Chapter 26: Hikigaya, Here I Come!
"Fufufu, you're really low-key. I don't dislike that."
Ryuen's mocking laughter echoed as he scanned Class D, his sharp eyes settling on their gloomy classmate. Then, with the confidence of someone who belonged everywhere and nowhere, he strolled inside as if he owned the place.
"Ryuen, don't go too far," Chabashira warned coldly.
"Hah? Class is already over. I just came to say hello and chat with Class D's students. The one out of place here is you, sensei."
His words weren't wrong. Lunch break had already started. There was no rule against visiting another class. In fact, it was Chabashira who was stealing her students' time.
Satisfied, Ryuen continued without restraint.
"Hikigaya Hachiman. Since you won't speak up, I'll spell it out myself."
Ibuki shifted uneasily, clearly wanting to stop him from running his mouth. Letting Class D collapse under their own stupidity was in their best interest. But when Ryuen shot her a cold glare, she froze in place, biting her lip.
"I bet you don't even know the rules of this school. Judging from your bunch of useless trash, I doubt Class D even has common sense."
He grinned savagely. "That 100,000 point stipend? Just a smokescreen, you know?"
Karuizawa Kei bristled. "We already know that! Hirata figured it out, didn't he?"
But Hirata shook his head. "No… Hikigaya was the one who realized it. It wasn't me."
Ryuen burst into loud, derisive laughter.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! So even after knowing the truth, you still broke the rules. What a bunch of complete idiots!"
The sting in his words silenced the class. Everyone already understood the grading and point system to some extent, but no one had thought through just how deeply it was tied to the school's design.
"Does spouting this help you somehow?" Hikigaya asked flatly.
"No, no, you misunderstand."
Ryuen's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a predator's respect.
"For those I admire—whether enemy or ally—I'll lend a hand. Then I'll crush them."
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes. "Terrifying. But I don't have the confidence to call myself your friend… or your enemy."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Someday, you'll have no choice but to decide."
Their gazes locked, something unspoken sparking between them—rivalry, recognition, and something close to camaraderie.
"Tch. Just when I thought high school was supposed to be uneventful, I keep running into weirdos… Troublesome. But, well… interesting."
In truth, Hikigaya found Ryuen more trustworthy than most of Class D's boys. His admiration might have had an edge of ambition, but it was sincere. Unlike the hypocrites around him, Ryuen's honesty was strangely refreshing.
"Tch, how do we know you're not just spouting crap!?" Sudo, one of the "three idiots," barked desperately, refusing to accept the truth.
Ryuen's cold eyes cut him down with a glance. "Shut up and crawl away, you brainless mutt."
That was Ryuen's nature—pursue what intrigued him, discard the rest without hesitation.
"Y-you…!" Sudo sputtered.
Horikita spoke up before a fight could break out. "Since you're here, Chabashira-sensei, I want to ask directly. Is what he said true?"
Chabashira sneered. "Hmph. Did you really need to ask? Every year, we usually let the idiots figure it out themselves by the second month. But since you're all so dense, I'll say it now."
Her contempt was palpable. "Yes, Ryuen is right. Class D has always been full of idiots. And you've proven me right again."
Laughter that cut deeper than Ryuen's filled the classroom. This time, it was their own teacher ridiculing them. The room fell into heavy silence.
Seeing his work complete, Ryuen smirked. "Hikigaya, remember this favor. You owe me one. And don't forget—you're always welcome in Class C."
He turned to leave, only to pause at the sight of a petite figure waiting at the door.
"Oh? Isn't this Sakayanagi?"
"Ara, ara. So it's Dragon Boy. But I'm not here for you this time."
Her silver hair shimmered under the fluorescent lights as she hobbled past him on her cane, eyes locked on her true target.
"Tch, Sakayanagi. Don't even think about stealing him from me!" Ryuen growled.
"Steal? Ufufu. Why would I need to steal?" she said with a teasing smile, brushing by him with ease.
Then, standing in the doorway of Class D, she waved cutely at Hikigaya.
"Hikki, remember our agreement? I've come for you!"
The room froze. She looked so innocent and playful—not at all like the leader of Class A.
Horikita's voice was unusually soft. "I may have misjudged you, Hikigaya. You're clearly not the unwanted loner I thought you were."
Kushida blinked in disbelief. "That's… the leader of Class A? Why would she come here?"
Hasebe muttered, dumbfounded. "Wait… don't tell me she's here for Hikigaya too? Is this… an open recruitment?"