"Everyone."
"This is bad!"
"Sakayanagi from Class A is coming toward our class."
The messenger, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, said with a face full of panic.
As soon as he finished speaking, Arisu Sakayanagi walked into the Class B classroom with a girl with waist-length purple hair.
"Sakayanagi?"
Kanzaki and the others acted as if facing a great enemy.
They quickly stood behind Ichinose, wanting to protect Class B's little angel.
Having just finished talking about the study group topic with Ichinose and Mako Okakura, Hikigaya, who was packing his bag, was also slightly stunned.
What was going on?
The match-up classes had only just been decided.
And Class A's Arisu Sakayanagi had already come to their door?
Is this Sakayanagi's aggressiveness?
Isn't that a bit too terrifying!
Terrifying.
Hikigaya immediately wanted to turn and leave; his "Hachiman radar" told him that Sakayanagi was definitely one of the types of people one must not contact.
Unfortunately.
Shibata and the others had already surrounded him and Ichinose so tightly that not even water could leak through, warily watching the Sakayanagi duo opposite them.
Are they going to fight?
But the opponents are only two people, and they are both girls.
That said.
To dare to step forcefully into enemy territory with only two people.
Isn't that even more terrifying?
Hikigaya stood trembling behind Ichinose, trying his best to lean back.
A showdown between the big shots of Class A and Class B.
A small fry like him should just stay in the back and shout "666."
"Sakayanagi-san."
At this moment, Ichinose stood in front of everyone: "I wonder what business brings you to Class B?"
"No need to be so nervous."
Sakayanagi stood before Ichinose leaning on her cane; despite her fragile-looking body, she did not seem at a disadvantage at all.
"I'm only here today to issue a challenge. My actions from now on won't be as relaxed as they've been the past few days."
"Are you referring to Class A's pressure on Class B these past few days?"
Ichinose stood in front of Hikigaya; her slender shoulders were surprisingly reassuring.
"Then bring it on. No matter what means you use, I believe that as long as we are united as one, it's impossible for us to lose to Class A."
Although her attitude was good.
The words she spoke made Hikigaya feel a bit guilty. Was there really no other way besides being united as one?
"United as one?"
Sakayanagi gave a contemptuous smile and said: "I see. I've heard many people call you a 'do-gooder,' Ichinose, but it seems that's not the case. It's truly impressive that you can say such shameless words."
"Sakayanagi, what do you mean by that?"
Shibata said somewhat angrily.
Isn't this essentially calling Ichinose "shameless"?
Watching this scene, Hikigaya felt like the two were talking past each other.
It felt like Sakayanagi was here to retaliate against Ichinose?
And she seemed quite aggrieved?
Did they have some kind of misunderstanding? If it really wouldn't work, perhaps they should just apologize and be done with it.
Even if Ichinose was unwilling.
Hikigaya felt he could apologize on her behalf.
Being targeted by a "chaos-seeker" like Sakayanagi was never a good thing.
"Hmm?"
"It seems you all aren't aware."
Sakayanagi's gaze fell on Hikigaya, immediately making his scalp tingle, as if he were being watched by a young female leopard.
"Wasn't it your Class B that made the first move and arranged for someone to tail me? What, do you still want to pretend you don't know?"
"Eh?"
The people around were slightly stunned.
They couldn't help but look at Ichinose, and Hikigaya also cast an inquiring look.
Unexpectedly.
A gentle person like Ichinose actually had such moves behind the scenes.
While he didn't think what Ichinose did was bad, he wished she would explain it to him in advance next time so he could be mentally prepared.
"Eh?"
Ichinose was also stunned: "Um, Sakayanagi-san, what do you mean by that? Is there some misunderstanding?"
"It seems you really aren't clear on this."
Sakayanagi leaned on her cane and walked slowly to Hikigaya, pleasurably enjoying his panicked expression:
"In that case, this was all your own independent action, right? Hikigaya-kun?"
For a moment.
Not only Ichinose, but Shibata, Kanzaki, Yuki Himeno, and others all cast shocked gazes toward Hikigaya.
Even those who didn't know him well knew that Hikigaya liked to act alone.
Could it be.
That Hikigaya heard Ichinose's thoughts on facing Class A.
For the sake of victory in this exam, Hikigaya had taken some action behind the scenes and went to tail Sakayanagi.
For a moment, Kanzaki and the others had complex expressions.
Although they had realized it long ago, they didn't expect this fellow to have been silently contributing to the class all along.
"Eh? Me?"
Hikigaya was horrified.
Tailing?
Tailing Sakayanagi?
When?
How come I didn't know?
Was he looking for death while sleepwalking?
You can't wrong a good person like this!
Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare tail someone like Sakayanagi; besides, he didn't seem to have a sleepwalking problem.
"No, well..."
Hikigaya explained with a hint of panic: "Sak... Sakayanagi-san, are you misunderstanding something? I have never tailed you."
He felt that if he was targeted by Sakayanagi, his life would be over.
And could she please stop calling him Hikigaya-kun.
It made it seem like he and Sakayanagi were on good terms.
It was terrifying.
"There's no need to feel afraid, Hikigaya-kun..."
Arisu Sakayanagi's pretty face showed a pleasurable smile: "Issuing a challenge to me for the sake of the class's victory is something worthy of praise."
