Hikigaya hurried to the classroom after leaving the pool area. Most of the students were already in the class. He was a bit late since he was busy stirring up chaos in the dressing room.
The room buzzed with chatter, students swapping stories about the pool class, some stealing glances his way, no doubt whispering about the mess he had caused.
He silently took his seat, trying to blend into the background, but the moment he sat down, Horikita sitting on the desk beside him turned her head just enough to send him a sharp disgusted look.
'Ah… now that's a familiar look,' Hikigaya thought, forcing his gaze forward. 'The one reserved exclusively for bugs, garbage and yours truly Hachiman.'
Horikita didn't bother hiding her disdain. "You really have no shame, do you, Hikigaya-kun? Being able to say such vulgar things to a girl's face… it's unbelievable."
'Huh. Talking to me? I expected the silent treatment.'
He replied flatly, "No shame? Come on, Horikita. It's not like I made that stuff up personally. All I did was repeat the garbage those idiots have been yapping about for an hour. If those were my own thoughts, I would have committed seppuku by now for saying that out loud."
Horikita's eyes narrowed. "That's hardly an excuse spreading filth is no better than creating it."
'Ugh… she's not exactly wrong. But getting dragged into another argument over this? No thanks. I've already got enough on my plate.'
Hikigaya gave a tired shrug, and gave a dismissive reply
"I see, you've got a point there. If you want to think I'm just some shameless pervert trying to cover for myself, then go ahead. Believe whatever you want. I'm not about to waste time convincing anyone otherwise. So, let's just leave it at that."
For a moment, Horikita blinked, faintly caught off guard by his dismissal. But she pressed on.
"So, you do understand how others see you, even if you choose to dismiss it. But that doesn't make you any less aggravating, I suppose."
Her gaze lingered on him, as though weighing her next words. "But perhaps all these strange behaviours of yours… could it be due to that evaluation you mentioned the other day?"
Hikigaya's head turned slightly, his eyes narrowing in surprise. 'Heh… seems like I was right placing my bet on her.'
"Seems like I'm right after all," Horikita said calmly.
He continued, still pretending not to understand. "Evaluation? How's me repeating those idiots' garbage related to that?"
Horikita leaned forward, her voice low and serious.
"After the hints you dropped that day, I started piecing everything together. I believe part of the evaluation involves our moral and disciplinary conduct. Chabashira-sensei said points has been assigned on the basis of 'worth as students', didn't she? And the fact that none of the teachers ever intervene with students no matter how bad things get, only reinforces that idea.
Her eyes locked onto his. "And what you were trying to do just now… was stop that from spiralling further, wasn't it?"
Seeing that she had nearly pieced everything together, Hikigaya decided to acknowledge her deduction.
"Congratulations Horikita," he said, voice edged with amusement. "You've finally put the puzzle together. Took a while but hey, better late than never, I suppose."
Horikita felt a flicker of irritation at his words, the faintest heat rising to her cheeks.
'Better late than never?' Those words hit her harder than she expected. She prided herself on noticing details others overlooked, on being ahead of the rest. And yet, here she was realizing she had been operating under a naive assumption that this was all just "student's autonomy."
If he hadn't given her those hints… that day. she might've stayed completely blind to something so crucial.
'No… I wouldn't have stayed in the dark forever. I would've figured it out on my own… eventually. Yes, it was only a matter of time.' She repeated it to herself, trying to make the thought convincing.
She couldn't help but feel frustrated that he was right, and even more so at how effortlessly he had guided her toward the truth without ever spelling it out. That realisation alone enough made her annoyed at him and at the same time herself too.
"Hikigaya-kun… why would you do something like this?" she finally asked, "If you already understood what was happening, wouldn't it make more sense for you to focus on yourself more? Why sabotage yourself for others like this?"
Hikigaya's eyes softened slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I see… so you still haven't realized the true nature of this evaluation."
Horikita blinked, confusion flickering in her expression. "True nature…? So, there's still something I'm missing?"
He decided it was time to reveal the missing piece after all, she had already deduced most of it, and he sensed she was onto understanding something some more.
"Yes, you've figured out most of it, but there's one key part. This evaluation isn't just about individual performance."
Horikita's eyes narrowed as she listened, but he continued.
