Teacher, could it be that Masaya Ishida has some intellectual issues?

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The second class was music. Kyosuke Hojo’s class had to prepare for the upcoming choir competition, and they were going to sing "The Monster’s Ballad."

Hey, hey, scriptwriter, come out and take a beating! You just introduced a protagonist who’s hard to accept, and now you have them sing this song? What’s the meaning of that?

"The Monster’s Ballad" tells the story that monsters also want to love and have hearts.

What? This song was chosen before Shoko Nishimiya transferred here? Then it’s fine.

Shoko Nishimiya stood in the middle of the front row, arranged by height, while Kyosuke Hojo stood in the last row on the boys’ side.

Singing was absolutely a huge challenge for Shoko Nishimiya. Although her grandmother had sung "The Monster’s Ballad" to her since she was little and taught her how to sing it, she...

She wasn’t sure when to start singing, so she glanced left and right, trying to join in the moment her classmates began.

Okay, it’s time. On her right, Miki Kawai nodded and opened her mouth.

It’s starting—good luck, Shoko. You have to perform well this time.

In the classroom, aside from the piano played by squint-eyed Kazuki Shimada, only Shoko’s voice could be heard. She started too early; Miki Kawai was just nodding in rhythm, opening her mouth out of habit.

The music teacher looked somewhat at a loss watching Shoko. Kyosuke noticed that Shoko was actually singing quite well—at least her rhythm was basically right, though her pronunciation was off.

Shoko hadn’t realized she had jumped the gun and continued singing earnestly.

“Shoko, you started too early. I’ll tell you when to start next time.”

Miki Kawai, standing beside Shoko, gently patted her shoulder and said.

The music class went on, and the students continued to practice.

“If this keeps up, the choir competition is doomed. Isn’t this a guaranteed loss?”

Kyosuke heard Naoka Ueno, who stood in the same row, grumble. He didn’t care much—it was just an elementary school choir competition; maybe only the girls cared.

Besides, the outcome wasn’t certain yet. At least Kyosuke thought Shoko’s singing was pretty good. Still, he said nothing and did nothing, just watched and waited.

Soon it was time for the next class: Japanese language, taught by the homeroom teacher, Takeuchi.

Kyosuke couldn’t sleep this time because Takeuchi was having the class take turns reading aloud, and it was now Naoka Ueno’s turn.

“I’m not wrong, so I absolutely won’t apologize...”

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“What’s with that tone, Ueno?”

Takeuchi said sternly, but though it was a question, he didn’t want Ueno to explain or correct her reading style.

“Forget it, you don’t have to read. Next!” Takeuchi said impatiently, not even looking at Ueno, just staring at the textbook in his hand.

“You four-eyes bastard!” Ueno sat down in anger.

Kyosuke found it amusing. Calling the homeroom teacher a scoundrel might be harsh, but he was definitely a terrible teacher—poor teaching skills and questionable ethics.

Ueno didn’t read weirdly on purpose; she simply didn’t know how to read it properly. Usually, a teacher, even if scolding, would correct the reading, but Takeuchi just scolded to complain.

“Shoko,” Takeuchi called the next student.

Although still angry, Ueno quickly patted Shoko’s shoulder to remind her the teacher was calling her to read.

Ueno’s action was so quick that Kyosuke didn’t even react before she had already called Shoko.

Shoko stood up and read with a somewhat odd emphasis, but Kyosuke listened carefully and found it barely understandable.

Takeuchi said nothing more and just said “Good” after Shoko finished reading.

“Seriously?”

Ueno muttered discontentedly at the teacher’s different treatment.

Seeing this, Kyosuke wasn’t sure if Ueno would become Shoko’s friend. In children’s worlds, a small act like this by a teacher could create a rift between two kids.

“Next, Ishida.”

Takuya Ishida stood up and noticed Ueno’s displeasure, so—

“Wally-wally-wally...”

Yes, this mischievous boy mockingly imitated Shoko’s way of speaking.

The class burst out laughing, while Shoko looked confused, glancing left and right, trying to understand what everyone was laughing at.

Kyosuke’s expression darkened. Even if not for the reward, he couldn’t tolerate such behavior. Mocking someone with a disability was beyond childish mischief.

“Ishida, cut it out. Come to my office after class.”

Takeuchi said to Ishida in a neutral tone, less severe than when he reprimanded Ueno.

“Okay.”

Ishida replied carelessly, knowing that in the office, Takeuchi would at most say this behavior was bad and nothing more.

But Kyosuke couldn’t accept it. When Takeuchi called the next student to read, Kyosuke stood up.

“Teacher, Takuya Ishida might have intellectual problems. Shouldn’t he be taken to a hospital for an examination?”

“Alright, sit down, Hojo. I will properly discipline Ishida after class.”

Takeuchi’s attitude toward Kyosuke was very different—not only because Kyosuke was top of the class, but due to a series of nightmare events involving him.

“Takeuchi-sensei! This has to be taken seriously. This is school bullying!”

“Hojo, it’s not that serious. Sit down first.”

The words "school bullying" made Takeuchi’s head start to ache.

“No, it must be dealt with now. Ishida must apologize to Shoko!”

Kyosuke stood firm. People like Takeuchi liked to sweep things under the rug. If not punished now, Ishida and his gang would only grow bolder.

Takeuchi pinched the acupoint between his eyebrows, feeling a throbbing headache.

“Shoko Nishimiya, come with me along with Takuya Ishida.”

“Teacher, I want to come too.”

“What are you coming for... fine, come if you want.”

Takeuchi was the kind of salary thief everyone envied—coasting through school affairs, doing just enough to get by.

Bullying had happened before, but he only ever took the bullies to the office after class for a light scolding.

If the bullied student’s parents showed up, he would simply push the blame onto the bullies and say he had already tried to teach them.

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