Arc I: The Demon of Sōbu
Chapter VI,
The Judge, the Jury, and the Executioner
Class 2-F
4:01, PM
"Do you have a moment?"
Hikigaya hears him behind him. His body turns toward the source of the voice, and he sees him, the great prince of Sōbu.
Hayama Hayato.
"What do you want…?", Hikigaya's tired voice responds, as he straightens his body toward the blond.
A faint smile appears at the corners of Hayama's lips.
"I wanted to talk about the plans for Saturday", he replies with a small, friendly smile.
Hikigaya could only look at him in confusion.
"Huh?", he responds.
However, the confusion also draws Hayama's attention.
"She didn't tell you", he asks, raising his eyebrows with slight surprise. "Orimoto-san and I have been texting each other", he clarifies, reaching into his pocket in search of his phone. "So she made plans to go out on Saturday. I thought she'd told you."
Hikigaya, more than wanting to respond, found it ridiculous that Orimoto would tell him anything. Even more so that she would send him a message.
"If she didn't do it in the past, then why would she now? And besides, why would she tell me?"
Hikigaya turns toward the door to leave.
He would not attend the club today.
"No, she didn't tell me", Hikigaya responds without looking at him.
Hayama, who genuinely thought Hikigaya knew, could only give him a smile. More pleading than understanding. Since he did not want to be alone with those two girls.
"Then, do you want to come with us?"
Hikigaya tilts his head, in disapproval.
"Of course not."
Hayama leans forward. "You can see it as a favor…"
"Favor…", the sound of the word echoed in his mind.
Hikigaya suddenly opened his eyes.
"...In helping me with this", Hayama continued.
Hikigaya shakes his head as he watches Hayama lean slightly forward. He really did not want to accept.
Even less now that he remembered…
Matsuba.
He would not go to the club today, but the others would be there, Hasegawa, Aisaka, it was certain that Hasegawa would tell Hikigaya if Matsuba tried to do something. He needed to think of a plan to keep Matsuba away from Yukinoshita.
He had work to do, and the last thing he wanted to do was go somewhere with Hayama and Orimoto.
"You know I wouldn't be of any help", Hikigaya simply responds. "And besides, how would you need my help? Don't be ridiculous", Hikigaya begins to take a few steps toward the exit. "Besides, I have something to do…"
Hayama could only hear Hikigaya's footsteps getting farther away.
While he remained bent over.
"I understand…"
He was able to respond, but Hikigaya was no longer there.
Hikigaya Residence
8:45, PM
Hikigaya is lying on the living room sofa.
He was thinking about what to do.
The situation with Yukinoshita and Matsuba. How was he going to solve it.
What is he after?, What does he want?, Why the hell did he come to the club?, And why does he want Yukinoshita? Hikigaya's eyes wandered across the ceiling of his living room, he looked at how white it was, while searching for answers.
Maybe he likes her?, Mmmh, wouldn't that be strange, right?, He's a strange guy, a psychopath, most likely, but a man, isn't he…?, Ah… whatever…
Hikigaya's thoughts weren't helping him.
Let's recap: What do I know about Matsuba… he's nicknamed the Dark Prince, he's a thug, apparently one of the strongest. Oh, a gangster. Source: Hasegawa. Oh, what was it? Leader?, Tch… I should've written it down, it was too much information. But even so, if he were, if he were the biggest thug in the city, or all of Japan…
How am I supposed to convince Yukinoshita that he is…? It would be impossible.
Small footsteps approached across the wooden floor.
"Hey", his sister's voice, Komachi, interrupts him. "Someone's calling you."
His sister's voice is cold and annoyed. Two combinations that are dangerous in any woman.
They had been like this for days.
Another problem for Hikigaya's head.
He turns toward his sister.
"What?", he responds with his tired attitude.
Komachi is irritated by how disinterested and condescending her brother's voice is. So she throws the phone at him.
"Hey!", Hikigaya jumps off the sofa to catch the phone.
"I'm going to bed", Komachi says. "So leave it there when you're done."
Hikigaya furrows his brow. "S-Sure", when Komachi closes the door, Hikigaya raises the phone to his ear. "…Yes?"
"Yahallo."
Hikigaya immediately pulls his phone away from his ear and looks at the screen, then looks at the contact name.
Yukinoshita… Haruno.
"Damn…"
"Are you and your sister fighting?"
A charming voice comes through the phone's speaker.
Hikigaya simply sighs. "Compared to your family situation, this is nothing."
Haruno laughs at what he said. "Very funny", when she stops laughing, she clears her throat. "Changing the subject, I heard that you were invited to go out, why don't you want to go?"
"Nobody invited me out", Hikigaya replies, annoyed by the memory of the moment.
"Hayato invited you", Haruno replies instantly.
Hikigaya opens his eyes, but rather than being surprised.
He is intrigued.
"How does she know that Hayama invited me?, Did he tell her?, And if he did, he surely asked Yukinoshita-san to make me go", Hikigaya smiles. "What a good trick…"
Hikigaya simply sighs again.
"You should go", Haruno continues.
Hikigaya furrows his brow. "No, I shouldn't."
"But you should", Haruno replies. "Hayato is the kind of person who never asks anyone for anything. He's a very proud boy, you know…"
Hikigaya opens his eyes again, but only because he has learned new information.
"Proud, huh?"
Haruno raises her tone of voice, changing it.
"So I really want to know why he wants to take you", Haruno concludes. "What's the problem?", her tone changes, as if nothing had happened. "You have the chance to go on a date with the girl you loved, right?, It's very romantic."
Orimoto's face comes to Hikigaya's mind.
"Romantic… no…"
Hikigaya changes his posture on the sofa, sitting up.
"I wouldn't call it romantic", he replies.
"Mmmh, no", Haruno disagrees. "And then what would you call it?"
"They were simply personal and selfish desires", Hikigaya clarifies. "It was just a misunderstanding. It wasn't real."
Haruno listens attentively, she does not speak right away. There is a silence, until Haruno laughs.
"You're like some kind of monster of reason or something", Haruno says while still laughing.
"What does that mean?", Hikigaya clears his throat. "It doesn't sound silly at all."
"Then a half-insecure monster, do you like it?", Haruno responds.
Hikigaya simply furrows his brow. Although she wasn't wrong about the tone, it still annoyed him.
"As I was saying", Haruno speaks again. "It would be better for you to go on that date", Haruno's charming tone changes to a threatening one. "If you don't go, this Onee-san will have to personally come to your house and drag you out of there", she takes a couple of seconds. "Bye-bye."
She says goodbye.
Hikigaya is still holding the phone near his ear.
And another sigh escapes him.
Chiba Station
11:57, PM
"Thanks for coming", Hayama says.
Hikigaya only turned to look at him with an annoyed expression.
"I only came because Yukinoshita-san's sister threatened me", he replies immediately. He did not want him to think otherwise. "So if you want to thank someone, thank her."
"Still, thank you", Hayama replies. "But that's not why I asked you to come…"
Hikigaya looks Hayama in the eyes.
"Then why am I here…?", Hikigaya responds.
