Chapter 13: Debt

The Hajime Sudo in the anime and this Hajime Sudo are one and the same—a petty guy who hold grudges. However, in the anime, Sudo was forced to quietly transfer elsewhere without daring to retaliate against the protagonist. Why? Because certain female leads stood firmly behind the protagonist, offering their unwavering support. With their influence and backing, neither Sudo nor his powerful father could make a move.

But right now in Hayato's case, he stands alone. No allies, no backing—he has to face his problems head-on, relying solely on himself. Thankfully, the recording of Sudo and his lackeys before they began chasing him was more than enough evidence to put Sudo behind bars. If Hayato played his cards right and went straight to the police station, he could ensure his own safety and Sudo's men wouldn't even dare lay a finger on him.

However, that safety would only be temporary. It wouldn't take long for Sudo to secure bail, thanks to his father's influence. And given how petty he is, there's no doubt he'd come back to cause trouble for Hayato and anyone close to him. That's why Hayato can't settle for half-measures. He has to pull the problem out by its roots. Without its foundation, the tree is as good as dead.

To Hayato, scum like Sudo and his family deserve nothing less. They're a cancer to society. The main characters in the anime had handled them poorly, irresponsibly brushing the problem aside instead of eradicating it. Wherever Sudo and his family go, they'll remain the same, repeating their vile ways.

And above all else, Sudo had the audacity to bare his fangs at those Hayato holds dear. That alone was unforgivable. Hayato is livid—there's no way he's letting Sudo get off easy with a simple transfer. No, Sudo has to pay the price for his arrogance, and that price won't come cheap.

The recording from earlier was nothing more than bait—a carefully crafted trap to lure Sudo in. It wasn't meant to solve the problem, but to bring him right where Hayato wanted him. Here the real fun begins.

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The next day, the crimes of the Hajime family dominated the news, sparking a massive public uproar. It was everywhere—on television, social media, even the front page of major newspapers, emblazoned with the headline: "A Righteous Son Who Exposed His Own Family's Corruption."

The public's perception of Sudo underwent a complete reversal overnight.

"Wow, I never knew Sudo was such a noble guy."

"I think we really misunderstood him."

"That photo of him with those thugs has to be fake."

Praise poured in from every corner, and his previous bad reputation was rapidly fading, buried under this new image of a selfless whistleblower.

But so what? Sudo wasn't in any condition to bask in their admiration. He was holed up in his house, popping painkillers to dull the agony in his stomach. The fear in his heart was far worse. What if he ran into him again? What if he met that devil? Sudo didn't want to step outside. The very thought made his blood run cold.

As if that weren't enough, his family's downfall was absolute. With their crimes laid bare, his parents were arrested, their curses echoing in his mind: "We should never have given birth to you!"

Their businesses? Seized by the authorities. The remainder devoured by rival companies. Their illicit wealth confiscated, leaving them with massive fines that plunged them into debt.

And Sudo? He was left with nothing. No family, no money. Just this crumbling house, the last remnant of his once-privileged life. But even that wouldn't last. If he couldn't pay off the debts, it would soon be taken from him too.

In just a single day, his entire world had collapsed—all because of one damn high school student.

The following day, yet another shocking headline swept across the city, igniting conversations everywhere:

"Former Business Heir, Hajime Sudo, Admitted to Mental Hospital Amid Psychological Breakdown."

According to reports, Sudo had barricaded himself in his room, completely consumed by trauma. He refused to meet anyone, and when someone tried to enter his space, he lashed out violently, acting out of pure fear. His condition had deteriorated to the point where he couldn't even form coherent sentences or explain himself.

Citing his inability to function normally and the severe mental strain he was under, professionals deemed it necessary to transfer him to a mental hospital for treatment.

Speculation spread like wildfire, with theories about his downfall ranging from guilt over his family's crimes to public shame, but the truth? Only one person knew.

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"Hey, just to be safe, you don't have anything to do with the news about Hajime, right?" Misaki asked hesitantly, a hint of worry in her voice. Her eyes lingered on Hayato, who sat there with a cheerful expression, as if the chaos surrounding the Sudo family didn't exist.

