Tada, Sore Dake de Yokattan desu Chapter 9 - Revolution Eve

About five minutes passed, and Sugawara reappeared, two cans of cocoa in his hands. I had wondered if he would even return, but it seemed he had no intention of abandoning the idea. He inquired whether I preferred the bitter or the sweeter option; I selected the sweet one and offered to pay, but he gently shook his head. It felt peculiar for a college student to be treated by a middle schooler.

He sat down beside me, his fingers finding the ring tab on a can. Silence enveloped us; he was clearly lost in thought.

Occupying a secluded spot in the expansive park, we sat in quietude. The stillness felt unnerving, so I resolved to break it, initiating the conversation.

“Did Masaya really torment you?”

“Yes,” Taku Sugawara replied without hesitation. “There’s no evidence. Masaya isn’t foolish enough to leave any behind.”

“Why would he go that far… Did you somehow offend him?”

“Honestly, who can say?”

Sugawara’s response was curt. I immediately understood that my question had been ill-chosen; perhaps my eagerness to uncover the truth, or an underlying bias, had led me to ask a truly terrible question.

Bullies rarely have logical reasons.

“…Will you permit me to explain at length?”

After a brief pause, he spoke again.

“I’m going to detail my connection with Masaya, and the reasons behind his suicide. It might take a while, but I believe this explanation is necessary.”

I gave a small nod.

I had to know, regardless of the circumstances, no matter the ultimate truth.

Once more, he cautioned me,

“I’m not sure I can articulate this effectively.”

“Explaining these things to others isn't my strong suit.”

“I consider myself an idiot, utterly foolish.”

“Therefore, I won’t trouble myself with honorifics.”

“And with that, I hope you’ll come to see just how idiotic I am.”

“That outcome would please me. It would align with my expectations.”

“You can become one with me.”

“So, while recounting this mixture of fact and speculation,”

“I will explain why Masaya took his own life.”

“It began in May of our second year, when Masaya began his harassment. The torment wasn't extreme at first; he’d pocket my money and deliver a punch to my gut. Later, he enlisted Ninomiya, Watabe, and Komuro, ambushing me on my way home and beating me severely. I had considered him a friend, only to be met with betrayal.”

It seemed Masaya had indeed mentioned considering me a good friend.

“Yes, we considered each other good friends. Masaya and I had confided in each other before. We weren’t the type to hang out during breaks or holidays, nor did we exchange messages or play games. But if we crossed paths on our way home, we’d chat. This camaraderie likely spanned from the autumn of our first year into the spring of our second.

“I’m a person of few words, and Masaya was the one who did most of the talking. He often grumbled to me, perhaps because I didn’t align with any particular clique. He couldn’t vent his frustrations during class, especially during the Human Power test, and I suspected he sought solace by unloading his worries onto me. Personally, I cherished the opportunity to converse with the brilliant Masaya.

“On our journeys home, we’d share everything – our aspirations for the future, our likes and dislikes regarding classmates, complaints about our uncooperative parents, dissatisfaction with the overly lenient teachers, and the burgeoning anxieties we felt.

“Occasionally, we’d detour to the park, engaging in conversations that stretched late into the night.

“Those were truly wonderful times.

“His perspective on everything was distinctly different from mine. Whatever I expressed, he would invariably respond with, ‘That’s so typical of you.’

“We were once close friends.

“But then, in May of our second year, I was suddenly struck. He had orchestrated it without anyone else realizing.

“‘Sorry, Taku, you understand, don’t you?’ he said, gesturing to three friends he’d brought along, and whispering those words to me.

“Up until the moment I was punched, I couldn’t comprehend it. No, even after the blow, I remained bewildered.

“For the victims, bullying is an act devoid of reason. I was unaware of the causes or motives; I was robbed, blackmailed. The shock wasn’t from the physical pain or the lost money, but from Masaya’s assault. I believed there must be some misunderstanding.

“I once held Masaya Kishitani in high regard.

“I also respected Ninomiya, Watabe, and Komuro. I was acutely aware that they surpassed me in numerous ways.

“Yet, they persisted in tormenting me, subjecting me to abuse in hidden places. They pressed pencils into my stomach, punched me repeatedly, pilfered my living expenses, and coerced me into self-gratification; all of this occurred without any external witnesses.

