My New Life As Suzune Horikita (COMPLETED)

Chapter 19: "Facing the Bullies"

The soft breeze of the ocean air brushed against my face as I stood on the cruise deck, gazing out into the endless horizon. Ayanokoji stood next to me, silent as always, but there was something peaceful about just being in his presence. The survival exam was behind us, and I could finally relax a bit. But of course, things were never that simple.

“Are you worried about the next exam?” Ayanokoji asked calmly, his hands resting in his pockets.

I shook my head, my mind still preoccupied with the atmosphere of the ship. “Not really. I trust you’ve got a plan, just like always.”

He said nothing in response, only giving me a brief glance, which was enough to confirm he was always thinking three steps ahead.

But then, our moment of calm was interrupted by an unwelcome presence.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Class D’s little dream team,” a mocking voice drawled from behind us.

I turned around, and there stood Ryuen, the self-proclaimed leader of Class C, flanked by a couple of his lackeys. His eyes were gleaming with malice, and it was clear that he was looking for trouble. He slowly approached, his smug smirk never leaving his face.

“What’s the matter? You two plotting something again?” Ryuen sneered, his gaze narrowing as he focused on me. Then, with a bold move, he reached out, as if trying to touch me, probably to intimidate me like before.

But this time, I was ready. I wasn’t scared of Ryuen anymore. The survival exam had taught me a lot about standing my ground, and I wasn’t about to let him push me around again.

I swiftly grabbed his arm, gripping it tightly. My eyes locked with his, and I glared at him, showing no fear. “Back off, Ryuen,” I said coldly, my voice firm and unwavering.

His smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. He tried to yank his arm away, but my grip held strong. For a brief moment, we were locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, realizing I wasn’t going to back down, he let out a low groan and pulled his arm free, stepping back.

“Tch,” he muttered, clearly annoyed, but he didn’t press further. “You’ll regret this.” With that, Ryuen turned and walked away, his lackeys following close behind.

I exhaled, relaxing my grip, and turned to Ayanokoji. He raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by my reaction. “Not bad,” he commented, his usual monotone voice hiding any real emotion.

I smiled, giving him a thumbs-up. “Thanks. He’s not going to scare me anymore.”

Ayanokoji gave me a subtle nod of approval, but before we could continue our conversation, we decided to walk through the corridors of the ship to clear our minds.

As we strolled along the narrow halls, discussing plans for the future, something caught our attention. A faint noise—voices, raised in what sounded like an argument or struggle. It was coming from one of the rooms nearby.

“Do you hear that?” I asked, pausing mid-conversation.

Ayanokoji nodded, his eyes narrowing as we moved toward the source of the noise. We approached the room slowly, careful not to make any noise. The door was slightly ajar, and when I peeked through the gap, my blood boiled.

Inside, I saw several Class C girls—,Manabe Shiho and some of her friends if I remembered correctly—harassing Kei Karuizawa. They had her cornered, taunting her viciously, just like in the anime. Kei was visibly shaking, her usual confident demeanor completely shattered under their cruel words.

My fists clenched in anger, and I could feel the rage rising inside me. How dare they treat her like this? I was about to storm in and confront them, but Ayanokoji placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Wait,” he whispered, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to my fury. “If we go now, it’ll only escalate.”

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay composed. He was right. As much as I wanted to punch those girls right there and then, I knew that rushing in wouldn’t solve anything. So, I gritted my teeth and waited. I got an idea and for them facing the consequences for their this activity I recorded the whole scene in which they were bullying Kei.

After what felt like an eternity, the Class C girls finally left, laughing as they walked past us without even noticing we were there. The moment they were gone, I burst into the room, and Ayanokoji followed behind me.

Kei was huddled in the corner, trembling, her face pale from fear. Her usual strong front had completely crumbled. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, and it broke my heart.

Without a second thought, I rushed over to her and knelt down beside her. “Kei…” I said softly, wrapping my arms around her in a comforting hug. She flinched at first but then relaxed into my embrace, burying her face in my shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I whispered rubbing her back.“You’re safe now. I’m here.”

Kei trembled in my arms, but slowly, her breathing steadied, and the tension in her body began to ease. Ayanokoji stood quietly nearby, watching the scene unfold with his usual unreadable expression.

After a while, Kei finally pulled back, wiping her eyes. “T-Thank you…” she whispered, her voice still shaky.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “Anytime. You don’t deserve what they did to you.”

We walked her back to her room, making sure she was safe and comfortable before leaving. Kei thanked us again, her voice soft but full of gratitude.

As Ayanokoji and I walked down the corridor afterward, I couldn’t shake the anger I felt toward those girls. “I can’t believe they would do that to her,” I muttered, clenching my fists again.

Ayanokoji glanced at me, his voice calm as always. “People will do anything when they think they’re in control.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Yeah, but it’s still wrong.”

“We’ll deal with them when the time comes,” he replied, his words laced with the quiet confidence I had come to rely on.

I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease after hearing him say that. “Thanks for being there. For Kei.”

Ayanokoji simply nodded, his eyes reflecting a quiet understanding. “We look out for our own.”

With that, we exchanged a brief goodbye before heading to our respective rooms for the night. As I lay in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. The survival exam, Ryuen’s intimidation, Kei’s harassment—it was all overwhelming. But I knew one thing for sure: no matter what challenges we faced, I had allies I could trust, and together, we would overcome anything.

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This chapter captures the dramatic tension from the cruise ship scene in Classroom of the Elite Season 2, highlighting the dynamics between the characters and emphasizing moments of strength, trust, and protection.

--Chapter 19 ends--