Nijika's voice suddenly rang in Hachiman's ear. Hachiman raised his head in confusion and found Nijika crossing her arms over her chest, looking at him warily. When she saw that he didn't instinctively reach out to attack her but only looked over, she immediately pouted slightly in the direction of the classroom door.
Hachiman looked over and discovered that the queen of gal fashion, Miura Yumiko, was slowly walking in from the back door of the classroom, carrying a shoulder bag.
"What are you staring at me for? So disgusting!"
As soon as Miura Yumiko entered the classroom, she saw Hachiman, Nijika, Yukino, and Ichinose Honami all staring at her. She immediately couldn't help but glare at Hachiman, who was closest to her.
"It's not just me looking at you. Why are you only targeting me?", Hachiman rolled his eyes at Miura Yumiko with a somewhat speechless expression.
"It's early in the morning now, don't talk so harshly. Can't you even say good morning to me?"
"If you became my underling, it'd be you who has to greet me first, okay?"
Miura Yumiko looked at Hachiman and Nijika's group, who were just silently watching the drama, and got even angrier in her heart.
Clearly, she was planning to help this guy get rid of the bullying, but she didn't expect this guy to be addicted to it. And now, he was coming to make trouble for her.
If she had known earlier, she would've explained everything to Nijika and the others last night. But when she heard Nijika mention an actual train groper incident last night, it didn't feel right to say Hachiman was a pervert who liked being bullied by Yuina and the others. After all, even if she said it, Nijika probably wouldn't believe it.
"Yumiko, good morning. It's your turn now."
Hachiman nodded slightly, smiling as he looked at Miura Yumiko.
"You... hmph! Morning, then, Hikigaya," Seeing Hachiman's completely unconcerned expression, Miura Yumiko became even angrier. Why did it feel like she was the one being unreasonable?
However, she really couldn't criticize this guy. After all, she herself had participated in the bullying back then, although now she knew he was actually enjoying it.
Damn it, this Hikigaya... if he really pissed her off, she'd bring Nijika and Kitagawa Marin to stomp this guy to death. Let you enjoy it.
However, although Miura Yumiko was complaining endlessly in her heart, both Nijika and Kitagawa Marin, seeing how tightly Miura Yumiko was being eaten up (controlled), became even more convinced of the secretly close relationship between the two.
If Yumiko didn't like Hikigaya, with Yumiko's explosive personality, how could she tolerate Hikigaya teasing her like this without getting angry?
Miura Yumiko didn't know what Hachiman, Ijichi Nijika, and Kitagawa Marin had been talking about before she arrived.
However, she didn't need to guess. Just one look at the expressions of Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin told her they had mistakenly believed she and Hachiman had a very good and ambiguous relationship.
But she had no way to explain. From the start yesterday, she had wanted to muddle through her relationship with Hachiman temporarily, planning to explain the specific details about the bullying after they went home.
Who could have thought that Nijika and the others even encountered a pervert? Reportedly, Hachiman performed very well and perfectly fulfilled the duty of escorting Nijika and the others home. At this point, if she said Hachiman was a pervert who enjoyed being bullied by Yuina and the others, what would Nijika and the others think?
Would Nijika and the others believe Hachiman was a pervert?
More likely, they'd think she was lying because she was worried her good friend would steal Hachiman away.
That idea was absurd, but within Nijika and the others' understanding, it actually made sense. They didn't share her experience of "bullying" Hachiman together.
Since no matter how she explained they wouldn't believe her, and the more she explained the messier it got, she could only treat Hachiman coldly and prove through her actions that she and Hachiman were not close.
"Yumiko, why aren't you talking? Didn't they announce yesterday that all classes would take turns for body measurements and physical fitness tests today? Yumiko, are you ready?", While chatting and laughing with everyone, Ijichi Nijika suddenly reached out and tugged Miura Yumiko, blinking rapidly at the usually quiet Miura Yumiko.
Gabriel hadn't come to school today for some reason, maybe she was sick, but since she wasn't here, Yumiko should seize the opportunity and go on the offensive.
Gabriel had already moved next door to Hikigaya's house and could visit him directly whenever something came up.
And Yumiko, sitting next to Hikigaya and occupying the neighboring desk, hadn't chatted with him as enthusiastically as Gabriel.
