Restarting My Life After Failing to Protect Girls in My Class – The Day I Was Called the "Demon God of Dragon Slaying" - Episode 6

In the fourth-grade, class 3.

The bell rings for the second period—ding-dong—and the twenty-minute break begins.

Finally, it’s time for some exercise.

In my first life, I often stayed cooped up in the classroom, but in this second life, I’m almost always out on the field.

I’m seriously trying to be a well-rounded elementary school student.

During the short ten-minute breaks, I memorize some English vocabulary or chat with friends to reduce study time for middle school and beyond, but during the twenty-minute break and lunch, I definitely want to move around.

“Togo! You’re playing dodgeball today, right?”

“I’ve got a strategy ready, so no running away this time. I’m definitely going to win today!”

See? Today, as usual, five or six sporty kids from class rush over to my desk, eagerly challenging me to a game of dodgeball.

“What are you guys talking about? Kizuki-kun is playing badminton with us today!”

Just then, three girls chime in.

“Girls, stay out of this! This is a boys’ battle! We can play badminton tomorrow!”

“Huh!? What are you guys saying when you get owned by Kizuki-kun every day!?”

Boys and girls in fourth grade typically don’t get along.

Today, as usual, the silly, trash-talking boys say something unnecessary, and the assertive girls, who also act as the class leaders, push back firmly.

“Can you believe you can’t even follow the order nowadays? So lame!”

“There’s no order! Kizuki would definitely want to play with us the most!”

Yelling ensues.

“Kizuki-kun is annoyed! You guys bother him every single day!”

“This is boyhood friendship! Friendship! Don’t underestimate boyhood friendship!”

More yelling.

I stand up with a wry smile and walk over to a boy who has been watching from behind the girls, looking a bit shy to approach.

I place my hand on the shoulder of the smaller boy, who is famous for being the best at the horizontal bar in class, and turn back to the still-arguing boys and girls.

“Sorry, but today I’m with Sakai-kun on the horizontal bar. We’ll do badminton during lunch. The boys’ match will be tomorrow.”

Sakai-kun looks a bit awkward and glances up at me, the tallest in class, saying, “Is it okay?”

“It’s better for your body to do various exercises.”

“We’re going to the high horizontal bar, right?”

“Of course. I’m not planning to touch the ground this time.”

I wasted three minutes on the classroom commotion.

Sakai-kun and I hurry to the shoe locker—while he puts on his gym shoes, I stuff my indoor shoes and socks into the locker to go ‘barefoot.’

Sakai-kun didn’t say anything when he saw ‘barefoot me.’ He knows this is my everyday routine.

As we dash out to the field, the gravel and small stones hit the soles of my feet.

“Wait up, Kizuki-kun! You’re so fast—”

“Well, if I don’t hurry, someone else will take the horizontal bar!”

“They won’t! Not many people can use the high horizontal bar!”

There’s no way I’d feel pain in my feet that have been playing barefoot since first grade.