Responses
If you just watch and do nothing then yes he could have got or reported it to a teacher if nothing else. I do also believe he deserves a chance at forgiveness but we aren’t the people who actually get to say whether he earned it or not. Being an active bystander doesn’t spare you guilt so no he is guilty but I do believe he deserves a chance at forgiveness.
The mc deserves forgiveness cause even though he was a bystander, atleast he didn't bully him physically aswell. Like I get it that's bad for the victim but tbh in my shoes, I wouldn't have that much hate towards the bystander cause hey its valid that they don't want to get hurt too, or whatever I mean I've seen some ppl who try and solve fight only to end up being injured in the process too. I'm saying this mainly cus he deeply regrets it and that's the first step for character development, he did try to apologise too. Still honestly the anger should be more on those assailant... They're the one who did the act for no damn reason other than their own pleasure, like they know what they're doing is awful.
Like why tf do i see some ppl saying he deserves this cus he was a bystander?? And it's karma?? Wtf cause rape and basically imprisonment is not IT for a bystander... Its bad to be that but let's be fr now if he stopped those kids anyways they would've went at him or continued either way cus no damn sane person beats someone out.