CHAPTER XII

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"I swear to God, the criminal scums who did this to Naomi-kun will pay. I'll make sure they're face down in a ditch when the police investigators find them."

Rokusuke Koenji was incensed. Being the eldest son of a headstrong National Diet representative, and his wealthy family having connections to high places, it was unthinkable that he or his brother could ever be the victim of violent crime. Who could be mad enough to attack the son of a politician? When he heard of what had happened to Naomi Koenji, he was utterly shocked. He stood at the doorway, his face volatile with irritation. His cronies stood around him, talking about the incident. Though it wasn't a murder, plenty of students had already heard the exaggerated version of the story.

One of the guys asked, "Does your father know about it, Koenji-san?"

Rokusuke Koenji scoffed. "When he found out, he was immediately on the phone calling the DA about it. I can already see those fucks getting arrested and given a bullet to each of their fuckin' heads."

"He'd do that, for real?" Another guy said skeptically.

"Well, Koenji-san's father knows the governor and the chiefs. Maybe he'll actually have the suspects secretly executed by the police."

"Don't even doubt it. You'll see." Koenji scoffed.

Just then, Koenji turned around to see a classmate with familiar, draconian red eyes standing in the corridor.

Kaguya Shinomiya spoke coldly. "Step out of my way, Koenji-san."

Koenji grunted disrespectfully. He moved away from the doorway. As she passed by, entering the room Shinomiya did not care to look up. She regarded the whole matter with indifference. She remarked lightly, "Why am I not surprised?" She peered at Koenji. "Your brother is a twit. And so is his classmate Maru-san. What were they expecting?"

Koenji glared. In fact, Kaguya Shinomiya was inwardly amused by the turn of events. Though she couldn't care less on the matter, she did note how brutal the incident was. Which led to a disturbing conclusion.

"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes." She stated as-a-matter-of-fact. Kaguya Shinomiya walked over to her seat, the conversation ending swiftly. Koenji simmered, but sighed and went back to his desk near the windows. Arisu Sakayanagi was sitting in front of him, reading a novel.

Arisu glanced back at Koenji. She had easily eavesdropped on the brief spat between her rival, the second most powerful girl in class and Koenji. She mused, "Koenji-kun, has it ever occurred to you that perhaps your brother was asking for it?"

"Yeah? What do you know, Shorty? You weren't there."

"What was Maru-san and your brother doing in Shibuya anyway?"

"There was a party, awright? Naomi was with our classmate Maru-san and another guy from the next class. And a group of thugs jumped them three when they walked out of the club. They fucking messed Naomi-kun up, those fucks. I can't believe it."

"Okay," Arisu began calmly. She turned sideways in her seat so that she faced him. "Your brother, Naomi Koenji-san was with Hideki Housen and Tamayo Maru-san, correct?" Koenji nodded.

"I see. And before that incident, the previous night they were also at the same club where those three physically assaulted a girl from Fourth Class named Mei-chan, correct?" Koenji frowned and did not speak. Arisu laid back in her chair, clasping her hands together. She glared at him, unamused.

"So where does the surprise part come from, Koenji-kun? Personally I do not subscribe to the belief that violence solves problems. But I am honestly not surprised with what ended up happening. Maru-san and those two actually went back to the place the very next day. I would be more surprised if Maru-san and his two cronies were awarded medals for acting like uncivilized fools."

"They didn't kill the girl. They didn't beat her to an inch of their life and sent her to a hospital, Sakayanagi-san! How were they supposed to know they were messing with the wrong person? I even told Naomi-kun not to fuck with serious people at the party. Who would've figured that bitch from Fourth Class was a Yakuza?"

"You're right. The perpetrators were a bit excessive." Arisu narrowed her eyes. She tilted her head slightly, glaring. "So, I understand. What did you tell them, Koenji-kun?"

Rokusuke Koenji stopped. He gritted his teeth, realizing that Arisu had caught wind of him. "I told them not to fuck around."

"Hmm, that's not the whole truth, is it? Go on, continue. And don't lie with me Koenji-kun, please. You've brought us enough trouble already."

"Fine. I knew they were going to fuck around at that party, so I told 'em to lay off from anyone in Second Class; you did say that you're trying to be diplomatic with Katsuragi-san and Fujiwara-san. Now I don't give a shit about those people in Fourth Class. But I didn't tell them to touch that girl Mei-chan. That was bad fuckin' luck - of all the people in that party, it had to be her."

Arisu was exasperated. She was not fooled by Koenji's watered-down statements, and cut through it harshly. "You're an imbecile, Koenji-kun!" She pressed her palm hard against her eyes. "Why did you goad those three guys into doing such a thing? I know what you're trying to do. I don't believe that's a coincidence." She stared up at him now. "Oh, I see - You thought you were going to get away with it? And now you're suspecting it's also someone from Fourth Class who instigated the revenge on your brother."

