Chapter Sixty-Eight: Boss, I Was on TV

As soon as morning self-study ended, the class launched an activity called “Long Live Beautiful Heart—The Great Pest Extermination Battle.” Aoki Tsukasa watched as the boys, full of righteous indignation, brandished textbooks, brooms, mops, rags, even insecticide and bug nets, bustling industriously through the classroom. Who knew why these guys brought insecticide and bug nets to class?

Aoki Tsukasa's mouth twitched as he watched them, sweating from their feverish labor, sweeping the classroom from back to front as thoroughly as if they were conducting a military operation. Their enthusiasm, as though undertaking some grand endeavor, made him feel oddly out of place. With a sigh, he decided to slip away to the restroom and wait for class to resume before returning. Seeing them clutching insecticide and staring at his desk, desperate to clean but hesitant, Aoki figured he might as well cooperate.

Yet, just as he stepped out the door, he was startled and stumbled back two steps, nearly landing on the floor. Bald heads—so many bald heads! The corridor looked like a hall of mirrors, glimmering everywhere. A dozen bald heads shone golden before his eyes.

“Boss! Please accept us!” Matsuzaka Daigo, the leader, excitedly rubbed his shiny scalp. His old Mohawk was gone, but he felt more like a proper delinquent than ever!

Aoki Tsukasa gazed at the familiar faces of these delinquent youths, torn between amusement and confusion. “What... are you all doing?”

“Tiger Maeda taught us the rules,” Matsuzaka Daigo grinned, full of admiration. “He said that to follow the boss, you must obey his rules—one being no weird or messy hair.”

Aoki Tsukasa looked at the bright-eyed group of bald heads. No way was he about to reveal the truth—that he’d simply meant not to style their hair like some village rave. But if he told them now...

He touched his own head and felt an odd thrill: at least he wasn’t the only one bald—no, shaved! The feeling was strangely satisfying.

“Cough, so you know the other rules too?” Aoki asked, leaning casually against the doorway, exuding the effortless charisma of a true leader.

The gang thought Aoki was simply too “cool.” “Absolutely!” Matsuzaka Daigo thumped his chest. “We’ve compiled the boss’s words into the Five Commandments, printed out a copy for each of us.”

Huh? Five Commandments? What was that?

Seeing Aoki’s surprise, Matsuzaka Daigo pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket, stamped with a bold red fingerprint—like a contract. Aoki took it and his mouth twitched.

[The Five Commandments]

[One: No bullying the weak. A delinquent’s fists must be raised against enemies and the strong.]

[Two: No ignoring injustice. Hold justice in your heart; take pride in becoming a new breed of delinquent.]

[Three: No skipping class or neglecting homework. We study not for praise, but to maintain discipline.]

[Four: No disrespecting elders. If you can’t respect elders, how can you respect the boss?]

[Five: No words or actions disrespecting the boss. (Underline this point.)]

[Principle: Only those who uphold these commandments can become outstanding men like Boss Aoki Tsukasa. After our high school delinquent days pass, those who follow the Five Commandments will become men in the truest sense.]

[Signature: Matsuzaka Daigo—Anyone who breaks the commandments or betrays brothers and the boss will be punished by all.]

After reading, Aoki Tsukasa looked up, bewildered. “Are we... some kind of organization?” he murmured, feeling these guys were far more professional at being delinquents than he was. Organizational principles and everything! He handed the so-called Five Commandments back to Matsuzaka Daigo, who watched him with fervent eyes.

“Please accept my pledge! From now on, my fists are the boss’s fists. As long as I stand, I won’t let an enemy harm a single hair on the boss’s head!” Matsuzaka Daigo’s face flushed with excitement, bowing ninety degrees, holding up his signed and fingerprinted pledge.

“Boss, please accept us!” The dozen bald heads behind him imitated, all bowing deeply, holding up their Five Commandments sheets with their names and fingerprints.

Aoki Tsukasa stared at them, dazed, and hesitated for a long while before accepting the stack. Last time had taught him that it was no good to be a lone commander. To be the so-called strongest delinquent, his following couldn’t be weak.

Besides... they’d shaved their heads. What else could he do?

With a thick pile of pledges in hand, Aoki forced a laugh. “Alright, then. Remember what’s written—if I find out you’re using my name to bully others or doing anything bad, don’t blame me for kicking you out.”

“Yes, Boss Aoki!” they shouted in unison, startling the students in the corridor into silence.

Aoki found it both amusing and oddly exhilarating. He quickly calmed himself, speaking levelly: “Go on, do what you need to do. If anything comes up, I’ll let Matsuzaka Daigo know. Class starts soon—don’t be late.”

“Yes, Boss Aoki!” The bald heads puffed their chests, eyes proud as they looked around at the timid students. They felt far more imposing than before!

Initially, they’d been afraid of shaving their heads, but later discovered how convenient it was. They saved money on hair gel, could wash their heads with a single swipe while washing their faces, lost no hair at night, and even kept their pillowcases cleaner. Truly, the boss’s choices had hidden meaning!

Watching the group swagger away, Aoki Tsukasa unconsciously covered his head and sighed deeply, uncertain if what he had done was right or wrong.

“Boss!” Before he could gather his thoughts, Tiger Maeda appeared not far away, beaming like a flower in spring, skipping towards him like an exuberant girl.

“Boss! I was on TV!” Tiger Maeda’s smile made Aoki Tsukasa’s heart lurch: Oh no, don’t tell me you’ve caused trouble for me again?