My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

"―I'm really sorry, Itou... Hey. Apologise, dumbass."

Smack-!

"Ow! I... Itou-sama... I'm so sorry...!"

"..."

Staring at the both of their bowed heads, I glanced a final time at the tenmusu on the floor before opening my mouth.

"...It's fine. I still have more left."

The person who cooked my lunch seemed to be pleased by the reward I gave them last time and so packed me a lot of extra food today, so I was more troubled by the fact that my eating was interrupted than the waste, but since I could continue eating as they talked, it was tolerable.

Let's make this quick, then.

"What did you come here for?"

Immediately, the two of them raised their heads, and at my question, Yuu raised his voice.

"Advice! Itou-sama, I implore you! Bestow even a fraction of your boundless knowledge upon this humble one...!"

...I would have thought this man to have some semblance of conscience, but it appears the person known as Yuu Shimura was rather blithe.

Towards the one he calls saviour, he disturbs my eating and has the gall to ask for advice.

Contrary to the strong first impression, I think... He may be easily manipulated if it concerns something he cares about.

"What is it?"

Well, just get it over with quickly.

"Mmn, Yuu, I still don't think it's a good idea to bother Itou with it when he's completely unrelated..." Chihiro Suzuki groaned beside him.

So, he wants to drag me into an unrelated matter, I see.

"It's fine, Chi," He briefly answered her before looking directly into my eyes.

"On a serious note. Itou; you don't need to help or get involved or do anything if you don't want to. I just came to ask for advice on a specific matter, to hear your thoughts on it. Is that alright with you?"

His deepened voice, coupled with the hints of worry and faint hopelessless mixed into his serious tone, told me that this wasn't an ordinary matter like the topic of exam questions.

Let me guess, was it about someone else?

「Yes」

Thought so. I don't think that even this guy would go so far as to disturb me on my peaceful lunch break unless he considered it absolutely necessary.

"That's fine. Did something happen?" I asked to prompt him.

If it was a serious problem, then wouldn't I get a lot of positive reputation if I solved it for them?

Just be quick about it.

"That... Haa... It's about Takeuchi. He's being bullied by a guy in 3-D, but we can't prove it to the school. No, even if there was proof, it's hard to do anything... The bully's dad is on the board of directors, so he has a lot of powerful connections that could seriously screw us all over if we report on it."

Takeuchi. Souta Takeuchi? A random guy in my class is being bullied, huh.

Well, I don't see what that has anything to with you, so I'm not sure why exactly you are getting involved or why you are coming to me for advice on it, but whatever.

So, they aren't doing anything because of the culprit's father?

Then, can't you just remove his dad from the board of directors? He won't have any power then, will he?

If you're scared of him because his dad has connections, then you should be even more scared of me because my business partner is Minami Mochizuki. There's few people in the world with more connections than her.

I'm sure she has more than enough power to do something like remove a nobody from a random school's board of directors without much trouble.

"Is that everything?"

If that's all, then I'll just get Minami to remove him from his position and the problem should be solved.

"No, that's not even the worst of it. The bully himself is Kenzo Nishitani. I'm sure Itou has never heard of him since you tend to stay out of these kinds of things, but he's an absolute menace in our year; infamous for bullying tons of helpless kids all the time."

So?

I don't understand why that makes him such a big deal.

"If there's that many kids being affected by him, then surely the school can't ignore all of their complaints about his bullying, right?"

"He beats them into submission, Itou. Until they have no will left to resist or report him. Like a tyrant, he uses physical violence to crush the people he sees as weak and then uses the name of his father to make sure no one can fight back."

What, really?

This guy... Is he worse than the guys he's beating up?

He's not even confident enough to beat everyone up without hiding behind his father's influence?

In that case, isn't he just a pseudo-bully who's insecure about his abilities?

If that's what the issue is, then I don't even need to go to Minami for a favour.

"I see. I don't know if you've heard, but the term length for the board of directors isn't actually that long; I doubt that guy will be able to continue those kinds of activities for much longer, so tell Souta to hang in there."

He likes to use violence, huh.

I'll show him how to use violence.

= = =

***

= = =

The next day.

Ring~!

"Hey, Ito--"

"--No."

As soon as the bell for lunch sounded, I left the classroom and made my way to the rooftop.

I was the only person here, as always, but I had a feeling that wouldn't last for long.

Looking out over the schoolyard from behind the fence, I waited for a few minutes.

Creak~!

"―Oi. Are you the bastard who put that note in my locker?"

Someone with crimson red-dyed hair and a fiery look in his eyes emerged from the door to the roof.

Turning around, my gaze met his.

"What? Did it make you mad?"

"...Punkass. Do you even know who I am?"

Of course, I knew very well.

In fact, I know more than you realise.

"Kenzo Nishitani. Or should I say, the guy who can't do anything without his father, right?"

"You son of a bitch..."

Crack-!

"You're gonna regret coming here and thinking you can make fun of me, you fuck."

Crack-!

"Will I? I disagree with that statement."

Crack-!

"In fact, I think you are the one who will regret coming here today."

Cracking his knuckles, I let him approach me until he stood about two metres away.

"Ha! Shut your fucking mouth when you don't know shit."

Giving me a glare that very clearly expressed his desire to kill, he stared me in the eyes. "When I'm done with you, you'll be nothing but a shitty little pulp, you hear? I'll keep you from getting expelled for now so I can teach you a thorough lesson, but after that, you're finished."

"Woah. That's scary. I mean, it's really not, but I'd like to see you try. Look at that red face of yours, though. Are you getting angry, or do you need a moment to catch your breath? I fear you might soon turn the same shade as your hair."

Huffing and puffing.

I think he was mad.

I mean, of course he was; that was the objective of the note I sent him, after all.

To make him angry enough to confront me in a secluded area like this; something that will make him want to beat me up so much that he won't care for what risks it might entail.

I do have to congratulate him for withholding his rage and suppressing his desire to attack during this moment, however. Usually, for this type of person, there's no way they would be able to maintain their cool for this long.

"Yeah. You bastard. I'm fucking pissed. And you're gonna receive the result of it."

Oh, wow.

I didn't expect him to readily admit it. This person sure is full of surprises, isn't he?

...Ah, but about that.

"Oh, my goodness! Takuya Nishitani! Please, help! Your son is about to beat me up!"

"Wait, what...?!

Slam-!

"Fucking idiot. Of course he isn't here."

"Kughk...!?"

―I am even better at surprising people than you, you know?