Chapter 266: Violence Appears

"Um… that's my seat."

"Ah, I see. My bad."

Rinji picked up his bag and stood.

Her timid eyes made her stand out from the rest of the classroom. She clearly wasn't one of the hardcore gamblers.

Finally, someone in this school who didn't look like they deserved a punch.

Her tag had her name on it.

"You're… Nanami Tsubomi?"

"Yes..."

Her voice was so soft it sounded like she was afraid of him.

"I see. Nanami, is there any empty seat around here? I just transferred in as an exchange student today and—"

"I'll get one for you right away!"

"Wait—"

Before he could finish, Nanami had already rushed out of the room, seemingly to fetch a desk for him.

Given how small she was, it'd probably be tough for her to carry a desk.

"Hmm… looks like there are some helpful people in this school after all. Not everyone's a degenerate gambler. That's a bit of a relief."

Rinji nodded to himself and began wandering the classroom.

Most students were still absorbed in their games, but a few who'd finished began to notice the unfamiliar uniform Rinji was wearing.

"Hey, where are you from?"

"Shuchiin Academy."

"Shuchiin? What are you doing at Hyakkaou?"

"Beats me. Your student council president—Kirari Momobami, I think—tricked me into coming."

"Th-The president invited you?"

The whole room went quiet after that comment.

Once they heard he was invited by the president, everyone shifted their focus to Rinji.

Of course, in that brief moment, a few sneaky students took the chance to swap out their cards—so fast that even Rinji was impressed.

So this school didn't just have gamblers. It had cheaters too.

"Yeah. That crazy woman dragged me here from Shuchiin. Probably for some stupid reason."

Everyone looked shocked that he would speak so bluntly about their revered president. Rinji didn't care.

"Anyway, from now on, I'm one of your classmates. Let's all try to get along. Or don't. Either way is fine."

"What should we call you?"

"Just call me Rinji."

"Alright, Rinji." A few friendly students came up with smiles. "Are you good at gambling?"

"Yeah, since the president brought you here, you must be amazing at it, right?"

"No. I hate gambling," Rinji said.

"Uh…"

The air in the room changed. Their eyes were full of disdain.

Apparently, not being good at gambling was a mark of shame here.

Rinji couldn't care less what they thought. He never planned on fitting in.

Their opinion of him was meaningless.

He thought about sitting down to play with his phone again, but remembered he didn't have a desk yet. Nanami hadn't returned.

"Tch, Nanami's taking forever."

He figured it was tough for such a small girl to carry a desk, so he stepped out to look for her.

Halfway down the hall, he realized something.

"...Damn, I forgot to ask her where to get a desk."

Just as he turned around, he spotted Nanami through a hallway window.

She stood trembling, unsure what to do. A desk lay on the ground beside her.

Three boys blocked her path, sneering.

"What… what do you want?"

"You really don't know?"

One of them laughed. The other two followed.

"You haven't paid us this month."

"I… I gave it to Midoto already…" Nanami said, frightened, backing away.

"That was his share. Where's ours?"

"I… I have no money left…"

"Then scam someone. Or get into compensated dating," one of them snapped, grabbing her collar. "You're livestock. Act like it. Do what you're told."

Their laughter grew as Nanami's face twisted in fear and helplessness.

Many students stood around watching. Not one tried to help. Some even snickered.

This was Hyakkaou Private Academy—a school of madness.

"But…"

Smack!

Nanami tried to speak, but one of the boys slapped her.

"Get the money or I'll sell you to a brothel."

The pain and hopelessness made her shut her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

This school was pure despair for her.

"What are you standing around for? Move—"

Before he could finish, a hand grabbed his wrist mid-swing, stopping him cold.

He turned around, annoyed.

The hand belonged to a student in a black uniform.

A guy… probably.

"Hey, you're—"

"Nanami, thanks for bringing my desk." Rinji let go of the boy's wrist and walked to Nanami's side, lifting the desk. "Sorry for making you do that. I should've known it was too heavy for you."

"No, I didn't—"

"Hey!!"

The boy was clearly displeased with Rinji's interruption. He grabbed Rinji by the collar and shouted, "Who the hell are you? Can't you see I'm talking to this 'livestock' here?"

Rinji didn't respond. He silently set the desk down, pulled a ballpoint pen from his pocket, and removed the cap.

"Hang in there, classmate."

"Huh? AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!"

With a scream, Rinji drove the pen straight toward the boy's eye.