After leaving the ramen shop, Hikigaya reminded Shizuka-sensei to be careful on her way back. She scoffed and said, "You sound like an old lady nagging me. Aren't you just a high schooler?"
She threw a few quick punches into the air, the wind slicing through like blades. "Hah! The ones who should be careful are the idiots who mess with me!"
Alright… maybe he was worrying too much. Besides, she lived in the teacher's dorm, so there wasn't really anything to be concerned about.
By the time they parted ways, it was already around 10:30 PM. Without realizing it, he had spent nearly an hour and a half talking with her.
Tokyo nights in May were still a bit chilly. The cool air wrapped around him as he walked down the empty school path, making him shiver slightly.
Thinking back, over a month had already passed.
Somehow, he had started getting used to life in this isolated school. His dislike for it had lessened—just a little—but he still couldn't fully accept its "survival of the fittest" philosophy.
He looked up at the dark sky. Thick clouds completely covered the moon, making the night seem even deeper. Even the streetlights along the path looked dimmer than usual.
Shizuka-sensei had dragged him out for ramen and a chat tonight. It seemed like an impulsive, reckless thing to do, but Hikigaya knew better.
She was checking in on him, making sure he was okay.
Somewhere in her heart, she was probably worried about his mental state. After all, he still carried the label of "Adolescent Syndrome."
"...Sigh. I wonder what the next three years will bring."
What happened in the library today was just a small glimpse, the beginning of something bigger. As time goes on, the competition between classes will only get fiercer. And as the differences in ability become more obvious, conflicts and divisions within each class are bound to happen.
Survival of the fittest—that's just how it works.
Hikigaya could already picture the endless scheming, deception, and backstabbing that would unfold over the next three years. Even if he didn't want to, this environment would inevitably shape and change him.
On his way back to the dorm, Hikigaya felt a bit thirsty. He took a small detour to buy a drink. But just as he was nearing the dorm, he spotted a familiar figure.
"President?"
Horikita Manabu? What was he doing near the first-year dorm this late at night?
Although the dorms for all three grades were in the same area, they were actually quite far apart, with plenty of trees and greenery separating them. Unless someone had a specific reason to be there, students from different grades rarely ran into each other.
Hikigaya thought about it but decided not to get involved. However, before he could walk away, another figure appeared in his sight, making him stop in his tracks.
The ice queen?
But Hikigaya's attention wasn't on Horikita. Instead, it was on the guy sneaking behind her.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes as he observed the situation. If this was just a casual meeting between Horikita Manabu and his sister, he wouldn't care. But with Ayanokouji lurking around like he was up to something, things suddenly seemed a lot more suspicious.
The darkness of the night served as perfect cover for Hikigaya, and with his natural "presence suppression" skill, no one had noticed the dead-fish-eyed observer hiding in the shadows.
In the dimly lit path behind the dorm, Horikita Manabu and Horikita Suzune were having a conversation.
"Suzune, it's been a while. Almost three years now. I didn't expect you to follow me to this school."
"I'm not the useless person I used to be. I came here to catch up to you."
"You're in Class D, right? Just like three years ago, you're still chasing after my shadow. You haven't changed at all. And even now, you still don't see your own flaws, do you? You shouldn't have chosen this school, Suzune."
"I'll work my way up to Class A and prove myself to you."
"That's impossible. You don't have what it takes to reach Class A."
Their argument grew more heated. Horikita Manabu even raised his hand against his sister. Hikigaya considered stepping in, but before he could, Ayanokouji suddenly moved.
And just like that, Ayanokouji and Horikita Manabu started fighting right there in the alleyway, while Horikita Suzune collapsed weakly against the wall, her eyes empty.
Should I be yelling, "Stop fighting, you two!" right now?
To an outsider, this might look like a dramatic love triangle brawl. Though, seeing the usually cold and composed Horikita looking so weak and vulnerable was a first for Hikigaya.
How should I put it…? The contrast was so extreme that he couldn't help but wonder, "Did she just break or something?"
Both Horikita Manabu and Ayanokouji clearly had some level of martial arts training. Their movements weren't just random swings and punches like a normal street fight. They were both testing each other, analyzing their opponent.
Then, in a synchronized motion, they struck at the same time—punches, kicks, counterattacks. Every move was met with a precise response. But overall, Horikita Manabu seemed to have the upper hand, while Ayanokouji stayed on defense.
Hikigaya might not know much about fighting, but he had sharp observational skills. Even though Ayanokouji looked like he was on the losing side, his breathing and footwork were completely steady. More than that, he predicted many of Horikita Manabu's moves in advance but chose not to counterattack.
Hikigaya was sure—this guy was still hiding his real strength.
Just how many power-fantasy light novels has this guy read? He's pulling the whole "playing weak until the right moment" act. What is he, some shadow monarch? The Dark Dragon King of the Underworld or something?
"Your form and movements aren't bad. You're the first person in this school who's managed to avoid my attacks so many times. It looks like you've trained in martial arts."
Horikita Manabu finally stopped and adjusted his glasses.
"Sorry, but no. If I had to say I trained in something, it would be piano and calligraphy. I even won a national piano competition in elementary school."
"You're in Class D too? Suzune, it seems like your class has some interesting students."
Horikita Manabu turned to look at his sister.
For some reason, Horikita Suzune suddenly pictured Hikigaya in her mind. Was her brother talking about him?
"How long are you planning to hide over there?"
Ayanokouji's gaze shifted to a dark corner nearby.
Hikigaya, realizing he had been spotted, sighed and stepped out of the shadows. At the same time, he couldn't help but be impressed by Ayanokouji's sharp instincts.
When the other three saw Hikigaya walk out, they all looked surprised.
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