“It was only later that I discovered one of those three had instructed everyone else to target Masaya. They created a spectacle out of Masaya’s prior interaction with someone as unremarkable as me, ridiculing him. Masaya, fearing social exclusion, retaliated by punching me. I imagine they said things like, ‘So uncool. Don’t associate with someone that repulsive.’ and ‘Punch him. Who are your friends? Us, or him?’ When the harassment began, those were the sentiments they expressed.”

“Masaya initially seemed inclined to refuse, or so I sensed. However, he ultimately yielded to their demands before his three companions. Shortly thereafter, I abandoned any hope of him resisting. I could tell.”

“For a gifted individual like him, succumbing after the first misfortune was inevitable.”

“He faltered.”

“He reveled in the sadistic pleasure of bullying and asserting dominance.”

“His innate abilities far surpassed those of his three cohorts.”

“Masaya emerged as the ringleader of the tormentors, perpetually maintaining an unsettling calm. My own predicaments were never discovered, as he adroitly evaded detection, leaving no trace. Have you ever considered whether such finesse is readily attainable? Masaya possesses it. He is a prodigy, accompanied by three exceptional henchmen.”

“The sole individual to perceive something amiss was Masaya’s girlfriend, Kotomi Ishikawa. Nevertheless, she only realized this in October, and she lacked the full picture. Their approach was meticulously flawless.”

“He meticulously managed every aspect, ensuring not a single misstep occurred.”

“When I resolved to confide in my teacher back in July, Masaya discovered my intentions thrice, resulting in such brutal assaults that I vomited. The fourth attempt was successful, yet Toguchi-sensei dismissed it lightly. “You’re imagining things,” he chuckled, uninterested. He also harbored a fear of Masaya’s mother, thus ignoring my pleas. Furthermore, I possessed no evidence; the two recording devices I had were rendered inoperable.”

So, when you persisted with your defiance, Masaya felt no element of risk in tormenting you?

“He differs from the typical aggressor. It seemed his calculation was, ‘This will inflict significant psychological distress, which is a more effective outcome than discovering new avenues for manipulation,’ whenever he encountered a fresh recording device.”

“Are you aware of my family’s circumstances? My parents offer no support. I did implore them to facilitate a ‘school transfer,’ but my request was disregarded. Masaya was privy to my parents’ profound indifference toward their son.”

“Subsequently, Masaya ascertained my lack of any allies.”

“It was a form of bullying so profoundly terrifying.”

“There was no tangible evidence of the abuse, my teacher displayed palpable disinterest, and my adversary was the popular student, a recognized genius, whose parent held a position as the formidable PTA vice president. I was left with no recourse but to submit to Masaya.”

“Every individual seemed to be my adversary.”

Curiously, Katou and Kotomi had once remarked, “There’s no conceivable way Masaya could be the victim of bullying.”

“I surmised as much. I could only wallow in despair, realizing that regardless of any stratagem I devised, Masaya commanded the unwavering support of his friends, the implicit trust of the guardians, and the conspicuous absence of proof against him; from that juncture, any prospect of victory evaporated. My parents and teacher offered no assistance, I was isolated without companions, and my appeals were dismissed as baseless fabrications.”

“Irrespective of my endeavors, I remained perpetually subjected to harassment.”

“Do you comprehend? Those ranked lower in the Human Power Test are not afforded credibility. Unlike academic assessments, this is a gauge of social standing.”

“Consequently, I was compelled to consume slugs, lick their footwear, pilfer my parents’ timepieces, and endure immersions in scalding and frigid water.”

“No one extended a hand of assistance.”

“I was at a loss, unsure of whom else I could implore for aid.”

Reaching this juncture, Sugawara paused, took a sip of his cocoa, exhaled with a sigh, and fell into a reticent silence. For reasons unclear, his physical presence seemed diminished, his demeanor conveying an inexplicable aura of melancholy.

What he articulated was likely the unvarnished truth. It struck me as utterly absurd that Taku Sugawara alone could exert dominance over four individuals. My younger brother had heartlessly tormented another classmate, orchestrating everything with a terrifying level of precision. The image of Masaya from that past summer flashed in my mind, and I found myself involuntarily biting my lip.

The biting winter winds swept through in December, and Masaya's position fortuitously offered me shelter; however, my legs remained numbingly cold. I instantly regretted my choice of a long skirt over trousers for the outing. I questioned Sugawara's rationale for selecting this particular meeting spot.

