Triple Shura Fields

I was facing the greatest crisis of my life.

I'd been through plenty of difficult situations before, but this one was completely different.

"Um... H-Hikigaya..."

At that moment, I was holding Ichinose tightly.

We'd been studying in the library, and as closing time approached, we got up to leave. But my legs had gone numb, and I fell, taking Ichinose down with me. As I fell, I accidentally touched somewhere I really shouldn't have.

My right hand felt an unbelievable softness, and Ichinose was right in front of me, her face flushed as she panted.

"Hachiman, how long are you planning to keep doing that?"

Hiyori said this with a radiant smile, and somehow that made me feel even more pressured.

Her usual gentle air had vanished completely.

I hurriedly tried to pull away from Ichinose, but...

"Oh my, it seems something very interesting happened."

The sudden voice made me freeze.

Th-this voice belonged to that woman.

I cautiously turned around—

"Ah, Classmate Sakayanagi. Thanks for your hard work."

"Mm, you too, Classmate Shiina."

Just as I'd expected, Sakayanagi was standing there, wearing a brilliant smile I'd never seen before.

Of all people, the person I least wanted to see had caught us like this...

The other students hadn't seen, had they?

It was nearly closing time, and we'd been studying in a corner.

But having Sakayanagi see me was bad enough.

First, I needed to apologize to Ichinose.

I hurriedly moved away from her and bowed my head. "I'm sorry. You might not believe me, but I really didn't do it on purpose."

All I could do now was offer a sincere apology.

I'd deal with Sakayanagi later. I was prepared to pay a million points as a fine if it came to that.

"Um... I know... Just be more careful next time, okay?"

"I understand. I promise it won't happen again."

If it happened again, I'd definitely be branded a pervert.

Still, Ichinose was pretty broad-minded to forgive me so easily, even if it had been an accident.

Now that the person involved had let it go, the biggest threat was...

"But you put on such an interesting show just because I stepped away for a little while. We really should've moved our study session to tomorrow."

Sakayanagi was grinning with unusual delight.

Her smile wasn't her usual inscrutable one. She was genuinely enjoying herself.

I wished I could see that smile in some other situation.

"Sakayanagi, can I ask you to keep this a secret?"

"Sure."

"Really?!"

"Of course. I'd much rather tease you slowly myself than let everyone else find out and turn against you, Hikigaya."

Th-this woman... She really had a nasty personality.

"Ah—You're probably about to ask me not to tease you, aren't you?"

"That was fast! I haven't even said anything yet!"

"You're probably going to ask me to stop teasing you, right? Sorry, but I enjoy teasing you, Classmate Hikigaya."

"Your nasty little hobby has to have its limits, Lewd Yanagi! You're ticklish around the ears!"

When I'd blown into Sakayanagi's ear at the movie theater earlier, she'd looked pretty sexy, to be honest.

"W-What...! Hmph... Isn't Classmate Hikigaya, who wouldn't let go of me all night, the lewder one?"

"I can't really argue with that..."

"I think you're both as bad as each other?"

""Please, Hiyori (Classmate Shiina), don't say anything right now.""

If Hiyori joined in, things would spiral completely out of control.

Ichinose gave an awkward laugh and joined the conversation. "Haha... Anyway, Classmate Sakayanagi, I've already forgiven Hikigaya. Could you go a little easy on the teasing?"

"Go easy? I thought you'd tell me to stop teasing him altogether."

"Well~ As the person involved, I'd obviously prefer you didn't tease him, but I'm sure Classmate Sakayanagi wouldn't listen, right?"

"That's right."

"So please go easy on him."

"I understand... I'll tease Classmate Hikigaya in moderation."

Please just stop teasing me altogether...

"...Anyway, let's get out of here. It's almost closing time."

If we stayed any longer, the librarian would scold us.

The other three nodded, and we all left the library together.

"I actually came to pick up Classmate Hikigaya and Classmate Shiina. I didn't expect Classmate Ichinose to be here, too. Would you like to join us for dinner?"

"Sure. I was going to invite the two of them anyway."

"Then it's settled. Classmate Hikigaya, what do you want to eat?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because I always choose the restaurant after school. It's about time you got to pick. What do you think, Classmate Shiina and Classmate Ichinose?"

"I don't mind."

"Me neither."

I really wanted some rich seafood ramen, but I doubted the girls would go for it.

Then I'd choose...

"Boss, I'll have a tuna and salmon roe rice bowl, please."

"Coming right up! Thanks for your order!"

After I placed my order, the owner nodded and began making sushi.

The sushi restaurant I'd picked had a traditional counter, not a conveyor belt.

