It's been several days after we started study group, it's nice since we feel more comfortable with each other, we've even talked about going out on the weekends, I can finally say I'm living a normal school life.Right now we're done studying and we're talking about us.
Ken: And since i was always the headliner, i ended up being the envy of everyone in the basketball club.
Hachiman: Yeah, yeah Sudo-sama, you're the best on the court, but in differential equations you suck.
Akito: Well it's kind of obvious, your gray matter was distributed like lubricant for your muscles.
Ken: Hey you bastards, aren't you afraid that I'm really going to hit you.
Airi: Ken-kun, language please.
Ken: Y-yes.
As these days went by, all the guys, we met the real Airi, who is able to pull the ears of all of us with a smile, it's hard to believe that this shy girl is so demonic, I would feel happier for her, but I am the constant target of her scolding.
Airi: Hachiman-kun and Akito -kun, don't make fun of Ken -kun's past too much either.
Haruka: ahhhh, Airi-chan is too cute when she scolds those three blockheads.
Airi: ahhhhhhhhhh, Haruka-chan stop please.
Haruka hugs Airi, it's too much for my eyes, just seeing them makes my heart race, I feel a little lucky to be one of the few people to witness this.
Hachiman: Tch, you say it like that because you're not in the spotlight.
Haruka: Hmmm , Jealous?, This is a privilege that I only give to me, I can only say that bad luck.
It only remains for me to sink into bitterness after her answer, this wretch is going to pay for me. Airi decides to change the subject by asking a question.
Airi: Ahh, Hachiman-kun, can I ask you something?
Hachiman: Sure, go ahead.
Airi: I always notice that you always disconnect very quickly when we talk.
Haruka: Heeeee, I thought I was the only one, you say goodnight and disconnect, Hikki.
Ken and Akito look at each other, maybe it's weird for them, since I stayed up late talking to them.
Hachiman: Well it's normal, girls go to sleep quite early.
Haruka: Hoooo, and what makes you think that.
Hachiman: when I talked to my former classmates, I would send them a message and they would answer me in the morning, they would reply "ah, sorry, I overslept".
As I finish saying this I see Ken cover his mouth trying to cover his laughter, Oy That's rude, also Akito looks at me with a conflicted look, Airi looks at me sadly, Oy Oy Oy Oy Oy Oy, why is everyone looking at me like that, and Haruka with fake crocodile tears says.
Haruka: Stop it, stop it Hikki, I understand it was cruel of me to ask that.
Hachiman: Huh, what do you mean?
Airi: MMM.... This, Hachiman-kun , there are exceptions but we girls don't go to sleep that early.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? This is a revelation, this just makes me want to stick my head in the ground.
I'm not dumb to know what that means, ahhhhhhhhhhhh , I don't want to open old wounds, think about other things, other things, think about those two bastards, that's it, those bastards make me so mad, just think about them.
Haruka: To make up for that slip of Hikki's past, let's reveal Miyacchi's past.
Akito: Haaaaaaaa, and why mine?!
Haruka: Well, because it's pretty embarrassing too.
Akito:You, damn you.
Ken:Ha, that I want to hear.
Haruka: You see, Akito-kun here had his dark time as a delinquent, he even managed to dye his hair blonde.
Ken: hahahahahahahahahahaha, I can't imagine that, it's too funny.
Airi: Ken-kun don't laugh so hard, although I have to admit that it's hard to see Akito-kun as a delinquent.
Akito: That time is embarrassing for me, I had time to come to my senses when I entered high school.
Hachiman: Looks like you were a delinquent too, huh Akito.
Akito: Huh? Hachiman: You make it sound like you were one.
Haruka: Really?! It's hard for me to see Hikki as one. Come on, tell Onee-san about your dark past.
Hachiman: You make me want not to tell you, but I wasn't a delinquent, rather I had fights with several delinquents.
Ken: Isn't that the same thing?
Akito: Technically no, it's kind of confusing, but Hachimanan means that you were molested by them.
Hachiman: I could put it that way, they were always picking on my face and height, in the end I ended up fighting.
I think that was the main reason why I ended up so isolated in this life, I was constantly getting into fights, but about six months before I entered this school it calmed down a bit, because of that incident.
Airi: Hachiman-kun.
Hachiman: Huh? Yes, tell me Airi.
Airi: Please avoid hurting yourself, you'll make us sad.
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! That this critical damage I just suffered, just seeing Airi's sad expression makes me want to kneel on the ground.
Haruka: What a scary weapon.
Akito: For the first time I agree with Haruka.
Ken: God, my eyes can't.
I wasn't the only one who received Airi from this, I just have to calm her down.I move my hands frantically trying to explain.
Hachiman: Don't worry, I haven't fought in a long time, moreover it was just a silly rebellious time where my recklessness was very big, so when I grew up it seems like a total waste of time what I was doing.
Airi: Really?
