I went to visit D Class during lunch time to try and find Zyriot. I was a bit nervous as I was heading straight into enemy territory, but all I had to do was ask one person for a favour, so it shouldn't be that hard.

I opened the door of D Class, and looked around.

Their classroom was only a mild improvement from the one in E Class. They had plastic desks, which was better than the chabudai we have to deal with. They also had an air conditioning system, which we didn't have. Even so, I could still feel the bitter summer heat in here, so it was probably not a very good one.

A couple D Class students gave nasty glances at me, especially the delinquents. There was no teacher in the class either. For once, Mikazuchi-sensei would've been good to have around. I put both my hands up and held my head down, showing I wasn't a threat and surrendering myself to them.

One boy in the class stood up and walked over to me.

"You're in E Class, aren't ya?"

Due to his pompadour and rough way of speaking, I knew for a fact this was the delinquent of delinquents, Takenaka Mikitaka.

"Yeah. I'm not here to pick a fight, or anything."

This guy was infamous in our year. I felt like if I broke eye contact with him, he'd lunge at me and kill me.

"I don't even know who ya are, man. Introduce yourself, at least!"

"Right... I'm Takanori Yuuto."

For a moment, Takenaka's hardened face glimmered. However, it turned back to it's usual terrifying self.

"Oh, I know ya. You're the loser who lost to my hero, Mikazuchi-sama!"

It was strange to hear him call Kaido "Mikazuchi-sama", considering Takenaka's the type of person who hates authority.

"Your... hero?"

How could Kaido be a hero to anybody? To a delinquent like him no less. Takenaka pompously laughed, and stepped forward to assert his dominance on me.

"Ya don't get it, d'ya?"

"Not really..."

I wanted to look around the class, but with this guy breathing down my neck, that was easier said than done.

"Then allow me, the great Takenaka Mikitaka, to explain! Oh, but like, call me Mikitaka. That's how everyone knows me on the streets."

I was surprised he let me use his first name so easily, but considering he liked Kaido, perhaps he copied some of his mannerisms. I didn't really care about Mikitaka's explanation, but if this would keep him happy for now, I'd sit through it.

I was more prioritised in finding Zyriot anyways. The quicker I get this nuisance over with, the sooner I can go hunting for him.

"Back when I was a li'l boy, I met Mikazuchi-sama and fought him... in Vanguard."

And here I thought he was going to say that he threw hands with Kaido. I would've preferred that to Vanguard, since I could've gotten satisfaction from hearing about how Mikitaka's sharp knuckles slapped Kaido seven ways to Sunday.

"I was so overwhelmed with his strength and deck, he became my hero. After that fated day, I knew I wanted to have a rematch with him, no matter what it took!"

In other words... Mikitaka was a serious Kaido fanboy.

After briefly checking my surroundings, I couldn't see Zyriot here. Strange. The only other person with authority here wasn't present. This class was basically anarchy...

"That's why I came to GEN... I have one purpose while I'm here! I wanna stir up a ruckus and force the school hero Mikazuchi-sama to fight me, the great villain Mikitaka-sama, to defeat the evil and save the day! That way, I'll finally have the all-out fight I've been yearning for, and show everyone how much of a good guy Mikazuchi-sama is!"

If I were in a manga or anime, there would definitely be comical explosions behind him in the background.

He was being really obnoxious. I couldn't do anything about it though, since Mikitaka could easily pummel me to the ground if he wanted to. I wanted to avoid being hurt at all costs.

"Yeah... uh... that's cool. Good luck... and stuff."

I tried to give a neutral response to avoid getting into conflict. I honestly had no clue how to answer his wild ambitions.

In the first place, I doubt Kaido would remember Mikitaka specifically out of the hundreds of people he's fought over the course of his life. That guy has bigger concerns on his plate, like trying to marry his girlfriend before college.

After an awkward pause, Mikitaka sneered at me with disgust.

"Is that all ya have to say to my awesome backstory?"

"Well... I guess. I'm not going to get in your way or anything. If you want to fight Kaido-senpai, then by all means, I support you."

