Ahhhh!
How stupid!!
What the hell are you doing, Hikigaya Hachiman!?
Why would I make a decision like that on Sakura's behalf?
Who do I think I am to her?
Hikigaya laughed at himself bitterly. He knew full well that his actions weren't out of kindness.
But… the real reason was too embarrassing to admit — even to himself.
He forced his thoughts away from the overly realistic dream still echoing in his mind. To distract himself, he decided to focus on something—anything—else.
"Um, I'd like to ask about the martial arts club."
Hikigaya arrived at the club's orientation area, marked by a bold sign reading Martial Arts Club.
All the members present were tall, broad-shouldered upperclassmen radiating enough pressure to make most newcomers retreat immediately.
"You want to join the martial arts club?" one of the seniors asked, eyeing him expressionlessly.
Unlike most clubs desperately trying to recruit new members, the martial arts club didn't need to. It was one of the most popular organizations at Advanced Nurturing High School, combining karate, judo, and taekwondo, boasting the highest number of members on campus.
"Yes," Hikigaya replied firmly.
From Horikita Manabu's speech during the entrance ceremony, where he emphasized that "our school cultivates both civil and martial excellence," Hikigaya realized something. The school didn't just value academic achievement—it valued strength and competitiveness.
Absurd, right? What kind of normal high school encouraged martial arts? It sounded more like a "technical school brawl" than an education system.
But Hikigaya sensed something deeper.
Maybe the school wasn't promoting physical violence, but the mindset—that ruthless competitive instinct extending beyond common sense. Like in corporate dramas: spies, power plays, calculated sabotage.
In the real world, however, "corporate warfare" might look more like unplugging someone's network cable, sneaking into an office at night to steal files, or putting a sack over your rival's head in an alley.
Hard to imagine a bunch of model students doing that—but here, maybe that was the point.
Of course, this was all just Hikigaya's personal theory…
"Our club has a high threshold," the senior said, sizing him up. "Do you have any prior training?"
"Training?" Hikigaya hesitated. "How should I put this… I haven't practiced formally, but… I should be able to fight. Probably."
The senior raised an eyebrow. "You can fight without training?"
Another smirked. "Oh, wow—so you're saying you're naturally gifted, huh?"
He deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of a dozen muscular members. They all turned toward Hikigaya, scrutinizing him like a scrawny bug. The pressure was almost tangible.
"Interesting," said another man—clearly the captain—his tone amused but not hostile.
"I'm curious, junior. What exactly are you good at?"
"Uh…" Hikigaya froze, thinking for a few seconds. Then, to lighten the mood, he tried joking.
"I know a little about everything?"
"..."
For a moment, silence. Then the entire club burst out laughing.
"Pfft—seriously?"
"You think this is Ip Man?"
"Unknown young master, why don't you show us your secret technique?"
"Don't worry, our floor isn't slippery!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"What are you all laughing at? Enough!"
The captain—Kenjiro Muto—scolded his members half-heartedly before turning back to Hikigaya with a kind smile.
"May I know your name, junior?"
"First-year, Class D. Hikigaya Hachiman."
"So, Class D, huh… not surprising," one of them muttered.
The others exchanged glances, some with open contempt.
But Muto wasn't like them. His tone stayed friendly.
"I'm Kenjiro Muto from Class 3-C, captain of the Martial Arts Club. If you don't mind, let's have a short sparring match."
"I wouldn't dare." Hikigaya quickly bowed.
Of course, that was just a formality. Muto's offer was likely meant to prevent any accidents—he probably didn't trust the other members not to go overboard. It spoke volumes about Muto's temperament and leadership.
No wonder a Class C student could lead the school's most popular club. That required more than just strength.
Following Muto and the others, Hikigaya stepped into the training hall—only to realize someone was already there.
"I want to join the martial arts club!"
"Um, classmate," one of the members said awkwardly, "applications are at the gymnasium. The captain's there right now."
"Why so complicated? Can't I just join here?"
The loud voice belonged to a petite girl with short blue hair. Hikigaya froze.
Wait—that blue-haired, hot-headed girl from this morning?
Seriously?
She fainted from overexertion earlier, yet now she was here, full of energy, demanding to join a martial arts club.
"Hey! Newbie, what class are you from? Don't you know any rules?" snapped Mizowaki, the gloomy-eyed senior who'd mocked Hikigaya earlier.
"Huh? It's just a fight. Why so many rules?"
Ibuki Mio crossed her arms, clearly irritated.
"You—!"
Mizowaki started forward, but Muto stepped in. "Enough, Goji. Step back."
He turned to Ibuki. "You're here to join as well?"
Muto's gaze sharpened slightly. He could tell from her stance that she had real training.
"Hmph. Haven't decided yet," Ibuki said, chin raised. "I need to see if your club's even worth joining."
Her tone dripped arrogance. But she wasn't bluffing. Her grandfather was a professional martial artist, and she'd been trained since childhood. In junior high, she'd gotten into so many fights that her parents sent her to a reform dojo.
Whether that reform worked was debatable.
"You brat—!"
Her words immediately angered one of the larger upperclassmen, a 190-pound wall of muscle ready to crush her.
"Wait."
Muto gestured calmly. "We already have a guest."
He pointed toward Hikigaya.
"It's you?!"
Ibuki finally noticed him standing behind the others. Recognition flashed in her violet eyes, and her defiant expression wavered slightly—replaced by a faint blush.
"Hikigaya, you two know each other?" Muto asked, intrigued.
"I don't," Hikigaya said flatly.
Which was true. He didn't even know what class she was from.
Ibuki strode right up to him, grabbed his collar, and glared into his eyes.
"Class C, first year. Ibuki Mio!" she declared fiercely.
"Remember it!"
***
Hikiguya beat her ahhh 😭🙏