The time for the class to begin was almost there. Though, I have at least the minor idea of what we will be doing this morning, it's making me a little excited. Not really, no.
Self-introduction; a typical start for almost every school. Just babble your name and your hobbies and that would be enough. However, self introductions here in Saint Stella Academy was an important matter—or so I've heard. I was antagonized all through my middle school years, see? So I've never bothered to even introduce myself in front of the whole class. That and the other reason. Either way, stating your name, family background and your rank will determine which group of friends you will have.
Now, then... I wonder what kind of reactions they'll make when they finally heard me say, "Hey guys, I'm an F-rank!" I doubt anyone would be happy.
As I was dreading by this thought, I heard a sudden clatter from the front of the classroom.
"What's that?" I craned my neck. I do have my curiosity as well, just so you know.
Apparently, it was the sound of the books falling from a hold of a girl wearing thick-round glasses. Looking at this mess from the sideline, she happened to fall over after getting pushed away by some random dude who forced their way inside our classroom.
"So there really are douchebags like them in high school, eh? No, wait. Come to think of it, my middle school was composed by many of them."
Maybe this school itself isn't that good enough when it comes to straightening their students?
As I was thinking this, I tilted my head. My eyes landed on the glasses girl.
"Hmm. What's this?"
Everyone witnessed what happened, but not one soul even tried to lend a helping hand for the girl who stumbled together with her collection of books. Everyone was just averting their eyes from the scene.
Where was that classy lass, Elisha? The right moment for her to intervene shows itself and she's not even here. Talk about a perfect timing.
"Ah~ that girl… She's tearing up."
I don't really care about things as long as it doesn't concern me or Sofy. But you know what? I hate this. This kind of atmosphere.
Everyone perfectly knows how to read the room, don't they? They knew that if they helped that girl, the next to be pushed down will be themselves. That's just how it is. One must prioritize their own well being. I know that as well.
To be clear, I'm not some hero of justice nor do I give a damn to other people's businesses. But still...
"Hey, where are you going?"
But still...
"...You know what? These kinds of stuff annoys me as hell."
I removed Dio's hand that he'd placed on my shoulder. He was trying to stop me. I smiled lightly at him. A reassurance that there's nothing to worry about.
Reluctantly, he just nodded his head. I took my steps–towards the girl.
I don't really care about how people sees me. I don't mind if they mock me. Make fun of me. But extending their hate, their pettiness to other people who'd done nothing wrong is something that I cannot accept. I may be contradicting myself here, still there are things I just can't tolerate.
"Are you okay? Can you stand?"
Before I knew it, my hand was already reaching out for her.
"Huh…? Uh, ehm…"
At first, the girl was confused. She flinched and moved back a little bit. That's quite understandable. But realizing that I came to lend a hand, she took my stretched arm, still with a bit of hesitation, and helped herself to stand.
"T-thank you… very much…"
She's quite the timid girl. No wonder people tend to go overboard with her.
Anyway, the class is about to begin, so the right course of action should be picking up her books and return to my home base. My SafeZone. Aka; my seat.
"It's no big deal. I'll help pick your books up. It's almost time for the class, after all. It'd be bad if in the first day we'd have our first scolding."
I said with a small laugh.
She stared at me, eyes widened a little. "Yes. T-thank you very much…"
"Hm" I bobbed my head. "Don't mention it."
She's really shy but I think she's a good girl. Saying thank you rather than being indifferent with me—concerning my rank— I'm quite happy about it.
We started picking her things up. Books I've no idea what for. Really, what were these books even about? She brought quite a number. We'd just started school, you know.
As we worked our hands, a voice boomed right in front of us.
"Oy, oy, oy! What's this, what's this? The trash with the F-ranked is trying to help another trash?! Well, well, well. This is a good sight. You're just perfect for each other! Kahahaha!"
Hm? Oh, this guy was the one who pushed this girl. I've forgotten about him. And did he just spam "Oy" three times?
"Huh? So, you're still here?"
Annoyed with my honest question, he glared at me with bloodshot eyes. "Oy, are you messing with me? Huh? Trash?!" Oy used 4×.
