READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2
Chapter 2. Bullying
Morning comes, accompanied by the chirping of sparrows and the blaring sirens of a patrol car.
“…So loud.”
Suppressing the urge to go back to sleep, I get out of bed.
After changing into my uniform, I head to the living room for breakfast. There, I find Ao already munching on a piece of toast while staring at the TV.
“Whoa, bro! Your hair’s totally gone Saiy○n!”
“For real? Should I go blonde, then?”
“Nah, make it blue instead!”
It seems my dear little sister desires a god.
“Sorry, but my level’s not quite there yet.”
“Fine then—purple works!”
“What?! No way! That’d just make me a random party freak!”
“Don’t diss party people! Party people have rights too, you know!”
Why is she defending party people?
Anyway, you’re not exactly gloomy… Actually, you’re probably the class clown, aren’t you…
“By the way, bro…”
“Hmm? What?”
“Time.”
She points at the living room clock with a jerk of her chin.
It reads 8:10 a.m.
By the way, the school is a 15-minute walk away. First period starts at 8:20 a.m.
“Oh crap!!”
I quickly fix my hair, grab my bag, and dash out of the house.
“See you later!”
“Take care~”
◇
“Whew, whew…”
I just barely make it in time.
Sweating profusely, I collapse onto my desk.
Seeing Ms. Futaba glaring at the school gate nearly gave me a heart attack, but I survived this trial.
I clasp my hands together in gratitude for Ao’s warning. Without it, I’d have been doomed… The thought sends an eerie chill down my spine.
The chime marking the start of first period rings out.
As it fades, Mr. Smooth-Head (Koki Wakatake, age 45) walks into the classroom.
Well, you can probably guess why he’s called that. The resemblance was hilarious when we first saw him.
“All right, take your seats. Class rep!”
“Stand, bow, sit.”
The class rep’s commands begin the lesson.
A few minutes pass, and I feel my eyelids grow heavy. It’s probably because I stayed up late watching fluffy animals.
Rubbing my eyes doesn’t help; the heaviness remains.
As my eyes finally close completely, a rhythmic pounding, like the footsteps of a giant, echoes in my ears.
It draws nearer.
Then, inexplicably, I feel weightless despite sitting in my chair.
I open my eyes slowly, confused.
“So bright!”
A sudden burst of light, like staring into the sun, makes me shut my eyes again.
“Well, well, even after all this, you’re still asleep, huh?”
At that voice, my eyes fly open, my face turning pale.
Mr. Smooth-Head is holding me up by the scruff of my neck.
No way! He was at the front of the classroom a second ago!
“Can you teleport, sir?!”
“…Just how long were you asleep? Being that soundly asleep is almost impressive.”
“Hey, don’t suddenly compliment me like that! It’s embarrassing!”
I awkwardly scratch the back of my head.
For some reason, this only makes him angrier.
“Stand in the hallway!”
And so, I’m sent out to the hall.
“This makes no sense.”
Why am I being punished like this?
I end up standing in the hallway for all periods from second to fourth, thanks to my little trips to dreamland.
Seriously? Is hallway standing back in fashion?
All the teachers are the same, scolding me for sleeping with those irritatingly correct statements.
At lunch, I head to the vending machine to grab a drink.
Just then, I hear a loud voice nearby.
“Hey, loser! Get me a drink!”
“I want cola.”
“Then I’ll take soda.”
The first order comes from Blond Party Guy, followed by orders from Red-Haired Guy Two and Slightly Chubby Guy Three.
Their names are too irrelevant to remember.
Buying drinks for others is a hassle, so when I make a face, Blond Party Guy suddenly kicks me.
“You’re not refusing, are you? My number’s 5058! Trash like you with zero ability should just live as my servant forever!”
Wow, he really said that out loud.
For the record, his number is decent, but nowhere near the five-digit elite of special combat units. Still, in our small school pond, he ranks high and could one day be strong enough to take on serious threats.
Other students avert their eyes or keep their distance, unwilling to get involved.
I don’t blame them.
Only fools invite trouble upon themselves.
They’ll navigate life just fine.
“Fine, fine. I get it.”
I stand and grudgingly head to the vending machine to buy their drinks.
Arguing would only escalate things. It’s easier to play along.
I buy their drinks and sigh.
“Ugh…”
I resolve to watch Pomeranian videos when I get home.
Just as I’m about to leave, a voice calls out from behind.
“Why are you doing that again?”
Turning around, I see a girl with long white hair and golden eyes.
She looks at me like I’m trash. I feel a bizarre worry that it’s sparking some new fetish.
“This doesn’t concern you, Nanase-san.”
Her name is Nanase Masuzu.
A year above me and the strongest ability user at this school.
Her number is an astonishing 11,200. At her age, she’s got an auspicious future. Completely out of my league.
“Why not ask a teacher or get someone’s help?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Even if these guys stop, others will take their place.
People are ugly creatures who feel superior when they have someone beneath them.
Zero is a perfect target for them.
There might not be any other zeroes left.
Most people eventually manifest abilities, are killed by monsters, or take their own lives out of despair. I might be the only zero left around here.
“I really hate how you choose to live as a weakling.”
“Do as you like.”
With that, she leaves.
When I returned to the classroom, the party guys beat me up for taking too long.
It’s because I was talking to her. How unfair.