A/N: It's a bit of a violent Chapter, so be careful. It's needed for the Story, however. Hope you don't mind it, regardless.
[Kurushima Pov]
[2nd April]
Bullying in the broad daylight, huh? Is it fine for them to bully someone here? I mean, it's on the way to the Library, isn't it? Many student's head out to the library, so why bully someone in such a public place, where some might come across?
But I didn't notice anything like a library here on my way, and I heard it's quite large and huge, so I looked foremost on my phone, until I noticed it...
I took a couple of wrong turns on my way to the Library.
I mean, I didn't use the phone to arrive there, as it had a Map of the Entire School Campus, but rather relied on my memory. It seems like my luck is quite great, isn't it?
Encountering such an advantageous situation, despite the fact that my sense of direction is kind of messed up.
But my always called "Bad Luck" can also lead me in these kind of situations, huh? Well, I decided it now. I'll expel these 3 Bullies.
I took my phone out and approached their group. I filmed them for the next whole minute, until someone from them recognized, a person was standing.
At that moment, I hadn't my phone out anymore, so they weren't in charge of knowledge that I had filmed them, previously.
"What are you looking at? Move away, we are busy," one of the three people present said, who was most likely the leader.
"Didn't you hear me? I said that you should move away somewhere else," he exclaimed, infuriated by the fact that I was still standing there.
"That's a freshman, Bro. If not, I would have recognized such a pretty face either in our year or that from one below us," the other person, his companion said.
"A freshman, huh? I do remember the rule that was applied to us, but if nobody sees us here, then isn't this simply a given chance? Nobody will know what happened here," the leader expressed, confirming a few of the suspicions I had.
Then those are seniors, huh? I'm quite lucky, it seems. They should have a decent amount of Points, especially since they're bullies.
I think, I'll test this method out. Besides, they'll be great punching bags to release some of my stress and anger that has been gathered up on me since yesterday, when I saw Chairman Sakayanagi and that little daughter of his.
I slightly looked once again at my surroundings, seeing no cameras present. As long as there is not any evidence, they can bully someone whenever they like, huh? And the school won't do anything, huh?
Once again, I gained some kind of valuable information from this school. But even having me, a witness walk away, that must mean, they're confident that the person whom they bully might say it was a fight among "Friends," or something like that, perhaps.
If that's so, the bullied person might be their classmate, then? If I'm right with everything, the reason he lets it happen is because he and his class will also be affected.
So that's why they would let me walk away, since my testimony wouldn't do anything, would it? This school is certainly a bit different than I expected, honestly. But it's because it has unlike any other high school, special regulations and rules, though.
In any case, I doubt they can even come close to harm me, and if they do, it's only because I am allowing it to them to happen.
Both the bully trio and I had a lockdown with our eyes. As they were focused on me, the bullied person ran away, not even looking back. I guess that's what you call the effort of trying to survive, climbing to the last hope offered, even if the next day just will be the same.
It is quite ironic that a country such as Japan, which is one of the prosperous countries in the world, has such a profound problem in bullying. But then again, just like any other country in the world, Japan is no exception in terms of bullying, no matter how much I were to debate about the reasons.
Either way, I should focus myself on the scenario in front of me again.
"He is gone. But it doesn't matter. We'll just use you instead of him for today as our punching bag. Tomorrow, we still can go to him, so it doesn't matter."
Apparently, the guy in the middle, was the leader in their group. It caused me slightly to brow my eyebrows in surprise, since he didn't seem like that great of a deal.
However, I had to admit, this was actually my first school fight. Before that, I fought different kind of people, but they were more experienced. But this is also the first time I'm witnessing someone getting bullied.
I initially assumed that given the school's status and reputation, no one would do deeds like that here, but it seems like I was wrong. Anyway, I'll make it fast.
"How are you going to compensate us, pretty face?" The leader shouted, in an uproar, causing me to deeply sigh.
Was it necessary to shout? And besides, did he call me pretty face? Haha, they'll regret it for the rest of their lives having approached me today. No, I approached them, actually.
Anyway, it doesn't matter who approached who, they'll be regardless be gone, and I'll test the method with the [Record Entry] in a situation like this.
"Hahahahaha... Come at me, you losers."
"L-Losers?" The second guy, to the left repeated. Immediately, the person I classified as the "Leader" of the bully trio sprinted towards me.
"Hey, wait, let's attack him together," The third guy, to the right remarked.
"Do you think I need your help to beat that skinny guy? Stay away, he's mine."
They seemed to oblige. He must be pretty confident. Well, I should hold myself decently back. Don't break their bones, their ribs, and foremost, don't attack their faces. They still have a purpose for tomorrow.
