Chapter 564

Nakajima Satoshi and Aoki Masao stood side by side at the edge of the crowd.

They witnessed the miserable state of their former teammates, and it felt as if a lump of wet cotton was stuck in their throats, unable to speak for a long time.

After a long while.

Nakajima Satoshi was the first to move his gaze away and sighed softly.

"Let’s go."

"They aren't children anymore. They are responsible for what they did."

Aoki Masao nodded silently and didn't look again.

They cast their gazes toward not far away at the same time—Natsume Chikage was whispering something to Konoe Hitomi.

The morning light outlined the boy’s handsome side profile, and there was a calm composure between his brows.

Nakajima Satoshi’s eyes were complex.

There was unbelievable shock, deep frustration.

And also a trace of recognition that he himself found hard to admit.

"Since the matter is handled, I’ll head back to the classroom first."

Natsume Chikage said to Konoe Hitomi.

"Regarding Shinohara’s side, I’ll trouble the student council to follow up and supervise."

Konoe Hitomi remained in that calm manner and gave a faint "Yeah."

Natsume Chikage turned and was about to take a step.

But suddenly, three figures appeared before him.

Sakai Shion crossed her arms, her cold and beautiful face covered with a thin layer of anger, her brows knitted into a knot.

She stared at Natsume Chikage, her tone brooking no argument.

"You, come with me to the teacher’s office now."

Koi Yuuna stood beside Sakai Shion, her face not showing such anger.

She narrowed her charming eyes slightly, her gaze scanning Natsume Chikage back and forth, and at the end, she licked her lips with lingering interest.

"Natsume-kun—"

"This matter has caused too much of a stir this time. Be a good boy and come with us, and explain the cause and effect of the matter clearly, okay?"

Ito Eiji’s face was even ashen, both angry and excited.

"You—after talking to Teacher Sakai, stay honestly in the office and wait for me!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions.

"After I finish dealing with the baseball club’s affairs, I’ll come back to find you!"

Natsume Chikage was slightly startled.

Then he understood that this time it really had gone a bit too far.

He didn't defend himself, nor did he intend to escape.

He just nodded quietly and followed the three teachers toward the teacher’s office building.

Along the way, girls kept poking their heads out from the crowd, waving and greeting him with red faces, congratulating him.

Natsume Chikage nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his pace not stopping.

But his gaze swept through the moving crowd, one by one, over those familiar faces.

He saw Tsukishima Rin.

She stood quietly a little further away from the crowd, not cheering or waving.

Just watching him quietly.

A very faint but incredibly gentle smile hung on her lips.

He saw Yukimura Suzune.

She pursed her lips, and a thin layer of anger hung between her cold brows.

He saw Saionji Nanase.

She puffed out her pink cheeks, looking somewhat happy, but also somewhat unhappy.

He saw Fujiwara Aoi.

She had her hands on her hips, glaring at him angrily.

He saw Akita Sana.

She raised her arms high, waving hard at him, with an undisguised, excited smile on her face.

He also saw Kondo Miki.

She stood beside Akita Sana, not waving or making a sound.

Just staring at him silently, her brows tightly furrowed.

In those slender eyes, complex emotions he couldn't read were intertwined.

In the teacher’s office.

The air seemed to have frozen.

Sakai Shion rested her hands on the edge of the desk, her body leaning forward slightly, her cold gaze almost piercing through Natsume Chikage.

"You aren't a child anymore."

Her voice was pressed very low, but carried a suppression like before a volcanic eruption.

"This kind of thing—why didn't you tell the teachers immediately?"

Koi Yuuna leaned lazily against a filing cabinet on the side, her slender fingers twirling the ends of her hair.

"That’s right, Natsume-kun."

She blinked, her voice soft yet tinged with reproach.

"This time it was clearly Shinohara Shingo’s fault. As long as you spoke up, the teachers would have handled it for you immediately."

"Why go to such lengths... the student council intervened, five students expelled. This result, who could have expected it?"

Other teachers also shook their heads one after another, lecturing him in turn.

Natsume Chikage listened quietly, without defending himself.

He didn't feel he had done anything wrong.

Some people, some things, cannot be conceded.

If you concede once, the other party will push their luck and press step by step.

Only by completely extinguishing this kind of provocation can one gain true peace.

The teachers lectured in turn for about a quarter of an hour.

Gradually, the voices subsided.

They looked at this boy before them who was always silent but stood with a straight back.

The fire in their hearts also went out by more than half without knowing it.

After all, getting to the bottom of it, Natsume Chikage was the victim.

They were just angry that this child put himself in a dangerous situation but never asked for help, and never even informed them.

But things had reached this point.

With the Mido family intervening, the expulsion of Shinohara Shingo and the other four was a foregone conclusion, with no room for reversal.

The teachers looked at each other and were silent.

At this moment.

Don't know who started the topic.

"Speaking of which... that 158 km/h fastball Natsume-kun threw today..."

"If I remember correctly, the fastest pitch speed record for Japanese high school students is Ohtani Shohei’s 160 km/h in his third year?"

"First year... 158 km/h... this talent..."

Sakai Shion’s originally cold face now also showed a trace of amazement.

She re-examined this student whom she considered a "failing grade" student.

"Natsume-kun."

"Did you... really never systematically practice baseball before?"