Chapter VII,
Do we have a Deal?
…
Hikigaya Residence
9:2 PM
…
Night had fallen.
The moon's reflection felt heavy.
It didn't feel like before.
Out of the corner of his eye, a light made Hikigaya turn his gaze to the right.
He saw his little sister, leaning over as she searched for something in the refrigerator. She was still upset. She had that indifferent look inherited from their mother. He had no idea how he was going to fix this. It had already been days since their argument.
So he took the first step.
But she was faster.
Komachi straightened up, her hands resting on her knees as she stood upright.
She began heading toward the door when...
"Komachi..."
Hikigaya's hurried voice echoed through the Hikigaya household.
"Nani?" (What?)
An annoyed, sharp voice answered.
Hikigaya swallowed. "Would you like to have some coffee?"
"Sure," she answered simply.
Komachi didn't even turn around when she spoke.
"Good..."
…
Hot water filled Hikigaya's cup. He took his time, poured in the coffee, and kept stirring the liquid with a wooden stick. Meanwhile, Komachi waited patiently, leaning against the counter. She didn't seem particularly eager to talk, or even to be there.
Hikigaya finished and turned toward his sister.
"Here," he said, slightly extending the cup toward her. Komachi took it and immediately started walking back toward her room. "H-Hey, Komachi..." Hikigaya's voice came out a little louder. "I need..." His tone softened again. "I need some advice..."
Without turning around, Komachi let her shoulders drop.
"I'm listening," her voice remained the same. Annoyed. Even so, she turned toward her brother and gave him a small smile. Hikigaya answered with a chuckle. Both siblings began laughing. "But first," Komachi spoke again, "don't you have something to tell me?"
Hikigaya nodded.
"Yeah..." he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "It was my fault, what happened the other day. I shouldn't have said that." As he confessed, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "I'm sorry."
"And about acting like that?" Komachi raised her voice. She was expecting more apologies. "And saying it like that? And those eyes...?"
"Mmh-mmh," Hikigaya barely managed to mumble. "Yeah, that too... I'm sorry..."
Komachi took a deep breath, cheerful again as always.
"I'm sure you did something stupid, and you were wrong."
Komachi wasn't entirely wrong.
"Something like that..." Hikigaya managed to say.
Even so, Komachi continued. "Besides, you still haven't apologized."
Hikigaya twisted his smile.
"I know..."
"But you're my brother, so it's okay," Komachi declared with a smile. "Now it's your sister's turn to forgive you, and besides..." She leaned toward Hikigaya. "I'm sorry too."
Hikigaya blinked a couple of times, but before Komachi could look at him, he answered.
"It's fine, don't worry, I forgive you." His tone sounded smug.
"Bleeeh." Komachi made a gagging sound. "Don't say it like that, it sounds stupid," she said as she took a few steps toward her brother. "So, what happened?"
Hikigaya walked out of the kitchen.
"It's a long story."
Komachi smiled once again as she followed him with her eyes.
"Ii yo." (It's okay.)
…
"I see," Komachi begins. "That's so like you, Onii-chan." As she sets her cup down on the table in front of her, she resumes speaking. "But, you know, I'm probably the only one who understands you," she explains, placing both hands against her chest. "I've spent my whole life by your side, so that's why I understand you." Hikigaya remained silent, listening to his sister's words. She was right. "I can say…" Komachi continues. "That you're an idiot and laugh about it," she explains, tilting her head. "Or I can think: Yeah, he's really hopeless…" she says, letting her gaze drift into the distance. "But deep down, it'd make me sad… but it's different for everyone else…"
Hikigaya's mouth parted slightly. He was impressed by his sister's understanding. He had always known she was smart.
"I see…," he barely replies.
"I'm sure Yukino-san and Yui-san…" Komachi continues. "They're hurting because they have no idea what you're thinking." She inhales before continuing. "Onii-chan, you're kind to me, but only because I'm your little sister, right?" Komachi concludes without taking her eyes off her brother. "If I weren't, I'd bet you'd stay as far away from me as possible."
Hikigaya couldn't deny it.
"Maybe you're right…," he replies. But he sets that aside. "Well, leaving that aside," he says confidently as he looks at his sister. "I'm grateful that you're my sister," Hikigaya declares proudly. "Oh, I'm sure that earns me a lot of Hachiman points."
Tiny tears well up in Komachi's eyes.
"Onii-chan." Her childish, gentle voice escapes as she covers her face with both hands. "Although…" Suddenly, her hands lower, and an entirely serious expression appears. "If you weren't my brother, I'd definitely keep my distance."
"Mmmh," Hikigaya murmurs, still waiting. "Well, that's your opinion. But come on, I have some good qualities, don't I?" he asks, genuinely hoping to hear them.
Komachi quickly shakes both hands in denial.
"As if you did! You're so annoying!"
Hikigaya furrows his brow slightly.
Accepting it.
His sister was right. Lately, he'd been very annoying.
"Demo (but)," Komachi says as she rests her head on her brother's shoulder. "Spending fifteen years with you makes me grow attached to you, whether I like it or not." Komachi looks up at Hikigaya cheerfully. "Oh, that must've earned me a lot of Komachi points!"
Hikigaya nods with a faint smile.
"Yeah, fifteen years together… that's a long time," he says as he leans back against the sofa.
"And there'll be another fifteen…" Komachi mentions, resting against her brother's shoulder once more. "Oh, even more years… if you manage to behave yourself."
"Don't be ridiculous," Hikigaya replies.
Still resting on his shoulder, Komachi lifts herself slightly and begins poking Hikigaya's cheek with her finger.
"How many years do you think I've spent listening to your nonsense, huh?" she says in an annoyed tone. "From now on, try to keep what you do under control, Onii-chan." Hikigaya turns to look at his sister's face.
Just to admire her.
"Wakatta? (Do you understand?)"
Her eyes reflected the concern of a sister.
Hikigaya knew it.
And he felt it.
"Y-Yeah, I understand," he manages to murmur.
Komachi smiles and rests against her brother's shoulder once again, this time more relaxed and cheerful.
"And it's not just you, Onii-chan," she says. "You'll always have me." She lets out a small sigh before continuing. "I like Yukino-san and Yui-san. So it wouldn't be good if the club disappeared, that's why…" A brief silence hangs between them. "Even if it's just for me, and for my friends… isn't there anything you can do?"
Hikigaya smiles, his eyes drifting toward the ceiling as he takes in what he needs to say.
"Well, if it's for my little sister, then I guess I have no choice."
Komachi nods with overflowing delight.
"Exactly. Do it for me, then you won't have any other option."
Hikigaya's hands move to Komachi's hair, gently ruffling it.
"You're right," he replies, never stopping the affectionate gesture. Hikigaya needed this. To have someone who would listen to him, and who better than his little sister. A brief pause stills his hands before he says one last thing. "Arigatou (thank you)."
Komachi gives him a smile that makes Hikigaya finally relax.
"Dou itashimashite (you're welcome)."
…
So that's the answer… Komachi is on my side…
I was wrong.
I told her almost everything.
Tobe's request, wanting to confess to Ebina. So that I would confess afterward, receive her rejection, and say the words Tobe needed to hear.
"I'm not looking for a relationship right now."
Because of that, the atmosphere in the club has gotten worse.
And not just because of that.
Matsuba…
I couldn't tell my sister about that guy. Or about what happened at PALCO, with Hayama and that guy…
What was his name again, Amagi…? Amari…?
Whatever. It didn't matter.
I just need time to sort this out.
