Only Recently Realizing What Sakanayanagi Means to Me

Monday

As usual, I walked to school with Hiyori and Sakanayanagi. Although I walk with Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Ichinose two or three days a week, I basically accompany these two, whom I've known since the first day of school, every single day.

"Speaking of which, the hearing is tomorrow. How is the atmosphere in your class?" Sakanayanagi suddenly threw out the question. The hearing, I assume, refers to the investigation into that previous violent incident. I heard Sudo is supposed to face off against the students from Class C tomorrow.

"Our class is full of confidence, so there's no pressure."

"It's alright. Even if the atmosphere is heavy, it's nothing compared to the hell I went through in middle school."

"Please don't bring up such a heavy past so casually... Still, it's interesting that Class B is siding with Class D this time." Sakanayanagi said, turning her terminal screen toward us. It showed an announcement on the school forum calling for clues regarding the incident, promising points to anyone who provides key information or eyewitness testimony. This kind of bounty will likely attract a lot of attention.

"Indeed... but it's not just the online forum; similar notices have been posted on the school bulletin boards."

I glanced over and saw a group of students gathered in front of the bulletin board, where a paper listed similar conditions.

Just then, Ichinose, who was standing near the bulletin board, noticed us and waved.

"Morning! You three are early today!"

"Good morning. By the way, you were the one who posted that announcement on the forum, right, Ichinose? Any interesting intel?" Sakanayanagi asked with interest. Ichinose shook her head with a wry smile: "Sorry, I can't say for now. If Sakanayanagi-san takes action after knowing the information, things might get even more complicated."

A wise judgment. If it were me, I wouldn't reveal it easily either.

"I see, then never mind. Let's go." Sakanayanagi sighed lightly, turned, and started walking. Hiyori and I nodded slightly to Ichinose before following.

"You got shut down, Sakanayanagi. But considering your sadistic tendencies, it's only natural you'd get rejected."

"How rude. Is it appropriate to say such things to a frail girl?"

No, no, no... It's a fact that your health is weak, but in terms of mental fortitude, you're top-tier, not just in this grade, but in the entire school, right?

"Hachiman-kun is right. Sakanayanagi-san is the type of frail girl who would be so flustered she wouldn't know what to do if someone blew air into her ear."

"...Shiina-san, let's end this topic here." Sakanayanagi barely maintained a wry smile, but her voice was noticeably weaker. Meanwhile, Hiyori remained completely oblivious—as expected, even Sakanayanagi is no match for Hiyori's natural airheadedness.

"?" Why can't we talk about it?"

Facing the innocent question, the corner of Sakanayanagi's mouth twitched slightly. It seems Hiyori is undoubtedly the strongest player among the first-year girls.

I shivered inwardly at Hiyori's lethality and walked silently toward my classroom.

After School

The day passed with the usual classes and lunch, and after Chabashira-sensei finished the homeroom meeting, school was finally over.

Discussions about the Sudo incident in class were becoming increasingly heated, and the tension was rising. After all, if tomorrow's hearing result is unfavorable, the class points could drop to zero. But none of that has anything to do with me. I don't care what happens to Sudo, and having the class points wiped out won't affect me much. If anything, getting involved with that idiot never leads to anything good—last time he came to school, my desk was flipped over.

So, I ignored the commotion in the classroom and headed straight to the Class C room where Hiyori is. To most students in Class D, this might be enemy territory, but I don't consider Class C to be my enemy.

Just as I reached the back door, Hiyori poked her head out, and the moment she saw me, she smiled and trotted over. Ah... I've been healed...

"Good work, Hachiman-kun."

"You too. Going to the library?"

"Yes."

Seeing her nod, I was about to turn around when the front door of Class C suddenly pushed open. Ryuen walked out with a few lackeys, one of whom had a bruised face—was that the one Sudo punched?

Ryuen grinned when he spotted me:

"Yo, Hikigaya. Class D's points might be wiped out tomorrow, yet you still have the leisure to go on a date with Hiyori?"

"Whether we have points or not has nothing to do with me." My personal point earnings are known to the whole school, and since Ryuen has even received 500,000 points from me, he should know where I stand.

"Fair enough, you're definitely the type to pull that off. But regarding tomorrow's hearing, who do you think will win?"

"Who knows. If I had to say, I'd hope Sudo gets suspended immediately."

"...You're actually hoping your own class loses?" The girl behind Ryuen couldn't help but interject.

"Yeah. It doesn't matter what happens to Class D. As for reaching Class A—if I do, it'll be on my own terms."

"I refuse. Unfortunately, the people who matter to me aren't in Class D, so there's no need for me to intervene."

Ryuen seemed to understand this, wearing a pleased smile.

"It's no use, Ibuki. This guy is even more self-centered than I am."

"Excuse me. I don't view all existence as lower life forms like you do. Hiyori and Sakanayanagi are more important to me than myself."

