Chapter 65: The Gears of Fate Begin to Turn
[Class 1-D: After seeing Sakura's true appearance, the class's attention was almost entirely on her.]
[Kushida was the first to approach, grabbing the girl's hand with an extremely kind smile: "Sakura-san, you're so beautiful! Why hide such a cute self?"]
[Sakura had no fondness for Kushida, sensing that she, like herself, was hiding something. But for someone like Sakura who couldn't refuse, when her hand was held, she stammered: "B-Because… because I'm scared."]
[Ike glanced at the girl, recalling that photo, and gave a slightly sleazy smile: "Hey, what's there to be scared of? We're all classmates. If you run into trouble, I, Ike Kanji, will be the first to help you out."]
[Seeing he was falling behind, Yamauchi Haruki patted his chest and declared loudly: "Yeah, yeah, Ike's right. There shouldn't be secrets between classmates. If you're in trouble, I'll help too!"]
[Feeling their strange gazes, Sakura just lowered her head and softly said: "Thank you…"]
[Koenji struck a casual pose, speaking to his mirror: "So beautiful… By the way, Ike-boy, Yamauchi-boy, you're scaring the idol classmate."]
[From start to finish, Koenji didn't glance at Sakura, too busy admiring his own beauty. It was typical Koenji behavior.]
[Meanwhile, in the Service Club, seeing the girl's almost angelic beauty, everyone was momentarily stunned. After a brief silence, the atmosphere grew tense.]
[Yukinoshita wore her usual smile that could kill, while Yuigahama looked at Hikigaya with a resentful expression. Across the table, Miura, Ebina, and Hayama cast pitying glances.]
[Isshiki, however, was more open-minded. For her, the Hikigaya sitting in the Service Club was the one she could reach, while the one in the video was beyond her control.]
[So, she shrugged casually and said: "Oh, Senpai, I knew you'd get into something like this someday. And in the future, even scarier things might happen."]
['Scarier things… like what… what could that be?']
[Hikigaya didn't catch Isshiki Iroha's meaning, but Yukinoshita and Yuigahama blushed. Then…]
[Yukinoshita kept her head down, occasionally shooting murderous glares, while Yuigahama shook her head as if convincing herself, wearing a pitiful expression.]
['So, what's going on?']
[Seeing Hikigaya still clueless, Miura almost spoke up but realized… she couldn't say it out loud.]
[Helplessly, she just patted her face.]
---
In Class 1-C, Ryūen sat on the podium, as if reigning over thousands.
Ibuki showed a hint of worry, then slammed the desk heavily.
"How come Class D's been so quiet lately? That's not like those monkeys at all."
Ibuki's words stirred Ishizaki, the person directly involved, making him restless. Though Ryūen had orchestrated the plan, Ishizaki was the one who carried it out. If anything went wrong, he'd be done for.
Ryūen walked up to Ishizaki, placing a hand on his shoulder. The intense fear made Ishizaki's body tremble, but Ryūen just looked at his scarred body and gave a faint smile.
"Don't worry. Those monkeys in Class D can't make any waves. In a few days, when the real judgment comes, whether it's Horikita or Sudo, they'll be completely exposed."
Ryūen's words were brimming with confidence. In the eyes of this tyrant, it was as if he'd never failed, utterly self-assured.
Of course, his strength was undeniable. Just days after enrolling, he'd earned the respect of Class C's muscle, Albert, and got Ibuki to work for him.
Though some in Class C were dissatisfied, faced with these two formidable forces, resistance would likely lead to only one outcome.
How Ryūen won Albert's loyalty remained a mystery to Class C. At the start of school, Albert had an untamable, rebellious attitude, but now… he was willingly Ryūen's lackey.
If this was the reality before them, it only proved Ryūen's methods were too clever, too terrifying.
Manabe Shiho: "Since the tyrant says so, there's nothing to fear. Let's crush Class D in one blow, and we'll have no worries. Then… we just need to find a way to climb to Class A."
Manabe's words undoubtedly boosted the class's morale. At this point, Ishizaki couldn't back out. Even knowing failure could spell doom, under the tyrant's orders, he had no choice but to obey.
…
Since yesterday's events, Hikigaya and Sakura had developed a subtle dynamic.
Though neither said much, they kept stealing glances at each other during class.
The only difference was that today, Sakura had taken off her glasses, revealing her stunning beauty. When she walked into the classroom, most of the class was shocked.
Of course…
"Who's this girl? I've never seen her before."
"Wow, if I could date a girl like that, I'd stay single for another decade."
"She's so pretty, it's like she stepped out of a TV screen."
Comments like these flooded Class D, but the girl stayed silent. Even when boys tried to talk to her, she only responded with hesitant murmurs, each time looking at Hikigaya with a complicated expression.
'Hey, if you keep looking at me like that, it's gonna be tough for me.'
Though Hikigaya tried to act like nothing happened, Horikita Suzune, sitting between them, clearly noticed everything.
