Sakanayanagi's Return Gift

On the day the midterm exam results were posted, the class atmosphere was unusually relaxed and cheerful from the morning homeroom onwards, as no one had been expelled. Just like that, the lunch break arrived.

I walked out of the classroom with a bento made by Hiyori in one hand, only to see Ichinose leading a group of Class B students toward me in the hallway.

Everyone was wearing gym clothes; it seemed they had Physical Education for their fourth period.

The other party seemed to notice me as well, and Ichinose jogged over to where I stood.

"Good afternoon, Hikigaya-kun. How were your exam results?"

She greeted me with a radiant smile. Looking at that innocent, beaming face was truly healing.

"I got perfect scores in Japanese, English, and Social Studies... but I was fourth in the class for Math, and I didn't even break 90 in Science. So, my overall ranking is probably around tenth, and I only got 90,000 points."

Though, I did earn an extra 20,000 points in interest from the points I lent to Horikita.

"Oh my. Still, 90,000 points is more than enough, so you should cherish them."

"That's the plan... hey now."

Most of the Class B students who caught up were glaring at me, likely due to the rumors about my indecisiveness. I hadn't expected them to show their hostility so blatantly, though.

Ichinose noticed this too, and with a wry smile, she tried to persuade her classmates: "Come on, everyone, don't look so hostile. Hikigaya-kun isn't a bad person."

"But Ichinose, isn't this guy colluding with Sakanayanagi from Class A and Ryuen from Class C?"

As expected, both Sakanayanagi and Ryuen were viewed as dangerous individuals. However...

"Setting aside Sakanayanagi, I have nothing to do with Ryuen. Aside from matters related to our contract, I have no contact with that guy at all."

"Who knows. You're getting close to Ichinose while secretly plotting to raise the status of Class D, right?"

"Think whatever you want. Say whatever you have an opinion on. But if you dare to disrupt my peaceful life or touch the people who are important to me... I'll kill you."

"Eek!"

"!"

I glared at the provocative boy with eyes full of killing intent. Instantly, the girls—except for Ichinose—stepped back half a pace, while the boys shielded the girls and stood in front.

"That's enough. Hamaguchi-kun, please stop this blatant provocation."

"Bu-but..."

"I've known Hikigaya-kun for a long time; he isn't the type to plot those kinds of things."

"I-I understand."

Even though Ichinose said that, it was true. I never plotted anything for the sake of the class. While I had certainly planned many things, they were all for my own benefit.

"I understand why you'd be angry at being suddenly provoked, Hikigaya-kun, but please don't release such killing intent."

"I apologize for that part."

Although I said that, I wasn't actually angry; it was just a simple warning. If I had gotten angry over such trivial matters, I would have killed someone back in middle school.

"Anyway, I'm leaving. See you."

"Ah, yeah. By the way, thank you for helping me study. Thanks to you, I got a perfect score in Japanese."

"Likewise. Thanks to you, my grades improved as well."

After saying that final sentence, I walked past Ichinose. The group from Class B was still glaring, but I left without caring in the slightest.

When I reached the vicinity of the stairwell, I found Sakanayanagi and Hiyori waiting for me.

"You're here. Shall we head out, then?"

Sakanayanagi said as she started walking, and Hiyori and I matched her pace as we moved forward.

"By the way, Hachiman-kun, did anyone in Class D get expelled?"

"No, they didn't."

Though it was a close call. If I hadn't gone to buy drinks at that moment...

"I see. I was actually looking forward to seeing what the penalty for an expulsion would be..."

Sakanayanagi said those terrifying words with an expressionless face; I guessed that an expulsion would lead to the confiscation of class points or something similar.

While I was pondering this, we arrived at the cafeteria. Just as we were about to take our seats—

"So? How were Hikigaya-kun's exam results?"

"Perfect scores in Japanese, English, and Social Studies; I fell out of the top three in Science and Math. My overall ranking is barely in the top ten or so."

"I see. It's already very good that you were able to get 90,000 points."

Hiyori said.

Although my original goal was 200,000 points, as she said, 90,000 was enough.

I would just have to apply for the same amount of reward points during the final exams. To do that, I would have to increase my daily study time.

At this moment, Sakanayanagi suddenly leaned in close to me.

"Anyway, you worked hard. As a token of my gratitude, I would like to give Hikigaya-kun a reward."

Before she could finish her sentence, she stood on her tiptoes—

Smooch.

A kiss landed on my right cheek. A soft sensation brushed against my skin.

The entire cafeteria fell silent in an instant—

"Ehhhhhh!?"

"Waaaah!"

The boys let out startled cries, and the girls shrieked in succession. Nearly two hundred people in the cafeteria were now staring at us.

Stunned by this unexpected turn of events, I watched Sakanayanagi pull away and turn to Hiyori.

"How about you join in, Shiina-san? Hikigaya-kun deserves a reward for all his hard work."

"Hey! Don't go making suggestions like that to the natural-born queen Hiyori! If you suggest things like that..."

"Ah, you're right... You've worked hard."

Smooch.

"That bastard aaaaaah!"

