"Are you all ready...?" Yukinoshita asked as she stood one step away from the door that would lead us into the Boar Group's meeting room.
"Yeah..." Matsushita answered briefly.
"Of course. I feel lucky to be in the same group as Yukinoshita-san," Hasebe said as she turned toward Matsushita.
"I agree..."
The two girls followed behind Yukinoshita as she entered the meeting room.
Quite a few students had already arrived ahead of time.
Among them were several familiar faces...
Unfortunately, they weren't exactly welcome ones.
I took the seat beside Yukinoshita, who placed her notebook in front of her.
To my right sat Hasebe and Matsushita.
It wasn't long before Kanzaki from Class B arrived with three girls.
As for Ryūen's class...
Albert, Ishizaki, and a girl wearing glasses walked in.
Looks like all the troublemakers ended up in my group.
The students from elite Class A arrived separately.
Then came...
No, I forgot his name...
Ah, right.
Green Hair.
There's no way that's actually his name.
Hashimoto arrived a little later alongside another girl.
With that, all the members of the Boar Group had gathered, and it was finally time for our first meeting.
Everyone sat there waiting for someone else to make the first move.
No one spoke.
They simply stared at one another, as if the first person to open their mouth would somehow lose.
The tension in the room was obvious.
For most of us, this was probably the first time meeting each other, so nobody knew how to act.
Kanzaki from Class B seemed to have a different opinion.
He sighed in resignation before opening the discussion, apparently accepting defeat in that little contest.
"I don't think there's any point in staring at each other like this. We might as well start properly. I'm Kanzaki from Class B."
The introductions quickly continued around the table.
One student after another briefly introduced themselves.
No one actually cared.
"Hashimoto from Class A," Hashimoto said while glancing at the boy beside him.
"Tch... I'll stay silent just like Katsuragi-kun instructed us," Green Hair said with his arms folded.
"You..." Kanzaki reacted to Class A's reckless behavior.
It looked like Class A, under Katsuragi's leadership, had shut themselves off once again.
At least this time, any failure wouldn't be blamed on their leader.
He hadn't made a move himself.
"I remember the teacher clearly saying that we were supposed to introduce ourselves properly," Yukinoshita said while staring up at the ceiling with her blue eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if we're being monitored right now, and that could affect our group's overall results."
"Uh..."
Green Hair tried arguing against Yukinoshita's flawless logic...
But failed.
"...Fine. Totsuka from Class A."
He gave in.
Damn it...
Why did it have to be that name out of all names?
I ignored it so I wouldn't accidentally react and instead focused on everyone else's introductions.
Unfortunately...
I could hear their names...
But I couldn't remember any of them.
Seriously...
Could I actually have some kind of disease that makes me forget names?
Eventually it became my turn.
I doubted anyone cared about knowing my name.
Still, rules were rules.
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
I answered flatly while staring into empty space.
"Hey, Hikigaya! Ryūen-kun warned us about you! We won't trust you this time!" Ishizaki shouted.
"Huh...?"
I froze, unable to respond.
Why was this idiot bringing that up now?
"Hey, Class D students. Who gave you permission to talk? Shut up," I said, glaring at him.
He'd better stay quiet before saying anything else.
"H-Hey... Hikigaya-kun, what does he mean?" Hasebe asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"Huh? You don't know?" I tilted my head.
I thought everyone already knew.
"No. Tell me."
Her eyes were overflowing with curiosity.
"...Alright."
I cleared my throat before explaining.
Even Matsushita seemed to lean in without realizing it.
Well...
If everyone wanted to know...
I'd explain it honestly.
"Class D students are afraid they'll catch whatever disease my eyes have, so they stay away from me."
I nodded dramatically.
"Huh...?"
"Pfft—"
Hasebe froze, completely speechless.
Meanwhile Matsushita couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing.
"Hikigaya-kun, you really are..."
Hasebe smiled helplessly while brushing her hair back, revealing the beauty mark beneath her left eye.
Well...
She wanted a story.
So I gave her one.
"Hey! Why don't you people stay quiet too? Nobody gave you permission to speak," Green Hair snapped, glaring at us as if our mere presence disgusted him.
The two girls beside me shrank back, unable to answer him.
Meanwhile Yukinoshita was busy...
Writing down everyone's names in her notebook?
Fine.
I'll deal with this guy myself.
I've got a personal score to settle with him.
"Hey, Green Hair. Why don't you be obedient and follow your master's orders?" I said while tapping my fingers against the table.
Didn't Katsuragi tell them not to talk?
Then stop bothering us.
"Don't call me Green Hair!"
"I'll call you whatever I want."
I ended the discussion immediately.
"Th-That's... bullying..."
He spoke weakly as he gathered himself together again.
"..."
Damn.
He's trying to frame me.
I dramatically shook my head while stretching my fingers across the table.
"Idiot..."
I muttered quietly.
Unfortunately...
The idiot heard it.
"What did you just say?!"
He shot to his feet, clearly offended.
"I said you're an idiot. Calling you Green Hair is a description, not bullying. Understand?"
He slowly sat back down.
Apparently he'd decided he didn't want to argue with me anymore.
Meanwhile Hashimoto beside him smiled mischievously.
"Another example. Hashimoto the Scumbag. That's a description."
His smile disappeared for a second before returning.
"Hahahaha!"
Ishizaki burst into laughter.
"Another example. Ishizaki the Idiot."
I leaned back in my chair.
"Who're you calling an idiot?! I'll punch you!"
"Go ahead. That'll save us the trouble."