All this time, I've been trying to find a reason… just one reason to protect that place, the club… and now I have so many more reasons to do it.
And to keep Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui from becoming student council presidents.
Bullies, gangs, leaders…? Matsuba.
What am I supposed to do?
…
…
Sōbu, Class 2-F
12:25 AM
…
About that…
"¡I have no idea how to do this, and I'm running out of time!"
Hikigaya shouts to himself.
He was sitting with both arms stretched across his desk. He had spent the entire night thinking of possible solutions, but none of them seemed to be the right one. He couldn't talk to Yukinoshita, since it would be pointless; she was far too proud. And if he talked to Yuigahama, it would be just as pointless; she had already made up her mind.
"Damn it, what do I do…" he mutters to himself once again.
There was no way around it.
"Mmh!" a small murmur came from Yuigahama.
"How about something like letting us wear casual clothes? Instead of uniforms," Yumiko suggests.
Yuigahama nods enthusiastically.
"That could actually work!" she says as she brings the tip of her pencil to the page of her notebook.
"It'd also be nice if there weren't any bag inspections," Ebina mentions. "I really hate them. Sometimes they confiscate the volumes some of my friends give me…"
"That only happens to you, Ebina," Yumiko replies, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"I-I'll write it down just in case." Yuigahama once again brings her pencil to the page.
But Yumiko stops her. "You don't have to."
"What if we had free food in the cafeteria?" Aisaka says.
Yuigahama's eyes light up. "Oh, that could work, Aiko-chan," she replies, quickly writing it down.
Yumiko nods, accepting Aisaka's idea.
"Also, I'd like it if we could eat lunch on the rooftop," Yumiko says as she leans back in her chair. "They won't let us go up there anymore. Why would they do that? It's stupid."
Hikigaya, who had been listening to the small group of girls, decides to get up from his seat. He needed silence. He needed to clear his head.
His body passes through the doorway, leaving Yumiko's voice behind.
"Oh, it's because Haru—"
Aisaka suddenly stops.
"Mmmh," Yumiko murmurs. "What is it, Aisaka?"
"Nothing, nothing," she says with a smile, waving both hands dismissively.
And the words became murmurs.
…
Hikigaya arrives at the library. He isn't looking for anything in particular, perhaps just a book that might clear his mind. As his hand brushes against the cover of a book, he struggles while trying to pull it free.
"How hard can it be?" he says to himself. Suddenly, several books come crashing down on top of him. "Mmmh…" he groans as his legs buckle beneath him.
He stacks one book on top of another, but a rather bulky shadow blocks the light above him.
"You look pathetic, Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya turns toward the shadow.
He gathers the books once again. "So it's you…" he says without the slightest emotion. "Zaimokuza."
"HA, HA, HA."
His laughter fills the room.
"What are you doing here?" Hikigaya asks as he finishes picking up the books. "Do you need something?"
Zaimokuza, standing proudly with both hands on his hips, nods.
"What a foolish question," he begins. "This is where I come to eat lunch, and…" He pauses briefly before kneeling down to Hikigaya's level. "Ah, I wanted to ask whether the information about the Demon King was useful."
Hikigaya sighs.
It reminded him of one of his problems.
"Mmh, what's wrong, Hachiman?" Zaimokuza asks again.
Hikigaya shakes his head without looking up.
"Forget it… that's what you want…"
"Come on, tell me."
"No, no, leave it. It doesn't matter." Hikigaya keeps his eyes fixed on the floor. "I shouldn't drag other people into this."
Zaimokuza shakes his head.
"Don't say something so foolish," he says, puffing out his chest. "How many times have you had to listen to my stupid speeches?" he says, placing a hand on Hikigaya's shoulder. "Listening to yours won't be a problem."
Hikigaya looked at him with a surprised expression. He truly hadn't expected something like this from him.
Just as he was about to say something, he was interrupted.
"I feel amazing being able to help the weak…" Zaimokuza finishes.
Apparently, he wasn't done yet.
"You know, you were actually being pretty cool... right until the end," Hikigaya says.
Zaimokuza adjusts his glasses proudly, as though he hadn't heard Hikigaya's last words.
"So?" he says, still full of pride. "Was my information useful?"
The corners of Hikigaya's mouth lift slightly.
Zaimokuza's eyes sparkle.
He already knew the answer.
"No," Hikigaya replies without the slightest hesitation.
"What?!" Zaimokuza recoils backward.
"You copied that laugh from someone, didn't you?" Hikigaya asks without emotion.
"AH!"
Zaimokuza screams again as he rolls across the floor.
"That's why you came here looking so confident, right? You thought your information would be useful. What good does it do me to know he terrorizes his class?" Hikigaya continues. "Besides, why do you still write like that? Didn't Yukinoshita traumatize you enough when you made that request?"
"AH!"
He screams once more, as though every word were a punch straight to the stomach.
"So don't act all cool around me." Hikigaya stands up this time. "But yes, I do need your help with something else."
Zaimokuza stops rolling across the floor.
"Seriously?"
Hikigaya nods.
"I need a favor…"
…
Saizeriya
2 Chome-2-39 Inagekaigan, Mihama Ward, Chiba, 261-0005, Japan
12:33 AM
…
"And bring a latte as well," Zaimokuza said to the waitress. "Two crepes, and a white chocolate."
"Right away!" she replied enthusiastically.
Once the waitress disappeared from Hikigaya's sight, he turned to the boy sitting across from him.
"Don't you think you ordered too much?" he remarked, slipping a hand into his pocket in search of a few coins. "I'll be the one paying."
Zaimokuza took off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair. "Give me a break, Hachiman. You interrupted my lunch. The least you can do is treat me."
Hikigaya let out a quiet grunt.
"Damn it, I should've waited until second break," he thought.
Zaimokuza sat back down in his chair. "Now then, bring me up to speed. How bad are things at the club?" A brief silence settled between them. "And with the Demon King?"
Before Hikigaya could even think about answering, he wasn't entirely sure whether he could trust his companion completely.
It wasn't distrust.
It was fear.
Real fear.
If he told him everything that had happened, he could end up painting a target on his back.
Gangs, thugs from other schools.
Even Matsuba.
He let out a breath.
"It's bad. It's beyond me."
Zaimokuza's eyes widened in surprise.
He knew Hikigaya. He knew very few things truly frightened him. This wasn't the God of War he knew.
"Tell me..." he replied, resting his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers, and using his hands as a support, just like a certain anime character from the nineties [1].
Hikigaya deliberately copied Zaimokuza's pose as though he were his reflection in a mirror.
"Are you seriously going to make me say it...?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about..." Beads of sweat rolled down Zaimokuza's forehead. Hikigaya's expression darkened, and a grunt escaped him, louder than before. "Sorry..."
…
"Seriously?!" Zaimokuza's shout startled everyone sitting near their table.
"Keep it down, you're making everyone look at us weird," Hikigaya said, immediately placing his hands on Zaimokuza's shoulders and pulling him back into his seat.
"Oh, Hachiman, this is bad." Zaimokuza ran his hands through his hair. "If you didn't stand a chance before, now you've got none."
"Don't remind me, will you..." Hikigaya muttered, frowning as he turned his eyes toward the window on his right. "But... we can still do something."
Zaimokuza immediately turned toward Hikigaya.
"Do something? Gangs, leaders, thugs, and the Demon King..." Zaimokuza puffed out his chest, looked straight ahead, then turned back to Hikigaya. "It's impossible, Hachiman!"
Once again, everyone in the restaurant immediately looked toward the two boys.
"Lower your damn voice!" Hikigaya muttered.
