"Teach this brat a lesson. You guys watch carefully. I didn't hold back because I was afraid of him—I did it to give Mr. Takeuchi some face."
Shouya explained as he bent down to dig through the hole in Tsuna's desk. When he saw the thermos that had startled him before, he was 100% sure this was Tsuna's seat.
When the others heard that, they knew something interesting was about to happen. They stopped what they were doing to watch. No one wanted to miss this spectacle.
Upon hearing that, Miki quickly stood up and tried to stop him.
"Ishida! Stop it! Do you want your parents called on the first day of school?"
She didn't want to get scolded by Mr. Takeuchi on her first day as class monitor because of a foolish fight.
Shōya had just pulled out a few books when he heard her words. She was basically ordering him around and threatening him with the teacher in front of everyone. He stood up straight and angrily retorted:
"Mind your own business. Don't think I'm scared of you just because you're the class monitor. Be careful or I'll tear up your books next."
They were all still just kids, but she had embarrassed him in front of the class. How was he supposed to keep face or manage anything in the future?
Miki was angered by his words and was about to curse when a calm voice interrupted:
"What are you doing with my textbooks at my seat?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it drew everyone's attention. Miki turned toward the sound and saw Miyamura standing at the classroom door, staring directly at Ishida.
"Naoka, go call Teacher Takeuchi quickly. I feel like something's going to happen."
Miki shook Naoka, who was beside her. Naoka said nothing and immediately ran out the back door of the classroom.
Shouya picked up a Japanese language textbook, shook it at Tsuna, and said mockingly,
"I'll teach you a lesson."
He hadn't expected to run into him just then, but it was fine. It was even better to give him a warning face-to-face.
"Borrow it for a bit. I'll buy you a new one later."
Tsuna picked up a folding parasol from a nearby desk and hurled it at the spiky-haired boy with all his strength.
Shōya saw a black object growing rapidly in his vision, and before he could react, pain hit him. Then, the boy he'd looked down on—Miyamura—grabbed him by the collar. A white fist entered his sight, getting closer by the second.
By the time the class snapped out of the shocking scene, they heard Miyamura Tsunayoshi's calm voice, tinged with a slight sob:
"Did the class monitor send someone to call the teacher?"
Miki nodded blankly, clearly still shaken. She saw the boy she admired give her a soft smile after hearing her answer.
"Shimada, should we go help Shouya?"
Hirose finally came to his senses and whispered into Shimada's ear, afraid that Miyamura Tsunayoshi might hear them.
Shimada glanced at Shouya, who was lying on the floor quietly sobbing, then shook his head.
"No need. I noticed Kawai asked Naoka to get the homeroom teacher. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be here soon. If we step in now, we'll just make things worse."
Just as Shimada finished speaking, they heard a booming voice from the hallway.
"What's going on?! I give you some lunchtime, and you, Shouya, are out here trying to teach someone a lesson?!"
Teacher Takeuchi had only just taken a bite of his lunch in the office when a black-haired girl burst in, anxiously saying that Miyamura Tsunayoshi was about to get beaten by Shouya. He felt his heart sink. That annoying Minagawa had also been teasing him, so he jumped up and rushed out. But when he reached the classroom, what he saw was unexpected—
It was Ishida Shouya lying on the ground, crying.
"Call the parents, Mr. Takeuchi."
Tsuna saw the teacher enter and said it casually.
Mr. Takeuchi didn't take calling parents lightly. He walked over and helped Ishida Shouya up from the ground, then asked Tsuna for an explanation.
"What happened to Ishida?"
"I hit him on the shoulder with an umbrella, and he lost his balance and fell. Then he got scared and started crying."
Tsuna pulled a water cup from the desk's storage, sat naturally in Shouko's chair, took a sip of warm water, and slowly explained.
"That's it?"
Mr. Takeuchi wasn't convinced. If he hadn't read Ishida's record before school started, maybe he'd believe it. But this kid had a history of fighting and troublemaking. Was he really the type to cry so easily?
Just then, Miki stepped forward from her seat and supported Tsuna's statement.
"Mr. Takeuchi, what Miyamura said is true. Others can testify, too."
She felt it was better to speak up now before things escalated. It definitely had nothing to do with Miyamura's gentle smile just now\...
Miyamura Tsunayoshi:I didn't! Don't slander me! I only have Shouko in my heart.
Mr. Takeuchi, in his rush, had almost forgotten that the class monitor was there and had seen everything.
"Kawai, tell me exactly what happened—everything."
At that moment, Naoka returned behind Mr. Takeuchi and froze when she saw the situation. It was nothing like what she'd expected.
Miki took three or four minutes to explain the entire event in detail—from the moment Miyamura returned to class and found Ishida trying to tear up his textbook, to him picking up Jiro's folding umbrella and throwing it at Ishida's shoulder. Then Ishida lost balance and fell. Miyamura grabbed Ishida's collar and nearly punched him, but stopped at the last second.
"So the only real injury came from the umbrella?"
Teacher Takeuchi still found it hard to believe, but the others confirmed the story.
"Kawai, stay in the classroom. You two, come to the office with me."
After confirming that Ishida wasn't seriously hurt, Teacher Takeuchi left Miki with instructions and walked out, with the two boys silently following him.
"I'll replace your umbrella. Think about whether you want a brand new one or just the money. Let me know when I come back."
Tsuna said to Jiro as he passed by.
After the three of them left, the classroom came alive. Most students discussed what might happen to Miyamura Tsunayoshi and Ishida Masaya. A few didn't care and just continued eating their lunch.