Obviously, without my genius, I can tell that this idiot is quite hostile towards me. Do I know him? He seemed familiar but I can't recall where I meet him before.
I heaved a sigh, my hands still busy picking up some books that this captain moron caused to fall.
"The only ones who could distinguish a trash is another trash, you know. And what are you even doing here in our classroom anyway? You're not from this class, are you? You bigger trash."
"Oy," Oy used 5×. "I came here because I heard that you, an F-rank flanking bastard was still here in our good academy. So, the great me took his time to come here to put you in your proper place. Be thankful, Trash. You should just obediently leave Saint Ilse. This place is no place for useless people like you. You do not belong here."
And I don't remember asking anyone to come and see me. Thank you very much.
"Is that so? You've seen me now, so you may take your leave. And oh, by the way, I can live my life without seeing that ugly mug of yours. So, no thanks for your visits. If you don't have any more business here, the door is right there. Leave now and you may retain your reputation. Bigger trash." I said with a mocking smile, my arm pointing to the door.
"You bastard! I will destroy that loud mouth of yours, oy!" Oy used 6×.
He grabbed me by the collar and yanked me close to him. Our faces almost touching each other. I don't mind it if it was a cute girl doing this. But with this dude, I feel creeped out as hell!
No wait… Ah! I remember now! My lack of sleep made me forget.
This guy was Roderick fou Dragnet. Just like Elisha, he was a son of a noble from England. Though, unlike Elisha, this guy was a real pain in the ass. He'd do anything just to get what he wanted. Not only that, he also has the ranked A ability {Monster Summoner} a Demon Stone type ability. I've made history with this guy so many times before. And I tell you, he's really a pain in the ass, nothing can be said to make it him better. Those four behind him are his idiotic lackeys.
Oh, I see. So, they came here for me? I feel bad for the glasses girl. She was just unwantedly involved.
Ask me why I'd forgotten about this moron? Like I'd care for some dude! Also… I see. So, this is the sequel of my morning as being-bullied-routine.
"SWITCH! I DEMAND A SWITCH!"
I screamed loudly that even the girl in the glasses jumped in surprise.
"Unlike Elisha, you're not cute at all. And your reactions are boring, too. I demand a bully switch. I prefer Elisha to bully me!"
When I loudly declared this, all of the people present in the classroom were left speechless with their mouth hanging open. Then a loud "Baam!" was heard from one of the seats. It was Elisha. Face red as tomato and she was trembling with anger—or embarrassment? I don't know.
"Y-you idiot! Calling an unmarried woman perfectly beautiful without a hint of shame! How could you?!" she said, springing out her seat.
I didn't say that much, though?!
"And I have never bullied anyone! Not once!"
You sure did. Me. Many times. And since when did this lass returned to the classroom?!
"Oy, oy, oy! Why didn't you tell me that lady Elisha is already back?!" Oy used 7,8,9×.
On the other hand, this boy's side is on the brink of breaking.
"Ah, apologies sir Roderick!"
"You were so busy punishing that man, so we didn't get the chance to say anything."
"You useless bunch!"
His tone is sharp but his voice is now weakened. Unlike his previous shouting it now lost its strength.
"Hoho~" I smirked.
So that's how it is. Elisha is your weakness, eh. No wonder why you timed coming in while she wasn't around. But unfortunately for you boy, you've already lost.
And thus, with sparkling eyes, I said, "Once more! Just once more! Say it again!"
"HUH?! What are you on about, hah?! Trash!"
Now that I think about it. I heard from someone that this guy's family was trying to suck up to that lass Elisha over there. I heard that since the school never allowed anything related to politics take place inside the academy, he was trying to get close to her by any means possible. He wants to establish a political relationship by cozying up to her. So, since Elisha has been roasting me with her sharp words, he also wants to show her that she and him had the same agenda. In other words, he wants to use me as a catalyst to make a connection to her. I feel bad for myself being used as a political tool for this moron. Ah, how pitiful of me~.
Also, I just heard about those information, okay? I'd never research things like this and that to keep it to myself so I could use it for pay back. Never, okay?
"One more. Just say, 'Oy' once more!" I asked pleadingly.
"HAH?!" Veins started popping out on his forehead.