Zaimokuza flinched when he noticed so many eyes fixed on him.
"A-Ah, right... sorry..."
After a couple of seconds, Hikigaya straightened himself in his seat.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"I just have to make sure Yukinoshita doesn't make any deals with Matsuba..." Hikigaya rested his elbow on the table, supporting his head with the palm of his hand. "It won't be that hard... right?"
His eyes met Zaimokuza's.
"Hard? My friend, it'll be impossible," he replied, making Hikigaya twist his mouth to one side, knowing he was right. "From what you've told me about the Service Club, the Ice Empress isn't going to listen to you at all..."
Hikigaya nodded.
His eyes drifted to a fixed point in front of him, blurring Zaimokuza's silhouette.
And then his thoughts overtook him.
"Zaimokuza was absolutely right. How the hell was I supposed to fix this? Yukinoshita isn't going to listen to me. Matsuba, a thug, possibly the leader of Chiba's gangs. It sounded like the plot of some modern shōnen manga with maybe twenty-two chapters, and probably an anime adaptation already in production with twelve episodes, which would most likely get a second season thanks to exploiting its workers and— Damn... I went a little too far... Thinking about work just made me even more depressed." The haze cleared, and Hikigaya's eyes returned to Zaimokuza. "Although... maybe I still have one chance."
Zaimokuza stopped staring at the table and replied.
"Seriously?"
"Hasegawa," Hikigaya clarified, but before he could continue. "He can help—"
"His henchman!" Zaimokuza shouted again, this time without holding back. The diners once more turned their heads toward the pair. Hikigaya hid his face behind his hand. Meanwhile, as soon as Zaimokuza felt everyone's gaze on him, he leaned forward. "His henchman will help you."
"First: don't call him a henchman... he'll probably kill you if he hears that," he replied, still hiding his face. Zaimokuza could only swallow hard as he felt an invisible rope tighten around his neck. "And as for helping me... maybe. Everything I told you, he's the one who told me."
Zaimokuza nodded fervently.
"I see, I see. Hasegawa-dono also wishes to overthrow the Demon King."
Hikigaya frowned slightly upon hearing the strangely dramatic way Zaimokuza had put it.
"I suppose."
"And do you know why?"
Hikigaya raised his head. "Hm?"
"Do you know why Hasegawa-dono is offering you his help?"
Hikigaya fell silent. He remembered Hasegawa had never actually given him a specific reason. "Hasegawa said he was helping me because he likes me..." Hikigaya thought for a second before speaking. "Well, he never really gave me a reason, exactly..." he commented, interlacing his fingers. "Besides, I wasn't about to tell you he was helping me because he likes me. I'd die of embarrassment."
Zaimokuza crossed his arms.
"This is bad, Hachiman."
Hikigaya merely raised an eyebrow, confused and curious.
"Oh? And why's that?"
Zaimokuza laughed confidently upon hearing the disbelief in Hikigaya's voice.
"Think about it. Like you yourself said, Hasegawa-dono used to be a delinquent. He knows that world, right? So, if the Demon King disappears, Hasegawa-dono could take control, couldn't he? Maybe that's why he's helping you. To use you as bait, and when everything falls apart—BAM! He takes over."
This time, Zaimokuza's speculation made Hikigaya's eyes widen slightly.
"Incredible..." Hikigaya thought to himself. "Stealing ideas from manga and light novels to create your own really can pay off." His thoughts deepened. "Zaimokuza was partly right. 'Because he likes me' couldn't be the only reason Hasegawa was helping me... There had to be more. Why was he really helping me?"
Suddenly, Zaimokuza's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"HA, HA, HA! You're so gullible, my friend Hachiman!"
This time, the diners didn't let it slide.
Several men and a few women stood up and headed toward the counter to speak with who appeared to be the person in charge.
The waitress who had served them earlier returned with nervous steps and a small smile. Her neat, well-kept hair fell over her forehead.
"Boys," the young woman, around twenty or twenty-two, began. "Some of our customers are getting a little upset because of all the shouting. If you'd like, I can bring you the check. Would you like it split?"
Hikigaya sighed in annoyance.
"Zaimokuza, I hate you..."
…
"Oh, there you are!"
A shrill, feminine voice comes from behind.
Komachi.
"What are you doing here?" Hikigaya immediately says.
Komachi places both hands on her waist.
"Well, since you're working so hard for me, I thought I'd work hard too," Komachi's arms open to the right, pointing at a pair of Hikigaya's schoolmates. "So, ta-da! I brought some people to help!"
Hikigaya sees two familiar faces.
Kawa… Kawa… never mind, she wears black lace.
"Hey…" he greets, barely moving his hand.
Along with Saika Totsuka.
"Hello, Hachiman."
And two more, and one of them was the brother of Kawa… black lace. And a girl with the same uniform as Komachi. But what Hikigaya saw first was the boy.
"And that bug?"
"Onii-chan!" Komachi shouts, annoyed. "He's not a bug, he's my friend, Taishi-kun."
The boy in question was a schoolmate of Komachi.
"Hello, Nii-san," the boy greets, giving a bright smile.
Hikigaya immediately frowned.
"Don't call me Nii-san…" he said without taking his eyes off them.
"And don't call my brother a bug," Kawasaki quickly defends her brother.
Suddenly, the girl who is almost Komachi's height, relatively taller, walks up to her.
"Komachi-san," she says, approaching her. "I don't think we should be here."
Komachi quickly pretends her eyes are tearing up at the corners.
"Eh?! But Nami-chan, you promised you would help me," Komachi pleads in a fake tone of pain. "Do you want to abandon your best friend?"
"What? No," the girl replies. "I just think—"
"Don't worry, Nami-chan," Komachi returns to her usual tone. "We'll just help my brother and leave."
Nami sighs in acceptance.
"Alright…"
Komachi takes a few steps forward and raises her fist toward the ceiling.
"Alright, let's begin the 'Operation: keep Yukino-san and Yui-san in the club!'"
Totsuka and Taishi raise their arms with energy, followed by two small hands from Kawasaki and Nami.
…
"Hello, nice to meet you, my name is Hasegawa Nami, I'm Komachi-san's classmate," the girl says, bowing toward the table of everyone present. "I hope you take care of me."
Hikigaya opened his eyes.
It had to be a coincidence.
"Hasegawa…"
He repeated it.
And not only that. The girl's features were those of Hasegawa.
Her skin tone, her black hair, but with slight chestnut-brown tips.
Hasegawa had a younger sister; he mentioned her in their conversation.
How common is the surname Hasegawa?
Could she be his sister?
He wanted to ask, but he didn't want the friend of his sister to think he was some weird guy, and yet he needed to know.
"Hasegawa-san," Hikigaya addresses the girl. "Do you have siblings?"
The girl immediately nods with a small smile.
"Yes, Hikigaya-san. Two, actually," the girl says. "I have a six-year-old younger sister and an eighteen-year-old older brother." Nami immediately widens her eyes. "Ah—actually, he goes to Sōbu High School, maybe you know him…"
Hikigaya nods.
"Yes, I know him…"
Nami opens her eyes in surprise.
"You know Nii-san?"
Hikigaya tenses at the question.
Knowing him was too big a question for him.
"Ah… I think so… he and—"
Komachi, in the blink of an eye, fixes her gaze on her brother.
"Onii-chan?" she calls him, not recognizing him. "Do you know Nami-chan's brother? Why?"
Hikigaya felt a certain pressure. He had been avoiding mentioning the new club members. But it was clear that at some point Komachi would find out. So he takes a deep breath and…
"He attends the Service Club."