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

Hiyori's lips pressed against my left cheek, triggering even more intense roars and screams. "What the hell are you two doing!?"

I glared at them both, cold sweat dripping down my face, but Sakanayanagi leaned in to whisper in my ear:

"This is payback for making me lose face in front of Kamuro-san on the eve of the midterms."

Ah! Come to think of it, I did blow into Kamuro's ear back then. I was wary that she'd retaliate immediately, but since she never made any big moves, I'd forgotten all about it.

"You really have some nerve, Lewd Yanagi."

"That's my line. You're the one who's a breast-groping maniac, Hikigaya-kun."

We looked at each other and laughed. I decided then and there: one day, I will absolutely make Sakanayanagi submit. I really want to see that Sakanayanagi, who never admits defeat, finally bow her head.

However...

"The two of you should sit down first. Since Sakanayanagi-san and I worked so hard, shouldn't Hachiman-kun give us a reward kiss on the cheek?"

"Please, spare us from that one!"

Facing the offensive from the airheaded queen Hiyori, we truly stood no chance.

"I should get this settled once the exams are over."

After school, I headed to the shopping mall alone. Even though I'd been spending a lot of time with Sakanayanagi and Hiyori since enrollment, and recently had more contact with Ichinose, I still wanted to be alone once in a while.

That's why I came to the mall for dinner today. Hiyori's home-cooked meals are great, but sometimes I just crave high-calorie food like ramen or yakiniku, so I gave her the night off.

As I was thinking about heading to the food court, I bumped into someone at a corner, and my uniform got splashed. It looked like the person had been drinking something.

"Ah, sorry... Huh? Hikigaya?"

"Hm?... It's Kamuro."

Standing there was none other than Kamuro Masumi, the sidekick known as "Sakanayanagi's friend." She apologized immediately upon seeing my uniform.

"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Treat me to ramen and I'll forgive you."

"You have millions of points, yet you're still trying to extort me. Your personality is truly rotten."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"That was sarcasm."

"I know. So?"

"Ha... No wonder you get along with Sakanayanagi... Ramen is fine?"

"Eh? You're actually going to pay?"

I was mostly joking, after all.

"It was my fault, after all."

"Then I won't hold back."

I'm not one to refuse a free meal. I took off my uniform and draped it over my shoulder; luckily, my shirt wasn't too wet.

And just like that, I embarked on a ramen journey with an unexpected companion.

"Ah~ delicious!"

"I don't know how you can eat something so greasy. Just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous."

At the ramen shop, I ordered the rich tonkotsu ramen, while Kamuro opted for the light soy sauce ramen.

"It's the best once in a while. Besides, I didn't know you ate ramen too."

"It's not like I asked you to extort me. I was going to have dinner anyway, and I didn't have anything specific in mind."

"I see."

"Yeah... so? What are you plotting?"

Kamuro asked while eating. Plotting?

"What do you mean?"

"Revenge on Sakanayanagi. The rumors about you have already spread throughout Class A."

Ah, the double-kiss commotion during lunch break. That matter had already become known to the entire school. After lunch ended, I was hounded by a bunch of guys and girls from my class.

"I'll make her pay sooner or later, but I have no plans to act right now. Besides, the rumors have been flying everywhere for a long time."

I'd gotten used to rumors about being a Two-Timer since the second day of school.

"...You're not that angry?"

"My ability to handle pressure is top-tier."

After all, I was insulted and mocked every single day before enrollment. This level of teasing from Sakanayanagi is nothing.

"Hmph... both you and Sakanayanagi are quite special."

"What's wrong with being special? It sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it?"

"To put it another way, you're quite eccentric."

We chatted while we ate. Come to think of it...

"You and Ichinose are quite similar."

"Huh? What are you saying? How are you and Ichinose alike?"

Kamuro gave me a look like I was an idiot.

"Sorry, I phrased that wrong. I meant that the way I interact with you is very similar to how I interact with Ichinose."

"The way you interact?"

"Yeah. How should I put it? I can just be myself around you two."

I'm always being teased by Sakanayanagi, and I'm constantly being spun around by Hiyori's airheaded remarks, forcing me to adjust how I respond. But with Ichinose and Kamuro, I can just be myself when we talk. Lately, I've even started to think that being messed with isn't so bad.

"...So that's what you meant. I thought you were saying our personalities or appearances were similar."

"That's impossible."

If I had to name a similarity, it would probably just be our figures.

We finished our ramen at the same time, and just as Kamuro picked up the bill to get up...

"You've got something on the corner of your mouth."

"...I can wipe it myself, don't treat me like a child."

After I wiped it off for her, I was hit with a dead-fish-eye glare.

"Sorry, I'm just used to Hiyori wiping my mouth."

"Oh."

The dead-fish-eye glare seemed to get even sharper, but it was best to ignore it.

I pretended not to see Kamuro's expression and headed straight back to the dormitory.

***

Later, while browsing the school intranet, I discovered a video someone had secretly filmed of me and Kamuro eating ramen. Consequently, I had earned the new titles of "Two-Timer" and "Gigolo."

I want to die...