The only business I had with Kaido was making him my rival. That was all.

However, after saying those words, Mikitaka narrowed his eyebrows and grabbed me by my shirt.

"Oi, Takanori. I don't mind if ya disrespect me, cuz I'll disrespect ya ten times harder, but a guy like you needs to put something called "respect" on Mikazuchi-sama's name."

"...huh?"

I was surprised by Mikitaka's sudden shift in attitude. Before, he was being pretty friendly, albeit overbearing, but now he was talking down to me while being physical.

"Ya heard me. Put some respect for Mikazuchi-sama, you ungrateful fool!"

"Well... I do respect Kaido-senpai. He's strong."

At this point, Mikitaka was furious at me. I think it's because I was calling Kaido by his first name, rather than family name.

"Yare yare. For a moment, I thought you were a cool guy, but I understand now. What kinda person ya really are..."

All I wanted to do was to find Zyriot... how did it come to this?

This position was getting really uncomfortable, as his spit kept getting on my face each time he spoke.

"Mikitaka-san, I think this all a misunderstanding..."

"Nah man. I got it loud and clear. First, ya waltzed up into D Class's territory wiz-out even knockin' on the door. Second, ya started lookin' down on me and my ambitions wiz that nonchalant attitude of yers. Third, ya had the gall to disrespect a legendary cardfighter, upperclassman and hero of the school! Lemme tell ya something, kid!"

He got up in my face and snarled.

"Don't assume us peeps in D Class will automatically be cool wiz yous E Class drop-outs just cuz we're low ranked like yer!"

Mikitaka laughed like a villain, his spit flying everywhere.

"We might be bottom feeders, but we're still better than Red trash like yous!"

Damn it, why did I have to interact with him of all people... this situation started to escalate extremely quickly. The grip Mikitaka had on my shirt tightened. It felt like he'd tear my collar off.

"As long as there's someone under us, we're still superior to ya. So get on your knees and acknowledge us as yer masters!"

How could I acknowledge him as my "master" when he's in the second worst class? I refused.

"No... I don't think I will."

Mikitaka threw me to the ground, and peered down on me and my whole existence.

"Oi, you lot! Feel free to beat him up!" He shouted over his shoulder for back up.

I was stunned that he wanted to lynch me for such petty reasons. I wanted to get up, but a sudden kick landed on my crotch, making me fall to the floor while gripping my groin that was throbbing in pain.

A horde of students, mainly delinquents, gathered around me and started to laugh at my misery. I let out a hiss between the gaps of my teeth. There were at least eight or ten large shadowy figures that encircled me.

Closing my eyes, I felt a heavy foot stomp on my back. Looking up, I could see Mikitaka digging his heel into my spine.

"Sorry, hadda get rid of some gum on my shoe. Hope ya dun' mind."

He removed his foot, giving me the chance to get back up again. However, someone grabbed my head and slammed it down on the ground, obscuring my eyesight and making me kiss the floor.

I couldn't tell who was who anymore. I tried getting up again, but I was kicked in the stomach by another student. The strength of that kick was abnormally high... slowly, a multitude of kicks started to pour in. I gasped, feeling my stomach churn after each painful impact.

Realising they were aiming for my stomach to incur me vomiting, I tried to keep my body as close to the ground as possible, so they wouldn't have access to it. However, one student grabbed my waist and propped me up, spread out my legs and keeping me on all fours.

Instead, I tried to use my arms to cover that area, but they also pulled them away. They went as far as throwing my arms over my head in an attempt to dislocate my shoulders. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to endure the pain, but it hurt so badly on my stomach and arms.

These weren't any average teenagers. They were ruthless monsters who wanted nothing more than to break me. Not to mention, most boys in D Class are bulky, athletic, and have lots of power. It made them perfect for physical assaults like this one. In comparison, I was skinny, powerless, and essentially defenceless.

The only thing separating my bare stomach from their powerful kicks was a flimsy white shirt. There was definitely going to be heavy bruising after this. I had no ways of fighting back either. I was too weak to break free.

