I Married the Girl Who Used to Bully Me - Chapter 12

Today, the classroom was hell again.

Chinatsu and her clique surrounded Misaki, their laughter echoing through the room. No one helped her. Of course not. There was no reason to. Everyone knew Misaki’s personality, her past behavior. That’s exactly why most found it amusing.

“Hey, hey, Misaki. Do that stupid trick again!”

The words were cold, provocative. Misaki hunched her shoulders, lowering her face. She muttered a faint, “Uh…” but that alone couldn’t stop anything.

“‘Uh’ isn’t an answer.”

Chinatsu kicked a desk, the metallic clang reverberating through the classroom. Misaki’s heart jumped.

“That trick we taught you yesterday. Wasn’t that hilarious?”

“Yeah, I know. I even saved the video. So pathetic~”

The clique snickered, peering at their phones, replaying it over and over while laughing.

Misaki trembled slightly, unable to do anything but keep her head down.

“Woof… woof!”

Shaking, Misaki was forced into an embarrassing imitation, her voice cracking, her body stiff.

“Ugh… s-stop…”

Her voice was broken, tears welling up. Amid the laughter and her stifled sobs, the air in the classroom felt heavy, like sitting on a damp iron plate.

“So cute!! You really suit being a dog!”

“Ahaha, seriously!!”

Laughter filled the room. The clique jeered at Misaki in unison.

Watching that, a familiar sensation stirred in my chest.

Back then, Misaki had forced me to do the same kind of humiliating act.

The shame, the anger, and that strangely ticklish feeling in my heart.

No—more accurately, back then, I was still “me.” Weak, scared, but desperately trying to make people laugh.

Now, I call myself “I” to hide that weak version of myself.

Deep in my chest, that “me” from back then still felt alive, and it made me unbearably restless.

No, that’s not it.

I don’t need to help her.

Amid the classroom noise, Chinatsu’s voice rang out.

“Hey, Misaki. Lift your skirt and show us what color your panties are.”

Misaki froze, as if her breath had stopped.

“…Huh?”

One of the clique members smirked and added,

“I second that. I’m curious what kind you’re wearing. Let’s see.”

The air in the classroom grew heavier. The laughter rose, but at the same time, Misaki’s shoulders trembled slightly.

My gaze naturally turned to her, but I had no intention of helping.

“But…”

A small, shaking voice escaped her.

“Hurry up!”

Even the boys, who had initially looked away, were now staring at Misaki, their desires winning out.

Amid the swirling laughter and jeers, the classroom was wrapped in a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.

Misaki placed her trembling hand on her skirt.

The slightest movement of her fingertips made her shoulders quiver.

Watching that, something inside me stirred.

Not anger, not pity—just the memory of my past self, “me,” and the shame and humiliation burned into me, resurfacing vividly.

“Ugh, you’re so slow. I’ll help you.”

Chinatsu stood up, her sharp gaze fixed on Misaki.

Every movement of hers carried an overwhelming pressure that made the entire classroom hold its breath.

“Stop…”

Misaki’s voice was frail, trembling, on the verge of vanishing.

“Don’t you dare fight back!!”

Chinatsu’s voice carried absolute dominance and force.

Even the girls in her clique shuddered slightly, their hands freezing.

For a moment, the classroom was gripped by unbearable tension.

Misaki had completely shrunk back, her eyes glued to the floor.

Her small frame seemed to curl up, as if she might disappear under Chinatsu’s presence.

“Alright, here we go!!”

Chinatsu’s voice rang out, and just as the air reached its peak tension.

Clatter!

The classroom door slid open.

The teacher had entered.

No matter how much they turned a blind eye to bullying, ignoring this situation was impossible.

Chinatsu clicked her tongue and sighed, returning to her seat.

The clique glanced around, trembling slightly.

The teacher paid no particular attention, starting the lesson as usual. But the tension hanging in the air didn’t fade so easily.