Akutagawa was walking down the street and overheard two students discussing how annoying this school was. One of them was already irritated, because the old man had scolded him again. Even if he could use his powers now, the events of that morning hadn't changed. The students were discussing how a salesperson with a higher skill level made customers feel more at ease. Aren't they friends? If he didn't want to become a loner in class, he should stick to their D-rank side. And this social circle had changed.
Then he heard one of them turn to the other boy and ask, "Don't you know this guy has no powers at all? Even if you bullied him the school would turn a blind eye. It's the perfect way to release stress."
If he fought everyone with his powers, would anything even change?
At that moment Yui came up to him, picked up a can, and greeted him. Akutagawa wished her good morning too, and she said that her class was currently running a clean-up campaign. The daily quota of collecting empty cans was killing her. Her friends told her to hurry up and leave. That was enough. They passed by Akutagawa, disgruntled.
Akutagawa thought about how Yui had saved him back then, and who knew what he would have done if she hadn't shown up.
Yui mentioned something about the club being disbanded. Was there really nothing they could do? She was discussing it with the club president and asking them to share their wisdom.
He replied that it couldn't be helped, but that she and the president of the first drama club was strange. She said, "These are difficult times. Don't you know that? Please don't say things like that."
Akutagawa apologized to her and realized that he hadn't understood — he'd thought he was doing it for them, but it was just self-righteous behaviour. And, by the way, thank her for the can. Senior Akutagawa, was he on the beautification committee?
He was surprised that such a committee actually existed, and realized that before fuelling his anger at society, he should first value his time with the people who supported him. They should start negotiations. A direct approach.
Yui asked, "Women's negotiations? The school's belief in the need for the old drama club? What have I misunderstood just now?"
At that moment they both looked away, and he asked, "What? The hotel's over there, isn't it?"
Yui replied, "That's probably a C-rank group brought in to conquer this dungeon. That's Isamu himself."
Many girls stood stunned around him.
Every guild that takes on a dungeon-clearing mission typically has the following structure. A request comes from the state, and besides the task force there are usually several groups formed from several members. C-rank group is an unofficial term, a colloquial expression. It's used to refer to groups consisting of members of the highest ranks. Its definition has been debated for many years, mainly online. A definition proposed several years ago — that all members are rank A or higher, and more than half are ranked C — is now considered generally accepted. There are only about three or four C-rank groups in the entire country.
So if they were here, then the dungeon was indeed C-rank.
Yui looked at what was happening in surprise, and Akutagawa wondered who that was. He paused, and she asked if something was wrong. He replied, "No. Everything's fine."
One of the masked girls stared at him and remarked that this guy must be familiar.
Sometime later, in class, the teacher was discussing how everyone would take advantage of this opportunity to attend a C-rank party tomorrow. Of course it's dangerous, so they'll only go to the entrance of the dungeon and observe the preparations and the formation. The guys asked if they'd really see Isamu in person. And it's a day off. Great.
Akutagawa wondered — by the way, was Guda in hospital? He hadn't come today.
Toida replied that he was annoying her, talking to her so casually after what he'd done yesterday. He replied that they had always talked casually with him, although they had teased him a lot before.
After an awkward silence Toida replied that she also wanted him to resolve this. She opened her chest and revealed slime. He replied that this skill simply summons slime. If it doesn't stay with her, it means she liked it. Toida exclaimed that he was lying, and Akutagawa went on to say that there was no need to worry about hierarchy, and that it was fine to make friends as equals. He thought that would be better for her.
Toida said that someone who didn't care about hierarchy and who behaved without embarrassment was already right in front of him. He asked, "What?" Toida turned away and said nothing.
Guda had said he needed to go somewhere after the hospital. Akutagawa asked where exactly. Toida wondered how she was supposed to know. Maybe he thought she was his girlfriend. She jumped up from her seat and became angry, and the teacher asked if she wasn't finished yet — could she talk to him later? Toida became embarrassed and started looking out of the window. She got angry and said that Akutagawa would pay for this.
Akutagawa mentally apologized for talking to her. But was it really worth such hatred?
Sometime later, when the boys were lined up near the old factory, they were discussing how, when they were kids, he used to come to him crying. They'd taken over a vacant lot and couldn't play baseball. And then, for his sake, he'd nearly beaten to a pulp those schoolkids who'd taken over the field. And now he was still looking after him, when he came to him to cry again. And honestly, it's embarrassing to think that a weakling like him, his own little brother, can't even walk peacefully through town.
"Right. Right, Guda."
Guda apologized to him and said that that jerk Akutagawa was playing with them. As an older brother, he should agree that people who confess and ignore ranks are infuriating, right? He'd broken his ribs, and he wouldn't be able to move properly for a while. Let him avenge him. Please.
Kenji replied that he was right. Overconfident weaklings are a real pain. It gives you goosebumps. For the sake of order, the strong should lead by example.