Chapter 74

Since the new semester began, everything has been going smoothly, and there hasn't been anything particularly noteworthy.

In June, we had the sports festival, football, and bowling. There was even an idea to include the usual martial arts tournament, but we decided against it. I don't want to have an event that results in injuries twice a year. I want to create an event where all students can enjoy in a harmonious atmosphere.

At the end of June, the incident occurred.

"Yaaaaaaah! Shiinnnnn!!"

Pikaru appeared, spinning around!

The girls in the classroom screamed, "Kyaahhh! Mr. Pikaru!"

What's with you? Is it the result of your usual practice in the drama club? Your speed and sharpness have increased even more than before. Well, it doesn't matter, but...

"...That entrance, you should try to be more original. People will get tired of it if you do it every time."

"My friend and eternal rival, you should value keeping promises more. Some things shouldn't be changed."

"I admire your firm beliefs. So, what's the favor today?"

He leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"(The bullying of Rin has started again.)"

"What's with the girls screaming? There's no friendship or rivalry between me and Pikaru."

"Again... What is it this time?"

"Come with me."

As I stood up, Sera also got up from her seat.

I waved my hand to signal that she didn't need to come. If I involve her in this every time, it might backfire on her.

"Take a look at this..."

We moved to the heroine's classroom, where the heroine, unusually angry, was sitting at her desk.

"Stay away from the school, ugly!"

"You're so arrogant!"

"Don't get too familiar with the prince!"

"Who do you think you are, a commoner!"

"You're annoying!"

"Die!"

...The desk was covered with dirty graffiti.

"Who wrote this!"

"We won't forgive you..."

Powell, the muscle guy, and Fried, the cool guy, were glaring around the classroom.

"Oh, so this kind of bullying exists..."

I couldn't help but say that.

"Shin, why do you always say things like that?"

I was scolded by Pikaru again, and the heroine glared at me too.

What surprised me was that I didn't know this kind of bullying existed. It wasn't mentioned in Sera's homemade game guide. What's going on? This has never happened before. It seems some event I don't know about is happening.

This might not be a game but a real incident happening in this world.

"So, what do you think, Pikaru?"

"Well, I thought I'd switch desks with her."

Ah, I remember, when the heroine's textbook was torn, I switched it with mine. I see, if Pikaru does that, this kind of bullying will stop. Pikaru will have to study at this desk until graduation.

Me? I ended up using the torn textbook for a whole year. Resources should be cherished.

"That's not a good idea."

The cool guy objected.

"Why not?"

"This time, it can be used as evidence. It's clearly not in Rin's handwriting, and if we can identify whose handwriting it is, we can find the culprit. If we need to switch desks, I'll do it."

"No, I'll do it!" the muscle guy also chimed in, trying to show off to her. It's ridiculous.

Sera entered the classroom.

I saw her peeking through the window in the hallway and running in. She was holding a bottle of alcohol and a rag.

"Sera... What's going on?"

Sera opened the bottle of disinfectant she probably got from the nurse's office and poured it on the desk!

"Hey, Sera! What are you doing!"

"I'm cleaning it!"

Ignoring Pikaru, she poured alcohol and scrubbed the graffiti off the desk.

"No, wait, wait, wait! This is evidence! Leave it to us!"

"Don't get in my way!"

Sera, with a fierce look, pushed the cool guy's hand away and continued cleaning. Everyone was shocked.

The heroine was also stunned.

"Hey, Sera, why..."

Pikaru's words trailed off.

Tears started falling from Sera's eyes. What's going on?

Sera, crying, scrubbed the desk with both hands, pressing the rag hard. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and sobbed. We couldn't do anything but watch...

There were a few stains left, but the desk was clean. Sera left the classroom silently.

"Thank you, Sera..."

The heroine's voice was barely audible. The classroom was silent.

"...Shin, what was that all about?"

Pikaru tilted his head.

"I have no idea... I've never seen Sera like that."

"Maybe Sera wrote it to cover up the evidence."

The muscle guy suggested. The cool guy glared at him.

"Are you an idiot? How can you say that after seeing that... Sera was genuinely angry. She wouldn't hide evidence in front of us. Sera is smart. She wouldn't do something so obvious to be suspected."

"Then why did she clean the desk!"

"To stop the bullying, of course. What reason would she have to bully Rin? I don't know why she chose this method, but..."

"Then who wrote it!"

The muscle guy looked around the classroom again.

"...I don't think it's anyone in our class."

The heroine's class president hesitantly said.

"Why are you so sure!"

"We've seen Shin and Sera help Rin many times. Bullying her would be the same as making the royal family our enemy. Everyone in this class knows that. No one would do that now."

That makes sense. They were effective. Good to know.

"So, it's a new bully, then..."

Pikaru pondered.