The hidden meaning was:
To dare to issue a challenge to me, you really have courage; it makes me want to trample you ruthlessly.
Terrifying.
Sakayanagi was super terrifying.
Hikigaya trembled with fear:
"No, I really haven't tailed you. I have absolutely no memory of this. Please do not slander me, or perhaps this is a strategy of yours to sow discord in Class B."
Hikigaya trembled with fear, trying his best to clear himself of suspicion.
Hearing his words, Kanzaki and the others immediately reacted.
That's true; what Sakayanagi says isn't necessarily true. What if this is just a part of her plan to break Class B?
Thinking of this.
Kanzaki and the others looked at Sakayanagi with full alertness.
They were almost led in circles by this person.
"Ho."
Arisu Sakayanagi scrutinized Hikigaya, her beautiful eyes brightening slightly:
"It seems that unlike your appearance, your quick wit is quite good. Or is this an answer you prepared long ago?"
The hidden meaning was:
To even anticipate that I would come to the door, this is making me more and more excited.
Hikigaya felt like he was being targeted by a hunter.
Do all the people in this school have some kind of problem? Why don't they listen to what people say?
Can't there be more trust between people?
"As for you having no memory of it."
The corners of Sakayanagi's mouth curled up slightly as she laughed softly: "Then let me remind you. On this day last week, didn't you tail us to 'Tenka Ippin'?"
Upon hearing this.
Kanzaki and the others frowned and couldn't help but look at Hikigaya again.
Unexpectedly.
Sakayanagi wasn't making baseless accusations; she even had a specific time and place.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya was dazed.
He also realized that Sakayanagi and the girl next to her had indeed been present at the time.
But he was just there to eat ramen!
After hesitating for a long time.
Hikigaya didn't know how to explain.
If he directly said, "I just went to eat ramen, you're misunderstanding," would Sakayanagi think he was provoking her?
But besides telling the truth, there didn't seem to be any particularly good way.
"Um... actually..."
Hikigaya tried desperately to clear himself: "I was just going there to eat ramen that day."
He really didn't want to be targeted by Sakayanagi.
He hoped Sakayanagi could be generous and not hold it against a small person like him.
"Hehe."
Sakayanagi laughed softly: "That ramen shop had only just opened that day. Even now, I believe many people haven't even heard of that shop. Do you think such an excuse can hold water?"
Once this was said.
Many people couldn't help but nod.
Although Keyaki Mall was large enough for everyone to live in, it wasn't that big. There were still many who hadn't heard the name "Tenka Ippin."
"It's true."
These people don't listen to reason. Hikigaya said somewhat indignantly.
"Because I really like eating ramen, I just thought that if I followed middle-aged people, it would be easiest to find hidden ramen shops."
What exactly do I have to say to be believed?
Isn't this bullying an honest person?
"Hmm?"
Seeing this, Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes. Seeing how desperately the other party was defending himself, she had to judge whether this "idiotic" reason held a certain level of possibility.
"If that's the case, then it should be no problem if I call Teacher Mashima over to confront you? If you really like eating ramen, you should have run into him often, right?"
"I can! I can! Of course, I can!"
Hikigaya was desperate to prove himself.
Although Jiro-style ramen is relatively average in the ramen world, there wasn't much choice, and he went quite a few times.
Basically, he would go every three to four days to improve his meals.
Otherwise.
He wouldn't even use ten or twenty thousand personal points a month.
Although he didn't have much of an impression of the customers around him, if Teacher Mashima really liked ramen, they must have bumped into each other many times.
A student in uniform would be quite conspicuous in a ramen shop.
He must have left an impression on many people.
Someone could definitely prove his love for ramen!
"Hehe."
"Forget it. Since you're so afraid, I'll temporarily take it as such."
"Kamuro-san, let's go back."
With that, Arisu Sakayanagi gave him a deep look before turning to leave with Masumi Kamuro.
As they left.
Masumi Kamuro gave him a somewhat pitying look.
To be targeted by Sakayanagi for such a reason—what a poor fellow.
In the hallway.
"Uh."
Kamuro followed beside Sakayanagi, teasing playfully: "It seems he really does like eating ramen."
"Kamuro-san, don't you think you're talking too much today?"
Sakayanagi's face didn't look very good.
Naturally, she wouldn't really pull Teacher Mashima over for a confrontation.
The moment Hikigaya agreed.
Everyone knew Hikigaya just simply wanted to eat ramen.
Otherwise.
Telling a lie that could be so easily exposed would be meaningless.
One would only need to check with Teacher Mashima or the staff at the Keyaki Mall to easily clarify the truth.
There was no need to bring Teacher Mashima over just to slap her own face.
However.
Sakayanagi was very unhappy.
Her judgment had been influenced by such an absurd reason.
She had thought Ichinose sent someone to tail them to pressure them, and she had even responded by sending out all Class A members.
While there was nothing inherently wrong with that—pressuring Class B wasn't a bad thing.
But thinking of this.
Sakayanagi felt her face burn with shame. It was simply too embarrassing; she had even wasted so much time because of it.
How could Class B have such an idiot?
Sakayanagi was very unhappy.
Her interest vanished instantly.
"I'm so angry..."