As for everyone else, I am indeed self-centered. Although I have good relationships with Ichinose, Kamuro, and Hashimoto, they are lower in priority than myself in my heart.

At this stage, the only two people I prioritize above myself are Hiyori and Sakanayanagi.

"Hachiman-kun, really... hee hee..."

Hiyori's face turned bright red, and she hugged my arm tightly, acting spoiled. This girl has her own self-willed side, too...

The lackeys behind Ryuen looked annoyed, but don't look at me with those eyes.

"Interesting. So, when I attack Class A, I might end up facing you."

"If it's just a normal class competition, I won't interfere... but if you dare to trample on Sakanayanagi's dignity, I will crush you completely."

Although I don't think Sakanayanagi would lose to you on a mental level, it would be a different story if Ryuen resorted to violence. I will never let that happen. If Ryuen dares to use violence against Sakanayanagi, I will use every means at my disposal to destroy him.

Hearing my response, Ryuen's lackeys immediately went on guard, but Ryuen himself stopped them with a grin that bared his fangs.

"Ha! Just like that time you stood up for Hiyori, you really are a different person depending on how motivated you are. It seems Sakanayanagi is quite important to you, huh."

"That's right. I've only recently realized just how much Sakanayanagi means to me."

Whenever Hiyori or Sakanayanagi are involved, I tend to become impulsive. Perhaps it's because they know about my past, yet they still accept me without any reservations.

"Interesting... Anyone who stands in my way gets crushed. While Sakanayanagi is the main course, I'll just swallow you up along with her when the time comes."

Since he spoke of swallowing me up, it meant he was likely planning to trample on Sakanayanagi's dignity.

"...I won't let you. I'll destroy you before that happens. Let's go, Hiyori."

As I pulled Hiyori away, I was certain that a direct confrontation with Ryuen was inevitable in the near future.

"Heh heh heh... That kid Hikigaya, his killing intent isn't half bad. The future just got interesting."

After Hachiman walked away with Hiyori, Ryuen laughed from the bottom of his heart.

"Um, Boss Ryuen... with those dead fish eyes of his, he doesn't look like a threat at all..."

Ishizaki muttered from behind, but Ryuen scoffed at him.

"You idiot. That guy's strength, just like Sakanayanagi's, doesn't lie in physical power. If you could rule just by using muscles and violence, I would have been dethroned long ago."

Ishizaki fell silent at those words.

Although Ryuen is the emperor of Class C, not everyone obeyed him at first. Both Ishizaki and Albert, who were following behind him now, had once rebelled against him.

However, the battle-hardened Ishizaki and the physically imposing Albert were both eventually defeated by Ryuen and forced to submit.

"Then? Are you saying Hikigaya is strong?"

Ibuki Mio's question came from behind.

"Of course. At the very least, he's far stronger than the likes of Katsuragi, Ichinose, or Hirata."

Ryuen answered instantly. Although they had only crossed paths a few times, he was convinced that Hachiman was hiding his true depth.

What was most alarming was that lack of hesitation he showed when someone important to him was involved. Ryuen clearly remembered the moment Hachiman paid 500,000 points for him without even changing his expression.

It was that very decisiveness that convinced Ryuen: if he dared to touch Sakanayanagi, Hachiman would undoubtedly come at him without a second thought.

However...

"But even so, the winner will still be me."

As Ryuen and his lackeys laughed their way down the hallway, Arisu (Sakanayanagi) stood by the stairs, her cheeks flushed as she watched them leave. Only after their figures disappeared did she let out a long sigh and start walking.

Her steps toward the shoe lockers were slower than usual.

"...Even if Hikigaya-kun doesn't step in, there's no way I would lose to Ryuen-kun."

Arisu muttered to herself unconsciously, her voice a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

The conversation between Hachiman and Ryuen kept echoing in her mind:

"I don't view all existence as inferior beings like you do. Hiyori and Sakanayanagi are more important to me than my own self."

"If it were just a normal class competition, I wouldn't interfere... but if you dare to trample on Sakanayanagi's dignity, I will crush you completely."

"That's right. I've only recently realized just how much Sakanayanagi means to me."

As these words repeated in her mind, Arisu's face grew even hotter.

"...Hmph, to think he'd say such strange things to humiliate me, he's got some nerve."

As she slowly changed her shoes and headed toward the school gate, she happened to see Hachiman and Hiyori walking side by side.

"I'll let you enjoy a peaceful time with Shiina-san today... but starting tomorrow, I will settle this score of humiliation properly."

After saying this, she changed direction toward the school gate. As she was about to leave, she looked back toward the library and caught a glimpse of Hachiman just as he was about to step inside...

"See you tomorrow. You are... very important to me too, Hachiman-kun."

After whispering this greeting, Arisu finally stepped out of the school gate.