Hayama takes a deep breath. "It's about Yukinoshita-san..." Hayama looks away for a moment. "And Matsu—"
"Sorry for the delay!"
The female voice interrupts Hayama.
Hikigaya tilts his head and sees Orimoto and the other girl, whose name he does not know, running toward them.
"We're almost there!", the other girl says.
A few steps away, Hayama turns to Hikigaya.
"That's them", he replies, looking at the girls. "We'll talk later."
Both girls arrive.
"Sorry for the delay, Hayama-kun", Orimoto begins.
"Yeah, there were a lot of people", the other girl continues. "They wouldn't let us through."
Hayama smiles as always.
"It's okay, no problem", the boy says. "Let's go."
Hayama begins walking with both girls. Meanwhile, Hikigaya simply sighs.
"Talk… about what?", Hikigaya repeats. "Yukinoshita-san…?"
Hikigaya follows Hayama as they walk.
As they walk, the girls try to start a conversation, Hayama simply goes along with whatever they say, there was not much magic coming from him.
"What if we go see a movie first?", Hayama interrupts both girls, making the decision.
"Yes, yes!", Orimoto says. "What a good idea."
"Right?", the other girl replies. "What movie should we watch?"
Hikigaya smiled. At the great way Hayama directed the conversation without saying much. He only had to suggest one thing, for both of them to agree. He hated to admit it, but that was incredible.
"How about a romance?", Orimoto says.
The girls continued talking.
"Of course!"
The sound of their words in the background made Hikigaya yawn.
Hikigaya's eyes lit up.
His hand rested on the back of his seat, while his head fell onto his clenched hand.
He didn't even listen to the plot of the movie, he wasted money.
Hikigaya had never suffered as much as he did today.
"Hey, Hikigaya", Orimoto speaks in a low voice as she pats him a few times. "You and I, watching a movie together", the girl says. "If our middle school friends saw us, they wouldn't believe it."
Hikigaya listened to her words.
"Friends…", he repeats. "Our…"
Hikigaya understood it in a way, but he also couldn't understand how she distorted what she was seeing so much.
He wondered why she was like that...
Naivety? That would be the most likely explanation.
"I suppose…", Hikigaya responds without any interest.
Orimoto moves slightly toward Hayama. In a completely innocent manner. Leaving a large space between herself and Hikigaya.
Hikigaya sees this and thinks to himself.
"Now that I see this. Unfortunately for me, I am taken back to my memories of middle school. Of course, I didn't realize it back then. She, Orimoto Kaori. She treated everyone equally, even when she wasn't interested in them. It's not that she was pretending, or anything else. She's just like that. That's the way she is."
And so Hikigaya comes to the same conclusion.
"I hate nice girls."
"Wasn't that explosion amazing?" Orimoto is the first to speak as they leave the theater. "It was amazing how Hikigaya jumped in his seat", the girl continues. "It was really funny."
"I wasn't expecting it to be so loud", Hikigaya says, putting his hands into his pockets.
Hayama smiles awkwardly. He didn't like seeing someone being made fun of, even if it was Hikigaya.
"Yeah", he says, making both girls look at him. "I was a little surprised too."
"But Hayama-kun, I saw that you stayed calm the whole time", the girl beside him says.
"Yeah, that's true", Orimoto quickly replies. "It made me jump a little. But Hayama-kun acted like nothing had happened", the girl continues. "But, Hikigaya…"
Orimoto starts laughing again, but more loudly.
"I have sensitive ears, what can I say. I hope you enjoyed my sudden scare", Hikigaya says to himself. "Besides, why did the movie have explosions if it was a romance…?"
Hayama simply watched the situation, waiting to know when to intervene.
"W-We should go, if we don't hurry, we won't have time to go to the stores."
The blond's words came out.
PALCO
3:35, PM
Now Hayama and Hikigaya were together, waiting for the two girls to try on some clothes.
"So she was your type back in middle school", Hayama begins to speak.
"Huh?", Hikigaya responds without paying attention to the question.
"Orimoto-san", Hayama replies. "Was she your type?, I didn't expect that."
"Silence", Hikigaya responds. "It wasn't Orimoto, there were other girls who were quieter and others who were louder who—", Hikigaya interrupts himself. "It doesn't matter. Besides, just because it was like that, doesn't mean it still is now."
"You're right…", Hayama replies. "In the end, we can say that neither of us has really been in love. Neither you, nor me…"
The last words remind Hikigaya.
The night Tobe told them that he liked Ebina. It was the same night Hayama said the initial of the girl he liked.
Y.
That was what he said.
"And you wanted to talk about this", Hikigaya breaks the silence. "About my type?"
Hayama looks at the ground.
"No, no", he takes a deep breath. "First, I wanted to apologize again." Hayama sees Hikigaya's confusion when he hears this, so he continues. "Because of me, for asking you to help me, things at your club have been awkward."
Hikigaya avoids Hayama's eyes, looking straight ahead.
"I already told you, you don't have to apologize, I did it because I wanted to."
Hayama swallows. "Even so…"
"That's all it is…", Hikigaya replies.
Hayama shakes his head. "It's about Matsuba…"
Hikigaya furrows his brow.
"Matsuba?", Hikigaya responds immediately. "What does he have to do with this?"
Hayama swallows.
"Yukino…shita…", Hayama clears his throat. "I'm worried that he's with her."
Hikigaya still didn't understand.
"You're worried?"
Hayama nods without taking his eyes off the front.
"Yes. You know what they say about Matsuba", he sighs. "Although I don't believe the rumors, I'm still worried that he's with her." Hikigaya still looks at him with his brow furrowed. "That's why I have a request", Hayama speaks again. "I want you to hel—"
"Hayato."
The shrill female voice pulls both boys out of their conversation.
Both turn toward the voice.
It was Miura Yumiko, accompanied by Ebina Hina.
"Hayato", the girl repeats. "What are you doing here?", Miura immediately asks as she approaches Hayama.
Ebina turns to look at Hikigaya.
"Hello, Hikitani-kun."
To which Hikigaya responds.
"Mmmh."
Hayama regains his composure.
"We just came to the movies", he says without mentioning anyone and generalizing.
Miura turns to look at Hikigaya, which she doesn't believe.
"With Hikio?", Miura asks incredulously.
Instead of answering, Hayama smiles awkwardly.
"Hayama-kun!", Orimoto shouts as she approaches. "What do you think of this dress?, Will it look good on me?"
Orimoto and the other girl approach.
"And who are you?", Orimoto asks.
Miura furrows her brow in displeasure within seconds.
"Huh?", the blonde's anger grew. "Who are you?"
Hayama watches as the situation unfolds, he really doesn't know what to do.
Oh, say something.
So Orimoto speaks for him.
"We're friends of Hayama-kun."
Miura opens her mouth, somewhat surprised by what she hears.
"Wow, I even feel sorry for Hayama", Hikigaya thinks. "Oh, Orimoto. This day couldn't get any stranger..."