"Indeed. Multiple handwritings, multiple writing tools, multiple culprits. There must be a ringleader."

The cool guy agreed.

"Everyone should know that the prince and we have always tried to stop the bullying. If the culprit is a student, it must be someone who isn't a student, or..."

"A first-year student?"

"First-years probably don't even know she's being bullied. Why would they come to a senior's classroom to do this?"

"True. Good thinking, Fried!"

"Anyone would figure that out..."

Pikaru and Fried had a conversation that didn't lead to the culprit at all...

"Anyway, Sera cleaned Rin's desk. If this story spreads, the bullying will stop. It's a shame the evidence is gone, but Sera must have had her reasons."

The muscle guy was indignant.

"Can you trust her!"

"...Have you forgotten? During the water incident, Sera was the first to get drenched with water to help Rin. Her courage and action were something even we guys would hesitate to do. Don't you think she deserves praise? How far has your baseless suspicion gone?"

"Right, Powell. During the dance class, Sera lent her dance outfit to Rin. Have you forgotten?"

Pikaru also defended her.

"It's too convenient... It's like she's trying to avoid being suspected as the ringleader."

I got a bit angry.

"Powell, do you think Sera has a reason to bully this girl? What reason?"

"That's... I don't know, maybe jealousy? It's a woman's thing."

"What a shallow theory."

I was exasperated.

"If Sera were the type to bully people she doesn't like, you would have been expelled long ago. Who do you think spoke up for you when you attacked me seriously? Think about it."

Powell turned pale.

When the head of the royal guard and his parents came to beg me to forgive you, it was Sera who said to let you off. Remember?

"You, the best couple in the school, who always show such great dances and are always so close, who would you be jealous of? There's no need. I was the one who felt jealous of Shin! If girls are jealous, it would be of Sera. I can't imagine any reason for Sera to be jealous of Rin. It's impossible."

Pikaru, you're saying the right things. I appreciate it.

"...Pikaru, is this one of your fans?"

The cool guy's suggestion surprised Pikaru.

"Mine?"

"You're always called the 'prince of the drama club.'"

Pikaru is always called that...

"You and Rin played the prince and princess in a play. Is it possible that one of your fans is jealous? The message 'Don't get too familiar with the prince!' could be directed at you, not Shin."

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"I love all my fans equally. There's no room for jealousy."

...Everyone facepalmed.

"Anyway, it's been half a year since the school festival play. It's too late now. Do you have any suspects?"

I asked the heroine. She probably doesn't know.

"...I have no idea."

Of course, she would say that. She's the dense protagonist. Even if she knows, she wouldn't say. This is an event to increase intimacy with the target character, so it's welcome.

"That's what we asked first!"

Okay, okay, don't get so angry, muscle guy.

"Besides, 'Don't get too familiar with the prince!' I've never been familiar with her."

Everyone, including the heroine, glared at me. I might have said something wrong.

The teacher came in for the morning homeroom. The school bell rang.

"What's going on, everyone?"

The teacher was surprised to see us gathered.

"Nothing, sorry."

We left the classroom.

When we returned, my homeroom teacher was already there.

"Sorry for being late."

I glanced at Sera, who was sitting at her desk with red, tear-streaked eyes. The class was silent. It felt like something had happened.

We all took the class in silence.

At lunch, I invited Sera to eat. Let's buy a bento from the cafeteria and eat on a bench in the courtyard. The cafeteria food is reliable. All the students are nobles, so it's thoroughly checked. No need to worry about poisoning.

"...Sera, what's going on? It's not like you. There must be a reason."

"...I was bullied."

"What...?"

The duke's daughter, Sera? It's impossible. I can't believe it.

"It's from my past life..."

She looked down and spoke.

"I was weak and often got sick, so I was hospitalized frequently. When I occasionally went to school, my classmates bullied me, saying, 'You'll spread your disease!' and 'You're a nuisance, don't come to school!'"

That's terrible...

"I couldn't keep up with the studies and was mocked. My desk was also covered in mean graffiti, and it reminded me of that..."

I see...

"So, you couldn't forgive it."

"Yep, I understand."

I hugged her shoulders and stroked her head.

"...Who do you think did it?"

"Hmm, it said 'Don't get too familiar with the prince!' Maybe someone misunderstands that we always help the heroine because she's treated specially by the prince."

"...Is the heroine showing off about it?"

If she is, that's the worst. She would be hated by the girls if she acts like, "If you touch me, the prince won't let it go!"

"Should we start an anti-bullying campaign in the student council?"

"It might make the bullying more covert..."

Secretly and sneakily. That would make it harder to deal with...

"Come on, let's eat! Lunch break is almost over!"

"Okay."

Feeding Sera made her a bit more cheerful. That's good.

Next: "74. Reactions from All Sides"