CHAPTER 43: THE SHADOWS OF THE TRACK (part 2)
Just as Sir turned toward the gym, Yoshiro and his lackeys (Taiki and Daiki) nervously approached him.
Their agenda was crystal clear—to get out of the race at any cost.
Yoshiro wore an extremely bewildered and falsely innocent expression.
"Umm... Sir?
We suddenly got a lot of blisters on our feet.
And anyway, you crashed your bicycle right in front of us this morning, remember?
Our feet got totally scraped up running when you were chasing us on your cycle.
So, because of that shock, we are in no condition to run a race...
So, can we please be excused from the race, Sir?"
Takeshi sir slowly turned his neck. A dangerous, furious fire burned in his brown eyes.
He glared directly at Yoshiro.
"Huh?
You three?
You three aren't going to run the race...
Now you three are going to run 4 laps!"
Yoshiro and his lackeys' faces completely "Spaced Out."
Their jaws literally hit the floor.
"Whaaaat?!
W-What are you saying, Sir?!" Yoshiro screamed.
"Our feet got scraped up running from your cycle, and now you're telling us to participate in the race?!
What kind of justice is this?!"
Yoshiro yelled loudly,
"Are you planning to kill us or what?!"
"Listen up, boy, shut your trap and KEEP
QUIET!
OTHERWISE,
I'LL MAKE IT A STRAIGHT 10 LAPS AROUND THE GROUND,
And I won't even let you breathe, got it?!"
Takeshi sir roared. Smoke was literally blowing out of his nose out of sheer anger .
Yoshiro immediately turned to his goons. "Daiki! Taiki!
Let's get out of here right now, otherwise Sir is going to chase us down and beat us to death on this very ground!"
And with that, the three of them sprinted off crying toward the lanes.
[Scene Shift: Behind the Gymnasium]
Far from the noise and crowd of the track, there was a dead-silent spot right behind the gym building.
Standing there, leaning against the wall in the shadows, was Yuto Sakurai.
His mustard-yellow, wild spiked hair gleamed strangely in the sun, and his yellow (bumblebee) eyes held a dangerous, sadistic glint.
He was talking to someone on his phone.
"Hello... This is Yuto Sakurai speaking," Yuto said in a low but venomous voice.
"I want my job done.
What?
Money?
Huh, take as much money as you need, but the execution needs to be absolutely perfect...
Yeah, we start today.
Okay... come to the canteen,
I'll meet you right there. Understood?"
After hanging up the phone, a "Creepy Wild Smile" spread across Yuto's face.
A dark, unpredictable aura began swirling around him.
"Screw this boring everyday life... now the real game begins, hahahaha," he muttered to himself.
"What exactly are you doing here all alone?"
Yuto practically jumped out of his skin.
He whipped around in a flash.
He thought his secret plan had just been exposed.
Standing right behind him was The Iron Monitor, Tsuyoshi Taro.
His face, as always, was cold and strict.
Tsuyoshi stepped forward.
"You were just saying that you hate joining the herd of sheep... so how did you suddenly end up in P.E. class?"
Yuto took a deep breath, hiding his panic, and snapped back into his "Arrogant" and "Serious Mode" vibe.
He shoved both his hands into his pockets.
"That's my choice.
What's it to you?
I can do whatever I want.
I will go wherever I please, whenever I please... I will do whatever comes to my mind.
Nobody has the guts to stop me. It's my decision.
No one needs to interfere in it.
Especially not you, Tsuyoshi."
Tsuyoshi's rust-colored eyes narrowed slightly.
"Go wherever you want.
Do whatever you want.
But... if you pull any of your cheap tricks or break a single rule in this class or this school... then you will be the one facing the consequences."
Yuto scoffed.
"Aahh, oh... are you trying to intimidate me?
Do you honestly think I'd be scared?
Haaash, that's your misunderstanding.
Keep your monitor-attitude to yourself, otherwise you'll be the one paying the price, got it?!"
Yuto stepped forward, getting right up in Tsuyoshi's face, shooting him an "Insane Glare."
"My brain is already running hot... do not make the mistake of making it any hotter."
The intense tension between the two could have escalated into a physical brawl at any second, but then, the sound of footsteps echoed.
"Listen up..." a highly calm, yet mocking voice called out.
Zixuan Lee emerged from the corner of the gym.
He threw a taunting look at both of them. "Listen, you two...
Sir is calling everyone for the race.
Hurry up and get there, otherwise, because of you, all of us will end up running 4 laps."
Yuto flashed a cold smirk. Keeping his hands in his pockets, he leaned in slightly as he walked past Tsuyoshi, his voice dropping into a dark, raw whisper.
"Don't stick your nose in my business ever again.
If I see you in my way one more time,
I'll smash your face in so badly, you won't be able to show it anywhere."
Tsuyoshi stood his ground, a completely "Serious Expression" now etched on his face.
*"He is definitely planning something...
I am absolutely sure of it.
Before he does something that causes a disaster,
I need to find out what his plan is,"*
Tsuyoshi thought in his internal monologue.
"Are you coming, Mr. Monitor?" Zixuan asked again, looking slightly bored .
"Alright, let's go," Tsuyoshi replied, and both of them headed toward the ground.
Standing a short distance away, completely indifferent to all this bickering, was Satoshi Ichigaya, wearing his "Usual (Eyes Closed)" expression.
A mysterious smile played on his lips.
*"All of this was getting so boring... but now some interesting bugs with actual brains are crawling out.
At least this will provide some entertainment,"* he mentally noted, viewing the entire situation like a chessboard.
On the other side, the 6.7-foot Calm Monster, Junpei Kurodan, stood quietly in his spot, observing everything.
*"I just need to finish this race quickly,"* he thought coldly, showing absolutely no expression.
[Scene Shift: The Starting Line]
Takeshi sir stood in the center of the ground with absolute authority. He raised his whistle.
"ARE ALL THE BOYS READY?!" he roared.
"Yes, Sir!" the average students replied nervously.
"Did you all not eat food or what?!
I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!
LOUDER!"
"YES, SIRRRR!" everyone screamed in unison, using the full power of their lungs.
"Alright!
Let's get started!
Get into your respective lanes immediately, got it?!"
Just then, Renjiro walked out of the gym doors.
He was wearing a bright green tracksuit that Takeshi sensei had dug up for him.
But the problem was, against Renjiro's 150 kg body, the suit was awkwardly tight around his thighs and chest.
Renjiro was drowning in embarrassment. "Sir... this suit is way too tight, Sir..."
Takeshi sir shot him a stern look.
"Stop the drama right now, understood?!
Wear what you've been given!
Go stand on the sidelines quickly, and the moment the race starts... you start doing your squats!"
Renjiro's heart cried internally. He dragged his heavy body toward the grass.
On the track, 17 boys (both monsters and average students) were now lined up at the exact same starting line.
They were all shooting bloodthirsty death glares at one another.
The heat of testosterone and intense competition was palpable in the air.
Seeing all these terrifying boys getting ready on the track made Renjiro's soul tremble.
*"Where the hell am I trapped?!"* Renjiro thought, screaming loudly inside his mind.
*"Grandpa... please save me!
I want to go home!"*
To be continue...