Chapter sixteen. Stationery, scratches and other boring things

It was a stationery knife, aka a paper knife. It is called differently in different countries. Somewhere, it is called a stationery knife, ironically, a Japanese knife; in catalogs of stationery, it is known by its official full name - "Universal knife with a break-off blade." A lightweight plastic handle and a blade consisting of pieces that easily break off if the blade is bent. It doesn't even take much effort — that's exactly how it's designed. It's worth breaking off the outermost tip, and the end of the "new" blade will become sharp — not as sharp as a razor blade, but very close.

Khair Lin squinted: the blade was slightly rusty, but the tip was sparkling, which means it was recently broken off and it is now very sharp. This particular one was, however, a slightly more advanced version, with a wider blade, eighteen millimeters rather than nine, a thicker handle, and metal guides for the blades. Such knives are a common thing in the office and at a construction site. Or in a car repair shop. It is usually used to cut paper or some other craft material along the contour, cut a rope, or sharpen pencils in the absence of a normal sharpener or due to the perverted thinking of the pencil owner. However, this particular one now had a different, slightly non-standard field of application.

Haire did not expect this to happen. He just decided to make a couple of his usual remarks about Anpan-kun and Kyoko Ame dating an asshole Anpan-kun. But what about the rest? He didn't do anything.… Let him say that it would be nice… But I didn't do it. Which means it's not my fault. That's just because the owner of such a common knife in everyday life and production had a slightly different opinion… And all those who "helped" slow down the vile fat man a little somehow were in no hurry to admit and help.

***

It all started after that weekend when Haire noticed Anpan-kun and Ame-san on a date. Haire noticed in front of everyone that Anpan-kun was somehow holding Ame-san and, most likely, forcing her. There was nothing new in this maxim, but then Hideki added:

— Perhaps if Anpan-kun ruined his life at school every day since there was no other way to cope with him, he would finally let Ame-san out of his clutches ... - Haire did not address someone specifically, but the idea was clear.

It all started with a note on Hideki's desk in the morning, which at first consisted of one word: "Die!". Hideki unfolded the note, shrugged, crumpled it up, and threw it into the trash on the other side of the classroom. He looked around the peaceful classroom, nodded to the worried Kyoko that everything was fine, and calmly took out a textbook for the lesson that was supposed to be right after homeroom in the morning. He detached himself from the class and began to read outwardly calmly and unperturbed.

After Hideki returned from lunch, and he had lunch with Kyoko, Katari, her sister, and a couple of Katari's classmates, "Die!" was written right on the desk. In the note left, there were more detailed instructions: "Get out of school and jump off the bridge, you disgusting fat man!". In the classroom, in response to his calm gaze, everyone averted their eyes; the last to look down was Kaiji Motoyama, one of Haire's friends.

Apparently, it was he who took the initiative. Hideki decided to remember it and thank him on occasion. So far, by his standards, it had yet to go too far out of bounds, and he decided to wait a little longer. But for a change, I photographed both the note and the desk. He also asked to take everything to the staff room in the late afternoon and found out the addresses of both Haire Lin and Kaiji Motoyama. However, he also photographed the addresses of everyone he managed, it's just that these two were the most important goal.

A day later, the shoe locker was filled with something sticky, and another note was thrown inside: "Die, freak!", "Fat bastards have nothing to do in this school!". Hideki photographed everything again but stopped there.

— Hideki-kun? Kyoko asked him on the way home when they had already left the subway and were about to disperse, "Why don't you react in any way?"

Hideki understood perfectly well what Kyoko was talking about but decided to let her continue.

— Why don't you file a complaint or at least slap me in the neck? — Kyoko saw a piece of his training once and knew at least that he could hit properly and hard.

"I don't see the point," Hideki shrugged. So far, he did not see an option in which he would gain more than he would lose and decided to explain this to Kyoko.

— If I knock someone in the neck now, there is a very high probability of talking to the director and getting suspended for a couple of weeks. And you'll be alone.

— And if… Let's say Lin-san... himself…

— And if you provoke a conflict, then, given that the maiden name of the director's wife is Lin, you will also get hurt. And I'll be alone.

— And if we are together? Then, if we're both suspended, we'll be together.

— Together?.. We need to think about it. And he can consult with Mato-san.

Mato-san did not refuse to help and at least listened to them.

— A difficult question. You will not succeed with collective responsibility. It's just that there are too many people who treat you badly, I take it?..

