I Married the Girl Who Used to Bully Me - Chapter 15

I step out onto the apartment balcony and light a cigarette. Yeah, smoking feels good.

Well, what I did with Misaki felt even better. That girl’s got a ridiculously nice body. Too bad her personality’s trash.

“S-so, how was it?”

“How was what?”

“Y-you know earlier.”

“Average.”

I answer coldly.

“O-oh… I’ll do better next time.”

Misaki’s shoulders slump slightly, but she forces herself to sound upbeat.

“You should quit smoking. It’s bad for you.”

“No way.”

“But Ikkun, you’ll die someday. And it’ll hurt you too. So—”

“You’re the one saying that?”

“S-sorry… You’re right. I don’t have the right to say that after how I treated you, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ikkun.”

“Shut up.”

At my words, Misaki falls silent. Her shoulders tremble slightly, and she starts crying again. Her soft sobs dissolve into the night air. Annoying.

I was the crybaby, wasn’t I? You shouldn’t be the one crying.

“Want some food? I-I’ll make some.”

“You can cook?”

“Y-yeah…”

When I nod, Misaki heads to the kitchen. Soon, a savory smell fills the room. She brings out fried rice and even some of my favorite fried chicken on the side.

“How is it…? I went all out for you, Ikkun. I worked really hard, so I’d be happy if you ate it. But it’s okay if you don’t finish it. I’ll eat whatever’s left.”

I take a bite of the fried chicken. It’s way better than I expected, warmth spreads through my chest. No, this isn’t me now. It’s a memory of the old “me.”

“Good.”

“Huh?! You like it…? Ehehe, I’m glad. All that effort paid off. Um, you can have my portion too if you want.”

“Whatever.”

When I reply half-heartedly, Misaki looks happy and lowers her head.

After that, I stayed at Misaki’s place for a while. Today, like always, we did what we did at night and then slept. Then morning came, the worst kind of wake-up.

“Takatsuki-san, you’re behind on rent again. Pay up already. The water and electricity will get cut off soon.”

“S-sorry, I’ll pay right away.”

“Ugh, that’s all you ever say. Honestly, your face is a mess, but your body isn’t bad. At least try to make something of it. Sell it or something.”

“…S-sorry.”

“And I’ve been getting complaints about noise, day and night. Got it? If you cause any more trouble, I’m kicking you out for real.”

“Y-yes, I’ll be careful.”

Misaki arguing with that old hag is the first thing I hear in the morning. Damn, what a pain.

Ah, I wanna go to the pachinko parlor. Right now. My gaze drops to the desk, where I spot the bankbook. Lucky. I peek inside—the balance reads 『46,501』. I remember Misaki telling me the PIN before.

Alright, let’s go.

Just as the argument with the hag ends, Misaki notices me.

“O-oh, good morning. Do you want breakfast?”

“Nah. What were you talking about?”

“I-it’s nothing.”

“Whatever. I’m heading out.”

“Huh? Out…? You’re skipping school today, right? Then why? You’re not going far, right? Y-you’ll come back? If you don’t, I… I don’t know what to do. Please, promise you’ll come back.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Phew, I managed to get past that hurdle. Then I head straight to the pachinko parlor. The result? A crushing victory. It’s like all my past losses bounced back at once; I win big.

240,000 yen. Too lucky. Silver balls and diamonds pour out.

Ah, it’s already this late? Time flies when you’re playing pachinko. I should head back. Maybe I’ll grab a nice meal on the way.

I return at dusk.

Using the spare key, I unlock the door to find Misaki in a flustered state—her hair’s a mess, and her eyes are red.

“W-welcome back! You’re late, I-I was worried. Um, I made dinner. Do you want some? Oh, you already ate? O-okay, I’ll eat it then… Yeah…”

“And, the bankbook, did you use it? I see, okay. And, while you were out you didn’t get hurt, right? You’re, okay…? That’s good.”

Tears streaming, Misaki reaches out to check my body.

“Yeah.”

I give a short reply and brush past her. I sink into the futon. The sound of silver balls still echoes in my head. I’m just tired today. That’s all.

The walk to school—the morning chill still lingers.

Misaki sticks close to me, stealing glances before looking away. Her behavior is irritating, making me hyper-aware of her.

“What do you want?”

“N-nothing… Just, is it okay if I walk with you? Since I’m getting bullied…”

“Don’t care.”

“O-okay…”

Misaki cuts off there, cheeks red as she looks down. Even as we walk, she keeps glancing sideways to gauge my reaction.

I really don’t get what’s going on in her head.

Without stopping, I keep walking straight ahead.

At school, our classmates snicker.

“O-oh, sorry.”

Misaki apologizes right then.

I glance over, her desk is predictably vandalized. And not just hers—mine too. Looks like helping Misaki made me a target as well.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, even Ikkun’s getting bullied. I’m really sorry. Ugh… Maybe I should just disappear but no…”

“Ugh… Why did it turn out like this? Because of me, Ikkun’s suffering too. Ugh… What should I do?”

“I’m sorry. I thought I wouldn’t burden Ikkun anymore. But in the end, its all my fault. Ugh… No, I can’t… no…”

“Shut up.”

Misaki cries as she takes out a small handkerchief, trying to wipe away the graffiti. Stop crying. It’s pissing me off.

Then—

“Oh my, the hot-and-heavy couple. A violent guy and a pathetic girl—perfect match.”

Chinatsu’s voice rings through the classroom. On the blackboard, written in bold red chalk: “Itsuki ♥ Misaki.”

Laughter spreads through the class.

Chinatsu and her friends watch provocatively, enjoying Misaki’s distress. Misaki stays silent, enduring it. Damn, what a pain.

“Hey, was it you? Need another beating to get it?”

As I move forward, Misaki grabs my sleeve.

“What?”

“It’s okay. Just endure it. Fighting back will only make it worse.”

Why the hell do I have to listen to her?

“Hey, what’re you whispering about? Gross. Right, Senpai?”

“Yeah…”

Standing beside her is Chinatsu’s boyfriend—the senpai.

His muscular frame towers as tall as me. His presence dominates, controlling the very air in the classroom. No one dares oppose him, the strongest fighter in school.

“Senpaaai~! He’s the violent guy who hit me!”

Chinatsu presses herself against him, pleading dramatically.

“So, you’re the one who hit my girl.”

His voice rumbles low, eyes locked onto me. He takes a step then another closing in.

“Sorry, but this is fate.”

THUD—!

A punch lands on my right cheek, forcing me back.

My heart leaps, vision flashing white.

I never expected him to hit me right here, in front of everyone.

…Guess I’m still naive.

I clench my fist, readying for the next move.

“Wait, Ikkun!!”

Just as I raise my fist, Misaki’s arms wrap around mine from behind.

“Just endure it. I’ll handle this. So please, hold back.”

Her warmth and desperate voice shake my resolve. My grip loosens slightly.

“Let go…”

“If you fight back now, it’ll only get worse.”

While we’re like this, Chinatsu’s boyfriend walks back to her.

“Happy now?”

“So happy! Senpai’s the strongest. See you later, okay? Call me if anything happens.”

“Sure.”

With that, he leaves the classroom without another word.