They changed their target from my stomach to my back and rear end. The person spreading my legs changed it so they were holding my body down instead, and the guys trying to dislocate my shoulder now pinned my shaking arms onto the floor. A flurry of kicks began raining down on my back.

I couldn't tell what was going on anymore, as more pain engulfed my torso. I could feel the smacking and the beating, but that was the extent of what I could understand from my now numb body. My eyes were squeezed shut and my fists were clenched in agony.

In the back of my mind, I wondered if their class points would be subtracted for these actions. I'm not surprised that even D Class students were willing to beat up E Class students. This form of harassment wasn't uncommon for us, but it only ever happened a handful of times. During picture day, Machida and his friends pinned Yukimura to the floor and snapped his dorm key in half. I guess not even D Class have sympathy for us either.

Maybe it's because they're also mistreated by the upper classes, which makes them want their own form revenge or justice. The only way to get that is to punch down on E Class since it's socially accepted. I could feel all their pent up frustration and anger being released on me in this one moment, but it was unbelievably painful being on the receiving end.

For a brief moment, they all stepped back. The hand that held my head let go, and I could finally raise my head, only if slightly. From the line up D Class boys, I immediately recognised Terasaka, Takemoto, both on the basketball club, Hiraoka, Nakajima, two of Nora's bullies, and Yoshimatsu, another delinquent with an ugly face.

There was also a goth girl there, Kirara, recording the entire beatdown, but she wasn't on my side. She was known for hanging out with tough guys like these, and would probably send them this embarrassing video afterwards. I didn't want anyone to find out about this. It was pathetic that I was being pushed around so easily. I was really fulfilling the role of a loser.

I'll get my revenge on you all.

Obviously, there was also Mikitaka who fronted the whole situation, but there was someone even more terrifying who stood behind him, arms crossed like a bouncer. He was known as "The Bodyguard" in school.

"Give it to him, Obama-kun!" Mikitaka said.

It was Albert Obama, another foreign transfer student. He was from America, like Zyriot, but was a lot more recognisable due to his massive build, muscular body, and black skin. His hair was styled in dreads, and he never took off his sunglasses, even inside. He was the living definition of a chad.

Cracking his huge knuckles, Albert stormed up to me, and grabbed me by the head. His grip strength was insane. It felt like he was trying to rip my hair out from the roots. Up close, I could see all the thick facial hair that was growing around his jaw. He must've had a stupid amount of testosterone running through his veins.

Forcing me to look at him in the eyes, Albert pulled me up on my feet, even though my legs and butt were still shaking from being rammed in with kicks earlier.

"The best is yet to come."

Saying that in English, with a hard-hitting American accent, Albert tossed me up like a ball and swung at me with his arm, smashing my face in and crashing me into a desk that became collateral damage.

I had been thrashed against the wall, with a bleeding nose and swelling face, while half of D Class ganged up on me. In this beaten up state, I couldn't think properly. I just wanted it to end.

With my weakening eyesight, I saw in the distance the girl me and Matsushita tried to save earlier today, Shimizu. I forgot she was in D Class. It looked like she was trying to get them to stop hurting me, but keeping her out of the situation was the boy that I saw on the train everyday. His name was John, a foreigner from England. It was probably for her own good that she didn't get involved.

Mikitaka laughed derisively as he spat on my face and kicked my stomach in once more. I keeled over, clutching my body like my life depended on it. He then pushed his foot on my back and started to pose, while all his friends took pictures of us. I felt like throwing up, right there and then.

It was absolutely humiliating to be defeated by them. These images were definitely going to be spread around. It might even end up on the school forum. It would make Mikitaka look like some sort of hero, while painting me as nothing more than an E Class villain. Just as I was about to accept my fate as Drachma Red trash, the students suddenly stepped back, shuddering in place.

Even the high-spirited Mikitaka took his foot off me and staggered back. Sudden unease enveloped the warm air.

"You've all disappointed me."

A man's voice cut through the tense silence. It was deep and foreign, but there was no doubt about who this terrifying person was.