"Hikigaya-kun, you'd better not do anything criminal. Though this school can't be judged by normal standards, you can't escape if you commit a crime."
"Hey, don't accuse me like that. I'm the most ordinary student in this school."
Horikita Suzune shot him a disdainful look.
But… this wasn't sustainable. Since Horikita had noticed, if Sakura kept glancing at him, he'd soon become the class's focus. He didn't want that.
So, during break, Hikigaya spent most of his time alone in the hallway.
The school day passed quickly. The signal of the setting sun seemed to tell Hikigaya the day was almost over.
He'd secured a witness, and today's goal was clear.
Though the special classroom building had few cameras, each floor had some, and the one on the main path to the building might hold what he needed.
Accessing the school's cameras wasn't too hard.
With enough points, he could get the footage from Chabashira-sensei. After all, in this school, even senseis relied on points to live. In the two months since enrolling, he'd gradually figured out the school's unspoken rules.
Some things were strictly regulated, while others were conveniently ignored.
While thinking about trivial matters, Hikigaya glanced at his classmates.
During class, most students seemed focused, and though Sudo was troubled by Class C's actions, he hadn't slacked on his studies. His change was perhaps the most noticeable in the class.
Ike and Yamauchi, though not exactly attentive, often zoned out like Hikigaya, thinking about other things.
But… at least they hadn't dragged the class down or cost any points.
Today's Sakura was different from yesterday. Though still unapproachable and resistant to others' attempts to talk, thanks to Hikigaya's encouragement, she seemed to make an effort to stay engaged during class, no longer spacing out often.
Break time came quickly. Hikigaya glanced at the blackboard. The last period was homeroom, meaning Chabashira would come to say something irrelevant. That was fine—it saved him the trouble of finding her.
Since it was break time, Hikigaya shook his head helplessly. Sakura's seat was surrounded by people. He just walked out of the classroom like a passerby.
Shinohara leaned on Sakura's desk, propping her chin with both hands and smiling: "Sakura-san, what are your hobbies? Wanna grab dinner or go shopping after school?"
Sakura placed her hands between her thighs, her cheeks flushing. She lowered her head, unsure what to say.
Refusing people was something she knew she couldn't do.
She looked up, about to stammer a response, when she saw the boy with dead-fish eyes, hands in pockets, heading out of the classroom.
"Th-Then… I'm going to the restroom!"
She hurriedly escaped the crowd, leaving the classroom under everyone's gazes.
"H-Hikigaya!"
"?"
Hikigaya turned around to see the pink-haired girl running toward him.
He scanned the area, ensuring no one was around, before stopping.
The girl, finally catching up, bent over, panting heavily.
'Uh… idols need a lot of stamina, Sakura-san. Keep it up.'
The girl slowly raised her face, blushing as she looked at the boy.
Suddenly recalling yesterday, Hikigaya averted his gaze, asking in a slightly confused tone: "What's up, Sakura…?"
"C-Can… Can I stay with you after school? N-No, no, no, no, no…"
Realizing her words could be misunderstood, Sakura's face turned even redder. She waved her hands frantically, trying to explain.
"I-I mean… can I… can I stay with you?"
Hikigaya looked at the flustered girl, asking with concern: "Is it because you're scared of the stalker?"
"It's… not entirely that… The classmates keep inviting me to go shopping or stuff after school… I-I…"
"I get it… Sure, but hanging out with me is pretty boring."
Hikigaya understood her struggle. The sudden shift in how classmates treated her was probably as hard for her to accept as it was for him. For someone like Sakura, who didn't know how to refuse, he needed to give her an excuse—a reason to naturally turn down everyone.
'Since I said she could come to me with any trouble, I guess this is helping her to the end.'
Being pestered by people wasn't much different from a stalker.
"Not just today—if you don't want to accept others' invitations, you can use this excuse and come to me. But… I suggest you learn to refuse them directly soon."
Relying on him forever wasn't a solution. He'd seen that mistake before. To solve the problem, her own growth was key.
Hearing the boy's response, Sakura's face lit up with joy, and the weight on her heart finally lifted.
"Mm, mm! Th-Thank you, Hikigaya-kun!"
"Then see you after school!"
Leaving those words, the girl turned and slowly headed back to the classroom.
But she looked like she might faint, making Hikigaya sweat a bit.
The bell for the last period rang. Hikigaya returned to the classroom, seeing the pink-haired girl give him a warm smile, as if confirming she'd firmly refused the others.
Receiving her smile, Hikigaya just nodded lightly.
Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom, as usual, talking about the class's recent situation.
Of course, for Hikigaya, this was mostly useless.
Chabashira scanned the students, arms crossed, with a cold expression: "Three days left, Sudo. Your matter will have a clear outcome… Are you ready?"
Sudo's eyes were resolute, and he nodded heavily.
This incident started because of him, and he didn't want to drag others down. If he'd really caused a huge mess, he'd already decided in these past few days to submit a voluntary withdrawal.
This was Sudo's final atonement.