There were other students sitting nearby, but I hardly recognized any of them. They were probably second- or third-years.

This was my first time eating sushi since enrolling, so it was a good opportunity.

"Mmm~ This is delicious. But are you really okay, Hikigaya?"

Ichinose looked at me with a concerned expression. What did she mean by that?

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"Um... Your Class D has zero Class Points right now..."

"Don't worry. I've still got some Private Points saved up."

"Oh, I see. That's good, then."

Ichinose nodded in understanding and left it at that.

At the same time, I felt a little uneasy. Before, anyone who heard I'd been saving up points was surprised. Even Ryuen had raised an eyebrow.

But Ichinose hadn't looked surprised at all. That meant she was probably earning points, too, or knew how to earn them.

I glanced over and saw Sakayanagi watching Ichinose through narrowed eyes, too.

What was this? A dinner that was really a mutual probing session?

"Still, I'm sure Classmate Hikigaya will be fine. What about you, Classmate Ichinose? Quite a few girls spend their points on their appearance."

"I'm fine. I only bought the bare minimum of clothes I needed. If I want to dress up, I'll save up enough points in the second term and do it then."

Ichinose gave a flawless answer to Sakayanagi's casual question... though her eyebrow had twitched just a little.

Had Sakayanagi decided that she had "more points than she needed," or that she "actually didn't have any to spare"?

(...No good. I can't read her at all... Whatever.)

So what if Ichinose had earned a few million points?

Private Points were important, and sometimes they could help earn Class Points, but Class B was still Class B.

Even if Class D really tried to climb the ranks, Class C was in the way.

And as things stood, Class D couldn't even beat Class C. If we really wanted to move up, paying twenty million Private Points might be more realistic.

Though saving up twenty million was a fantasy in itself.

"That's good, then. What about you, Classmate Shiina?"

"Mm, I haven't been wasting my points, either."

"A lot of people in our class have been spending points lavishly. Once they learned about the Class Point system, they all said they'd hold on to their current position and even try to reach Class A."

Ichinose might have said that, but even if Class B lost points, they still got sixty thousand Private Points a month. That was far better than our class getting nothing.

What's more, Class D had zero points, and anyone who failed a class would be expelled immediately. Yet some people were still slacking off... No wonder the school and the other classes treated us like defective products.

I'd been used to discrimination since middle school, so I didn't care. But for everyone else, this had to be hell.

"Hehe, if you want to come for us, you're welcome anytime."

Sakayanagi wore a provocative smile, but if Class B really dared to challenge her, she'd crush them without mercy.

"Mm, I look forward to it. Even if I'm up against you, Hikigaya, and Classmate Shiina, I won't lose."

Ichinose broke eye contact with Sakayanagi and turned to me and Hiyori.

There wasn't a hint of contempt in her eyes. If we really faced off, she probably wouldn't take it lightly.

"I look forward to it."

While Hiyori gave a polite reply, I kept mine simple. "I don't think our class stands a chance against Class B."

"Come on, you can't give up before we've even started."

Ichinose teased me with a smile.

But I wasn't joking at all.

Even putting Class B aside, there was no way Class D could win, was there?

After all, Class 1-D was supposed to be the worst class in history.

"Still, if I really do end up facing you, I'll give it everything I've got."

Otherwise, everyone in my class would give me grief.

As I replied, I took a bite of sushi.

It was delicious, just as I'd expected.

Once I got the reward points from the midterm exams, I'd have to come back for more.

Thirty minutes later...

"I'm getting off on this floor."

After dinner, we didn't linger and headed straight back to the dorms. We rode the elevator to our respective floors.

When we reached my floor first, we said our goodbyes.

"Mm. Thanks for today."

"You mean for letting you grope me, too?"

""Sakayanagi!""

"Just kidding."

That woman... She'd dropped a bomb like that with a smile.

Ichinose's face was bright red, and I was about the same.

"Honestly~ I meant helping us study and having dinner with us. See you tomorrow, Classmate Hikigaya."

"I'll come to your room tomorrow morning, Hachiman. Good night."

"I had fun today, too."

After we exchanged goodbyes, the elevator doors closed in front of the three of them.

I went back to my room and flopped onto my bed.

Damn Sakayanagi. She had to spring a surprise like that at the very end.

When she said it like that, I...

Drip.

Just as I was thinking about it, the tip of my nose suddenly felt warm.

I wiped it with my hand and found blood on my fingers.

Crap, I'd remembered how soft it felt back then.

I hurried to the sink and washed my face, all the while resolving to blow in Sakayanagi's ear next time and get my revenge.