CHAPTER 37: THE TITAN'S GRASP (Part 1)
A cool morning breeze was blowing outside the massive gym gates of Hoshigawa High.
All the students of Class 2-A were standing in a long, disciplined line.
The surrounding silence was broken only by a heavy, commanding voice.
"Stand straight in the line! I want a perfect formation!"
Standing right at the front of the line, the class's Iron Monitor, Tsuyoshi Taro, stood with his arms folded in an extremely strict and Stern expression.
His gaze was scanning every student like a radar. "Confirm your attendance. Is everyone here? Has anyone been left behind?"
Tsuyoshi glared angrily at the crowd.
A few students who had stepped out of the line to chat amongst themselves immediately scrambled back to their places out of fear the moment they heard Tsuyoshi's voice.
"I see a few people missing," Tsuyoshi said, narrowing his eyes with a Displeased expression.
"I will not tolerate this mockery of discipline in Class 2-A under any circumstances."
Standing right beside him, Girl Monitor Yoko Fujimoto let out a cold sigh.
She crossed her arms and looked toward the line with an extremely Aloof and Cold expression.
"Some idiots always get left behind, Tsuyoshi," Yoko made a brutally honest comment, as per her habit.
"Expecting discipline from them is a foolishness in itself.
Maybe they lost their way, or they simply don't care about time at all."
Just then, a very calm yet piercing voice came from behind them.
"Yeah... so am I one of those idiots, Yoko?"
From the back of the crowd, Satoshi Ichigaya slowly walked forward.
His eyes were closed as always, and a faint, mysterious Amused smile rested on his lips that could confuse anyone.
Right on the other side of the line, slightly away from everyone's gaze, Zixuan Lee stood quietly. His cyan hair was gently blowing in the wind.
While everyone was arguing about the new boy (Renjiro) arriving late, Zixuan's face was completely Calm and emotionless on the outside. He slowly adjusted his black gloves.
*"What the hell is this drama, what kind of place did I get admission in,"*
Zixuan thought in his mind in a cold, irritated manner.
*"They call this a school of discipline, but the entire school is just filled with idiots doing absolute fucking bullshit."*
Yoko immediately put on a Cranky expression upon seeing him.
"You should have arrived on time, Satoshi.
The discipline of the entire class gets ruined because of your attitude.
You need to start taking things seriously."
Satoshi casually placed a hand over his ear. His smile grew a bit more [Playful].
"Oh, don't be mad.
I just... got a little late.
What's the need to feel so bad about it?
Besides, rules should only be followed as long as they are fun."
Tsuyoshi cut into the conversation and asked, "Satoshi, fine, you're here.
But that new guy is nowhere to be seen.
Renjiro Hoshino.
Was he coming behind you?"
Satoshi shrugged.
"I don't know.
Maybe he went to drink water...
So perhaps he'll be late.
Or maybe he saw the standard of this place and ran away out of fear."
Hearing this, the class's top student, Honoka Aizawa, immediately stepped forward.
There was a dangerous anger and strictness in her eyes.
Showing an extremely [Offended] and [Angry] expression, she threw her hand forward.
"That new boy has finally shown his true colors!"
Honoka's voice held both justice and frustration.
"This is clear proof that he isn't eligible for our school! Someone who has no discipline has nothing inside them.
Weakness is a sin! Such a lazy boy shouldn't have been granted admission to this school in the first place!"
At Honoka's harsh words, the most cheerful girl in the class, Miyu Inoue, quickly stepped forward.
Miyu had a Disturbed and Worried expression on her face.
"How can you say that, Honoka-chan?!"
Miyu's voice carried genuine concern.
"He is a new student.
Maybe he doesn't know about this high school's strict rules and its massive campus.
We should help him, not judge him so harshly on his very first day!"
Honoka gave Miyu a Cold Stare.
"You shouldn't show such useless sympathy, Miyu.
Discipline is equal for everyone."
Just then, the class's unofficial bully queen, Junn Tachibana, made her entry into the argument.
She placed a hand on her hip with an Exasperated and Smugness expression.
"So what did Honoka say wrong here?"
Junn said, glaring at Miyu.
"Even though Honoka's and my methods are different,
She is 100% right here.
That fat guy shouldn't have come here at all!
He should have known that Hoshigawa High isn't some ordinary school.
Getting admission here is like chewing iron pellets!
He only got in because of the Principal sir's mercy, which is why he is making up his own rules!"
Yoko Fujimoto, who had been listening quietly until now, made a highly Disgusted expression.
"Control yourself, Junn.
Don't forget that he is a new student of this class who was personally admitted by the Principal sir.
This attitude of yours won't work here."
Junn gave a Sarcastic smile.
"Hahaha... fine, fine.
I admit it.
