But now, other than hearing the conversation outside and the suppressed breathing of the girl in front of her, she couldn't hear any sign that anyone had noticed the commotion behind the bed curtain.
Was it the legendary magic? Or was this boy really a demon?
Karuizawa Kei didn't dare to keep thinking, and instead shuffled her steps, slowly approaching Hachiman, doing her best to keep her eyes from looking at Ichinose Ayano, who was still immersed in her own world, and asked in a low voice, "Um... you, you called me over, is there something you want?"
Although he had said that the sounds from here couldn't be heard outside, hearing the conversation between Kushida Kikyo and Teacher Mikado clearly coming in, she still couldn't help lowering her voice.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-F, and also the president of the Service Club."
Seeing Karuizawa Kei still somewhat flustered by this unexpected scene, Hachiman didn't explain his relationship with Ichinose Ayano in detail and went straight to the point.
"The Service Club is a club that accepts requests from students and offers help to those in trouble."
"You must be wondering why I seem to know you so well, right? Don't be surprised, I really do know you well, I've even read your file."
"Because I was entrusted by our student guidance teacher to look after the problematic students from Advanced Nurturing High School who were transferred to Sobu High."
"Mm… problematic students don't just refer to those who disobey discipline. Naturally, it also includes those with dark histories they don't want to mention."
Previously, Hiratsuka Shizuka had specially pulled him aside to talk, asking him to give special attention to the problem students transferred from Advanced Nurturing High School, who made up the majority.
Originally, Hiratsuka Shizuka just meant that when they took the initiative to ask the Service Club for help, he should try to consider and take care of them more, and not casually reject their requests. She didn't shamelessly ask Hachiman to actively help everyone.
But he understood Karuizawa Kei and the others better than what was recorded in their files.
Karuizawa Kei had once been bullied. After resisting, she was bullied even more severely and almost lost her life. The scar on her abdomen that she didn't want anyone to know about was proof of her past resistance.
Now Karuizawa Kei definitely wouldn't take the initiative to expose her dark history to a large number of people in the Service Club to seek help. If he wanted to help her, he had to take the initiative to approach her. Otherwise, Karuizawa Kei would choose to disguise herself as one of the girls who used to bully her, adopting a "gyaru" appearance to avoid being bullied.
"So you're the president of the Service Club... then she…", Watching Hachiman talk about dark histories while smiling at her, Karuizawa Kei swallowed hard and finally couldn't help looking at Ichinose Ayano, who seemed a little tired, having stopped moving and was now leaning in Hachiman's arms.
She knew about the Service Club. On the first day they transferred to Sobu High, the student guidance teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka had told them that if they had difficult problems to solve, they could go to the special building and seek help from the Service Club.
After learning that even the legendary Elf Princess had joined the Service Club, many of the girls who transferred became interested in it.
It was just that her own problem was a bit hard to speak of, and besides, the name "Service Club" sounded a little strange, so she hadn't gone to the special building yet.
She never expected her first meeting with the president of the Service Club would be in such an awkward situation.
"Oh, her name is Ichinose Ayano. She's a problematic student from my class," Hachiman looked down at Ichinose Ayano, who had recovered under the nourishment of life energy and was no longer weak. He kissed her smooth forehead, gently slid his fingertips over her, and with extremely practiced magic, cleaned the sweat from her smooth, fair jade-like back.
"But you don't have to worry. Although you're also very cute, I won't use your dark history to force you to submit to me. She only did this voluntarily because she wanted my protection."
"Mm... President...", Snuggled in Hachiman's arms, arms wrapped around his waist, Ichinose Ayano heard Hachiman seemingly attributing their entire relationship to her seeking help and didn't know what to say, only continuing to rest against his chest, quietly feeling his intoxicating presence.
Indeed, she was proactive because she wanted the president to help her. The president had never forced her to do anything.
But now, she didn't even know what her feelings for the president were anymore.
Clearly, the president had tortured her all night with the Empathy Bracelet, and now was even bullying her in the infirmary in front of a strange girl, yet she didn't feel angry at all.
She even vaguely felt that the president revealing their intimate relationship in front of others was a sign that he liked her…
"That's not what I meant... um, the surname Ichinose...", Hearing Hachiman's explanation, Karuizawa Kei slightly relaxed, but looking at Ichinose Ayano in Hachiman's arms, she still hesitated a little.
'The surname Ichinose is quite rare. Could this Ichinose Ayano be...'
"You're not wrong. Ayano is related to Ichinose Honami from Class B of the former Advanced Nurturing High School. Currently, Ichinose Honami is living at her house. By the way, Honami transferred to our class and even came to my house for dinner yesterday. If you feel it's not appropriate to talk to me, you can also ask Honami for help. She's also a very kind and warmhearted person."
Seeing Karuizawa Kei seemingly realize the relationship between Ichinose Ayano and Ichinose Honami, Hachiman explained without reservation.
Anyway, Karuizawa Kei would come to know this in the future. By telling her clearly now, her sense of vigilance would be lower.
"I see…", After listening to Hachiman's explanation, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help suddenly understanding.