Horikita Manabu, I actually didn't think we'd meet that soon, but well, sometimes these kind of things happen, too.
I'll play a bit with him. After that, I'll beat them up.
Although I said the leader was not a great deal, he was built pretty athletically. He's someone who used Martial Arts, more precise, Karate, based on his stance. He slowly approached me, and threw a kick at my face, which I easily dodged, moving my face move sidewards.
Of course, I could use this chance to make a counter attack, but as I said, I intend to play with them. My first school fight shouldn't end so fast. He looked surprised, and attacked me once again, which I, once again, dodged.
He backed backwards, slightly. "You're not bad."
"But you're. I mean, really bad. Your Kyokushin Karate is pathetic. Which Kyu are you?"
"Bastard..." He prepared himself for a well-known kick. I knew it the moment I realized he backed away. Until right now, he must have contemplated whether to use it or not. But through my provocation, he definitely will use it.
Ushiro Mavashi Geri, the spinning back kick.
"You can't use it." The second guy shouted.
"Shut up. I'll do whatever I like," He said.
Not even a second afterwards, he threw this spinning back kick at me. And once again, he had seen how I dodged him.
Unlike previously, he didn't stop, or talked. He rather prepared himself immediately afterwards, fr the Ushiro Geri, another very dangerous kick, a back kick.
Yet, to his disappointment, I sidestepped to the right, avoiding it.
"The Fun is over, now."
Immediately, I threw a kick towards his stomach, and he stumbled down, holding his stomach. "How disappointing. I expected more."
Even despite having the first Kyu, probably, given his well-coordinated movements, he was immediately defeated by me, with a simple kick, not even worth mentioning.
"I expected more from someone who is only one belt away from the black belt," I sighed, and walked towards the other two.
I could see how they wanted to run, but suddenly, they began to approach me, rather.
Of course, I knew the reason why. I didn't kick him with much strength, I wanted the situation of a Three versus One to occur, because I won't let them run away.
Looking on the ground, I sinisterly smiled.
They didn't see it, naturally, but I wanted to see, how long I should play with them. I guess, I'll finish it, fast.
As the three surrounded me, I knew naturally, that I naturally was at a 'disadvantage', but I didn't regard it that way. Immediately, I threw a back kick at the leader, of course, a very withholding one, which made him now stay completely on the ground.
As for the other two, they were showing instances of fear. They didn't seem to be Martial Artists, just some Street Fighters.
Even though they feared me, one of them tried on attacking me regardless, out of some reason. Parrying his incoming fists left and right with Wing Chul, I hit him several times very fast, and hit him with the palm of my fist against his chin, bringing him onto the ground.
Regarding his other colleague, I immediately brought him on the ground, with a Tornado Kick from Taekwondo.
Well, that was fast, wasn't it? Around seven seconds, if I counted it, correctly. "Haah..." I deeply sighed, seeing how fast it was.
Should I have taken more time? No, it's fine. I want to solve this matter rather fast, now. They're boring.
However, I had to admit, I felt slightly relieved, seeing how I could wash some stress away. As I was still standing, feeling the relief of the stress going away, I heard someone of them speaking, once again.
"Fight me, you Son of a Bitch," The leader said, getting up, spitting out blood from his mouth, taking his Karate pose on.
Son of a Bitch?!
The moment my neurons were progressing this newly-acquired information to my brain, I had seen myself already moving to the location of the leader, giving him a fast but yet effective kick against the stomach, causing him to fall down on the ground, since I was using more power than previously.
But it didn't stop there...
I was sitting on top of him, punching him one after another with my punches, which were at that point covered with blood. It was something I had done intuitively, once I heard the phrase "Son of a Bitch" which triggered me to quite an extent, looking at it now.
The consequences of my sudden "Blackout" were that the three of them were looking at me now in irregular palpable fear.
The person whom I was sitting on, couldn't even help but gulp his throat tremendously and didn't even dare to speak. I could tell, he feared me. Not a bit, but enormously right now.
He was witnessing my eyes, my true eyes, that showed nothing more than actual hatred. But it wasn't directed at him...
Someone so pathetic... No, not at all.
Right now, I was more of a Monster, than an actual human. Whenever someone badmouths "them", I'm sensitive, and I'm becoming someone entirely else.
"If neither of you two are interested in experiencing the same pain, or even a greater amount of it, I suggest you to give me your Private Points," I said, looking at them with the same eyes, I did to him, their leader.
My Eyes—they must be very intimidating, are they not?
