Chapter 6: A Terrible Upbringing

The next subject of the day was Physical Education. Now, Yutarou didn't know about his new body, but in his past life, he was never the athletic one.

The teacher took a sneak through a small crack of the door and closed it right back.

"Alright, class. I guess we can't use the gym for today, you won't be able to play basketball. Let's do it in another day, yeah?"

"Why not, sensei?" One of the students asked, disappointed.

"You see..." The teacher was about to speak when a guy slammed the door open, almost breaking it.

He stood in front of everyone and Yutarou immediately recognized him.

That hair redder than blazing fire and green emerald eyes that has a lot of resentment in them.

It was him.

Suzuki Kazuya.

One of the yandere male leads in the game.

He was tall, the game mentioned MC being as tall as his shoulders.

His muscles were visible through the soaked black tank top, he was dripping with sweat; but his smell was that of a mint. His hands were in the pockets of his athletic pants. His basketball shoes squeaked as he turned to the teacher.

"What's with all these maggots gathering here?" He glared at everyone, even the teacher. "Aren't you a teacher? Why aren't you doing your job?! Take them away!" He ordered, yelling.

He is always yelling. The only times he isn't is when he's eating or sleeping.

"Yes, sir." The teacher bowed her head.

"Now, that's just rude." Keijirou commented, walking in front, blocking Kazuya's gaze of the teacher.

'MC...!'

"And, who might you be?!" Kazuya raised his eyebrow, clearly looking down on Keijirou.

'MC, you better pay me back for this.'

Yutarou pulled Keijirou behind him. "Forgive my friend, Suzuki—san. He's new here." Yutarou said, bowing.

If you want to survive in this game you must throw all your shame.

"Hm. I like this one, at least he got some brain." Kazuya stated, grinning. That was more of an insult than a compliment, at least to Yutarou. "Since he's a newbie, I'll let it slide. There will be no next time." He was indeed grinning, but you can sense his bloodlust.

Yutarou eyed Keijirou. 'You almost got us killed, you sheep.'

"Yutarou, why aren't you defending our teacher? That guy obviously disrespected her." Keijirou dropped the honorifics, glaring at Yutarou.

"I did it for our teacher." Yutarou responded, highlighting the word 'teacher'. "She'd be punished if we do. That guy earlier is the child of the owner of this school. Do you want Kirigaya—sensei to be fired?" Yutarou reasoned out to him.

That was not the reason, that was actually just a softer punishment. That guy, Kazuya, could kill them at any given moment without any tears nor blood.

"Yutarou—kun is right, Takahashi—kun. It's better to let it go. He's the heir and has power to fire me." The teacher seconded Yutarou.

Keijirou sighed, smiling. "If you say so. As long as you're okay, Kirigaya—sensei."

"Awe. Sweet child, I'm fine. Now, let's go play some games outside!" The teacher grinned, ruffling Keijirou's fluffy hair.

Yutarou wanted to comfort Keijirou. They had become close. He can't afford to lose his trust, he won't be able to protect him at that point. "Takahashi—kun—"

"I'm sorry, Yamaguchi—kun." Keijirou said, cutting off Yutarou.

"Huh...? What for?" Yutarou asked, confused.

"I doubted you for a second there. I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway, as well." Keijirou bowed his head.

"No, no. It's okay. Apology accepted." Yutarou shook his head. "If only that guy wasn't as influential as he is now, I would stand up to him." He continued, hoping Keijirou would feel better.

Yutarou's statement made MC smile. "Yeah, definitely."

[Notification]

[Affection Level of <Takahashi Keijirou> towards <Yamaguchi Yutarou> has increased.]

[The character acknowledges you as a master of words.]

'Master of what now?'

Keijirou and Yutarou sat beside their P.E. teacher.

There were excessive members, so the others went out to play so the rest could take over later.

"You know, Suzuki—kun wasn't at all like that before." The teacher trailed off.

"You mean an asshole?" Keijirou asked with an innocent look on his face.

'Our pure MC just cussed!'

"I was once a substitute teacher of his back then, in middle school. He was always top in his class. He was attentive and helpful. Such a kind child. That was until the last year of middle, his attitude began to change. He had his first fight and I heard somewhere that his parents locked him up where there was almost no food, water, nor oxygen as punishment. That was the rising of Suzuki—kun's delinquent behavior." Kirigaya—sensei explained to them.

Yutarou already knew this.

What the teacher said was right. Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki were all out of ideas. Kazuya was sent to various types of mental asylums, his condition had only become worse .

They wondered where their intellectual son went to.

Yutarou clenched his fists. 'Such good parents. If your son loses his motivation to study, lock him up somewhere.'

They tried sending him to a youth rehabilitation, but it was no use either.

And so, they decided to lock him up in a room with little food, water, and oxygen.

He would spend the whole day screaming, then pass out from hypoxia*.

"That IS horrible." Keijirou commented. "However, a terrible upbringing is still not an excuse to be a terrible person." He remarked.

"You're right, Takahashi—kun." The teacher gave him a bittersweet smile. "I'm not trying to excuse his behavior. I'm just saying this so you could understand where his coming from. Once people understand each other, they have a chance to form a bond. It's what he needs right now." The teacher clarified.

"I don't think, at this rate, that someone would want to form a bond with him." Keijirou commented.

'Well, at least you're safe with a mindset like that.'

"Alright, change members." The teacher told the rest of the students who were sitting on the benches.

"Let's go and play some games, Yamaguchi—kun." Keijirou invited.

"...Sure." Yutarou followed Keijirou to the fields.

∞ ∞ ∞

Hypoxia: Lack of oxygen (levels)