Chapter 12
"I'm not the talkative type," Ethan Kane said coolly.
But inwardly, he noted the name Saki Kawasaki. Quiet, silver-haired, distant. She kept to herself and carried the aura of someone who didn't want to be approached.
Interesting, he thought. Potential treasure chest candidate.
---
"Let's move on," said Shizuka Hiratsuka, shifting her tone slightly. "I heard you're getting along well with Rikka Takanashi."
Ethan nodded. "We're friends."
"Rikka… she's a good kid," Hiratsuka said softly. "Simple-hearted. But her 'Evil King's True Eye' persona isolates her. Her chuunibyou makes the others keep their distance."
"I've tried everything to help her let go of it, but it's not working. Since you're her age, I thought maybe… you could help her move on."
Ethan's answer came without hesitation. "I won't let anyone bully her. But I'm not helping her 'move on.'"
That made Hiratsuka frown.
"Why not?"
"What's wrong with chuunibyou?" Ethan replied, straight-faced.
"It's not aligned with social norms."
"No two leaves in the world are exactly alike. Why should we all be expected to fall in line with 'normal'?"
"But what about when she graduates?" Hiratsuka pressed. "Will she go into the workplace introducing herself as the wielder of the Evil King's True Eye?"
"I told everyone I'm a Sharingan user."
"…I'm being serious."
"So am I."
Ethan's face was entirely sincere.
He wasn't joking—he really did have the Sharingan.
---
"Tch… you really want to argue today, don't you?" Hiratsuka's fists clenched in frustration.
"You're getting flustered again, Sensei."
He gave her a challenging smile. "Go ahead. Hit me if it'll make you feel better."
"You little—!" she growled.
"I swear, I'll punch you even if it gets me fired!"
She lashed out, rage fueling her fist—
—but Ethan caught her punch midair. Effortlessly.
---
"…What?"
Her eyes widened.
That punch could knock a grown man flat. She'd used it on plenty of misbehaving delinquents.
But Ethan had caught it like it was nothing.
---
[Ding~]
[Treasure Chest Holder Detected: Shizuka Hiratsuka]
[Extract?]
→ Extract!
---
[S-Rank Treasure Chest: Armament Haki]
Provides powerful offensive and defensive energy. The user's body hardens like armor, and the power can also be channeled into attacks.
Excellent. Another essential skill.
This had been his plan all along.
Ethan had provoked her on purpose—just enough to make physical contact.
---
"You… what are you touching?!"
Hiratsuka's voice cracked.
She yanked her hand back, flustered and angry. But also… embarrassed?
Ethan blinked. She's almost thirty and has never even held hands with a man?
"The grip—ahem, the sensor on that treasure chest was excellent."
"…I was kidding," he added quickly, when he saw her going red with fury.
---
"Ugh. I finally get it," she muttered.
There was a complicated look in her eyes now.
One girl says she has the Evil King's True Eye.
One boy claims he has the Sharingan.
Both eccentric.
But only one was ostracized.
Takanashi Rikka was bullied.
Ethan Kane was admired.
It wasn't about chuunibyou.
It was about strength.
People bully those who are weak. The condition is just an excuse.
If Rikka had Ethan's confidence—or his presence—no one would dare touch her.
"…Fine. I'll leave her in your care."
---
Class 2-J was buzzing with gossip.
"Did you hear what happened with Ethan Kane and Yotsuya Miko from Class B?"
"I know, right? My friend was on that bus! Said they were hugging!"
"Wait, wasn't Yukino Yukinoshita there too? Are they… in a triangle or something?"
"This is huge!"
Rumors had spread like wildfire.
---
Sagami Minami strolled over to Rikka Takanashi, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Hey, Little Bird~"
"You heard, right? Looks like Ethan Kane is popular."
"Guess you're not so special."
Rikka didn't flinch.
"The contract between me and Ethan is sacred," she said with unshakable calm.
"Those who break the pact shall be punished by being turned to stone and eaten by rocks."
A few girls snorted.
"Contract? Please. You're still going on with that chuunibyou garbage?"
"You've got a lot of nerve calling him 'Ethan' so casually."
"You trying to seduce him, you little birdbrain?"
The mean-spirited giggling picked up as Sagami's clique circled Rikka like vultures.
"I—I didn't…" Rikka whispered, her voice trembling.
---
Yuigahama Yui winced.
"This is too cruel…"
But she didn't have the courage to speak up.
Instead, she looked at Miura Yumiko, hoping her friend would intervene.
Yumiko frowned. "Don't look at me."
"She's not part of our group. Why should I stick my neck out for her?"
---
Across the room, Hayato Hayama tensed.
He wanted to step in—but he'd tried something like this before. Years ago, when Yukino was bullied, he had spoken up.
And he'd made things worse.
Now, he hesitated.
And as usual—everyone else chose silence.
---
Tch. Can't take this anymore…
Hachiman Hikigaya was about to rise from his seat when—
A quiet voice spoke.
"If that was a joke, it wasn't funny."
The whole class froze.
It was calm. Clear.
And unfamiliar.
---
All eyes turned.
Megumi Kato stepped forward, her expression serene.
"Bullying a classmate isn't something to laugh about."
Even Hachiman blinked. Wait—who said that?
"Who even are you?" Sagami scoffed. "Mind your own business!"
She squinted. "Wait… Ghana? No—wait, who are you?"
Even her lackeys were confused.
---
Rikka looked up with new light in her eyes.
"A hidden saint," she whispered.
---
Megumi blinked. "A what?"
"…Ghana? Secret saint? I don't think that's right either."
She rubbed her temple, half-amused, half-exasperated.
---
End of Chapter 12
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