No wonder she found Ichinose Ayano a bit familiar, it turned out she was the sister of Class B's Ichinose Honami.
Looking closely, the two were indeed very similar. It was just that Ichinose Ayano's expression earlier had broken down a bit, so she hadn't recognized her immediately.
But to seek protection, Ichinose Ayano went this far?
Before entering high school, she too had thought of various ways to avoid being bullied. Like disguising herself as a bully, or seeking protection from someone strong.
But to go this far like Ichinose Ayano…
"Um... so what do you want me to do now?", Karuizawa Kei shook her head hard, trying to shake away that terrifying thought. She lowered her eyes to look at Ichinose Ayano, who seemed to be enjoying herself in Hachiman's arms without the slightest resistance, not daring to meet Hachiman's eyes, and once again asked quietly.
Although Hachiman said he wouldn't force her, she still didn't quite believe it.
After all, she had stumbled upon Hachiman and Ichinose Ayano's affair. To keep her quiet, he might want her to join in or use her dark history to threaten her.
Rather than having her dark history spread and being bullied again by the delinquent gyarus at school, it'd be better to accept being bullied by Hachiman alone.
Anyway, she didn't think she was prettier than Ichinose Honami or Ichinose Ayano, nor did she have such a good temperament. They were even sisters who looked similar. Hachiman would surely prefer them. On top of that, she had ugly scars on her abdomen. Maybe Hachiman would find her disgusting and not bother with her.
Of course, if possible, she still hoped not to be bullied. She heard that kind of thing really hurt.
"It's just to let you see what I can do. If you ever need anything in the future, you can come to the Service Club directly to find me."
Seeing Karuizawa Kei's reaction, Hachiman could tell she misunderstood, and explained helplessly.
"Or if anyone in your class needs help, you can also tell me. After all, I was entrusted by Hiratsuka-sensei and can't just stand by while you're being bullied."
It seemed like Karuizawa Kei hadn't taken anything he said earlier to heart. Didn't he already say Ichinose Ayano was the one who took the initiative and he wouldn't force anyone?
"You can't stand by while we're being bullied… then, this, would this count as protection? Will it stop the delinquents at school from messing with us?"
Karuizawa Kei looked at Hachiman, who was saying he couldn't stand to see them being bullied, yet hadn't made any demands, just stayed close with Ichinose Ayano in his arms. She bit her lip and suddenly asked.
"Huh? You've only been at the school for a few days and already got harassed by the delinquents?"
Hachiman looked at Karuizawa Kei in confusion. In his impression, Karuizawa Kei, who once received death threats, would try to rely on others to avoid being bullied. Now that he'd already said he wouldn't abandon them, there was no reason for her to panic like this and chase after someone she just met asking for protection, right?
"Mm… although I wasn't there at the time… but Shinohara Satsuki and the others said those delinquent gyarus were really arrogant and looked down on us transfer students. If the disciplinary committee hadn't arrived in time, there probably would've been a fight…", Karuizawa Kei nodded lightly, looking at Hachiman as she quietly explained.
Sobu High had good school culture and many disciplinary committee members, which also indirectly meant there were quite a few delinquents; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people needed to maintain order.
The gyarus in her class like Matsushita Chiaki and Shinohara Satsuki had clashed with Sobu High's original delinquent gyarus after school. If the disciplinary committee hadn't arrived and she had been present, she couldn't even imagine what would've happened.
Though she disguised herself as a gyaru and got along well with Chiaki and the others, she wasn't really the bold gyaru type. She often used work as an excuse to avoid inappropriate activities.
If there really was a fight, she would probably reflexively curl up on the ground. At that point, not just the delinquent gyarus from Sobu High, even Chiaki and Satsuki might look down on her.
"I see... I think Kaede mentioned this while we were eating. Didn't expect it was you guys," Hachiman seemed thoughtful. When Kaede and Rurikawa had come back late before, they'd complained about the disciplinary committee being short-staffed and trouble breaking out among students again.
But at the time, he was more focused on the fanservice activities of the disciplinary committee and didn't pay much attention to regular campus matters they could handle.
"Student Council President Kaede…", Karuizawa Kei looked at Hachiman, who had a close relationship with the student council president and showed no fear of campus bullying, then looked at Ichinose Ayano lying in his arms staring at her, swallowed nervously, lowered her head, blushed, and hesitantly made her request.
"Um… can you make the delinquent gyarus at school stop bothering us?"
"I want to be… protected by you like Ichinose-san…"
"Like Ayano?"
Hachiman glanced at Ichinose Ayano, who was lying in his arms and seemed to be slightly stirring, then raised his head and looked at Karuizawa Kei, who was watching him anxiously, feeling a little surprised.
Actually, Karuizawa Kei was easy to win over.
A girl who had been bullied at school, and whose resistance had only resulted in more deadly bullying, once she found someone who could protect her from bullying, no matter how harsh the demands were, she would cling to them like a lifeline and be completely obedient.
It was precisely because he understood this that he so easily exposed his relationship with Ichinose Ayano in front of Karuizawa Kei. Even if he didn't warn her, Karuizawa Kei wouldn't dare to spread things about him and cause trouble.
