I Married the Girl Who Used to Bully Me - Chapter 6

The news that I had punched Akiyama spread like wildfire, and soon I was branded as the “violent guy.”

Because of the rumors, the classroom was filled with cold stares and endless, grating whispers.

Yeah, he threw the first punch. I was just defending myself. But from the outside, it must have looked like I was the sole aggressor.

The murmurs in the classroom, the icy glares from my classmates, it all stung. Even if I tried to explain, no one would believe me.

While I was in the bathroom, someone splashed water on me.

From the voice, it was probably one of the guys. If you’ve got time for this, why not study or something? I muttered in my head.

“You don’t shower, do you? Be grateful.”

The cold water clung to my skin. Anger and frustration swirled in the depths of my mind. But I didn’t say anything, just quietly stood up.

My clothes were soaked, heavy and uncomfortable. Reacting to every little injustice was exhausting. The only sound in the silent bathroom was the drip, drip of water falling.

Pathetic! Go study or something, seriously.

As I walked down the hallway, something slammed into my back—thud. I nearly fell, whirling around in surprise.

Standing there was Misaki.

“Wh-what the hell was that?”

She was panting, grinning right in front of me.

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you there.”

Surrounding her were Misaki and a crowd of girls.

Her best friend, Chinatsu, was there too, peeking out with her usual amused expression.

“Misaki, that’s too mean.”

“Hey, don’t you have anything to say to me? I might forgive you if you do it now.”

“I do.”

For a second, Misaki’s face brightened at those words.

But I couldn’t hold back my emotions, spitting out in a low voice:

“…Disappear.”

“Hey! Wait!! Things are gonna get worse for you!”

I ignored Misaki’s voice.

The bullying at school escalated day by day. Sometimes I got hit—sometimes I hit back.

Having my desk or belongings hidden became routine.

“Heyyy, virgin-kun~ Whatcha doin’?”

“You seriously have nothing going for you, huh?”

“Teacher! Yamamoto’s giving me creepy looks!”

“Get out of the way, disappear!”

“Ugh, seriously, you’re disgusting.”

Today, too, Misaki stepped on me. Around her were a bunch of guys and girls.

“Hey, this guy’s totally pathetic.”

“Ew! Gross!! You’re getting off on this?!”

Misaki looked down at me with mocking eyes, giggling.

“I can’t believe this. It’s so embarrassing!”

Her eyes sparkled like a mischievous child’s. She was laughing, teasing me, enjoying herself.

“Hey, Misaki. Wanna push him further?”

Chinatsu whispered something to her.

“Huh? Push him how?”

When Misaki accidentally let that slip, Chinatsu smirked.

“Like, let him touch your chest?”

“Wh-what…?”

“Threaten him. If there’s proof he touched you, he’ll be your slave forever. He won’t be able to defy you. And if he does, well… you know what’ll happen, right?”

Misaki looked down at me with cold amusement. Chinatsu wore the same expression, malice mixed with playfulness.

“True! That might work. Then he’d be—”

Taking Chinatsu’s words to heart, Misaki smiled faintly.

“Absolutely yours.”

With that, she grinned and slowly approached me.

Chinatsu left, leaving just me and Misaki.

“Hey, Ikkun-kun, close your eyes and hold out your hand?”

I did as I was told. The next second, a soft sensation filled my palm.

I opened my eyes instinctively and there was Misaki’s chest. Soft, fitting perfectly in my hand.

“Pervert…”

With that word, she flashed a devilish smile.

My heart pounded like a drum, while my spine froze over.

From that day on, my school life spiraled even further downward.

After that, I couldn’t defy Misaki at all. If I did, there was the fact that I’d touched her chest and even my mom wouldn’t side with me. I was completely under her thumb.

“Hurry up. Lunch break’s almost over.”

Akiyama muttered under his breath. Misaki didn’t even glance at him, crossing her legs and sitting back like the queen of the school.

The other students all watched her expression carefully. Misaki’s family had influence here, sucking up was the only option. If you got on her bad side, that was it.

Today, too, Misaki was smiling. The smile of a queen no one could oppose.

“I’m sorry…”

Even I, who had tried to resist at first, couldn’t fight back anymore. Shintsuka glanced at me occasionally, but he never intervened. I didn’t ask him to. I didn’t want the target shifting to him.

