<Previously on the story>


Donut Trumpet has only one wish: to be king.

The Donut boy gained the power of 'time leap'—to return to the past by devouring 101 hamburgers. To strike back at the girl he hates most in the world, Lib Holstein, he ordered his 393rd set of 101 Big Packs!

Burgers and time-leaps will carry Donut up the craziest staircase of his life!


.................................


"No grade-schooler can eat a hundred burgers."


The exchange with the Pakdonald manager over the Big Packs for the 393rd time.


"Mind giving me back my Coke?"


The cola spat-out with the tacky, squid-pattern shirt guy — also the 393rd round.


After all 393 rounds were up, I finally got my hands on the 393rd set of 101 Big Packs. 

I tore through them at tornado speed. 

Then, at last, I found myself back in the music room facing Lib for the 393rd time.


Lib's glasses flashed the same as ever; she looked at me like she was inspecting a crushed caterpillar.

But even seeing that face, I couldn't help smirking.

Lib frowned, clearly annoyed.


"What're you smirking about?"


"A premonition of victory. "


"Are you really that stupid, or are you cheating?"


"Shut up and take the hit like a grown-up."


"You couldn't possibly hit me."


"But if you don't get hit, the ones who'll be hurt are you and your family."


I raised my fist for show.

This fist was about to slam into Lib Stein's cheek.

How satisfying it would be to see her roll on the floor like trash.


"Your dad's three months behind on the rent. If I told my Papa to, he could kick you out easier than picking his nose."


Lib's color drained fast. Perfect. Utterly satisfying.


"You're disgusting, using your parents' power."


"My parents' power is my power, too."


Her lips trembled slightly. That, too, thrilled me.


"You get it, right? This time for real—"


I drew back my fist and shouted,


"Shut up and take the hit!"


Finally, I was going to beat the hell out of her.


 101 × 393 + 1 = 39,694. 


After eating that many Big Packs and more, finally, finally —




I threw the punch, but I was the one lying flat on the hardwood floor of the music room.


"You... dare defy your king?"

That coldest, sharpest voice I'd ever heard stabbed into me as I lay flopped on the music-room floor.


"Even if the world turns upside down and you claw your way to the Presidency of the United States someday, I will never, ever bow to you. You're nothing to me. Burn that into your skull, Donut Trumpet."



$ $ $



Three days later, Lib disappeared from school.