Chapter 43: A Lone Soul Needs No Place for Bonds
The boy crouched in front of the vending machine. It wasn't exactly eavesdropping, but… okay, it was eavesdropping.
Horikita: "I came here to catch up to you!"
'Is that… Horikita? And who's that? The student council president? Her brother?'
'The student council president is also named Horikita. I'd guessed it before, but this is the first time I've seen them together.'
'If Komachi was at this school, I'd be with her all the time!'
As Hikigaya was thinking, Horikita Manabu's voice came from the alley.
"Catch up to me?"
He adjusted his glasses, carefully studying his sister.
Horikita Manabu: "It seems you've changed a bit. How did you do it? You, who hadn't changed in over ten years, have changed in this school. Though it's just a drop in the bucket, practically nothing."
Horikita Suzune looked at her brother, puzzled: "Me? Changed?"
Horikita Manabu: "Oh? It seems someone changed you without you noticing… Choosing this school was the right move, but to catch up to me, you're still far off."
Horikita Suzune, not fully understanding, clenched her fists nervously and said: "I'll rise to Class A and show you. That way…"
"With just you now, you can't do it."
"I'll definitely do it."
Horikita Suzune's voice began to tremble. Hikigaya, watching from a distance, couldn't help but be surprised.
Is this really Horikita!?
"Such a disobedient sister…"
He turned, grabbing Horikita Suzune's hand and pinning it against the wall.
The forceful impact made Suzune let out a soft groan, but that was all.
Seeing his sister's change, Horikita Manabu was surprised, but this minor progress was too insignificant, and the core issue remained unchanged.
"Having a sister thrown into Class D is embarrassing for me. Until you have enough ability to climb up, you'd better not let anyone know I'm your brother."
"Brother… I…"
"In this school, you're just a failure in Class D. Face that reality."
Saying this, Horikita Manabu raised his hand, preparing to strike.
Seeing the scene about to unfold before him, Hikigaya had never witnessed anything like this.
'How did it suddenly turn into him attacking his cute little sister? What's going on? School bullying?'
'No matter what, I'd never lay a hand on Komachi. She's so adorable. Wait, now's not the time to think about that. This guy is actually going to hit her… The problem is, it's their sibling business, so it's hard for me to step in. Even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do.'
As Hikigaya was thinking this, the black tea in his hand slipped and fell without him noticing.
Clang clang… clang clang clang…
The black tea can hit the ground, making a piercing noise. At this time of day, with hardly anyone around the school, the sound was even more pronounced.
Horikita Manabu sharply turned his head, his cold gaze landing on the black tea can.
"Who's there?!"
At this point, hiding was useless. Besides, he was just passing by… This guy wouldn't beat him up too, right?
Speaking of which, where's Kamuro? Come save me already…
Hikigaya grumbled inwardly, then slowly walked toward the two, picking up the black tea can. Even so… he deliberately kept some distance from Horikita Manabu. He didn't want to get hit for no reason.
Who knew if this guy, who could raise a hand against his own sister, might suddenly punch him?
"Just a passing Class D failure."
Suzune: "Hikigaya?"
'Hey, let me look cool for a second…'
Horikita Manabu: "You're Hikigaya?"
'Am I that famous? I don't think I'm important enough for the student council president to care about.'
Hikigaya: "There shouldn't be another person with this name in the school."
Horikita Manabu released Suzune's hand and turned to stare intently at the boy.
'Hey, are you a demon? Why's your killing intent so strong?'
Fortunately, Horikita Manabu didn't approach, just silently observing him.
Horikita Manabu: "Speaking of which, you're the one who single-handedly changed Class D's hopeless situation… the greatest villain of Tokyo Metropolitan, Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya: "I can't agree with the first part. I only did it for my peaceful life. And I can't agree with the second part either. I don't think I've done anything heinous."
Horikita Manabu: "Your actions intrigue me. In my three years at this school, past and present, I've never seen someone solve things the way you do."
Hikigaya: "It's my only weapon. If I don't use it well, how can I survive peacefully among you monsters?"
Horikita Manabu: "You're a peculiar man. Honestly, I admire you. You probably don't even realize what you've changed without knowing."
Hikigaya: "I don't think I have that kind of ability. All I do is drag the class down a bit, that's it."
Horikita Manabu lowered his head with a faint smile. Now he understood why his sister had changed in this school.
Because she'd met a monster among monsters.
Horikita Manabu: "Suzune, you actually have a friend. Honestly, I'm surprised."
Horikita Suzune: "He's not my friend, just my desk mate."
Horikita Manabu's sharp gaze lingered on Suzune, but she couldn't meet his eyes.
"You're still the same, confusing pride with loneliness."
Hikigaya: "No… I don't think there's anything wrong with that…"
Hikigaya's words suddenly interrupted Horikita Manabu's train of thought.
"Oh?"
Hikigaya: "I'm not good at making friends either, and I've never had any. Even so, I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
"A proud soul doesn't need a place for bonds. If your heart is strong enough, you don't need others to rely on. Loneliness… there's nothing wrong with it."
Not being influenced by others, not influencing others—isn't that great?
( End of this chapter )