"Yeah, Yumiko, you were great at tennis in middle school. You must be strong in the fitness test too. Too bad we're testing today, otherwise we could have trained with Hikigaya after school to improve our scores," Kitagawa Marin quickly followed up, the two of them drawing out the topic and giving a full-on assist.
Yumiko was very strong in tennis. The tennis club captain had invited her before, but she didn't agree, wanting to enjoy high school life instead.
However, now they weren't trying to get her to play tennis, just to show her charm and make Hikigaya-kun like her more.
"We can train by ourselves. Why must it be with that guy? And the physical test isn't tennis. My results are probably average, though still better than his," Seeing her two good friends persistently matchmaking, Miura Yumiko rolled her eyes and looked directly at the previously dead-eyed Hachiman.
She didn't know what Hachiman had done to make her two friends so convinced there was something secretive between them and kept trying to pair them up.
Usually, Marin and Nijika didn't care much about romance. They hadn't even tried dating anyone. Were they just using her as an experiment in matchmaking now?
"It's normal for you to be better than me. I don't train much. Before forming the Service Club, I was in the go-home club," Hachiman looked at Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin constantly trying to help beside Miura Yumiko, smiled, and didn't mind Yumiko's tone.
That Miura Yumiko could recognize that her participation in the bullying was wrong, and was even willing to apologize, make amends, and help him avoid being bullied again, was already pretty admirable. But his relationship with Yuina and the others wasn't bullying, he couldn't accept Yumiko's apology while cutting ties with Yuina and the others.
His bond with Yuina and the others was much deeper than with Miura Yumiko. And Yuina and the others, no, the three of them were like saints. From any angle, it was impossible for him to choose Miura Yumiko.
But just like Yumiko couldn't explain things clearly to Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin, he couldn't explain that he wasn't being bullied by Yuina and the others.
From a normal person's point of view, being repeatedly stepped on by three people, even ignoring their beautiful girl status, would be extremely painful bullying if they stepped slightly harder or more frequently.
Was he supposed to show Yumiko his increasingly toughened skin and prove that a little wear and tear meant nothing to him?
Yumiko would only become more convinced he was a pervert who enjoyed being bullied.
"Hmph! Just admit you're worse than me. Don't make excuses about not training."
Seeing Hachiman casually admit he was weaker than her, Miura Yumiko felt like she was throwing a childish tantrum. No matter how she raged, it looked ridiculous as long as Hachiman kept his cool.
Although girls generally had lower physical ability than boys, she had been an athlete who trained often in middle school. Now that she had only slacked off for one vacation before starting high school, compared to an average male student, she should still have the advantage, even if not totally overpowering Hachiman.
And this guy responded in that tone... making it seem like she was the one being unreasonable.
He hadn't acted like that when he was lying on the ground being stepped on. Now he was pretending to be calm and innocent... So annoying.
"Miura, do you think you're better than little Hiki? Want to make a bet?", Looking at the not-so-harmonious Miura Yumiko and Hachiman, Rin's eyes lit up and she immediately probed.
"Yeah yeah, let's make a bet! Kitagawa, are you betting on Yumiko to win or lose? We think little Hiki is super strong, there's no way Yumiko wins," Minami instantly got Rin's point and quickly echoed her.
They were originally planning to support Gabriel and target Miura Yumiko.
However, after last night's wild celebration, they learned from Lumilia and the others that little Hiki not only had an elf princess and an alien princess around him but also seemed close to the mermaid idols. Even the elves had sent many girls to receive little Hiki's help. They understood.
Against overwhelmingly advantageous demi-human beauties, their little games confined to the class were meaningless.
Whether it was Gabriel, whom little Hiki liked, or Miura Yumiko who had "bullied" him before, they were all classmates.
As classmates, they should be honest with each other, united, and harmonious, working together to resist students from other classes, the first step now was to lure Miura Yumiko to join them.
Once Miura Yumiko joined, Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin wouldn't be far behind, since the three of them had a similar relationship to their own trio.
Then with everyone's combined power, they could rope in Gabriel too. The back row of the classroom would become their domain to protect little Hiki.
"Huh? A bet?"
"Bet on whether Hikigaya-kun or Yumiko will get a better score? What's the wager?"
Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin looked at each other in confusion. How did this turn into a bet? They just wanted to play matchmaker for Yumiko and Hikigaya.
They had noticed Yumiko and Hikigaya's relationship was a little delicate, it didn't feel like a passionate secret romance.
