Hyoudou Issei, though his parents and those he felt were close to him simply called him Ise, was a perfectly ordinary second‑year high school student.
Or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
In truth, he was currently in the middle of what people liked to call "the springtime of youth," though his version of it seemed to involve more misunderstandings and accusations than romance. Once, a student he'd never even met pointed at him and whispered, "Isn't that Issei?"
He still had no idea how people he'd never spoken to somehow knew his name.
Popular? Him? Absolutely not. If anything, he was infamous.
Rumors followed him like a curse, especially the one claiming he'd tried to peek into the Girls' Kendo Club changing room. And while Issei would have loved to deny it with righteous indignation…
He couldn't. Because he had been there.
Not inside the changing room, of course. He wasn't that shameless. But he had been crouched in the dusty storage room next door, eye pressed to a suspiciously convenient hole in the wall.
Or rather, he would have been, if Matsuda and Motohama hadn't hogged the hole like starving animals guarding their last meal.
"Ohhh! Murayama seriously has big ones!" Matsuda whispered, trembling with excitement.
"Ahhh, Katase's legs are amazing today…" Motohama added, adjusting his glasses like a scholar observing a rare phenomenon.
Issei's blood boiled—not from jealousy, but from frustration.
'Move, you idiots! I can't see anything from back here!'
But before he could shove them aside, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"Crap!" Issei hissed, bolting out of the storage room. Matsuda and Motohama scattered in the opposite direction.
It left him alone and he believed that he had gotten away as he tried to catch his breath.
Several minutes later, a group of male students rounded the corner and spotted him immediately.
"Seriously, Hyoudou? It's the start of the year," one of them said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Some of those girls are our girlfriends," another added, glaring.
"I didn't peek!" Issei protested. "It was Matsuda and Motohama!"
"Uh‑huh," the first boy replied flatly. "Funny, because they're the ones who told us you were there. Said they saw you running away."
"What!?" Issei noticed something past the boys that were in front of him. Sure enough, Matsuda and Motohama were peeking from behind a corner, giggling like traitorous goblins. 'Those bastards…!'
A third boy cracked his knuckles. "I think we should teach you a lesson."
"Good idea," another agreed. "You give my girl the creeps."
And just like that, Issei's springtime of youth took a sharp turn toward tragedy.
"Come on, no one's gonna complain if we rough up the pervert a little," one of the boys snickered. The others chuckled in agreement, their shadows stretching across the schoolyard like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey.
Issei barely had time to raise his arms.
"You had this coming, Hyoudou," the first boy said, and the four of them descended on him at once.
Fists, kicks, and insults rained down. Issei curled in on himself, trying to shield his head as the blows thudded against his arms and ribs. Five minutes felt like an eternity.
When the beating finally stopped, the boys stood over him with smug expressions, as if they'd accomplished something noble.
"Let's go," the leader said, giving Issei one last kick to the side. A sharp groan escaped him.
"At least he's not dead," another joked, earning more laughter as they walked off, leaving Issei sprawled on the ground.
Silence settled over the clearing.
"…Damn it…" Issei muttered, wincing as he pushed himself upright. His whole body throbbed. Anger simmered in his chest, but what could he do? He was Hyoudou Issei, the school pervert. People expected nothing else from him.
But then, something unexpected happened. Something that didn't fit into the usual script of his pathetic daily life.
A voice that was calm, steady, and strangely warm had cut through the quiet. "Need a hand?"
Issei blinked and looked up. "Huh? Shirahama‑senpai!"
Standing there was a senior he recognized immediately. Someone far above his social orbit, someone who had no reason to approach a guy like him. Yet here he was, offering his hand.
And for the first time that day, Issei felt the faintest spark of something unfamiliar. Possibility.
"You can call me Kenichi," the upperclassman said with an easy smile. "So… what happened to you?"
Issei sighed, shoulders slumping. "Two perverts blamed me for peeping. They were the ones doing it, not me."
Kenichi raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You're a pervert too, you know."
"I—uh, yeah, but they were the ones peeping! I didn't even get a look!"
Kenichi crossed his arms. "Then why hang around them? They're clearly using you as a scapegoat. Is that really what you want?"
"…No." Issei lowered his head, the answer barely above a whisper.
"Come on," Kenichi said, offering his hand. "Let's get you to the infirmary."
He pulled Issei to his feet, supporting him as they started walking.
"Kenichi‑senpai, what are you doing at school this late?" Issei asked, wincing with each step.
"I'm in charge of the MMA club." The third year answered.
"MMA?" Issei looked confused, no surprise since he hadn't been into sports.
"Mixed martial arts." Kenichi told him.
"Oh, that's cool! Like Goku!" Issei beamed before wincing from the pain.
