Chapter 138: Ichinose's Transformation
The class incident continued to ferment. Karuizawa Kei approached Hirata Yosuke, speaking in a pleading tone. "Hirata, can I borrow a black pen? Mine's out of ink."
She deliberately put on a frustrated act, waving her pen.
"Of course."
Hirata offered a gentle smile, handing her a pen.
Karuizawa took it graciously, swapping it out.
Having sat beside him and once pretended to be his girlfriend, she knew exactly what kind of pen he used.
The pen she returned was completely different.
Per Hikigaya's judgment, after such an incident, Yamauchi would confront Hirata after school. And yes… that pen would stay in Hirata's bag, following him.
After the class uproar settled, Yamauchi found the alone Hirata Yosuke after school.
He stormed over, fuming. "Hirata, you betrayed me! You spilled everything!"
Hirata waved his hands, trying to explain, but the furious Yamauchi cut him off with a roar. "Forgot what you promised? If this gets out, I'll make sure this class is ruined! Hirata, I know what you care about! I swear, if I'm exposed, everything you value will shatter!"
"It's not, it wasn't me. I didn't say anything."
Hearing Hirata's explanation, Yamauchi's expression grew more sinister, glaring. "You think I'm an idiot? If not you, then who?!"
His tone surged with intensity. He knew Hashimoto and others framed him, but he was powerless against them, so he could only vent his rage on Hirata.
Hirata: "I… it really wasn't me, but I promise, this won't get out. Even if it does, I'll take all the blame."
Yamauchi snorted, his anger easing slightly. "You better mean it, Hirata. Don't screw me over again, or I won't let you off!"
"Absolutely not, Yamauchi-kun. For our class, trust me."
"Fine, I'll barely trust you."
Their conversation was overheard clearly by Hikigaya and Karuizawa from afar.
Karuizawa clenched her fists. Yamauchi was too much, not only betraying the class but exploiting Hirata's pity to secure his place. Such a pest.
Though she'd never had feelings for Hirata, even someone heartless would pity him now.
"Why, why does he let Yamauchi get away with it?!"
"I'm going to confront him!"
She moved to find Hirata, but Hikigaya gripped her hand tightly.
"No need. We've got what we wanted. Your questions will be answered someday."
Karuizawa's anger subsided, and she looked at Hikigaya haughtily, arms crossed. "Fine, if you weren't stopping me, I'd have grilled him already!"
"Thanks…"
"Oh, come on, no need to be so polite. I won't go after him. Like you said, we've got his weakness. It's my first time working with you, Hikigaya, it's kinda fun!"
Indeed, Sakura, Kushida, and Karuizawa all played their roles in this plan, Kushida's info, Sakura's channels, Karuizawa's familiarity with Hirata. Each was key.
Karuizawa, experiencing Hikigaya's brilliance up close for the first time, admired the boy even more.
"Now, we should head to Class B."
"Class B? Something up there?"
"Whatever's happening, it'll end."
Karuizawa followed, puzzled by his cryptic words.
Meanwhile, in Class B, a dispute was unfolding.
After Hikigaya's listening session yesterday, Ichinose Honami was in better spirits. Seeing the 20-plus true-and-false messages, she knew Hikigaya was behind it.
Though he promised not to help directly, he was supporting her his way, keeping his word.
Class B had always trusted Ichinose completely. After the flood of messages, they thought the rumor would die down, but…
Ryuen Kakeru's appearance pushed the B-D conflict to a climax.
Ryuen stood at Class B's door, flanked by the brains, Kaneda Satoru, and the brawn, Albert Yamada.
Everyone knew Ryuen was here to stir trouble, aiming to shatter Class B's unity for the next exam.
Class B's Shibata So stood as the vanguard, blocking the trio's advance. In the classroom's corner, Ichinose was shielded by several girls, clearly protecting her from Ryuen's attack.
They'd seen her low spirits and oddity when the rumor spread, Class B wouldn't let her be hurt again.
Despite it being after school, Class B was fully present, ready to unite and protect their leader, Ichinose.
To the naked eye, Ryuen's group of three seemed at a disadvantage, but his hands-in-pockets confidence showed no hint of weakness, or rather, he never felt weak.
Kanzaki Ryuji: "What do you want? Barging into our class? You're not welcome here, Ryuen!"
Albert scanned the students, then whispered to Ryuen, "Boss, fighting's not an option."
Ryuen smirked coldly. "Albert, we're not here to fight. We're here to reason."
