Chapter 25: How much is Hikkigaya Hachiman Worth!
Although Kushida continued to play the sympathy card, the reality was cruel. The criticism aimed at Hikigaya didn't lessen in the slightest. To the class, Kushida Kikyo was a kind and forgiving girl—an angel who would never hold a grudge. And so, in their eyes, it was Hikigaya alone who bore all the blame. His so-called "hatred value" only continued to rise.
Kushida glanced at him with a meaningful smile. She didn't need to say anything. For now, she just wanted to see what he would do.
On the other hand, Sakura Airi, timid as ever, couldn't bring herself to criticize the black-haired boy. She had almost no interaction with him, and yet… she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't truly a bad person. Sakura always trusted her instincts.
Then there was Ichika, the girl with long blue hair and the small teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. She seemed completely detached, uncaring about who was right or wrong. To her, staying out of trouble was best. Like Hikigaya, she only wanted to spend three quiet years in high school. She hated scheming and pointless deception.
The same could not be said of others. Some girls, provoked by the scandal, lost control and hurled sharp words one after another. Even Karuizawa Kei joined in, following the crowd as she insulted the gloomy boy.
---
"Hahahahaha! Interesting, very interesting!"
Haruno's voice rang out as she watched from the screen. "As expected of Class D. Full of idiots."
"You really do have terrible taste," Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed beside her. "I feel sorry for my students."
"Ah, but I feel bad for Hikigaya too. After all… isn't he kind of my little sister's boyfriend?"
"Don't tease the teacher, idiot," Hiratsuka muttered, clicking her tongue.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Service Club—
Miura and Ebina both sat frozen, hands covering their mouths in disbelief at the video they'd just seen.
"Senpai… you're so pitiful…" Isshiki Iroha said softly.
"Don't look at me like that, idiot. I'm just some poor stray dog with nowhere to go," Hikigaya muttered.
Yuigahama frowned. "But it's frustrating—no, infuriating—that everyone misunderstands you like this!"
"It can't be helped," Yukinoshita Yukino said coldly. "After all, someone just loves relying on that method. It's only natural you'd face the consequences."
Her words were harsh, but her expression betrayed her unease. Hikigaya caught it.
This guy… she really holds a grudge. And yet, we've already reconciled…
Still, he couldn't help but feel something strange. Having companions like this… companions I actually care about. That kind of bond… it isn't hypocritical, right? This feeling… isn't so bad.
---
Back in Class D—
"People like you should get out of our class!!!"
No one knew who shouted it first, but the words spread like wildfire. The whole room filled with noise, voices piling atop one another.
The bell had already rung long ago, but the students of Class D ignored it. Even Chabashira-sensei hadn't left. She leaned against the desk, watching them with thinly veiled contempt.
"Enough!!!"
Hirata Yosuke's roar silenced the room instantly. Even students in the hallway stopped in their tracks, startled.
No one had ever seen Hirata like this. His face flushed with anger, his voice trembling. Even the girls who usually relied on his gentle smile sat frozen.
"Do you know what he did? Hikigaya—"
"Hirata."
Hikigaya's calm voice cut through the air, stopping him.
He had said it from the beginning—what he did wasn't for anyone else. Not for Hirata, not for Kushida, not for the teacher. It was his own choice. And now, he didn't need anyone's pity. Being attacked was only natural.
"…Hikigaya… I'm sorry."
Hirata sank back into his seat, shoulders slumping. With that, the heated discussion collapsed. Silence filled the room—until Chabashira's sudden laughter echoed across the walls.
"Fufufu… Hikigaya, everyone's saying this about you. Don't you have anything to say?"
"After all, they aren't wrong," Hikigaya replied flatly. "So why bother refuting them?"
"If you keep this up, you'll be expelled."
"…Expelled?"
The word struck like lightning. Hirata, who had just calmed down, jolted up again, face twisted in panic.
"Even if it turns out that way," Hikigaya said quietly, "it only means I was never suited to be here in the first place."
Hirata opened his mouth to argue, but Hikigaya raised his hand to stop him. Resigned, Hirata sat back down.
Chabashira smirked. "I must admit, Hikigaya, you've done well. To earn this much hatred from your class—that's an accomplishment."
"After all," Hikigaya chuckled drily, "I've never been the kind of person anyone likes. It was inevitable."
"Who said no one likes you?"
The door to Class D slammed open. A loud, arrogant voice filled the room.
Ryuen Kakeru strode in with Albert looming behind him, and a short-haired girl at his side.
"I like you just fine. If you can't stay in Class D anymore, then come to Class C. With me, no one will dare defy you. No one will order you around. You'll be free to do as you please. Not bad, right?"
As a weapon and a strategist, Hikigaya was gold in Ryuen's eyes.
The class buzzed with shock.
"I heard this guy's the leader of Class C," Ike whispered nervously. "Why would someone like him know Hikigaya?"
"Who knows?" Yamauchi sneered. "Maybe they've been colluding all along."
"….."
Horikita Suzune stood up, her eyes sharp. "This is our class's matter. Outsiders have no place here. I won't let him leave."
"Oh?" Ryuen smirked. "You've got some nerve, little sister. But this has nothing to do with you."
His arrogance stoked anger among the students, but Ryuen ignored them all. His gaze never left Hikigaya.
"…I don't think I'm worth much," Hikigaya said calmly, meeting his eyes. "And since I was placed in Class D, that means I'm Class D material. That's all."
**
T/N: Currently we are 15 chapters ahead in patreon/The_WritingSystem