I was in the worst mood imaginable.
Just three minutes ago, I'd been in an extremely good mood.
On the last day off before exam season, Sakayanagi, Hiyori, and I had gone out together.
After watching a movie, we'd enjoyed cake and tea at a café, then strolled around the school grounds. But when we reached the school gates...
"Hey! Unauthorized personnel aren't allowed near the gates. Don't come any closer!"
"Shut up! Don't get in our way while we make that gloomy guy kneel and apologize!"
"Exactly! This is part of his education, so don't interfere! Take this—First-Rush Flying Kick!"
"Waah!"
Outside the gates stood the assholes I'd known back in middle school.
Come to think of it, wasn't beating up the security guard a problem in itself, you violent teacher?
They seemed intent on dragging me out by force, but even if they took down the guard, the school gates would still be in their way. How were they supposed to get in?
The gates were over five meters tall, covered in iron bars, and surrounded by barbed wire.
Besides, trying to break through would trigger the security system. Dragging me out was pure fantasy.
"Are they acquaintances of yours, Hikigaya?"
Sakayanagi asked, looking at the four people beyond the gates as though they were filth.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"I see. But they don't seem to have a shred of refinement. Shall we head back?"
"That sounds good to me."
Being around those people would only make me more irritated and murderous.
We needed to get out of there as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the gates were keeping them out.
But the people on the other side clearly weren't about to let things go. Yuigahama shouted through the bars:
"Wait! It's all because Hikki got Sabre killed! You have to apologize!"
What was she talking about?
"Huh? I saw what happened on the bus. It had nothing to do with me, did it?"
"What?! Of course it did! If you'd been at the accident and gotten hit by the car instead, Sabre wouldn't have died!"
Damn it. For the first time in a while, I felt my reason about to snap.
Sakayanagi teasing me could be irritating, but this was on a whole different level.
"Exactly! If you'd taken the hit instead, I wouldn't have been mocked by those idiots! Take responsibility!"
Yukinoshita said something similar, but wasn't this all because Yuigahama hadn't kept her dog on a leash?
"Isn't that the only thing a useless guy like you is good for? Why are you running away?!"
As my anger boiled over, I felt pressure from both sides. I turned and saw Sakayanagi wearing a cold smile, while Hiyori stared at the four of them with icy eyes.
"I understand the situation well enough from your conversation. Hikigaya really has been treated quite unfairly."
"Yeah. Now I finally understand why Hachiman chose this school."
At their words, the two girls from the Service Club spoke to Sakayanagi and Hiyori.
"Did that piece of trash get something on you two? I know a reliable lawyer I can introduce you to."
"Don't worry! The Yukinoshita Family has a lot of influence! They can definitely take care of your problem!"
"Not necessary. I'm standing with Hikigaya of my own accord."
"I'll pass, too. I enjoy spending time with Hachiman."
The two of them flatly rejected Yukinoshita and Yuigahama.
Hearing them make their position so clear warmed my heart.
Then the violent teacher and Komachi joined Yukinoshita and the others.
"You don't need to force yourselves to protect Hikigaya. The Yukinoshita Family may have taken a hit, but they still have influence. They're capable of punishing Hikigaya."
"Exactly! Yukino-senpai's family even has a prefectural assembly member!"
"That's right. Or are you really going to associate with trash? Then you're no better than he is."
"What?!"
Yukinoshita's words pushed me past my limit.
I didn't care if they called me trash, but I'd never let them insult those two like that.
In a fit of rage, I swung my fist despite the gates between us, but someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
I turned and saw Sakayanagi resting her hand on it.
She walked straight in front of me, wearing a cold smile.
"You've given me some very interesting material to work with. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu. Pleased to meet you."
At Sakayanagi's introduction, Yukinoshita went deathly pale and staggered back.
"Sa-Sakayanagi... Could you be...?"
"Yukino?!"
Yuigahama hurriedly caught Yukinoshita before she could fall.
Judging by their reaction, the Sakayanagi Family clearly wielded enormous influence.
I knew her father was the chairman of the school board, but she probably had deep connections in politics and business, too.
And Sakayanagi continued her attack.
"I understand the Yukinoshita Family's principles now. I personally admire them, and I'll convey them to the political world through my father."
That was as good as announcing to the political world that Yukinoshita had provoked Sakayanagi.
The Yukinoshita Family might well be finished in the most literal sense.
Finally realizing how serious the situation was, Yukinoshita collapsed to the ground.
"Yukino! What's going on?! What did you do to her?!"
Yuigahama shouted at Sakayanagi, but hadn't Yukinoshita been the one to pick the fight?
