Hikigaya left the poolside after his exchange with Hirata, heading toward the dressing room. The swimming class was nearly over, and the other boys were still outside, so slipping in unnoticed was easy.
'Tch… Damn that Hirata! Did he really have to show up that soon?' Hikigaya clicked his tongue softly. 'That was a good chance to let things escalate on their own… just a little more and they might've… uh, no point thinking about what didn't happen anyway.'
He sighed, a quiet, tired sound. 'Whatever if they're still holding it together, I'll just have to shove them toward the edge again.'
Moving quietly, he entered the dressing room and started changing out of his rash guard and began putting on his uniform shirt.
As he slid his arms through the sleeves, his gaze wandered over his body.
There, on his stomach, lay a small but deep scar. The mark of a blade that had once been driven straight into him. He let his fingers rest against it for a moment, tracing the uneven skin as if searching for a pain that had long since healed, yet never truly left.
His eyes shifted downward, then to the side, on his right wrist, near the joint, the skin was warped from a serious burn, the pattern jagged and uneven.
From there, his gaze travelled up to his left forearm, a remnant of some sharp impact.
And beyond those obvious marks, there were smaller signs of faint bruises on his body scattered here and there, almost gone, yet stubborn enough to hint at the blows that had left them.
He let out a heavy sigh, muttering to himself, "Those days are behind me… now I'm only a high schooler. No need to think more..."
His fingers moving quickly as he buttoned up his shirt. This was why he had come early to change quickly and hide his scar-riddled body from anyone's eyes.
Even after he finished changing, he didn't leave. Instead, he leaned against the wall, watching the view outside the nearby window as students came and went.
Eventually, Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo stomped in, still grumbling about what had happened at the pool earlier.
They hadn't noticed him yet, too caught up in their own complaints. Hikigaya's gaze flicked to them, his mind racing. 'Now, how to stir them up without making it obvious…'
His eyes drifted back to the window, just in time to spot Kushida chatting cheerfully with Ayanokoji. The conversation seemed harmless enough, but the expression she wore when talking to boys was more than enough to give these idiots like these wrong idea and rile them up.
'Ah… that could work. Not only that, I could keep him away for a while.'
He straightened, raising his voice just enough to draw their attention.
"Well, damn… looks like Ayanokoji's moving in on Kushida huh. Guess your buddy's picking up where you three lost your dignity as breast lovers in front of everyone today, huh?"
The effect was immediate. Three heads snapped toward him, eyes wide with a mix of shock and outrage.
"The hell, it's you again, bastard!" Sudo growled.
"What the hell are you even saying, Hikitani?!" Ike barked.
Yamauchi pointed an accusatory finger. "Don't just spew crap like that!"
"Crap, huh? Tch, open your eyes." Hikigaya smirked faintly, tilting his head toward the glass. "Don't take my word for it. See for yourselves."
The three turned, and sure enough, outside the window, Kushida's bright smile was aimed straight at Ayanokoji. The sight hit exactly where Hikigaya knew it would.
If he had to guess, she was likely just probing him about Horikita, given how often the two interacted.
"No way! Kushida-chan's mine! What's that guy doing with her?!"
"That backstabbing jerk! He's stealing Kushida-chan right under our noses?!"
Ike and Yamauchi shouted in outrage to themselves as they witnessed the scene through the window.
Sudo stayed back, fists clenched, glaring at Hikigaya like he was about to swing.
"You guys really think you have a chance with someone like her?" Hikigaya said, his voice dripping with cruel pity.
"You're the clowns who got exposed for your noble, pure thoughts in front of the whole class. Kushida's probably out there thanking Ayanokoji for not being a creep like you guys. and Yamauchi, still bragging about that fake Sakura confession like it makes you some kind of player? I bet Ayanokoji's laughing in his head thinking about you three creeps right now while enjoying his time with Kushida."
Yamauchi's face turned scarlet, "Shut your mouth, Hikitani! You don't know shit about me or Kushida-chan!"
"Yeah, keep running your mouth, creep!" Ike snapped, stepping closer. "You're just a jealous nobody!"
Hikigaya gave a soft laugh, shaking his head as he slowly pushed himself off the wall.
"Jealous? Of you three? Don't make me laugh. If anything, I'm impressed you can still look in a mirror without choking on the second-hand embarrassment."
He started moving casually toward the door, hands in his pockets as if he weren't worried, his voice taunting as he mocked them further.
"Ike… you know, after you got out of the pool, some girls there acted like that spot was contaminated or something. I gotta hand it to you… that's an achievement even I haven't pulled off. Heh…he..he…ha"
Ike's face twisted, as he shouted at him. "What the hell are you talking about, Hikitani? That's a damn lie! They didn't act like that at all!"
Hikigaya ignored Ike completely, his eyes scanning the room as if the boy wasn't even there.
Sudo took a step forward, fists clenched, clearly ready to get physical.
"Ah, Sudo. How could I forget you?" Hikigaya said casually, "Ah, no… don't look at me like that. I swear I'm not looking down on you. That's what you are always worried about, isn't it? Because, like I told you the other day, you're a simple nobody… You want so badly to be taken seriously, but all you ever manage is making yourself a joke… the kind people laugh at once and then forget five minutes later."
Sudo froze for a moment. Then something inside him snapped completely, his rage surging uncontrollably as Hikigaya's words cut deeper than any punch ever could.
His face contorted with rage, and his voice cracked as he shouted, "YOU BASTARD! I'VE HEARD ENOUGH, I'M GONNA SMASH YOUR HEAD! NOWWW!"
Sudo rushed at him, launching his fist straight toward Hikigaya's face, his anger driving every ounce of strength.
"TAKE THIS, YOU BASTARD!"
Ike and Yamauchi followed suit, shouts of outrage and curses spilling from their mouths.
"You think you can mock us and get away with it?!" Ike screamed, moving towards him.
"DAMN YOU, HIKITANI!" Yamauchi cursed, lunging forward as well.
Hikigaya had been moving steadily toward the door all along, every step measured, as if he had anticipated this moment. Already near the door, he wasted no time before they could reach him, he bolted straight out of the dressing room.
He slammed the door and instantly locked it from the outside in one swift motion, leaving them trapped inside.
Their rage, already sky-high, exploded even louder as the lock clicked. The trio's shouts turned into a storm of swears and threats, their fists banging on the door like a drum.
"OPEN THIS DOOR, YOU JERK!" Sudo roared, pounding the door so hard it shook. "I'M GONNA BREAK YOUR NECK WHEN I GET OUT!"
"YOU'RE DEAD, HIKITANI! YOU HEAR ME? DEAD!" Ike screamed, kicking at the door.
"YOU COWARD! RUNNING LIKE A LITTLE PUNK!" Yamauchi shouted, as he slammed his shoulder against the wood.
The noise of their pounding fists and angry yells echoed down the hall, their frustration growing louder every second they were stuck.
Hikigaya leaned casually against the wall outside, feigning indifference to their shouts. 'They're so mad now they won't think straight. They'll bust out soon, and when they do, they'll come straight for me.'
He stepped closer to the door, which was shaking under their blows, and spoke calmly.
"Keep shouting, losers. It won't change a thing."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, mentally bracing himself for the storm that was about to come.
"OPEN THE DOOR, DAMMMN IT! I'LL TEAR IT DOWN MYSELF!"
'The sooner this is over, the better… I'm already tired of dealing with all this bullshit.'