I answered with a sarcastic smile.
Albert stretched out his arm in front of Ishizaki, forcing him to calm down.
I could feel a sharp glare from beside me.
Yukinoshita looked either annoyed...
Or angry.
But she quickly returned to writing in her notebook.
"Hmm..."
I heard Hasebe thinking beside me.
Turning toward her, I found her staring at me intently.
"What... what is it?" I asked while checking whether there was something on my face.
"I was thinking of a nickname that would suit you."
She casually rested across the table, paying no attention to everything happening around us.
There are rules...
Rules.
"No. I don't want a nickname."
My memories involving nicknames aren't pleasant.
Honestly...
I'd rather nobody call me anything at all.
"Why not? Calling each other by nicknames is fun."
What's wrong with her?
Is she one of those villains trying to destroy the world?
When someone gives you a bad nickname...
That's basically the end of your social life.
It's a permanent label.
Truly evil.
"Unfortunately, no matter how much I think about it, I can't come up with anything."
Hasebe sighed in defeat.
"Hmm... Really? You're pretty bad at this. People used to give me nicknames all the time."
"Really? You must've been popular."
"Well... you could say I was popular enough that people talked to me."
The only reason they talked to me...
Was because I was the class representative.
"Hmm... Tell us one of the nicknames they used."
She leaned forward excitedly.
"Hmm..."
I thought for a while.
The nickname I was called the most was too embarrassing.
So I picked the one my classmates always used instead.
"That guy over there."
I stared straight ahead while ignoring everyone's looks.
"Hikigaya-kun... what kind of miserable life were you living...?"
Hasebe sighed.
Matsushita simply watched us in confusion.
"Leave me alone."
I shrugged.
I only told her that so she'd understand just how destructive nicknames could be.
She needed to repent for these evil actions.
"Hikigaya-kun, stop reopening your old wounds. You're only hurting yourself."
Yukinoshita closed her notebook, apparently finished with whatever she'd been writing.
"I'm just teaching her how dangerous what she's trying to do really is."
I answered seriously.
This kind of behavior should never be tolerated.
"Another example. 'Weirdo.' That's a description."
Hashimoto's voice echoed through the room once again.
"Huh...?"
Hasebe looked around, completely lost.
Was he trying to get revenge because I called him a scumbag?
He's slow.
"Hey, Hashimoto. Why don't you follow your classmates' example and stay quiet?"
I smiled sarcastically.
"Unfortunately, I don't take orders from anyone."
He answered arrogantly.
"Really? Because from where I'm sitting..."
"It looks like someone else is controlling you."
"From a distance."
Hashimoto looked at me.
That irritating smile never left his face.
"Say whatever you want. That's the truth."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
Silence filled the room.
No one dared speak anymore.
Not even quietly.
The atmosphere had become too tense.
Eventually...
Kanzaki broke the silence.
"Hikigaya... you're really clever."
Everyone immediately turned toward him, surprised by his sudden interruption.
Meanwhile...
My eyes remained focused on the table.
The wood quality looked excellent.
I wonder how much it costs.
"Didn't any of you notice? Ever since we entered this room, we haven't discussed the exam even once."
"He's deliberately steering the conversation away from it."
Kanzaki declared triumphantly, as though he'd solved a difficult mystery.
"Hmm..."
I raised my head and looked around.
Most of the students were now staring at me suspiciously.
"He's doing it on purpose..."
Ishizaki muttered in shock.
Nobody responded.
Silence once again dominated the room.
"I get it now!"
"You're the VIP!"
"I've figured you out!"
Ishizaki slammed both hands onto the table.
I immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"You got me."
I answered with a perfectly serious face.
"Huh?!"
Green Hair's eyes widened in disbelief.
Meanwhile Hashimoto burst into laughter beside him.
"You idiots. He's just messing with you."
"Really?! Hey! Who're you calling idiots?!"
Ishizaki jumped to his feet again after being called an idiot once more.
"Hikigaya-kun... you're terrifying."
Matsushita looked at me with genuine interest.
"This has turned into complete chaos..."
Yukinoshita sighed while rubbing her forehead.
Meanwhile, I slipped my hand into the inside pocket of my jacket and pulled out a cheap paperback book.
It's probably better if I read.
...
The meeting finally ended after an hour filled with silence and tension.
No one had managed to find a proper way to move the discussion forward.
I walked out while rubbing my neck.
Dealing with troublemakers is exhausting.
Though...
Maybe I'm one of them.
"Chiaki."
A girl with long blonde hair approached Matsushita after the meeting ended.
"Ah, Kei. Hi."
Matsushita adjusted her posture tiredly.
"So? How did it go?"
Karuizawa asked while moving away from the doorway.
"It went... fairly well."
Matsushita answered.
For a brief moment...
I felt Karuizawa's gaze pass through me as I walked by.
I quickly moved away.
Groups of girls were everywhere.
"Is that her...?"
A short-haired girl who looked like a delinquent spoke to another girl.
I was pretty sure the second girl had been in my group.
My eyes unconsciously followed where she was pointing.
Karuizawa...
And Matsushita.
Hmm...
For a moment...
I felt like trouble was brewing.
But I don't interfere in girls' arguments.
That's a fundamental rule.
"Good work."
Yukinoshita approached from behind, hugging her notebook against her chest.
"It was nothing."
I shrugged.
Yukinoshita smiled warmly.
A smile that completely erased the usual coldness on her face.
"You dealt with every single troublemaker."
"You could say you fought an entire front by yourself."