Ryuen's Scheme

"Please, help us figure something out!"

As usual, they were in Ayanokoji's room. Sudo had called Horikita and Kushida over to discuss the matter.

Having no idea where to begin, he had no choice but to call for reinforcements.

The only people in class he was fairly close to were the members of the Horikita Study Group.

As for the other two members of the Idiot Trio, he had ruthlessly passed on them due to their intelligence. Not only would those two fail to come up with anything, they might even blab about it to the class. By tomorrow, everyone would probably know that Hachiman Hikigaya had forced himself on a girl...

Hachiman Hikigaya: Wasn't that missing the point?!

"So, Hachiman Hikigaya got emotional after his confession was rejected and tried to force someone to accept him?"

Horikita's sarcastic voice rang out.

Originally, Horikita had no interest in Sudo's problems. She had no intention of wasting her time on someone like Sudo, who only ever caused trouble.

Unexpectedly, Hachiman Hikigaya was involved too—and what he had supposedly done was even more explosive than Sudo's actions.

"Hey, hey, don't just make things up!" Hachiman Hikigaya warned solemnly, defending his innocence.

The corners of Horikita's lips rose slightly. "Don't you lack evidence? That means it's possible you did something like that."

"That's impossible."

Hachiman Hikigaya waved his hand, dismissing Horikita's words.

"Oh? You have proof?"

"No." Hachiman Hikigaya answered without a second thought. "But she isn't as cute as you, Horikita, and her figure isn't as good either. She's practically flat-chested. Why would I possibly be interested in her?"

Hachiman Hikigaya usually respected women well enough, but since she had cooperated with Ryuen to set him up, there was no need for him to treat her with that respect.

Hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's words, Horikita's face reddened slightly, while Sudo's eyes widened.

Hachiman Hikigaya's teasing toward Horikita made him unhappy.

"So, what should we do next?"

Kushida pulled the conversation back on track.

"We didn't do anything! Why do we have to find evidence?"

Sudo roared loudly.

"You don't seem nervous at all."

Horikita noticed Hachiman Hikigaya, who stood in stark contrast to Sudo.

"Because I didn't do anything. Why should I be nervous?" Hachiman Hikigaya calmly took a sip of water. "Though if it were Horikita, I might actually have done it."

A hand chop struck his waist, and Hachiman Hikigaya sprayed a mouthful of water onto Sudo's face across from him in pain.

"What was that for?!"

"Anyway, if you don't want to be expelled, start taking action tomorrow."

Horikita looked up at everyone. "First, look for witnesses or security cameras."

"Horikita, you're surprisingly motivated."

Kushida said so with a smile.

"No. I just want to find proof that someone committed a crime."

A chill ran down Hachiman Hikigaya's back.

They dispersed after that, splitting into several groups to ask around at school the next day for witnesses.

As for cameras, there were none behind the school building. At the very least, Hachiman Hikigaya had no evidence from that angle to prove his innocence.

That meant there was only one solution: a witness.

Of course, there was another way—have Shiho Manabe admit on her own that she had framed Hachiman Hikigaya.

But that was impossible just to think about!

The next day, Hachiman Hikigaya came to class as usual.

With a few minutes left before class began, Horikita quietly read an extracurricular book. She did not look like someone who knew about what had happened between him and Sudo at all. She remained detached and indifferent, like an outsider.

Suddenly, another loud bang came from the classroom entrance.

Hachiman Hikigaya was speechless. Why did people have to kick the door before coming in every time? (⊙...⊙)

A familiar action, from familiar people.

Ryuen had come looking for Hachiman Hikigaya again with the same two lackeys from last time, a delighted smile on his face.

"Hey, hey, hey, Hachiman Hikigaya. You actually dared to do something like that to Manabe from our class. That's truly unforgivable!"

His words drew everyone else's attention, and Hirata stepped forward with a frown.

"Ryuen, could you please stop disturbing our classmates?"

"This is none of your business. Do you know what this guy did?"

Ryuen looked extremely pleased with himself as he stared curiously at Hachiman Hikigaya. Unfortunately, the latter did not show the expression Ryuen wanted to see.

"This guy got rejected after confessing to Manabe, then started putting his hands on her! He even tore her uniform! A disgusting person like him should be expelled!"

Ryuen had achieved his goal. His purpose in coming here was to loudly publicize Hachiman Hikigaya's alleged actions, ensuring that all of Class D—and even the entire first year—would know about it.

"How could that be?" Hirata looked at Hachiman Hikigaya in disbelief.

"How could it not be?" Ryuen shot back fiercely. "Manabe cried in front of me for hours, begging me to bring the criminal to justice.

I didn't want to do this either, but I really can't stand hypocrites like you!"

"Bastard! You're the one pulling strings behind this, aren't you?"

Sudo's temper flared instantly as he questioned him furiously.

Ryuen merely smiled faintly and looked at Sudo. "And there's trash like you too. You dared to beat up my people, and I haven't even settled that score with you yet."

"They were just too useless! If you've got the guts, come over here and let's fight!"

Sudo shouted angrily, completely unconvinced. Ryuen spread his hands and shrugged.

"I'm not a violent person like you. I never expected Class D to really be just as the rumors said—a bunch of defective products."

With a trace of mockery in his gaze, Ryuen swept his eyes over the entire class.

"One violent thug and one molester. How terrifying!"

After saying that, Ryuen let out a strange laugh and left with his lackeys.

"Damn it!" Watching Ryuen's retreating back, Sudo violently kicked his desk over.

The students who had just learned about the matter looked at them strangely.

"What a foul move."

Horikita gave her assessment of Ryuen's actions.

"Yeah, it really scares me." Hachiman Hikigaya said in a pretended tone.

"So, do you have any leads now?"

Horikita wanted to ask Hachiman Hikigaya whether anyone had been nearby at the time.

"Of course not! My heart was pounding wildly when I got confessed to. How could I have noticed things like that?"

Hachiman Hikigaya joked, but his gaze remained fixed on one person.

Someone who could prove their innocence.

Horikita sighed helplessly and began thinking of a solution.

Because of their situation, the atmosphere in class had grown heavy.

If the truth was really as Ryuen claimed, Hachiman Hikigaya and Sudo would face expulsion.

Not only that, Class D would certainly receive a corresponding point penalty.

They had only just earned one hundred class points, which gave each of them ten thousand personal points every month.

If that happened, wouldn't they be back to square one overnight?