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Chapter 10: The Grudge from Middle School Continues
"Kamiba-san, your package is here!"
A package? I haven't bought anything recently.
Kamiba Yuma wasn't short on money, so he often used expensive delivery services.
Kamiba Yuma opened the door. Two delivery men in hats were carrying a box.
"Kamiba-san, please sign here."
"Kamiba-san, would you like us to help you carry it in?"
"No thanks, I can get it myself."
The box was quite large. It was probably the bicycle from the Yukinoshita family as compensation.
"Miyata. It's even a big brand."
"As expected of the Yukinoshita family, they're very generous."
"I should have had them assemble it before they left."
Kamiba Yuma looked at the instruction manual. It seemed he had to do it himself.
After fiddling with it for over half an hour, Kamiba Yuma still hadn't gotten it.
He was a mechanical idiot. He got a headache just looking at this stuff.
"It's such a simple thing. There's no way I can't figure it out today!"
Kamiba Yuma took off his shirt, grabbed the parts, and got to work.
...
An hour later, Kamiba Yuma looked at the bicycle in front of him and smiled with satisfaction.
"I am never assembling one of these again!"
"Oh well. I spent so much time on it, I might as well take it for a test ride."
He had to admit, you get what you pay for. This bike was much more comfortable to ride than his previous companion, which had been with him for several years.
But it still needed some breaking in.
He would ride it for a few more hours today. He could just consider it exercise.
"Oh, Hikigaya. You haven't gone home yet?"
"I thought you didn't have any other friends."
Kamiba Yuma saw a familiar figure pushing a bicycle on the side of the road.
Judging by the slumped back, the complete lack of energy, and those iconic dead-fish eyes, who else could it be but Hikigaya Hachiman?
"You can probably see that my bike is broken."
"Also, you don't need to emphasize the 'no friends' part."
Kamiba Yuma stopped next to Hikigaya Hachiman. It looked like his bicycle tire had been deflated.
"Hikigaya, you're in a rough spot."
"Did you already make an enemy on the first day of school?"
It would have been better if Kamiba Yuma hadn't said anything. As soon as he spoke, Hikigaya Hachiman gave him a cold stare.
"Whose fault do you think this is?"
Hikigaya's small, resentful glare made Kamiba Yuma physically uncomfortable. You're a guy, and with those dead-fish eyes, you really shouldn't be making that face.
"This probably doesn't have anything to do with me, right?"
"Wait. Is it because of me? Did someone get jealous of you?"
"I'm probably not that charming, am I?"
"Yeah, you're right, you're not that charming!"
"But, don't you know how many people are out to get you?"
"There are more than ten of them, from several different schools!"
"Do you have any idea how scared I was when they cornered me in the alley?"
Cornered in an alley by more than ten people?
Kamiba Yuma was reminded of his time in middle school. That time, he thought, it was more than twenty, right?
He couldn't say he was unharmed, but at least he could still move in the end.
And those few ringleaders were beaten until they were spitting teeth on the ground. The rest of them were all injured, and even though they knew he was at his limit, they didn't dare to approach.
(Hey, hey, why is this guy spacing out?)
(Does he want to experience that feeling, too?)
(If I hadn't kneeled and begged for mercy just now, and made it clear I have no connection to him, I don't know if I would have made it back!)
(Even so, I still got kicked a few times!)
(I should stay far away from this guy. It seems I really am destined to be alone.)
Hikigaya Hachiman stared ahead with his dead-fish eyes and continued to push his bicycle.
Kamiba Yuma didn't seem to follow him.
Hikigaya Hachiman kept watching him from the corner of his eye.
(Right, just like that. Don't drag me into this.)
(I hope you get home quickly, too. Don't let them corner you.)
What Hikigaya Hachiman didn't realize was that Kamiba Yuma was actually following him from behind.
"Those overconfident idiots. Do they think they're stronger just because they're in high school, so now they dare to come for revenge?"
"And it's even a joint force from several schools."
"Really. It looks like a bunch of guys are going to the hospital today."
Kamiba Yuma pushed his bicycle into a small alley, locked it, and then scaled the walls on either side.
Just like that, Kamiba Yuma followed Hikigaya Hachiman from above.
What Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know was that the group of people who had just cornered him were now waiting for him up ahead.
"Why wouldn't these guys come for me directly if they want revenge? Why go after Hikigaya Hachiman, who just spoke to me?"
"Are they trying to beat him up first to build their confidence, and then come find me?"
Kamiba Yuma thought this was highly likely.
As Hikigaya Hachiman was walking, he passed a quiet alley. Suddenly, several hands shot out and dragged him in.
Someone covered his mouth.
(It's over. What is with today?)
"Kid, what's with that look in your eyes!"
"Didn't we warn you not to get too close to that guy Kamiba Yuma?"
"Why did we see you talking to him again just now?"
Hikigaya Hachiman took a few kicks and squatted against the wall.
"Hey, hey, let's just talk this out!"
"I was just drawing a line with him! Didn't you see him walk away alone afterward?"
Surrounded by a group of students who clearly looked like delinquents, Hikigaya Hachiman's legs were shaking!
He was just a normal, somewhat reclusive high school student!
Why was this happening?
Hikigaya Hachiman braced himself to be beaten up.
He could only blame his bad luck and, from now on, avoid Kamiba Yuma and this whole group of weirdos.
"Hey, hey, hey! Long time no see, everyone!"
"Were you looking for me?"
"Why didn't you come to me directly?"
Kamiba Yuma's voice came from above, causing the people below to look up.
When they saw Kamiba Yuma, many of their faces initially showed fear.
"What are you afraid of!"
"What's there to be afraid of!"
"Get your weapons out!"
The leader was a man with a buzz cut and large tattoos on his arms and neck.
"Oh, so you only dared to come find me because you brought weapons."
Kamiba Yuma smiled, and then leaped down from above.
"Well then..."
"How about I satisfy you!"
Kamiba Yuma descended from the sky, landing directly on one person and knocking him out. Someone else immediately swung a bat at his head.
"Clap!"
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kamiba YCuma caught the bat with one hand.
"Your strength is still as weak as ever."
"Let me teach you what a real fight is!"
In that instant, they once again saw the blood-soaked, frenzied Kamiba Yuma from middle school.