Kenichi blinked. "…What?" He was momentarily surprised that Issei mentioned something other than 'oppai'. Of course, Issei misinterpreted the confusion to his senpai not knowing who the character was.
"Sorry! He's a character from a manga I follow. Didn't mean to sound like a nerd." Issei apologized.
Kenichi chuckled as they made their way down the hall. "It's fine. Honestly, it's good you have interests besides peeping. Maybe stick with those."
"What!? No way! Girls don't like nerds!" Issei shook his head vigorously.
"And they don't like you peeping on them either," Kenichi replied dryly. "You really think you'll get a girlfriend that way?"
"I'll get a harem!" Issei declared.
Kenichi stopped walking and stared at him. "If you can't get one girl, what makes you think you can get a harem? Practically every girl in this school avoids you."
Issei's eyes widened. The words stung, mostly because they were true. But he didn't want to admit it.
Kenichi sighed. "Let's change the subject. What's your dream?"
"Well… it was to be harem king, but…" Issei mumbled, Kenichi's words still reeling in his mind.
"Why'd you want a dream like that?" Kenichi asked.
"I… I don't want to talk about it." Issei looked away. He barely knew Kenichi; he wasn't ready to open up about his past.
"Fair enough." Kenichi smiled gently. "As for me, I'd like to win the Naoki Prize someday. Become a real author."
"An author? I didn't know you wrote. Then why martial arts?" Issei asked, somewhat glad that the focus wasn't on him anymore.
"Haha, well, it's not something I broadcast." Kenichi scratched his cheek. "I used to be like you, you know."
"You used to be a pervert too?" Issei asked, eyes wide.
Kenichi's face turned red. "N‑Not that! I meant getting beaten up."
"Oh." Issei blinked. "Well… that was the first time."
"And it won't be the last if you keep hanging around those two."
"But they're my friends." Issei protested.
Kenichi stopped in front of the infirmary door. "Are they? What kind of friend leaves you behind? Or uses you as a scapegoat? Trust me, Issei. They're not your friends. If there was a pervert code, they broke it."
"I…" Issei's voice trailed off as Kenichi knocked.
The door slid open, revealing the school nurse.
"Oh, Kenichi," she said with a sigh. "Did you beat up another one?"
"No, Elize‑sensei," Kenichi replied quickly. "This wasn't me. Hyoudou‑san was beaten up by a few students."
Nurse Elize Schmitz stepped forward. She was tall, taller than Issei by a couple of inches, with short green hair and a calm, professional air. Her lab coat swayed over a lavender shirt and brown stockings as she examined him.
"Let me guess… peeping?" she said, deadpan.
Issei's head dropped instantly. His reputation really was that bad.
"Not exactly," Kenichi said. "According to him, the real culprits used him as a scapegoat. They were the ones peeping, and they blamed Hyoudou‑san."
Elize let out a long, tired sigh. "I see. Well, bring him in and set him on the bed."
"Will do," Kenichi replied, guiding Issei over. "Alright, there you go."
"Thanks, Kenichi‑senpai…" Issei murmured, sounding more deflated than injured.
Kenichi crossed his arms. "Issei, there are other dreams out there. That one you're clinging to won't get you anywhere."
"I… guess." Issei nodded solemnly.
"Stay out of trouble," Kenichi said as he headed for the door. "He's all yours, Elize‑sensei."
"How wonderful," Elize replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Okay, let's see."
She gently turned Issei's face toward her. Her expression stayed relaxed, almost bored, while Issei desperately tried not to look down at her chest. She wasn't particularly busty compared to some girls at school, but it was still… distracting. And she could tell.
"If it helps," Elize said flatly, "you can stare. As long as it lets me get the job done so we can both go home."
"H‑Huh!?" Issei jerked back in shock.
"You're doing your best not to look down my shirt. As expected from someone like you."
The words hit harder than any punch he'd taken earlier. Even the staff knew his reputation. He was starting to hate this label of being a pervert. Maybe he'd been too open about what he liked. Everyone had their flaws; no one was a saint. But he was beginning to realize he'd gone too far.
"Well," Elize continued, examining him, "you've got a black eye forming, and some bruising around your neck. Wow, you must've really pissed off the Kendo Club."
"It… wasn't them. Probably their boyfriends."
"That's to be expected. If you had a girlfriend, you'd be cheating on her by peeping at other girls. Worse, you're looking at someone else's girlfriend. If you had a girlfriend, how would you feel if someone checked her out while she was naked?"
"I… yeah. I wouldn't like that. I'd be pissed too. But I didn't get a peek! It was Matsuda and Motohama. They were hogging the hole and..."
"Hole?" This intrigued Elize.