"It's measured at the collective level," he explained calmly. "All the student's evaluation scores are combined into an overall class average, and that total could determine the allocation of funds next month."
Horikita's eyes widened suddenly, a flicker of realization flashing across her face.
"I see…" she murmured, almost to herself.
Then she suddenly went silent.
Her gaze dropped to her desk, her expression deep in thought. Hikigaya watched her quietly, unsure whether she was processing the implications or simply done with the conversation.
A few moments passed then she quickly opened her notebook and began scribbling something down, her expression unreadable.
Hikigaya leaned back slightly, assuming the conversation had reached its natural end.
'Well, that went better than I expected. Looks like she's pieced something together… something important. Now I can't help but wonder what it is.'
But just as he turned his attention back to the front of the class, Horikita spoke again.
"I'll admit, your take on the evaluation might hold some truth, Hikigaya-kun," she said, her voice calm but edged with something sharper. "But there are still things you said might be off the mark."
Hikigaya turned his head slowly, looking at her with confused expression as he spoke. "What do you mean…? Off the mark about what, exactly? The evaluation? Point allocation? Or maybe the… class average?"
He paused, the words lingering in the air as his own mind started catching up.
'Wait… no way. Does she figure that out'
Horikita didn't answer. Instead, she lifted her gaze from her notebook, meeting his eyes with a faintly smug look that made Hikigaya's stomach sink.
'Why's she not saying anything? Is she just sitting there to mess with me?'
He studied her demeanour, trying to figure out what was actually going on.
Oh, I get it. This is her way of establishing superiority and dominance, since I was the one who pushed her to figure this out huh? What a cruel woman. Still… this might actually help me. If I can get a clearer picture, it could give my plan an edge.
So, should I just drop to my knees and beg for her wisdom? Say, 'Oh, great Horikita-sama, please enlighten this lowly worm!'
Maybe that'd be enough and if that didn't work… I could always grovel at her desk, barking like some obedient dog until her ego is satisfied.
Wait…wait, What the hell am I even thinking? Why do these scenarios come to mind so naturally?
Damn it, have I already resigned myself to a lifetime of bowing and laughing at my boss's terrible jokes as some soulless corporate slave? No way… no way, I can't have fallen that low already… right?
As he spiralled into his ridiculous thoughts, Horikita tilted her head slightly, watching his expression shift with faint amusement clearly satisfied.
She finally decided to speak.
"Stop showing those weird expressions. It's really creepy."
"Eh? Creepy? This is just my default face. If my existence itself creeps you out, then maybe you should sue God for defective design."
Horikita ignored the remark and gave him a sharp look as she continued "It's not like I plan to hide what I've figured out. Even if I stayed silent, the truth would come out sooner or later."
"But Hikigaya-kun… if I'm showing you what I've deduced, then there's something you should tell me in return too."
Hikigaya gave a small shrug. "What's there for me to tell now? If you've already figured that out, then you basically have the whole picture anyway."
"You might be right about that," Horikita admitted, "But there's one thing I still want to know. How did you realize the evaluation was on a collective level instead of individual?"
"Oh, you mean that?" Hikigaya said evenly. "Fine, I'll tell you… but only after I hear your speculation first."
Horikita gave a small nod, accepting his condition. "Fair enough, I'll tell you my reasoning first."
"This evaluation isn't as complicated as it looks," she said with confidence. "Everything becomes clear once you focus on that number… 100,000."
Hikigaya's eyes widened in confusion as he tried to grasp the meaning of her words, especially what he heard after that.
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BANG! BANG! BANG!
"HEY! SOMEONE OPEN THIS DOOR!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"DAMN IT! WE'RE STUCK IN HERE!"
"THIS ISN'T FUNNY! UNLOCK IT NOW!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The door of the boys dressing room at swimming area banged loudly and combined shouts echoed through the hallway, rising with irritation.
Their noise finally caught the attention of a cleaning staff member, who hurried over with a frown.
"What's going on in here? You boys trying to break the door? Stop the banging already." He said as he unlocked the door from outside.
Stumbling out one after another, Ike, Sudo and Yamauchi emerged with flushed faces, their breaths heavy from yelling and pounding at the door.