Though most of the class, to varying degrees, thought he was largely responsible, only Hikigaya, who knew so much, understood that even if Sudo dropped out today, it wouldn't solve the core issue.
In the end… Ryūen would completely crush Class D.
And Sudo was merely the spark.
Chabashira: "If things continue like this, Sudo, you're guaranteed to lose. You know that, right?"
Sudo couldn't deny it, only nodding helplessly once more.
Kushida wore her usual fake expression of worry, speaking in a hurried tone: "We've been trying our best!"
Chabashira's tone was ice-cold, as if she already knew the outcome: "Any actual progress?"
The short-haired girl sat down weakly, and Hirata was on the verge of breaking down.
Aside from Sakura, who was entrusted to Hikigaya, they hadn't made any progress in days.
Forget clues—they hadn't even found a single hint.
Chabashira wasn't surprised. She closed her eyes, speaking without a trace of emotion: "As a sensei, I cannot interfere with your actions. Your issue with Class C will be handled by the student council. When the time comes… whatever the result, you'll have to accept it."
As Chabashira's words fell, the classroom buzz grew louder.
Ike: "It's over, it's over, it's really over this time! My points are gone! My life! Why is it so tough?!"
Yamauchi: "You're still okay, at least you have some points left from last month. I've got zero savings and owe others points. If I can't pay them back this month, I'm the one who's done for!"
Their pessimistic mood undoubtedly affected the entire class.
Sudo clenched his fists, listening to his classmates' discussions about him. After saying that, Chabashira didn't speak again, just stood with arms crossed, eyes closed, listening to the chatter.
Break time came quickly. When Chabashira announced the end of class, Sudo was the first to leave.
As for where he went? Probably no one knew.
'At a time like this, go play some basketball to unwind. You've been through a lot, Sudo.'
Honestly, not seeing Sudo's smug smile for days, not having him come to chat, Hikigaya was actually a bit unaccustomed to it.
It wasn't hard to understand. If Hikigaya was in that kind of trouble, he'd probably be even more pessimistic than Sudo.
Horikita clearly noticed Sudo's departure but didn't chase after him. Even if she did, it wouldn't change anything.
She turned her gaze to the boy, with a questioning look. Hikigaya, after a few seconds of thought, nodded.
"Then it's up to you."
'Huh, it's about Sudo? I thought you were asking about Sakura…'
'But, the cold, emotionless, bloodless monster Horikita actually cares about a classmate's state? That's rare—no, it's so shocking it feels like a dream.'
Sensing the boy's strange expression, the black-haired girl shot him a terrifying look.
'Where did she even learn that expression? Is it some Horikita family secret technique? So scary!'
After being glared at fiercely, Hikigaya immediately returned to a serious demeanor.
The boy grabbed his bag, noticing that Chabashira-sensei had packed her materials and left the classroom. Hikigaya planned to follow her.
After shooting a glance at Sakura, she seemed to understand instantly.
For two class loners, greeting each other in the classroom was taboo. If Sakura wanted to stick with him to avoid classmates' invitations, meeting in a secluded place was best.
As usual, Hikigaya slipped out of the classroom unnoticed. Though he'd drawn attention after those two incidents at the start of school, his natural loner aura had, over time, lowered his visibility again.
It was as if those things had never happened.
Soon after, in the hallway…
The girl arrived behind the boy, panting heavily. Indeed… a good figure meant more energy spent running.
Looking at the still-breathing-hard girl, Hikigaya asked, puzzled: "If you just don't want to accept classmates' invitations, you could just make up an excuse and spend time alone. There's no need to follow a boring guy like me."
Sakura, caught off guard by his question, blushed deeply, her already rapid breathing intensifying as she replied: "N-No, no, no, no, no… It's not that… I'm not good at lying, and… and I'm still a bit scared of the stalker."
"In that case, there's no helping it."
Getting Sakura's response, Hikigaya turned to head toward Chabashira-sensei.
Seeing Hikigaya lower his guard, Sakura let out a sigh of relief, then muttered softly: "And… you're not boring at all."
She stepped forward, closely following behind the boy.
As always, while Hikigaya walked ahead, she stared intently at him.
Sakura never imagined she'd be saved by this boy who seemed unapproachable but was actually gentle and handsome.
Perhaps he was her purpose in this school.
At the end of the hallway, the boy and girl walked one after the other. From start to finish, Sakura never asked about his goal, just following… closely following.
Hikigaya glanced at Chabashira in the distance and quickened his pace.
At this moment, he had the witness, Sakura, and evidence of her presence.
Playing all his cards might still not win the judgment. Most likely, both sides would face punishment.
For Hikigaya, that was unacceptable.
If the result was decided so vaguely, it wasn't what he was after.
Whether for Sudo or himself.
"Chabashira-sensei… I need to talk to you about something."
As if expecting him, Chabashira glanced at Sakura beside him, then showed an intrigued expression.
"Looks like you've found something."
(End of this chapter)