novelhk Page 16
Page 16
The anger in Kikuchi Yumi's heart was extinguished instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, leaving only cold ashes.
Her body trembled slightly with anger and humiliation as she glanced at her two former "friends".
They tacitly looked away, pretending to be focused on their textbooks or looking out the window, acting as if it were none of their business.
How could they not know?
Yumi Kikuchi knew very well what was going on.
Perhaps they just stand aside, watching others scribble on her table, just as she used to lead them in doing to others.
"Ha ha……"
Kikuchi Yumi let out a heavy sigh, feeling the air become thick and sticky, and even inhaling it stung her lungs.
She couldn't stay in this place for another second.
She turned around abruptly and rushed out of the classroom almost as if fleeing, afraid that if she hesitated even a moment longer, her tears would burst forth uncontrollably.
She would never allow herself to show weakness in front of anyone.
Just as she rushed out of the classroom, she seemed to vaguely hear a burst of laughter erupting inside, mixed with some harsh comments.
They must be laughing at me...
She was so sure because she had been the one laughing in the classroom during the same scene.
Retribution?
This thought made her run even faster, almost stumbling as she sprinted up the stairs until she reached the empty rooftop.
The door to the rooftop was ajar and unlocked.
Looking at the sky peeking through the crack in the door, a crazy thought instantly coiled around her heart like a vine.
Why don't we just jump from here?
How could she possibly endure living like this every day from now on?
The seemingly reasonable option of transferring schools didn't even cross her mind in her extreme emotional state.
When a person is on the verge of collapse, their thinking often gets stuck in a rut, stubbornly believing that the only "way out" is right in front of them, even if that way leads to destruction.
She pushed open the iron gate, and a spring breeze carrying a salty, damp scent swept over her.
The green protective netting in front of us is about three meters high.
She should be able to climb over that height if she puts in the effort.
Jumping from here would definitely cause trouble for many people.
Driven by a sense of self-destructive revenge, she began to climb upwards using both her hands and feet.
"twitter--"
Several sparrows, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, suddenly began circling and chirping above her head, even attempting to approach, disturbing her concentration.
"Get out of here! You bastards!"
Kikuchi Yumi screamed in a tearful voice, "Does even these insignificant little birds dare to bully her?"
"Fuck them all!"
She cursed as she climbed even more laboriously upwards.
"Hey kid! What do you think you're doing?!"
Qingze rushed up to the rooftop, holding a brand-new padlock in his hand.
Fortunately, to prevent the worst-case scenario from happening, he had Sparrow keep a close watch on him, which allowed him to arrive in time.
If the student were to jump, Yatohime would be in big trouble.
"Leave me alone, let me die!"
Yumi Kikuchi cried out, but her movements did not stop.
How could Qingze possibly listen to her? He took a step forward, grabbed the back of her shirt collar, and pulled it down forcefully.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm your teacher, how could I just stand by and watch you do something stupid!"
With a "thud," Yumi Kikuchi fell to the ground on the cement floor.
Although her buttocks were fleshy and provided some cushioning, the dull pain from her tailbone still made her cry even harder.
She choked back tears and said, "I'm finished. What's the point of living?"
"What happened?"
Qingze squatted down, softened his tone, and began to act as a caring older brother.
Yumi Kikuchi sobbed, recounting her ordeal in broken sentences. "...How could they do this to me?!"
Finally, her tone was full of grievance and accusation.
Qingze said calmly, "Before criticizing others, you might as well think about whether you have offered a helping hand when you saw others in similar situations in the past?"
Yumi Kikuchi was stunned.
She not only didn't offer any help, she was the one in charge.
“If you haven’t done it,” Qingze’s voice was low but clear, “then you have no right to criticize their current behavior.”
"..."
Yumi Kikuchi fell silent.
"The law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, is cruel. Those who believe in it will one day be crushed by a more powerful being."
Qingze continued, "Only by abandoning the indifferent attitude and learning to help and care for others can we truly help them."
Only when you encounter difficulties yourself are you likely to find someone willing to step forward and help you.
"Can I become that kind of person?"
Yumi Kikuchi felt completely lost.
Qingze reached out and gently ruffled her hair, saying in a gentle tone, "You even have the courage to jump, so why don't you have the courage to live and strive to become that kind of person?"
"I...I've done many wrong things in the past..."
There is a saying in Buddhism: "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."
Qingze smiled encouragingly. "I believe that as long as you truly want to change and are willing to atone for your past mistakes, you will definitely be able to do it."
These words struck Kikuchi Yumi's heart like a heavy hammer.
The bright red "Goblin" tag above her head fluctuated violently before merging into a beam of red light that shot into Qingze's brow.
A familiar warmth flowed through his body, making Qingze's smile even more genuine.
Yumi Kikuchi nodded emphatically, wiped away her tears, and a glimmer of light returned to her eyes: "Teacher, I understand!"
"As long as you know."
Qingze smiled.
Experiencing major upheavals can indeed change a person's character and worldview.
But how long this change will last depends on one's own fate.
Anyway, he has already achieved his main goal.
……
When Yumi Kikuchi returned to the classroom, the break between classes was not yet over.
She silently took out tissues from her schoolbag and carefully wiped the dried stains on the stool, then vigorously wiped away the graffiti on the table.
Fortunately, those who played the pranks were afraid of being discovered by the teacher, so they used easily erasable ink.
After all this was done, the school bell rang.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus her attention on the class.
After the first class in the afternoon, she sat in her seat, not leaving immediately as usual, but lost in thought. Should I apologize to the people I bullied in the past?
How should I start?
Just as she was struggling with her decision, the previously noisy classroom suddenly quieted down, as if a teacher had walked in.
She subconsciously turned her head to look at the doorway.
The one who walked in was the blond first-year student.
Despite being just a junior, her appearance caused the air in the entire second-year class to freeze instantly, filling the room with a silent fear.
Kikuchi Yumi's heart, which had just calmed down a little, suddenly raced again, and a panic gripped her instantly.
She didn't stand up, not because she suddenly had a backbone, but because her legs were too weak to move.
Yato-hime walked straight to her desk without stopping and stopped.
A shadow descended.
Chapter 20 Three-Headed Dog of Hell
Boom, boom, boom.
Yumi Kikuchi could clearly hear her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Fear mixed with an indescribable tension made her freeze in her chair, like a prisoner awaiting final judgment.
Yato-hime glanced down at her with an indifferent look, and calmly asked a question that surprised the entire class: "Do you want to become my follower?"
"hiss--"
The students around them, who had been eavesdropping, all gasped in surprise.
Especially the girls who participated in the desk graffiti, their faces instantly drained of color.
They finally mustered the courage to fight back, but are they going to go back to being oppressed in the blink of an eye?
Could they even face more brutal retaliation?
Even Kikuchi Yumi's two former "friends" couldn't help but show expressions of worry.
Yumi Kikuchi was also taken aback.