"What the hell was that about!?" Yamauchi barked.
"Finally! Do you know how long we were yelling in there?!" Ike blurted out.
The staff member gave them annoyed look as he rubbed his temple.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you just fine. No need to make such a fuss over a stuck door," He muttered, locking it back.
Then he pointed down the hall. "If you're done making noise, clear out. I've still got to check the area and clean up before the next group comes in."
Sudo clicked his tongue, glaring back at the staff member. "Tch. Easy for you to say."
The staff member just gave them a flat look and jerked his thumb down the hall again. "Move it already."
Sudo shoved his hands into his pockets with a sharp "tch," storming off first. Ike followed with a low grumble, while Yamauchi clicked his tongue and scowled as he trailed after them.
"Ah, Sudo. How could I forget you?"
"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."
"This crap wasn't funny!" Sudo growled, Hikigaya's words from earlier flashing through his mind. "That bastard thinks he's clever, huh? Locking us in like we're some kind of joke…"
Yamauchi scowled, "That Hikitani is seriously messed up… locking us in like that?!"
"That damn bastard is screwing with us.". Ike spat. "We were supposed to enjoy tits and ass. But he…he dammit told Kushida and all other about. What the heck and called us fucking loser and who the heck does he think is he?"
Sudo's fists clenched as he cracked his knuckles. "He's not getting away with this. I'll make him regret ever pulling this shit on us."
"Damn right!" Yamauchi muttered "We're gonna get his ass and teach him a lesson he won't forget. That bastard messed with the wrong guys."
The three of them fumed on their way back to class, their minds set on making Hikigaya pay for everything he'd done to them.
When the three of them finally reached their classroom, most of the students had returned from swimming class everyone except Hikigaya, who was nowhere in sight. They assumed he must have come back already, but that wasn't the case.
"Where the hell is he?" Sudo muttered, glaring around. "Coward… must be really scared of us."
"Yeah… can't believe he'd pull something like this and hide," Yamauchi added. "He probably thinks we won't catch him."
"Calm down, guys it's not like he can hide forever. He'll come back, and when he does, we'll make sure he pays," Ike said trying to keep his cool.
Both of them also agreed with him as they took their seats, their anger beginning to subside. But as they looked around, they noticed many students whispering about their antics in swimming class some were outright ignoring them, while a few girls shot them cold disapproving glances.
Frustration bubbled up in their chests once again, and Sudo was just about to shout at the whispering students when the classroom door opened.
The teacher entered, and almost at the same time, Hikigaya quietly slipped in through the back door, unnoticed by anyone.
The they barely had time to register it before they realized he was already there sitting casually at his desk, as if nothing had happened, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Damn it… how can he sit there like nothing happened?" Yamauchi muttered under his breath.
Sudo's jaw tightened, "I swear, the second the bell rings, we're getting him. No way he's getting away this time."
Because of the teacher's presence, and with their anger slightly calming, they decided not to approach him for now. Yet Sudo remained tense, frustration resurfacing repeatedly as he kept replaying Hikigaya's words in his mind, a conflicted expression etched on his face.
As he thought to himself. 'He… he doesn't get it! He doesn't know a damn thing about me. About what I've done, what I've put up with! No one… no one tells me I'm a joke. I don't care what he thinks. I… I'm not… argh, just… just fuck off.'
The bell finally rang, and they moved to confront him but their frustration only deepened when they saw Hikigaya leaving the room slipping away before they could reach him.
"Are you kidding me?!" Sudo growled, slamming his hand on the desk.
"Hey… we c-can catch him later too, after classes are over," Ike suggested.
"No way," Sudo snapped, glaring at him. "I can't calm down until I punch that fucker in the face. You two coming or not?"
Sudo didn't wait for another word the other two followed reluctantly behind him in the hallway. They moved quickly their eyes searching every corner, until they spotted Hikigaya casually making his way toward the washroom ahead.
"LOOK! There he is… heading to the washroom," Ike called out.
"Finally… let's go!"
They picked up their pace, eyes fixed on Hikigaya as he neared the washroom. Each step was quick, their tension and frustration rising with every movement.
As they reached the washroom gates, Sudo slammed his hand against the door.
