"Well, then, we'll take our leave, Mr. Tougou, please carry on with your business."
Hayato brought his fingers to his forehead, making a 'not interested' gesture: "Bye-bye now."
With that, he was about to drag Nanao Akane away by the wrist.
"I don't think this is any of your business, is it?" Tougou said gruffly, stepping two or three paces forward, trying to block their path.
Tougou also knew that in this situation, he certainly couldn't do anything to Nanao Akane.
But to let them leave so easily, wouldn't he become like a lamb to be kneaded at will? How could that be?
"Huh?" Hayato.
"That guy..." Tougou pointed a thick finger at Nanao Akane, who was hiding behind Hayato, "is the manager of our Baseball Club. Isn't it perfectly normal for her to come out with me to purchase things? What are you, to dare meddle in our Baseball Club's affairs?"
"..." Hayato scratched his head.
This brat makes a lot of sense.
He was often speechless.
Tougou's smile was somewhat sinister,
"And Nanao... if the shopping doesn't go smoothly today, the 'members' of the Baseball Club probably won't be able to train properly, and then the upcoming tournament might not go well."
"...This... Hmm, ah..." Nanao Akane instinctively nodded.
Tougou said 'members,' but the first and foremost among them was definitely Shouya.
Tougou used this as a threat.
And it was true that Nanao Akane was the manager and Tougou was the coach, so it was reasonable for them to go out together to purchase things for the Baseball Club.
"If you know that, why aren't you coming over here quickly?" Tougou waved at Akane.
Nanao Akane lowered her eyes.
Tougou watched the girl's expression with satisfaction.
Indeed, Hayato had his recording, but he had warned him that 'if he did anything else to Nanao Akane, he would release the recording,' meaning that as long as Tougou finished what he was doing, he wouldn't say anything, and then he would threaten Nanao Akane to keep quiet.
He could even have the latter falsify a testimony that 'Mr. Tougou never came looking for me again,' and then, with that guy kept in the dark, he naturally wouldn't care about the recording anymore.
As for threatening people...
Heh heh.
Tougou licked his rough lips with his large tongue. Had he done such things any less often?
"Ah, Akane." Hayato suddenly seemed to remember something, "Aren't you having a stomachache?"
"...Huh, huh?"
Nanao Akane looked up, somewhat puzzled, at him.
"I said, you have a stomachache." Hayato repeated each word clearly.
"I didn't..." Nanao Akane originally wanted to deny it.
A fierce glint suddenly flashed in Hayato's eyes, freezing the expression on Nanao Akane's ice-cold beauty face. About two or three seconds later, she instinctively nodded,
"Yes... I, I have a stomachache."
"That's it then." Hayato waved his hand at Tougou again: "If she has a stomachache, then she can't go shopping, right? Goodbye, Mr. Tougou, I'm taking her home~"
"You bastard!" Coach Tougou gritted his teeth, "What nonsense are you talking about again!"
"No way, no way." Hayato blinked his innocent eyes: "Mr. Tougou, are you going to make a girl with a stomachache work? If word gets out, this is corporal punishment..."
So what if it's corporal punishment!
Tougou had done worse things before! But of course, such things couldn't be said openly... Tougou didn't want to lose his job again.
He slightly reined in his anger and instead smiled:
"Since she's the manager of my Baseball Club, if she's not feeling well, I, as her teacher, should be the one to send her back..."
"But, Mr. Tougou, don't you have very important errands to run?" Hayato asked with a warm smile, "You also said that if you don't complete today's errands, the Baseball Club members won't be able to train properly… You should mind your own business…"
"..."
Tougou watched Hayato pull Nanao Akane past him. When their shoulders were parallel, he really wanted to turn around and punch that brat in the face, to teach him not to meddle in adult affairs.
But he could only suppress his anger.
Although there weren't many pedestrians here, there were still some. If he made a move, he would definitely be surrounded. It would be a minor issue if he got expelled from school; he might even be invited to eat state-provided meals for a few days.
However, when their two bodies were parallel, Tougou didn't move. Instead, Hayato turned around and extended his right hand:
"You've worked hard, Tougou Sensei. See you at school later."
Tougou was slightly stunned. He looked at Hayato's palm, then smiled sinisterly: "…In that case, we'll see each other at school."
He also extended his hand and shook Hayato's.
What a slender palm, Tougou thought brutally. If he used a little force, his bones would probably deform, right?
While he couldn't go that far, he could still make this kid suffer a bit… The handshake etiquette between adults isn't that simple!
"...Anshi Masayuki?" Nanao Akane was startled. She already knew Tougou was going to play a dirty trick!
Mr. Tougou's nickname 'Gorilla' wasn't just because of his appearance; his grip strength was also unmatched!!
But, the next moment, Nanao Akane saw that,
Hayato didn't move a muscle.
But Tougou's face turned purplish-blue.
At the same time, the veins on his sturdy arm bulged like gnarled earthworms.
Fantasy Killer.
Your right arm is slightly thicker than others by a tiny bit.
Hayato maintained a faint smile. He leaned his head towards Tougou's ear:
"If you follow me, I'll kill you."
!!"
Tougou's body trembled.
With his personality, he wouldn't normally take such a threat from a high school student to heart. But… it sounded like he was telling the truth.
Tougou even vaguely saw the moment he was killed. What, what was going on!?
Nonsense lv.5 skill activated.
Making a bad man's words credible.
Hayato let go, and Tougou's palm was already red.
"Let's go."
Hayato pulled Nanao Akane and walked in the opposite direction.
Hayato's steps were fast; he wanted to leave this place quickly.
And Nanao Akane was stunned again and again. Before she could recover from her shock, her steps suddenly quickened, causing her to almost trip over her own feet.
Although she didn't fall from the stumble, her nose accidentally bumped into Hayato's back.
"…Sorry," Nanao Akane said softly.
Hayato seemed not to hear, still quickening his pace.
Nanao Akane could just see the boy's side profile, glowing white under the sunlight.
His eyelashes were so long, and his nose was so straight…
Were there such good-looking boys in school?
Nanao Akane thought, then quickly shook her head, No no no no!!
How could I think such things! He, he's not Shouya… He, he, he, he's just…
Recalling the fierce Strong Person's Gaze Hayato had shown when confronting Tougou, Nanao Akane's legs couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Her heart began to pound excitedly.
At the same time, she saw her wrist still being held by Hayato, and a blush immediately spread across her fair face.
"Wait… Masayuki-kun…" she said.
But Hayato still seemed not to hear.