Unlike other girls who enjoyed shopping, hanging out, or going to cafes with friends, Yui didn't have any particular hobbies. If she had to name one, it would be reading alone in silence.
She spent over an hour at the library. The sun was setting, and it was getting late. After returning her books, she prepared to go home.
Unlike the other boys and girls who were leaving their club activities in groups, she was alone, looking rather lonely. But she had been used to being alone since she was a child. She didn't need companions.
Walking home alone with her headphones on, only the melodies she liked could calm her restless heart.
She was thinking about what to cook for dinner, but not far from the school, three figures appeared and blocked her path.
"Kotegawa, you've kept us waiting!"
They were three boys in Sainan High uniforms, with ordinary, unremarkable faces—the kind of characters who were destined to be background extras.
"You three… what do you want?"
She frowned and took off her headphones. She vaguely remembered them. They had broken the school rules a few days ago and had been severely punished by her in the name of the Disciplinary Committee.
Are these three planning to get revenge?
A cold, sarcastic smile appeared on her face.
"Kotegawa, we have something to say to you. Follow us if you have the guts."
As if facing a mortal enemy, the three of them threw down the challenge with hateful expressions and then turned and walked away.
They were clearly up to no good. The wisest course of action would be to ignore them and leave. But—
Leaving like that was not in her nature.
With a light snort, she followed them. She wanted to see what kind of tricks these three could pull.
They didn't go far, stopping in a small alley by the side of the road. Normally, students would often pass by the entrance, but now that school was over, it was a deserted and convenient spot.
"Is this it? Aren't you going to find a more remote place?"
Sizing up the surroundings, Yui stopped and spoke with a sarcastic tone.
Their faces flushed with anger, the three boys were furious. This damn Kotegawa was looking down on them.
"Kotegawa, don't get cocky! We'll show you what we're made of!"
"You're a real fool for following us, knowing we were going to teach you a lesson!"
"It's all your fault! You made me make a public apology in front of the whole school! Now everyone laughs at me wherever I go."
"Me too! My parents found out about what happened at school, and my dad gave me a good beating."
"And me! You demon! You read the confession I wrote for Kayo-chan out loud in front of the whole school! She hasn't spoken to me since!"
"Kotegawa, it's all your fault, you wretched woman! You've ruined our lives!"
Almost in tears, the three boys recounted their tragic stories, glaring at her with hatred.
"Is that all you have to say?"
With a disappointed expression, Yui's face turned cold. "You brought this on yourselves by repeatedly breaking the rules and disrupting the school's atmosphere! You deserve everything you got!"
Her cold, sarcastic tone, devoid of any guilt, was like a merciless arrow that pierced their hearts.
"Kotegawa, I'm going to kill you, you bitch!"
"You damn woman! If you won't let us have a good life, we won't let you either!"
"You're not getting away today! Just wait for our crazy revenge!"
Burning with rage, the three boys shouted and were about to lunge at her.
Seeing them about to attack, a flicker of panic crossed Yui's eyes, but she quickly composed herself.
"Heh… is that all you have? You're just like elementary school kids."
"Are you sure you want to do this? If you dare to lay a single finger on me, you'll be expelled tomorrow for assaulting a Disciplinary Committee member."
With a disdainful snort, she narrowed her eyes and reminded them with a cold, sarcastic tone.
As expected, hearing her words, the three boys froze, exchanging hesitant glances.
"Don't be fooled! She's just trying to scare us!"
"Hmph, so what if I get expelled? I didn't want to go to school anymore anyway!"
"Me too! Even if I get expelled, I'm still going to beat this damn woman up! I won't be satisfied otherwise!"
Though they were intimidated for a few seconds, their anger and hatred quickly overwhelmed their reason. The three boys no longer cared about the consequences and just wanted to beat her up.
Not at all flustered, a triumphant smile appeared on Yui's face.
"Teacher, did you all hear that? They said it themselves," she said with a smile, looking behind them.
"Teacher?!!!"
Already nervous about being caught, the three boys were startled and instinctively turned their heads.
Er… where was the teacher? They couldn't see a teacher. The teacher was air.
A clap of thunder seemed to explode in their minds. By the time they turned back, furious, Yui was already far away, about to reach the street.
"Kotegawa, you tricked us!!!"
"After her! Don't let her get away!"
"Kotegawa, you can't escape! When we catch you, we're going to strip you naked!"
Hearing their enraged shouts from behind, Yui let out a sarcastic and disdainful snort. Though she didn't consider herself particularly smart, tricking these three with the average intelligence of elementary schoolers was a piece of cake.
Once she reached the street, she would be safe. Clutching her schoolbag, she quickened her pace.
However!!!
Just as she was about to escape, her foot gave out, and she fell to the ground…
"Ah…"
With a cry of pain, she felt like she wanted to die. Her leg had cramped at a time like this.
Though she hated running and exercising, did it have to be now?
Her schoolbag slid away. She lay on the ground, her face pale with pain. She struggled to get up, but another cry of pain escaped her lips, and she collapsed again.
It was only then that she realized her palms were scraped and bleeding, and her right ankle was red and swollen. The slightest movement sent a sharp, stabbing pain through her.
"Hahaha… Kotegawa, it seems even the heavens are not on your side today!"
"Run! Why don't you run? Why did you stop?"
"You damn woman! How dare you trick us! We'll make you pay today!"
With savage laughter, the three boys who had caught up to her surrounded her. Seeing her trip and fall on her own was incredibly satisfying for them.
But it wasn't enough. They had to get their revenge, their full, brutal revenge.
She looked at them coldly, saying nothing, and slowly struggled to sit up. But that was the limit of her strength. Standing up was almost impossible.
Seeing her state, the three boys exchanged a look, their smiles widening.
"Hehehe… Kotegawa, we're all classmates, why do we have to be like this? If you just apologize and beg us nicely now, we'll let you go. How about it?"
"Yeah, yeah! Hurry up and apologize! Beg us! Hahahaha…"
No longer worried about her escaping, the three boys took their time, looking down at her with a taunting expression.
They were really looking forward to it. Making this prim and proper Disciplinary Committee head apologize and beg them, and then going back on their word and brutally bullying her, taking their revenge, leaving her humiliated and hopeless…
"Hmph!"
With a sarcastic snort, she turned her head away.
Though she was indeed regretting her actions and feeling scared, she would never show her weakness in front of these guys.
Seeing her reaction, the taunting expressions on their faces vanished, and their faces turned grim.
"What an annoying woman! Let's stop wasting time with her! Let's strip her and take some pictures!"
"Hehehe… that's a good idea! I'm going to post her pictures on the school website so everyone can see our dear Disciplinary Committee head naked!"
"Me too, me too! Kotegawa, you never thought this day would come, did you?"
With savage smiles, the three boys prepared to carry out their most vicious form of revenge.
Her face pale, seeing their dirty hands reaching for her, a look of terror and despair crossed her eyes…