"If you do so, you'll be spared. But if not—then this will happen," Saying that, I kicked the leader several times with my fists, causing him to tear up, despite the fact of myself even now holding back.
Standing up, all three of them were shocked from what I said. "Private Points?! "You k-know?" They asked, their tone already trembling with fear.
"You mean this easy S-System. Obviously, it's quite easy. What's there to figure out? Two classifications of points, one for the individual purpose, while the other one is for the collective purpose, the classes. Should that be hard?"
"H-he is a M-monster. N-not even the P-president and V-vice President w-were a-able to figure out t-the w-whole s-system on day t-two," the second guy expressed, seeing his remaining lingering hope extinguishing right in front of his eyes.
"You were really thinking that the President and Vice-President could help you out of this situation? How funny. And..." I began to walk towards him.
"I didn't figure it out on the second day, but on day one. I suggest that you don't think you can spread false information about me," I chuckled.
"That's unacceptable!" I added, adjusting my right leg above his, pressing his leg.
I didn't know why, but I treated them more coldly and indifferently the moment I heard the leader of them saying, "Son of a Bitch."
No, I very well knew why, but I didn't want to relief this emotional pain I was feeling.
I could see the fear written in his face. The despair, the hopelessness, the small fragment of rage and hatred, and the small lingering fragment of hope, thinking I would let them go.
"P-p-p-please c-c-can y-you just l-let us g-go? W-we w-won't e-ever a-a-approach y-you a-again," the proud hearted leader asked, who was a few minutes ago so confident.
But now, I simply see a pathetic person, who asks to be let go of, but doesn't do the same if he was asked. And then he thinks I would let him go?
No, I would have let them go under two conditions. Firstly, he should have never insulted my Mother and secondly, he should have spared the bullied person, when he was muttering the same words as him.
"No, can't do. But I think I have a better proposal. How about we play the game 'take the pain, or give it someone else here present twice'? Isn't that far better? If you are able to play this game ten minutes long, I won't take your points, nor will I ever approach you three again. How about it? Does it sound interesting?" I asked.
But who would believe this? I'll crush their hope, once and for all, if they resist—Ten Minutes, that is. I don't think they can, though.
Also, I'll be using this—to meet him, Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President.
"Please, j-just take the p-points and spare us please," The leader exclaimed desperately, taking his phone alongside the other two out.
"No, that won't do," I said, shaking my head, in disappointment.
"Leader-boy, you'll start. Will you take the pain from one of my kicks which you are fairly well-acquainted or give it to some of your two colleagues twice? You decide?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Give i-it to him," The leader said, pointing towards the third guy.
"Aren't you our leader? You are supposed to take that pain! I-I d-don't w-want t-to, p-please," The third guy muttered, his tone covered with excessive fear.
"No, no, no, go away. P-p-please. T-t-take t-the o-other t-two i-instead," he tried to crawl away, however, his attempts were useless.
I had simply kicked him with twice the amount I had given the leader with my kick against his stomach as a basis, since I never specified which force of amount I would be using for my kick.
And worst of all for him, I would be kicking him for a whole minute straight. But I made sure that they wouldn't pass out or will be able to move, so I slightly cheated, taking into account of their body conditions, while hitting them not at their vital spots.
I made sure that the injuries wouldn't be traceable on their body, reason why I prevented hitting them on the face.
I heard him crying, tearing up, clinging his arms around my legs in hope that all that pain would stop, but I did not stop. I kicked second after second, until one minute was over.
"Who do you choose?" I asked, a relatively simple question. He pointed simply back at the leader, in other words, it would become a vicious cycle, happening over and over, again.
Ignoring his pleading cries, I kicked him, for the remaining minute. "I'm not so cruel, so I'll propose something. We'll play Head and Tails. If you win, you won't get hit anymore, if I win, I'll continue to hit you, and I'll take your Private Points."
The leader cried, "Please... stop..."
The leader grunted in pain, as the minute was over and the decision was solely on him.
"If you take me again, I'll be targeting you the whole remaining minutes," The third guy said.
"Me too! Choose head and tails. At least we'll have the chance of winning there," The second guy, who yet had to experience the one minute pain, said.
"Head and Tails. I-I want to c-choose that option," The leader expressed.
"Which side?" I asked, increasing the pressure on him to a decision.
"Ahm...P-p-p-please g-give m-me s-some t-time to t-think."
"Now or never. Make a choice... 3... 2... 1..."
"Tail. I choose Tail!"
"Let's see whether luck is with you or with me."
I took the 100 Yen coin out of my pocket, and simultaneously, I threw it up in the air. I looked at them, in curiosity. They couldn't hold themselves back but look at the coin, which was still spinning in the air.