It was D Class's leader, Zyriot Feirbuster.

"Ishigami-san, hold this for me."

Following Zyriot into the class was another D Class student, Satou Ishigami. He was recognisable due to his long black hair that covered one eye, and a pair of wireless headphones that he wore around his neck.

Zyriot had passed Satou his bento box. It seems they returned to the classroom after buying lunch from the canteen. Zyriot knelt beside me, and helped me get back on my feet. I gave a weak glance at him.

"I'm sorry this happened to you. Forgive my classmates."

While he displayed a disciplinary attitude towards his classmates, he displayed a tender attitude towards me. He sat me down on a chair and cleaned up the fallen desks and chairs.

"Zyriot-san, I was just..."

Mikitaka, who stopped acting haughty in his presence, tried to explain himself. However, Zyriot responded with an icy glare.

"Save your breath, Mikitaka-san. I don't want to hear your poor excuse for this mess."

Zyriot was definitely pissed off. Mikitaka, who understood that he was in the wrong, slumped his shoulders and nodded. The rest of the delinquents also stood around awkwardly, as the air in the room had turned guilty.

"Ishigami-san, could you take care of Takanori-san for a little while I talk to these lot?"

"Of course, Zyriot-san."

I could tell Zyriot and Satou were on extremely good terms just from the way they communicated to each other. It was even more impressive that Zyriot knew who I was, as I didn't stand out in E Class.

"Let's get your uniform cleaned up, then."

Satou put down their bento boxes on a desk, and started looking through his bag for a sports towel. Taking it, and his water bottle out, he drenched the towel in the drinking water.

"Alright, arms up."

I nodded, raising my arms in the air. Satou began to wipe down my shirt that was muddied from their kicks. While I disapprove of drinking water being used, there were no taps in the class, so I just had to bear with it. I can wash the uniform at home, at least.

As Satou cleaned my uniform, Zyriot began scalding his classmates for their behaviour.

"You guys are above this."

There was large disappointment in his tone.

"I get it. We're D Class, the Zero Class, the class that's considered the next worst in the system. Even though we're not E Class, people still look down on us. However, even if we're mistreated, it doesn't excuse the behaviour you've all displayed here today. Hurting someone else that's weaker than you is both cowardly and weak. Even if it's for the sake of revenge, or venting your anger, it's still wrong. I don't like this oppressive system either, but that's why we need to grin and bear it. Showing our frustration and disdain will not only worsen our situation, but everyone else's too."

Even though his Japanese didn't have a good accent, everyone still listened to him obediently without making fun of him. It showed his classmates deep respect for him, and his complete command over this situation.

"Yeah, but if this system is built on doing whatever we please to the lower classes, then we should have free reign on the classes that are under us, like E Class. Besides, he came to our doorstep first."

The one who combatted Zyriot's words was Shigeru Zenkichi. While I didn't see him actively get involved in my beating, he was also a delinquent, just like the rest of them. The major difference he had was his cunningness. He could be called the brains behind the delinquents.

Satou glanced over his shoulder, then turned back to face me. He bluntly told me how he felt while cleaning my uniform.

"I hope this isn't awkward for you. It's pretty awkward for me."

He added more water to the towel.

"Sorry."

Even though I did nothing wrong, I apologised out of bad habit. I've never interacted with Satou before, and this was the first time we were talking to each other. The impression I got from him was depressed and tired.

"Eh, it's fine. I'll wipe your back next."

I put my arms down and leaned forward. Satou went around, scrubbing my back.

"Gross, there's gum there..."

So Mikitaka really did have gum on his shoe... that's going to be a pain to clean off properly.

"Zenkichi-san, I understand your feelings, but it's the wrong way to think about it. Let's be sympathetic towards E Class's situation, rather than make it worse. It's not their fault that they were labelled as worthless. The school ordered us into rankings unfairly. If we stop the abuse to them, then it is our peaceful protest against the school saying we won't follow the pyramid hierarchy they artificially made, as everyone in this school should be, and must be, treated equally. We might only be twenty-five students bearing the brunt, but our influence could impact so many other people and change the school for the better."

