On the other side.
First-year Class D.
Sakura Airi and Hasebe Haruka had naturally heard the rumors as well.
After class.
The two left the classroom.
"Um..."
Holding Sakura Airi's arm, Hasebe Haruka hesitated slightly:
"Airi, maybe we should just give up?"
Subconsciously.
Hasebe Haruka had long ago treated Sakura's affairs as her own.
The two were like sisters.
Whether it was in class or after school, the two were already inseparable best friends.
"No..."
Sakura Airi quickly grabbed Haruka's arm, her pretty face shaking in pain:
"Haru-can, you should also know that Hachiman isn't that kind of person, right?"
"I know..."
Hasebe Haruka let out a helpless sigh; this girl was already completely hooked.
Although she didn't quite approve of Hachiman.
She also knew very well that the guy couldn't possibly do something like threaten girls; otherwise, Sakura Airi would have probably been devoured by him long ago.
These rumors.
They were probably spread by Hachiman himself.
Although being able to sacrifice his own reputation for Ichinose's sake earned him some respect from Hasebe Haruka.
...bit.
But the target was that Ichinose.
Hachiman must like Ichinose to protect her like this regardless of the cost.
And if the opponent was Ichinose.
Even if Hasebe Haruka felt that Sakura Airi was second to none, she would have a hard time being a match for Ichinose.
Furthermore.
That wasn't exactly a good method.
If Hachiman were to date Sakura Airi, it would inevitably lower Sakura Airi's evaluation. She really hoped that guy could understand this.
"Right?"
Sakura Airi was full of panic: "Now Hachiman must be in a lot of pain. What should we do?"
"Sigh..."
Hasebe sighed and patted her small head:
"Doesn't he really like eating ramen? Why don't you ask him out for a meeting? Taking this opportunity, the relationship between you two can surely take a step forward."
"Will it?"
Sakura Airi said hesitantly: "Would that be a little despicable?"
Taking advantage of Hachiman's time of sadness felt a little bit wrong.
"Idiot."
Hasebe Haruka tapped her small head and said helplessly:
"Only little Airi would think that way. Those guys in Class B definitely won't care that much. If they happen to beat us to it, there won't even be a chance to cry then."
"That won't do..."
Sakura Airi suddenly became nervous and quickly pulled out her phone to make contact.
"He probably doesn't want to pick up the phone right now, does he?"
Hasebe Haruka pinched her snow-white chin in thought: "Actually, it's probably better to go find him directly after school, right?"
"Is that so?"
Sakura Airi's small face turned red as she nodded.
Even if it was a bit despicable, she didn't want to give up.
Elsewhere.
After school, first-year Class B.
"Everyone, I'm sorry~"
Ichinose stood up and looked around at the surroundings: "Even though the final exams are coming up soon, I caused everyone to have special concerns because of my own issues. Shall we continue holding study sessions starting today?"
"Oh, I want to participate~"
"Yeah, we need to make up for the previous progress now."
Hachiman was packing his school bag.
Ordinary small exams basically weren't worth worrying about for Class B.
But they were a group of honor students who wouldn't let themselves relax; having study sessions wasn't a bad thing.
Anyway.
He could just go back to the club and self-study, and occasionally discuss things with Kobashi Yume and the others.
At that moment.
Two figures appeared at the door of the Class B classroom.
"Sakayanagi?"
The eyes of the Class B crowd were involuntarily drawn to that petite girl.
"Sakayanagi, what are you doing here?"
By the window of the classroom, Kanzaki and the others quickly shielded Ichinose behind them, staring warily at the two uninvited guests.
...feeling.
"No need for that."
"The school doesn't have a rule prohibiting entry into other classrooms, does it?"
Sakayanagi had a poker-faced fake smile at the corners of her mouth as she turned toward Ichinose and said with a slight hint of disgust:
"As expected of a shoplifter, Ichinose. You truly have the nerve to shamelessly sacrifice your companions just to save yourself."
However.
What answered her.
Were the determined gazes of Class B.
Not a single person wavered because of it.
Even knowing that Ichinose had a history of shoplifting, they still stood by her side without hesitation.
Watching this scene, Kamuro Masumi felt envious for some reason.
"I see."
"It seems this kind of tactic is no longer effective against you, Ichinose."
Sakayanagi's eyes swept over everyone, the smile at the corners of her mouth becoming even more satisfied.
After all, Ichinose wasn't an idiot; since she had come to school in the morning, she must have prepared some defenses.
With that thought.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not here for Ichinose this time."
Sakayanagi turned toward Hachiman, her smile becoming more playful. However, mako couldn't help but shield Hachiman.