Matho looked at the restrained nods of both and sighed:

— You started this question a little bit. Making enemies of the whole class is short—sighted. However," Mato—-san looked them both in the eye in turn, "there are difficult cases. Perhaps, after Ame-san made her fake confession, and Anpan-kun did not reject it, like five others before that, it was a foregone conclusion. Perhaps you are too unlucky with the people in your class. A couple of scoundrels, a few buffoons, and a couple dozen indifferent ones. So what were you thinking of doing?

— I don't see any point in complaining to the classroom. She couldn't help but notice. So, she is aware of Lin's relationship with the director and does not want to get involved.

"It doesn't make much sense to talk to my parents either, not even to me, let alone Hideki.

— You can, of course, post it on the network or throw it to some network news outlets, but…

— Well, yes, it's not going to be sensational yet, and then it will be too late.

— So we don't have a better option than getting into trouble together?

—Well, that's not the worst option," Mato—san shrugged, "two is not bad. And you have sisters, so you are not completely alone. Well, I can do something. It will be very bad; I will send Yamada-kun to help; if anything, at least it will help raise a scandal. And yes, keep in mind that if you do decide to start a fight, you will have only one chance for an unexpected rebuff. And this time, we need to scare the shit out of the instigators. There will be no respect just like that; it didn't work out with friendship — there remains fear. It's a so-so method in the long run, but in the long run, you don't need to.

— We'll finish our studies before the end of the year, and then goodbye ... — Hideki waved his hand.

— We're going to Kay's high school. Kyoko explained. — Parents have nothing against it.

Given the opportunity to pay, it would be surprising if they were against it. Kei High School was practically the best high school in the prefecture and required not only high fees but also a successful entrance exam. It's difficult enough to select the best of the best. Khair Lin still had a chance to get there, but the rest of his gang still needed to. And even if he goes there, it will be much easier to cope with him; at least he will not have an uncle, the headmaster of the school, there.

On another morning, Hideki, as usual, put his shoes in the locker, putting them in a waterproof bag just in case. While he was closing his locker, a couple of classmates walked past him. He was pushed, and the locker door slammed shut and seemingly accidentally hit him on the fingers. Hideki hissed.

— Oh, it seems our potbellied fingers are pinned down. Forgive us, Anpan-kun, we accidentally. — The group, giggling, passed on.

Expecting an attack or worse, Hideki decided to go to the toilet after the lesson to the floor below, where the guys studied a year younger. After he returned from the toilet, they tripped him on the stairs, which made him almost roll down the stairs, flying to the very bottom of the stairs. They barely managed to grab the railing and slow down the fall.

—Oh, I'm sorry," came from one of the people standing next to the span. "If you hadn't been walking so fast, you might not have slipped."

Hideki heeded the advice, even if it was not shown with good intentions, and began to monitor the situation more seriously. And this time, when the next step was waiting for him in the classroom, he just stepped over his outstretched leg. As long as he did not provoke a conflict, and after all, if he stepped on that foot, he would no longer have problems.

At the big break, he discovered that his lunch box, it needs to be clarified when and how it moved from his desk to the trash. He took out the box and put it on his desk — the box was a gift from his younger sister. I threw the food away and went and bought myself a bun with yakisoba in the dining room. Even after that, he decided not to go into conflict, although it was not a problem to figure out those involved and approve of this situation from the grins.

Perhaps it would have continued like this, but something happened that had to happen sooner or later. He wasn't too bothered by what was happening to him, and Kyoko, who was just worried about it, managed to keep from ill-considered actions, albeit with difficulty. But when she saw that neither Hideki nor Kyoko reacted to the pressure on Hideki, another person decided to make his move.

Once again, after returning from lunch, in addition to the usual note on Hideki's desk with the inscription "Fat freak, die!" the note was also on Kyoko's desk. Kyoko looked at the note and waved to Hideki, like, it was okay, but Hideki managed to notice Kanzi's "fat," "spring," and another one that could mean "wife." Except the last two written together meant a woman selling herself for money. On the face of Gila Terikoto, visible from the corner of his eye, Hideki noticed a satisfied grin, which immediately disappeared as soon as he turned his gaze in her direction. Perhaps Hideki would have restrained himself even after that, but after noticing his expression, Kyoko made a negative gesture. But then, very inconvenient for me, I decided to talk to Khair. Deciding that since Hideki is not resisting and has not even talked to the teachers, he is already crushed, you can not take him into account, and just the right moment to put pressure on Kyoko. Haire realized very quickly that this was a mistake.

