Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Teacher, Does Ishida Shoya Have Intellectual Issues?

The second class was music class, and Kyosuke Hojo's class was preparing for an upcoming chorus competition, practicing the song "The Monster's Narrative Poem."

Hey, hey, writer, come out and take a beating! You just introduced a protagonist who's not easily accepted, and now you're having them sing this song, what's the meaning of that?
"The Monster's Narrative Poem," the lyrics talk about monsters also wanting to love others, that even monsters have hearts.

What? You decided to sing this before Nishimiya came? Well, that's okay then.

Shoko stood in the middle of the first row, arranged by height, while Kyosuke Hojo stood at the back of the boys' side.

Singing was definitely a huge challenge for Shoko Nishimiya, even though "The Monster's Narrative Poem" was a song her grandmother used to sing to her since childhood and had taught her how to sing. But...

Not being able to determine when to start singing, the little girl looked around, wanting to sing along when her classmates started.

Alright, it's time. Kawai Mitsuki, seated on the right, nodded and opened her mouth.

It's time to sing, come on Shoko! You have to do well this time. Encouraging herself, Shoko Nishimiya opened her mouth and sang out loud, following the way her grandmother had taught her from memory.

In the classroom, apart from the piano played by Kawai Mitsuki with narrowed eyes, there was only Shoko's voice.

She started singing too early; Kawai Mitsuki was only nodding to the rhythm, opening her mouth was just a habitual action.

The music teacher looked somewhat bewildered at Shoko Nishimiya, but Kyosuke Hojo noticed that the little girl sang pretty well, at least she got the basic rhythm right, it's just that her pronunciation was off.

Shoko Nishimiya completely didn't notice that she had jumped in to sing early, she was still singing earnestly.

"Shoko, you started singing too early, I'll tell you when to start."

Kawai Mitsuki, standing beside Shoko Nishimiya, patted her shoulder and said.

The music class continued, and the students continued to practice. However, the little girl who had bravely opened her mouth didn't dare to sing out loud again.

"If it continues like this, the chorus competition is doomed, isn't this a sure defeat?"

Kyosuke Hojo heard Ueno Naoko, standing next to him, complaining. He didn't really care about that; it's just a primary school chorus competition, maybe only little girls would care.

Moreover, winning or losing is not certain. At least Kyosuke Hojo thought that Shoko's singing was pretty good. But he didn't say anything, didn't do anything, he was still observing, waiting.

Soon, the next class came, Mandarin language class. The teacher was still the homeroom teacher, Takeuchi.

Kyosuke Hojo couldn't sleep in this class since Takeuchi was having students take turns reading the text. Now it was Ueno Naoko's turn.

"I'm not wrong, so I definitely won't apologize..."

"What's with that tone, Naoko?!" Takeuchi said sternly. Then, although it was a question, he didn't intend for Ueno Naoko to explain, nor did he want to teach her the correct way to read.

"Forget it, you don't need to read. Next." Takeuchi said impatiently, not even looking at Ueno Naoko, just staring at the textbook in his hand.

"Four-eyed jerk!" Ueno Naoko sat down indignantly.

Kyosuke found it amusing. It might be an overstatement to call this homeroom teacher a scum, but he's definitely a lousy teacher, with poor teaching skills and terrible ethics.

Ueno Naoko didn't read on purpose, she just didn't know how to read it properly. Generally, even if a teacher criticizes, they would definitely correct the correct way to read after that, not scold solely for the sake of complaining like Takeuchi did.

"Shoko," Takeuchi called the next student's name.

Although still upset, Ueno Naoko quickly patted Shoko Nishimiya's shoulder, reminding her that the teacher was calling her to read.

Ueno Naoko's movements were so fast that even Kyosuke Hojo hadn't reacted before she had already called out Shoko Nishimiya. Indeed, very enthusiastic, quite different from her initial performance, huh? She really is the protagonist's close friend.

Shoko Nishimiya stood up and read with an oddly emphasized tone. Kyosuke Hojo listened carefully and found that he could barely understand it.

Takeuchi didn't say anything either, he just said "good" after Shoko Nishimiya finished reading.

"Is that true?"

Seeing the contrasting treatment from Takeuchi, Ueno Naoko muttered discontentedly.

Seeing this, Kyosuke Hojo wasn't sure if she would become Shoko's friend. In the world of children, just because of a small action like Takeuchi's, it might create a rift between the two kids.

"Next, Ishida."

As Ishida Shoya stood up, he noticed Ueno Naoko's dissatisfaction, and then...

"Vali vali wara...li..."

That's right, this bad boy was mimicking the way Shoko Nishimiya spoke.

The students in the class burst into laughter, while Shoko Nishimiya looked around, trying to figure out what her classmates were laughing at. Her big eyes were full of innocence, not knowing at all that she had become the subject of a prank.

Kyosuke Hojo's face darkened. Even if it wasn't for a reward, he couldn't tolerate such behavior. Imitating someone with disabilities had gone beyond the realm of childish pranks.

"Ishida, stop fooling around. Come to my office after class."

Takeuchi said to Shoya Ishida in a neither heavy nor light tone, not as severe as he had been with Ueno Naoko earlier.

"Okay."

Shoya Ishida replied indifferently. He knew that when he got to the office, Takeuchi would probably just say that his behavior was wrong and that would be the end of it.

But Kyosuke Hojo couldn't accept it. When Takeuchi was about to call the next student to continue reading, he stood up directly.

"Teacher, Shoya Ishida might have an intellectual issue. Shouldn't we send him to the hospital for a check-up?"

"Alright, sit down, Hojo. After class, I will educate Ishida properly."

Takeuchi's attitude toward Kyosuke Hojo was different, not only because he was the top student in the class but also due to the nightmare-like incidents caused by this kid earlier.

"Teacher Takeuchi! This needs to be taken seriously. This is bullying in the school!"

"Hojo, it's not that serious. Just sit down for now."

As soon as the words "school bullying" were mentioned, Takeuchi felt a sudden headache coming on.

"No, we can't let this slide. We need to resolve this now and have Shoya Ishida apologize to Shoko Nishimiya!"

Kyosuke Hojo wouldn't back down. Takeuchi was the type who liked to brush things off. If they didn't punish Shoya Ishida now, later on, he and his little gang might escalate things without restraint.

Takeuchi raised his hand and pinched his temple, feeling a sharp headache.

"Shoko Nishimiya, Shoya Ishida, come out with me."

"I want to come too, teacher!" someone immediately shouted.

"Why are you here... Oh well, come if you want."

Takeuchi was actually the envy of everyone as he had a pretty cushy job with his salary. He took each day at the school as it came and just managed to get by.

Incidents of students being bullied had happened before, but he would usually just bring the bullies to his office after class and say a few vague words to them.

Later, if the parents of the bullied child came to the school, he would simply bring out the bullies, shirking responsibility by claiming he had already reprimanded them.