The Unexpected Public Humiliation!

"Class... Count all of the correct answers from your seatmate and, after that, return their paper to your seatmate," Mr. Tanaka's words echoed in the classroom, signaling the beginning of the quiz review.

I found myself seated at my desk, holding a quiz paper that belonged to my classmate who is wearing a eyeglasses he looks like a studious type.

With a deep breath, I reviewed his answers. Although one mistake on number 7.

So i graded the paper as 18/20 and the reason why he had a score of 18 not 19 because each question worth two points, and i put my name under the score, labeling it as "corrected by: Ced Nakano."

With the task complete, I turned to my seatmate and handed back his paper.

"Hey, here's your paper with the score. Feel free to double-check it."

His response, however, was far from friendly. He looked down at his paper and then shot me a condescending grin.

"See that score? That's the standard you should aim for, Ced."

Inwardly, I rejoiced. This was it—the perfect scenario I'd been waiting for since the first day of school—a good old-fashioned humiliation scenario.

It was the epitome of being a background character, and I couldn't have been happier. 

I lowered my gaze, feigning embarrassment, and muttered, "I'm sorry... I'll do my best next time."

But the nerdy guy wasn't finished yet. He continued to belittle me, his words a relentless assault on my dignity.

"From your intelligence level, you can't even change signs correctly. There won't be a next time for you, Ced. You're destined to be nothing more than to be a failure student."

The classroom fell silent, the students shocked by the nerdy guy's harsh words.

Mr. Tanaka was about to intervene, but before he could, I managed to muster up a feeble response. "o-okay..."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I played the part of the downtrodden student to perfection, like any high school student enduring embarrassment.

The nerdy guy, who is trying hard to become a named character, had just publicly humiliated me in front of my classmates. Unfortunately, I didn't even know his name, so let's stick with calling him a "nerdy guy" for now.

To my surprise, Luna and Kaori, two of the school's most popular girls stood up and approached at my desk.

They were well aware of what had transpired and weren't about to let the nerdy guy off the hook.

"Stand up," Luna commanded, her voice firm.

I obeyed, standing beside the nerdy guy. Kaori and Luna exchanged glances, and then, in a somewhat friendly manner, the nerd guy put his arm around my shoulders.

It was an attempt to convey camaraderie—a thinly veiled attempt to save himself from these two named characters.

"I'm just telling Ced... you know we're friends, right, Ced? I'm just worried about his score, that's all," he explained, attempting to justify his behavior.

His arm around my shoulders slowly tightened around my neck. I struggled to breathe, feeling a chokehold coming on.

This was it—the background character was in danger, and now the two named characters were involved.

Would they let the nerdy guy slide? Or would they punish this nerdy guy on my behalf?

I had to step up my acting skills immediately.

Trembling with feigned distress, I stammered. "E-erk, G-gak! I can't breathe..." I gasped, pouring all my effort into making it as convincing as an Oscar-winning performance.

The nerdy guy casually dismissed my struggle. "Oi, oi, stop kidding, Ced. We're friends!"

However, Luna and Kaori, their concern evident in their eyes, exchanged a knowing look. It was clear that they weren't buying the act of this nerdy guy, but their involvement added to the suspense.

I needed to maintain the illusion to see how this unexpected turn of events would play out.

"My eyes... are blurring. I can't see anymore. Please... let me... go." I continued, my voice quivering with desperation as I aimed to keep Luna and Kaori engaged in this unexpected twist.

Kaori, her face etched with concern, shouted, "Ced! Hang on there!"

Luna, on the other hand, was furious and didn't hold back.

She yelled at the nerdy guy, "You... jerk!"

She stood at a distance, close enough to strike the nerdy guy, but before that, I received a signal from Kaori.

In a swift, coordinated move, Kaori signaled me to elbow the nerd guy in the stomach, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I delivered a powerful elbow to his stomach.

The pain forced him to release his grip on me, allowing me to escape his clutches and rush over to Kaori.

Kaori cupped my face, her eyes filled with genuine concern. She embraced me, and I could feel her worry. "Ced, are you okay...?"