"Friends…?", Miura repeats, almost spitting the word out. "Hayato—"
Hayama interrupts her and clears his throat. "A-Ah, Yumiko", he begins. "We—"
"Ah, it's Hayato-kun!"
The male voice makes everyone turn around at the same time.
Tobe runs toward Hayama.
"Tobe?", Hayama responds almost as if it were a miracle. "What's wrong?"
Tobe, already holding onto Hayama, speaks. "I need your help, Hayato-kun", the boy begins. "I came with Irohasu to compare a new uniform for the team, but all we're buying are supplements—"
Tobe interrupts himself and looks at the others.
He recognizes Miura, and seeing her with her brow furrowed, and Ebina beside her, but the two girls have confused expressions.
He doesn't know them.
Orimoto and the other girl look at each other.
"A-Ah, Yumiko, Hina", Tobe speaks again. "Did you guys go out?, Beeeh, why didn't you tell us guys?, We could've all come, right, Irohasu?"
When Tobe turns around to look behind him at Isshiki, she was no longer there.
Instead, she was standing in front of Hikigaya.
"Senpai", she says without taking her eyes off him.
Hikigaya keeps his distance, even with the girl standing in front of him.
"She's fast, but not that fast, now that I think about it", Hikigaya tells himself, perhaps because he is comparing her to what he has seen most recently.
"Senpai, what are you doing here…", those were the girl's words, but what she really said was: You have time to go out with girls, but not to work. That's what she meant. "Ah, having fun."
Hikigaya immediately understood what she really meant.
"No, I'm really not wasting my time—"
Isshiki pulls his arm toward her height, a few centimeters lower.
"It doesn't matter, and then, who are those two?", Isshiki changes her tone to a deeper one, but without losing any trace of charm from her face, she whispers in his ear, "Are they your friends?, What kind of relationship do you have with them?, Is one of them your girlfriend?"
The words went directly into Hikigaya's ear.
"This girl, she's terrifying, how is it possible for her to sound so cold with such an innocent smile?"
Hikigaya swallows.
"Ah, no, actually—"
"Hayato", Miura speaks again, but this time with her patience completely exhausted.
"How about we all spend the afternoon together!", Isshiki speaks to the group.
Isshiki immediately read the atmosphere, she wanted to spend time with Hayama, but Miura was also there, which would make things difficult, but she could use Hikigaya to help her.
It would be so easy.
Hayama smiles again, this time with more visible discomfort.
But Miura is not interested in this.
"Haya—"
"Eeeeh…"
A boy's voice.
Followed by a large group.
One, two, three, four, five, more than ten.
All dressed alike, turquoise-blue jackets, with the emblem of a tiger. A light design of intersecting lines. Their pants had lines matching the color of their jackets, and on the lower part of their jackets, a design of black lines.
But among them, one stood out.
His hair was the same color as his jacket.
Turquoise.
"Hey", the boy speaks again. His height was almost the same as Hayama's. Both of his hands were in his pockets, with a confident and provocative walk. "You're the guy who was with Hasegawa yesterday, aren't you?", the boy continues.
Hikigaya did not look directly at him, nor did he take his eyes off him.
He was wearing his school uniform, one Hikigaya did not recognize. The blue color was similar to his hair, with black details, and a lion emblem.
Hikigaya coughs when he sees him. He tries to read him, he had to.
"Y-Yes", he barely answers. Hikigaya twists his smile.
"Shit, I didn't expect to sound so pathetic."
The boy's expression changes in the blink of an eye.
"I knew it!", the boy shouts, causing those walking through the shopping mall to turn and look at him. The boy approaches Hikigaya a few steps, just like everyone behind him. "And I thought Hasegawa had retired from the business", he speaks again. "I should've gone over to say hello."
The others remained silent, not knowing what they were talking about.
Hayama stepped between the boys, covering Miura, Ebina, Orimoto, and the other girl. Isshiki was beside Hikigaya, far enough from Hayama for him to cover her.
Tobe, unaware of the growing atmosphere, simply smiled.
"Ah!", Tobe shouts. "He's your friend, Hikitani-kun?, Woah, I didn't know you were popular at other schools."
Hikigaya twists his smile even more.
"Shut up, Tobe", he wanted to say.
The boy turns his gaze toward Tobe.
"Mmmh, Senpai has friends?" Isshiki speaks innocently.
Hikigaya furrows his brow again.
"Is it really that hard to believe that I can have friends…?"
The boy smiles at how they are making fun of him, so he continues.
"Are you friends with Hasegawa?"
Hikigaya blinks. He really didn't know what to call it. They attended the same club, they knew each other, they talked.
"I don't know how to classify our relationship, how am I supposed to—"
"So?", the boy speaks again. His tone was neither threatening nor annoyed, but it made Hikigaya's blood run cold.
"Y-Yes", Hikigaya finally manages to answer.
"Well, in that case, every friend of Hasegawa is my friend", the boy replies. "I'm Seiran Amagi", he approaches Hikigaya enough to put an arm around his shoulders. "And do you know what friends do, Hikitani-kun?"
Hikigaya simply sighs without opening his mouth.
"Hikitani-kun, that's not my name", Hikigaya straightens his posture, trying to gain a little ground, but it was useless.
"What?" he responds.
Seiran leans slightly, whispering into Hikigaya's ear.
"Share."
Share… sharing…
Hikigaya didn't even think, he simply moved his head forward.
A large group of boys, only boys.
Then he looked at the people he had come with.
Hayama had said nothing, absolutely nothing, covering Miura, Ebina, Orimoto, and the other girl.
"Shit, shit, shit!", Hikigaya screamed at himself.
But he tries to think as he attempts to speak again.
"A-Ah, really?" His thoughts were racing as fast as possible, how the hell could he get out of this? He had no idea how to fight, never, ever. "Can Hayama fight?", Hikigaya thought, "Oh, at least Tobe can serve as bait", the ideas came to him, and just as quickly, they fell apart.
"Yes…" Seiran, with the same friendliness as at the beginning. "Didn't you know?, Ask your friend, Hasegawa. He shared."
Hikigaya opened his eyes.
"That Hasegawa" Hikigaya repeated in his mind. "The only reason Hasegawa and I even talked was because we met because of him…"
The group of boys began murmuring among themselves.
"Ah, yeah!" a boy in the back says. "The blonde one's cute."
Miura jumps when she hears him.
"What did you say?!"
"Idiot, you always pick first", another boy replies. "At least leave us something."
Hayama immediately grabs Miura by the arm.
"Calm down, calm down, Yumiko, he didn't mean it seriously", Hayama says. And he addresses the boy. "That wasn't very nice."
"What did that idiot say?", another murmur begins from the back.
And more comments came out.
"I think he's asking for a beating."
Another boy adds to the situation.
"Although the curly-haired one is cute too."
Some laughed, while others surrounded the others.
"That's true", another replies.
"But the girl with glasses isn't so bad either, you just have to cover her face with a face mask."
The group's laughter grows.
Ebina silently takes cover behind Hayama.
"Damn, why are the prettiest girls always in other schools, this sucks", a boy says. "They never leave anything for us."
Hikigaya had already made up his mind.
