"Of course, I was just teasing you, Kiku."
Matsueda Azusa stuck out his tongue playfully. "Heh."
"That's not the point, Matsueda. Please don't change the subject."
Just then, Yukino Yukinoshita spoke up. She seemed genuinely intrigued by what he had said earlier.
"Matsueda… is it? I didn't expect you to understand even a small part of my thinking."
"Of course," Matsueda replied proudly, spreading his hands.
"My assistant is the legendary master of human observation—Hikigaya Hachiman."
"With subordinates this capable, isn't it only natural for me, as the president, to have a bit of 'mind-reading' ability?"
"Only your self-praise is unpleasant."
Yukino frowned slightly. "Calling it mind-reading is giving yourself too much credit. Still… I do partially agree with your earlier analysis."
She continued calmly:
"Hiratsuka-sensei always believes that certain 'twisted' students need to be corrected and saved. But in reality… aren't those who see themselves as 'saviors' also twisted in their own way?"
"Wait—hold on!"
Hiratsuka looked between the two of them in confusion.
"How did this suddenly turn into a criticism session about me? When did you two form an alliance?"
Matsueda waved a finger.
"This isn't an alliance."
"It's simply recognizing the same facts."
Yukino nodded slightly.
"Being able to acknowledge the reasonable parts of someone else's argument is a basic form of rationality."
Then she turned back to Matsueda.
"However, I disagree with your final conclusion. Saying that helping others comes from 'looking down on them'—I don't accept that."
"If every act of helping is reduced to condescension, then there would be no such thing as salvation in this world."
She spoke clearly, without hesitation.
"A person's mindset is subjective. If you believe your actions are condescending, then you're simply projecting your own interpretation onto the act of helping itself."
"I do not consider myself the kind of person you described."
Matsueda blinked, then shrugged.
"I could argue further, but does it really matter?"
"Didn't we already establish that the three of us are essentially the same kind of people?"
Yukino shook her head.
"It matters a great deal."
"Because although we may appear similar on the surface, we are fundamentally different."
"And that difference is exactly why Hiratsuka-sensei considers your personality 'twisted'—and why I am qualified to correct it."
"Wait—what?!"
Hiratsuka was completely caught off guard.
"How did I become the problem here?!"
Yukino glanced at her calmly.
"I respect your character, Hiratsuka-sensei. However, I have doubts about your ability to guide others effectively."
"That said, I do appreciate that you're willing to entrust problems to someone more capable."
Matsueda raised an eyebrow.
Now this is getting interesting.
Normally, Yukino wouldn't be this aggressive.
Clearly, his earlier words had struck a nerve.
But that was expected.
She was still a teenager, after all.
Unlike him.
Matsueda fully accepted his own contradictions.
His arrogance.
His double standards.
I'm rotten. So what?
He sighed and casually patted Hiratsuka's shoulder.
"Don't look at me like that," Hiratsuka muttered.
"It makes it seem like I'm the pitiful one."
Matsueda gave her a thumbs up.
"Don't worry, Kiku. You're still a good person."
"That's worse than saying nothing!"
Yukino cut in, clearly done with the banter.
"Let's stop wasting time."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, please stop indulging him."
Then she looked at Matsueda.
"If you agree with my viewpoint, I will accept this request and help correct your personality."
"I have no objections."
Matsueda answered casually.
After all, she said nothing about stopping his actions—only about "correcting" his personality.
That didn't concern him.
He raised his hand again.
"But before that… can I make a request too?"
Yukino nodded.
"That is acceptable."
Hiratsuka immediately felt a bad premonition.
"Then I'd like you to help correct her personality as well."
Matsueda pointed at Hiratsuka.
"Helping one person or helping two—it's the same thing, right?"
"…What?"
Hiratsuka's eyes widened.
"I brought you here to fix him—and now you're trying to fix me?!"
Matsueda clicked his tongue.
"You reap what you sow, Kiku."
"Besides, your goal is still achieved. She'll fix me—and you at the same time."
Yukino thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…That's reasonable."
"Even a teacher shouldn't be excluded from needing help."
"I accept this request."
"You actually agreed?!"
Hiratsuka stared in disbelief.
Matsueda scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well… looks like we're in this together now, Kiku."
"Two prisoners in the same correctional facility."
Hiratsuka snapped.
Her fist shot forward.
But Matsueda had already anticipated it.
He dodged instantly and retreated behind Yukino.
"She's resisting!"
"Yukino, use your brain—or your fists—do something!"
Yukino sighed.
Clearly unimpressed.
"Lunch break is over."
"I'll prepare a solution soon."
Without another word, she turned and left.
Silence.
Matsueda slowly turned his head.
Hiratsuka stood there.
Smiling.
Dangerously.
Matsueda froze—
Then let out a scream straight out of The Scream painting.
The day finally came to an end.
Matsueda arrived at the clubroom.
As soon as he opened the door, he noticed something was off.
Hikigaya looked tense, constantly shifting in his seat.
Kazuhiko Onimizu sat slumped over, his face pale, looking like his life had ended.
Before Matsueda could ask—
Hachinami Anna rushed forward in panic.
"President—this is bad! The plan completely failed!"
"I know you're anxious," Matsueda said calmly, setting down his bag.
"But explain properly."
Banai Mi immediately spoke up.
"This is actually your fault, President!"
"…Me?"
She explained:
"I owe Onimizu money, so I've been paying him back with homemade lunches."
"We meet in the emergency stairwell—it's usually empty."
"But today—everyone heard about the 'fight' you caused."
"So people started passing by…"
"And they saw us eating together."
"Caogai misunderstood!"
She burst into tears.
"He thinks I'm cheating with Onimizu!"
"…That's it?"
Matsueda sat down calmly.
"Just explain it."
"It's not that simple…"
Onimizu spoke weakly.
"Something worse happened."
"…Oh?"
He sighed.
"At the end of lunch…"
"A girl was waiting outside our classroom."
"She looked nervous. Small. Almost crying."
"And then—"
"She saw me."
His voice trembled.
"She shouted…"
"'Kazuhiko Onimizu!'"
"She grabbed her uniform and looked at me like I'd betrayed her."
"'You… how could you do this?!'"
Silence.
"…What?"
Matsueda blinked.
Onimizu buried his face.
"She said…"
"'How could you abandon us?!'"
The entire class exploded.
"And you know what's worse?"
Onimizu looked up, dead inside.
"She introduced herself as…"
"Komachi Chika. Literature Club."
Matsueda froze.
Then slowly stood up.
"…We have a traitor."
"You—played with a girl's feelings?!"
"I'll execute you myself!"
"It's not like that!!"
Onimizu shouted desperately.
"She didn't explain anything properly!"
"It's just about club matters!!"