"I know it's someone in that class. That girl, Mei-Yu Wang, doesn't have any fight. Her family is dirt-poor. She's a nobody, yet she's one of the more popular bimbos in her class. Only those fuckers have the other remote incentive to fight back. They didn't have to go this far, but alas. They're savages, that's what. Maybe that bastard Ryuuen knows about it. He's near gangs all the time after school last year."

Arisu was now serious. She stared with a piercing look. "Your brother didn't molest the girl?" She asked.

"Fucking hell not."

"You are sure?"

Rokusuke Koenji shot her a scornful look. "Listen here, Shorty. Does it look like it's in my bloodline to rape people?" He snarled. He appeared to be ready to fight Arisu Sakayanagi if she continued to doubt his word.

"Thanks to the ineptitude of your brother, Hideki-san and Maru-san, the professor is going to lecture us harshly today. We're going to lose a terrible amount of merit points and reputation because of this."

Arisu Sakayanagi shook her head, turning away. She gazed towards the other corner of the room in the back. She could not help but wonder what Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought of the whole situation. The room was particularly silent that morning. He merely gave her a glance and disappeared after the first period, not allowing Arisu to talk with him.

…

Hachiman walked into the Lyceum library. There are not a lot of students in the building during twelve o' clock. It doesn't take him long to find Arisu Sakayanagi at the same quiet spot she usually is seated at. Of course, he inwardly thought, a sit-down with the other class was bound to happen after his weekend offensive. He takes a seat at the table across from her. On the other side of the table he notices a chessboard, left by the chess club, with the pieces frozen in an unfinished endgame position.

Hachiman without facing her cuts in abruptly, "Get straight to the point Arisu. What are you setting me up for?"

Arisu smiled coyly. "Ara... you think I'm setting you up?"

Hachiman sighed, his shoulders laxing a bit. He smiled back at her. "Your stupid friend is holding her book upside down, and I know Katsuragi-san is in the aisle behind me." He glanced pointedly at the girl sitting at the next table, not far from them.

Kamuro Masumi, who had been listening nearby, immediately tensed up in her seat upon hearing her ruse called out. She blushed and shot an annoyed look at Hachiman, before flipping her book upright. Kohei Katsuragi came out from behind the shelves to reveal himself and they walked up to Arisu and Hachiman. They sat themselves at the remaining chairs besides Arisu at the square table.

"What do you people really want?"

Arisu relaxed, having drawn a derogatory motion from Hachiman. She giggled a bit. "You seem to know the students from other classes well," she remarked.

"I've seen Katsuragi-san before, speaking with Ryuuen. And Kamuro-san, she's always not far from you wherever your clique goes."

"Well, you're quite observant." Her purple eyes gleamed with interest. Arisu said, "It's been a while since we last spoke. I almost thought you were avoiding me, but here you are. Thank you for accepting my request to a sit-down. See, I was also wondering about your observations these past few days."

"Yes?"

"I'm sure you've heard about the incident last Saturday night."

"Sure, I have."

Kohei Katsuragi, the leading representative of Class II spoke up. "Two students from our class were involved in that incident, which is why this also concerns me," he said in a solemn tone. "Their names are Naomi Koenji and Hideki Housen. They're in the hospital as of now and so is Tamayo Maru, a student from Sakayanagi-san's class."

Hachiman nodded. "I see."

Arisu Sakayagi said, "There's a rumor circulating that it was Ryuuen-san who was behind the violent assault, given that he reputedly was associated with street gangs in the past years. While it's unlikely that a student was one of the men who were seen attacking Maru-san and his companions, it does not rule out the possibility that a student might have something to do with the incident."

"And?" Hachiman flatly asked.

"I was thinking you might know something important about what had happened, Hikigaya-san. Any leads would greatly help the police investigation into this case and sooner bring the criminals to justice," Arisu answered curtly.

"That's ironic isn't it?"

Arisu tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"You see, Sakayanagi-san, there's also a rumor circulating among us - perhaps you haven't heard of it yet - that those three students from Second Class and your class, Sakayanagi-san, are sex offenders. That they've sexually assaulted Mei-Yu Wang in addition to hurting her." Hachiman smiled sardonically. "That's what I find ironic. When you said 'bring the criminals to justice', I can't help but notice the cherry-picking on your part."

Arisu faced him levelly. "There's no concrete proof of that claim, Hikigaya-san."

"So are your suspicions of an instigator from our class."

"There are only two people with the incentives to carry out that act of revenge- "

"Revenge?"

