Arisu Sakayanagi's Dominant Retort

I am in a foul mood right now.

I was in a state of extreme bliss just three minutes ago.

On the last holiday before the exam preparation period began, I went on an outing with Sakanayanagi and Hiyori.

After watching a movie, we enjoyed cake and tea at a cafe, then took a stroll around the academy, but when we reached the vicinity of the school gate...

"Hey! Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from approaching the gate, stop right there!"

"Shut up! Don't get in the way of us making the gloomy guy kneel and apologize!"

"That's right! This is part of his education, don't interfere! Take this—the First-Strike Flying Kick!"

"Waaah!"

The annoying people I met back in middle school had appeared outside the school gate.

And seriously, you violent teacher, isn't the act of assaulting a security guard problematic in itself?

This group seemed to want to drag me out by force, but even if they took down the guard, they couldn't get in with the school gate blocking their path.

The gate is over five meters high, covered in iron bars, and surrounded by barbed wire.

Furthermore, forcing a breach would trigger the security system; the idea of them dragging me out is nothing but a pipe dream.

"Hikigaya-san, are they acquaintances?"

Sakanayanagi asked me, eyeing the four people on the other side of the gate with a look as if she were observing filth.

"Unfortunately, you could say that."

"I see. However, I don't sense any refinement from them at all. Shall we head back?"

"That is exactly what I was thinking."

Staying with this group would only breed irritation and murderous intent.

I need to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.

Fortunately, with the school gate as a barrier, they shouldn't be able to get in.

But the people on the other side clearly had no intention of letting it go. Yuigahama shouted from across the iron bars:

"Wait! It's all because of Hikigaya that Sabre died, you have to apologize!"

What is this person rambling about?

"Huh? I saw that incident on the bus; it had nothing to do with me, right?"

"Hah? Of course it does! If you had been hit by the car at the scene of the accident back then, Sabre wouldn't have died!"

Damn it, for the first time in a while, I feel like my sanity is about to snap.

Although I get annoyed when Sakanayanagi teases me, the anger this time is on an entirely different level.

"Exactly! If you had taken the hit instead, I wouldn't have to be mocked by those idiots. Take responsibility!"

Yukino said something similar, but wasn't the fault entirely on Yuigahama for not keeping a proper hold on the leash?

"Isn't that the only use for a trash-kun like you? Why are you running away!"

Just as my anger was burning, I felt a sense of pressure coming from both sides. I turned my head to find Sakanayanagi wearing a cold sneer, and Hiyori staring at the four of them with icy eyes.

"I have roughly understood the situation from your conversation. Hikigaya-san has truly been subjected to some incredibly unreasonable treatment."

"Indeed. I finally understand the reason why Hachiman-kun chose this academy."

Hearing this exchange, the two from the Service Club spoke up to Sakanayanagi and Hiyori:

"Did that trash over there get some kind of leverage over you two? I know some reliable lawyers I can introduce to you."

"Don't worry! The Yukinoshita family has a lot of influence! We can definitely solve your troubles!"

"No need. I am standing on Hikigaya-san's side of my own volition."

"I also decline. I enjoy spending time with Hachiman-kun."

The two of them flatly rejected Yukino and Yuigahama.

Hearing such a clear stance, I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my heart.

At this moment, the violent teacher and Komachi joined in to support them:

"There is no need to force yourselves to protect Hikigaya. Although the Yukinoshita family has suffered some setbacks, they still hold social status. They can still manage to sanction Hikigaya."

"That's right! Yukino-senpai's family are prefectural assembly members!"

"Exactly. Or are you really going to wallow in the mud with trash? Then you must be the same kind of people."

"Hah?!"

Yukino's statement pushed my patience to its limit.

I don't care if I'm called trash, but I will never allow them to be insulted like this.

In a fit of rage, knowing full well there was a gate between us, I went to throw a punch, but my shoulder was suddenly grabbed.

I turned back to find Sakanayanagi holding onto my shoulder.

She walked straight up to me with a sneer on her face:

"You've provided some truly interesting material. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Arisu Sakayanagi, pleased to meet you."

At the mention of Arisu's name, Yukinoshita's face turned deathly pale, and she stumbled backward.

"Sa, Sakayanagi... could you be..."

"Yukino-chan?!"

Yuigahama hurriedly caught Yukinoshita before she could fall.

Judging by their reactions, the Sakayanagi family clearly wielded immense power.

I knew her father was the chairman of the school board, but I suspected they also had deep connections in the political and business worlds.

And Arisu's offensive continued:

"I understand the philosophy of the Yukinoshita family. As an individual, I admire it, and I will convey it to the political circles through my father."

This was equivalent to threatening to expose Yukinoshita's provocation of Arisu to the entire political establishment.

If that happened, the Yukinoshita family would likely face a literal end.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yukinoshita finally collapsed to the ground.

"Yukino-chan! What is going on?! What did you do to Yukino-chan?!"