He knew how to solve this.
The only way he knew how to solve things.
Alone.
Hayama wasn't doing anything, Tobe, is Tobe. And the girls couldn't do much.
"Where are the teachers when you need them", Hikigaya thinks.
Seiran smiles.
"Well, I think since you're new to this, we'll take the girls to have some fun", the boy tightens his grip on Hikigaya. "You don't mind, right, Hikitani-kun?" Hikigaya shakes his head. "That's it!", Seiran shouts, releasing Hikigaya. "You learn quickly, Hikitani, you'll go far in this business."
Seiran grabs Isshiki by the arm.
Isshiki smiles.
"Actually, my mom wants me home early", the girl says with a smile of fear and discomfort painted across her face.
It was clear she had never been in this kind of situation.
"That's fine, we'll go to your mom later", Seiran says as he lightly tightens his grip on her arm. "We'll bring her too, I'm sure she'll have fun."
Isshiki looks at Hayama, asking for help with her eyes, but he only stares at the ground in utter frustration.
But his eyes go to Hikigaya. "Senpai—"
"I don't mind", Hikigaya's voice makes Seiran turn to look at him. "But I don't know if Matsuba Haruto would mind."
Seiran's eyes widen, his hand instinctively opens, releasing Isshiki.
Just saying his name makes it difficult for Seiran to smile.
Matsuba. Matsuba. Matsuba.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA"
The memories flood Seiran's mind.
A wild, unrestrained laugh, golden eyes, hair that made him look like he had horns… and that damned SMILE.
The screams of his friends, the taste of his own blood.
Hikigaya saw the reaction, it was so obvious. He could see the sweat running down the sides of his head.
"What do you think?", Hikigaya speaks again. His tone of voice changed, he used the same one he had when he said those words to Sagami. "I don't think Matsuba would like them looking at the girls from his school."
Hikigaya continued, the words came out, and kept coming, everyone would say that the way he said it was disgusting, and it was. But he didn't care, it was the only way, his only card.
But this also helped him, he wanted to know how true what Hasegawa said about Matsuba really was.
How much influence could he actually have.
If it was true, they couldn't touch anyone from Sōbu and Kaihin.
"What did that idiot say?", a boy in the back says.
Another approaches.
"Does he want to play the hero?"
Hikigaya heard the words of those boys, and couldn't believe how wrong they were.
"Maybe she's his girlfriend", another says.
More and more murmurs.
"How selfish can he be?, We'll only use her for a while."
"Yeah", another boy says. "And if you want, you can watch."
The group's laughter grows louder.
Hikigaya never took his eyes off Seiran's.
So Hikigaya takes a deep breath.
"I could call him", he says as he pulls his phone from his pocket. Seiran straightens his posture. He swallows, without thinking. "I hope this works" Hikigaya thinks to himself. "It was obvious I didn't have his damn number. He doesn't even have a phone, now that I remember!, Shit!, But he won't know that, right?, The plan is simple, make Seiran think that Matsuba and I are friends, if he knows Hasegawa, it's possible he'll think that." Hikigaya thinks.
"Beeeh", Tobe's voice makes Hikigaya and Seiran turn. "But Haruto-kun is here, I saw him a few minutes ago, he was with an Onee-san."
Seiran goes pale.
This was not his territory, he was with a large group.
He cursed himself, he knew it was a bad idea.
It was said that Matsuba had left.
Six months.
"Tobe…" Hikigaya speaks to himself. "You're incredible."
Seiran smiles, hiding his fear quite well.
"Matsuba Haruto…" a boy in the back whispers. "The demon of Hari—"
"What?, I thought he was in Kyoto."
"Shit, they're from Sōbu…", one murmurs.
"Shouldn't we leave?", another points out. "He'll kill us if he sees us."
"I heard he'd been missing for months."
Another boy speaks again. "So what?", the boy addresses Hikigaya. "Hey you, dead-fish eyes, are you threatening u—"
The blow to the back of the boy's head echoes through the area.
A hollow, quick sound.
"He's right", Seiran says. "Ah, Matsuba wouldn't like it. Apologies for that, my friend Kota, Hikitani-kun." Seiran holds onto the boy named Kota. "Kota-kun is an exchange student from Tokyo, he doesn't really know the area, you know how they are over there. Intense. We wanted to show him around", Seiran clears his throat. "Send my regards to Hasegawa… and Matsuba."
Hikigaya nods.
Seiran does the same, imitating him, and bowing.
"Let's go!", Seiran shouts at them.
"What?, Aren't we going to pick up any girls?"
The boys shove each other as they walk.
"Shit. And I wanted the blonde", a boy in the back says in disappointment.
"You're crazy, if Matsuba sees us, he'll kill us."
"Yeah, the Demon doesn't hold back", another replies. "He's probably taking most of Sōbu to bed."
Seiran and his group begin moving away from Hikigaya and the others.
"Hey, we can go to Shinjuku, I'm hungry."
"Oh, yeah!, And we can see that cute waitress."
"Ha!, Virgin, you think she'll pay attention to you?"
The words turn into murmurs until they become imperceptible.
"Shit, shit, shit", Hikigaya scratches his hair. "My heart is beating a mile a minute, holy crap, I felt like I was about to die."
Hikigaya was leaning against the wall, none of them had moved.
"Idiots", Miura mutters, unconcerned. "Hayato", she addresses Hayama.
The blond turns around. "Yeah", he says in a murmur.
"Thanks for taking care of us…", Miura says in a shrill tone.
"Beh!, Hayato-kun would've kicked them in an instant!"
"Yeah!, Hayama-kun would've beaten them very quickly", says the girl beside Orimoto.
To which Orimoto speaks.
"Yeah!" she agrees with her friend. "But—" she holds her stomach while laughing. "Haha, Hikigaya, you almost fainted."
"Yeah, that's true", her friend agrees, also laughing, but more discreetly.
Hikigaya was not interested.
In fact, his ears were throbbing so much that it was impossible for him to follow the conversation.
He inhaled and exhaled.
Once.
"Senpai", Isshiki speaks. "Are you feeling okay?"
Again.
"Hikitani-kun?", Tobe speaks this time.
In, out.
Miura notices Hikigaya's condition and approaches him, placing her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.
"Hikio?"
Hikigaya comes out of his little trance.
"Ah…" he inhales as much air as he can. "Miura is a good girl…"
Hikigaya takes a deep breath, straightening himself properly.
"Ah", he coughs, bringing his hand to his mouth. "Yeah, I'm fine."
He looks to the right, in the direction where the group had gone. No one could be seen in the distance anymore. And a sigh escapes Hikigaya.
"Okay, guys", Hayama makes everyone look at him, taking their attention away from Hikigaya. "Ah, Tobe, can you help me accompany Yumiko, Hina, and Iroha home."
"Huh?", Miura complains.
Unlike her, Ebina remains silent.
"Of course!", Tobe replies enthusiastically.
"Just this once", Hayama replies to Miura, who was approaching him.
"But, Hayato, they—"
"I'll explain tomorrow", Hayama speaks seriously. "Yumiko, please."