Hachiman: Yes, you have nothing to worry about.
Airi: I see! I am very happy
Seeing the sudden change between sad and happy is a bit anticlimactic for me, but I realize that a weak point is being created by this girl, but the days she spent with them have become easier to bear, it seems that her life is not going to be so bad.
We talk until around 9:00 pm until I say goodbye to everyone, I decide to walk around and get a drink.
I pick up my drink and go to sit down, that's when I noticed a brown haired guy sitting on one of the benches, I decide to call out to him.
Hachiman: oh, Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji POV
I hear someone call my name, though from the voice I recognize it instantly.
Ayanokouji: Hikigaya
Hachiman: It's strange to see you here so late, did you finish your study group?
Ayanokouji: Yes, we finished a while ago.
Hachiman: I see.
It's become a habit that we only make small talk, we're not so good at talking, so it's kind of a wordless agreement. The guy next to me, I've been quite surprised, if someone told me he wasn't capable of being the leader of the D class I'd just see him as a FOOL.
He has his faults I'll give him that, but he has overcome that with all the skills he has shown.
It's pretty amazing that he's been able to begin to analyze the strengths of the class as well as its weaknesses but integrating a philosophy of unity and collaboration....
Ayanokouji: ugh.
It seems that my thoughts started to wander, and analyzed Hikigaya arbitrarily.
I shouldn't think about that, I have enough to do with listening to orders and staying quiet, that's what having a peaceful school life is all about.
Hikigaya: What is it, Ayanokouji?
I seem to hear the noise you just made. I have to cover my thoughts quickly.
Ayanokouji: I'm just a little worried about our group.
Hikigaya: Are they in trouble?
He frowns a little, maybe he finds it strange that there are problems in a group, we may be the first one to cause him inconvenience.
Ayanokouji: We haven't had any problems as such, only that Ike and Yamauchi are.....
Hikigaya: Hopeless perverts.
Ayanokouji: Well yes.
I can't find another way to say it.
Hikigaya: I didn't expect more, I thought the group they got would help them improve, but now I can only imagine them drooling like fools over Kushida-san.
Ayanokouji: Horikita maybe did it thinking about that too, but it just backfired. Although I was a little surprised that she didn't put me in her group.
This makes me think, it's rare of her to interact with people other than Hikigaya or me.
Being in Kushida's group I realized her true nature, Horikita did it with the intention of making me distrust her, but I fell into Kushida's trap and ended up blackmailing me.
Hikigaya watches me, until a creepy smile comes across her face. Somehow it bothers me a little.
Hikigaya: Ayanokouji -kun, don't feel sad because you're not by Horikita-chan's side.
Ayanokouji: Shut up, if we're talking about closeness, she's nicer to you.
Hikigaya: Oy, do you call constantly insulting without leaving breath kindness, or could it be that you are jealous of me, Relax I won't take away your girlfriend, I prefer a nice girl who pampers me enough.
Ayanokouji: You're lucky she didn't hear you now.
Hikigaya: Yes sir.
He says in a mocking tone, but I decide not to wind him up anymore, again we stay silent, somehow it feels good not to have to force you to talk but whatever you want to talk about.
Hikigaya Hachiman, is the first person I have ever felt comfortable with, which increases my level of interest in him, he is eccentric but at the same time rational, if I had to put it concisely, I would say he is a logic freak.
He makes decisions based on it for fear of being wrong, alas alas, again the bad habit is showing itself even when I said it should stop. Luckily Hikigaya interrupts my thoughts.
Hikigaya: Ayanokouji, I think you've seen it, your group is the most at risk of failing exams.
Ayanokouji: I know, Ike and Yamauchi's inattention may cost us dearly.
Hikigaya: I'm not going to abandon them now.
Ayanokouji: Now? Interesting, I will have to reevaluate the human Hikigaya Hachiman, when we finish talking.
Hikigaya: I know I'm asking a lot, but Ayanokouji, I know you will somehow manage to get the group ahead.
Ayanokouji: Shouldn't you tell Kushida?
Hikigaya: Kushida doesn't have the full picture of the situation, it would be counterproductive to trust her.
You know something, this guy is impressing me more and more.
Ayanokouji: And why me?
Hikigaya is left thinking for a few moments, depending on his answer will help me to measure his potential, he has created a strong fortress in the class but it will be of no use if he has weak soldiers in it.
Hikigaya: My gut tells me that you are not normal. It's a gut feeling that tells me you will achieve what you set out to do and right now I need someone who is able to move in the shadows. Your lack of presence is quite ideal for the future of the class.
Huh? I haven't demonstrated anything of worth for you to hold me in such high esteem.
Hikigaya: You must be thinking that you have done nothing remarkable. Let me correct you, you have done what the others have failed to do, read my intentions.you understood why I befriended Sudo, his temperament is somewhat unpredictable, he is one of the easy targets for harassment.and it is easier for him to get more angry if he is alone.