Nami nods, still surprised by the statement.
Meanwhile, Komachi seems to melt into her seat, stunned.
"Wow, I didn't know Nii-san was in a club… or could be in one…" Nami responds, placing a finger on her chin thoughtfully. She tries to remember a moment when her brother might have mentioned a club, but nothing comes to mind.
Komachi suddenly snaps back to herself, standing on the chair and glaring at her brother.
"Onii-chan!" she shouts. "There's someone new in the Service Club!" she declares with her hands on her waist. "And you didn't think to tell me first!"
"Ah… well, i-it's just that I…" Hikigaya can only look away, raising his hands in surrender. "You were busy… and I didn't want to burden you…"
"You could have told me at any time!" Komachi immediately retorts.
The two siblings argue. Though it feels more like a hunt.
A predator and its prey.
Kawasaki rests her head on her hand, touched by what she sees.
She also had her little disputes with Taichi. Ones she always won. Of course, she behaves differently—a side of her that isn't seen at school or anywhere else. So seeing Hikigaya somewhat relaxed made her think. He wasn't that loner who wandered the school hallways.
Here, he was just a boy cornered by his little sister.
Something she found cute… and attractive.
"A Service Club?" Nami asks, confused, turning to Komachi. "What's that?"
Komachi turns to her friend and explains while still holding onto her brother's shirt collar.
"It's a club that helps people," Komachi explains.
Nami tilts her head gently, confused. "Is it something like… when you don't know the answers on a test and someone gives them to you?"
Komachi shakes her head using Hikigaya's body.
"No. What the club does is give you the tools. A simple example is this: if a fisherman needs help, the club will give him a fishing rod, not a fish."
Nami, now understanding the idea, opens her mouth in amazement.
"Ah…"
Hikigaya grimaces.
"Is that the only example?"
It reminds him of the first day he met Yukinoshita.
Komachi ignores Hikigaya's words and, just as quickly as before, turns back to her brother.
"Onii-chan!" she shakes him angrily. "Why didn't you tell me?! Since when?!"
Hikigaya swallows.
"Since before the Kyoto trip."
Komachi crosses her arms.
"And I was the only one who didn't know?"
Komachi's eyes go to Kawasaki first.
Kawasaki raises her eyebrows, understanding the girl. "Yes, I knew."
Then to Totsuka.
"I think so, Komachi-chan," he replies with a light smile.
And lastly Zaimokuza.
"Sorry. I swore loyalty to the God of War and—" Komachi's eyes darkened; they no longer looked like those of an adorable girl. That makes Zaimokuza swallow and start sweating. "A-Ah… I… by the Eye of—" the sweat drops fall faster than before. So Zaimokuza gave up. "Yes, I knew."
"Who are they?" Komachi returns to her usual eyes, still annoyed, leaning toward her brother and staring directly into his eyes.
"As I said, Hasegawa-san's brother and—"
Komachi throws herself to the floor, pretending to be defeated.
"A boy?! No! This lowers the chances, Onii-chan!"
Hikigaya, feeling a kind of hollow in his stomach, can only wait for his sister to finish her little comedic act.
"And also a girl, Aisaka-san…"
Komachi quickly stands up, and as if the weather itself obeyed her will, the rays of the sunset illuminate her.
"Onii-chan still has a chance… Okaasan," Komachi cries. "Onii-chan still can."
Hikigaya this time did not find it funny. So he takes his time adjusting his shirt collar.
"Komachi, sit down."
She nods, still wiping faint traces from the corners of her eyes.
"Yes, Onii-chan…" When Komachi returns to her seat. "So that's it, I wouldn't want any more surprises…"
"Ah… yes…" Hikigaya barely responds.
A suffocating silence rises over the table.
It doesn't take long before, in unison, Kawasaki, Totsuka, and Zaimokuza look at Hikigaya, expecting him to say the last member of the Service Club, but it seems he won't.
Which Kawasaki completely understands.
Talking to his little sister about Matsuba would be like walking on fire. Having a younger brother, she understood that feeling better than anyone.
Protecting.
So she simply brought her drink to her lips.
Totsuka, like her, stays silent. It was none of his business, and he didn't want Komachi to torture Hikigaya further.
However, Zaimokuza only thought Hikigaya had forgotten.
"Hey Hachiman, aren't you going to tell her about the King—" Hikigaya's kick was faster than anything else.
Komachi lifted her gaze.
"Hm?" her head turned to her brother and Zaimokuza. "King?"
Hikigaya shakes his head.
"Nothing, just that Zaimokuza tripped when he arrived," Hikigaya's dead eyes lifted. "Right?"
Zaimokuza caught on this time and nodded, placing his hands on his knees. "A-Ah… Hachiman… I think my knee…"
Kawasaki only sighed with mild exhaustion and disappointment.
Totsuka only smiled lightly.
"I'll go get an ice pack."
Kawasaki handed her drink to Zaimokuza.
"Here."
A brother must protect his siblings.
So if he could prevent his little sister from knowing about that guy's existence, he would do anything.
…
"So this is about the student council? If so, why not let Yukinoshita or Yuigahama run, who would be the president?"
Kawasaki initiates the conversation.
"A-Ah, yes, Komachi told us on the way," Totsuka speaks. "But I want to know why you want to prevent those two from being elected…"
Zaimokuza nods.
"Good question," he replies, looking at Hikigaya. "I must say, going to war against them would be foolish."
Hikigaya avoids the question, he didn't want to answer.
He would die of embarrassment.
"You're right about that, but…"
But Komachi approaches. "Onii-chan, I want those two to stay in the Service Club," she says while not taking her eyes off her brother's face. "Honestly, I don't care about the student council elections."
Hikigaya hesitates. "I understand…" he clears his voice. "But what am I supposed to do about Isshiki?"
Komachi furrows her brow. "Onii-chan, is that Isshiki-san an important person to you?"
"No, no, not at all," Hikigaya replies without hesitation.
"Then what's the problem?" Komachi asks again without taking her eyes off her brother.
"Well, you know, a request is a request…" Hikigaya replies, crossing his arms.
But Komachi still didn't give in.
"What's more important to you, your job or me?" she says, raising her voice slightly.
Hikigaya straightens up in his seat.
"Obviously you," he answers without hesitation. "I don't want to work," he concludes proudly.
There is a brief silence at the table.
"Mmmh," Komachi murmurs. "I feel like I'm digging my own grave," she says, looking at the table. Nami places a comforting hand on Komachi's back. "But anyway, what will you do Onii-chan?"
Hikigaya uncrosses his arms.
"Let's see… the priority is Komachi's request, keeping Yukinoshita and Yuigahama in the club. And given the situation I can't do much. The only card I can play is…"
"I'll have to reach a negotiation with Isshiki…"
Zaimokuza shivers.
"But she's a girl, right?" His stammer was obvious. "Can you negotiate with them?"
But Hikigaya closes his eyes, thinking.
"If Isshiki Iroha is acting like this on purpose, it could be said she would be easy to negotiate with." The silhouette of the girl, he recalled her, her tone charming, childish and silly. Her light brown hair. "In short, she just wants to protect her image…" he tells himself. "That's why she wants to avoid the speech, she could end up with a bad reputation, which means that my approach here is wrong from the start." Hikigaya opens his eyes. "Kawasaki."
The girl who wipes her brother's cheek turns toward Hikigaya.
"Mm?"
"I want you to write down the names of who you'd like as student council president," Hikigaya says.
…
Kawasaki wrote them down.
Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, Hayama, Ebina, Miura, Sagami, and lastly Tobe.