Hayato turned toward her, tilting his head slightly, his smile never faltering. "What do you mean?" he replied innocently, his tone light.

Misaki blinked, her initial doubt slowly fading. 'Right... what could he possibly do? I'm just overthinking it,' she thought, shaking her head and dismissing her concerns.

If only she knew. Nobody would ever suspect him. To the police, Hayato was nothing more than Sudo's messenger, delivering the so-called evidence that triggered the investigation. There wasn't a single visible injury on Sudo to suggest torture, and his confession seemed entirely voluntary. The narrative was clear—Sudo couldn't bear the guilt and exposed everything on his own.

Hayato leaned back in his chair, confident that nothing could go wrong. After all, how do you think he maintained his school life in his previous world despite constantly being involved in violence? He wasn't just brute strength—his cunning mind had always been his greatest weapon.

And if, only if, by some slim chance, something did go wrong, he had a backup plan. A plan he hoped he'd never have to use.

Misaki sighed, leaning back slightly. "Anyway, did something happen between you and Takahashi? I feel like she's been avoiding you."

Hayato paused, her words sinking in. Now that she mentioned it, he could sense it too. Takahashi hadn't called him for any more study sessions, and whenever he tried to talk to her, she would dodge him with some excuse or quickly change the subject.

His brows furrowed slightly as he thought back. 'Did I do something wrong?' he wondered, but no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't recall anything that could've upset her. Had he made some mistake unintentionally?

"I think she's getting conscious of you," Misaki whispered, a sly grin spreading across her face as she nudged his side. "This is your chance! Take her somewhere nice, like on a date, and confess to her."

Her tone carried a hint of excitement, almost as if she were more invested in the idea than Hayato himself.

Hayato sighed after a brief pause, running a hand through his hair. "Like I said, I don't—"

His words were cut off by the buzzing of his phone. Glancing at the screen, he saw a new message notification. Opening it, he read Yuka's message:

"Meet me on the rooftop alone after school. I have something important to talk about."

Hayato stared at the message for a moment, his mind turning. Something important? he wondered, tilting his head slightly. What could Yuka possibly want to talk about?

The rooftop was technically off-limits to students, a rule enforced for obvious reasons, but the door was never locked. For those who dared to sneak in, it offered an escape—an open sky, far removed from the noise below.

As Hayato stepped onto the rooftop, the soft glow of the late afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm golden hue. The wind whispered gently, carrying with it the faint scent of blossoms from the school garden below.

Yuka stood near the fence, her figure framed against the endless expanse of sky. Her hair catching the sunlight and shimmering like threads of silk. The hem of her skirt swayed slightly, mirroring the gentle rhythm of the wind. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The scene was serene, almost surreal, as if pulled straight from the pages of a dream. For a moment, Hayato found himself simply watching her, the beauty of the moment rendering him silent.

Noticing his arrival, Yuka turned toward him, her movements soft and deliberate. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture so natural yet somehow captivating in the golden light. "Thank you for coming," she said, her voice barely audible over the gentle breeze.

Hayato blinked, snapping out of his brief daze. Clearing his throat, he stepped closer, his usual composure returning. "No problem," he replied casually, though his curiosity lingered in his tone. "Anyway, what do you want to talk about?"

Yuka turned her gaze to the side, her eyes fixed on some distant point beyond the horizon. Her voice was soft, as she began, "There's something that's been bothering me for the past few days... It's always on my mind, and I can't focus on my studies because of it. I don't like this feeling."

Hayato stood still, the seriousness in her tone pulling him in. He listened intently as Yuka continued, her hands clenching slightly at her sides.

"You've already done so much for me, more than I could have ever asked for," she said, her voice carrying a mixture of gratitude and hesitation. "I don't know how I could ever repay you... but even so, I need to ask for one last selfish thing."

She turned to face him fully, her eyes meeting his, the sunlight reflecting a glimmer of vulnerability in them. "Will you listen to my request?"

Hayato nodded silently, sensing the weight of her words. This wasn't something lighthearted. Whatever she was about to say mattered deeply to her.