The coin began to approach the ground further and further, until it tapped on the ground, rolling in front of the second guy's eyes. It rolled in a circle, until it stopped, and one of the both sides reached the ground.
"It's Tail! We're saved, alongside our Private Points," The second Guy said.
"Indeed, you're—but when did I mention that I wouldn't take your Private Points?"
"You said it, didn't you?"
"I remember saying I'll spare you, but not once did I mention of not taking your Private Points."
"Then—we never had a fair chance to win, didn't we? How is this fair?"
"Yes, that's right. It's not fair. Life is unfair, so you'll have to deal with what is presented to yourself. In return however, you'll be spared of experiencing that hellish pain. You can't get have two things at once, can you? Or would you rather like me to kick you—instead?"
"No, please take them. Our Private Points," The Three said, in synch.
"H-here," They said, offering their phones.
"Higher! Do you think, I'm going to bend down?"
"No, no, of course not," They said, giving me their phones, upon a suitable height.
Opening their phones, I was rather happy. They had quite the amount of Points. Time to exploit them, and test the manipulation of the Record Entry.
In a chronologically order, those were the amounts of their Private Points.
[Leader:]
[Private Points: 3.865.970]
[3.865.970 – 3.865.969]
[Private Points: 1]
[Second Guy:]
[Private Points: 2.222.765]
[2.222.765 – 2.222.764]
[Private Points: 1]
[Third Guy:]
[Private Points: 2.612.712]
[2.612.712 – 2.612.711]
[Private Points: 1]
"Here," Saying that, I threw each one of them their phones.
"Hmm, you don't look like Class A students. Which class do you belong to?" I asked.
"3-C, S-Sir," The leader answered, nervously.
"I see, that's interesting."
"How did you get these amounts of Private Points?"
"No, no, no, that's a useless question. It's from people like him, whom you just bullied. There's no way, you guys could have else gotten these amounts of Private Points."
"But I'm curious about one thing."
"Have you gained these Points from younger student's, your classmates, or perchance from both of them? I doubt with the presence of the student council president in your year, you guys would be daring enough to bully senior's from the other classes."
"I-It's b-both, S-Sir," The leader replied, once again.
"As I thought. Well, we're finished here now."
"However, my shoes are still completely covered with blood. Shouldn't you guys clean them up?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.
"Y-yes, S-sir."
Without hesitation, they cleaned up my right shoe with their uniforms.
"Handkerchief."
"H-h-here," The leader offered, his legs trembling, upon the fear and injuries I inflicted on him.
"Good, it does seem like I don't need to repeat myself, after all."
"But I do wonder, whether the swimming center is open tomorrow," I thought aloud, in purpose.
--
[2nd April, Library]
Normally, from the classroom to the library, it would take around fifteen minutes, however, I had a good reason on hurrying my way there.
Upon entering the library, I could see only one person there. A silver-haired girl, reading "whose Body" on the table alone. I approached her, however, as immersed she was in reading, I bought a few drinks for us while also doing something else.
[Image:]
Around that time, she finally recognized my presence. "Kurushima-kun, how long are you sitting here?" she asked in an embarrassed tone.
"Not all too long. Around ten minutes, at most."
"Ahm...that's a bit embarrassing," she muttered. But I wasn't properly able to understand that properly.
"Could you repeat that, Shiina-san? I wasn't able to understand your sentence properly."
"It's nothing, Kurushima-kun," she said. However, I noticed that she became red, evidently by her cheeks. It must be embarrassing for her, not having noticed me.
I couldn't help but slightly laugh aloud.
"Uhm... Is there something wrong with me?" Shiina-san asked, confusingly.
"I'm sorry, Shiina-san. I was just reminiscing myself, about something."
"Nothing to worry about, Kurushima-kun," Shiina-san said, looking at her book, unable to see my... smile right now.
"I never had any book buddy, so do you know how that works?" she asks. She laid her face in the book, while her eyes were still visible due to not being completely engulfed by the book.
"I have no clue, Shiina-san. However, I suppose, it would be talking and reading about the different kinds of books." I stated something so obvious, that I felt like wanting to bury myself afterwards.
"Yeah, makes sense."
Out of the same reason like me, she also probably felt the dire of burying herself.
"From those two options, what do we want to do?" she asked, giving me the choice to choose.
However, I didn't want to partake and gave her the choice instead. "Shiina-san, why don't you choose."
"Me? I guess that's okay. Uhm... Let's talk about the book, Shutter Island," she exclaimed, choosing a rather unusual and unique book.