"There's this hole that lets us see into the changing rooms…" Issei sighed. There was no point in lying now.
"Show me." Elize commanded.
"Yes, ma'am."
They left the infirmary and headed toward the storage room. Issei winced with every step, but kept moving. Elize watched him quietly. She winced a little herself at the sight of his injuries, but she understood why the students were angry. And she could see clearly that Issei was running with the wrong crowd.
"You know," she said, "If those two are tattling on you, they're not really your friends."
"Huh? Oh… Kenichi‑senpai said the same thing. That I'm a scapegoat."
"Maybe you should try being like one of the 'princes' of this school," she teased.
Issei shivered. "No thanks."
"So what's this dream Kenichi mentioned?"
"Oh, well… um… it was to be harem king."
"That's quite a far‑fetched dream. What made you think of that? If you want that, maybe you should try being like the princes. You've seen how girls swoon over them. They probably have their own harems already."
"Probably," Issei grumbled. "They hang out with the Onee‑samas. If my math's right, that's four Onee‑samas and two princes… so two each."
"You sound jealous." She chuckled.
"I… I guess I am." He finally understood what she meant. Other people were living the dream he wanted, and it made him burn with envy. "So what do I do?"
"First, stop peeping on girls. Second, stay away from those two. Distance yourself. Don't you have any other friends?"
"Well… no. I mean, there was this kid I played with back when I was five. They were cool, but they moved out of town. Haven't heard from them since."
"Maybe one day you'll see them again."
"I guess… and we're here." Issei pointed to the storage room. "This is it."
Elize crouched down and peered through the hole. "Hmm… not a bad spot. Wait right here."
She stood and walked away, leaving Issei alone. He could've limped off, but what good would it do? So he sat down, leaning against the wall, lost in thought. He didn't even notice Elize had returned.
"Hey, you still there?" She called out to him.
Issei looked up. She was holding tools.
"Elize‑sensei?" Issei looked at the toold.
"I'm thinking you want to change yourself for the better, right?"
"Uh…" He was trying to figure out where she was going with this.
"Well, you're going to patch this hole up. I'll tell the student council it was your idea and that I supervised to make sure you didn't try planting cameras or anything. It's a step in the right direction."
"Will it remove the stigma of me being a pervert?"
"One step at a time, kiddo. Your injuries shouldn't get in the way too much, but I'll get an ice pack for that eye later. What you tell your parents is up to you."
"Ah… okay." Issei nodded in understanding.
"So, let's get started."
The two of them worked together, hammering in new wood and sealing the hole. It took about half an hour. They checked for other weak spots too. They didn't talk much, Elize only spoke to give instructions, and Issei followed them carefully. She noticed he was a good listener.
"Well," Elize said at last, wiping sweat from her brow, "I think that's about sealed up."
Elize had removed her lab coat and rolled up the sleeves of her lavender shirt. When she did, she noticed something surprising. Issei didn't even glance her way.
'Huh. Not even a peek? Maybe he really is trying.' She laughed to herself. "So," she asked, brushing dust from her hands, "how are you feeling?"
"Sore… but a little better," Issei admitted. "Like I did something right for once."
Elize chuckled. "You're growing up, kid." She gave him a light pat on the back. "Come on, let's put something on that eye."
She wrapped an arm around his shoulders to support him. The sudden closeness made Issei blush. It wasn't the usual perverted excitement, but more like the flustered warmth of being near someone who felt… almost like a big sister.
Elize noticed. 'With that perverted mask off, he's actually pretty shy around women. He needs confidence, not punishment.'
They walked back to the infirmary in comfortable silence. Issei was lost in thought, replaying everything he'd been told today. Elize simply enjoyed the quiet stroll back to her office.
"Okay," she said once they arrived, "lie down and keep this over your eye for fifteen minutes." She placed a towel‑wrapped ice pack on his face.
Issei shivered at the cold but didn't complain.
"I'll time you, then you can go." She told him and he nodded silently.
'Poor kid,' Elize thought. 'Dreams crushed, reputation in shambles… no wonder he's quiet.'
She returned to her desk, filling out paperwork and adding Issei's injuries to her report. She already knew what tomorrow would bring. Ridicule, whispers, maybe even a video if those two idiots had recorded the beating. It would destroy whatever confidence Issei had left.
"Hey, Issei." She called to him.
"Yeah?" Turning his attention towards her.
"What else did you talk about with Kenichi?"
"Oh. Well, he told me about his club, and I said it was like Goku since he's a martial artist. He's pretty cool."
"He probably gets all the girls, huh?" She teased.
"Maybe. But he doesn't really think about that. He just wants to get stronger and kick ass."
Elize smirked. "Wouldn't you like to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Be cool and kick ass. Come on, Issei. You're a good kid. You're just in the wrong crowd."
