Genya Bu suddenly recalled the "Genya Legion." Though he was the boss and the muscle, the real schemers were Takagi Yohei and Inoue Tatsuya. Sakuragi Nozomu? Just Genya’s ultimate lackey—calling him a bootlicker wasn’t an exaggeration. Maybe the old Genya Bu had been used as a pawn all along.

He pulled his focus back and kept watching Mizuno Hina through the classroom’s back door. He didn’t step in—not yet. He wanted to hear what they’d say.

"Mizuno, see the writing on the blackboard this morning?"

"Hmm."

Blocked by Takagi and Inoue, Mizuno’s slender frame trembled slightly, looking utterly fragile. Genya Bu knew bullying plagued Japanese schools—but seeing it firsthand shattered his calm.

Anger simmered, yet he stayed clear-headed. He knew: not all rage can be unleashed. Right now, listening mattered most. Phone in hand, he started recording—video and audio. Might come in handy later.

"I’ve got photos of you staying at an internet cafe. Pay us 5,000 yen each to keep them quiet."

At the mention of the photos, Mizuno visibly flinched. Hearing the amount, Genya felt her sway unsteadily—like she might collapse any second.

No pause. Inoue jumped in: "Don’t say you’re broke! We know you work two part-time jobs after school. Must earn decent cash, right?"

"5,000 yen each isn’t unreasonable!"

"Hey, we’re not monsters. We’ll give you a few days."

They tag-teamed like a rehearsed duet. Mizuno stood frozen, trembling—adrift like a leaf in stormy wind, helpless as duckweed on rushing water. Classmates watched coldly. No one moved. Genya’s chest tightened, emotions clawing for release.

How could Takagi and Inoue be such scum? Bullying a girl who skipped meals just to survive?

And Mizuno’s quiet shame frustrated him. He almost wanted to grab her shoulder and say: "Struggling isn’t your fault. Staying at an internet cafe is survival. You owe no shame. You owe no fear."

But what burned deepest were the bystanders. Takagi and Inoue’s voices carried clearly—even to Genya at the back door. Yet neighbors stayed silent. To Genya, if the bullies were villains, these onlookers were accomplices: turning poverty into gossip, cruelty into spectacle. It hurt because Zhang Chufan—back in his own high school days, poor and on state aid—was never mocked. Teachers and classmates? They offered quiet kindness. Compared to that warmth, this classroom felt hollow. Disillusionment cut deep.

"Hey! Answer!"

Silent, trembling—Takagi shoved her.

That did it. Genya’s patience snapped.

"Stop!"

But Asou Yui beat him to it. She strode forward, eyes blazing at Takagi and Inoue. Then, gently, she wrapped an arm around Mizuno’s shoulders, steadying her shake, whispering close: "Don’t be afraid, Mizuno. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

To Mizuno, Asou was a lifeline from the sky. Her eyes lit up—and so did Genya’s.

*What an entrance! Pure protagonist energy!*

He’d known Asou embodied modern strength—but only now, feeling the chill of others versus her warmth, did he grasp how rare she was. The sharper the earlier disappointment, the brighter this hope. He nearly became her fan on the spot.

"Asou class rep, this isn’t your business. Back off," Takagi growled.

Asou didn’t flinch. "Not my business? I’m Class 3-A’s rep. It’s absolutely my business."

*Yes! Keep going, Class Rep!*

Genya had slipped inside unnoticed. He stayed quiet in the rear, silently cheering her on.

"Don’t think we respected you before out of fear. We were just honoring Genya’s name." At Inoue’s words, Asou’s fierce posture faltered. A faint blush rose. She seemed to tune out the rest. "Now we’ve cut ties with Genya Bu. We won’t hold back. Walk away—or face consequences."

Genya’s mind clicked. Asou was just a girl. Before, she held them back only through Genya’s shadow. Now? Stepping up alone meant risking retaliation. This still needed *him*.

But he had no violent tricks left. Shedding the delinquent label meant choosing words before fists. Reason first. Always.

Decision made. No hesitation.

Genya stepped squarely between the two sides—Mizuno and Asou on one, Takagi and Inoue on the other—and locked eyes with the bullies. Voice sharp, clear:

"Did you forget? Mizuno Hina is *my* girlfriend."