Tokyo Exorcism Diary

To be honest, Shimizu Yuu’s brain was completely blank, and she had every reason to suspect she hadn’t woken up yet.

Come on, Hoshino Gen got bullied? What kind of new-age joke was this?

If their positions were swapped—if he were the one bullying someone else, or even if someone said he’d attacked a classmate with a knife at school—she’d simply think: Ah, finally, this guy’s dropped the act and shown his true nature!

But now, before he even had a chance to reveal his violent tendencies, someone had already come looking for trouble with him? Wh-what… who had such a death wish?

With the mindset of witnessing a brave warrior, Shimizu Yuu turned her gaze toward Hoshino Gen’s seat. Three figures stood in front of his window-side desk in the front row, hurling obscene insults at the boy who maintained a serene smile.

She had originally expected to watch the spectacle of these delinquents getting their asses handed to them. But seeing the scene before her, she found that she had lost all amusement—an inexplicable rage surged straight to her head.

Without thinking, she abruptly pulled her arm away from Suzuki Sawamii’s, storming toward them with a fierce aura.

“You guys—what do you think you’re doing?!” Her voice rang out like a clap of thunder, instantly drawing the attention of the entire classroom—including Eiki, his lackeys, and Hoshino Gen.

“Oh? If it isn’t the esteemed Miss Shimizu. What’s the matter? We’re just having a little chat with a classmate. Even the cops don’t meddle this much. And you’re not a cop, are you?” Eiki snapped out of his initial surprise and quickly plastered on a smirking expression. “Or could it be… you actually have a thing for this pretty boy?”

“No way, right? No way? Someone wouldn’t actually fall for a guy like him just because of his face, would they?” Eiki pulled an exaggerated expression of mock disbelief, prompting laughter from his two cronies. Even some of their classmates couldn’t hold back their snickers at his deliberately ridiculous tone and expressions.

Shimizu Yuu gritted her teeth in fury. If she had a bamboo sword right now, she’d definitely crack this bastard over the head with it!

She opened her mouth, about to retort, but before she could say anything, Hoshino Gen had somehow appeared beside her. With a faint smile, he patted her shoulder and said softly, “It’s fine.”

Her body stiffened. Looking at Hoshino Gen’s ever-present smile, she suddenly had a very bad feeling…

Eiki and his gang also finally noticed that Hoshino Gen had left his seat at some point. They widened their eyes, but before they could start swearing, Hoshino Gen spoke first.

“Let’s go.”

Two simple words, spoken in a clear, tranquil voice. The sound carried across the now-quiet classroom, and several girls found themselves unconsciously staring at his profile, covering their gaping mouths.

Even Eiki and his lackeys were momentarily stunned.

The tall, lanky Nakajima Takuma was the first to snap out of it. He sneered, “The hell? So you can talk after all. Quit pretending to be mute.”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Hoshino Gen by the collar, likely intending to drag him outside by force.

Unfortunately for him, that plan was doomed from the start.

With a casual turn of his body, Hoshino Gen easily dodged the hand reaching for him. He then strode leisurely toward the classroom door and spoke again—this time, with a trace of laughter in his tone.

“Aren’t you here to talk to me? If the classroom isn’t convenient, then anywhere with security cameras probably isn’t either. Would you like me to find a more suitable place for you?”

At those words, Eiki and his gang exchanged uncertain glances.

Something felt… off.

Wasn’t this supposed to be an intimidation? Where was the trembling cowardice? The meek submission?

Or did this guy seriously think they just wanted to have a conversation with him? No one could be that stupid, right?

Eiki, as expected, was the first to recover. He shoved a hand in his pocket, let out a careless laugh, and sneered, “Oh? You’re really getting into this, huh? Who the hell do you think you’re fooling?”

Then, motioning to his lackeys, he grinned. “Let’s go. Time for our little talk.”

Perhaps reminded by Hoshino Gen’s words, the three of them refrained from making any physical contact with him as they left. Instead, they surrounded him as if escorting him out, making their way toward the door.

The moment they were gone, the classroom erupted into chaos.

Amid the clamor, Suzuki Sawami nudged Shimizu Yuu’s arm, her face worried. “Yuu, should we tell a teacher? Otherwise, Hoshino’s definitely gonna get beaten up.”

Shimizu Yuu kept staring at the door, shifting uneasily. At a glance, one might think she was worried about someone.

And in truth, she was worried about Hoshino Gen.

But not because she thought he was going to get beaten up.

No—she was afraid he might actually kill someone.

She had absolute confidence that Hoshino Gen had both the guts and the ability to do so. And she was equally convinced that if he did, he probably wouldn’t even face any consequences.

But then what? What would people say about him? How would they see him?

Murder was still murder.

Maybe… she should follow them. If he really was planning to kill someone, at least she could try to talk him down.

With that thought, Shimizu Yuu told her friend, “I’m going after them.”

She immediately took off, with Suzuki Sawami hurrying to keep up.

Just as they stepped out of the classroom, they ran into Oguri Aino and Sakurajima Yui, who had just returned from the restroom, along with a visibly preoccupied Itou Saki.

Seeing Shimizu Yuu and Suzuki Sumi in such a rush, Oguri Aina couldn’t help but grab Suzuki Sawami and ask, “What’s going on?”

Suzuki Sawami struggled momentarily, then glanced at Shimizu Yuu, who had already run ahead. Without wasting time, she quickly summarized the situation before sprinting after her friend.

Oguri Aino and Sakurajima Yui were stunned. They immediately dragged the distracted Itou Saki along and, ignoring the sound of the bell signaling the start of class, rushed after them.

Their final destination was the school’s northwest sports equipment storage room.

Unlike what one might expect, the storage room was neither dim nor cramped. It was spacious, and thanks to its transparent ceiling, it was brightly lit.

But none of them stepped inside.

Because the scene before them completely froze their footsteps in place.

On the open floor, the lanky Nakajima and the burly guy were already sprawled out, one with a face reduced to a bloody mess, the other with an arm bent at an unnatural angle.

Standing in the light streaming down from the transparent ceiling—like an actor under a stage spotlight—was Hoshino Gen.

He held Eiki by the throat, lifting him into the air. His school uniform sleeve had slid down slightly due to the movement, revealing the stark black tattoo against his pale skin.

Tap. Tap. Tap…

No one moved, yet the sound of footsteps echoed through the storage room. More than one pair.

Moments later, two figures emerged from behind a pile of equipment.

A boy and a girl, both in Segawa Private Academy uniforms. The boy was tall and refined, with fair skin and handsome features. The girl, wearing glasses, clutched a stack of documents to her chest, staring at Hoshino Gen with wide-eyed terror.

Thud!

The sound of flesh hitting the ground.

Hoshino Gen dropped Eiki’s unconscious body like a discarded piece of trash.

His gaze flicked toward the newcomers, lingering on the boy with mild surprise.

The boy, in turn, smiled “Hoshino-kun, long time no see. You haven’t changed a bit since middle school.”

At his words, the girl beside him immediately turned to look at him in shock—astonished that their esteemed student council president actually knew this… this guy. Sure, he was ridiculously handsome, but he was also absurdly violent!

Meanwhile, the group at the entrance had also recognized the boy in the warehouse. It was Hikage Yohei, the student council president of Segawa Academy, and a second-year student from Class C.