But that loser arriving late is proof that—"
"QUIET, EVERYONE!"
Tsuyoshi's thundering voice silenced everyone.
Tsuyoshi extended his hand and looked intently down the long path toward the gym.
A strange, frantic noise was reaching his ears.
"It sounds like...
Someone is approaching us."
Standing in the other corner of the class, Sayaka Shirogane looked forward with a Mischievous smile. "Oh my... looks like some big drama is about to happen early in the morning."
Standing next to her, Himari Suzuki instantly got Scared.
She hugged her book to her chest and said fearfully,
"W-What is that sound?
S-Someone is c-crying..."
"HEY TSUYOSHI MAN! SAVE ME, MY BROTHER!
THIS SIR IS GOING TO KILL ME TODAY!
PLEASE DO SOMETHING!"
The gaze of the entire class turned toward the path, and they couldn't believe their eyes at what they saw.
Yoshiro Kurosawa, who called himself the 'Boss' of the class, was currently running toward them crying like a terrified child in a Crying and Freaked manner.
Cold sweat beaded on his head, his eyes were wide, and he was running for his life, flailing his arms and legs in the air.
"Somebody stop Sir!
He's going to kill me with his cycle !"
The class students were completely Bewildered.
"Who is coming from behind?!"
Right behind Yoshiro, flying at double his speed like Death itself, was a metal bicycle.
And on that cycle was none other than their P.E. teacher, Takeshi Sakuraba!
Takeshi sir's face was completely drained with panic.
Making a [Bawling] and [Exasperated] expression, with wide terrified eyes, he was crying while riding the chainless cycle.
The most comical part was that one of his hands was still firmly glued to his perfectly set Pompadour hairstyle!
"GET OUT OF THE WAAAAAY!"
Takeshi sir screamed, crying into the wind.
"Oh man!
In my rush to reach school early, this damn cycle's chain broke!
And the brakes had already failed!
What have I done?!
If I fall, my hairstyle that took two hours to set will be ruined!
How will I face Miss Ryouko?!
What will she think of me?!
SOMEBODY SAVE MEEEE!"
The students of the class were in a Jawdrop.
Everyone was shocked.
Sayaka Shirogane covered her mouth and started laughing loudly.
"Hahaha!
Oh my god!
This is epic!"
Himari Suzuki stepped further back out of fear, with a Disturbed expression.
"S-Sensei is actually going to crash into the wall!"
Running ahead, Yoshiro began begging the crowd while crying,
"SOMEBODY PLEASE SAVE ME BRO!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
The cycle was now right near the gym gate, and Yoshiro's breath was catching in his throat.
Right in front of him was the solid gym wall.
A brakeless cycle and a wall ahead—a crash was inevitable.
Just then, pushing through the crowd, a tall and silent student stepped forward for the first time.
This was Junpei Kurodan.
He hadn't spoken a single word in class until now.
There was a calmness on his face that was the exact opposite of this chaos.
Without any fear, he stepped right into the path between the cycle and Yoshiro.
*"I have to save Sensei,"* Junpei thought in his mind.
He had nothing but a cold, Serious expression on his face.
As the crying and screaming Yoshiro rushed right past Junpei, he narrowly avoided bumping into him.
And exactly one second later, Takeshi sir's out-of-control cycle came flying toward Junpei at full speed.
Junpei moved his body in less than a second.
When the cycle was passing right beside him, he showed a left-clock reflex, giving the cycle a clear path to go ahead.
And as soon as the cycle came to his side, he executed a swift left-side spin in exactly 1 second.
His right hand shot forward with the speed of lightning.
He opened his fist and firmly grabbed Takeshi sensei, who was flying mid-air at full speed, by his tracksuit jacket (by the collar)!
SWISH!
The cycle sped forward, but Takeshi Sakuraba was left dangling mid-air by Junpei's single hand.
Seeing this superhuman catch by Junpei, all the students standing there were left Shocked.
Everyone had incredibly strange expressions.
He lifted a human off a speeding cycle in mid-air
But the main comedy scene ahead was still left.
Yoshiro, who was still running at full speed, had the solid gym wall right in front of him.
To save himself from crashing into the wall, Yoshiro made a slight jump in the air in a panic.
But his speed was so uncontrollable, and he didn't know that Takeshi sir was no longer on the cycle.
Yoshiro didn't think about what would happen while jumping.
When he was mid-air, the same riderless cycle passed right beneath him.
Yoshiro landed straight onto the seat of that cycle!
"OH NOOOO! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"
Yoshiro screamed crying with a Dread expression as he realized that he was now sitting on that dangerous, out-of-control cycle.
"Why does every disaster always fall on my neck?!
Aaaaaaaa!"
The cycle rushed straight toward the gym wall.
To be continue ...