"Huh?"
"Dump the perverts, Issei. They're holding you back." She advised him.
"But..." He was again, going to protest in their defense, but she cut him off.
"I know you said they're your friends, but they're not." She leaned back in her chair. "Tell you what. If you're alone, come here for lunch. We can talk. If you don't have anyone else."
"Really? I mean… won't people question you for hanging around the Perverted Beast?"
Elize laughed. "Everyone's a pervert. Between you and me, I've got a partner whose breasts I enjoy fondling."
Instead of getting flustered or perverted, Issei actually laughed. He assumed it was a joke, but he had no idea how true it was. Elize didn't correct him.
"We can talk about your manga or something," she added.
"Really? I don't want to take up your time, Elize‑sensei."
"It's fine. Plus, you'll have an alibi."
"Alibi?"
"Think about it. If those two can blame you for peeping, even when you didn't, they can blame you for anything. If you're here, I can vouch for you." She offered, giving him a little more incentive to move away from the bad influences in his life.
"Oh… that would be awesome. But… what do you think I should do?" Issei asked.
"Hmm… why not join Kenichi's club?" She suggested.
Issei's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! I could be an awesome fighter like Goku!"
"Sure," she said with a small smile. "You'll have to tell me more about him."
"Of course! Ah… but my parents might not like me joining martial arts."
"But you'd be learning real skills. And you could kick those perverts' asses. No more being their punching bag."
"You're right! Ah!" He jumped up in excitement, only to wince in pain.
"A good thing for you," Elize said, amused, "is that beginners get beaten up a lot. So you're already used to it. Go home, soak in a bath, and do some slow stretches to check your pain tolerance."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice, Elize‑sensei. I'll talk to my parents."
"Good. And your fifteen minutes are up. You should head home."
"Oh, right. Um… is it really okay for me to come here?" Issei asked, a little worried that she was toying with him.
"I didn't rescind my offer." She shrugged, giving him a small smile.
"Thanks, Elize‑sensei. I'll see you later!" Issei waved as he left.
Elize chuckled. "He really is a good kid. But he's got a long way to go from that 'Perverted Beast' nickname."
Issei felt lighter than he had in a long time. He still didn't know what his new dream would be, but maybe he could ask his parents. He felt guilty about giving up the harem dream, his grandfather's dream, but maybe he could honor the Hyoudou name in a different way.
As he approached the bridge, he spotted the school mascot, Koneko Toujou, staring toward the center of the bridge. Following her gaze, he saw Takeshi Muzai, the "dark prince", talking to a beautiful black‑haired girl from another school. At least that is what he thought from the uniform she was dressed in.
Issei felt a twinge of jealousy, but Elize's words echoed in his mind. Jealousy wouldn't help him. Not anymore.
He quietly took the long route home, avoiding the scene. He didn't notice Koneko glance at him as he left, nor did he see Takeshi approach her afterward.
"Hey, Koneko‑chan," Takeshi asked, "who were you looking at?"
"Nothing. Just the local pervert. Probably going to blow a fuse about you and Kiba."
"Guess so. You saw the video, right?"
"Yeah. Serves him right. He's an enemy to all women." Koneko said.
"Well, we better report to Buchou about that fallen angel. She took the bait. We've got a date this weekend."
Koneko nodded, and the two headed back to the ORC building.
Meanwhile, Issei finally reached home but it was later than usual.
"Ise? Is that you?" his mother called.
"Hi, kaa‑san… sorry I'm late."
Miki poked her head out of the kitchen, ready to scold her son. "Well, I assumed you were serving after‑school detention since your principal called and..." Her voice stopped cold. "Ise… what happened to you!?"
She rushed out, eyes widening at the sight of his bruises and the darkening black eye.
"I got beat up," Issei said plainly.
"By who? We should report this and..."
"It won't matter." He trudged to the sofa and sank into it. "No one cares about a pervert like me."
Miki's heart clenched. She hurried back into the kitchen, grabbed a bag of frozen peas, and returned to place it gently against his cheek. His shoulders sagged, his expression hollow. She sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't say that. I care. Your father cares."
"That's because you're my parents. You're… obligated to care." His frown deepened, and Miki's face mirrored it.
"Well, what about your friends?" she asked softly.
"What friends?" He grunted.
"Those two boys you hang out with?"
"They're the reason I'm in this mess," Issei muttered. "They told people I was peeping. They got to see everything, and I got beaten up for it. A senpai helped me get to the infirmary, and the nurse patched me up."
Miki hesitated. "What about your old friend, Shidou?"
"He's probably laughing at me in England because of my stupid fascination with boobs."
"I doubt that. You two played that hero game all the time."