"Oh, and you I suppose," she says at the end.
Hikigaya nods.
"Yeah, very funny, but you know I probably couldn't get even two votes."
"I know. I just wanted to say it."
Taishi jumps from his seat happily.
"I would vote for you Nii-san."
Hikigaya forces a smile, stretching his arm up.
"Oh, really?" he says, moving his arm. "Why don't you come and tell me that here."
Kawasaki furrows her brow annoyed.
"I could ask Nii-san for help, Hikigaya-san…" Nami comments somewhat embarrassed.
Hikigaya turns his neck to look at the girl. And lowers his arm while shaking his head.
"No, no, Hasegawa-san… your brother has already helped me too much…"
But he is interrupted by Zaimokuza's words.
"Oh, and why don't we ask the Demon King for help."
Komachi immediately turns to her brother.
"What is he talking about Onii-chan?" her tone was worried. "The eighth-grader syndrome again?"
Hikigaya twists his smile.
"No, nothing like that," Hikigaya glares at Zaimokuza with his eyes. "He's no one important."
He briefly swallows.
"Could I ask Matsuba for help with this?"
The question arises in his mind.
But Komachi's gaze does not leave him.
"Onii-chan," she calls him. "Make sure you talk with Yukino-san and Yui-san about this, okay?" Komachi keeps looking into her brother's eyes, she needed confirmation. "Promise it."
Hikigaya nods, placing his hand on Komachi's head.
"Sure, but it won't help if I can't sound convincing," he clarifies. "First I need to prepare the ground."
"Onii-chan, you're always so logical, but you always skip several steps in the process," Komachi says placing her hand on her brother's shoulder. "I'm worried."
Hikigaya smiles.
"It's fine, I already know what I have to do…"
But once again what Zaimokuza said comes to mind.
Matsuba might be able to help him…
"If the club disappears, so does their entertainment, right?"
…
Hikigaya Reticence
12:08, PM
…
The idea was simple.
To make multiple accounts on the social networks used by the students at Sōbu. With the names that Kawasaki had written down. It would be simple, Hikigaya and Zaimokuza would use the list of names to create accounts that promoted the candidates. This way they could easily reach thirty votes. And without lifting a finger, he would obtain the necessary votes.
Hayama Hayato president
Was named one of the many accounts.
[We are looking for nomination votes. Write your name and class if you follow me. Let's help the Charming Prince of Sōbu win. This account is to look for people who are willing to nominate him as student council presiente.]
Hikigaya would have written it.
Then with the following names.
Yukino Yukinoshita, Yuigahama Yui, Miura Yumiko, Ebina Hina, Tobe Kakeru…
Immediately the accounts began gaining followers.
Hikigaya didn't really know how social networks fully worked. The name already implies it. But he did understand social behavior. This would create an avalanche for him.
While Hikigaya kept staring at his computer monitor in the early hours of the morning, he couldn't stop looking at the statistics.
One third of the students of Sōbu.
Hikigaya picks up his phone and dials Zaimokuza's number.
A couple of seconds. "What happened?"
"We have enough numbers," Hikigaya answers without taking his eyes off the monitor. "Let's move to the next phase."
Change the names to Isshiki Iroha.
"Mmmh," Zaimokuza's small murmur comes through the speaker. "I can't say this is a method I like," he confesses. "It's very risky, Hachiman."
Hikigaya brings his fingers to his eyebrows, scratching them.
"Zaimokuza…," he calls him in a slightly irritated tone.
But immediately he changes his regret into something else. Whatever it was. "But don't get me wrong!, I'm not worried about you!, I'm worried that I'll be responsible for doing this with you, but honestly I don't care, since I like doing things from the shadows."
Zaimokuza laughs through the speaker, but without changing the false tone copied from a certain smiling student.
"You are complete scum," Hikigaya says. "That I like," he answers without receiving a response. "But don't worry. Even if someone tries, they won't be able to find who did this. These accounts won't exist by tomorrow," Hikigaya clarifies his companion's nerves. "And you know Zaimokuza. A problem is not a problem as long as no one sees it as a problem."
…
Sōbu
Class C-1
First break
…
Hikigaya arrived at Isshiki's classroom, having the plan somewhat in his head.
When her classmate came to tell her that a boy from class 2-F was looking for her, Isshiki immediately turned her head toward the door, but when she saw Hikigaya her expression changed to one of disgust and disappointment.
"I'm sorry," Hikigaya speaks to himself.
…
"Senpai, copying all of this is very difficult," Isshiki complains in her usual childish tone. The girl sighs before continuing. "Ah, and changing the topic, the girl from before was your girlfriend, the one you were with last week with Hayama-senpai."
Hikigaya was still writing.
He was still reviewing his plan in his mind.
He brought them to the library, he needed silence, but Isshiki wasn't helping.
But when he hears Isshiki's words, he can't believe it.
"Some guys almost took you somewhere unknown, and that's the only thing she remembers," Hikigaya tells himself. "Incredible."
Hikigaya sighs.
"Who knows?" he mutters without interest in Isshiki's words.
Isshiki complains. "Huh? Come on, tell me, there won't be any problem, right?"
"Maybe I'll tell you when we finish this," Hikigaya mentions without taking his eyes off the paper.
Isshiki seems to give up and returns to her task.
"Well, if that's all, it doesn't seem like there's a problem."
When Isshiki said that, Hikigaya saw his chance.
"By the way…" he speaks without taking his eyes off the paper. "Hayama… you like—" Hikigaya stops himself, "What do you think of him?"
Isshiki is left speechless upon hearing Hikigaya's words for a couple of seconds.
"Eh?" Isshiki barely speaks. And she quickly covers herself. "What? Are you trying to flirt with me?" Isshiki leans forward, bringing her hands to her legs. "Sorry, that won't work, I already like someone else."
Hikigaya furrows his brows.
He couldn't believe it, she rejected him without even a confession.
"That's not it," Hikigaya clarifies. "I just wanted to know what you think of him."
Isshiki calms down, and raises her eyes, actually thinking about the question.
"Let me think," she begins. "He seems like a good guy, so I'd like to seduce—, take his hand or something like that…"
Hikigaya pulls back slightly.
"She was really going to say seduce him…?" Hikigaya briefly thinks.
Isshiki resumes the conversation.
"Nee, nee, senpai, by the way, what's the point of doing this?"
Hikigaya straightens in his chair.
Phase three.
"Honestly, I guess it doesn't have any point at all…"
Isshiki furrows her brows.
"That sounds very vague…"
Hikigaya nods. "You're right. Well, no matter what you do," Hikigaya begins. "You can't beat Yukinoshita or Yuigahama. So yes, you're right, this is vague, and useless…"
Hikigaya does not take his eyes off the paper, Isshiki says nothing immediately, her attitude no longer the same as a second ago.
"Well, it's not like I want to win," Isshiki begins. "But the possibility of winning scares me a little."
However, Hikigaya continues, still not hearing Isshiki's frustration. He needed this from her.
"Even so, you still don't have a chance of winning," Hikigaya speaks, driving another nail in.
Isshiki furrows her brows with more pride.
"Yeah well, it's not like I care…"
Hikigaya smiles faintly.
Stepping on her pride…
"Besides, I'm sure you were nominated," Hikigaya speaks again. "They only did it to mock you. I bet they're laughing right now. And when you lose, they'll laugh even louder."
Isshiki's pencil stops moving.
Spitting on her ego…
"That doesn't bother you," Hikigaya inquires. "If someone makes fun of you, the logical thing would be to make fun of them back, right?"
