
But in school, he couldn't go too far. Hurting Satoru publicly would backfire.
Humiliate him, though, without tarnishing his own rep? Perfect.
In a flash, Higashi's scheming mind cooked up a plan.
As Satoru looked up, Higashi's gorilla-like bulk was already in his face.
Higashi, recalling Satoru's freakish wrist strength, opted for subtlety. He "carelessly" slammed his shoulder into Satoru's with calculated force.
Higashi's raw power was pro-athlete level, leagues above a high schooler.
The impact sent Satoru stumbling, feet tangling like knots.
He crashed butt-first, then tipped backward, flat on the floor.
Luckily, he kept his head up, avoiding a skull-crack.
But then—
Thud.
Something hit his face, plunging him into darkness. His head smacked the wooden floor.
"Whoops," Higashi said, turning back as if just noticing. "Did I bump something? My bad…"
A public tumble wasn't fatal but stung a high schooler's pride, especially with mocking laughs.
Yet…
No laughter came.
Instead…
"What just happened?"
"Damn, I'm jealous…"
"Did Kurashiki just sit on his… face?"
"Who's that guy?!"
"Jackpot!!"
Unexpected chaos.
Satoru's slide had knocked his head into Kurashiki Rena's calf, trailing behind.
Rena stumbled forward but, with stellar control, didn't fall. To brace, she sat—hard.
Not on the floor.
On a sharp-angled, soft-yet-firm something.
A distinct bulge pulsed under her skirt.
The odd sensation froze Rena for half a beat.
Until…
"R-Rena?" Hisagi Arisa, stunned, snapped her out.
Rena, pressing her skirt, leapt up.
Satoru's vision cleared.
First sight…
Purple lace? Mature style.
Next thought…
Oh, I'm screwed. Verb and adjective.
"Die!!"
Rena's milk-white face burned red as she aimed a merciless kick at Satoru's head.
Prepared, Satoru rolled, grabbing his bokken mid-spin, raising it—still wrapped in cloth—at Rena. "Hey, not my fault! Coach Higashi apologized, didn't he? I'm the victim!"
He glared at Higashi, righteous.
Higashi hadn't predicted this. Veins bulged on his forehead, cursing his premature "sorry"!
Stuck, he doubled down. "Y-Yeah… But you kids need to watch it in the halls!"
Passing the blame, he glanced at Rena.
His massive tongue licked dry lips. She's as fine as Nanao Akane… But her mom, PTA president and head of Shirayuri Cosmetics, was untouchable. Higashi couldn't risk trouble.
He turned and bailed.
"Tch."
Rena clicked her tongue at Higashi's retreating back. Even she couldn't publicly chew out a teacher. It did look accidental…
But her green eyes glared up at Satoru, rubbing his nose.
She nodded to Arisa.
Arisa stepped forward, grabbing Satoru's collar. "Hey, you're coming with us! We've got questions!!"
"…Huh?" Satoru blinked, utterly lost—adjective, not verb.
…
…