"Yeah, but kaa‑san… he wasn't like me. He probably has a girlfriend now. And he wouldn't introduce her to me because he'd think I'd ogle her. And he'd probably be right." He sighed. "And that stupid dream Jii‑san gave me doesn't help either."
"Oh, right," Miki said gently. "Your father had that same dream."
"But at least he got you."
"Perhaps. And we got you." She ruffled his hair. "Though it took several tries."
"What do you mean?"
Miki's expression softened into something sadder. "Well… before you, I got pregnant twice."
"So I had siblings? Where are they?" He stopped when he saw her look down, eyes dimming.
"I lost them," she whispered. "Two miscarriages. I started thinking I wasn't fit to be a mother. And then you came along... our little pervert."
"Kaa‑san… please don't call me that." His voice trembled. "I don't… I don't like it."
She glanced down and saw his free hand clenched tightly. "I'm sorry, dear," she murmured, pulling him close again.
"I know you didn't mean it," he said, resting his head on her shoulder. "I don't… I don't want to live my life as a pervert. I want a girlfriend someday. A family. When I thought about a harem… it wasn't about sex. Not really. I wanted to honor Jii‑san. And I wanted love. I wanted the girls to love me, and I'd love them equally. There'd be a code, you know. Honor, fidelity, trust."
"Like a marriage?" She asked.
"I… guess. But now… I don't know."
"Maybe you can join a club," Miki suggested.
"I don't think any club wants the Perverted Beast."
"Well, what about that senpai who helped you?"
"Kenichi‑senpai? Yeah, he has a club… but you won't like it."
"Why not?"
"It's the martial arts club."
"Martial arts? Oh, like that character you used to talk about. What was his name? Started with a 'g'…"
"Goku."
"Yes, that's it! You wanted to be like him. You mimicked his moves when you weren't looking at… questionable things. You also liked that comic with the robots. Maybe there's a robotics club..."
"It's called manga. And there's no robotics club. And even if there was, they wouldn't want someone like me."
"So I guess it's martial arts then."
"But it's violent."
"I know. But I'd rather you come home bruised from training than from bullies. And you'll learn to defend yourself. If your senpai is kind enough to help you, he'll let you join."
"You think so? Elize‑sensei said something similar. She also said to drop Matsuda and Motohama."
"I think she's right. And I regret not telling you sooner. I didn't want you alone after the Shidou left. I just wanted you happy. And because…" Her voice cracked.
"The miscarriages," Issei said quietly. "That's why you spoiled me. And why you and tou‑san didn't stop my perversion. You were afraid of losing me."
Miki's tears fell, but she nodded.
"I'm sorry, kaa‑san."
"It's okay. You were our little fighter. And when you were born, we named you Issei so you'd live an honest life."
"Well… I guess I've been too honest," he said, making them both chuckle. "And I think I have a new dream."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I'm going to join the martial arts club. And I'll become the strongest fighter. Goku trained every day, so I'll do the same!"
Miki smiled warmly. "It's good to see your fire again."
"Oh, kaa‑san… can you help me clean my room?"
"Hm?" She wondered what he needed next.
"I want to take down all the ecchi posters. If I'm going to change, I need to remove the stuff that reminds me of who I was. Maybe we can sell them for fighting gear!"
"Then we'd better get started. Tomorrow, ask your senpai what gear you need. I'll look for it while you're at school. And we'll start selling your… magazines."
"Alright!" Issei cheered.
Mother and son headed to Issei's room. The moment he opened the door, he winced. His perversion was plastered across every wall.
"Well," Miki said, eyeing the posters, "looks like you have a type."
The posters featured busty red‑haired girls in provocative poses.
"No, I just bought whatever busty girl posters I could find. It's a coincidence they all have red hair."
"Oh… well then, shall we?"
"Right."
They carefully removed the posters, rolled them up, and stored them in their tubes. Issei gathered his magazines and boxed them up. When they finished, the room looked plain. All that was left was just a bed and a desk.
"Well," Miki said, hands on her hips, "anything else you're missing?"
Issei tapped his chin. "Hmm… oh yeah." He walked to his closet, reached inside, and pulled out another box.
Inside were his other treasures, ranging from Gundam model kits, Kamen Rider figures, and stacks of manga, including his well‑worn volumes of Dragon Ball. He arranged them neatly around his desk, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of pride.
Miki smiled. "Looks like it adds some color in here."
"Oh! Kaa‑san, come with me." He grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway to a room they rarely used.
"What is it, Ise?"
"It's this…" He opened the closet, reached deep inside, and pulled out a large, dusty box. It was his secret stash.
He stepped aside.
Miki's eyes widened. "So this is what you spent your allowance on?"