"What do you want to do? No matter who it is, we won't let you bully our Class B companions."
"Oh."
Hachiman quickly ducked behind asakura mako; he hadn't expected little mako to be so reliable.
Soon.
Kobashi Yume and the others also moved to his side, shielding Hachiman behind them.
As expected of Class B.
With so many people standing in front.
It was truly reassuring.
Hachiman hid behind the crowd, praying that Sakayanagi Arisu wouldn't see him.
Speaking of which.
Why did this person have to fixate on him?
He had even cleared up Sakayanagi's actions along with his own and had already surrendered; this person shouldn't go too far.
"No need to worry."
Sakayanagi Arisu leaned her body to the right, her center of gravity resting entirely on her cane, but a composed smile remained on her face.
"Don't tell me you think that with a weak body like mine, I could do anything to an adolescent boy?"
Thump.
As she spoke.
Sakayanagi Arisu's cane tapped against the floor as she slowly walked forward. Though her body was frail, she inexplicably gave off an extremely strong sense of pressure.
mako's face flickered with hesitation as she involuntarily stepped aside, seemingly afraid of tripping Sakayanagi Arisu.
Hey.
Block her.
Person.
Quick, block her!
mako and the others were really too unreliable.
Watching Sakayanagi Arisu approach, Hachiman's face went stiff as he followed asakura mako and the others to the side.
He prayed that Sakayanagi Arisu intended to leave through the back door!
However.
Sakayanagi Arisu stopped in front of Hachiman, looking at this man whose face was stiff and whose eyes were darting around, looking completely useless.
...the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled into a playful smile. A light like that of a predator hunting its prey flashed in Sakayanagi's amethyst-like eyes.
She examined the man before her with a smile for a moment.
"It's been a while, Hachiman-kun. No need to be nervous. I don't dislike men with outstanding abilities; in fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I like them best."
"It's not..."
Hearing those words that sounded like a confession, Hachiman felt it was terrifying and stammered:
"My grades are only around twentieth in the class, my sports performance isn't great, my brain isn't that sharp, and I have a pair of dead fish eyes. Sakayanagi-sama... is it possible you have some kind of misunderstanding?"
He almost called her "Lady."
Hachiman was scared to death.
His subtext was: I'm just trash, please leave quickly.
"Hehe, how could it be a misunderstanding?"
But Sakayanagi didn't care about any of that. She covered her mouth and chuckled: "Do you know how many of my affairs were disrupted because of your rumors?"
"I'm sorry."
Hachiman quickly apologized sincerely: "I didn't think it would cause you trouble. What can I do to be forgiven?"
"Don't worry about it~"
Sakayanagi Arisu narrowed her eyes into crescent moons:
"I just came to get acquainted today. Once I've finished with the few things I have on hand, I'll ask Hachiman-kun to bring me some entertainment."
"No, actually, I'm a very boring person."
Hachiman shook his head uneasily.
It's over.
It seems he's been targeted by this pleasure-seeker. This person came here today to issue a challenge.
"It doesn't matter. It's enough that I find you interesting."
As she spoke, Sakayanagi leaned on her cane and walked forward; she really did seem to intend to leave through the back door.
"Hachiman-kun."
Sakayanagi Arisu said without looking back:
"When the time comes, I will give you a condition you can't refuse."
Watching Sakayanagi leave the classroom, Hachiman finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, he felt that Sakayanagi was actually quite foolish.
Who would run over to issue a challenge when they were temporarily unable to act?
Or should it be said that Sakayanagi was simply too confident?
"Hachiman, are you okay?"
Kobashi Yume and the others crowded around Hachiman, and Shiranami Chihiro behind them was even starting to sob.
"She's so scary. Hachiman, how could you even talk to Sakayanagi?"
"No, I was scared to death too."
Hachiman gave a dry laugh.
What was that?
Michael Corleone?
Sakayanagi's aura was truly too powerful, too terrifying.
"But."
asakura mako also began to look anxious: "Hachiman, it seems you've been targeted by Sakayanagi. What should we do?"
"It's all right."
Ichinose's pretty face was solemn: "As long as we overcome it together, everything will be fine. When the time comes, it'll be up to us to protect Hachiman!"
"Yeah, no matter how you look at it, Sakayanagi is only one person."
"She can't move freely and basically has to rely on her subordinates. As long as we are united in spirit, there won't be any problem."
Kobashi Yume and the others nodded seriously.
Oh.
How reliable.
Hachiman couldn't help but nod. Having so many people standing by his side was indeed reassuring; this might be the power of unity.
But it didn't seem to have any practical use.
Couldn't they give some actual advice?