Here's chapter the aftermath of the club scene and more explanation of Karuizawa's past and motives. I won't be as active these next weeks as usual since I have now a side project that requires some of my intention but I should be able to do my chapters almost like usual ! Cheers.

Some long minutes passed after Hachiman, Ayano and Yumiko left the clubroom. Yuigahama and Yukinoshita were awfully silent. They just stood there, on their seat. Yukino looked at the table, elbows on the table, hand joined and forehead resting on her hands while she greeted and nerrowed her eyes. Yui was just in her usual position but not moving. hod stopped working. Her eyes were lifeless and er mouth had a small gap.

"Ne... Yukinon... Hikki didn't do what I think he did right ?..." Asked Yuigahama with a dark tone in her voice.

"I... I don't know Yuigahama-san. I'm not sure I understand anything anymore." She replied.

"It must be a request right ? There's no way Hikki would start dating behind our back right ?!" She said her voice starting to become shaky.

"I don't think so... Kawasaki-san is not a liar. And it's a proof that we didn't know Hikigaya-kun as much as we thought..."

"B-but what about his request about something genuine ?!" Yui started to have some tears in the corner of her eyes.

Yukinoshita closed her eyes, frowning. It hurt to remember this moment.

"We... No. He told us about what he wanted in his life. He never told us that he wanted us specifically to help him reach something genuine. It was his request to us but it does not mean that we're the ones that will be able to give him a glimpse of what he sought." Managed to say a shaking Yukinoshita.

The both of them fell silent at those words. Soon after they decided to go back home to think for themselves about the situation. Yukinoshita closed the door and was on her way to Hiratsuka-sensei's office while Yuigahama was going home directly.

Yukino's POV

Yukino soon reached the office and knocked before she entered the room. Hiratsuka was on her chair doing some paperwork. Yukinoshita deposited the key on her desk before she asked her question to the club's supervisor.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Hmm ? What is it Yukinohita ?" Asked Shizuka while she put the key in a her drawer.

"Who is Karuizawa Ayano ? What's his goal ? What is his problem ?" Asked consecutively the Ice Queen.

"Why are you so interested all of a sudden ? Where does that come from ?" Frowned the teacher.

"Since his arrival, everything's on his path got destroyed. Hayama-san's clique was destroyed. He destroyed his reputation by saying the harsh truth in Miura's face. And now it looks like he's aiming to destroy what we have." Said Yukinoshita with bitterness at the end of her answer.

"Oh ? And what would he want to destroy in the Service Club ? Do you have any proof ?" Asked Hiratsuka with a teasing smile.

"..." Yukinoshita averted her eyes with a tinge of pink on her cheeks before regaining her composure.

"I. I have no proof of that but since he came... Hikigaya-kun..." Started Yukinoshita looking at the ground in the process. She was at a loss of words.

"Fine. I'll tell you more about him. It may not be easy to hear though. He's a special case."

"I'm listening." Said a confident Yukino, lifiting her head focusing her gaze on Shizuka.

"Karuizawa Ayano is half-japanese and half-french. This is already making him quite a special one. Having both the culture of a western country and the meticulous culture of Japan. It's not easy for him to balance himself of what to do. He has to always take care not to be disrespectful."

"He was born here in Japan and his parent wanted him to bear a name reflecting his country of birth. Then he moved to France where things got harder. He had to learn french and start everything again from 0. Wearing a Japanese name there was not easy, being a halfbreed either. I learned from his academic record that he was quite the student. Not as good as you Yukinoshita but he has more potential than you."

"He was good at everything. Everything he tried he managed to catch it faster than the other. He was versed in multiple things. Even sports. He was only bad at everything where running was necessary. He's a brown belt karate fighter. He never finished his training to reach the black belt but he had the level to beat his teachers. He stopped because he had to move in another school for his first year of high school."

"But there's more to it than just school's obligations. He's bored. It's written everywhere in his records. He's a good student, he's respectful of the rules, he's silent, he's focused, he always finish his works... But he's bored, so bored that it looks like he's not paying attention but actually he's aware of everything surrounding him. He's a listener. You may think that he does not care about anything but in fact he listen to everything around him."

"You get where I'm going now don't you Yukinoshita ?"

The latter only nodded a bit, still focused.