“Hehe, c’mon, say your usual surrender speech loud and clear.”

Misaki looked down at me, laughing like a devil.

“I, the slave of Misaki-sama, deeply apologize for causing her trouble. From now on, I will strive with all my might to never displease her for even a second. P-please, forgive this worthless servant.”

By now, everyone around me felt like an enemy. Laughter, jeers, scornful stares. There was nowhere to run.

Getting extorted by Akimoto and the others, having shoes and clothes thrown at me by the girls; each time, the humiliation tightened around my chest like a vise.

—I just want to disappear. If I vanished entirely, this pain, this shame it’d all be over.

No. I can’t run. I don’t want to lose. Not to them, not to her. I refuse to lose.

That’s why I keep working out. Not just my fists, I’ll strengthen myself until no one can look down on me.

That’s why I invest, too. Money is power. Without power, you get no respect, no recognition. I’ll make them regret it no matter what.

Today’s humiliation will fuel tomorrow’s strength.

“I will get stronger.”

“Ikkun-kun, do your little monkey impression.”

“O-Ookiee…!”

I imitated a monkey. I knew how embarrassing it was. But every time laughter echoed through the classroom, my heart stung. The class roared—gahaha! and Misaki laughed too. Ah, so this is what makes you happy?

The teacher’s gaze held no intention of helping.

Of course not. From the start, no one was on my side. They pretended not to see—no, they pretended they couldn’t see.

The classroom air was thick, swirling with noise and laughter.

When I returned to my seat, my shoes had been taken off and thrown onto the desk.

“Hey, think you can walk like that, loser?”

Akimoto sneered. I didn’t say anything, just silently picked them up.

One of the girls shoved a notebook into my desk, pages defaced with doodles.

“Look at this guy’s handwriting! So sloppy!”

“Gyahaha! Seriously hilarious!”

Misaki laughed at the center of the class as usual. But when she glanced at me and smirked, her eyes held something cold.

I steeled myself inside.

…I won’t lose. I’ll make them regret this.

But that resolve was shattered the next second. Someone kicked my bag from behind, sending it crashing into my desk.

“Whoa, he just got his bag smashed!”

“Seriously, do it again!”

On the way home, I walked behind Misaki as usual. Carrying her bags, walking side by side; it was routine by now. Today, too, she looked down at me with amusement.

“Hey, Ikkun-kun. Why that face? You’ve been moping all day, it’s bringing me down.”

Her voice was high, slightly taunting, making my heart race. I could only stay silent, staring at the ground.

“Hey, Ikkun-kun, today was just so pathetic, right~? Running around for me, sweating buckets, face all red. Ahh, just watching was hilarious~. Hey, why are you so useless? Can’t study, can’t play sports, think you’re funny doing monkey impressions? Pfft—you’re trying way too hard.”

Misaki crossed her arms, scoffing. I thought of Chinatsu and the others, too. Their laughter, gathered just to mock me, still rang in my ears.

“Hey, Ikkun-kun, you got chewed out by Yamamoto and the others again today, right? Ahh, I wish I’d seen it. You, pale-faced, desperately making excuses. Yeah, that’d be gold.”

“Hey, you do realize you’re just making yourself miserable, right? Your eyes are shaking, you’re stumbling when you walk. Ahh, it’s so funny. Here I am—mature, smart, the most popular girl in class, everyone watching my every move and then there’s you, this pitiful mess. It’s too sad.”

“Do something embarrassing in front of the class again tomorrow, okay? Watching you struggle is part of my entertainment now. Ugh, you’re so pathetic. Hey, Ikkun-kun, when are you gonna stop being my plaything and start thinking about your own worth? Oh, right—never. You’re just my laughingstock. The whole class watches me, but no one helps you. You can’t do anything yourself. It’s perfect.”

“Hey, Ikkun-kun, you must be tired today, huh? Carried my stuff, obeyed me—you really worked hard. But just so you know, tomorrow’s gonna be the same. Running away’s pointless. You’re my servant now. Hehe, I can’t wait to see your face all red and desperate again.”

On the way home, Misaki’s voice replayed in my head—words I’d heard a thousand times. My body was exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t rest.

When I opened the front door, the usual silence greeted me. But my father’s grim face shattered that calm.

“…Misaki was in a car accident today.”