"Yes, because that's what it is. And it did not come from Mei-chan's family or relatives. Which only leaves her classmates and friends. And frankly, I don't think Ryuuen has the - excuse me for saying this - balls to try executing such an act."

Hachiman was now grinning, filled with amusement. He broke into a chuckle. "That's a bit of a reach, ruling out the capacity of blood to retaliate," he mused emphatically. "Yes, I see. So now you're accusing me of instigating violence?"

Arisu smiled. She said cleverly, "I didn't say that."

"Ora, ora… those are some big things you are accusing me of. Pretty, are you sure about that?"

Kamuro Masumi interjected. "That's exactly what a guilty person would say," she said, narrowing her eyes.

Hachiman peered back at her superciliously. "You're very bold, Kamuro-san. Nothing is off the table for you people."

Arisu cleared her throat, motioning for her companion to rescind. "That's enough," she said. "Hikigaya-san, to confess I'm not sure at all. But the whole thing, it's very strange, no?"

Hachiman answered flatly. "I do not find it strange, granted I'm from Fourth Class. If that's all, then we don't have a lot to talk about Sakayanagi-san. Let's make an effort to avoid a conflagration in the future."

"Very well. I know your class will begin to make moves against Third Class soon, likely something will come up during summer. I'd rather you not do that."

Hachiman pulled a deadpan expression. "And what if we don't agree?" He asked.

Kohei Katsuragi said firmly, facing him, "Then we'll have to make an intervention."

"You'll risk a war with us for a class that's not even your ally?" He said incredulously.

"Are you confident, Hikigaya-san, that Fourth Class can withstand the combined pressure from Second and First class?" Katsuragi stated. "You are making enemies on all fronts."

Hachiman was piqued. He stared at them. The three upper class students appeared adamant. A thin smile slowly formed on his lips as he leant back into his seat, scratching his cheek. "You seem to know already that I'm the de-facto leader of Fourth Class," he said.

Arisu nodded confidently. "You do not make a very good job of blending in," she remarked.

Hachiman scoffed dryly. His smile widened.

"The next time around, I want a serious sit-down. Bring along with you your real second-in-command. Ayanokouji-san. And no tricks or I'll know."

They watched Hachiman get up from his seat and proceed to walk out of the building.

A bland look washed over Arisu's face, and she slumped into her chair. Her little heart was still banging against her chest after she had finally confronted the enigmatic student from Fourth Class. She knew that he would step up to match her. It thrilled her for the first time in years, yet it was intimidating not knowing what to expect. Arisu told Katsuragi and Kamuro to go ahead as she decided to stay behind a bit in the library.

When the two had gone, Arisu Sakayanagi glanced aside to see Ayanokouji Kiyotaka walk over. His sullen, golden eyes were monotone as usual, impervious to surprise. He must have been silently eavesdropping on their conversation with the Fourth Class student from the nearby staircase that led up to the second library floor; close enough that Ayanokouji could make out bits of what they were saying yet staying out of sight.

Arisu was silent. She pulled towards her the chessboard on the table and started fiddling between her fingers with a pawn.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka began. He said emotionlessly, "Ryuuen Kakeru-san is capable of planning such a brutal move. However, carrying it out is another thing."

"It can't be Hikigaya-san," Arisu said in disbelief. "It's true that the only other student in Fourth Class that could possibly match and even be more potent than Ryuuen is him, but how can you be so sure that Hikigaya-san was behind it all?"

"Nothing is off the table," Ayanokouji repeated softly.

There was only one factor Arisu could not decipher. It was incomparable to Ryuuen Kakeru. Hikigaya Hachiman proved to be near unpredictable, especially since this was the first time she had faced oblique, destructive tactics.

"He might be involved in plotting out the revenge for Mei-chan, but again, executing it is another story. I know Hikigaya-san has connections, but why would he do something so reckless and violent? He's smart enough to know that the trouble is not worth it!"

Arisu sighed heavily, dropping the pawn from her hand. It toppled the other chess pieces on the board.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka remained nonchalant. "Sakayanagi-san, you do know that there is a reason why Hikigaya-san is here in the Lyceum. He couldn't be just some ordinary student that's been accepted. We both see he doesn't seem to fit in with Fourth Class. You didn't need my input to come to that conclusion this morning - That's why you confronted him.

"Though I will admit it's practically impossible at this point to prove Hikigaya-san conspired to order the violent assault. Not unless we have another witness, which we do not. If it's true then he has been very calculative and meticulous. But let's set that aside for the meantime and see what happens next. Now we know he's holding back something."

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/A.N. sorry for the severe delay in chapters. The precedents for a conflict has to be carefully set..