"I was simply having a normal conversation. At least, I didn't do anything wrong."
Though her methods were pretty underhanded.
"You're lying! Apologize to Yukino! Shorty!"
Ah, the vein at Sakayanagi's temple was throbbing.
Apparently, she was sensitive about her height.
Just as I was thinking that...
"Seriously, defending Hikki is just stupid! Anyone who stands up for a scumbag who faked a confession is trash, too!"
Of all things, she'd brought that up here.
The moment they heard "fake confession," Sakayanagi and Hiyori, who had been watching coolly, both turned to look at me.
""A fake confession?""
They regarded me with searching eyes.
Of all people, those were the last two I wanted to find out...
At the same time...
"Hikki wrecked another guy's confession because he doesn't have a girlfriend of his own! He's the worst!"
"You'll be miserable if you get mixed up with trash like him! Leave him already!"
"We're taking Hikigaya back to set him straight. It's for your own good, too. Make him drop out and cut ties with him."
Aside from Yukinoshita, who stood frozen in place, the other three started hurling insults at me.
If I were the only one they were insulting, I wouldn't have cared. But being berated in front of the two girls I wanted to spend a long time with made me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.
If this kept up, they might start hating me.
And if that really happened...
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the two girls beside me exchanged a glance, then turned to the four of them and spoke in unison.
""We refuse!""
Their answer was firm and decisive.
"We don't know all the details. But Hikigaya would never ruin someone else's confession out of petty jealousy."
"And it would be too dangerous to leave Hachiman with you. We can't agree to that."
Hearing them defend me so fiercely sent a rush of heat up my throat.
Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to look them in the face right then.
"Huh?! Cut the crap and hand over that shut-in!"
"Exactly! Everything that trash does is wrong!"
"Looks like these two have problems just like Hikigaya. Guess we'll have to set all three of you straight!"
Just as the three of them made their threats, the piercing sound of sirens suddenly came from outside the school.
That sound... Was it a police car? For some reason, I had a bad feeling about this.
"Hey, if we stay here, we'll get dragged into this. Let's get out of here."
I guessed that Hiratsuka had called security, and the other guards had called the police.
Running away was our best bet now.
We hadn't done anything wrong, so it was fine to sneak off.
"All right. If you don't mind... could you carry me?"
Sakayanagi had trouble walking, after all. It couldn't be helped.
"Come on."
I bent down, lifted Sakayanagi into my arms, and set her cane aside.
The idiots in front of us immediately erupted.
"You're carrying her like a princess?! Gross! So gross! Ugh, just gross!"
"What the hell is wrong with you, you scumbag?!"
"You dragged me into this and you still have the nerve to act so smug! Get through the gates right now! I'll teach you a lesson!"
Ignoring their insults, Hiyori and I turned and hurried toward the school building.
The shouting behind us gradually faded into the distance.
"Damn it, the shut-in got away!"
"What the hell?! Yuigahama, Komachi, I'm going over the wall after him. Leave Yukinoshita to you two!"
""Got it!""
Yuigahama and Komachi nodded, then helped Yukinoshita, who had gone blank after provoking the Sakayanagi Faction, toward Nature Park, just across the street from the school.
After watching them leave, Teacher Hiratsuka began climbing the school gate.
As she tried to get over the barbed wire, enduring the pain—
"What?!"
The piercing sirens drew closer, and several police cars surrounded Advanced Nurturing High School.
More than ten armed police officers quickly got out.
"Stop immediately! You are committing an unlawful trespass!"
"Tch... If I can just catch Hikigaya and make him confess..."
The moment she reached for the barbed wire, a high-voltage current suddenly surged through it.
"Gah!"
Hiratsuka screamed and fell. A police officer caught her just before she hit the ground, and moments later, they had handcuffed her.
"Let go! I'm acting within my rights!"
"Shut up! Settle down!"
Despite her fierce resistance, Hiratsuka was soon overpowered and taken to a police car.
Desperately searching for Yuigahama and Komachi to defend her, she saw the two of them helping Yukinoshita onto a bus passing by.
Hiratsuka's eyes widened at the sight. When she realized they had abandoned her completely—
"What the hell is this?! Aaaaaaaagh!!!"
She let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was eventually formally arrested on suspicion of trespassing on school grounds and assaulting a security guard.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui, and Hikigaya Komachi had only caused a disturbance near the school gates and committed no trespassing or violence, so they received nothing more than a verbal warning.
When Hiratsuka Shizuka heard about it, she went completely insane in her holding cell.
Before you continue