He was ready to explode. Well, unfortunately for you... I already won.
"No, I mean just one more and you'd finally complete the 'Ten Oy Chronicles.'"
"What?!"
His face turned red with anger, and his fist lifted. Now he wants to throw a punch. Or he should have. But he was suddenly stopped by something.
"Pfft…Ohmph… pfft. 'Ten oy chronicle', pfft."
Yep, that Elisha lass over there was silently giggling, holding her stomach. Is she trying to hide her laugher? Her trembling can be clearly seen, though. And her voice was not completely inaudible.
Try to hide it harder, young lady. And it's not that funny!
"OY! You guys! Drag this guy out and beat him to pulp!!!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
He was still holding on to my collar, so when he pushed me back, I stumbled on the floor. This guy was not that physically strong that I can't shrug him off. But you know what? Playing the victim here was the best course of action. Well, I doubt that anyone in the class would sympathize. At least I can just use this excuse as a reason for "self defense."
Roderick's goons are now surrounding me by following his order. On the other side, I can see Elisha also standing up. Was she trying to stop them?
Hmm, I see. So, she really hated something that defiles honor, huh. Thank you for trying, but no thanks.
That's ten.
Oy used 10×
"YES!!! Yes, yes! Congratulations! You have now officially completed the 'Ten oy chronicles!"
"Pfft! hah!" Come on, girl. It's not really that funny.
"HAH?!"
Roderick's eyes were bloodshot and it went wide open. Clearly angered. I was on the floor so he was looking down on me from above, but I can clearly tell who has the upper hand.
On the other hand, Elisha sunk back to her seat, face covered by both arms that was planted atop of her table—she was now back to her giggling business. Too much that her body was trembling reallyyy strong. She's literally vibrating.
"Hey, can I call you 'Oy boy' from now on? Yeah? Can I? I can, right?"
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
He gritted his teeth and shouted irritably as if he didn't care anymore if Elisha was there or not. He lifted his fist ready to land a strike on me. But as soon as he did, he was stopped by something. No, not just him but all of us halted by our business.
"Puah! HAHAHAHAHA! I-I can't. Pfft! HAHAHA."
We were all stopped by the sudden burst of laughter from that young lady, Elisha.
"Seriously… 'Oy boy'? What's with that? HAHAHAHA. That's so funny! And… HAHA. So lame."
Hey, ain't you laughing too much? That's not that funny, though?
Ah… Roderick, who was ready to throw a punch lost all his will to fight. His hand has now fallen down. His face was even redder than before and he's gritting his teeth even louder now.
Yikes. If I am the one who was subjected to this and was laughed at by the one I'm trying to get close to—I would have gone searching for a hole and crawled there.
Nope, I'd literally die from embarrassment. Who could have done something so terrible like this? Ah, it was me! Te-heee.
"You… YOU BETTER REMEMBER THIS!"
Roderick declared before he dashed out of the room followed by his cronies.
"That's some typical thug-line you've got there. But now, evil has been repelled. Good job, me!"
And what about our young lady?
"…"
Yep, still giggling. Just how funny does she find that 'Oy boy' thing?
Ah, I know. Let's try something.
I silenced my footsteps and went near her. Her face was still on the top of her arms and she was trying hard to stop her laughter.
I leaned down and whispered to her ear.
"Oy boy."
"Pfft. HAHAHA. Pft… haha… ha. 'oy boy'…"
She laughed so hard but she forced herself to stop. After successfully halting her laughter, she slowly shifted her face to me. Her eyes were still misty from all that laughing, but she grinned from ear to ear, showing her perfectly aligned teeth. Her face was red, flushed and blushing. And just like that, with a faint smile, she said innocently…
"…What's with that? It's so hilarious."
Badump.
That was the first time that I thought to myself…. "damn she's cute."
What "Budump!?"
Wait, did I just experience the so-called "Stockholm Syndrome?!" she used to throw spat with me!
Surely not! Never, right?
I turned back to the glasses girl—escaping from that sudden "budump" attack. Instead of messing with Elisha, I busied my hand picking up the girls book. And not long we're done.
I returned to my seat—heart still thumping.
"Aw come on!"
And just like that, the bell rang.