A rising, audible sound comes from Miura's face. "S-Yeah…", she barely replies. "See you tomorrow, Hayato…"
"And what will you do, Hayato-kun", Tobe speaks with his usual enthusiasm.
Hayama waits for Tobe not to ask any more questions, and although he would like to lie, it was impossible in this situation.
"I, and Hikitani, will accompany Orimoto and Nakamachi." Hayama turns to Hikigaya. "Right?"
Hikigaya nods.
"Hayato—"
"Yumiko…" Hayama speaks again, interrupting Miura. "Tomorrow."
The words make Miura look at the floor, downcast, with a pain in her chest.
Tobe, Miura, and Ebina begin to walk, but Isshiki was still looking at Hikigaya.
"Senpai…", she murmurs, while Miura leads her away.
"Why don't we go get something to eat?", Orimoto speaks.
"Yeah, let's eat", Nakamachi replies.
Hikigaya didn't want to believe it.
"What's wrong with these two girls?, Are they seriously hungry after all that?", he tells himself. "I can barely walk. I can still feel my legs trembling."
Hayama smiles awkwardly. He watches Hikigaya's condition. He was somewhat pale, swaying a little. So the best option Hayama saw was to agree with what the girls were saying, that way he would keep the atmosphere light, and Hikigaya could sit down.
"What would you like to eat?", Hayama asks both girls.
"Anything is fine, Hayama-kun", Nakamachi replies.
Orimoto looks at Hikigaya. "What should we eat?"
Hikigaya feels that the question is for him, so he turns his head behind him.
"Saize", he says without any tone.
He was so tired that the words almost came out without a sound.
Orimoto starts laughing.
Nakamachi looks at her in confusion. "Huh…?"
Hayama felt a growing irritation toward these two girls. But he couldn't ruin it, he was so close to the time.
"How about we go to the café over there", Hayama points to the establishment across the street.
Both girls nod excitedly.
"I suppose it won't be… Saize."
"It's delicious", Orimoto begins.
Nakamachi continues. "Yeah, this place has great food."
Orimoto sighs. "Oh, I'm satisfied, Hayama-kun, you made a good choice."
"Hayama has the best taste", Nakamachi says.
Orimoto turns to Hikigaya. "Compared to someone else…" after a brief pause, she turns to her friend. "Saize, would you go, Chika?"
"No, never", Nakamachi replies.
Hikigaya ignored the conversation, calmly drinking his glass of water, calmer this time.
And while he did so, his eyes wandered around the place.
"It's nice", Hikigaya thought. "But not better than Saize."
And while appreciating the establishment, he sees a certain girl in a stupid disguise, a coat, glasses, and hat. She waves at him.
"This college girl sure has plenty of free time…", Hikigaya tells himself as he drinks his water.
"Right!", Orimoto replies. "I couldn't believe it when she said that."
The girls' conversation continued.
"Yeah, I know", Nakamachi replies.
"This café is better", Orimoto continues.
The girls' comments became more gradual, they were enjoying the moment, that was obvious. But not Hayama, he breathed with discomfort. With a pang of guilt.
He had brought Hikigaya here, hoping to remedy some things, but it seemed to be making them worse, and as if that wasn't enough, Hikigaya had saved them from a major conflict.
"You know", Hayama speaks. "I don't like this…"
His friendly tone remained with him. His kind smile was the same, it did not change. But that fine, subtle hint of anger was visible in his calm expression.
Both girls stopped laughing, their chatter disappearing as their faces filled with confusion and surprise.
"A-Ah, right", Nakamachi speaks awkwardly. "It's not really good—"
"I wasn't referring to that", Hayama's voice becomes more forceful. "I'm talking about you two."
Both girls, Orimoto and Nakamachi, opened their eyes in surprise at Hayama's words.
"A-Ah…", Nakamachi barely murmurs as she looks at her friend beside her.
But Orimoto was just as confused. "Um…"
The words fell, her throat dried up, and her confidence disappeared.
Hikigaya, tilting his neck toward Hayama, looked at him just like they did, confused.
"What is he doing…?", Hikigaya tells himself.
The sound of light footsteps makes itself known.
Hayama stands up. "They're here."
When the sound of footsteps stops, Hikigaya turns and sees three girls.
Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and Aisaka.
"Hikki…?"
Hikigaya, who still felt a slight discomfort in his head, knew he wasn't hallucinating.
"Why are you here?", Hikigaya asks.
"I asked them to come", Hayama replies. He then looks at the two girls in front of him. "Hikigaya", he takes a brief pause. "He's not the loser you think he is…" his voice changes, his cheerful and kind tone changing completely. "He spends his time with girls far greater, kinder, and more beautiful than you could ever expect to be…" the words come from Hayama like a great sigh. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. Stop judging others in such a superficial way and making those selfish, ungrateful comments."
Orimoto sighs.
She didn't expect the night to end like this.
"I'm sorry, I'm leaving", Orimoto says as she takes her tray and walks toward the exit, looking at Yukinoshita for a few moments. "I see…", she barely murmurs.
Nakamachi, just like her friend, takes her tray.
"Yeah, I'm leaving too, sorry."
The sound of their footsteps fades until they can no longer be heard.
Hikigaya was genuinely surprised.
"You said this was supposed to be a meeting to discuss the elections", Yukinoshita's voice breaks the silence.
"Elections?", Hikigaya speaks. "The student council?"
Yuigahama waits for Yukinoshita to answer, but seeing her, it seemed she wasn't going to.
"You see, Hikki", she begins. "We were expecting Hayato-kun to be president, so we—"
"And we made a chart of who would be the minor candidates", Aisaka finishes, showing a large board with said chart. "And he won."
Hikigaya looks at the very detailed board.
"I-I see…", he manages to answer.
Suddenly, a thought comes over him.
"So they want to make Hayama a candidate. There's nothing strange about that. But, this…"
He had the feeling that he was the one who should be chosen.
"I was just trying to help…", Hayama replies, feeling Hikigaya's eyes on him.
"Oh, I see…", Yukinoshita Haruno's voice rises.
"Nee-san?", Yukinoshita turns to her sister.
Haruno smiles.
"So, you're not going to run as a candidate, Yukino-chan?", Haruno takes off her hat. "I was sure you would."
Yukinoshita opens her eyes momentarily, but returns to her usual attitude.
"The way you let others solve your problems reminds me of Mom", Haruno continues. "Well, it doesn't matter. I suppose you're fine with that way, right?", Haruno brings her hand to her sister's chin. "You don't need to do anything after all."
Haruno looks directly at her sister.
She did not expect to break her with this, but she hoped she would realize how childish she was being.
"Always looking for someone else to do the work for you…"
Yukinoshita removes her sister's fingertips from her chin with a clean movement of her own hand.
"Yes", Yukinoshita replies. "You're right."
She looks briefly at Hikigaya, then at Hayama, who simply closes his eyes.
"If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving", Yukinoshita turns toward the exit.
Yuigahama, who still hasn't reacted.