"OYY! HIKITANI! YOU'RE FINISHED!" he roared, storming inside oblivious to everything else.
"Yeah! Face us like a man!" Yamauchi shouted too charging in behind him.
Ike followed, trying to shout, "Hey! You fishy-eyed bas—"
But his words caught in his throat as his eyes scanned the room same with those two as they looked around confused.
They had probably expected him to be there trembling in fear.
But no one was there.
There was completely empty silence.
"What the—where is he?!" Sudo barked, eyes scanning around.
"Don't tell me he ran again!" Ike growled.
A second later, they heard the faint creak of the door moving behind them.
Suddenly, a shadow flickered near the entrance. Before they could react, Hikigaya sprang out from behind the doorframe, slipped past them like smoke and without a sound bolted out, slamming the door shut once again.
Hikigaya, already outside moved quickly as he first twisted the knob locking the door. Then his eyes went to a nearby cleaning cart stationed in the corridor. Without hesitation, he grabbed the mop handle, slid it neatly through the outer door handle and angled it against the wall. The simple bar locked into place, jamming the door from being pushed open.
But he didn't stop there. He nudged a trash bin closer with his foot, tipping it against the doorframe so even if the broom shifted, the bin would keep it pinned awkwardly.
For good measure, he leaned the second mop diagonally, wedged tight from the handle to the floor corner, a crude barricade that only got tighter the more they tried to shove.
Unlike the swimming pool dressing rooms, which could be locked from the outside without a key. The toilet stall only locked from the inside, and the washroom entrance itself usually didn't even have a proper lock. unless a janitor had a master key. Which meant unlike earlier, Hikigaya couldn't just lock it directly this time so he had to improvise.
And really, it wasn't as if the idea came out of thin air. Before stepping in, he had already noticed the unattended cart and the cleaning tools resting against the corridor wall.
Yamauchi rushed at the door, twisting the knob violently.
"It…it won't open! It's jammed!" he shouted, rattling it with both hands.
"Damn it… seems like we're locked in again," Ike muttered, disbelief and fury mixing in his voice.
Sudo's eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare as he slammed his fist against the door.
"NO…NO NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!" Sudo roared again loudly.
Their rage once again exploded completely.
"OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR, YOU FREAK!" Yamauchi screamed.
"You think this is funny?! You're dead, Hikitani!" Ike bellowed, kicking the door.
"YOU SNEAKY BASTARD! COME BACK HERE AND FACE US!"
The noise of their pounding fists and angry yells echoed down the hall, their frustration growing louder every second they were stuck.
Then, just as suddenly, they froze at the words that came drifting from outside the door.
"Keep shouting, losers. It won't change a thing."
It was the same words he had used the last time, slicing through their anger like ice. And then… silence followed.
After hearing those words, they shouted in protest and threw threats at him, banging on the door, but got no response from the other side.
This made them realise that he has probably gone by now.
"No… no way… he can't just get away again…" Sudo said as he glared at the jammed door as if planning to break the door.
"Hey…hey what do we do now? Ike asked nervously.
Sudo's eyes scanned the door, noting the crooked mop handles. "Hmph… looks like this thing's weak enough. If we really push together, we can force it open."
Yamauchi's eyes widened. "You're serious? That's a total disaster waiting to happen!"
"Doesn't matter," Sudo snapped rolling his shoulders. "We're not giving up until we get that bastard!"
The three of them lined up, shoulders braced against the barricade.
"On three!" Sudo barked. "One… two… three!"
They charged at the door with all their strength. It creaked loudly as the wood and metal strained under the impact. The mop handles snapped loose, the trash bin toppled over, and one of the mops flew across the hallway like a spear.
The whole barricade fell apart in a messy pile and the three of them crashed to the floor together, groaning from the pain.
They slowly raised their heads, still dazed from the fall. Standing right in front of them was the same cleaning staff member from earlier. His arms were crossed, one eyebrow raised, and he looked more amused than amused.
"Oh… hey," the staff member said, suppressing a smirk. "You kids having fun again?"
Ike coughed, clutching his shoulder. "We… we were just… uh…"
Sudo groaned, rubbing his back. "You've got to be kidding me. You again!"
The staff member chuckled. "Well, someone's got to clean up after you boys. looks like you boys are having a rough time."
