Yukino Yukinoshita shot back, "But after reading it, I didn't turn into Edvard Munch's The Scream like you did. On the contrary, I'm perfectly normal."
"There are always abnormal people in this world who claim that normal people are abnormal. It's like a mental patient believing they are normal while everyone else is crazy. Perhaps in your eyes—and in the eyes of others—I'm abnormal. But my parents praised the talent and abilities I've shown. If I don't believe my parents, should I believe the opinions of people like you, whom I barely even know?"
As Ishikawa Hikaru left the activity room, he tossed out the remark casually, too lazy to argue further, and simply closed the door.
Left alone in the room, Yukino Yukinoshita clenched her fists and jaw tightly, unable to say anything for a long time.
---
69. So, Will the Problem Child Become a Private Detective?
Through a bit of probing, Ishikawa Hikaru had already figured out Yukino Yukinoshita's attitude toward her sister—and even toward her family as a whole.
Based on the fragments of information she had revealed before, he could roughly deduce the outline of Yukino Yukinoshita's life.
Yukino had studied in Japan during kindergarten and elementary school. During that time, she had a close relationship with Hayama Hayato due to their fathers' connections.
Later, she went abroad to study and only returned to Japan for high school at Sobu High School.
Influenced by her sister's style and way of doing things, her relationship with her family eventually deteriorated.
"A simple social engineering task."
Sociology states that as long as a person lives in modern society, they inevitably leave traces.
Online comments, social relationships, digital footprints—each contains pieces of information that can be connected and analyzed.
By following those threads, one can locate, track, and collect information about a specific person.
That was also why the profession of private detective remained surprisingly popular in Japanese society.
As a young and famous light novel author, Ishikawa Hikaru had been repeatedly warned by his editor:
"Never expose your real identity."
Because once irrational or fanatical fans appeared, there was no guarantee they wouldn't attempt something dangerous.
Therefore, Hikaru had learned these investigative concepts himself—to avoid ever becoming a victim of an "offline attack."
That was also why he deliberately crafted the online persona of a thirty-year-old unmarried author, scattering countless pieces of misleading information across the internet.
"However… there's still one strange point that needs confirmation."
Walking toward the sports field with his laptop on his back, Hikaru checked the Line group chat.
There were no messages about after-school plans from Miura and Hayama's group—only casual chatter.
"I might as well ask the person involved directly."
He exited Line, opened his contacts, found Hayama's number, and called.
Hayama answered about a minute later.
"Ishikawa?"
"Are you in club activities right now?"
"I'm just kicking a ball around with some club members. It's not official training," Hayama replied.
"Is something wrong?"
"Yukinoshita once mentioned that you knew her since elementary school, right?"
Hayama fell silent briefly.
"…That's right."
"Do you have time to talk? I just want to ask about Yukinoshita."
"…Okay. I'll wait for you at the soccer field."
"I'm already on my way."
Hikaru hung up and headed straight for the field.
At the edge of the pitch, he saw Hayama in his jersey watching the practice.
"Sorry for interrupting your bonding time with your teammates," Hikaru teased as he approached.
"It's nothing important," Hayama replied.
"This isn't the best place to talk. Let's go somewhere quieter."
"Sure."
They walked to a nearby green area and sat on a long bench.
But as soon as Hayama sat down, he frowned at Hikaru.
"Although you handled Yumiko's situation well, you immediately came to ask me about Yukinoshita. That makes me a little uneasy."
"So… what exactly are you planning to do to Yukinoshita?"
"Because I received a new main quest."
Hikaru sat down, placed his bag on his lap, took out his laptop, and opened it.
"At the start of the school year, Yukinoshita hit Hachiman and me with her luxury car."
Hayama blinked.
"That happened?"
"It was probably kept quiet to avoid embarrassing the family. We settled privately, which is why you didn't hear about it."
Hikaru began typing notes as he spoke.
"But here's the interesting part. Do you know that Hachiman and I later joined the Service Club run by Yukinoshita?"
"I heard about it from Yui."
"It wasn't a coincidence," Hikaru said.
"Hachiman and I wrote half-hearted essays for the 'Reflections on Youth' assignment. Hiratsuka-sensei used that as an excuse to force both of us into the Service Club."
"In other words—she gathered everyone involved in the accident."
Hayama rested his chin on his hand and began thinking.
Hikaru continued.
"Today I learned something from Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Yukinoshita has an older sister. And that sister knows Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Perhaps Yukinoshita's sister said something that led Hiratsuka-sensei to gather everyone involved."
Hayama's eyes widened.
"Are you suggesting that Haruno deliberately arranged this?"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"Yukinoshita Haruno?"
"That's Yukino's older sister."
Hayama frowned and fell deep into thought.
"…Gathering all of you together…"
"It's possible."
"In fact, the probability is quite high."
"Haruno is exactly the type of person who would do something like that—for Yukino."
"That sounds like a sister who dotes on her little sibling," Hikaru said while typing in Chinese:
[Possible sister complex. Unconfirmed intelligence.]
"But Yukinoshita's relationship with her sister doesn't seem very good. When I tried asking about her earlier, she avoided the topic."
Hayama hesitated.
"…If Yukino doesn't want to tell you about Haruno, then I shouldn't reveal anything either."
"I won't force you," Hikaru said casually, while typing:
[Hayama's relationship with the Yukinoshita sisters appears complicated.]
"Then tell me something you feel comfortable sharing."
"For example… the bullying Yukinoshita experienced in elementary school."
Hayama froze.
His expression immediately darkened.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
"So you really do know."