***

Haire recalled the events that had happened just a couple of minutes ago. He just wanted to hint at the illogical nature of Ame-san and Anpan-kun's relationship.

— Ame-san, do you disrespect yourself so much that you are ready to play a relationship with this fat man? Like his family isn't that rich, and he's extremely pathetic?

—Okay," Kyoko said more to herself than to anyone else, decided that she didn't intend to stand it anymore, reached for the secret pocket of her skirt, and exchanged glances with Hideki, showing that she didn't mind any of his actions.

"You need permission from your master to answer...— Khair began to say.

Haire didn't have time to say anything more. Hideki jumped up to him in a second, twisted his arm, and forced Haire, who was stunned by such a reaction, to fall to his knees. Several of Haire's close friends tried to approach but froze in place… Khair heard a series of clicks and saw an open stationery knife near his neck.

— Leave him alone, piece of garbage, — the almost hysterical cry of the main beauty of the class, Gila Terikoto, rang out; she even tried to take a few steps toward Anpan-kun with his hostage, but this only led to another series of clicks and next to them, close, but without the possibility for Haire to Kyoko stopped to touch her.

"You have such smooth, shiny hair, Terikoto-san," Kyoko's voice rang out. He was trembling just a little, but now no one paid attention to it except Hideki, "and also a very beautiful face, not a single flaw, no freckles, no moles. No," there was another click of the opening blade of the stationery knife, "scars.

—Ay," came the squeak of Khair's voice, which seemed thin and pathetic to him. Blood appeared from a cut on Khaira's cheek. The cut was tiny — people cut themselves more when shaving, but Khair experienced the most disgusting sensations.

"As a keepsake,— Hideki whispered. "Also, Gila-chan, you got too close. He added louder.

Terikoto Gila, who was standing a step away from Kyoko, realized what was making such clicks. Kyoko Ame had a stationery knife in her right hand. The simplest version is a thin nine-millimeter blade with a thin plastic handle. It's easy to cut paper like that. You can accidentally cut your fingers. It is difficult to inflict serious damage on such people. It was only the thought of simple cuts that made Gila Terrikoto turn pale.

The thin red line on Khair's face suggested restless thoughts.

Hideki got to his feet and pushed Haire forward.

— I don't care about you all. Please don't touch me and Kyoko. And I won't hurt you. If you get hurt, blame yourself. Come on, Keke, it stinks in here. It looks like Lin-san has shit himself.

—Oh, yes," Hideki looked around the peaceful classroom, "for every damaged item, mine or Kyoko's, another cut will appear on Haire's face.

The class did not expect such a drastic change in the atmosphere, and "a couple dozen indifferent" just froze in place. No one was eager to see if they could take the knife away from Anpan-kun and how many cuts it might cost them. The familiar sound of the homeroom teacher's heels sounded in the hallway, but Hideki wasn't going to sit in class anymore today. He went to his desk, picked up his bag, and, together with Kyoko, who also took hers, headed out of the classroom.

— Where are you going?! — Mizuri-sensei flew into the classroom;— Let's start the class lesson!

"I'm going to the infirmary, Mizuri—sensei, and Kyoko, that is, Ame-san, will look after me.

Mizuki-sensei looked at the couple, glanced at Hideki's desk, at the nervously silent class, and nodded hesitantly:

— Okay. Be careful.

Hideki looked around the classroom once more:

"We'll be very careful, Mizuri-sensei.

***

Yesterday's weakness infuriated Haire, and he decided to "talk" with Hideki alone, not really, however, hoping that he would come. He had a number since the beginning of the year — then everyone in the class exchanged numbers.

— Half an hour before the first lesson. In the forest park west of the school. And if I don't get to school on time, a message to my parents with pictures of bullying will go away. And come alone. Or is it scary?

— I'm not afraid of you, don't shit yourself! Haire hung up the phone.

Anpan-kun was incredibly infuriating to Haire even before recent events. No, while he was an awkward, quiet, fat man who was constantly used as a target for fake confessions, he even sympathized with the fat man in some ways. But he stopped sympathizing at the very moment when Anpan-kun not only dared to agree to Ame-san's fake confession but also had even more audacity to start dragging her on dates, which she didn't really resist. When, under pressure, Kyoko finally broke up with him, and then for a very short time, and then got back together on her initiative, Haire began to hate him. And also… Hideki himself has changed. He stopped looking down. He began to look very neat, even though he had chosen clothes well before. Lately, I've been wearing some dude vest with unfamiliar symbols. Fortunately, the school rules did not prohibit this. And yesterday, he looked cool… And it's scary. And it was worth paying for this fear. He will come alone. But this does not mean that it will help the fat man. He can handle it on his own.