Yuigahama shouted at Arisu, but wasn't it Yukinoshita who started the dispute in the first place?

"I was merely having a normal conversation. At the very least, I haven't done anything wrong."

Even if her methods were quite insidious.

"Liar! Apologize to Yukino-chan right now! You shorty!"

Ah, a vein popped on Arisu's forehead.

It seems she is very sensitive about her height.

Just as I was thinking that...

"At the end of the day, shielding Hikigaya is just plain stupid! Defending a piece of trash who faked a confession—you guys are garbage yourselves!"

To think... they would bring up that incident in a place like this.

The moment they heard "fake confession," Arisu and Hiyori, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, both looked at me simultaneously.

""Fake confession?""

They both cast inquisitive gazes in my direction.

Of all people, it had to be the two I least wanted to find out...

At the same time...

"Because Hikigaya doesn't have a girlfriend, he goes around ruining other guys' confessions! That's super pathetic!"

"You'll be miserable if you get involved with trash like him! Get away from him!"

"We are here to take Hikigaya back for correction. This is for your own good, so we advise you to make him drop out and cut all ties."

Except for the stunned Yukinoshita, the other three began to berate me.

If it were just me being insulted, I wouldn't care, but being scolded in front of these two girls I wanted to have a long-term relationship with made me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.

If this keeps up, they might start to hate me.

If it really turns out that way...

Just as I was thinking this, the two girls beside me suddenly exchanged glances and turned to the four of them in unison:

""I refuse!""

A resolute, iron-clad answer.

"We don't know the specifics. But Hikigaya-kun is definitely not the type of person to ruin someone else's confession out of petty jealousy."

"Besides, it's too dangerous to hand Hachiman over to you. We can't possibly agree to that."

Hearing them defend me like that, a burning emotion suddenly welled up in my throat.

To be honest, I didn't dare look them in the face at that moment.

"Huh?! Enough talk, hand over the loner!"

"Exactly! Everything that trash guy does is wrong!"

"It seems these two are just as problematic as Hikigaya. Fine, we'll just have to correct all three of you!"

Just as the three of them made their threats, the piercing sound of a siren suddenly echoed from the direction of the school gate.

That sound... is it a police car? I have an inexplicable, ominous feeling.

"Hey, if we stay here, we're going to get dragged into this. Let's get out of here."

I suspect Hiratsuka-sensei hit the security guards, and the other guards called the police.

Running away is the best strategy right now.

Anyway, we didn't do anything wrong, so it doesn't matter if we slip away.

"Okay. If you don't mind... could you carry me?"

After all, Sakanayanagi has difficulty walking, so this was the only way.

"Come here."

I bent down and scooped Sakanayanagi up in a bridal carry, setting her cane aside.

The group of idiots in front of us immediately erupted.

"A bridal carry! Disgusting! Super disgusting! Ahhh, it's just disgusting!"

"What are you thinking, you scumbag!"

"You dare to be this arrogant after dragging me into this mess! Get through the school gate right now! Let me show you how I'll discipline you!"

Ignoring their shouting, Hiyori and I turned and quickly retreated toward the school building.

The insults behind us gradually faded into the distance.

"Ahhh, that loner is running away!"

"Are you kidding me?! Yuigahama, Komachi, I'm going to climb the wall and chase him! Leave Yukinoshita to you two!"

""Understood!""

Yuigahama and Komachi nodded in agreement, supporting Yukinoshita—who had fallen into a daze after provoking the Sakanayanagi faction—and moved toward the Nature Park across the street from the school.

Watching them leave, Hiratsuka-sensei began to climb the school gate.

As she endured the pain while attempting to scale the barbed wire—

"What?!"

The piercing sound of sirens approached from afar, and several police cars surrounded Advanced Nurturing High School.

Over a dozen armed police officers quickly exited their vehicles.

"Stop immediately! You are in the act of trespassing!"

"Tsk... as long as I catch Hikigaya and make him confess..."

The moment her hand touched the wire fence, a high-voltage current suddenly surged through it.

"Gah!"

Hiratsuka screamed as she fell, only to be caught by the police just before hitting the ground, and was handcuffed in an instant.

"Let go! This is a justified action!"

"Shut up! Behave yourself!"

Despite her fierce struggle, the outnumbered Hiratsuka was quickly shoved into a police car.

She anxiously searched for Yuigahama and Komachi to defend her, only to see the two of them helping Yukinoshita onto a passing bus.

Witnessing this, Hiratsuka's eyes widened, and upon realizing she had been completely abandoned—

"Are you kidding me, ahhhhhhh!!!"

She let out a heart-wrenching roar.

In the end, Hiratsuka Shizuka was formally arrested on charges of trespassing on school grounds and assaulting security personnel.

As for Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui, and Hikigaya Komachi, because they had only caused a disturbance near the school gate and had not committed any trespassing or violent acts, they received only a verbal warning.

Upon learning of this, Hiratsuka Shizuka fell into a state of total madness inside her detention cell.