"What the hell are you doing?"
Haruka Hasebe stood up with a sharp glare, her normally cheerful expression now replaced by a rare flash of anger. She pointed at the crushed paper cup at Ryuuen's feet. "You stepped on my cup. That wasn't an accident, was it?"
Standing opposite her were Ryuuen, his usual group of rowdy Class C boys, and Shiina Hiyori—who, despite the tension, looked like she had just crawled out of bed and hadn't quite woken up yet.
From his seat, Hikigaya Hachiman glanced up with mild curiosity.
Honestly, the most peaceful moments in his school life were those shared silently in the library with Hiyori. They didn't talk much, just read quietly together. Sometimes she recommended books, sometimes she didn't. It wasn't friendship, exactly. More like a mutually agreed-upon truce in the chaos of school life.
So when their eyes briefly met and Hiyori immediately looked away, pretending not to notice him, Hikigaya didn't take it personally. It was typical. Expected, even. They were acquaintances at best. No reason for her to get involved.
No need for him to butt in either.
"Oh?" Ryuuen gave a mocking chuckle and casually crushed the paper cup under his foot again. "It rolled to my feet. Thought you tossed it. Just helping clean up."
"You always act like this! Your arrogance is seriously getting out of hand!" Akito Miyake snapped, slamming his palm on the table as he stood up, eyes burning with fury.
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow.
So it's Class C vs. Class D today. Not that Class D's ever had a peaceful day since the start of the school year.
These confrontations were like a stage play now. The same actors. Same roles. Same scripts.
Troublemakers, instigators, and hot-headed defenders.
Was this really high school?
"Agh?" A stocky boy behind Ryuuen—clearly Ishizaki—stepped forward aggressively. "You talking to me, huh?"
"I wasn't," Miyake shot back, glaring. "But if the shoe fits, feel free to wear it, Ishizaki."
Hikigaya sighed and leaned on the table, chin in his palm. The scene unfolding before him was almost too cliché. He half-expected someone to break out in a monologue about the struggle of class systems.
In every class, there were leaders and there were lackeys. If you couldn't rise, you'd be trampled. And to climb, you needed to find your niche, step on a few people, and never apologize.
Ishizaki probably played the loyal henchman to Ryuuen—part muscle, part comic relief. That kind of role was typical in classes like theirs.
Come to think of it… where was that huge guy from Class C? Hikigaya remembered seeing someone massive who always stood behind Ryuuen like a silent bodyguard. Absent today. Strange. He seemed like the kind of guy who didn't miss a chance to flex.
Not that it mattered. Even with these jokers around, a full-on fight was unlikely.
Still, wouldn't it be hilarious if it happened?
Hikigaya casually picked up a homemade cookie from the table, popped it in his mouth, and settled in to watch. This was far more entertaining than anything on the syllabus.
Let's go. Throw the first punch already.
But before anything could escalate—
"Stop it."
A familiar voice rang out. Menlai stepped forward, walking right into the brewing confrontation like she didn't realize how tense the air was.
"Are you all seriously going to throw punches here?"
Hikigaya blinked. Wait… what? Why was she getting involved?
This was a public area. There were surveillance cameras everywhere, and upperclassmen were scattered around. If Class C and D got into a brawl, they'd be slammed with penalties. Maybe even lose a chunk of their class points.
That would be great for Class B.
So why was Menlai stopping them?
Why ruin the free show?
Why be the kind-hearted heroine in someone else's drama?
Hikigaya let out a helpless sigh. So it wasn't just Ichinose. Menlai, Juke, and the rest of Class B were all infected with this incurable illness called "righteousness."
"Class B sure loves to play heroes," Ryuuen muttered. His gaze shifted to Hikigaya, who still sat comfortably, clearly amused. "Why can't you just sit back and enjoy the chaos like him?"
Hikigaya froze, caught mid-bite. That comment hit a little too directly.
"Ahem," he coughed awkwardly. "Well… this is clearly a dispute between Class C and Class D. It's not really our place to interfere, right?"
Right. Please don't drag me into your nonsense.
"How can you say that?" Menlai turned to him with a frown. "Isn't it our responsibility as students to maintain peace? Violence is wrong."
Ishizaki and his crew looked visibly annoyed now. Every time they dealt with Class B, it turned into some moral crusade. These people were exhausting.
Even Hikigaya felt the secondhand shame creep in. "I don't think Ryuuen and his group were planning to actually fight… So maybe we should just let it go."
"Eh? Is that true?" Menlai turned her suspicious eyes toward Ryuuen.
He smirked.
This girl really didn't change. Even after the cruise incident, even after watching people scheme and lie and manipulate, she still believed in doing what's right. Admirable, maybe. But painfully naïve.
"...Hmph." Ryuuen narrowed his eyes. He looked at Hikigaya again, this time with a more calculating gaze.
This guy. Hikigaya Hachiman. The enigma in Class B.
He always looked like he didn't care. Like he was just there for the background noise. But Ryuuen had noticed something on the cruise ship. This guy wasn't as simple as he seemed. He wasn't weak, either. His insight was sharp. And worst of all—he didn't play by anyone's rules.
Ichinose was a threat.
Sakayanagi was a threat.
But Hikigaya?
He was the kind of opponent that slipped under your radar until it was too late.
"Let's hear your reasoning then," Ryuuen said, smiling like a snake.
Hikigaya sighed deeply. "Why should I explain anything to you? I'm not one of your lackeys."
"You bastard—!" Ishizaki shouted again, stepping forward, fists clenched.
"Enough." Ryuuen raised his hand, stopping his hotheaded subordinate. His attention was still locked on Hikigaya.
"What are you playing at?" he asked, voice low. "You're not just a bystander."
"…You really think everything has to have a hidden agenda?" Hikigaya said, staring right back. "Maybe I just wanted to enjoy a quiet lunch without some overgrown toddlers screaming across the room."
For a second, no one said anything.
Then—unexpectedly—Ryuuen chuckled.
"…You're interesting."
Hikigaya shrugged. "I've been called worse."
"Don't get cocky," Ishizaki growled, still itching for a fight.
"Save your barking for someone who cares," Hikigaya replied, reaching for another cookie.
"Alright, that's enough!" Haruka Hasebe jumped in again, arms crossed. "If no one's going to apologize, at least get out of here."
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow. "I don't take orders from weaklings."
"But you do walk away when it's not worth the trouble," Hikigaya added, dryly.
"…Tch."
After a long pause, Ryuuen turned and motioned to his group. "Let's go."
Ishizaki scowled but followed. Hiyori trailed behind silently, giving Hikigaya the faintest glance before disappearing from view.
Once they were gone, everyone relaxed.
"Ugh. That guy really grinds my gears," Miyake muttered, sitting back down.
"Class C is always like that," Juke said. "But it feels like things are heating up lately."
"They're pushing toward Class A," Hikigaya said. "So are we. Tensions are natural."
Menlai nodded. "Still… we can't let them disrupt the school environment. Next time, let's stop it earlier."
"…Sure," Hikigaya replied, though inwardly, he had serious doubts about their "heroic intervention" strategy.
This wasn't a shoujo manga.
This was Advanced Nurturing High School.
No one got to the top by being nice.
As everyone returned to their seats, Hikigaya leaned back and sighed.
So much for a peaceful day.
But at least now, things were getting interesting.
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