— What did you want to talk about? Hideki appeared behind him completely unexpectedly.

"And where did he come from? Haire thought. — However, it doesn't matter..."

Haire turned to Hideki, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the same taser that he had used to knock Hideki unconscious not so long ago. The arrows flew a couple of meters between them and stuck into Hideki's jacket. The discharge should have already passed, but, to Haire's surprise, for some reason, it did not happen. The hateful fat man just smiled and didn't even attempt to escape or attack. Haire, with his hands trembling from the strain, at least he wanted to think that from the strain, inserted the last cartridge. Hideki, still smiling, walked forward. Haire used the taser once more; the arrows seemed to stick into Hideki's vest. And again, there was no reaction other than Hideki's raised eyebrows. Hideki walked a few steps between them and grinned:

— Is it not working, Lin-san?

In desperation, Khair punched Anpan-kun in the stomach, and it turned out somehow weak; even though Anpan-kun's stomach seemed to sway, Anpan-kun himself stood as if there was no blow.

— Kr-r-r-r, — Khair heard the sound of the blade of the "stationery" knife being extended and froze. It became scary to make at least one extra move. He had specially chosen a place without cameras and with unlikely witnesses to meet Anpan-kun, and now he regretted it terribly. Haire felt a sharp pain on his cheek, just like the day before when Hideki threatened him in class.

— Yesterday, after our "conversation," my textbook was ruined. I promised. If you don't want to walk around all the time like a first—grader smashing his forehead and cheeks, stop your "cunning" hangers-on. Please do what you want, chat about what you want, but... away from Kyoko and me.

The name Ame-san uttered by that bastard was like another knife in Haire's heart. But destroyed mentally and physically, he nodded unconsciously, hating himself for it.

"That's great, Lin-san. Anpankun closed the knife with the same screech as when he opened it, which made Haire shudder.

Anpan-kun turned his back on Haire, and Haire could theoretically attack him if it weren't for the slightly trembling legs. If not for the sharp, if almost transformed, pain in his cheek. If only nervous overexertion didn't make my eyes swim. Khair closed his eyes and tried to regain his ragged breathing after a long run. Then he looked at his cell phone. CSR!

Hideki was afraid… And even a little more. Perhaps I was even afraid. But he still hoped that he had intimidated Khaire enough so that he would not attack from behind. And showing Tom his back was important — for Hideki it was a symbol, a sign that he was not afraid.

And Khair couldn't, he didn't have the strength to attack. His almost unaccountable fear of Anpan-kun, the fear that he wanted to overcome, only intensified.

Haire came to his senses exactly so as not to be late and hurried to school. The school greeted him with a hole in the fence, students rushing to class and met at the shoe locker by the also almost late jerk Motoyama.

— Hi, Haire-kun and I told this fat guy yesterday... — Motoyama noticed another scratch on Haire's face and fell silent, then asked, a little confused, — Haire-kun, are you okay?

"You can see for yourself," Haire muttered, hating himself, Anpan-kun, that idiot Motoyama, and everything else. Himself for cowardice, and on several points at once, and for not confessing to Ame-san from the very beginning of the year, for so stupidly deciding to create a "suitable case" using Anpan-kun, which turned out to be such a fiasco. And for the fact that he is now, he could admit it to himself, frankly afraid. Although he exposed himself, and why the taser didn't work is unclear, Anpan-kun used the opportunity to the fullest. This fat man turned out to be frostbitten enough to attack him and smart enough not to leave any evidence. And quite strong. This asshole is also stronger than him!

And now he needed a way out. Opportunity. At least something that allows you not to get involved in a confrontation with this dangerous fat man, but so that it does not look like it really is. That he was scared. That he's almost scared shitless of this fat man and his "stationery knife."

Motoyama was talking, but Haire needed to listen to him.

He needs something unpleasant for Anpan-kun. Something offending. But without a direct collision.

"Haire—kun, Haire-kun, aren't you talking to me?"

— I'm talking.

"That's not true, Haire-kun. The resentment was clearly reflected on Motoyama's face, "You're ignoring me. It's not out of friendship, Haire-kun. You can't ignore your friends.

— Friends cannot be ignored. But not friends... — Haire finally had an idea — Motoyama, you're a genius!

— Yes, I am like that, Haire-kun, — he made a proud pose, — I can! And what did I do?