If she wants that, I suppose that's okay.
"What do you think of the end? I mean, where Teddy Daniels—no, Andrew Laeddis is being lobotomized in a vegetative state? Does there remain no other choice aside from lobotomizing?"
"It's arguable, whether lobotomizing in that situation was the right decision or not."
"In the perspective of Dr. Cawley, it was inevitable, because Andrew or Teddy, however, you might call him, was a threat to those around him and also to himself."
"As he was responsible for the death of Dr. Naehring and that of his own wife while not being able to move on from the past events."
"But I'm honestly not sure if lobotomizing him was the right choice all along. There could have been other methods, however, considering the time the book does play, in the 1950s, where no advent treatments for mental illnesses were made or spread through, such as psychotherapy or psychiatric drugs, the only method left was lobotomizing."
"Also, the state of Andrew should be considered. He voluntarily agreed as he couldn't live further in this state anymore as he lost all his...family members and was sure aware of the consequences of the lobotomizing procedure, such as memory loss. He accepted it, wanting to forget about the death of his wife and three children."
"In any case, I'm not sure how to judge the lobotomizing procedure in this specific case."
"It's unethical, however, he himself wished it, making me unable to form a judgement about the horrendous treatment he received."
"Yes, I'm also the same. Have you watched the adapted movie of Shutter Island?" she asked me, curiously.
"No, I intended to... But I never had the proper time."
"Me neither, Kurushima-kun. Do you perhaps want to watch it? The movie, I mean," she asks.
"I would gladly watch it with you, Shiina-san."
"I'm glad, having finally someone with whom I'm able to converse about books," Shiina-san said, having a slight relief and a forming smile on her face.
"I'm the same."
"If I'm not mistaken the movie should be available in the electronic stores."
"Hopefully, it's there."
"Should we read or search for the movie in the remaining time?" I asked, giving her the option of making the decision once again.
"Kurushima-kun, I chose already. So, now it's your turn."
"Hmm...let's read further. The movie still has time."
Shiina-san and I continued to read books until the clock reached 7 pm.
"If I'm able to find the movie, I'll contact you, Shiina-san."
"Me too, Kurushima-kun."
"Goodbye, Shiina-san."
"Goodbye, Kurushima-kun."
[Outside]
As I walked alone in the darkness, the moon was shining above me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of serenity wash over me. These were the rare moments when I could truly relax.
But as I gazed up at the celestial beauty, a burning anger bubbled within me. Those bastards, whoever they were, had taken everything from me. And I swore to myself that I would seek vengeance, no matter the cost.
Chairman Sakayanagi, if you were one of those responsible, I promised myself that I would make you feel every ounce of hatred and pain that I had accumulated over the past eight years.
Starting with the most precious person in your life.
At that moment, you'll understand how it feels to lose everything precious in your life.
However, I know time is essence. I need to be patient. I can't allow myself mistakes here.
Not now. Especially, when one simple mistake, could ruin everything.
In case if there's ever a chance, I'm going to acquire similar components necessary to create a poison, though it wouldn't be as potent as the original.
Since I'm not going to be able to buy the real components here in the school. But I'll tag with the other plan, then, no?
The poison would be enough to bring a slow and painful death to someone with a seemingly bad heart condition.
But don't worry, I'd have her remedy...
Hahaha... I won't be able to create it either way, so why am I getting so worked up for? I searched most stores already, with some useful components, but there were none that helped me.
Bringing you to speak will get harder than I thought, huh?
What I want to know is, was it you, someone else, or several else, responsible for that 'incident'?
I have one primary suspect.
However, if it's him, I'm going against someone with equivalent power and influence likewise to that of the current Prime Minister in Japan.
A person called Naoe-sensei, who is currently the secretary-general of the Citizens Party, the one holding the real power over the party.
But the same goes for you, Chairman Sakayanagi.
Alongside you and him, two other individuals appeared in the diary entries of my father.
Those are the only clues that I have about someone relating to the incident.
Four names and one further male person who is referred to as him throughout the whole diary entries.
It's five people, however, I'm not able to identify the fifth person.
So...frustrating.
Approaching those two means an economical war against our conglomerates...
Besides... they both have something I want back under any circumstances, so I won't antagonize them, for now...
Approaching someone with influence and power equivalent to that of the Prime Minister also wouldn't be the best choice.
So the only option remaining was you.
However, without enrollment in this school, I wouldn't be able to meet you.
That's why I enrolled in this school.
I'm going to have you explain everything as well as your association with everything.
So explain me... just what precisely is Project WR?
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
Please share with me your thoughts.