Under the crisp spring sky of Hoshikawa High, the sports field buzzed with tension. The students of Class F stood in a shaky line, their eyes darting nervously toward their substitute teacher, Dong Gang—a towering figure whose gorilla-like aura could make even the boldest delinquent quiver. His voice boomed like a war drum, shattering the morning calm.
"Anshi Takamura!" he roared, his beady eyes glinting with unchecked authority.
Anshi Takamura, lost in a daydream about his future, barely registered the call. Should I become an enka singer, pouring my soul into tear-jerking ballads under flickering stage lights? Or a shadowy composer, crafting epic melodies from the sidelines? The gorilla's shout yanked him back to reality. He snapped to attention, his spine as straight as a bamboo stalk.
"P-Present!" Anshi stammered, blinking rapidly.
"Go run ten laps around the track!" Dong Gang barked, jabbing a thick finger toward the red oval.
"Ehh?!" Anshi's jaw dropped, his mind spinning. Ten laps? Is this guy for real?!
"…Ehh?" Dong Gang echoed, his own confusion mirroring Anshi's. He squinted, locking eyes with the bewildered teen. "Wait. You're really Anshi Takamura?"
"Of course I'm Anshi Takamura!" Anshi shot back, puffing out his chest despite the absurdity of the moment.
Dong Gang froze, his brain grinding like a rusty gear. Hold on… His fierce gaze swept over the ragtag lineup of Class F, landing on a tall, lanky figure slouching at the end. The kid's hands were clasped behind his back, his posture radiating an infuriatingly carefree vibe that screamed trouble.
There he is. Dong Gang's eyes narrowed. "You! Who're you again?!" he growled, baring his teeth like a beast ready to pounce.
Hayato Kirisaki, the target of this sudden wrath, tilted his head with a faint, mischievous smile. His pale skin and dark, tousled hair gave him an almost ethereal charm, like a protagonist destined for greatness—or at least a few pages of dramatic chaos. "Oh? Me?" he said, his voice laced with mock innocence. "Hayato Kirisaki, at your service, Sensei."
"Hayato Kirisaki…" Dong Gang snarled, his small eyes widening into a vicious glare. This kid—this smirking kid—was the one he'd pegged as his nemesis, the thorn in his side. And yet, he'd gotten the name wrong? Unforgivable!
Before Dong Gang could unleash another tirade, a voice cut through the tension. "Teacher Dong Gang, that's Hayato Kirisaki," said Sakito Yamamoto, ever the eager informant, his words spilling out in a nervous rush. He froze as all eyes turned to him, realizing he might've just thrown his classmate to the wolves.
Hayato's smile didn't falter, but his eyes flicked toward Sakito, a subtle glint of amusement in them. Oh, Sakito-kun, always so quick to jump in. He tilted his head further, adopting an almost comically cute expression. "Something wrong, Sensei?"
"You…" Dong Gang's voice trembled with barely contained rage. This brat's mocking me! He wanted to scream it, to drag up that humiliating incident in the gym equipment room, but that would expose his own blunder. No, he had to play this smart. A sinister grin crept across his face, the kind a scheming light novel villain might flash before setting their trap.
Swapping classes with that firecracker Mikage-sensei was a genius move, Dong Gang thought, licking his dry lips. This punk—Anshi, Hayato, whatever he's called—he's mine now. His mind briefly wandered to Mikage Tomohime, her fierce tomboy energy and rumored single status sparking a flicker of distraction. A woman like that, still untouched in her thirties… I'll charm her yet. But he snapped back to the task at hand. "You! Ten laps! No, make it fifteen!" he bellowed, pointing at the track. Let's see you squirm, you smug little—
"Excuse me…" A timid voice broke through the tension. A petite girl with soft brown hair raised her hand, her eyes wide with concern. "Did Hayato-kun do something wrong?"
Hayato blinked, racking his brain for her name. Was it… something with a 'Y'? Or maybe an 'A'? He gave up, offering her a gentle smile instead. The girl shrank back under Dong Gang's gorilla-like glare, her courage wilting like a cherry blossom in a storm.
Sakito, meanwhile, felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine. Oh no, I've done it now. Naming Hayato earlier had been a reflex, a desperate bid to seem sharp. Now, seeing Dong Gang's inexplicable vendetta, guilt gnawed at him. Hayato's still mad about that Kurashiki Reina fiasco, isn't he? If he holds a grudge… Sakito shuddered, imagining the rumored "terrorist" connections of Reina's boyfriend. I'm toast!
"Y-Yeah, exactly!" Sakito blurted, desperate to redeem himself. "You can't just punish students for no reason, Sensei! That's corporal punishment!"
The class gasped, their eyes wide with shock. Sakito, standing up to Dong Gang?! They recalled the heartwarming scene of him and Hayato bonding after school, a true display of brotherly loyalty. Murmurs of support rippled through the crowd.
"Totally! That's unfair!"
"Yamamoto's got a point!"
"Sensei, you're going too far!"
"Careful, or Yamamoto's ancestors might 'handle' you!"
Anshi watched, his heart swelling with emotion. Look at them, rallying for Hayato! But a pang of envy hit him. Why didn't anyone speak up when I got slapped with ten laps? You traitors!
Dong Gang's jaw tightened, his yellowed teeth grinding. What's with this rebellion?! Normally, his authority was ironclad—students quaked at his commands. But this Hayato kid, with his stupidly handsome face and infuriating charisma, had the class eating out of his hand. Is it just because he's good-looking? Damn it!
"If you're so concerned, you can all join him!" Dong Gang roared, his voice dripping with venom. "The principal said we need to boost your physical fitness! Hayato looks like he'd collapse in a breeze, so he's getting special training. Anyone who disagrees can run with him!"
The crowd fell silent. Cheering was one thing, but fifteen laps? Hard pass.
"I'll do it!" Sakito raised his hand, his voice trembling but resolute. Fifteen laps is nothing compared to losing my dignity! He shot Hayato a pleading look. Please, forgive me, man!
"…I-I'll do it too," the timid girl mumbled, her hand shaking as she tried to raise it.
Hayato gently pressed her hand down, flashing a reassuring smile. "No need to worry, everyone. Sensei's just looking out for my health, right?" He turned to Dong Gang, his tone infuriatingly polite. "He's not trying to pick on me or anything."
Dong Gang smirked, a grotesque twist of his lips. "Of course!"
"Fifteen laps, then?" Hayato confirmed, his voice light but his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
"Exactly!" Dong Gang's grin widened, relishing the thought of breaking this smug kid.
Hayato turned and strode toward the track, his steps casual, almost leisurely. Let's see how long you last, punk, Dong Gang thought, his mind already conjuring more "fun" punishments.
But then, barely half a lap in—two hundred meters—Hayato's neck tilted dramatically, and he collapsed onto the track with a theatrical thud. The class froze. Dong Gang's jaw dropped. What the—?!
"Hayato!!" Anshi sprinted to his side, his heart pounding. "Oi, you okay?!"
Hayato's eyes were unfocused, his voice weak but determined. "I… I can still run… cough, cough… Let me… keep going…"
Anshi's face paled. Two hundred meters?! That's barely a jog! He knew Hayato wasn't exactly a track star, but this was absurd. "No way, man, you're done! No more running!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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