Isshiki tightens her pencil.
"Yes, yes, I'd like to be able to, but…"
"You can do it."
Isshiki lifts her eyes curiously.
"What?"
Hikigaya pulls out the voting list from his backpack. "What do you think you've been writing all this time?"
"Names?" Isshiki answers the obvious.
Hikigaya's jaw tightens.
"Yes, and they're your nominators," he clarifies. "They're the voting list for Isshiki Iroha."
Isshiki opens her eyes in surprise, taking the list, looking at the names.
"But I already have the list of the people who nominated me."
Hikigaya nods.
"But the rules say you need at least thirty, but there's no maximum limit," he drops the list on the table. "There's been an online campaign supporting you for student council president, which adds up to a third of all the school students. With all these people supporting you, you can win."
Isshiki still hesitates. "But this is very sudden. Also, even if I'm elected, I don't think I can be a good president," Isshiki continues. "I don't think I can handle the responsibility, and I'm also the soccer club president."
He knew it. Hikigaya knew it. But he knew where he could strike.
"Even so, juggling both positions can certainly be difficult," Hikigaya agrees. "But they would be overlooking something big, guess what could it be?"
Isshiki shrinks in confusion.
"Experience I guess?" Isshiki thinks. "And a good recommendation… by the way senpai, you're acting like a teacher, do you know that?"
"You're wrong," Hikigaya denies. "What you'll get is this…" before speaking, he coughs. He hadn't mimicked a voice in years, not since Komachi started getting embarrassed. "It's my first year as student council president, I still attend my club, so try to do your best," Hikigaya coughs to clear his throat after that crude childish voice. "Do you understand? Since you're a first year, your mistakes are overlooked. And when you don't want to do council work, you can use the club as an excuse. Or vice versa, whichever you like more."
But Isshiki's doubt still persisted.
"But even so, it would still be a difficult task, right?"
The doubt was killing Hikigaya's plan. But he would use his last card.
"Then, you can go to whoever you want for advice, like Hayama," when Hayama's name was mentioned, Isshiki opened her eyes, as if she had not seen something that had been there from the very beginning. Hikigaya saw this, he had her. "He can surely help you with some things. Even if you meet him after club activities, you can walk home with him."
Isshiki was impressed, truly impressed.
"Senpai… could it be that you're smart…?"
Hikigaya smiles, this was already done.
"Sometimes," he answers proudly.
Isshiki looks back at the papers with the countless names.
"If that's the case, I can't refuse with so many people supporting me," she speaks while looking at the list of names. "I think this would be good… besides, I don't want my classmates laughing behind my back…" Isshiki smiles slightly looking at the list. And looks back at Hikigaya. "Alright, I'll let you convince me, senpai. Wow, you really are smart, senpai."
"Did I hear that right!?" a sweet and charming voice bursts from the hallway. "Hikigaya-kun being called smart," footsteps approach where Hikigaya and Isshiki were sitting. "That would be like asking pigs to look at the sky," his laughter echoes through the place. "It would be impossible, ha, ha, ha…"
His smile, wider than before, is visible and it is…
"Matsuba…" Hikigaya mutters annoyed. "What are you doing here?"
Without any intention of stopping his mockery, he continues.
"Isn't it obvious," he leans toward Hikigaya theatrically. "As you know, I am now the vice president of the club and like any good vice president I have the right to know where my dear companions are, and I'm worried that such a great companion like you hasn't been going to the club. How selfish can you be? Where is my entertainment?" Matsuba says without taking his eyes off Hikigaya. Hikigaya can only furrow his brows in disgust having Matsuba so close. Then he turns to Isshiki, cracking his neck, tilting his head slightly. "Girl," he calls her.
Isshiki jumps from her seat slightly afraid at the smile of her superior.
"Y-Yes, Matsuba-senpai?" Isshiki stammers, forcing a smile.
"Your classmates have prepared a group apology for you. They feel very sorry for nominating you without your consent," he informs without losing his smile, though a slight frustration could be seen. "Why don't you go to your class? I'm sure they're WAITING for you."
He shows all his teeth, like large sharp fangs.
"A-Ah, y-yes, I'm going," Isshiki speaks quickly standing up. "Senpai, see you later, and thank you."
Isshiki runs toward the library exit.
When the girl disappears from sight, Hikigaya keeps his eyes on Matsuba. This would be an opportunity for the loner.
The Demon and the Loner.
No distractions, no one around, just Matsuba and him.
At last, he will know what he wants.
Matsuba walks to the seat Isshiki was using and sits in it proudly, crossing his legs. He reclines with pretension, his eyes scanning Hikigaya's face.
And his smile grows.
"I see you're a total mess," Matsuba speaks arrogantly, still mocking. "You didn't sleep well, did you?"
Hikigaya furrows his brows.
"I'm always a mess, this isn't new. Besides, I'm working on the application. What do you want? I was busy with Isshiki—"
"Wait my friend, don't be so defensive," Matsuba smiles. "I just wanted to know what you've been up to lately."
Hikigaya furrows his brows. "Don't call me friend," he tells himself.
Matsuba takes the papers without much interest.
"So this is what you do after falsely confessing to someone you felt nothing for, and ruining your relationship with your dear crushes, just to please a foolish group of friends…" his voice deepens, but the mockery never leaves.
A slight blush, yet Hikigaya furrows his brows even more.
Again, that.
"You don't know what you're talking about, I didn't do it for that," Hikigaya clarifies angrily. "So if you came to mock—"
"To mock you!? What mockery?" Matsuba replies. "Friend, I came to congratulate you. I must applaud you. I had never seen such a magnificent display of self-disgust. It was simply incredible, bravo, bravo. Absolutely entertaining. You had an expectant audience, fearful of what you would do, and you did not disappoint at all," Matsuba licks his lips. "You should've seen Yukinoshita-san's reaction, it was simply beautiful."
Beautiful?
"This guy is serious?", Hikigaya thinks. He had never in his short life met someone like this. "What does he really want?" he thinks again. Hikigaya straightens in his seat and leans forward. "What do you want, Matsuba? Why are you in the service club?"
But Matsuba seems confused, only to recline again.
"I already told you, for entertainment," he says, but now he smiles wider and looks Hikigaya directly in the eyes. "I came to your club because I love seeing someone fight for something meaningful in their life, and then watch them fall spectacularly…" Matsuba leans his body almost over Hikigaya. "Just like you're doing! Good job!"
Then he quickly returns to his seat.
Hikigaya saw something, a flash, but it was something nonetheless.
"So that's it, huh?" Hikigaya can't believe it. He truly can't. He had heard the worst about him—how he terrorized students, threats, how the school protected him. It couldn't be just entertainment. "This guy is talking seriously?" he thinks again. Hikigaya straightens in his seat. "Is that what you want, Matsuba? Is that why you're in the club?"
But Matsuba slightly raises his eyebrows in suspicion.
"He did," he answers without stopping his smile. "He asked for my help, how could I refuse those ocean-blue eyes…"
Hikigaya nods.
"If Yukinoshita becomes student council president, the club will cease to exist," Hikigaya begins putting the papers into his backpack. "Your entertainment will also cease to exist, right?"
Matsuba narrows his eyes. Hikigaya was right, and he could use this.
Both want the same thing.
The club to continue.
"Yes, maybe," Matsuba replies. "However, Yukinoshita-san seems very determined. Her, and Yuigahama-san," Matsuba smiles more.
Hikigaya hesitates.
He might be right.
He needed Yukinoshita to abandon the election.
And his sister's words weren't helping.