But now, seeing Karuizawa Kei's completely willing attitude, he felt that he had still underestimated the fear of death she had once experienced.
He hadn't made any demands, and even said he was helping them under Hiratsuka Shizuka's request, yet Karuizawa Kei still chose to offer herself in exchange for his protection.
"Is... is it not okay... you said just now that I was also very cute…", Seeing that Hachiman hadn't responded to her request, Karuizawa Kei became uneasy, even as Ichinose Ayano completely ignored her and continued to fawn on Hachiman.
She hadn't gone to see the Service Club in the special building, but apparently, the Service Club was quite famous in the school. The Elf Princess was just the most well-known member, there were also a mermaid songstress idol, a sports club ace, Yukinoshita the politician's daughter, and Ichinose the politician's daughter, all part of the Service Club.
'Hmm… Ichinose…'
Karuizawa Kei looked at Ichinose Ayano, who was docile and submissive before Hachiman, having lowered the proud head of a politician's daughter, and suddenly felt discouraged.
In terms of status, beauty, or talent, there was no need to even compare, she didn't even have any experience. She couldn't act as obedient as Ichinose Ayano, so it was completely normal that Hachiman didn't fancy her.
"I do think you're very cute. If you really want to offer yourself to gain my protection, of course I won't refuse. But Karuizawa, I think you may have misunderstood. My relationship with Ayano isn't just a simple protector and protected situation."
Seeing that Karuizawa Kei was seeking his protection out of fear of being harassed by the delinquent gyaru in school, Hachiman shook his head and didn't immediately agree.
"If you're just worried about being bullied in school, you don't need to offer yourself to gain my protection. The disciplinary committee and the student council president will protect you."
Ichinose Ayano had originally been a love-brained girl who wanted to use his power to overthrow her father and take control herself. That was why he made requests of Ichinose Ayano. At least, she had to be his for a week, body and soul, inside and out, before he would help her.
Karuizawa Kei was different. She was a victim of school bullying, and it was only right that she be helped. If members of the disciplinary committee like Kotegawa Yui and Amasui Makoto, and student council members like Kaede and Rurikawa Tsubaki found out, they would do their utmost to help Karuizawa Kei.
"The disciplinary committee and student council president… I don't want their protection. I just want your protection, isn't that okay? You said you've read my file, so you should know the kind of bullying I suffered in middle school."
"Even if I may not be as pretty as Ichinose-san, or as experienced as her, I can do whatever Ichinose-san can do. I can learn anything I don't know how to do. I'll try my best to make you satisfied…"
Karuizawa Kei saw that even after she had said she wanted protection like Ichinose Ayano, Hachiman, who was still being served by Ichinose, remained unmoved. She bit her lower lip, stepped forward lightly on her black-stocking-wrapped legs, moving within Hachiman's reach, and slowly raised her hand to loosen her necktie.
Things like the disciplinary committee and student council president, she didn't believe in them at all.
Back in middle school, it wasn't like they didn't have a disciplinary committee or a student council president. Leaving aside whether they were even willing to manage school bullying, if delinquent girls were afraid of disciplinary committee warnings, they wouldn't be delinquent girls in the first place.
Reporting to parents or the school after being bullied only brought more severe retaliation.
Delinquent girls were only afraid of those who were even more lawless than them.
People like the disciplinary committee and student council president only ever appeared after the fact, and they weren't going to break rules just to deal with bullies on her behalf.
Society always said that bullying victims deserved it, that they were weak. People said that if they just resisted desperately, if they retaliated against even one bully, they wouldn't be bullied again.
But when being bullied, there were so many of them, and her hands and feet were pinned, how could she fight back?
Sure, bullies would have moments when they were alone.
But she had even more moments of being alone.
If she resisted, she faced even fiercer retaliation.
She could really die...
Karuizawa Kei had originally thought that by enrolling in the closed-off Advanced Nurturing High School, she could avoid ever seeing her former middle school classmates again, and everything would get better after graduating in three years.
Who would've thought the school would shut down only a few days into the term, and they'd be reassigned to Sobu High.
She didn't know if anyone from her old school had ended up at Sobu High, or if any of the delinquent girls who used to bully her were here.
But even if there weren't, this school itself had unruly delinquent girls.
She really didn't want to ever experience that helplessness again, the feeling of her belly being slashed open, her school uniform soaked in blood, her consciousness fading, lying on the ground in despair and powerless, waiting to die…
"You're really making things difficult for me...", Looking at Karuizawa Kei trembling as she brought his hand to her chest, pressing his hand with both of hers, Hachiman couldn't help but feel helpless.
"If the disciplinary committee finds out, they'll probably think I'm bullying you."
"This is my choice. The disciplinary committee can't control me, right? If they were actually useful, the delinquent girls wouldn't be bullying anyone."
Seeing that Hachiman didn't flatly reject her but was hesitating over something like the disciplinary committee, Karuizawa Kei panicked, pressing his hand even harder, wanting him to feel her sincerity.
If Ichinose Ayano weren't already occupying the space, she wouldn't even know how to proceed once she got on the bed, but she would absolutely sacrifice herself first in order to get protected.
[T/N: Sigh!]
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