Chapter 50: Yukinoshita's Terrifying Smile
"I won't give up!"
'As expected, she'd say that… What a scary brother complex, going this far for her brother.'
Hikigaya propped his chin with one hand, glancing briefly at her expression.
She spoke as if it were a simple matter, brushing aside all the difficulties in between.
It was hard to say whether this was good or bad.
"I will definitely rise to Class A. Even if I have to crawl, I'll make it to Class A."
"Is that so?"
"What? You don't believe me?"
Horikita turned to Hikigaya with a defiant look.
"No, I just feel lucky to have you."
Hearing this, Horikita froze as if she'd lost all ability to think, her cheeks, which had just calmed down, turning bright red again.
"W-What are you saying?!"
She turned away abruptly, not daring to look at Hikigaya anymore.
Hikigaya seemed to realize he'd said something wrong and sheepishly lowered his head again: "I mean, if the class was full of people like me and Kōenji, it'd probably be a total mess, right? So, yeah, it's exactly because of people like you, Hirata, and Kushida that this class can become more united."
"I'm just a loner like you."
"But you helped Sudo and the others, didn't you?"
"And you? Didn't you help the class get through this crisis in your own way?"
"No, that was just for myself. I don't want to get expelled someday… If even the students with worse grades than me get expelled, it'll eventually be my turn. You said that, didn't you, Horikita?"
Horikita Suzune shook her head, unsure how to respond, and finally looked at Hikigaya beside her with a hint of exasperation.
"All you have are twisted arguments."
"Twisted logic is still logic."
[In the Service Club, several people watched the conversation between Hikigaya and Horikita Suzune, momentarily stunned, unsure what to say.]
[Of course, in times like this, Yuigahama's presence was crucial…]
[She scratched her head, giving Hikigaya a half-smiling, half-questioning look: "Hikki? Don't tell me you're falling for this pretty girl?"]
['Hey, Yuigahama, that's scary. No way, right?']
[Though Hikigaya wanted to argue back, with all the evidence in front of him, nothing he said would help.]
[Isshiki Iroha, with a mischievous grin, leaned toward Hikigaya and whispered like a devil: "Hey, Senpai, do you like this tsundere type? Are guys into that? Wait, does that mean Hayama-senpai likes this type too?"]
[Hikigaya shivered at her devilish whisper, glanced at Hayama, and whispered back: "No way, idiot. Why don't you ask Hayama what type he likes? How would I know?"]
[Hearing Hikigaya's response, Isshiki instantly reverted to her cheerful kouhai mode, proudly declaring: "I forgive you!"]
[Everyone saw that exchange, making things worse. Yukinoshita, having witnessed the video and now Isshiki's interaction with Hikigaya, wore a gentle smile, but her murderous gaze was unmistakable.]
[At that moment, Hikigaya realized he'd been played by Isshiki, the little devil. Saying things like "I forgive you" was clearly to provoke this scene.]
["Hikigaya-kun, it seems you have something to say to me."]
[Hikigaya hesitated, unsure whether to explain or not. On one side was a smiling murderer, on the other a devilish Isshiki waiting for a show. Either way, he was in an impossible situation. If there was a hole in the Service Club, he'd crawl into it right now.]
["What, cat got your tongue? Don't want to explain?"]
[The terrifying atmosphere in the Service Club made everyone uneasy.]
[Yuigahama: "Hey, Yukinon, your expression is scary."]
[Isshiki, realizing things were getting out of hand, hurriedly tried to defuse: "Senpai, Senpai, don't kill anyone! Murder's illegal!"]
[Of course, Yukinoshita wasn't unreasonable. She knew with so many people around, acting out would embarrass both her and others. So, for now, she just gave a faint smile.]
[Nearby, Miura poked Hayama. Even the "Queen" felt a bit scared seeing Yukinoshita like this.]
[Miura: "Is this what Yukinoshita looks like when she's angry?"]
[Hayama shook his head helplessly. Even he, who'd known Yukinoshita since childhood, had never seen her like this. It wasn't just anger… it was more like possessiveness born from dependency.]
As Hikigaya and Horikita talked, Kushida Kikyo appeared beside them unnoticed.
"Hey, Horikita-san, Hikigaya-kun, let's hold a celebration party!"
Seeing Kushida join, Horikita waved her hand with a hint of resistance: "No, I'll pass."
Sudo, who'd appeared nearby, said: "Come on, Horikita, join us! If it wasn't for you, I couldn't have learned so much in such a short time."
"No, that was the result of your own effort."
Ike joined the conversation: "No way, absolutely not! I know even if I worked hard, I couldn't have made it this far. It's because of your supervision and teaching that we passed. Right, Yamauchi?"
Yamauchi nodded vigorously: "Yeah, Horikita, come to the celebration party with us!"
Horikita, unable to argue with them, sighed helplessly and looked at everyone: "Fine… I'll take a rare break and relax."
(End of this chapter)