Yuka paused, her chest rising and falling as she took a deep breath to steady herself. Her voice was quieter now but resolute, "I want you to reject me right now."

Hayato's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the unexpected request. But before he could respond, she continued, her words spilling out like a confession she had been holding back.

"Because... it seems I'm starting to like you romantically."

Her words lingered in the air, carried by the wind that swept gently across the rooftop. It was as if the entire world had gone silent, waiting for his answer.

Yet Hayato stood frozen, his mind racing as Yuka's words echoed in his head. 'Yuka likes me?' How could this happen? He had only saved her once—was that really enough to make her fall for him? It didn't seem possible. Hayato didn't think so. Then again, what did he know? It wasn't like he was an expert on love.

In the anime, Yuka only fell for the protagonist after countless moments of support, after relying on him through her tough times. But this wasn't the anime anymore. They weren't following a script, and the possibilities were no longer confined to what he knew. This was reality, unpredictable and untamed.

Still, none of that mattered now. Yuka had already asked for an answer, one she clearly expected. And Hayato knew what he had to say.

It wasn't that he didn't like her—if anything, he admired her. Truth be told, Hayato liked every female lead in this anime. They were all so incredibly likable, Yuka included. But he isn't enough. She deserved more. She had a bright future ahead of her, full of endless opportunities and possibilities.

On the other hand, Hayato was just... him. A guy who is only good at fighting and not much else. Who would want a boyfriend like that? He didn't see himself as worthy of someone like Yuka. He was already content that she treat him kindly.

Yuka deserved someone better, someone who she could truly rely on and make her happy. Not him.

Taking a deep breath, Hayato bowed slightly, his voice steady but laced with an undeniable softness. "I'm sorry," he said, meeting her gaze briefly before lowering his eyes. "I don't like you romantically."

A heavy silence fell between them, the kind that seemed to amplify every sound—the faint rustling of the wind, the distant hum of life far below the rooftop. Yuka stood there, unmoving, as if trying to process everything at once.

Yuka noticed something, Hayato hadn't just gone along with her request. He didn't simply reject her because she'd asked him to. No, he had genuinely, truly rejected her.

"I see," she said, her voice steady but faint, as though it might shatter if she spoke any louder. "Thank you. You can leave first."

Hayato nodded silently, not knowing what else to say. He turned and made his way back down the rooftop stairs, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Yuka stayed behind, standing alone under the vast sky. She tilted her head back, gazing up at the endless expanse of blue. Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, "Everything went well. I can finally get rid of these feelings and focus on my goal. This... this is for the best."

Her voice faltered, and her hands slowly rose to her chest. She placed one over her heart, clutching softly, as if trying to steady the ache spreading through her.

"Then why? Why does my heart hurt so much?"

The wind swept by, carrying her unspoken pain away into the open sky, but the ache within her refused to leave. She stood there for a while, alone with the bitter weight of her first ever heartbreak, though she herself doesn't realized that.

As Hayato walked out of the school building, his gaze instinctively flicked up to the rooftop, where Yuka had just poured her heart out. He shook his head, trying to shake off any lingering thoughts. "No, don't think about it," he told himself, "That was the best for her. She doesn't need to be tangled with someone like me. She can focus on her future now, on her own goals."

But just as he tried to push it all away, a familiar sound interrupted his thoughts—the notification of an incoming message. He checked his phone, expecting something trivial, but when he saw the sender's name, his heart skipped a beat.

It was from Yuka.

"Sorry for all this trouble, we can do our study session tomorrow."

He stared at the message in disbelief. What?

Unable to hold back his confusion, he quickly typed out a reply. "I thought we weren't going to talk anymore."

The response came almost immediately, as if she had been waiting for him to check his phone. "What are you talking about? I still have my debt to repay you. And I'll tell you the place later. Bye."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Hayato's lips. Debt? He had never thought of it that way, though knowing Yuka's personality it's understandable. Anyway, seeing her message brought a strange warmth to his chest. He typed back a simple farewell, feeling oddly lighter than he had in days.