"He was ostracized. He was the weird intelligent and kid full of talent that was able to beat anyone in his path. He was alone. He had no friends. He has no siblings, his parents are working hard and are rarely home. He learned to leave by himself. Alone. Loneliness is how he has always lived since he moved to France. He got bullied but always defended himself. Eventually he got into some glimpse of fights before someone intervened. His bags handle got broken, his school's books thrown into puddles. Glasses damaged... Still he never let anything show on his face. He kept being the same kid with no expression. He rarely smiled. He could only express anger. Showing his sadness was not something he would do. Society imposed on him that a boy should not cry. A man needed to be strong. He's still living by those words. Being 'strong' at all cost. That's how he's fighting his disease."

"Yes. Like I told you when I made him a member, he's suffering from chronic depression. He was diagnosed with it when he had to see one because of some school plans. His doctor told me that he wasn't moved by the diagnostic. He just stood there asking questions and doing some psychology with the psychologist. He had to visit his new doctor a lot. Eventually some answers were discovered. It explained a lot as to why he was suffering so much under his ironclad façade." Hiratsuka looked gloomy now.

"What surprised the doctor is that it was not him who reached the answers. Karuizawa gave him the answer himself. This kid is really aware of everything like I said. He knows that what he's doing is not the best way to do it. But it's not the worst way either. He knows how he feels. He knows that he has a problem. He know why he's suffering. Yet... He can't do anything about it. He tried though. He really did try his best."

"What he needed was love. He needed to feel loved. He already is comfortable having no friends but he learned how to understand others and learned to live with them peacefully to have some funny times with them. But as stated by his doctors notes. Every friends he had ever made either moved away far from him or betrayed him. That's why he's so cold at first. But once he takes a liking to someone's he's showing more of his warm side. He's someone that can be relied on. As harsh as he is. He keeps his words. Only having acquaintances is enough for him. That was not the problem. Love is the real problem. It's something he never experienced. I read that he told his doctors that he got turned down by more than 10 girls in the span of 2 years. He tried to build a relationship that could teach him how to love. But life was not kind with him. Nobody wanted him, nobody could answer his feelings and his needs." Said Hiratsuka bitting her lips.

"Now here we are. He was forced to move back to Japan. Leaving once again everything behind to start from 0 again. Alone. His therapy was not having any results. This is why the doctor contacted the school and I was tasked to help him with the Service Club. This is like a new therapy right now. Maybe he will be able to find what he lacks. Maybe with the club he will learn to trust human again like he trusts animals. I'm sure he has his reasons. I'm not ok with how he does things but doesn't that remind you of Hikigaya in his first year ? It's clear that despite his fake hostility façade he has taken a liking to you all. He finds you interesting. He sees a glimpse of himself in each of you. Hikigaya is like a mirror to him. Maybe with his help and Karuizawa's actions this both of them will be able to become better people and find what they seek... That what I hope for. And I trust you to oversee and manage him Yukinoshita. You're the only one I know in the student body able to control him a bit." Finished Shizuka, sighing.

Yukinoshita stood there, eyes widened with a uneasy feel building inside of her. She realised how wrong she was about Ayano. She understood how wounded he was. She was astonished that he was still being this 'strong' despite all of this. And yet here she was accusing him of plotting the destruction of the service club. She felt like a horrible person for thinking that.

"But... Whu would he be so agressive and hostile to Hayama-san ?" Asked the gloomy student.

"Do I really have to say it out loud ?... What happens in the wild when two wounded predators share the same territory ? The strongest one will chase down the weakest." Replied Hiratsuka.

"I see. I'm leaving then. Thank you for your explanations sensei." Said Yukinoshita bowing and making her way home.

Just what are you doing Karuizawa-san ? Thought the Ice Queen.

Yui's POV

It hurt. Why didn't I act sooner ? I just played it safe not to hurt Yukinon and waited for the right moment all this time and now I see him getting snatched by Saki-chan. I was too slow. I had it coming ! Thought Yuigahama's crying in her room in her pillow.

What does she have that I can't give to Hikki ? Just what is their relationship ?! I can't stand it ! Why ?! Why ?! Wy ?! WHY ?! WHY !

Yuigahama's mind state was chaotic. He was a crying mess. It was too much for her to take. She needed to let it all out. All the pain of her inactions. All the regrets of the opportunities she never took.

"I need to talk to him. I want to hear the truth from him..."