“Eh, I possess absolutely no concrete evidence. I do have a receipt for the second recorder, but that might only serve to raise suspicion instead,” Sugawara remarked with a self-deprecating tone.

“At the very least, it presents a more plausible scenario than your solitary tormenting of four individuals.”

“Thank you.”

“However, I remain perplexed regarding the fundamental reason behind Masaya's sudden decision to target you. Naturally, I recognize the inherent cruelty in posing such a question.”

“The rationale for selecting me as a target was straightforward. I operate independently, making it simple to evade detection even if subjected to bullying. In truth, no one else became aware.”

Sugawara gently tapped the chest area of his coat, shifted his body slightly, and uttered a quiet remark.

I felt compelled to inquire,

“But can you envision this? In a certain sense, you were more intimately connected to Masaya than anyone else, Sugawara.”

I entertained the possibility that this statement might be an exaggeration, yet I had no inclination to retract it. As Masaya’s close confidant, it was undeniable that he perceived Masaya differently from the general populace.

With a visible hesitation, Sugawara traced the rim of the can with his fingers and responded,

“Peer pressure…”

His voice raspy, he continued,

“Did Ishikawa mention this? That the class was overly focused on the Human Power Test, and those with low rankings were practically ostracized with people saying, ‘I don’t want to be involved with you’.”

“Yeah, she was suffering because of this, wasn’t she?”

“…It wasn’t just Ishikawa who suffered because of it.”

“Eh?”

“I had mentioned this before, right? Masaya was bullied by his three friends, unable to refuse and compelled to obey them. Even a genius like him couldn’t stand up to peer pressure.”

Or rather, Sugawara continued,

“Everyone in class felt pressured by the interpersonal dynamics. Of course, I was still a middle schooler, and even without the Human Power Test, I would have felt pressured. However, the Human Power Test significantly amplified the burden, crushing other aspects of our personalities. With poor test results, one’s very existence was essentially invalidated. It forced us to become observant, making getting along with others a necessity, with the underlying theme being the preservation of harmony. We were all living in a hell where we felt constantly watched, caught in the tense atmosphere of a survival game among friends, with swords drawn and clashing.”

Taku Sugawara went on,

“So, Shunsuke Ninomiya, Kouji Watabe, Takayoshi Komuro, and Masaya Kishitani had to devise a form of entertainment they could keep hidden. Kotomi Ishikawa grew resentful that her boyfriend was concealing something from her, and she began to bully me along with the rest of the class. Kouta Katou himself started to harass Masaya Kishitani—”

“So Masaya Kishitani committed suicide,” I stated.

“And Taku Sugawara initiated his revolution,” Sugawara replied.

At this juncture, our conversation momentarily ceased.

The middle schooler sitting beside me downed his entire Coca-Cola.

“Apologies, there’s a slight temporal discrepancy, and I’ve portrayed Kouta as the antagonist. That’s not entirely accurate. He was merely one factor; Masaya undoubtedly had numerous reasons for taking his own life. Several individuals harmed him for various motives. This included myself, naturally.”

He then calmly smiled,

“I shall continue.”

“After the summer break, my belongings were pilfered multiple times, and I was subjected to relentless torment. By October, there was no improvement; nothing changed. As we entered the second semester, school ended earlier, extending the duration of my bullying.”

“I endured days of utter despair.”

“It was an inescapable hell.”

“And then, at that very moment, I, yes, that.”

“I fell in love with Kotomi Ishikawa.”

“It was because she smiled at me.”

“I had no friends, my academic performance remained far below everyone else’s, and my Human Power Test scores were dismal. I was branded as trash, betrayed by a close friend, subjected to continuous torment, and then, she kindly spoke to me.”

“I was genuinely overjoyed. She even uttered, ‘I envy you.’ It defied all reason, but I had never felt happier. Such a tragic figure as myself was actually envied. Someone had, in fact, acknowledged my existence.”

“That night, I wept alone.”

“Subsequently, I had opportunities to meet her several times. She shared insights into aspects I was unaware of, such as the social pressure of isolation.”

“It was then I finally understood that Masaya and the others faced a similar predicament. They bullied me as a means to survive within the suffocating social dynamics of the classroom. Ishikawa and Masaya were both suffering and continuously struggling.”