"Oh, another new face!", Haruno returns to her voice with its usual charm. "I didn't know you, only Gahama-chan, you're Yukino-chan's friend too."
Aisaka looks naturally at Haruno, her smile seemed to convey a certain… anger? For her, it was easy to see the falseness in her.
"Yes", Aisaka replies as she bows. "I'm Aisaka Aiko, Class B-2, nice to meet you."
Haruno smiles and laughs at the girl's naturalness, since she did not react the way most people would.
Surprise and doubt.
"Hahaha", Haruno wipes away a few tears. "I didn't think I'd meet two interesting people in less than a week", her charming tone shines. "I'm Yukinoshita Haruno, nice to meet you, and thank you for being Yukino-chan's friend."
She briefly bows.
"A-Ah, Yukinon, wait", Yuigahama speaks hurriedly as she goes toward her friend.
Aisaka nods her head toward her two classmates and turns her gaze back to the older Yukinoshita. "Yes…", she bows for a few seconds before leaving. But not before. "See you, everyone", but her eyes briefly go to the loner. "Hachiman-kun…"
Hikigaya nods, returning the farewell.
"Why did you say that to Yukinoshita-san?", Hikigaya addresses Haruno.
"Are you seriously asking?", Haruno replies with slight annoyance. "It's a game. That's what I do."
Hikigaya hesitates. "That was excessive for a game."
"Do you think so?", Haruno asks.
"Yes", Hikigaya immediately replies. "I also have a younger sister, I can understand it, but—"
"Hikigaya-kun", Haruno turns to look directly into his eyes. "You really can see through everything, can't you?" Haruno's words make Hikigaya tense without realizing it. His eyebrows furrow, his posture changes. "Don't look at me like that, it's scary", Haruno speaks again. "I'm supposed to be complimenting you."
Hikigaya exhales. "A-Ah, well, thank you", he replies.
Haruno begins taking a few steps toward Hikigaya. "You're very interesting", when she reaches him, she stops a few meters away. "You always try to see what other people are like, read what lies behind their words, and their actions. That's something I like about you."
Lightly, Haruno's hand moves toward Hikigaya's chin, but when she sees him move away from her hand, she does not insist.
So she pulls it away.
"I like it", Haruno speaks again. "How adorable it is that you are constantly reading into the malice of others", her eyes now go to Hayama. "On the other hand, people who act perfect all the time, aren't they completely boring?"
Haruno does not take her eyes off Hayama after making that statement.
However, Hayama simply sighed in resignation at her statement.
"Well then", Haruno's tone changed to a more cheerful one. "I've seen what I wanted to see, so I'll go home", Haruno began walking toward the exit. "This has gotten boring…"
The sound of Haruno's footsteps faded as she walked, until only a hollow sound remained.
Now both boys were alone.
A silence that wasn't entirely uncomfortable, but wasn't pleasant either.
"I didn't need you to defend me", Hikigaya's annoyed voice broke the silence.
"That wasn't my intention", Hayama replies. "I just did what I wanted…"
"Does that also include what you said to Orimoto and her friend?" Hikigaya asks with slight concern. "Did you really think that was appropriate?"
"I've never felt worse", Hayama confesses. Then he falls into the seat behind him. "I never want to do something like that again."
Hikigaya furrows his brow even more.
"Then you shouldn't have done it."
Hayama, who had kept his eyes on the floor, looks at Hikigaya. "Aren't you going to sit down?", he asks, but Hikigaya answers with silence. "I've been thinking", Hayama begins. "About how to fix what I've ruined."
"Mmmh", Hikigaya murmurs with some confusion.
"I put my hopes in you", Hayama speaks again. "That's why I trusted you, regardless of the consequences."
When Hikigaya remembered, once again, his false confession, the faces of Yukinoshita and Yuigahama came to mind.
But Hikigaya could barely keep listening.
"And thanks to that, you…"
Hikigaya realizes what Hayama wants to say.
"Hey—"
"You have to realize your own worth", Hayama immediately interrupts Hikigaya. "You proved it today."
"What are you talking about?", Hikigaya raises his voice.
"Although it's easier said than done, right?", Hayama says. "I'm sorry, I wish I could have done more today", the words continued to come from the blond. "But this is all I can do", he takes a pause and continues. "I can't do things the way you do, so why don't you stop sacrificing yourself?"
Hikigaya's posture becomes more hunched.
"Sacrificing myself?" Hikigaya spits out. "Don't say stupid things. This, the shopping mall, is normal for me, where were you?, You didn't do anything. Unlike you, I'm alone", Hikigaya had something he wanted to say, so the words did not come out empty. "I don't care what people think or say about me. So don't get any ideas", Hikigaya inhales, then exhales. "And stop interfering with how I do things."
Hayama nods.
"Then you don't help others, so why do you also want help…?"
The silence returns.
For a couple of seconds.
"You're wrong", Hikigaya replies in that dry tone. "So stop with your stupid attempt to sympathize with me."
Hikigaya picks up his backpack and begins walking toward the exit, leaving Hayama alone.
"Sacrifice myself… stupid."
Hikigaya says to himself.
"Is that what they call what I do?"
Why would Hayama think that? What happened today was a coincidence. It wouldn't happen again…
"Why the hell would anyone sacrifice themselves for someone like you."
It wasn't for him, it wasn't for Tobe, it was for…
"I can't put it into words right now, but I have convictions."
Hikigaya repeated to himself, he knew it, he knew what he felt and why he felt it.
"One that I share with someone, and that now I think I've lost…"
And so the voice stopped speaking.
Sōbu High School, Teachers' Room
8:20, AM
"Yukinoshita came to talk to me this morning", the teacher begins. "She told me she wants to run for student council president."
Hikigaya, who was listening attentively, only nodded.
"So, that's how it is, huh…"
"That's all…", Hiratsuka speaks again. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm not going to do anything", Hikigaya looks directly into his teacher's eyes. "What would be the point? Given her qualities, don't you think she's the most qualified for the position?"
"Yes, you're right about that", Hiratsuka replies, letting out smoke from her cigarette. "The other teachers will be quite happy when they find out."
Hikigaya furrows his brow.
"You haven't told anyone yet?"
Hiratsuka shakes her head. "No, not yet", she takes a deep breath and continues. "So I'll ask you again, what are you going to do?"
Service Club
Second Break
12:32, PM
Hikigaya had his two clubmates in front of him.
Yukinoshita and Yuigahama.
The three of them were in the club room. It was lunchtime. Of course, they weren't going to run into the other members, Hasegawa ate somewhere else, Aisaka was with her other friends, and Matsuba was somewhere around.
Lately, this had become the usual for the two of them, eating together.
"Yukinoshita", Hikigaya speaks. "Are you thinking about running for student council?" Yukinoshita, who remained in her seat, falls silent. But Yuigahama turns to look at her in surprise. "You didn't know", Hikigaya continues.
"No…", Yuigahama replies without taking her eyes off Yukinoshita.
Yukinoshita avoids her companion's eyes.
"I was going to tell everyone today. I would talk to everyone", Yukinoshita says, responding to Hikigaya.