Meanwhile, the crowd in the hallway grew, including Hikigaya's informant, Kamuro Masumi.
Ryuen: "Kanzaki, I haven't done anything to you guys. Just stating facts."
Shiranami Chihiro, mustering courage, retorted, "Honami's no thief!"
"Yeah, she's not that kind of person!"
"Ryuen, stop spreading lies!"
"Ryuen, get out of our classroom!"
Ryuen smirked again, then asked loudly, "I never said Ichinose was a thief. That text was anonymous. I'm talking about those massive points."
Shibata: "Stop playing dumb! Everyone knows you did it!"
Ryuen: "Oh? Got proof? Where's your evidence?"
Shibata was momentarily speechless but didn't stop moving.
Kanzaki frowned at Ryuen. "Why are you here?"
Ryuen sneered, locking eyes with Kanzaki. "I said it clearly, I want to hear how Ichinose's handling those massive points."
Kanzaki: "Ichinose's huge personal points were verified as legitimate by the school. If you've got nothing else, leave."
At that moment, led by Kamuro, Hikigaya and Karuizawa reached Class B's hallway.
Hearing Kanzaki not deny Ichinose's points, Hikigaya already knew their source.
If she gained massive points under school verification, there was only one way, she was Class B's bank-like figure.
But once exposed, that role put her in great danger. As the bond holding Class B together, if that broke, Class B would collapse instantly.
Ryuen: "Oh? That's curious. With so many talented people in Class B, why let a thief hold that role?"
Kanzaki: "Ryuen, enough!"
Shiranami: "Class B doesn't welcome you!"
"Honami's no thief!"
"…"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Ryuen Kakeru's manic laughter plunged Class B into silence.
"I really don't get you guys. Thinking 20-plus messages could make Ichinose's rumor vanish? That self-righteousness is hilarious."
"And can you really let a thief be your leader?"
"If she's a thief, maybe one day she'll steal all your class points. When that happens, will you still defend her like this?"
"You know it deep down, don't you, Ichinose? Staying silent, do you really think that'll make this go away?"
Ryuen's barrage of words left Class B's members deep in thought.
He knew Ichinose's personality well. Choosing silence as her shield, she'd eventually be cornered on a cliff.
All he needed was the perfect timing for a fatal blow to crush her completely.
But unfortunately for Ryuen, Ichinose had already been pulled from the cliff onto vast, open ground.
Her class supported her from behind, and an irreplaceable person had become her safe harbor.
Kamuro Masumi: "This isn't right. Looks like Class B's really done for this time."
Karuizawa Kei: "Yeah, Hikigaya, is Ichinose really a thief? That little angel… If not, why's she staying silent?"
Hikigaya Hachiman: "You'll see soon. Ryuen, your methods won't work anymore."
As murmurs rose, Ichinose gently pushed aside those shielding her, stepping warmly toward the sharp-eyed red-haired tyrant.
Unexpectedly, everyone thought she'd confront Ryuen head-on, but she faced her own class.
Ichinose Honami turned to her still-dazed classmates, bowing deeply without hesitation, uttering an apology no one wanted to believe:
"I'm sorry… everyone."
Clearly, without saying it outright, her action admitted Ryuen's claims. Shibata tried to stop her from speaking further.
Seeing her like this, Ryuen finally smiled with satisfaction. The next words would be Ichinose admitting everything herself, confessing she was a thief.
Now, it was Ichinose Honami's stage. The red-haired boy politely yielded it to her.
Standing at the podium, Ichinose shared her impoverished family, single-parent home, the mindset behind her theft, her sealed-away past, everything.
Even for someone as optimistic as her, pouring out hidden history must have shattered her heart irreparably midway.
This was Ichinose Honami's way. She didn't need Hikigaya's help; facing her demons head-on was how to break them.
Indeed, this was Class B's leader. Her courage and guts were worthy of Hikigaya's respect.
Class B didn't blame her. On the contrary, her excessive kindness had led to half a year of self-isolation. You could call her a poor girl, mock her lack of remorse for stealing, even justify stripping her leadership, but you could never deny she'd always been a kind, gentle angel.
But Ryuen wouldn't let her confession go smoothly. Noticing Class B not only didn't hate Honami but pitied her more, he restated his point.
"A thief, someone so desperate they stole, who can guarantee she won't misuse massive points?"
Yes, no matter how perfect the future, the criminal label stuck forever.