I continued to play the role of the background character, still pretending that the situation was affecting me.

"Y-yes... I am," I stammered, my voice trembling. "Thank you, Kaori."

Her reassuring smile enveloped me, offering a glimmer of solace amidst the swirling chaos.

Meanwhile, Luna observed the scene with relief. She saw that I was safe with Kaori. As for the trembling nerd guy, he attempted to speak but could only muster broken words.

"Lu-luna... I-I didn't... I... I..."

Fear had him in its vice-like grip as Luna's unwavering gaze bore down on him. Luna, outwardly calm but exuding an aura of undeniable power.

She executed a flawless spin, raising her right leg as she spun with incredible precision. Her movements were like poetry in motion, executing a precise 260-degree spin with impeccable grace.

This was followed by yet another spin on her left leg, building up to a climactic moment—a powerful kick that landed squarely on the nerd guy's face.

It was a stunning 360-degree kick! and the force of it sent the nerdy guy flying a short distance, narrowly avoiding crashing into the window to our classroom.

"T-taekwondo?" I stammered in amazement, unable to believe the incredible strength Luna possessed.

Luna approached the nerdy guy, who now lay on the floor, clutching his face in agony from the devastating 360 kick he had received from Luna.

She stood tall over him, her expression unwavering.

"Don't humiliate anyone, regardless of their score or intelligence level. And most importantly, don't hurt Ced because..."

Our classmates watched in anticipation, waiting to hear what Luna would say next. The boys stared at me, their eyes burning with jealousy.

They seemed to think that Luna had captured all my attention. The intensity of their gazes was unsettling, casting a palpable aura of unease over me.

I had accidentally stepped out of my role as a background character, and it felt as though I were making a name for myself.

Luna continued, her voice carrying a sense of authority, "He's my roommate and a friend to me. That's why I won't let you hurt one of my friends!"

A wave of sigh in relief washed over the classroom as Luna's words diffused the tension. The boys who had been staring at me in jealousy have now calmed down.

Luna's declaration of friendship had a reassuring effect on everyone present. If Luna had said anything more ominous or threatening, I might have found myself in real trouble, risking not only the events of the moment but also my life as a background character.

Mr. Tanaka cautiously approached Luna and Kaori, uncertainty clouding his face. He knew he was treading on precarious ground by addressing the daughter of the Hoshizaki and Sato conglomerate families, both of those two conglomerate families had influence and power.

Even though Luna and Kaori had yet to graduate, rebuking them could lead to severe consequences for Mr. Tanaka, especially if their families decided to intervene with the Ouran Academy's chairman.

"Luna... Kaori..." Mr. Tanaka began, his voice wavering. He struggled to find the right words, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Also, These were not ordinary students he was addressing; they were the president and vice president of the student council at Ouran Academy, with backgrounds far different from his own. It was imperative that he tread carefully.

"J-just don't resort to violence here at Ouran Academy," he implored, his voice almost pleading. "You two hold positions of great responsibility. As the student council president and vice president, you should set an example."

Mr. Tanaka waited anxiously for their response, his gaze shifting between Luna and Kaori. Were they angry with him? He couldn't afford to anger the families backing these two influential students, yet he needed to maintain discipline within the school.

Luna and Kaori bowed respectfully to Mr. Tanaka, their expressions serious and contrite.

They understood the gravity of their actions and the impact they could have on him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tanaka," they uttered in unison, their voices resonating with sincerity. "We won't resort to violence again, and we'll be more responsible in our roles as president and vice president of Ouran Academy."

Mr. Tanaka felt a mixture of relief and trepidation. He hadn't expected Luna and Kaori to respond so humbly.

Unsure of whether to adopt a stern or lenient tone, he settled for a middle ground.

"T-that's fine," he managed to say, his voice still quivering slightly. "Just be mindful of your actions next time."

"Yes, sir..." Luna and Kaori replied in unison, their commitment to change evident.

As Mr. Tanaka glanced over at the battered nerd guy who had been knocked down by Luna's impressive kick, he realized he needed to address his well-being too.