"I wouldn't call it a conversation", Hikigaya speaks immediately. "Is it because of what your sister told you?"
"It has nothing to do with my sister", Yukinoshita quickly replies. "I'm doing this by my own choice."
"But, Yukinon, what about the club?", Yuigahama speaks up.
"Don't worry about that", Yukinoshita replies. "We'll be fine, we have more members now, Hasegawa and Aisaka will help."
Hikigaya briefly opens his eyes.
"Hasegawa and Aisaka…" His jaw tightens. "And what about Matsuba?", Hikigaya asks with some concern.
Yukinoshita looks at Hikigaya and immediately averts her gaze.
"I asked Matsuba-kun for his help…"
Hikigaya feels his blood run cold. His skin tightens. "He must have made a deal with him…"
Anguish overwhelms Hikigaya.
"So we'll be fine", Yukinoshita continues. "This club doesn't have much to do, and I understand everything that the student council's work entails", her hands play with the edges of her skirt. "It won't be a burden for me."
"Yeah, but—"
"Think about it objectively", Yukinoshita interrupts Hikigaya. "This is the best way to fulfill the request. Even if it is Isshiki-san, I can easily beat her."
"That's true", Hikigaya nods. "But doing nothing is also an option."
"You're talking about your suggestion", Yukinoshita replies. "The speech?"
Hikigaya simply nods.
"Thinking that you can influence the other students just with your words or actions is a very foolish thought", Yukinoshita replies.
"H-Huh…", Hikigaya swallows.
Yukinoshita was somewhat right, but not entirely.
"Then", Hikigaya begins. "I'll just have to think of another way to do it, one that doesn't include that speech, right?"
Yukinoshita avoids Hikigaya's eyes.
"If you think everyone cares enough about you to want to hate you. You overestimate yourself too much…"
Silence envelops the club room again.
No one dared to say anything.
5:54, PM
She didn't want this.
She didn't want it.
Yuigahama didn't want the club to disappear. She knew it would if Yukinoshita left the club.
Her new friends would leave too.
Matsuba, Hasegawa, and Aisaka.
So she had to do something too.
"Wait, Hikki!" Hikigaya hears from several meters to his right. Yuigahama was running toward him. Yuigahama arrives, standing a few meters away from him. "Walk home together", Yuigahama continues.
"So Yukinon is going to run…" Yuigahama speaks dejectedly.
Hikigaya, holding his bicycle, speaks. "I guess", he manages to reply.
"Me too…" Yuigahama says. "I'm going to run too."
"What?" Hikigaya replies. "Run for office, why?"
"Because I don't have anything…", Yuigahama replies. "I'm not good at anything, I don't stand out at anything", Yuigahama clarifies. "So I was wondering if doing this would be something good for me, so to speak…"
"So to speak?, You're running just for that…", Hikigaya speaks with some anger, hearing Yuigahama's naive reason. "You're being selfish—"
"It's not because of that", Yuigahama stops walking. "Everyone else is. Everyone does whatever they want, except me."
Now Hikigaya also stops.
"Have you really thought this through?", he asks.
Yuigahama nods. "Yes."
"I've been thinking about this since this morning, and I realized it was the only option", Yuigahama continues. "This time it's my turn to make an effort, Hikki. I hadn't realized that I'd been leaving everything in your hands."
"I haven't done anything", Hikigaya replies.
Yuigahama tilts her head.
"That's what you think?"
"Yes…", Hikigaya replies. "So you don't have to prove anything."
"I'm not trying to prove anything..." Yuigahama immediately replies. After a few seconds, she turns to look at the school beside her. "I know that if Yukinon becomes president, she'll do the best job", she takes a moment. "She'll work hard for the school… but surely she'll leave the club behind in the end."
"You heard her", Hikigaya says. "She said there won't be a problem."
Yuigahama shakes her head. "Do you remember what happened at the Cultural Festival?", she recalls. "Hikki, you should know that Yukinon tends to focus on one thing at a time."
Hikigaya remembers how Yukinoshita got sick because of that festival.
"You know…", Yuigahama speaks again, and begins walking ahead of Hikigaya. "I like this club…"
When Yuigahama passes him, she turns to look into Hikigaya's eyes.
Their eyes meet.
"I like it."
Yuigahama confesses, to which Hikigaya simply nods.
Yuigahama jumps out of her trance. "A-Ah, well", she starts rubbing her eyes quickly. "Even if I become president, I'll have to work hard, so our club can continue, right?, We're talking about me!, Nobody expects anything from me", Yuigahama inhales, and continues. "That's why I'm going to beat Yukinon."
Hikigaya does not take his eyes off his clubmate.
"Yui—"
"A-Ah, I'll go alone from here", Yuigahama interrupts him. "See you tomorrow", when Yuigahama begins to walk, she stops and turns to Hikigaya. "Bye-bye, Hikki."
Hikigaya watches Yuigahama walk along the straight sidewalk.
Her silhouette gradually fades into the distance.
"Both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama really believe this is the right decision, so that's fine with me", Hikigaya thinks. "But even so, he'll be close to her…"
EXTRA 1: Midnight Calls
Yuigahama Residence
10:55, PM
"Aiko-chan!", Yuigahama's voice could be heard through her phone. "Can you help me with my campaign for the student council elections?!"
"The elections", Aisaka's slightly sleepy voice can be heard. "You want to run?"
"Yes!" Yuigahama replies excitedly. "I want to help. And the only way is to become student council president."
"Mmmh", Aisaka murmurs.
"Then, will you help me, Aiko-chan?!"
Aisaka takes a moment. "Wait", she presses the screen, muting herself. She uses the light from the screen to look at the number dial in front of her, it was a Model Four telephone from the previous decade. [1]
After two minutes, Aisaka returns to Yuigahama.
"Of course, Yui-san", Aisaka replies. "I'll help you."
A sigh of relief can be heard through the speaker.
"Thank you, Aiko-chan", Yuigahama replies. "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Yui-san…"
The phone's light turns off, and Aisaka lets herself fall onto her pillow.
EXTRA 2: Matsuba Haruto's Important Date, Part 2
Sōbu High School
4:54 PM
Shiori paces along the sidewalk, waiting for her stepson outside the school.
She moves her wrist toward herself to check the time, it was almost time.
"It's almost time", Shiori murmurs to herself, bringing her eyes to her wristwatch. "Mmm?, I should go pick him up, it's almost five. Mmmh. But if I do, will it embarrass him?, I don't want to be one of those mothers who embarrass their children", her cheeks puffed up with a slight pout. "But it's also rude to keep a lady waiting", Shiori's eyes once again go to the students leaving. "Mmh, Haru-kun, when you get here, Mom is going to give you a big lecture."
The seconds continued to pass, and Haruto was nowhere to be seen.
But the footsteps of a large number of boys reached Shiori's ears.
"Excuse me, miss... Are you waiting for someone?" the voice of a tall boy in a disheveled uniform, he smiles at her while his friends laugh behind him. His tone is clearly flirtatious. "Because a beautiful woman like you shouldn't be alone", another adds, leaning against the wall beside her.