Yamauchi scrambled up, face red. "It wasn't our fault! Some bastard locked us in!"
"I figured," the staffer replied casually, nodding toward the way the tools had been stacked. "Doesn't look like something you'd set up from inside anyway."
Ike groaned, clutching his shoulder. "Finally, someone believes us…"
The staffer smirked faintly. "Believe you? Sure. But it doesn't change the fact that I keep finding you three in the middle of messes like this. You're really cursed, huh?"
Sudo gritted his teeth. "Tch…"
"Anyway, I'll take care of this. Go on, get moving before the next disaster finds you."
The three of them walked out of the washroom quietly, their faces red with shame. They didn't say a word as they made their way to the classroom. With each step, their embarrassment slowly turned into renewed anger.
As they disappeared down the hall, the staffer muttered under his breath.
"Kids these days… never a dull moment."
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The final bell hadn't rung yet, but the three of them barely paid attention to the lesson. Their eyes never strayed far from Hikigaya, who sat at his desk with his usual dead-eyed look, scribbling lazily in his notebook as though the day's chaos hadn't involved him at all.
Many students shot him disgusted looks whenever he asked a question, but he seemed entirely unbothered.
Sudo clenched his fists beneath his desk. 'He's mocking us. Sitting there like nothing happened. You're not getting away this time bastard.'
This time, their plan was simple: once the teacher left, Ike and Yamauchi would block both exits while Sudo rushed towards his desk.
Yamauchi thought to himself, 'Our plan is perfect, Hikitani. This time were not gonna enter any roo—'
But then, suddenly something unexpected happened. While the teacher was still at the front answering questions, Hikigaya quietly slid out of his chair. His presence was so faint that no one noticed at first not until Ike's eyes widened.
"Wait… look isn't he—?" Ike whispered.
Both Yamauchi and Sudo snapped their head blinked.
"Huh?! No way. Is he leaving already, but why? The class isn't even over." Ike muttered.
By the time they turned, Hikigaya was already at the door, slipping out as if he had never been there at all.
"Damn it, he's running away again!" Sudo hissed.
"Don't panic!" Yamauchi hissed, puffing out his chest despite his trembling fingers. "This just means he's scared. Yeah! He's running away 'cause he knows our plan is too strong. Heh, the fool fell right into our trap by escaping early."
Sudo gawked at him. "…What trap?!"
"Relax guys," Ike muttered, pointing at the desk. "Look his bag's still here. He's got to come back for it."
"He must've been so scared of us that he forgot his bag with him," Yamauchi added.
When the class finally ended, the three of them marched out into the hallway. They posted themselves outside the door, arms crossed, faces twisted with fake confidence but hiding frustration. Their patience thinned with every passing second.
After nearly fifteen minutes of waiting, he finally appeared in the hallway, heading back toward the classroom.
"There he is—oi, look! That bastard's coming back," Yamauchi called out.
They snapped their heads in his direction. Their eyes met again for the first time since the dressing room, and panic mixed with uncertainty flickered across his face.
But he took a few more steps, then quickly turned and started running as they approached.
"He's making a run for it!" Sudo bellowed, launching himself forward. "After him!"
And so, the chase began.
The three of them rushed after him, their footsteps echoing through the hallway. Hikigaya ran quickly, weaving past students and turning sharply around corners, though his movements were more messy than smooth.
They chased him across the campus, through the main courtyard and along the side paths, sometimes almost catching sight of him, sometimes losing him behind walls or trees. Each time, they cursed and shouted, spurring themselves on as their frustration grew.
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Finally, they cornered him in a narrow alley between an old warehouse and a large, empty clubroom building.
There was barely any way to escape from the alley's backside. Hikigaya had finally hit a dead end.
Shadows seemed to cling to the walls as the three of them stepped out, surrounding him.
"Nowhere to hide now, fish eyes!"
Sudo cracked his knuckles as he growled at him, "You're not getting away this time, Hikitani,"
Hikigaya's eyes widened, panic flickering across his face. He raised his hands half-heartedly.
"H-hey! What… what is it you want?" His voice wavered. "If it's about… about what happened before… it was just a prank! A silly prank! There's no need for… for this!"
