Karuizawa had thought she was finally safe and was just about to leave when Hikigaya's voice ca from behind. His tone was calm, yet it sent a chill down her spine, and before she even realized it, her body had obeyed his "command" and stopped.
This dead-fish-eyed guy—Karuizawa had found him "annoying" ever since school started. It was because of those terrifying eyes. Every ti she t his gaze, she felt like he could see straight through her, like she had no privacy at all.
That unease and fear had been haunting her for a long ti. She had told herself over and over not to be scared, but whenever she faced him, she couldn't help but feel the urge to turn around and run away. Even she didn't fully understand why she was so afraid of him.
To fight that fear, all she could do was...
"My business has nothing to do with you! And don't you dare tell anyone about what just happened!"
Karuizawa snapped, like an angry little cat, warning Hikigaya.
But then—he suddenly smiled?
Why was he smiling? Karuizawa didn't understand.
The next second, his smile disappeared. All that was left was cold indifference.
"So you only know how to act tough when you're in a safe place? Just a mont ago, you were getting bullied like a helpless dog, not making a sound. And now you're suddenly barking?"
Hikigaya's words were sharp—so sharp that Karuizawa's face instantly turned red.
She was about to explode in anger when she noticed the icy look on Hikigaya's face and those "terrifying" eyes. The fire in her chest vanished without a trace.
"I already told you—I have no interest in your problems. Whether it's your fault or theirs, I don't care. That's your business."
Hikigaya stared at her coldly. "But as a person, do you not even know the most basic manners?"
"I... I..."
Karuizawa was unwilling to back down. More than that, she refused to lower her head in front of the boy standing across from her. She was scared—terrified that if she gave in, he would see right through her. The tough armor she had built around herself would shatter, leaving her completely exposed. And then... she didn't want to go back. Not to that prison. Not to that hell.
She had barely escaped it once...
"Were you bullied before?"
Hikigaya's sudden question made Karuizawa snap her head up, her eyes widening in shock. It felt as if ice-cold water had been poured over her. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
"Y-You... did Hirata tell you?!"
Her expression turned to anger as if she had just realized sothing. "He promised ..."
"Hirata?"
Hikigaya was slightly surprised. So Hirata knew about Karuizawa's past? Thinking back to their unusual interactions, Hikigaya started to piece things together.
"You've got it wrong."
He shook his head. He had only suspected it before, but now Karuizawa had basically confird it herself.
"I've just seen a lot of people who were bullied."
And not just seen—he had experienced it firsthand.
But to Karuizawa, his words sounded like sothing a predator would say. A guy with eyes like his... of course, he had to be a bully too!
She instinctively stepped back. She had thought that getting rid of Manabe and the others ant she was safe. But she never expected to attract an even scarier monster.
"Am I really that scary?"
Hikigaya was confused. Why did Karuizawa seem so afraid of him?
But to Karuizawa, his question sounded like a challenge.
The scariest people never admitted they were scary.
That realization sent a wave of despair through her. It was over.
"I-I... What happened just now was my fault. Please forgive ! A-And... thank you for helping out!"
She bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, then spun around and bolted before Hikigaya could even react.
"What the..."
Hikigaya stared blankly at her disappearing figure, finally realizing what had just happened. He let out a bitter laugh.
"She thinks I'm a bully?"
This was exactly why he should stop ddling in other people's business. Every ti he swore he wouldn't, he sohow got pulled in again. How annoying.
Because of the delay with Karuizawa, by the ti Hikigaya arrived at Room 211 on the second floor, there were only two minutes left before the eting ti.
"Haruno won't mind if I show up right on ti, right?"
He knocked on the door before pushing it open, only to freeze at the sight in front of him.
Besides Haruno, there were Katsuragi, Hashimoto, and Kamuro. From Class B, Ichinose and Kanzaki were there too. And...
"Hikigaya! You're here!"
Hirata looked relieved to see him and stepped forward. Standing beside him was Horikita.
In an instant, it beca clear that this room had gathered the leaders of three different classes.
Hikigaya turned to Haruno, who t his gaze with a small smile as if saying, "Not yet."
Indeed, one troubleso class was still missing. But would Ryuen actually co?
"Hey, don't block the way."
A voice full of arrogance ca from behind him.
It was Ryuen, looking as cocky as ever, with Ishizaki and Ibuki following close behind.
Ryuen shoved Hikigaya aside without hesitation and arrogantly scanned the room, a cold smirk appearing on his face.
"Hah, I was wondering what this was all about. Turns out it's just so kind of United Nations eting!"
Then, without a care, Ryuen kicked his foot up onto the conference table and shot a sharp look at Haruno across from him.
"Hey, Yukinoshita, my ti is valuable, so hurry up and spit it out already!"
Many of the girls in the room frowned at Ryuen's crude words and behavior, their eyes filled with open disgust.
Almost everyone present had been on the receiving end of Ryuen's antics before. Katsuragi, in particular, looked like he was ready to explode. He still hadn't forgotten Ryuen's betrayal during the island exam.
Ichinose, Kanzaki, and the others also didn't look pleased. Back when they were in Class B, they had constantly been harassed by Ryuen, making their relationship with him terrible. As for Class D, while their conflicts with him weren't as serious as Ichinose's or Katsuragi's, the Sudou incident still hadn't been completely settled.
Haruno, however, remained completely unfazed by Ryuen's behavior. She simply clapped her hands together.
"Now that all the class leaders are here, let's officially begin."
At that mont, as if receiving a signal, Hashimoto shut the conference room doors.
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