A sudden commotion in the library interrupted many students who were studying.
"Hey, isn't that a student from your class?"
Following Hiyori's gaze, Hikigaya looked over and saw that it really was a group of Class D students. And of course, the most troublesome of them all—Sudou and the others.
As expected, Sudou and Horikita were in a heated argument.
Hikigaya had already noticed Horikita and the others earlier. They had been holding a study session in the library, but what was supposed to be a peaceful study session was now on the verge of turning into a full-on fight.
Just like the scene at the convenience store when school first started, Sudou looked furious, ready to charge in and throw punches at any moment. Meanwhile, Horikita remained calm, sitting in her chair as if she didn't even notice Sudou's anger.
"You're such a meddlesome woman! Whatever I do has nothing to do with you!"
Sudou slammed the table with a loud bang, startling the surrounding students, including Kushida.
Horikita, however, was completely unfazed and replied coolly, "You're right, it has nothing to do with me. So do whatever you want. It doesn't affect me in the slightest."
"You—!"
"Heh, I actually pity you. The moment you run into trouble, you just want to escape and do something easier. Am I wrong?"
Horikita and Sudou were like fire and gasoline. Their previous "truce" was clearly just an illusion.
"Hikigaya-kun, shouldn't you step in?" Hiyori asked, worried.
"Uh…"
Hikigaya wasn't sure how to explain. The situation was much more complicated than it seemed, and with Kushida there, things probably wouldn't get too out of hand. "Let's just see how it plays out for now."
Horikita said something else, once again provoking Sudou. His face turned red with rage, and he suddenly charged at her, raising his fist to strike. The surrounding students gasped in shock.
But… his punch hit nothing but air. He had swung so hard that he lost his balance and crashed into the table and chairs. Just as he was about to get up and charge again, Kushida quickly seized the moment, grabbing onto his arm and stopping him before he could attack.
Her bold action earned her applause and admiration from the other students, including Hiyori. The only one watching coldly was Hikigaya.
"History really does repeat itself."
Horikita showed no fear at all—her face didn't even have a hint of concern. She stood in stark contrast to Sudou, who looked like a raging gorilla.
"Last time, it was 'women are weak.' Now, it's 'studying is useless.' You really don't learn, do you? Even after a whole month, you haven't changed at all. You still have such a narrow view of the world, stuck in your own little bubble. Pathetic."
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell into an eerie silence. Everyone seemed stunned by her brutal words.
"You… you bitch!"
Sudou's face turned so red it looked almost purple. Horikita's words clearly hit him harder than any insult about his family ever could.
Sometimes, Hikigaya wondered if Horikita had some kind of "anti-Sudou weapon." She always managed to hit his weak spot with just a few words, making him explode in an instant. It was oddly convenient.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Oh, it's just trash from Class D! Hahaha!"
Suddenly, two figures appeared out of nowhere, mocking Sudou—and, by extension, the entire Class D, including Horikita.
"Huh? Yamawaki and Ishizaki? Since when do they come to the library?"
Hiyori looked puzzled. She had already recognized the two boys—they were from Class C.
Ishizaki and Yamawaki walked up to Sudou, both wearing smug, punchable expressions.
"Ishizaki, I heard Class D lost all their points in the first month. I didn't believe it at first, but now I totally do. I mean, you guys lost your points because someone punched a girl! Hahaha!"
"Trash from Class D, just get out already. Stop acting like idiots, especially you—the guy who beats women. You're an eyesore."
What started as an internal conflict within Class D had now escalated, with Class C butting in. Sudou's face was already dark with rage. He could barely hold back when it was just Horikita mocking him—now he was being humiliated in front of everyone by Ishizaki and Yamawaki?
As expected, Sudou ripped free from Kushida's grip. His anger had completely taken over, and without thinking about the consequences, he swung a punch at Ishizaki, the closest target.
"Enough!"
Before the punch could land, Sudou's arm was caught in midair by a large hand. At the same time, a stern voice rang out.
Katsuragi Kohei from Class A.
His tall, muscular build wasn't any weaker than Sudou's, who was in the basketball club. But more than that, Katsuragi had a commanding presence, his serious expression giving off an overwhelming sense of authority.
"This is a library, not a place for you to brawl like thugs. As students, following basic rules should be common sense. Both Class C and Class D are an embarrassment. Just because the school considers you the lowest-ranked students doesn't mean you can act like this. All you're doing is disgracing your class—and shaming the parents who raised you."
His powerful words shut everyone up. He didn't just scold Sudou and Ishizaki—he called out both Class C and Class D as a whole. And no one could argue with what he said.
Katsuragi was standing on the "right" side—the true moral high ground. At the same time, he labeled Sudou, Ishizaki, and the others as "bad," and even further, he left the entire C and D classes with the impression of being "uncultured and poorly raised."
With this move, Katsuragi had everything going for him—the right timing, the right place, and the right people. Even Hikigaya couldn't help but admire the tactics of this "bald uncle." He didn't make a move often, but when he did, it was decisive.
Yes, Hikigaya had noticed Katsuragi for a while now. He seemed to always wait for the right moment before taking action. Otherwise, there was no need for him to bother with something that would obviously "lose points."
But no matter how good the situation was, it was still ruined by a foolish teammate.
Totsuka, who was standing next to Katsuragi, chimed in enthusiastically, "Well said, Katsuragi-san! The students in C and D class are just a bunch of trash. I don't even know why the school still keeps them around. It's just a waste of taxpayers' money!"
"Yahiko, watch your words."
Katsuragi frowned, looking a little displeased.
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