"Yeah…" Issei bowed his head in shame.
"Well," she said gently, "thank you for showing me. Now we can get it out of here." She smiled, and he managed a small smile back.
"Come on, want to help me with dinner?"
"Sure. Um… but I don't know how to cook."
"I'll teach you."
She guided him towards the kitchen, excited that she could teach him something. Miki guided him through peeling potatoes, chopping vegetables, and preparing ingredients. Issei watched closely as she explained how to cut meat and how long everything needed to simmer.
They were mid‑prep when the front door opened.
"Smells good in here," Gorou said, stepping in from work.
"Hi, dear. How was work?" Miki asked.
"Not too bad."
"Hey, tou‑san," Issei greeted.
Gorou turned and froze. "Hi, Issei, and what happened to your eye!?"
"I'll tell you at the table," Issei said, pressing an ice pack to his face.
Gorou blinked, confused, but Miki only smiled knowingly.
Soon, dinner was served. The family sat together, steam rising from the dishes.
"So," Miki began, "Issei's principal called today."
Gorou sighed. "What did he do now?"
"He was caught peeping. Or rather… blamed for peeping."
Gorou looked at Issei. "Explain."
Issei took a breath. "Motohama and Matsuda were peeping. They hogged the hole. I heard guys coming, so I ran, but those two told them I was the one peeping. I got beaten up. A senpai helped me to the infirmary, he's in the martial arts club. The nurse and I patched the hole and checked for others. She talked to me about joining the club, and… I want to do it. I don't want to be known as a pervert anymore. I know it'll take time, but this is for me. And… I'm giving up Jii-chan's dream. I want to be the strongest fighter. Like Goku."
Gorou raised an eyebrow. "You mean that manga character you always talked about?"
"Yeah!"
"Martial arts can get violent." Gorou warned.
"I know. I'll probably get beat up again tomorrow. But I'll learn. I'll get stronger. I'll join tournaments and prove everyone wrong."
"You sure your friends won't get mad you're ditching them?"
"They're not my friends, tou‑san. If they were, they wouldn't have used me as a scapegoat."
Gorou glanced at Miki, who nodded in agreement.
"I also cleaned my room," Issei added. "Kaa‑san's going to sell my porn so I can buy fighting gear."
Gorou chuckled. "Well… I think I have some old gi pants you can use."
"Really? Thanks, tou‑san!"
"Finish your food and make sure your homework's done."
"It's the first day of school, tou‑san… but yeah."
The parents exchanged a quiet, proud smile. Their boy was growing up.
After dinner, Gorou took Issei to a closet and pulled out a pair of old black gi pants that was worn, with a few holes.
"Needs patching."
"I can do it. Gives me something to do."
Gorou blinked, surprised, but shrugged.
Back in his room, Issei set up his sewing machine and patched the pants. When he finished, he tried them on.
"Not too snug. Pants won't fall off. Let's try some kicks."
He attempted a few kicks, only to realize he wasn't nearly as flexible as he thought. He kept going anyway, until a roundhouse kick sent one of his Gundam figures flying into the wall.
Crash.
"Ise, what was that?" Miki called.
"Sorry! One of my figures hit the wall…" He sighed. "Guess I'll need to buy a new one."
He sat at his desk and pulled out a notepad.
"Baa‑chan said writing helps before bed… okay, goal one: become the strongest fighter. Hopefully before I graduate. Next… I'm scrawny. I need to workout. Morning routine: 20 pushups, 20 sit‑ups, 20 punches per fist. Stretch first. Muscles are stiff in the morning."
He wrote everything down, then paused.
"Gratitude list… okay. My parents. They've put up with me for 17 years. Elize‑sensei, she helped me and gave me an out. Kenichi‑senpai, he helped me to the infirmary. I'm grateful."
He leaned back, thinking.
"Positives: I have a new dream. Negatives: Matsuda and Motohama have to go. They're not my friends. I'll get laughed at tomorrow. Probably a video of the beating. I'll need to keep my head up. If I let their opinions get to me, they win. I have to show it doesn't bother me."
He finished writing, reviewed his notes, and smiled.
He changed into sleepwear, packed the gi pants into his briefcase, and added a pocket‑sized Dragon Ball and some manga to show Elize‑sensei.
With everything ready, he set his alarm and went to bed.
[WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IF YOU DON'T WAKE UP I'M G‑GOING TO K‑KISS YOU…]
His tsundere alarm clock blared the next morning. It couldn't actually wake him gently but only terrify him. He jolted awake, falling out of bed as yesterday's beating replayed in his mind.
He shut off the alarm. 'I need a normal clock…'
He stretched, testing his range of motion. Satisfied, he started pushups. He only made it to ten before collapsing.
