"Yes, yes, Mashima-sensei!"
"I'm arrived before the penguin—why don't I get a pass?" Yamauchi grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.
The four delinquents—Yamauchi, Ike, Sudo, and Sotomura—were the kind of people already stuck in the mud and desperate to drag someone else down with them.
"What's so special about the penguin anyway?"
"Can't you even show basic respect?" Mashima Tomoya frowned sharply, his stern voice cutting through their complaints.
Then he turned to the rest of the class and calmly explained, "Hikigaya was late for a reason. This morning, a girl fainted on the track, and he carried her to the infirmary."
Mashima exercised every morning himself. That day, he'd already finished running and was cooling down nearby when he witnessed the entire scene.
The class quickly understood.
Being late for a good deed was something even the strictest teacher couldn't condemn.
"See?! I knew it! There was a girl!"
"Damn it, how does this dead-fish-eyed guy keep getting lucky with women?" Yamauchi whined, making the others snicker.
"Hikigaya, take your seat," Mashima said, his tone softening slightly as he looked at the boy with faint admiration.
He had observed Hikigaya's entire run and was impressed. Ten laps, then still enough strength to carry someone all the way to the infirmary—this student's endurance was nothing to scoff at.
If he keeps training, he could become something remarkable one day, Mashima thought.
Under Mashima's watch, no one dared to make a sound for the rest of English class. Even the weaker students who barely understood the material sat upright, afraid to move.
When the period finally ended and Mashima left, the oppressive atmosphere lifted like a weight off the shoulders of everyone in Class D.
Hikigaya, too, slumped over his desk with a tired sigh.
"Did you go running this morning?" Horikita Suzune asked, glancing over with mild curiosity.
"Yeah…" Hikigaya mumbled weakly.
"That's good." Horikita nodded. "My brother said you lack exercise. You should work on that."
"I'd rather not get beaten up by your brother again—eh!?"
Before he could finish, Horikita quickly covered his mouth.
"Hikigaya!" she hissed, eyes wide. "You promised not to tell anyone what happened last night!"
Ah, right.
But what he'd been referring to wasn't that—it was the dream he'd had, where Horikita Manabu, the former Student Council President, had absolutely floored him.
"Horikita, it'll be hard for your future husband," Hikigaya muttered, half to himself. "He'd have to survive your brother's fists first… er, hypothetically speaking, of course."
"…"
Horikita's brow twitched. She was seconds away from exploding—until his words shifted halfway through. A complex expression flickered across her face.
"My brother… isn't interested in my affairs."
That's not true, Hikigaya thought immediately.
Even without the strange dream, he could tell Horikita Manabu deeply cared about his sister. His methods might be harsh, but his intentions were genuine. He just didn't want her to sink in a school ruled by manipulation and competition.
"How do you know that President Horikita doesn't care about you?" Hikigaya asked calmly.
"Don't act like you understand my brother."
"At least I understand him better than you do."
"What did you just say?" Horikita's eyes widened in irritation. She was his blood-related sister—how could an outsider like Hikigaya claim to know her brother better?
"There's a saying," Hikigaya said. "Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things more clearly."
He met her gaze. "Think about it. If Horikita-senpai didn't care, why would he ask to speak with you late at night? He's a third-year, close to graduation. That kind of move could be used against him if other classes found out."
Horikita froze, his words slowly sinking in like sunlight cutting through fog.
Her expression softened slightly. "…Are you saying my brother really…"
"If you want to know for sure," Hikigaya said lightly, "why not ask him yourself?"
"…"
"Why so quiet?"
"…"
"Don't tell me you don't want to."
Horikita's composure cracked at his teasing tone.
"Hikigaya, I assume you dislike dancing," she said, recovering quickly. "After all, it requires even a minimal sense of harmony with others."
"On the contrary," Hikigaya countered dryly, "I have very high standards for dancing. I can only enjoy it with a partner of equal skill."
Their exchange, an echo of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, flew completely over the heads of their classmates. Most students in Class D couldn't even follow their English textbook properly—let alone understand subtle literary references.
To them, the two simply looked like weirdos.
Kushida Kikyo frowned from her seat.
She didn't like this. Hikigaya getting close to Horikita Suzune was dangerous—too dangerous. If Suzune ever opened up to someone like him, there was a real chance her past from middle school could be exposed.
I have to separate them, Kushida thought darkly. No matter what.
Just then, the campus intercom crackled to life.
"Attention first-year students. Club orientation will be held in the gymnasium at 4:00 PM. Those interested in joining club activities, please gather there.
Additionally, the Student Council will also be recruiting new members at the same time. Space is limited—students interested are welcome to participate in the interviews."
Clubs were an essential part of school life in Japan—a playground for social hierarchies and youthful ambition.
"Hey, Yamauchi," Ike said. "Didn't you always brag about being a baseball prodigy? You signing up for the baseball club?"
"Eh? Baseball? Nah, I'm aiming higher—I'll join the Student Council!" Yamauchi declared proudly. "What about you?"
"I'm checking which club has the most cute girls, obviously!" Ike grinned.
"I'll probably join the Homecoming Club," Sotomura added. "Unless there's a Travel Research Club—then maybe that."
"I'm going for basketball," Sudo said firmly, the only one who sounded remotely serious.
Among the four, only Sudo's choice had any real conviction.
"Horikita," Hikigaya asked casually, "you planning to join a club?"
"No. Club activities are a waste of time," she replied without looking up. "I'd rather spend that time reading."
She pulled a classic novel from her drawer and opened it. Normally, once Horikita started reading, she completely shut out the world.
Seeing that, Hikigaya decided to let the conversation end there.
But unexpectedly, Horikita spoke again. "What about you, Hikigaya? Which club are you joining?"
"I haven't decided. I'll look around first," he said noncommittally.
In truth, Hikigaya wasn't the type to join any club.
But recently, he had a new goal.
He wanted to learn martial arts—not for competition, but for self-defense.
And definitely not because he wanted revenge against a certain glasses-wearing upperclassman with a sister complex.