I was stunned by how good Zyriot was at public speaking, even though Japanese wasn't his mother tongue. He wasn't afraid to speak out and spread his ideals. He wanted a healthier school environment for everyone.

"A small change today will create a big impact tomorrow."

It was a beautiful finishing line. I was moved by his grand speech, and so were his classmates. By talking to them sternly, he had made them thoroughly reflect on their actions. The guilty air in the class worsened.

"There, I got it off."

Satou informed me that he managed to pry the gum off my back. I appreciated that he went through the trouble of doing that.

"Thanks. Sorry about your towel."

In the process, he had to sacrifice his sports towel to peel it off.

"You got beat up and your main priority is my stuff? Heh, care about yourself some more."

I got the feeling that Satou was also a good guy. It was reassuring that not everyone in D Class was bad.

"Don't do something like this again. Alright?"

"Yes, Zyriot-san..."

The collective group acknowledged their wrongdoings. That was good to see.

Once Satou had finished cleaning my uniform, Mikitaka trudged up to me, and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry, Takanori."

On Mikitaka's face was genuine pain and regret. His pompadour drooped depressively.

Bowing next to him was Albert, who apologised in broken Japanese as well.

"Sorry for punching you."

A third joined, Takemoto. While he didn't bow, he did express guilt.

"I shouldn't have joined in. My bad."

And finally, the leader of D Class himself, Zyriot, bowed in front of me as well.

"On behalf of my classmates, I'm sorry. D Class isn't like normally this. We don't condone these actions."

It was a bit overwhelming to see them all apologise, but I accepted it.

"It's... alright."

Even though it really wasn't alright, and my whole body was aching, it was the only thing I thought to say in the moment.

"You can go if you want now. I don't want to keep you here any longer."

As Zyriot encouraged me to leave, I remembered why I came here in the first place.

"Wait, Zyriot-san..."

"What is it?"

"Can you do me a favour?"

He raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Sure. It's the least I can do after what you experienced here."

"Thanks... could you play for the football club in tonight's match?"

Under that thick uniform, you could tell Zyriot's body had good form. It was obvious he was the athletic type.

"The football club, huh? Yeah, I can do that."

My eyes sparkled with hope. I had finally found someone who was willing to take the role.

"That's great. Come with me, we need to get you signed up."

"Actually, can it wait until after school? I'd like to have my lunch now."

Right, he bought a bento box to eat.

"Oh, yeah, of course. There's no hurry. Then, I'll meet you outside D Class after school?"

"That's perfectly fine. See you then, Takanori-san."

With that agreement, I messaged Matsushita and Akihiro about my success. When I was about to leave the class, Shimizu approached me nervously. John tailed her while looking side to side.

Strangely, he was wearing a black puffer jacket and tracksuit sweats over his uniform, even though it was really hot inside.

"T-Takanori-san! Are you alright?!"

I turned around, and nodded.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"A-are... you sure? Your face, it's..."

I wiped under my nose. It was still bleeding.

"I thought that dried up..."

"Umm... h-here. Please... use it."

Shimizu handed me a pink handkerchief from her pocket.  

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

I gratefully received her handkerchief, and pressed it against my nose. This close up, I could smell how sweet it was.

"Wagwan bruv, how does you man know dis geezer, swear down innit, skrrrt?"

I nearly bursted into uncontrollable laughter as I heard John spoke for the first time. It was the most bizarre mix between Japanese and English ever, but the English he used was roadman slang.

Luckily, since I was familiar with this sub-culture of London as I was part English, I understood what he said. Though, Shimizu nodded with a very confused face.

"Mans asked how! Not if! Bloody hell, don't start like a wasteman bruv, pa pap."

It was such an extra way of speaking... even the stupid sound effects at the end was killing me. Even though I wanted to laugh, my stomach hurt too much to do so. The handkerchief I was using also hid my mouth too.