"Hey, Renjiro," Mr. Tanaka called out to another student.

"S-sir!" Renjiro responded, standing up nervously.

"Carry him to the infirmary and make sure he receives proper treatment for his injuries. Also, arrange for a new pair of eyeglasses for him..."

Turning to Luna and Kaori, he added, "...You two will take care of that, right?"

Luna and Kaori nodded in agreement, showing their willingness to help. They understood the importance of making amends and taking responsibility for their actions.

Renjiro carefully picked up the injured student and headed for the infirmary. Meanwhile, Luna and Kaori returned to their seats.

Mr. Tanaka returned to his desk at the front of the class, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The tension in the room had dissipated, and Luna and Kaori had learned a valuable lesson about responsibility.

"Now, class, pass your papers. When I announced what score you got, who got 20/20?"

It was no surprise that Kaori and Luna were the first to rise from their seats. They confidently strode toward Mr. Tanaka, their perfect papers in hand.

A round of applause rippled through the classroom as we celebrated their stellar performance. Kaori and Luna graciously acknowledged our cheers before retreating to their seats.

"Now who's got 18/20?"

I couldn't help but wonder who else had come close to perfection, besides the nerdy guy who had departed for the infirmary.

As I scanned the room, my curiosity was answered when a handsome blue-haired student approached Mr. Tanaka.

Kenzo Sakuraba, with his striking looks and charismatic aura, handed in his paper with an almost nonchalant demeanor.

"Good job on getting 18/20, Kenzo," Mr. Tanaka commended.

Kenzo, although content with his score, couldn't help but express his desire for a perfect score.

"It's still a shame that I didn't get 20."

As he looked in the direction of Kaori and Luna, they didn't seem particularly impressed with his charms.

Their expressions clearly conveyed that they found him to be rather dull and stereotypical.

Kenzo Sakuraba was no ordinary student. In the previous school year, he had ranked second in his first-year class, with Kaori Sato securing the top spot.

Luna Hoshizaki, on the other hand, was not a part of the first-year class. Despite being a new transfer student, she had ascended to the role of student council president.

Kenzo's playboy persona set him apart from Hiro Tanaka, the legendary five-timer and third-year student.

Unlike Hiro, Kenzo's affections seemed genuinely directed only toward Kaori and Luna.

What made Kenzo unique was his undeniable magnetism. Many girls admired him for his good looks, and he could have his pick of one of his admirers.

So, what compelled him to focus exclusively on Kaori and Luna? Was it because he was also a "named character," wanting to be with others of his kind to boost his popularity, or was it just that he couldn't find anyone else who matched their beauty?

Miharu, another student who scored 18/20, handed in her paper as well. Kenzo couldn't resist making a teasing remark.

"Oh, Miharu, you're more capable than I thought," he commented, insinuating that he had anticipated a lower score. "I honestly expected you'd get a 16/20. My bad."

"Kenzo...!" Miharu chided him.

Mr. Tanaka, the ever-watchful teacher, had to intervene. "Enough, you two, or I'll deduct your scores."

Kenzo and Miharu immediately ceased their banter and offered apologies. Their interaction was a blend of camaraderie and competitive spirit.

As the roll call of scores continued, ranging from 16 to 13, it was eventually my turn to be called.

Mr. Tanaka posed the question, "Who got 12/20?"

To my astonishment, I was the only one who stood up. The puzzled expressions of my classmates left me wondering whether they had indeed scored lower, or had I simply miscalculated my predictions? As I handed my paper to Mr. Tanaka, he offered a word of encouragement.

"Great job on passing the quiz, Ced. Just remember, we'll talk later, okay?"

"Okay, sir," I replied, his words serving as a reminder of his previous invitation to discuss something after class.

My classmates clapped for me, except for Kenzo, who seemed jealous of the attention Luna and Kaori were showing me.

I didn't want to be a named character or to stand out like this. I wanted to be a background character.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the first math class, I couldn't help but feel Kenzo's intense gaze on me.

I hoped he would stop seeing me as a threat and let me fade into the background once again.