Shiori smiles at the boy's great confidence.
In fact, she finds it cute.
"Oh, how kind…" she subtly steps aside. "But I'm waiting for my son. You boys should go back to your little classmates, shouldn't you~?" the word 'son' makes one of them visibly pale.
The boys exchange uncomfortable glances, beginning to back away a little at the mention of her "son".
The first one to speak swallows and stammers.
"S-son... Huh? You have... a son?" his tone changes to surprise and disbelief, with muffled laughter from behind.
"That's right, I have a 17-year-old son."
The boys are now visibly nervous, their attempt at flirting clearly taking a turn.
But the boy still wasn't giving up.
"That can't be", the leader of the group says, regaining some of his initial confidence upon noticing that Shiori is still smiling. "A young and beautiful mother like you should enjoy life a little more", he takes another step closer, with an arrogant smile.
"Besides, if your son is a student here, I'm sure he knows us", another adds, crossing his arms, "What's his name? Maybe we're friends."
Shiori feels the atmosphere becoming a little more tense, but maintains her warm smile, now with a touch of firmness in her voice:
"Oh, this boy is quite persistent", she comments with a theatrical sigh. "My son is Matsuba Haruto, does that name ring a bell?"
Instantly, all the students' faces freeze.
The color drains from their skin.
" E-Er... Matsuba?", the voice barely trembles.
"The Demon?", one of them murmurs from the back.
Imperceptible to Shiori.
The other boys also pale, exchanging panicked glances.
The one who had been leaning against the wall quickly pulls away, as if the wall had burned him upon contact.
"S-Sorry, ma'am. We didn't know..." the first one bows in an almost exaggerated manner. "We're leaving now!"
Without waiting for a response, they leave, almost tripping over each other as they move away—
"What do you think you're doing, dears?"
The distorted voice rises behind them.
The reflection of his shadow grows.
When they turn around, they see him.
His eyes were gleaming.
Watching his prey.
"A-Ah… w-we…", one begins to stammer.
"N-No, n-no... no, w-we… knew…"
His teeth grew more pronounced.
His height made him seem to be several meters tall.
"I-I…"
As time passed, his smile grew even longer.
However, Shiori noticed none of that.
"Oh, Haru-kun, are you playing with those voice effects you like so much again?" she laughs softly while shaking her head affectionately. She approaches to fix his shirt collar, completely ignoring how the other students tremble and back away. "But don't scare your classmates so much, okay?, Although..." she whispers, looking at the shadow that forms. "That shadow of yours really is impressive today, it must be the sunset, it makes it look bigger…"
Meanwhile, Haruto's real version projects an aura that makes the nearby birds flee in a stampede.
The students are completely horrified. Their fear reaches a level they had never felt before, and some of them even begin to cry without realizing it. One of them, unable to withstand the tension, faints. Beside him, another covers his ears and curls up on the ground, as if trying to protect himself from some evil presence.
Shiori, for her part, does not even notice the panic around her. She only sees her tall and mysterious, smiling son, and gently caresses his cheek.
"Shiori-san…" Haruto moves his eyes toward his stepmother. "Wait a moment, I have to say goodbye to my friends, What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"
Shiori gives a slight jump and brings her hands to her mouth.
"Oh, yes, that's fine", she takes a few steps backward. And watches as Haruto grabs everyone by the collars of their shirts.
"Mmmh, how nice~ my son already has friends", she thinks to herself. But a slight tremor makes her stagger. "What was that? I don't remember hearing a seismic alert…" she brings her index finger to her chin.
"Mmmh, it hasn't shaken lately."
A second, but smaller movement beneath her follows.
She assumed it was an aftershock.
"Done!"
Haruto shouts cheerfully as he returns to Shiori.
"Well, where should we go first, Haru-kun?" Shiori begins. "I was thinking of going to the shopping center first, Ah, what's it called?, Palacio?"
"PALCO", Haruto says.
"Yes, that…" Shiori replies, but brings her hand to Haruto's tie. "Wouldn't you like another tie, you always wear the same one, wouldn't you like another one?"
Haruto, who continued walking without taking his eyes off the road, nods.
"Sure…"
(His father always gives him ties of all colors, but he never wears them.)
"And then we could go buy the meat for the hamburgers and…" Shiori remembers the deal she made with Haruto some time ago. "You've kept our deal, right, Haru-kun?"
Haruto draws a long smile, but it is not intimidating at all.
"Of course I have. I keep my deals: No getting into trouble for three weeks."
Shiori nods happily.
"Good, good, that's my boy."
"And do you remember my condition?"
Shiori's cheeks flush.
"A-Ah, of course. I-It was… to give you a ¿Manga?"
Haruto smiles naturally without even being bothered.
"A favor…" Haruto clarifies.
Shiori nods with light applause.
"That's it!" however, she brings her hands to her bag. "I'm sorry I couldn't remember, Haru-kun, my mind isn't what it used to be."
"It's okay…" he replies, putting his hands into his pockets.
Shiori, somewhat nervous but relieved, looks at Haruto. "And do you already know what you'll ask me for?"
The corners of Haruto's lips rise.
"Mmmh… perhaps…"
Chapter 6 Note: The Judge, the Jury, and the Executioner.
Let's begin with our new OC character,
Seiran Amagi, one of the leaders of Chiba, head of the Seishikai gang (青獅会), nicknamed the Blue Lion.
A fair-skinned boy, 1.70 m tall. Slim and with a firm posture. He has bluish turquoise hair, combed back with a few strands falling forward.
He attends Inage Elementary School.
He is a boy with an expression that could easily intimidate someone, but he also looks tense. As if he felt that people perceived him as weak.
As you could see, it seems he has already had an encounter with Haruto. What happened was that some members of the gang tried to intrude into Haruto's territory. They didn't know it, but the place where they tried to eat for free was the brown-haired boy's favorite, so he responded in the best way possible. He broke several of their bones. Their arms and legs. Then he went to the Blue Wolf's territory. Haruto mocked him. Calling him weak, and blue kitty. That day, Amagi lost part of his territory.
And all because of some Seishikai thugs. Something tells me this won't be the only time Amagi will get into trouble because of his followers.
Now, about our loner. He didn't have such a good time today. And this won't be the last time either.
Hachiman, we should be proud of our lone rooster. He stood up to one of the leaders of Chiba without raising his fists. But, Hikki, he doesn't know it. Not yet, but obviously he'll find out in due time.
Haruno, today our Onee-san met our little Aiko. Also a short and simple interaction. There isn't much to say, more will be seen in upcoming chapters.
Hayama, well, I've already written it, our blond likes Yukino, I don't know whether it's canon or not, but it will be here.
So I don't know whether to fear for them, or for our vice president.
End of the note, thank you for reading.
TRIVIA
[1] – The phone mentioned is the NTT Model 4 (4号電話機), manufactured between the 1950s and 1970s. It was a gift from Haruto to Aisaka. On one of her birthdays. He gave it to her in case Aisaka and her mother were bothered again. That is the only way to contact Haruto.