"O-oh, sorry John... um, he helped saved me earlier... from that weird E Class boy that's been stalking me..."

John's face switched in an instant, from hostile to very impressed. With a big man vibe, he gave me a hard fist-bump.

"Dat's peng my G, we calm. Dey call me John da streets, innit. I'm hard bruv. And you mans are?"

"Takanori Yuuto."

"My guy, dat name too long, pa pa pa ka."

It was only slightly longer than Shimizu's name...

"I don't mind what you call me."

"Aight, you bruv can be Taka, like tic-tac innit. Fresh mint tings, corrrr."

That's the first time someone's called me that. I didn't hate it. It made me feel kind of cool, actually.

"Anyways bruv, where dat wasteman now, poom poom? Mans wanna give him da taste uv South London, sykat."

"He ran away..."

When Shimizu said that, John smacked his fists together.

"Gather da mandem, mans gonna spin his jaw, no lies. Shanks and all that, innit!"

If I stayed here any longer, I think John's strange and colourful speech pattern would start to rub on me. I removed the handkerchief and checked to see if my nose was still bleeding. Thankfully, it wasn't anymore.

"J-John, violence isn't good..."

"The ting go skrrrrahh."

I wondered if he knew who Big Shacc and his brother Assknee was. He probably did.

"Here you go, Shimizu-san."

I tried to return her handkerchief, but Shimizu refused while smiling cutely.

"N-no, it's okay. You can keep it."

"Really?"

I was surprised that she was willing to let me keep it. On the rare occasion a girl let me borrow something of theirs, they would want me to return it to them almost immediately. Perhaps she didn't want it back because I had gotten all my blood over it... which was fair.

"Y-yes. I don't mind."

I nodded and put the handkerchief in my pocket. Regardless, Shimizu was a kind person.

"Bruv, that's some babe ting, skidi ka ka."

John gave some borderline sexual input, smirking like a deviant.

"Also, Takanori-san... I'm sorry I couldn't help you back then..."

"It's okay. It was better if you didn't get involved."

I wanted to reassure her since she looked disappointed in herself. John scratched the back of his neck.

"Mans right, if you tryna talk dem wastemen outta it, you mans woulda get smacked up bruv, brrrt."

"Well... but..."

Shimizu tried to rebuke it, but she knew this was the hard truth. The delinquents would've just shoved her away, or maybe even change targets to her.

"It probably wouldn't be worth risking yourself for me too. We barely know each other."

"But that's not what... that's not what Zyriot-kun would've done!"

Shimizu raised her arms to her chest and declared that loudly.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Zyriot turn in our decision and smile, like a proud father.

"He would've stepped in and saved them! No matter who they are!"

It became very clear to me just how much Zyriot was revered within his class. He was like a role model. Even John, a nonsensical chav roadman, nodded in agreement.

"Dats true and all yea, but you mans ain't Zyriot. Sometimes, mans gotta allow it, cos dem bluds ain't nice and fluffy tings, yea? Keep man's self safe too, skrrrah."

John raised a good point. Even if you wanted to save someone else, there are times where you shouldn't insert yourself in the situation, such as if it put your own life in danger. For Shimizu, she could've gotten hurt alongside me, which is why John stopped her from intervening, as he knew Zyriot would come back and sort it out.

"Yeah, I guess... that's true too." Shimizu said.

"A+ fo effort tho."

Even though he spoke funny, John had a good head screwed on his shoulders. I decided to ask him the one million pound question that's been on my mind since I first saw him.

"By the way, John-san. Isn't that jacket uncomfortable?"

"Man's not hot."

That confirmed it. John was a certified bona fide roadman. He even put up gang signs to show how hard he was. Allow it.

"Ah, I'll should be going soon. Lunch's about to end."

I noticed how much time had passed. I couldn't stay here all day, as I told Nora I'd meet him the library later.

"Oh, yeah... um, see you then, Takanori-san." Shimizu said.

"Safe one my G!" John grinned.

I left D Class. Even though it was an intense classroom to be in, I felt more accepted in that class than I did in E Class.