Yamauchi as he grabbed him by his collar as he shouted. "Prank, bastard? You have got some nerve to call that prank dead-eyed loser."
Ike glared at him. "Yeah! That's not funny, man. Not funny at all!"
Hikigaya tried to sidestep toward the wall, hoping to escape. "C-Come on… seriously, don't make a big deal out of this! I'll… I'll do anything! Anything you want! Just… just please don't hurt me!"
But Sudo's hand shot out and grabbed his arm, pulling him backward. Hikigaya hit the ground with a quiet gasp. "A-Ah! S-Stay away! I… I didn't mean anything! P-please!"
Sudo leaned over him, a smile playing on his lips. "After all that, you think a little begging is enough? You're pathetic, Hikitani and you've got spine to call me joke and loser."
He kicked Hikigaya in the ribs, hard sending him rolling.
"Yeah, a prank? You humiliated us in front of everyone!" Ike shouted, his foot lashing out, striking Hikigaya in the shoulder.
Ike's mind raced with dark joy as he felt satisfaction. 'Finally! He's down, crying like a baby. This is payback for making me look like a fool.'
As he tried to stood up only to be kicked in the ground again by Yamauchi.
He rolled sideward and immediately screamed like a bitch. "SOMEONE! PLEASE HELP!
"What the hell, you bastard?!" Three looked around in fright.
"SOMEONE! P…PLEASE, I NEED A MAAN!" Hikigaya tried to imitate a woman, but it came out all wrong as he shouted for help.
"Wha… What, are you kidding me?! You're really going to start calling for help?! Who does that?!"
"Stop…stop Dammit. The heck is wrong with you."
"EEEEK! STAY AWAY! DONT TOUCH ME! THEY'RE RIPPING MY...HIYAAHH." Hikigaya stopped screaming like a bitch and looked around as no one came to his rescue.
Sudo leaned over, cracking his knuckles with a smirk. "Nobody's gonna save you now. What an idiot."
"Well, looks like that didn't work…" he muttered to himself, nervously eyeing them.
They stared at him with annoyed expressions.
Hikigaya let out a shaky laugh. "P-please… go easy on me…"
Hikigaya was quickly kicked on the chest.
"Dare to mess with us you die! Scum!" The three idiots kicked and beat the Hikigaya down as he tried to protect himself with his arms.
"I-I'm… I'm begging! P-please, don't! I'll do anything! I-I'm… I'm sorry!"
"Yeah, that's right. Beg! Beg like the worm you are!" Yamauchi spat, enjoying the sight.
"Take this, you freak!"
"Cry more, Hikitani! This is for Kushida-chan!"
Hikigaya groaned as his face pressed to the ground. His movements slowed, then abruptly stilled, signalling he had lost consciousness as they continued their relentless assault.
Their bodies were still flooded with adrenaline, a surge of triumph coursing through them after all the misfortune Hikigaya had caused.
Sudo and Ike stopped at that but Yamauchi still keep kicking him on the back. Sudo tries to hold him back.
"Haruki! Enough! He's out cold!" Sudo barked, grabbing his friend's arm.
Ike shook his head. "We should leave before someone shows up."
Yamauchi glanced at Hikigaya's still form, smirking slightly. "Heh… maybe we could've had a bit more fun."
"I am going," Sudo said "I've got basketball practice. Do whatever you want? But didn't you two planned to hit Keyaki mall."
The three exchanged nods, slowly deciding to leave. Sudo turned back for one last look at Hikigaya sprawled on the ground words from the other day flashed through his mind once again.
"You must have a very high opinion of yourself. Don't you?"
"Who even are you? I didn't even know your name until now."
"Looking down on you? How could I ever do that… if I never even looked at you in the first place?"
"Keep shouting, losers. It won't change a thing."
Sudo clicked his tongue, letting out a low chuckle. "So much for all that, huh… weakling."
He shook his head and finally turned, walking away alongside Ike and Yamauchi. But just as they were about to leave the alleyway…
From the shadows behind, a cold voice spoke, stopping them in their tracks.
"And just where do you think you're going? After doing all that."
Sudo tried to turn his head, but before he could—
CRACK
A fist slammed into his nose with brutal precision, as he staggered behind followed instantly by a sharp kick to his ribs.