Ryuen: "Haven't you thought, 'Maybe betrayal's coming someday'? Holding the entire points account, her credibility's shot."
"If you're smart, stepping down as leader makes sense!"
Hikigaya listened to Ryuen's words, expression unchanged.
After clashing with Ryuen so many times, he'd grasped his specialty.
Psychological attacks, one of Ryuen's fortes. Everyone knows, no matter Ichinose's past sins, as long as her core is kind and she never meant harm, that's enough.
Kamuro: "Ryuen won't let this end easily."
Karuizawa: "Yeah, he'll latch onto Ichinose's weakness and keep attacking."
Ryuen's inflammatory words weren't for all of Class B, his sole target was Ichinose.
Among everyone here, the one who can't forgive this most, who can't forgive Ichinose… is probably herself.
As long as she has the courage to start over, she'll beat Ryuen.
Kanzaki slowly turned to Ichinose. Class B had entrusted everything to her; now, under all eyes, they awaited her decision.
Ichinose took a deep breath, glancing at the boy outside the window, her eyes saying to Hikigaya, Watch me. I'll solve this my way!
After baring her soul, Ichinose Honami smiled gently, looking at Hikigaya and all of Class B.
"Though it's shameless… everyone, will you go to the end with me?"
After a few moments of silence…
Then Class B erupted in cheers, so thunderous even Kaneda Satoru beside Ryuen was stunned.
Yes, this unity was unique to other classes, from the heart, We'll go to the end with you, no need to ask individually.
Kaneda panicked. No doubt, Class D's plan failed. But Ryuen wasn't worried; he had a backup.
Proving Ichinose was a thief meant, next, overwhelming negativity from other classes and years would flood Class B. Even united, cracks would form soon.
That was enough.
But…
Hikigaya smiled faintly. To him, it was over.
Before tension rebuilt, Sakura Airi, student council member, and Sensei stormed Class B's door, an imposing lineup that even fearless Ryuen lost his edge.
Normally, for slanderous rumors, if the victim didn't act, the school stayed hands-off. But if many students complained of defamation, the school intervened.
This became a massive rumor purge. Class C's advisor Chabashira Sae and Class B's Hoshinomiya Chie stood explaining: multiple rumors caused severe harm.
Any future mental-damaging rumors would face punishment. Even Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Vice President Nagumo Miyabi had to comply.
With Horikita Manabu busy, Nagumo handled this. He didn't notice Hikigaya, but Hikigaya noted Nagumo's face wasn't as composed.
Hearing this, Class B boiled over. They'd won against Class D. Sensei and the council sided with them.
Isolated Class D couldn't turn it around. Losers and onlookers dispersed amid joy.
Leaving, Ryuen saw Hikigaya and laughed in relief.
Kamuro: "Didn't expect this twist. Praise Class B's unity or the perfect timing? Feels off, Sensei showing up now."
Karuizawa knew without thinking: this guy beside her.
"Class B won, Class D lost. But from the start, no winners or losers, Ryuen and Ichinose both got what they wanted."
Hikigaya nodded; Karuizawa's analysis was spot-on.
Kamuro: "No point staying here. I will report to the princess."
She left without looking back.
What a free spirit.
After Kamuro left, Sakura had student council duties, so Karuizawa said, "Let's go?"
"Yeah."
"Hikigaya-kun!"
From afar, the little angel Ichinose called, running with her innocent smile to him. Before Karuizawa reacted or Hikigaya spoke, she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, thank you!"
"Uh… Ichinose… everyone's watching…"
"It's fine! Just a thank-you hug. Karuizawa-san won't mind, right? Oh, and she has no right to be mad, you're just classmates."
The eased class atmosphere turned awkward instantly.
Karuizawa rarely went silent, but when she did, she became a little monster.
Ichinose ignored whether Karuizawa was upset, holding Hikigaya tight.
Facing this "thank-you" hug, Hikigaya was speechless. Karuizawa's sudden silence felt like a shura field storm he couldn't escape.
Class B was dumbfounded.
They knew Ichinose trusted everyone, but expressing feelings so openly? It was their first time seeing this.
After a while, Ichinose finally released him with her gentle smile. Facing silent Karuizawa, she said again,"Karuizawa-san, confirming once more, you're not his partner, right?"
Asked by Ichinose, Karuizawa deflated, replying calmly, "For now… not yet."
Ichinose's smile brightened. "Great. That spot's mine first."
(End of this chapter)