Ayanokouji: I'm sorry, I can't accept, I have nothing special and I don't like trouble.
Hikigaya is not surprised, he just places a self-deprecating smile, he knew from the beginning that he was going to reject it.
Hikigaya: I see, a normal life is not bad at all. Forgive me Ayanokouji, that was a weird thing to say.
You don't sound disappointed at all.
We are like this for a few moments until we notice a presence that looks far away.
Hikigaya:Oy that's not ....
Ayanokouji: Yes it is Horikita.
We see Horikita heading towards a dark part of the facility, when we least thought we were both following her, Hikigaya is being quiet.
Well, no need to hide, but....
I didn't want to confront her, nor did Hikigaya apparently so we hid behind a corner. While she was wary of her surroundings, Horikita was in a dark alley. She could not see anything, but there was the figure of another person.
?: Suzune. I didn't think you would follow me here.
Did you leave at this hour to meet with a boy?
Horikita: I'm different from the useless me you know, Nii-san. I came here to catch up with you.
?: Catch up with me?
huh? Nii-san? I couldn't see the person I was talking to, but it seems to be Horikita's older brother.
¿? I heard that you are in class D or or well in class B, it's a mystery the rapid rise of the class, but I can see that it's not because of your influence, it seems that nothing has changed in the last 3 years. Because you have always been looking over my back, you have never been able to see your own shortcomings. Choosing to come to this school was another one of your mistakes.
Horikita: That's... that's not true. I'm going up to A class. And then...
?:That's impossible. You'll never make it to A class. Rather, your class will fall apart before that.You may have gotten lucky but This school isn't as easy as you think it is.
Horikita:I will definitely, definitely reach A class.
?:I already said it's impossible. You are an unreasonable sister.
Horikita's older brother stepped forward. From my hiding place, I could see his form more clearly. He was the president of the student council. There was no emotion in his expression, as if he was looking at an existence he was not interested in at all. He grabbed his younger sister's wrist and pushed her against the wall. That surprised me a little, I see out of the corner of my eye and Hikigaya is also shocked.
President:No matter how much I avoided you, you are still my younger sister. If people start to know about you, I'm the one who will be disgraced. Leave this school immediately.
Horikita: oy-no... ughh. I will, I will absolutely go up to class A!
President:Foolish, really. Do you want to relive the painful experiences of the past?
Horikita:Nii-san, I'll...
President:You have neither the power nor the qualities to aim for A class.
Understand that.
Horikita's body moved closer, as if he was about to take action. The situation looks dangerous. Resigning myself to his anger, I came out of my hiding place and approached the older brother. I could feel Hikigaya's hand try to reach for me but to no avail. Before I knew it, I grabbed his right arm.
President: What? Who are you?
Looking at his own arm, he looked at me with a sharp glint in his eyes.
Horikita:A-ayanokouji-kun!!!?
Ayanokouji:You, you were trying to throw her to the ground, weren't you? It's concrete, you know. Just because you're brothers doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.
President: It's not admirable to eavesdrop.
Ayanokouji: Just let go of her hand.
President: That's what I should be saying.
The place was silent as we looked at each other.
Horikita: Stop it, Ayanokouji-kun....
She said it with a strained voice. I had never seen her like that. Reluctantly, I let go of his arm. At that moment, he aimed for my face with a quick backhand. Sensing danger, I instinctively leaned back. A nasty attack with a thin body. Moreover, he targeted my vitals with a strong kick.
Ha!
I understood that it had the power to make me lose consciousness in a single blow. With a confused look, he exhaled and extended his right arm towards me. If I grabbed his hand, he would probably throw me to the ground. Instead, I punched his arm with my left hand.
President:Good reflexes. I didn't think you would avoid every one. You also understood what I was trying to do. Did they teach you somehow?
Finally stopping his attacks, he asked me.
Ayanokouji: Yes, I played piano and did calligraphy. In elementary school, I even got the championship in a music contest.
President: Are you also a B class? What a unique boy. Suzune.
Letting go of Horikita's arm, she slowly looked straight at me.
President:Suzune, do you have a friend? I'm frankly surprised.
Horikita: He's... he's not my friend. He's just a classmate.
She looked at his brother while denying those words.
President:As usual, you're confusing loneliness with isolation. And you, Ayanokouji. With you, it looks like things are going to get interesting.
Passing me by, he disappeared into the night. The unsuspecting student council president. Looks like Horikita was acting strange because she ran into her brother.
President:I'm going to make it to A class, even if I die. That's the only way.
After he left, the night was shrouded in silence. Horikita sat against the wall, her head hung in shame. I wondered if I did something unnecessary. As I turned to go back to the dormitories, Horikita called out to me.
It seems she won't be quiet, i turned my head to see where Hikigaya was and he's not there, maybe he ran out to call for help.