He's nose explodes in pain as fist slammed into his nose with brutal precision, sending him stumbling backward. A swift kick followed, slamming into his ribs and dropping him to the ground with a grunt.
"What the hell—?!" he spat, blood trickling from his nose.
From the shadows, Hikigaya stepped forward.
But this wasn't the same boy who had begged and whimpered ago. His posture was firm, his eyes cold and unreadable. The air around him felt heavier and charged.
Yamauchi's eyes blazed with fury. "I told you we should have beaten him more! Don't get cocky, Hikitani. Getting lucky won't save you next time!"
Hikigaya didn't even flinch. As Yamauchi charged recklessly, he shifted his weight onto his back leg, pivoting his body with perfect timing. His knee shot out in a sharp, arcing motion from the side, connecting just below Yamauchi's kneecap.
The strike landed precisely as Yamauchi's weight pressed down on that leg, forcing him to buckle under the impact.
"Ahhhh! My leg—!" Before Yamauchi could scream Hikigaya instantly launched a follow-up kick with another leg connecting easily since his head was lowered. sending him sprawling against the alley wall.
Blood poured from both his nose and mouth, his body stunned his mind spinning from the impact.
Ike hesitated, swallowing hard as he as he stared at Yamauchi sprawled against the wall and Sudo holding his nose in pain.
His mind raced, remembering the terrified, pleading boy from earlier. He was begging… before. He's bluffing. He has to be bluffing.
"What's the matter? Terrified?" Hikigaya's voice was calm, almost taunting, as he waited.
"I… I'm not… DAMN YOU!" Ike roared, forcing himself forward, yelling to drown out the rage and something else that gnawed at his chest.
Ike charged blindly, closing the gap fast. Hikigaya dropped low, sliding under his momentum. In one smooth motion, he wrapped his arms around Ike's torso and flipped him backward, using Ike's own speed against him.
THUD! Ike hit the ground hard, his chest rattling from the impact. Pain shot through his ribs, each one aching with every breath. Before he could recover, Hikigaya's knee slammed into his stomach, folding him over like a bent piece of metal.
Air rushed out of his lungs in a sharp gasp, leaving him wheezing and struggling to breathe. His whole body lit up with pain sharp and dull all at once.
"Ugh! Hngh!" Ike groaned, clutching his stomach as his vision blurred. Every small movement made the pain worse, and his chest rose and fell in shallow, desperate breaths.
Sudo clutched his nose, blood dripping between his fingers, his breath ragged.
Yamauchi groaned against the wall, legs trembling, face twisted in pain.
Ike lay curled on the ground, gasping for air, his chest rising and falling in shallow bursts.
None of them spoke.
Their minds were racing, but their thoughts were messy and scattered like pieces of broken glass on the floor.
Weren't they just laughing and enjoying, just now?
He was begging, Crying & Rolling around like a joke.
How did it change so fast?
Why is he the one who is standing above them while they are on the ground in so much pain?
Yamauchi writhed, sharp pain shooting through his leg. 'This can't be real. He was pathetic. He screamed like a clown. What is this? What is he? How… how…how is this happening to me.'
Ike tried to push himself up, only to collapse again. 'I thought he was weak. I thought he was scared. I thought… I thought I understood him.'
But now, Hikigaya stood tall, calm, not even breathing heavily. There was a condescending grin on his face as he looked at them.
Sudo blinked through the haze, blood dripping from his nose, mind roaring with unbridled wrath. 'This isn't over… I ain't done yet. I am not joke. I refuse to be. I'll show him.'
He let out a low growl and pushed himself up, unsteady on his feet. His muscles shook as he stumbled forward, throwing a wild punch with all the strength he could muster.
Sudo swung his fist, but Hikigaya moved aside with ease. Off balance, Sudo staggered forward, trying to steady himself. He threw another punch, driven more by anger than aim, reaching far but missing the mark.
Hikigaya tilted his head slightly. "You're going to hurt yourself more than me if you keep this up."
Sudo gritted his teeth, letting out a frustrated roar. "I don't care! You're not getting away with this, Hikitani!"
Another punch came sloppy, fueled by rage. Hikigaya ducked, his back now near the wall. Sudo lunged again, but his fist slammed into the concrete with a sickening crack.