"Tch… I said twenty."
He forced out the remaining ten, then punished himself with five more. His muscles burned, but he pushed through. Crunches came next, another twenty, all done. Then punches, weaving like a boxer. Then kicks, going for twenty each leg.
He was drenched in sweat, sore, but strangely energized.
"Ise! Wake up!" Miki called from downstairs.
"I know! I'm up!"
He headed to the bathroom. The swelling around his eye had gone down, but the bruise remained. He sighed, showered, and dressed carefully to avoid irritating his bruises.
Today might start rough. But he felt that deep down, things would get better.
After breakfast, he grabbed his bag.
"I'm off then."
And with that, Hyoudou Issei stepped out the door, toward a new beginning.
"Have a good day!" Miki called from the doorway.
Issei waved back and stepped into the morning light. As he walked, he noticed something strange, he felt awake. More awake than he had in years. The sunlight warmed his skin, soaking into him like a gentle charge.
'So this is what morning people normally feel like…?'
Normally, he was practically nocturnal, dragging himself to school half‑asleep. But today felt different. Waking up early, exercising, making changes. It stirred something inside him. His anxiety felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted.
It was weird. But a good weird.
He couldn't explain it, but it felt like something deep inside him was rising, almost like a dormant engine finally starting. His steps grew quicker, his heart beating with a strange excitement. On a whim, he broke into a jog.
To his surprise, he wasn't half bad.
'Guess running away from the Kendo Club did something for me… and waking up early helps too. I feel… alive.'
He wasn't marathon‑ready, but jogging didn't feel like torture anymore. For a high‑schooler, his speed was average but compared to the old him, it was a miracle.
He felt unleashed. He felt like he was changing.
And then he saw it, the gates of Kuoh Academy.
Kuoh Academy. A private, co‑ed school… technically. In reality, it was still overwhelmingly female, having only opened to boys a few years ago. The ratio in his year was seven girls to three boys. In the third year, it was eight to two.
Girls ruled the school. The Student Council was mostly girls. The President was a girl. The boys had no power. And yet, Issei had chosen this school.
Why? Simple. More girls.
His "perverted guts" had carried him through the brutal entrance exams. He'd dreamed of being surrounded by girls, of building a harem, of living the dream his grandfather had passed down.
But now… things felt different.
Before, he would've proudly declared: "What's wrong with being a pervert? It's my life! I'll build a harem here!"
But after yesterday… after talking with Elize‑sensei… he couldn't think that way anymore. He'd been naïve. Stupid, even.
He'd imagined getting a girlfriend right after enrolling. Then another. And another. By graduation, he pictured girls fighting over him in a battle royale.
Looking back, he cringed. He would've looked like a playboy. A jerk. A clown.
He chuckled bitterly. Funny how he once wanted girls to fight over him… and now he was planning to fight in the martial arts club instead.
As he crossed the courtyard, he spotted Kenichi‑senpai walking with his girlfriend, Miu Fūrinji. She was beautiful, being fair‑skinned, long blonde hair, athletic, graceful, and well‑known as a star of the gymnastics club.
Issei didn't stare. He wouldn't ogle another man's girlfriend. Kenichi earned her affection, Issei hadn't.
Besides, Miu didn't like him. He couldn't blame her. What girl liked the "Perverted Beast"?
The nickname made his fist clench. He forced himself to relax and headed to class. Snickers followed him as he entered the room. He sighed and sat down at his desk.
"Hey, buddy," Matsuda said cheerfully. "How was that DVD I lent you? Good stuff, right?"
Matsuda, the bald pervert. Former athlete, now a member of the Photo Club with ambitions of photographing every part of a girl's body. Nicknames: Perverted Baldy, Sexual Harassing Paparazzi.
"Fu… the wind was strong this morning," Motohama added, adjusting his glasses. "Thanks to that, I got a perfect view of the girls' panties."
Motohama, the glasses pervert. His "Scouter" ability let him calculate girls' measurements instantly. Nicknames: Perverted Glasses, Three‑Size Scouter.
These two were once his "evil buddies." Now, seeing them made Issei feel sick. And angry.
Matsuda dumped a pile of DVDs and magazines onto Issei's desk. Suggestive titles everywhere. A girl across the room squeaked in disgust.
"What the hell is wrong with you three!?"
"Gross!"
"Go die, you scumbags!"
Matsuda snapped, "Shut it! This is how we entertain ourselves! Girls and kids should look away! Or I'll rape all of you inside my head!"
Issei froze as he looked at the bald pervert. 'What did he just say…?'
A few months ago, or even yesterday morning, Issei might've laughed. Might've admired the "treasures." But now? Now he felt sick. Elize‑sensei was right, he was in the wrong crowd.
