I like to express my gratitude to "Diego Montalvo Espiritu" for his/her support and becoming a patron on my patreon.
Patreon - patreon.com/AnimeFanfic01
______________
------------------------------------
Chapter 34: It's All Because I Stayed in the Service Club Too Long
As the two were talking, Horikita Suzune spoke up from the side: "Instead of wasting time discussing these useless things, why not join my study group?"
Horikita had already seen the names at the bottom of the rankings on the paper, which naturally included Sudo, Yamauchi, and Ike. While Hikigaya wasn't in immediate danger, if everyone else's grades improved, that could change.
So, she didn't mind having one more "invisible" person in her study group.
Sudo's body jolted. Though he was sturdy and tall, the sudden voice still startled him.
He leaned toward Hikigaya's ear and whispered: "Hey, Hikigaya, isn't this girl a robot? I think this is the first time I've heard her talk…"
Hikigaya was speechless. What kind of brain would mistake a quiet person for a robot?
If that's the case… was he Robot Number Two?
"Talking about others behind their backs is a sign of poor manners."
Hearing the girl's blunt words, Sudo rolled up his sleeves and marched to her desk, demanding an explanation.
Alright, this guy's true nature hadn't changed after all.
His loud yelling instantly drew the entire class's attention, while Hikigaya quickly turned away, pretending he didn't know him.
Sudo: "Hey, say something, Hikigaya!"
Hikigaya: "…"
'People who can't read the room are terrifying…'
After a short break, their next class was a rare swimming lesson.
Though called a swimming lesson, most of the time was free time, and the class's cliques became glaringly obvious during moments like these.
Looks like… he hadn't made a single friend. But that was expected. No one would want to approach someone who'd done such awful things.
Still, quietly watching teenage girls during their youth wasn't bad at all.
Since Sobu High didn't have this class, swimming lessons were pretty great.
As Hikigaya was thinking this, Horikita sat down beside him.
"Let me make this clear: I'm not your top priority. Even if you're holding a study group, you should focus on Sudo and the others first."
Hikigaya stated his thoughts upfront. While he wasn't opposed to joining a study group, it was obvious that if Horikita wanted to reach Class A, she needed to help Sudo and the others first.
There was already a huge point gap between Classes A, B, C, and D. If their numbers decreased, the monthly point distribution would only widen the gap further.
From Horikita's perspective, now was definitely not the time for those three to get expelled.
Horikita shook her head lightly. She believed Hikigaya was wrong. To get Sudo to join the study group, they needed someone he'd been interacting with most recently—Hikigaya—to invite him. Otherwise, with Sudo's personality, no matter what she said, he wouldn't agree.
But…
Hikigaya: "I don't have a way to convince Sudo to join your study group. Don't expect anything from me."
"That guy's mind is all about basketball. Isn't becoming a pro athlete a good goal?"
As Hikigaya said this, he was met with Horikita Suzune's piercing stare.
'So scary. Horikita's so scary.'
Horikita: "Wanting to become a pro athlete isn't a bad thing, but if you can't even manage basic studies, dreaming of becoming a pro is just delusional."
Hikigaya: "I don't think Sudo will listen to that."
Horikita: "That's why you're important."
Once again, the conversation circled back to Hikigaya.
Hikigaya: "No, how does this keep coming back to me…"
Horikita: "You know it too, don't you? If they get expelled, you're next in line for danger. I don't care, though—my grades are always at the top."
'Tch! Damn provocation!'
Horikita: "Besides, though I don't know you well, you seem to always lend a hand to things happening around you."
Hikigaya: "No, it's all for myself."
'Maybe it's because I stayed in the Service Club too long… I'm starting to meddle too much.'
Horikita: "Then do it for yourself. And if you do, I'll owe you a favor. In this school, cut off from the outside world, you'll need help sometimes, even if you don't have friends. I won't be your friend, but if I owe you, I'll help you whenever you need it."
'Sounds pretty good. When did this girl become so reasonable? At the start of the semester, she'd definitely think she could handle everything alone.'
Hikigaya sighed helplessly. Though it wasn't his business, he honestly didn't want Class D to fall apart. And since Sudo was so good at sports, he might come in handy someday.
Plus, Horikita was right. Surviving three years in this isolated school without any help was impossible.
Who knew what this school would throw at them next?
Hikigaya: "Alright, I'll give it a try."
Horikita: "I'm impressed."
'She's totally using me as a tool, isn't she? The Service Club really screwed me over.'
If Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were here, there wouldn't be so much trouble, right?
[In the Service Club, hearing the boy's thoughts, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama didn't know whether to laugh or cry.]
[Isshiki Iroha: "I can't believe you agreed to someone's request so easily, senpai. It's kind of shocking."]
[Hikigaya: "Don't talk like you're shocked. Even I'm shocked. At this rate, I will just become a tool."]
[Yuigahama gave a helpless smile: "Can't be helped, right? Hikki's science grades are… pretty bad."]
[Hikigaya: "Hey, your grades aren't much better…"]
[Yuigahama: "If Hikki had Yukinon's grades, you wouldn't be threatened like this."]
[Yukinoshita only gave a faint smile, as if saying, 'Exactly, that's the logic.']
[Hayama just smiled helplessly. It was surprising to see this guy being coerced, but aside from this, he probably couldn't be coerced at all…]
(End of this chapter)