"AGH!" Sudo cried out, clutching his hand, pain shooting through his arm.
Hikigaya exhaled quietly, "See? I told you."
Before he could recover, Hikigaya pushed him violently before he could regain their balance.
Sudo collapsed to the ground clutching his hand his face twisted in pain. The crack of his knuckles against the wall still and his bleeding nose was too much to handle.
Ike and Yamauchi froze, watching their friend collapse to the ground. The realization hit them like a hammer. 'All of us are screwed here.'
Their earlier laughter their thrill at beating Hikigaya everything evaporated. Now all they felt was hopelessness.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, almost conversational. "I imagine it does. I made sure it would, but I was still careful not to go too far."
Ike groaned, struggling to lift his head. "Y-Yeah… it does… a lot…"
Yamauchi whimpered as blood was dripping from his mouth as he clutched his legs. "I… can't…"
Hikigaya's eyes flicked between them, still calm. "Do you guys want to leave?"
Yamauchi's voice cracked, desperate. "Y-yeah… let us go, Hikitani. Please… we're done."
Ike nodded weakly, his voice barely audible. "C-come on, man… just let us leave. We… we won't mess with you again."
Sudo remained silent, his head bowed, his thoughts a storm of pain and humiliation.
"You think I'll just let you walk away? After all that?" Hikigaya asked, his tone smooth, almost amused.
He paused, letting the words sink in, his gaze flicking between them as none of them said anything to that.
Slowly, Hikigaya reached for his belt, unbuckling it. The metallic clink of the buckle echoed in the alley as it dangled loosely in his hand.
Yamauchi's breath hitched, his thoughts racing. 'What's he doing? Is he… no way…'
Ike's heart pounded, his mind screaming. 'He's not gonna… is he?'
Sudo's jaw tightened, a flicker of pain flashing across his face as he instinctively stepped back. He whispered, "Wh-what… what are you going to do with that?"
Hikigaya's grin widened, eyes locking on each of them. "Exactly what you guys are thinking." He let the belt sway slightly, the metallic buckle catching the faint light.
They froze Fear gripped them tighter than any blow had.
"Don't look at me like that," Hikigaya said softly, almost bitterly. "You think this is cruelty? You think I enjoy this? I've been in pain too… I still am. Look."
He tapped his side where Sudo's kick had landed, wincing slightly for effect.
"You guys didn't show mercy. So why should I?" He slammed the belt onto the ground with a harsh clang.
"I… I'm… sorry!" Ike stammered, voice shaking. "We… we didn't mean—"
Yamauchi nodded frantically, "Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry too! We messed up, Hikitani! Please, don't do this!"
He paused, letting the tension build. "But… I'm not as cruel as you guys. So, I'll let you go."
Hope flashed in the trio's eyes as they braced themselves to escape. Yamauchi slowly got to his feet, wincing with every movement.
Ike dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. Sudo shifted slightly he was still gripping his nose blood was trickling between his fingers.
But just as they moved, Hikigaya's voice cut through, sharp and cold. "Not so fast. Where do you three think you're going?"
He stepped forward, the belt still dangling in his hand. "I never said all of you could leave."
Suddenly Hikigaya's grin widened, his face transforming into something unsettling.
"You see, I'm pissed… really pissed right now, and I want to punish someone very badly. So, one of you will have to stay behind… and receive the punishment for the others. The other two… can go."
His expression which is usually blank and unreadable suddenly twisted into a wide, creepy smile.
"You have almost a minute to decide… or I'll choose for you. Of course, if any of you think you can take me down, that's another way to leave."
His one eye widened unnaturally, the other squinted giving him a villainous, almost unhinged look.
Since swimming class earlier, they had felt the full spectrum of emotion wrath, anger, frustration, even the twisted satisfaction of thinking they had the upper hand. Never in their lives had they experienced anything like this in such a short span of time.
But the moment their eyes met his smile, all of it vanished swept away in an instant, replaced by a single, overwhelming force: Fear.
Hikigaya's grin held, his creepy expression unwavering as he leaned closer, the belt swaying slightly.
"So," he said, his voice a chilling whisper, "who's it gonna be?"