Iroha's POV

The sly fox wiped the tears in the corner of her eyes with her right sleeve. She wasn't smiling anymore. Her heart felt empty. She was now her true self and no the cute little kouhai anymore.

So that's how it is Senpai... That's how you try to find your genuine thing huh ? Despite that fact that you had me and already went on dates with me you just see me as you sly little devil of a kouhai. I will show you how serious I can be if that's what you really want. I won't let her have you that easily Senpai. Thought Isshiki heading to the student council's room.

She entered the room and was welcomed back by vice-president-kun and secretary-chan.

"We have work to do. Everyone focus now. We still have a lot of paperwork to do and we're running late on our schedule. Senpai won't be coming to help up this time. I'll take care of things." Said Isshiki with seriousness and confidence.

The members of the council were surprised and flabbergasted by the sudden change in their president's behavior. She looked like a real chef right now. No slyness, no fake cuteness. The real Isshiki Iroha was taking actions. She won't tolerate her plans getting foiled.

Hachiman and Saki's POV

"Aaaaah ! You really did save me there Kawasaki. Thank you. Nice timing !" Said Hachiman taking deep breathes.

"Ah... Don't mention it. We agreed to it at lunch time after all. But still what's with the tension in the room. Why were they here ?" Asked Saki.

"Well a lot happened... It was a tiring club day. We received multiple request and I had something to tell the girls but the situation became dire for me. I was cornered. I couldn't tell them waht I wanted like this. And I'm not so sure anymore about it. I'll need to think more about it." Replied Hachiman.

"Oh ? What did you want to say ?"

"Erm... I can't tell you right now but you're concerned as well. You'll need to be patient. Sorry." Said Hachiman averting his eyes.

The both of them continued to walk side by side in silence. But this silence wasn't comfortables. Secrets were present but not told between the two of them.

"Say Kawasaki... Why did you call me by my first name back then ?" Aske Hikigaya.

"I-I... I t-thought we were close enough f-for that. Plus I find it easier to say than your name." Answered a blushing Kawasaki looking at her feet.

"O-oh. I s-see. Well I don't really mind but I'l still call you by your name. I'm comfortable with you but I don't think I'm ready to call you by your first name. Can you call me Hikigaya in front of others too please ?"

"Why ? I thought you weren't interested about what the others think about you."

"I don't care, it's just that it could give them the wrong idea. Like us being a c-c.. C-... Being in a relationship." Said a flustered Hachiman scratching his head.

"I see." Replied a dejected Saki.

"I understand, but can I still call you Hachiman when we're alone ?"

"I don't mind it."

"Ok then.»

"By the way Kawasaki. Komachi insisted that you and your siblings come to have dinner with us tomorrow to pay back the dinner from last week."

"Ah ! Sorry but that won't be possible, tomorrow I have my Karate training at 7 p.m." Said Saki.

"Oh you're doing karate, I never knew. Even though you really look like the fighter type." Grinned Hachiman.

"Yeah I had to stop for a while but thanks to your help... I was able to finally have time to do it again. I'm happy, it's perfect to relieve the stress I accumulated. I feel free there."

"I still think I didn't really do anything but you're welcome."

They continued to walk in their usual loner atmosphere with small smiles on their faces.

Ayano's POV

I opened the door of my home to be welcomed by the same disgusting emptiness as usual. I threw my bag on the side of the staircases and went to my room. I looked at my reflection in my mirror. Same lifeless eyes, same grim look. The true me. The suffering pile of meat being the façade. I took my pills for my treatment and lied on my bed. I was looking at the ceiling remembering the club's events.

"You need to act soon Hachiman. You're starting to hurt them. In fact they are already hurt. You will lose everything soon. You need to act. Or you'll end up like me. Alone. I won't force you to take actions but I will observe and listen. It will be between Yumiko and Saki. There's no doubt about it... But why am I feeling weird about this."

I continued to think about it for an hour. Kawasaki and Miura were both charismatic strong willed girls with a hidden side where we could see that despite their strength they still were girls. Sure I must say that Yukinoshita is top notched in terms of beauty and intelligence, Isshiki and Yuigahama are also quite the girls too but they were not as interesting as Miura and Kawasaki. Those girls had something they wished really hard to have. And they weren't taking the long road to reach it. Thay are acting. They act for they happiness. With a little push they could achieve great things. I guess I kinda admire their dedication. Maybe ?