"Yukino went abroad for middle school because she was bullied in elementary school, didn't she?"
---
70. So, Will the Problem Child Reveal His Feelings?
Before this moment, Hikaru hadn't actually been certain about any of it.
Not the timing of the bullying.
Not whether it caused her to study abroad.
Not even whether Hayama knew about it.
But that didn't stop him from presenting it as a confirmed fact.
If he guessed wrong, Hayama might correct him.
If Hayama refused to answer, Hikaru could still observe his reaction.
And even if he learned nothing—he lost nothing.
It was a bluff.
And this time, the bluff worked.
However, Hikaru didn't immediately press further.
Instead, he gave Hayama room to breathe.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you."
"…It's not that it can't be said," Hayama sighed.
"I was in the same class as Yukinoshita in elementary school."
"When she was bullied, I tried to use my influence to integrate her into the class."
"But it backfired."
"Yukinoshita even asked me to stop. My actions only made things worse."
"And eventually… she chose to study abroad."
Hikaru quickly recorded the information.
"What caused the bullying?"
"Since this happened in elementary school, my observations might not be completely accurate."
"But… from what I saw…"
"…it may have started because Yukinoshita was very beautiful and popular with the boys. The girls isolated her."
Hikaru immediately closed his laptop.
This information was too sensitive.
Digital records could leak.
But his brain would only forget, not leak.
"You might end up owing me another favor," Hikaru said.
"Most of Yukinoshita's current problems likely stem from that bullying."
"It probably affected her relationships—with her sister, with her family… everything."
"It even affected you."
"You're overly cautious when dealing with Miura's feelings because you're afraid of repeating what happened back then."
Hayama said nothing.
"My mother told me I should become the light that illuminates the path for others," Hikaru said, standing up with a smile.
"So if I fail, I'll form an idol duo with you and debut."
"…Huh?"
"Just kidding."
"Don't look so serious."
"There are many opportunities in life to change ourselves—or even others."
"It just depends on whether we notice them."
"We're still high school students."
"Our lives are long."
"Even if we can't change things ourselves… maybe someone else will someday."
"That's a bit distant," Hayama said quietly.
"Then look forward to my success."
Hikaru gave him a thumbs-up.
"And remember to watch Kuuga."
"Kuuga?"
"A masterpiece that speaks for itself."
"Kamen Rider Kuuga. Watch it when you have time."
Hikaru waved and left.
Hayama watched his back disappear into the distance.
Then he sighed softly.
"I hope you can do it."
He knew Hikaru was different.
Different from him.
Different from Yukinoshita.
Different from most people their age.
Although he was the same age, his thinking and behavior were far beyond ordinary high school students.
Even compared to the elite circles Hayama knew, Hikaru possessed a completely different brilliance.
"…I hope you can do what I couldn't."
---
"~ I love you ~ My home ~ My home ~ My heaven ~"
Ishikawa Hikaru hummed a tune while walking his bike toward the sports field with his laptop slung over his shoulder. At the edge of the field, he spotted Ayaka Totsuka doing push-ups with Hachiman Hikigaya standing nearby. Yui Yuigahama, however, was nowhere to be seen.
From a distance, he called out:
"Hachiman Hikigaya-kun. How's the fitness battle going?"
Hachiman Hikigaya merely glanced at him. Then he leaned down and whispered something to Ayaka Totsuka, who immediately stopped doing push-ups.
Hachiman helped Totsuka to his feet. Totsuka gave Ishikawa an apologetic smile and waved from afar before Hachiman pulled him away to another part of the field.
This obvious act of subtle bullying instantly irritated Ishikawa Hikaru.
"Hachiman Hikigaya… just you wait."
He immediately took out his phone and opened Line, preparing to message Komachi to say that Hachiman might have been struck by Club President Yukinoshita and developed a strange change in sexual orientation.
Just as he was about to send the message, he heard a voice nearby.
"Eh… Ishikawa-kun?"
Looking up, Ishikawa saw Yui Yuigahama running toward him happily with a bag in her hands. She stopped in front of him and waved.
"Good afternoon. Are you done with your business?"
"Mostly."
"That's good," Yui said with a small complaint. "After class I wanted to ask if you could help us train with Totsuka-kun, but you were sleeping in both the morning and afternoon. And during lunch and after school you disappeared immediately, so I never got the chance to tell you…"
"I've had quite a few things to deal with recently," Hikaru said with a faint smile. He pointed at the bag in her hands.
"Is that water you bought for Hachiman and Totsuka?"
"Oh, right," Yui nodded. "Since they're training, they need water and some nutrition."
"That's great," Hikaru said. "Can you open it? I want to see what Hachiman is drinking."
"It's nothing special," Yui said as she opened the bag and showed him. "This canned coffee is what Hachiman asked me to buy."
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Hikaru reached into the bag, took out the can of coffee, and took a sip right in front of the bewildered Yui.
"Just tell Hachiman I stole his drink."
"Eh? Eh?!"
"Love ya."
Hikaru flashed Yui a confident thumbs-up, casually told her to watch Kuuga when she had the chance, and then immediately ran away.
At the same moment, Hachiman noticed what had happened and started chasing after him.
"Ah—no—eh?!"
Yui Yuigahama stood there at the edge of the sunset-lit sports field, holding the bag of drinks, completely bewildered as the evening breeze blew past her.
---
71. So, Will the Problem Child Encounter Friends Seeking Refuge?
On his way home, cycling with a satisfied expression, Ishikawa Hikaru felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
A Line voice message notification.
He glanced at it and saw that it was from Yamada Elf.
So he answered the call.
"Hello?"