Chapter 3: 3. Punch!
Another go with the flow scenario?!
While others might not know Gion's true strength, Marsh certainly does! Forget about himself... even some well-trained Navy soldiers probably wouldn't stand a chance against her!
And anyway, when he was a kid, maybe it was excusable to go along with the boys and bully her. But now, at his age, joining girls in bullying her? Ridiculous.
If word got out, could he still hold any status at the academy?!
[You step forward and kick the lead girl, Susan, sending her sprawling. With hands in your pockets and a face full of disdain, you declare, "Don't you know that in this world, I'm the only one allowed to bully her?!"]
[Since you're known as the academy's bully, the girls panic and run away. Susan left on the ground, gives you a complex look before leaving as well.]
A complex expression?
What does that mean?
Is she planning to stab him in the back?
[You try to brush the dirt off Gion's clothes, but she angrily pushes your hand away.]
[With teary eyes, she screams.]
["Stop pretending! I know you're just like them! I'm like this all because of you! I'll never forgive you... even as a ghost, I'll haunt you!"]
[Saying this, Gion runs off with tears streaming down her face. Her red hair tie, which had loosened while being pulled by the girls, falls to the ground. Your choices?]
[A. Pick it up and chase her to return it.]
[B. Quietly put it away.]
[C. Since no one's around, give the hair tie a whiff.]
What?!
What kind of absurd options are these?
But she's not wrong! If it hadn't been for him joining others in bullying her back then, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
Smart, powerful, and beautiful, she should have been adored by everyone instead of isolated and bullied.
And yet, because of him…
He had thought that their relationship had improved over the years. But it turns out the past still deeply wounded her.
And at a time like this, sniffing her hair tie…
That wouldn't just make him a villain but a total creep!
Of course, choosing the first option would probably lead to a redemption ending, which he didn't want. He wanted to keep his villain image intact!
"I choose B!"
[You quietly pick up the hair tie, brush off the dirt, and tuck it away.]
[Reward obtained: Gion's Hair Tie. It will be issued at the end of the simulation. Please check then.]
This counts as a reward?!
[The next day, you notice that your classmates are giving you strange looks. The academy's bulletin board, classroom blackboards, hallways, and staircases are all plastered with photos of Gion following you into the woods with her bento like a wife. Insulting words like slut and bitch are scrawled underneath in red.]
[In the classroom, a group of girls is bullying Gion again. Susan throws the photos at Gion, calling her slut and bitch. Gion keeps her head down, her hair obscuring her face, making her expression unreadable. Only tears drip steadily from her face. Your choices?]
[A. Go with the flow.]
[B. Look away.]
[C. Punch Susan and knock her out.]
He couldn't take it anymore.
He truly couldn't take it.
The previous reluctant choices were within tolerable limits, but this was too much for Marsh to bear.
And hitting people surely couldn't be a good action, right?!
Marsh struggled for a while, then finally chose C!
[Using a rough version of Geppo, you appear before Susan and punch her straight into the floor. Then, you kick the other girls one by one, sending them sprawling.]
[Malicious act successful. Opportunist talent activated, white reward obtained. Reward will be issued at the end of the simulation. Please check then.]
Just as expected!
Hitting people just couldn't be right!
[One of the girls starts crying and shouts.]
["How can you hit girls?"]
[Your response?]
[A. "Shouldn't you all be hit?"]
[B. "None of your business!"]
[C. "So, you can bully others, but others can't retaliate? Are girls above punishment? Are you all somehow worth more than us guys?"]
Honestly, hitting girls isn't right.
But under these circumstances, it was indeed satisfying!
Choosing C!
[Malicious act successful. Opportunist talent activated, white reward obtained. Reward will be issued at the end of the simulation. Please check then.]
["So, you can bully others, but others can't retaliate? Are girls above punishment? Are you all somehow worth more than us guys?"]
[[You shoot them a disdainful look. Just then, a teacher arrives and brings everyone to the office. Ultimately, you're suspended for two months.]
[Since your father is away on a mission, this punishment feels like a two-month vacation.]
[After two months of living it up, you return to the academy only to learn that Gion has dropped out. Due to Susan and the others conspiring, Gion was made the scapegoat for everything. With the added effect of the photos, she was forced to leave the academy, and soon her family moved out of Marineford.]