“Before that dilapidated dump, I witnessed Ishikawa weeping due to the peer pressure she endured. My heart ached profoundly.”

“I felt an emotion akin to pure rage.”

“Thus, I resolved to commence the revolution.”

“Being at the lowest rung of the Human Power Test left me content. Regardless of how others looked down on me, I resolved to become trash capable of defending what I believed in, without regard for social observation.”

“I resolved to fight back against Masaya and put an end to the bullying. I desired my own happiness, and for everyone else to find happiness too. I decided to put a stop to the endless hell that Masaya had single-handedly orchestrated.”

“Naturally, it was an utterly foolish aspiration.”

“But it was all that I was capable of doing.”

“Logically, I stood no chance of winning using conventional means against Masaya’s meticulously planned bullying.”

“As I’ve stated, his methods of bullying were impeccably executed. Firstly, I had no support from my teacher or parents. Even if I had sought help from other teachers, in terms of credibility, I was at a disadvantage compared to Masaya and his group. Furthermore, Masaya was extremely vigilant, ensuring I didn’t speak to the teachers privately or overhear any bullying sessions.”

“And even if I had managed to report the incidents, I would have had to confront his incessantly nagging mother. No one in the class noticed my suffering, while those boys were universally adored by our classmates. My words would have been dismissed as mere nonsense. Even if I had complained via the internet or through MEXT, creating a significant uproar, no one at the school would have admitted to the bullying, rendering it all futile.”

“However, despite all this, I had to persist in my fight.”

“I had to initiate the revolution.”

“'There was only one strategy that came to mind.”

“It was to meticulously turn his own plan against him.”

“So I did the exact opposite. First, I posted a shocking exposé online about the bullying, detailing, 'In Kuzegawa Second Middle School, there was a student who bullied four others,' and I wrote it all out.”

“A lot of people on the internet find pleasure in bullying, and it wouldn’t be as amusing if no one ended it all. However, some immediately contacted the school, protesting, “There’s a bullying incident in your school, and you’re not going to address it?” or “Who allows their children to study at that institution?”.”

“Certainly, it seemed that some suspected, “Four people bullied one instead.” Or perhaps, “He’s exploiting the internet to continue the bullying.” But that wasn’t crucial. Once the news circulated within the school, I used a water bottle to strike Masaya.”

“Masaya likely anticipated my emotional breakdown. After enduring prolonged, vicious torment, I was bound to snap eventually. In such a scenario, his hot-tempered mother would storm the school, grill the apathetic teacher who insisted there were no witnesses and that it was merely a student with a psychological issue acting out, and ultimately smooth things over.”

“My scheme unfolded successfully, so flawlessly that even I found it peculiar. I intentionally cultivated an arrogant persona, ensuring everyone developed the worst possible impression of me. The school began receiving a flood of protest calls concerning the bullying, and the repercussions continued to burn. I was branded with the terrifying title of the devil.”

“And as Masaya’s mother had envisioned, I faced severe repercussions. The punishment far exceeded my initial expectations, leading to my persecution by everyone else.”

So, your mother suggested the punishment?

“I was the one who sneered, “You intend to punish me by making me kneel in school?” and I followed up with, “Bullying is an invention that transcends civilizations,” but that was merely me echoing Masaya’s own words. In reality, my slight provocation was all it took for her to fall into my trap. Masaya and his cronies desired to continue their torment of me, so I deliberately led them on. Takayoshi even feigned tears. All I did was undermine Masaya's mother, and they were easily provoked. Subsequently, I was finally compelled to parade around and kneel.”

“It was quite the spectacle, but Masaya and his friends weren't displeased with how things had unfolded up to that point. A few details differed, but the sequence of events progressed according to my plan. Following that incident, Taku Sugawara was perceived as a bully unworthy of sympathy, and the actual perpetrators behind the bullying were never exposed. Consequently, Taku Sugawara endured severe punishment.”

“However, events were proceeding too smoothly.”

“I chose to embrace the role of the villain. This move was far beyond their comprehension and ultimately spiraled out of control.”

“Before they could even grasp the content of the post, “I wrote it,” I simply confessed. That was it.”

“The original outcome of ‘Taku Sugawara is suffering from a mental disorder’ was twisted into ‘Taku Sugawara is the bully’ because of that post and my subsequent testimony.”

“That, too, was part of my plan.”

“Masaya was likely the