Matsuda frowned at Issei's horrified expression. "Hey, hey, hey. Why the long face? You've got treasure right in front of you."
Motohama pushed up his glasses. "You haven't been in the mood lately. It's weird. You're like a different person."
Issei wanted to say it. 'I don't want this anymore. I don't want to be like you. I'm done.'
Motohama added, "You sick or something? No way. The manifestation of all sexual desire doesn't get sick."
Issei's stomach twisted.
Matsuda clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well, youth is weird. Anyway, come to my place after school. Let's watch my secret collection together."
Issei stared at the pile of DVDs. At the two boys he once called friends. At the life he was trying to leave behind.
And he knew... Today, something had to change.
"That's an excellent idea, Matsuda‑kun," Motohama said, pushing up his glasses. "You should definitely invite Ise‑kun as well."
"Of course I'm inviting him," Matsuda replied proudly. "We're high school boys driven by sexual desire. If we don't do anything perverted, it'd be disrespectful to the parents who gave birth to us."
The two smirked in perfect, disgusting harmony.
Perverts. Creeps. And until yesterday… Issei had been counted among them.
But that was going to change.
Issei took a slow breath. "I'm going to ask you two to leave."
Matsuda blinked. "What're you talking about?"
"I need you to leave my desk."
Motohama scoffed. "Are you upset we told those guys you were peeping? It was all in good fun."
Issei's teeth ground together.
Matsuda added, "Maybe it's the video of you getting beat up. Hey, man, ya snooze, ya lose."
Something inside Issei snapped. He swept the pile of pornography off his desk with one sharp motion. Books and DVDs scattered across the floor.
"Yo, man! What's your deal!?" Matsuda yelped, scrambling to pick up his stash.
"I said leave," Issei repeated, voice trembling. "Please."
"No way! After the crap you pulled!" Matsuda barked.
Motohama sneered. "Who do you think you are? We caught you peeping and you got beat up for it. Don't blame us because you got caught."
Bam!
Issei didn't even remember deciding to move.
One moment he was standing. The next, his fist was buried in Motohama's jaw. Motohama flew backward, crashing into a row of desks and the classroom gasped.
Matsuda's eyes widened. "What the hell, man!?"
He lunged, grabbing Issei by the collar and slamming him against the window. Issei gripped Matsuda's wrists, trying to pry them off.
Matsuda leaned in, shouting in his face. "What the hell was that!? First you toss my stuff, then you punch Motohama! Who do you think you are!?"
Issei didn't think. He reacted.
Matsuda leaned too close, he was too angry, too careless.
Issei drove his elbow into Matsuda's ribs, then followed with a left hook to the jaw. Matsuda's grip loosened instantly, and he toppled backward and landing right on top of the dazed Motohama.
Breathing hard, Issei glared down at them.
"I asked you two to leave!" he shouted. "You went peeping, I didn't even look! And you said that I did! Then you told their boyfriends it was only me and got me beaten up! And you probably sent out that video too! Thanks for that!"
The class was silent.
"Maybe they should check your phones for naked pics of their girlfriends!" Issei snapped. "And good luck peeping again! I patched up the hole!" He dropped into his seat, running both hands through his hair. "Damn it…"
His legs shook. His heart pounded. He barely heard the whispers spreading through the room. No one had ever seen Hyoudou Issei explode like that.
The perverted duo glared at him, rubbing their bruised jaws. But the class looked… uncertain. Maybe even sympathetic.
"Hyoudou!"
Issei's head snapped up upon hearing his name be called.
The teacher stood at the front, frowning. "I don't know what argument you three had, but violence is not tolerated. Go to the Student Council office. Take this." He scribbled something on a slip of paper and held it out.
Matsuda and Motohama smirked until the teacher turned to them.
"And you two. Don't laugh. You're going as well. Displaying pornography in this school is unacceptable. Pack your things and follow Hyoudou‑san."
Their smirks vanished. They hadn't realized the teacher had walked in during the commotion. He'd seen everything from Issei's refusal, the porn, the punch.
Issei sighed. He didn't care about the punishment. He just wanted this over with.
He packed his briefcase, stepped over the fallen perverts, took the slip, and walked out. His hands still trembled.
'Great. Just great. Now I'm going to the Student Council. Again.'
He wondered if this ruined his chance to have lunch with Nurse Elize. He wondered if Kenichi‑senpai would think less of him.
'Just my luck…'
He marched down the hallway, ignoring whether the other two followed.
The doors of the Student Council loomed ahead. They were tall, polished, and intimidating. Led by Sona Shitori. The strictest girl in the entire school.
Issei took a breath. 'Let's just get this over with.'
As he prepared to knock on the doors that would decide his fate.