He could show them both the list of nominees, explain that it wasn't necessary to run to solve the issue of loneliness. Yuigahama would accept it, she doesn't want the club to disappear, but Yukinoshita is a different story, maybe she wouldn't.
"I see…" Hikigaya replies.
Matsuba smiles at his tone.
"Mmmh, Hikigaya-kun, I'll propose something," he begins. "I don't want the club to disappear either, so why don't we… make a deal."
Hikigaya raised his gaze too quickly.
"A deal…"
And suddenly.
"Never make a deal with him…"
Hasegawa's voice suddenly came.
Hikigaya swallowed.
"A deal?" the loner begins, hoping nothing slips out. "What kind of deal?"
Matsuba smiles, unaware.
"I will make sure Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san give up their candidacy," Matsuba states his terms. "And in return, you'll owe me a very small favor," he smiles even more. "Simple, right…?"
Hikigaya couldn't believe it. It was obvious there was a trick, but he didn't know which.
Matsuba extends his hand toward Hikigaya for a handshake.
"So…" Matsuba continues.
A small favor?
Hikigaya wasn't stupid enough to accept a deal with such ambiguous terms.
Matsuba's hand was still suspended a few centimeters from Hikigaya.
"…Do we have a deal?"
Hikigaya looked at his hand. It was firm and straight, evidence that he did this regularly.
But he wouldn't fall for it.
"No."
Matsuba's hand twitches.
His fingers curl into his palm, revealing a reddish tone.
He thought he had him.
So he responds.
"No?"
Hikigaya shakes his head again.
"No, I need your help to resolve this," Hikigaya stands up. "The club will continue, Yukinoshita will not become student council president."
Matsuba stretches his smile.
"You sound very confident, Hikigaya-kun," he leans back in his chair. "But if I remember correctly, Ai-san told me that Yukinoshita-san didn't accept your method…" his smile widens. "The only thing you'll achieve is hurting her, that's what you want, right? Like last time…"
His smile seemed never to stop growing.
Hikigaya lowers his eyes slightly.
Matsuba wasn't entirely wrong.
He was right.
"That's true…" Hikigaya replies. "But I'll still go through with it."
Matsuba laughs.
"Please, you really think you can win? That girl could never beat Yukinoshita-san," he says without stopping his smile. "Oh, Yuigahama-san. They'll crush your pupil, is that what you want? What a cruel senpai…"
His smile stretches even further.
"Idiot."
But Hikigaya had a plan.
"Yes, maybe you're right," he begins standing up. "But I just need Yukinoshita and Yuigahama not to run."
Hikigaya starts walking toward the library exit, leaving Matsuba sitting there.
But not before…
"Wait," Matsuba's voice changes; it is deeper. Hikigaya instinctively stops, feeling his throat dry. So Matsuba speaks again. "Tell Yukinoshita-san that I and Hajime won't attend today," Matsuba raises his voice without even looking at Hikigaya. "I have something to do, and I need extra hands. See you tomorrow… my dear."
Hikigaya, upon hearing this, nods and continues on his way.
His hand grips his shirt.
"What the hell was that…," he thought.
He had touched the nerve of the Dark Prince…
…
Service Club
4:45, PM
…
The sunset was peeking in, more pronounced. The orange color filled the room.
"So, you're not going to change your mind," Hikigaya's voice echoes throughout the place.
Yukinoshita nods. "No, I won't change my mind," she places both hands on her legs, unconsciously covering herself. "This is for the best…"
"I won't change my mind either," Yuigahama's voice arrives.
Her body was leaning forward, her hair hiding her eyes. Her hands rested on her legs.
It was as if she was preparing for something.
But without knowing what.
"There's no reason for you to participate," Yukinoshita speaks again.
She didn't understand why her companion was doing what she was doing.
What was the logical reason?
"Even so, I will," Yuigahama continues. "And I have no intention of losing…"
"Why are you doing what you're doing?" Yukinoshita finally asks.
Yuigahama curls further into herself.
"Because if you leave, Yukinon, there won't be a club anymore…," she answers. "I don't want that."
Yukinoshita shakes her head.
"That won't happen, it doesn't have to be like that…"
Yuigahama looks at Yukinoshita.
"But…"
"She's right that you don't have to run," Hikigaya interrupts. "And I'm not saying that only for you, Yukinoshita-san, but for you too, Yuigahama-san. Neither of you…"
Yukinoshita turns her gaze to him.
"What do you mean by that?" Yukinoshita speaks with a hint of anger. "I thought it was clear that your proposal was rejected."
Hikigaya nods calmly. "Yes, but that's not what I mean."
"What?" Yukinoshita looks confused.
"Forget that, and look," Hikigaya shows the one hundred and eighteen pages.
The list contained several names, including their grades and classes.
2-A Takuya Takahashi, 2-C Ichigo Nakamura, 1-B Sora Fujimoto, 3-C Ren Ishikawa, 3-D Aoi Yamamoto, 2-G Kaito Suzuki, 2-C Mei Kobayashi, 3-A Daiki Matsumoto, 1-H Rina Yoshida, 1-C Yukariko Tanaka, 2-B Hina Watanabe, 3-A Tsubasa Nakajima, 2-G Akira Saito, 1-A Mio Kato, 2-D Shun Inoue, 3-C Haruka Kimura, 1-E Kazuki Hayashi, 3-B Nanami Shimizu…
Both of them read the names, impressed.
"You did this?" Yukinoshita asks, astonished.
Hikigaya shakes his head. "No, it was probably a volunteer who had a lot of free time."
Yuigahama kept reading the names.
"There are so many people."
"Yes, there are quite a few people who supported her, she's very popular…" Hikigaya speaks. "With this we'll fulfill the request Isshiki made. At lunchtime she told me—apparently she wants to be president now," Hikigaya lets out a small sigh at the memory. "So that's why you two don't have to run in the election anymore…"
Yuigahama glances at Hikigaya.
"Support signatures…" she repeats.
Her hand moves to her phone, her fingers brushing the screen.
Hikigaya notices it, a small bead of sweat runs down, but Yuigahama brings her hand back to herself.
"Such a relief…," Yuigahama says softly. "So I don't have to run anymore…"
Hikigaya and Yuigahama look at each other.
But the sound of small movements makes them turn toward Yukinoshita.
"I see…" she speaks. "Then there's no problem, or any reason for me to do anything…" her gaze avoids both of them.
Yukinoshita takes a deep breath.
"That's right…" Hikigaya answers, looking at her.
Yukinoshita, still not looking at the floor, replies. "Yes… I see…," but her voice lowers and the wind blows. "And I thought you had understood me," she stands up from her chair. "I'll go tell Hiratsuka-sensei."
Hikigaya watched her.
Her eyes, her gaze—wasn't this what she wanted?
It had been avoided.
Matsuba… was right…
"Ah! Yukinon, do you want me to go with you?" Yuigahama turns to her friend.
Yukinoshita gently shakes her head, without needing to look at her. "No need."
Yukinoshita crosses the door, leaving Hikigaya alone with Yuigahama.
Her footsteps fade after a few seconds.
Hikigaya swallows hard.
"Hey…" he tries to speak. "Sorry."
Yuigahama startles slightly. "Huh? Why are you apologizing?"
"Well, you were trying really hard, weren't you?" Hikigaya explains. "I saw it in class… all that campaign stuff and the campaign speech."
Yuigahama shakes her head.
"Ah, about that. It's fine," she answers. "Unlike you, I didn't do much. You did a lot too, right? Look at you, your hair grew, and it's a mess…"
Hikigaya tightens his jaw.