But they also knew Yumiko wasn't a girl who easily got involved with boys. Since she finally seemed to have some feelings for Hikigaya, and their relationship seemed special, they wanted to help it along.
After all, that blush and shy expression they once saw on Yumiko's face couldn't have been fake, right?
"Minami, Rin, don't trick Yumiko and the others," Hachiman saw Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin getting dragged in and helplessly looked at the mischievous Minami and Rin, speaking to stop them.
Today was for body measurements and then physical fitness tests. It was arranged a month after the start of school, like in middle school, but he had never cared.
Back when he was a lazy fish, he didn't care. Now surrounded by political heiresses, demi-human princesses, idols, and even aliens, such small matters meant even less.
Most things he was involved in now concerned racial survival, countless lives, and potential diplomatic incidents. School life barely counted as small squabbles.
"What do you mean? You think you're guaranteed to win? You don't want to bully me so you won't bet?"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Miura Yumiko crossed her arms, her eyebrows nearly standing up as she glared fiercely at him.
She didn't care about Kousaka Minami and the others talking about bets. How old were they to still play such childish games?
But Hachiman refused even before she did, and she couldn't stand it.
Refusing was one thing, but what was with that expression of "Yumiko's a weakling who has no chance, don't bully her"?
"?", Hachiman looked at Miura Yumiko glaring at him with a fierce aura and felt speechless.
Miura Yumiko sure was good at overthinking. First with the bullying, now with this bet. Did he really have so many layers for her to interpret?
Well... okay, he did sort of mean that, but he meant it sincerely.
He trained intensely day and night. He could fight ten and get stronger as he went. Yumiko, on the other hand, would be one-tenth of one of the ten. What was there to compare? That'd just be bullying her, right?
He might take advantage of the information gap to trick Yukinoshita Yukino once, making her obediently call him "President," but with the slightly silly Miura Yumiko, he felt that wouldn't be right.
"Yumiko, I'm a boy. I naturally have more physical strength. What are you trying to compare with me for?", Hachiman suddenly leaned close to Miura Yumiko and whispered in her ear in front of everyone.
"Losing to me is normal. If I lose to you, that's embarrassing for me."
"How about this, we don't bet. I'll just admit defeat in private. If you want to bully me, you can come to my house anytime. I'll let you bully me all night without sleeping."
"Who wants to go to your house and bul—", Miura Yumiko was stunned. Her pale and delicate face instantly turned red.
'What do you mean come to your house to bully? What do you mean bully all night?'
Hachiman sounded serious at first, but how did it suddenly become so indecent.
She wasn't like Yuina and the others, why would she enjoy bullying someone, and in such a humiliating way?
"Don't want to come to my house? Then your house is fine. As long as no one else is home, I don't mind going over anytime," Hachiman pulled away from Miura Yumiko's ear, sat upright, and smiled at her.
"Go to Yumiko's house?", Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin's eyes widened, and even Yuina and the others stared in shock at the two.
'We are still trying to play matchmaker, and you two are already playing?'
"Stop! Don't say another word! I agree, not to bet!"
Seeing Hachiman deliberately reveal their conversation to everyone, Miura Yumiko couldn't help grinding her teeth in frustration. But she had no choice, she could only agree for now and deal with him later.
There was no helping it. If this continued, she felt her reputation would be ruined and she'd be labeled a pervert girl who liked bullying Hikigaya.
Even though Nijika and Marin wouldn't think that now, once they learned that her entanglement with Hachiman was due to bullying, that possibility became too likely.
"Yumiko is so nice. She gave up a guaranteed win just to protect my pride," Hachiman looked at Miura Yumiko and smiled cheerfully.
"Don't call me Yumiko! That's disgusting!", Miura Yumiko got angry just seeing that hateful smile on Hachiman's face.
So he did enjoy being bullied, huh? Fine, fine, she'd find time to let him truly experience what bullying meant.
And she'd invite Nijika and Marin to watch and see the perverted face of this guy.
"Oooh~"
"Bowing his head for Yumiko, huh? Their relationship really is special."
"How about we visit Yumiko's house this week? We've never been there before."
Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin increasingly felt the two were flirting, egging them on. Even Minami and the others joined in.
Though they hadn't tricked Yumiko into betting with sweet little Hiki and losing her panties, the result now seemed even better than a bet.
After all, the point of the bet was to strongly and effectively develop Yumiko's relationship with little Hiki, not really to care about winning or losing.
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