"Mess…," he repeats to himself.
It hadn't even been four hours and he had heard those words twice already.
"I'll fix it," Yuigahama walks toward Hikigaya's seat.
"No need," Hikigaya replies, trying to escape her hands.
"It's fine, it's fine," Yuigahama puts her hands on his hair. "It's no problem."
Yuigahama's hands begin to caress Hikigaya's scalp, moving through his hair, pushing it back. Massaging his head slowly. She seemed to enjoy the moment.
"You worked hard…" Yuigahama speaks.
"No… I didn't really do much…" Hikigaya replies.
Yuigahama's hands continued, until she wrapped them around his head.
"Thank you, for protecting this place… you know, deep down I expected it. I knew I couldn't beat Yukinon," Yuigahama explains, her voice melancholic. Her words felt sincere. "And that if by luck, or coincidence, I won and became student council president, I wouldn't be able to return to the club," Yuigahama sighs. "But none of that happened, thanks to you… Hkki…"
"You're wrong…" Hikigaya barely responds. And he places his hands on his head, trying to remove Yuigahama's. "That's enough."
Yuigahama takes a few steps back.
Hikigaya's eyes drop to the corner of the room, hearing her move away.
Then he hears the sound of a chair.
"Hikki, you worked really hard!"
Hikigaya raises his gaze. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you've done a lot," Yuigahama repeats.
"Stop it, I didn't do anything…" Hikigaya replies, already a bit annoyed.
But Yuigahama keeps insisting. "Of course, nothing you've done that I saw," she speaks, lowering her voice slightly. "But if I had seen it, I'm sure I would've seen you doing something that isn't easy at all…," Yuigahama continues, trying to make her words reach Hikigaya. "I don't think I can change the way you do things, even if I wanted to…"
Hikigaya's eyes widen.
"Change the way I do things…," he repeats to himself.
Yuigahama steps a little closer.
"I haven't been able to do anything… and I keep thinking if I made the right decision, if it was hard for me. For you, it must have been worse. After this, we can go back to how things were before, right?"
Hikigaya stops looking at the floor and turns toward Yukinoshita's chair.
"I don't know."
Both of them look at Yukinoshita's place without saying anything else.
However, those words are still there.
"I thought you understood…"
Hikigaya couldn't take his eyes off the spot.
"If there isn't a problem to solve, if there isn't a reason to act, people can't decide whether to act or not. There's a chance I was wrong. That's the doubt I have left, nothing more."
And so Hikigaya continued his words within himself, until his gaze moved to the other chairs.
"By the way, where is Aisaka-san?"
"Oh, she's helping me make the campaign posters," Yuigahama answers without concern.
Both turn toward each other, looking at one another for several seconds.
Hikigaya raises his eyebrows, waiting for Yuigahama to realize it herself.
"Oh! Right! I didn't even notice," Yuigahama takes out her phone to call Aisaka and cancel her request. "Hikki! Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
Hikigaya sighs to himself.
"This girl…," he thinks to himself.
…
A few days later
Student Council
3:54, PM
…
"So they apologized to you, huh?"
Hikigaya asks, state recargo leaning against the wall behind him.
Isshiki nods. "Yes, it was weird, everyone gave me apology gifts," she says, having her finger on her chin. "I think Matsuba-senpai really terrified them. In fact, I would have preferred that he hit—, that he told them it wasn't okay to do that…"
Hikigaya sighs.
"I was going to say hit them…", he tells himself.
Isshiki leans back in her chair. "Well, leaving that aside. Here I am. This is thanks to you, but don't expect much either."
Hikigaya nods. "Yeah… even so, my sister is going to enter this Sōbu next year," upon hearing those words, Isshiki moves her gaze to him. "So at least try to improve something."
Isshiki, upon hearing those words, startles.
"¡What?! Are you trying to flirt with me again?! I'm sorry, you're being too unpleasant! And that's very creepy! Stop trying, it's useless!"
Hikigaya was moderately surprised.
"Her way of rejecting me is different from the first time", he thinks to himself. Hikigaya straightens himself from the wall, to be able to leave. "Good, do your best."
"Oh, Hikigaya-kun, help me"
The voice was that of the now former student council president.
Shiromeguri, Meguri.
Hikigaya, upon hearing the request, nods. "Sure", then looks at Isshiki. "See you soon, Isshiki."
…
"You know Hikigaya-kun, I thought this would be different…"
Shiromeguri begins the talk.
"Ah, yeah…", Hikigaya responds.
"That's right, I really expected Yukinoshita-san to be my successor as president," Shiromeguri clarifies. "In fact, I'm sure there was no need for a vote."
Hikigaya raises his eyebrows, slightly confused.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, apart from being a Yukinoshita, she had Matsuba-kun as her ally, I'm sure no one would go against her," Shiromeguri laughs softly.
Hikigaya didn't understand.
"Go against her…", he said to himself.
However, Shiromeguri continues. "That's right, Matsuba-kun would be vice president, Yuigahama-san the class representative. And you could help with general affairs."
Hikigaya slightly furrows his brow.
"Because I'm the only one without an official position."
Shiromeguri's faint smile is visible.
"Mmmh, sorry," she covers it with a small smile. But her imagination briefly grows. "And then, I would arrive at the council room, even after graduating. I could have gone at any time, to talk about how fun the cultural festival or the sports festival was," Shiromeguri expresses her thought. "Sorry, I've been imagining it like that for the past few days."
Hikigaya nods. Also imagining it.
"Hypothetically speaking… if it were possible to go back in time. And do it differently… would things have changed?"
He didn't know…
He didn't want to know.
And the footsteps of both could no longer be heard.
…
Note for Chapter 7: Do We Have a Deal?
This is the final chapter of the first Arc: The Demon of Sobu
Chapters,
1 – The New Member of the Service Club.
2 – Cookies Again.
3 – The Demon brings more Demons.
4 – Them, Those, Others, and Who Like Him.
5 – What Is It That We Want?
6 – The Judge, the Jury, and the Executioner.
7 – Do We Have a Deal?
And that completes the first Arc.
Important: A certain pause will be taken for a time. I will change some minimal things in certain chapters. I will restructure and edit them. I am doing this in my main language and then translating it into English. So it is very possible that there are bad interpretations or errors that, for those who read it in English, may not seem incorrect or badly written. So I will take some time to correct the seven chapters.
There will be more chapters now, obviously.
The second Arc is titled: The Sins of Kyoto Reach Us
It will consist of eight chapters. They are already written, only editing is left.
Titles of the chapters, and the anime episodes they cover.
8 – Normality, Judo, and Gatherings. (Episode 6, anime)
9 – Round One, Two, and Three (PART 1) (Episode 7, anime)
10 – Round One, Two, and Three (PART 2) (Episode 7, anime)
11 – Round One, Two, and Three (PART 3) (Episode 7, anime)
12 – Naivety in the Genuine. (Episode 8, anime)
13 – Disneyland x Tokyo (Episode 9, anime)
14 – Did You Miss Me, Kaihin? (Episode 10, anime)
15 – Sister vs Brother (Episode 12, anime)
The final chapter will be Miura's request. When that happens, it will become the new Arc. That has not yet been revealed.
I feel like I am revealing too much thanks to the titles.
Things will happen such as the continuation of our first antagonist, Yuta. The reveal of more OC characters.
And perhaps the true intentions of our Vice President.
So that is all, thank you for reading.
…
Trivia
[1] – Refers to the character Ikari Gendo from Evangelion. Possible crossover. But this will be set in the universe of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku.