CHAPTER VII

…

...

She stirred in bed slowly. The curtains in the apartment were all drawn, warm sunlight spilling in. Haruno sat up and looked around sleepily, taking time to comb her velvet hair with her fingers and fluff it up. She arched back, pushing out her chest gracefully like a crane. She found Hachiman already up and busying himself with something. He glanced back at her from the kitchen, as he cooked breakfast. "Morning," Hachiman called out.

Haruno pulled the covers up to her bosom, realizing she was still naked, and yawned. There was a clean, folded shirt on the bedside so she pulled it over herself. It was too big for her, with an ostentatious 'I LOVE N.Y.' print on the front, but it was fine. It was one of the only clothes he kept. She found her panties as well and put them on before groggily making her way towards the table. Hachiman had taken off the pan from the electric stove and scooped the food into a plate carefully with a spoon. The aroma in the room hit her nose, and her mouth watered immediately.

He set the plate of scrambled eggs on the table, in front of the chair across from his seat. It was a very basic dish, requiring skill none so more than needed to boil an egg and it looked bland. She settled down and he put the same spoon onto her plate as well, before sitting in front of her and continuing to read his newspapers.

"Are you hungry? Go on, eat," Hachiman said.

Haruno chewed on her lips. Her head throbbed, and she sat down. She reached for the mug of water Hachiman had poured for himself and drank it. She said bluntly, "I don't like scrambled eggs."

Hachiman was incredulous. "That's the first thing outta your mouth? You're a handful in more ways than one," he said. He dug into his bowl of dry Grape-nuts and swallowed. "Suit yourself. Go fix your own three-course."

As if on cue, her stomach made a terrible, gurgling noise. Haruno squirmed in her chair, flushing deep red and looking away. Hachiman was already taking the plate towards himself. She stopped his hand. "Wait a bit."

"What's the matter? You say you don't want it."

"Mou… Hachi~" she sulked. "You're supposed to be more sweet and convincing. That's not how you treat your girlfriend."

"You don't say?" Hachiman looked over amusedly with a grin. He pushed the plate back towards her and pulled the newspaper he'd been reading back up. She started eating the scrambled eggs hungrily, forgetting all her complaints previously. Hachiman watched her curiously - here was Haruno Yukinoshita, the pride and eldest daughter of an elitist family, and he was feeding her in his place. She was dressed in his cheap T-shirts and a single piece of underwear revealing her slender, pale legs to him, making her look more docile than she really was. How times have changed.

She finished quickly. He shoveled another spoon of dry Grape-nuts into his mouth and chewed mightily. "Come off it, Haru-nee," Hachiman muttered. "This is what they call a one-night stand kind of thing. Don't get so hung up about it."

Haruno harrumphed a reply. Her cheeks were still red, partly due to the hangover. "You didn't wear any protection, did you?" She said bashfully, looking up. "Ah, you did me in too much. What if you got me, you know... pregnant?"

Hachiman chuckled. "Don't put nothing over me." He shrugged. "Just don't forget to take some birth-control pills before you go, or whatever it is that you women do. Then it's no problem."

Haruno flinched at his offensive remark. "Hey, that's not fair!" She protested helplessly. "Sometimes, I don't know if you're being passive-aggressive or straight out mad."

"Well, I didn't mean anything by that."

"You didn't seem prepared for any of this at all."

"Haru-nee, do I look like a man with a master-fucking-plan? What can I say, I couldn't resist you last night. That's all there is to it. I don't go around with twelve-layer deep plans and a jimmy in my pocket."

Haruno drank from his mug again once he'd filled it up. She had a victorious, smug look. "Be a gentleman and take responsibility then," she said curtly.

Hachiman relented. "Sure. Don't worry about it. I'll go purchase some hangover medicine and pills from the convenience store now. But afterwards, I want you out of this place alright?"

"Ehh?!" She pouted indignantly. "You're kicking me out just like that? You're heartless, Hachi~. Oh, my heart hurts more than my head already. I don't have anyplace else to go, remember?"

"Then just go home," he suggested flatly.

"But I don't want to go home. I don't like it there. I'm all alone in my place. Don't you want me to keep you company?" She got up and walked over, leaning close to him.

Hachiman finished his cereal and washed it down with another glass of water. He looked up, in disbelief at her obstinacy. "So basically, you want to stay here. In my place. Is that correct?" She smiled disarmingly at him.

Hachiman coughed, shaking his head. "That's a crazy idea. You're not my girlfriend."

"Not yet, sweetheart, so you'll have to give me some time."

"You're high off dopamine, which is kind of a side-effect after having sex, especially since you haven't gotten laid in a long while," he said snidely. "Right now, you're the nicest girl in the city. I suggest you reevaluate your decisions once the butterflies have left your head."

"Ah, you know a lot don't you, Hachi? That's exactly what it means to be in a good mood~" she gushed. "If you kick me out, I can't be a good ally to you."

Hachiman ignored her provocative remark once more. He huffed. "Allies? Us? Oh, you devilish girl, you."

Haruno gazed eloquently at him. She reclined on the couch, posing like a great feline, purring in delight. "I don't know about medicine," she admitted. "Do you even know what kind of pills to get?" She asked, suddenly apprehensive.

Hachiman scoffed to himself. "Oh, I've had prior experience. I know, don't worry."

"Hachi-kun, I'll be waiting for you here. I'll stay and keep your home all nice and tidy for you. Then you won't see me as a nuisance anymore."

"What about dinner?"

She smiled. "Sure. You want that, huh?"

Hachiman scrunched his nose. "You're serious," he said gravely. "I can't believe it. Alright, I'm going to go now and buy your stuff. I'll leave you the spare key, so please don't give me no trouble. You've still got to go back to your flat and set things straight, okay? Fine by me if you want to take some time off from your company board. But you ain't got any clothes here, no good."

"So you're admitting you want me to stay?"

"Shut up. I didn't say nothing. Your mother is going to chew you out if she learns of this nonsense."

Haruno frowned. "I don't care. You don't have to worry about that woman. I like it here," she stated firmly.

Hachiman inwardly sighed. He'd have to pin down a definite length of stay with this woman and discuss later. This was a very haphazard arrangement. It could get troublesome, knowing her devilish propensities. A secretive affair with Haruno Yukinoshita like this was a fiasco dead set on the trigger.

"Like I said, don't stir up trouble for me. You don't belong here, so mind it."

"I'll be a good girl," she answered coyly.

"OK. I'll be back in a minute, and then I still have to go to work. Sunday is my busy day." Hachiman got up and picked his coat and hat from the racks across the room, and slipped into his shoes. He evaluated himself in front of the mirror for a moment, and made for the door. Haruno interrupted him.

"Hold on, Hachi. Don't leave yet. You're forgetting something."

Hachiman turned back at her. "What is it?"

Haruno stood in front of him. She lifted her chin up at him, visibly annoyed. "Kiss me again," she mumbled, pouting her irresistible, rouge lips.

Hachiman merely smirked at her and sniggered. "You're getting too ahead of yourself, woman. I'll say it again, you're not my girlfriend."

Haruno glowered. She resisted the urge to bite when he put his finger on her lips. He gently peeled her away from him and walked away. "After you fucked me so hard last night? Fine, you prude," she spat back sulkily. "Not yet," she muttered under her breath.

She watched Hachiman slip away and continue to look at her suggestively, smirking, and he shut the door behind him. Once he had completely left, the door locking with finality, she relaxed. Haruno slumped against the wall a bit. She walked back to the living room and eased herself on the couch where she lay still. The sweet look on her face vanished as the mask fell off again. She did not smile anymore. With Hachiman gone, she felt empty as she stared at the whitewashed ceiling. Her dark, rosy eyes were cold and tired. Her mind was settled on a thought.

Hachiman wouldn't betray her. Someone like him must understand betrayal, of those she considered friends and family, and the pain that comes with it. Yes, they were the same. He would understand her desire for vengeance, her growing heartlessness, being despite everyone else - one lone wolf to another.

…

"Hikigaya-san."

"Hello, Shiina-san. Good morning."

"What a nice coincidence seeing you here. Do you live nearby?"

"Not exactly. I happened to just drop by."

Hachiman unexpectedly ran into one of his classmates while inside a convenience store. He found out Hiyori Shiina lived in a small, inconspicuous apartment along the avenue as well, a few blocks up in the same district. This was the first time the two had crossed paths outside of school. She recognized his familiar blue overcoat as he entered the store. Hachiman noted he had never seen her around Nishishinbashi district, though some of her friends hung out in the malls after classes let out.

It seemed that Hiyori was more open towards him compared with other people. She was very good-natured, and a quiet listener for the most part when in class. It was hard not to appreciate her company. They exchanged a few more words; Hiyori was also out buying something, carrying a shopping basket, and perhaps unintentionally trailing Hachiman as he attempted to part ways. He took notice of this.

Hachiman walked down an aisle and stopped again. He glanced at her. "Do you have to keep following me?" He asked.

"I-I wasn't trying to… am I bothering you?" Hiyori asked timidly.

"I don't mind. But see, I'm trying to buy contraceptives right now so you're not exactly helpful either."

His flat answer caught her off guard. "Huh? What?" Hiyori gasped. Her eyes widened in surprise, then she became extremely flustered. "Hikigaya-san… what for?"

Hachiman sighed, tensing his shoulders. "Not for me, that's what," he mumbled.

"Hikigaya-san, I didn't know you're the kind to, umm… have experience. I get it. It's for her, right?"

The two of them shared a sort of subtle understanding. Hachiman knew he didn't even have to explain - she was quite an intuitive girl. He laughed dryly. "Yeah, kind of. It's a long story."

"You should opt for the ones in the blue boxes. They're safer and easier to use."

Hachiman smirked amusedly. "How do you know that, Shiina-san?"

Hiyori giggled, relaxing a bit. She changed the subject cleverly and said, "I never knew you had a girlfriend."

Hachiman said quietly, "I don't usually tell."

"I'm guessing she's that First Class student who looked for you?"

"That's a very good guess. But no, Yumiko is just a close friend of mine."

"Mmhm. But you two seem to be on a first name basis?"

Hachiman laughed. "Like I said, she's a close friend of mine."

"Okay, if you say so."

Hachiman didn't worry about speaking to Hiyori Shiina. He knew she was of a more discreet, soft-spoken kind. He said, "Anyhow, we still have important matters to settle in class tomorrow."

"Yeah. Already four weeks in… it all goes by pretty fast, doesn't it Hikigaya-san?"

Hachiman nodded. "Say, Shiina-san, I've been wondering about the nature of our school. We both already know it's unlike any other institution in the city. What do you think of the Minato Lyceum?"

Hiyori pursed her lips, humming. "I think the Lyceum is a pretty challenging and competitive place," she answered thoughtfully. "You know, I graduated from the Advanced Nurturing High school, here in the metropolis as well. The Lyceum curriculum is really similar to it, now that I've thought of it."

Hachiman inquired a bit more about her former school, and Hiyori explained. Hachiman was impressed. "It's true that you spent three years isolated with everyone else on campus? Isn't that like prison?" He asked.

"Ah, it's not so bad. I made a lot of friends during high school there. It's nice that the government provides for all of the Advanced Nurturing students - Well, at least those who succeeded through the competition. With luck, and because of the scholarship I managed to save up for college. When we finally graduated, even though as Class C we were all guaranteed entrance to the best schools in the country. Those from Class A were given passes to universities abroad. But those from Class D, well… anyways, I chose to enroll in the Lyceum because it was reputedly the most prestigious university at the moment and even better, we're all granted scholarships. I know plenty of my friends also went to the Lyceum."

"Now that you've mentioned it, that's what interests me the most. Shiina-san, do you really think that the Lyceum, or the government for that matter, is paying for all of the students in our school?"

"Well they are, aren't they? Why do you say that, Hikigaya-san?" Hiyori asked.

"I just find it unusual that almost everything the Minato Lyceum offers is free - classes and all. They even sponsor and vouch for student's career choices, which goes beyond generous."

"You think it's not all a good thing?"

"I'm saying it's quite unusual. With the number of students enrolled in the Lyceum this year, and assuming the accompanying costs for each student, it's hard to believe the government is that altruistic with the whole 'educating the new generations' idea. Money doesn't turn up from anyplace, Shiina-san."

Hiyori nodded, listening. "You're not very trusting of our civil system I see."

Hachiman started nonchalantly. He said, "As a maxim, I don't trust anything the government tells me. I suppose this already gets me off the wrong foot with everyone else. I just don't believe that they actually think there's a return of investment with all these kids. Let's face it, 99 percent of our class won't ever be the next astronaut on the moon, or the guy who lifts Japan out of deep shit for that matter. This country is simply filled with a handful of winners, and... a whole bunch of losers. Most of the people we know simply aren't going to succeed. You can't save them all. No, most of us are losers, and they don't really believe in us. They're going to want their scholarships back, you'll see. That's the truth."

Hiyori Shiina was stunned. The sudden reveal of his harsh, cynical side shocked her. "That's a very bleak way to look at things, Hikigaya-san. I-I mean, where is this coming from?" She asked tentatively.

Hachiman deadpanned a look. He seemingly dropped any pretenses in front of her. He said, "Shiina-san, I suppose you already know the trouble with student loan debts."

Hiyori was puzzled. "Loan debts?" She started worrying. "I don't get what you mean exactly. I've always managed my allowances diligently, so I haven't encountered a problem."

"Can't say the same for our other classmates. Shiina-san, I think this semester at the Lyceum is not free at all. As you remember, before we took the entrance exams we filled up a form - a long one at that - concerning a scholarship agreement. Most students never bother to read all the contents of the agreement. What most students don't understand then, is that it's not a scholarship simply at all - it's basically a contract that you have to repay through merit in the future.

"If you succeed in landing a good career after college, you wouldn't worry about any student loans. You'll be able to pay any debts then. Because the government is hoping that you'll contribute something to the country's economy. That's why they're trying so hard to get overseas transfer students to come back, and make promising talents stay in Japan. On the other hand, if you don't graduate with flying colors and get a good job, you'll still owe a great deal of money to the government. If you fail the grade standards, they'll always rescind the scholarship and then you're left in a hole. Your life will be a hellish cycle of trying to pay back growing debts while forced to work in a company."

Hachiman mused sarcastically, "It's actually a nice, modernized system of trapping people into what's essentially forced labor. Quite ingenious, I must say."

"Then what should we do? If that's the case, then it might be the worst problem we're going to face. Some of our classmates can't even handle both academics and part time jobs anymore, and many of us have rent and living costs to pay."

"Since you're asking me, if I were in that position of facing loan debts and money problems I'd start hedging against that as soon as possible. Luckily enough, circumstances for myself are in the safe, but I would've tried to get into the varsity otherwise - perhaps join the Tennis varsity and stay competitive to secure an athletics pass. That's one way. You people will have to figure the rest out for yourself, because eventually those who can't keep up are done for."

Hiyori Shiina was crestfallen. She sighed heavily. "I don't like the reality of things now, but Hikigaya-san... what you said is true. But still, I don't want to lose any of our classmates. Sure, they're not all very nice to me, some are outright brash and uncooperative, but they're still our classmates. We're all on our own now, but I think all of us can work together, and then we wouldn't have to give anyone up." She moaned sadly, "ah, it's always the worst when we have to decide who gets expelled. I hate it! Many of us refused to point fingers at who's going out. How could any friendship stay together under these circumstances, if you're forced to push away your friend?"

Hachiman stopped. "Excuse me, but did you just say that we still haven't decided on who's getting expelled?"

Hiyori shook her head. "No, nobody has decided yet… It's such a nasty idea, isn't it? Nobody wants to take part in expelling another classmate. I suppose some of us, like Ryuuen-san and his friends, simply don't care. And I fear that there's no way to save from the elimination. What should we do, Hikigaya-san?"

"Why do you ask me?" Hachiman winced, bringing his palm over his eyes. "This is bad, Shiina-san. Tomorrow will be the day one student gets expelled from our class, and we don't even know who it is?" He sighed in frustration. "This is worse than drawing lots at all. There's no telling what can go down tomorrow. Shiina-san, remember this: there is nothing more difficult, and therefore more valuable than being able to make a decision. The next time around, another blunder of this sort will destroy our class. This cannot happen again."

Immediately the next day, it had happened just as Hachiman anticipated. At the beginning of every month the student who incurred the most 'downvotes' was to be expelled. Taking place during the first Monday of the month, it had a more demoralizing effect than if the expulsions took place on the last days. It meant classes must deal with fresh wounds and disrupted relationships between themselves. It forced them to collectively oust one of their own and propagate an underlying distrust amongst them. The Lyceum was truly pushing them all to the test. What Hachiman hadn't expected was one of their most diligent and competent students to be the one expelled. At first, nobody could believe it but as the girl got up and made out of the door with frozen tears rolling down her cheeks, it dawned on all of Class IV that expulsion was very real - regardless of how excellent your academics were.

The elimination did not discriminate. Their fellow student went with thirty-six downvotes, and though Hachiman did not bother to cast his lot at all, the result was already determined. None of them protested the outcome. Hachiman detected something off about the whole thing - he didn't need to be a genius to smell the conspiracies in the room. There was the guilty, complicit look on everyone's faces, as if they all had actually come to a decision beforehand after all. Hachiman compared it to a democratic execution, judicial accounts he often read books of during pastimes. It was simply another way to excuse oneself from guilt and liability of sentencing another human being. It wasn't a stroke of misfortune that their top achiever was crossed off, and it reeked of something else.

Hachiman knew Hiyori Shiina was being honest, but the same couldn't be said for the rest of his classmates. For the rest of the day, the whole of Class IV was morose and lamenting the loss of a friend. Hachiman instead suspected a ploy, and he went to confront Ryuuen Kakeru that afternoon.

The group met at the bleachers in the oval track field as usual. Ryuuen Kakeru and his gang seemed ignorant to what had occurred that morning. It wasn't that Hachiman was immediately sure Ryuuen was the mastermind responsible for the expulsion result, but it was a simple matter of deduction that he was the most probable culprit.

Hachiman said quietly, "It's strange, don't you think? Megumi-san was one of the top scorers in our class, yet how come she was the one to be expelled first? It doesn't make sense."

Ryuuen shrugged. "Hell if I know. She might've cheated an' then got caught," he said brusquely.

"She could've. Or maybe there's something else at play here."

Ryuuen chuckled incredulously. "You think?"

"It's obvious." Hachiman said, "Clearly, the expulsions are determined by an electoral system of sorts. People voted her out."

"And you're saying people went out of their way to target Megumi-san specifically?"

"No, Kakeru-san. Someone coerced people to get her expelled. The system is being rigged."

Ryuuen scoffed. "It's not a fucking surprise. Megumi-san is as boring a girl could get, regardless if she's Einstein or whatsoever. She's like a machine. Think of this whole expulsion shit as a popularity poll, and our classmates can kick out whoever the hell they don't like around. That's all there is to it."

"If that were the case, it would've been you, Kakeru-san, who's expelled first." Ryuuen frowned contemptuously at his remark. Hachiman began to smile coldly at him and continued. "Which begs the question: who asked you to coerce our class into this outcome?"

Ryuurn grunted, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hachiman knew the only explanation for expelling one of their top, most capable classmates was sabotage. A ploy by the upper classes to keep Class IV in their bottom place - to keep them weak and unable to challenge First Class. He said, "You do. Either you're being a filthy sellout who's afraid of getting finished by the guy you made the deal with, or- "

"I made a deal with the other classes. There, I said it. Fuckin' satisfied, eh?" Ryuuen burst out, irritated. "It was that guy, Ayanokouji, who passed the word. Knock out the top achievers in our class, and they'll pay me ten million in cash. Shorty was probably the one who came up with this shit again," he said, referring to the small-statured leading figure in First Class.

Ryuuen continued cleverly, "you think that's an offer a sensible person would refuse? If we got rid of the only threats to the upper classes among us, we wouldn't become an enemy to them. Why, this goddamned class of ours has no chance competing with the first classes anyways so you might as well accept it and make the money in any case."

Hachiman sighed. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "That's exactly what you are. A filthy sellout then," he remarked.

"Kuh, a sellout? In the first place, I never gave a shit about you lot. I just made ten mil, I've lost nothing. And don't give me any nonsense about 'friendship' and the like. I can live well without any of that. I never tasted top class, but I already realized that it doesn't fuckin' matter. I made my stake."

"But you're forgetting something, Mr. Ryuuen," Hachiman said in a sarcastic tone. "I'm part of this lot. And this kind of conspiracy, no, it won't do. We're crossing each other again."

"And what do you propose, Mr. Hikigaya?" He sneered superciliously.

"Forget the deal you made with First Class. That's not happening."

"Oh, you see this isn't none of my designs. You'll have to deal with Ayanokouji-san if you don't agree to this whole scheme."

"I see. This Ayanokouji, he's the one behind this?"

"The leaders of First Class are all behind this. They control all the other classes and decide who is expelled every month. And I reckon Ayanokouji-san is sort of Sakayanagi-san's enforcer. That little bitch never comes to deal with me directly when it comes to serious word."

"You still have that deal with Ayanokouji-san then."

"I can't break that deal. That's something I can't do."

"You can't or you won't?"

"I won't."

"Forget about him."

Ryuuen laughed. "Hah! You have no fucking idea who you're dealing with. Punching way above your weight again, Street-boy. Ayanokouji is going to give you hell if you stand in his way."

Hachiman remained expressionless. "You took an order from him."

"A deal."

"No, you bitched out. If their agenda is so important, then you would've raised your prices. You're not stupid, Ryuuen-san. But you bitched out against this Ayanokouji guy," Hachiman said nonchalantly.

Ryuuen clenched his jaw. He spat venomously, "I'm not stupid alright. Go fucking fight him if you're so tough, Street-boy."

"No. You sold out one of our classmates so you can save your own hide. You really didn't have a choice, did you? You're scared of this Ayanokouji guy, so you just said yes." Hachiman continued viciously, his face lit up with a mocking grin. There was blood in the water already, and he pursued relentlessly. He jeered, "What a little puss! Gosh, why don't you just put a dress on and show it all to us while you count your faggoty ten million? C'mon, swish around for us."

This sudden change of demeanor from Hachiman startled the others who had been tuning in and Ken Sudo, Daichi Ishizaki and even Albert Yamada Sieyes began sniggering. They started laughing at Ryuuen Kakeru. Such an open display of disrespect effectively disrupted Ryuuen's control over his gang, and highlighted the growing discontent among them. Hachiman was turning Ryuuen's own friends against him, sowing trouble. Ryuuen instantly saw this and began building up a slow anger. Hachiman continued, turning to the others. "Look at this fool. Ryuuen sold us out for ten mil! What a bitch!" He exclaimed.

"Motherfucker, I'll kill you!"

Ryuuen erupted and lunged at Hachiman, swinging his right arm forward to attack his face with a fist. But the latter saw the intention from a mile away and easily dodged aside.

"Oh, he's trying to hit me," Hachiman chuckled. Ryuuen whirled around and threw another jab again. Ryuuen was blind with fury, and his aim was wild. Hachiman slipped effortlessly. "Too slow, Ryuuen!" He cheered.

Albert, Ken and Daichi were initially drawn with apprehension, but soon roared with laughter. Ryuuen stopped to recollect himself, eyeing the person in front of him murderously. "Come on, hit me," Hachiman beckoned in a matador-like fashion. "Come and fight."

Ryuuen burst forward. Hachiman continued to step back and evade the strikes thrown at him. Hachiman blocked a particularly brutal punch with his arms. He winced. There was a lot of cursing before Ryuuen caught Hachiman by the left cheek. It was a glancing blow, but it succeeded in surprising him. Hachiman made a wrong step and staggered backwards. Instead of falling, his collar was violently seized and pulled upwards.

Ryuuen glared at him, his maroon face twisted with anger. His left arm was already cocked back, fists clenched, prepared to mercilessly pummel his rival. A look of relief washed over Hachiman, and he raised both his hands, acknowledging his defeat. The rest of the guys rushed over to break a possibly nasty fight between the two.

Hachiman was smiling. "There we go. See, I knew you had it in you Kakeru-san."

Ryuuen barked, "Give me one reason why I shouldn't smash your fuckin' mug right now."

"Other than the fact you're going to regret it, I think you've already figured out that we both have the same interests, and the same enemy. We can work together, why cross each other over this?"

"Fucker, I would've killed you." Ryuuen released his grip and sent Hachiman staggering a bit. "I don't take orders from nobody."

"No sir, you don't."

"Do you think I'm scared of that motherfucker Ayanokouji?"

Hachiman brushed himself off and smiled even wider. "That's it. You ain't. So why make the deal?" He reasoned cleverly. "Listen here, Ryuuen-san. You don't make any deals with him no more, got it? You say you don't take any shit from anyone else. Now, we're both on the same team here. I don't see why you wouldn't want to preserve our class. Sure they're all worthless for the most part, and I don't really care about them, but we need them in order to achieve our interests. If you don't straighten our class out, you'll never get anything you want. And Shorty is certainly going to gloat over your failure."

Ryuuen was skeptical. It struck him, and he laughed contemptuously. "Ah, I see. So what now, Hikigaya-san, you're the dictator of Class IV, is that what you think? Givin' me 'suggestions' when really you're after your own interests as well?"

"You're very sharp, Kakeru-san. But I simply expect you to do what you always do. Take back control of our class and run it however you want."

"Damn straight I would. And you ain't gonna tell me nothing. You're spot on one thing though, Hikigaya-san. It's true that I made a deal with First Class, and with that deal comes a special merit point. Just as we take a vote on who gets expelled, we have one to decide who stays permanently. What does that mean?" He continued carnivorously, "It means I'll never be expelled. I'm already one of the dozen surefire graduates of this class, so drink to that."

Ryuuen shortly walked past Hachiman, wearing a savage grin. He had played his cards quite well all along. Ken Sudo and Daichi Ishizaki soon followed along in silence. Class IV had lost an important student, while losing a valuable special merit point to someone like Ryuuen Kakeru, and now Hachiman had seemingly only further provoked Ryuuen to act even more destructively.

But this was Hachiman's intention. By provoking Ryuuen Kakeru, extracting crucial information from him and provoking his ego, he has encouraged him to act more destructively towards third parties and thus, actually more to his favor. The resurgent dictator of Class IV wouldn't be so easily manipulated by another party anymore. Something was definitely about to change about the deal Ryuuen made with Class I, but for now Ryuuen was sent back in the direction Hachiman intended: against the rival classes.

There was still the matter of Ryuuen possessing a permanent expulsion immunity by means of the special merit point he acquired through rigged votes. But having already secured himself from expulsion, he had no imperatives to fulfill further promises. It's the least of problems however. All of this revealed a major flaw in their class: there was almost no sense of solidarity. Ryuuen Kakeru managing to control the outcomes of the class expulsion without Hachiman even finding out until later - though it was the latter's indifference that was mostly to blame - meant that Class IV was weak and easy to fall apart. Anyone could've been bribed to betray Class IV. There were plenty of sellouts and turncoats amongst them, and they will have to be dealt with.

The rest had already gone off, and Hachiman looked around at Albert Yamada Sieyes who happened to still be present at the bleachers with him. "Why are you still here?" He demanded.

Albert answered shortly. "We still have one hour of lectures left to attend. Language classes. I didn't think you'd actually stand up to Kakeru-san, Hikigaya-san. I didn't like how Megumi-san was singled out this morning either," he said.

Hachiman relaxed. "Say, what's the deal with him Albert? By Christ, I fear I might tangle with him."

Albert thought carefully. "Kakeru-san is pretty cunning. He's picked bones with other guys before, and he's pretty cunning. He did quite a number of each of them. He beats every other delinquent that comes his way bloody."

"Well let him be cunning. No none of us has got to pick no fights with him. You didn't do nothing to him, Albert. What's he got to pick with you?" Hachiman asked.

"I'll tell you what, sir. His old man used to beat him black and blue every time he comes home. Used to take the belt to his backside, so I hear from some of the other guys who supposedly went to the same middle school as him. If Ryuuen came home, tears in his eyes, his old man would take the belt to him. Says if he didn't stop cryin', he'd give him a damn reason to cry. Left some hella scars in his spirit. Yessir, that's likely the reason he's so brutal. You seen guys like him, Hikigaya-san? Brutish, fighter guys?"

"Sure have," Hachiman said. "But Ryuuen had better not pick any more fights with no none of us, or with anyone else for that matter. Make no mistake, that's not how the rule goes with my folks."

"Well Kakeru-san is cunning," Albert repeated skeptically. "He don't take no orders from anyone, no sir. I'd have thought that when you brought his cousin Tobe over, he'd straighten out. But there was an incident a few years ago back in our first year of high school. Thing is, I used to go in the same class as him. Advanced Nurturing High school, I remember. We were in Class C, and we was tryin' to trounce Class D so we'd move up a class in the rankings. We never did reach Class A. But thing is, one day Kakeru-san picked the wrong fight with this guy from the next class. He whisked away the guy's girlfriend, I remember her name was Karuizawa-san, and started throwing buckets of water on her to get her to rat out some secrets. It was crazy bullshit, and that's when we got caught. I got beaten up nice and bruised, by that one guy - one guy! He took on all of us. Kakeru-san got the worst beatin' of his life. His face was all blown up for a few days after that."

Hachiman's eyes flickered with renewed interest. He looked over and said, "who did you say his name was, this guy?"

Albert answered promptly. "I didn't say sir, but it was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."

Hachiman murmured inaudibly to himself for a second, his head drooping down towards his feet, inwardly calculating something. Why does that name continue to come up time and again?

Hachiman then said grimly, "Well, Ryuuen had better watch out this time around."

"Don't tell Kakeru-san that I told you any of this. He'd slug me if he knew. Never did like him much, but he's the only thing that kept our class back then together. These days though, actually seems he don't care anymore. Won't ever get expelled 'cause he's got the special merit point now."

Hachiman scratched his palms which were itching. He clenched it tightly, opened it again, and repeated this cycle for a few times as if exercising his hands. He reached into his overcoat for something but stopped. He said, "Ryuuen sounds like a son-of-a-bitch if I knew one. Jesus Christ, Albert! And you call these guys your friends. If they weren't so stupid, they'd all be criminals."

"Seems like he's gotten only worse lately," said Albert. "Especially since he hooked up with that Freshman girl from the next university. Rumor says that she's the younger sister of Ichinose-san, the representative of Class II. But I don't think Ichinose-san knows, nor will she really like the whole idea."

Hachiman was suddenly curious. "Has anything gone down lately?" He asked.

Albert smiled, feeling more at ease. "I see what you mean, Hikigaya-san. But no, not yet at least. Kakeru-san's already on edge, and he don't know what the girl's really up to most of the time, and that kid's a handful."

"That won't be none of our business then."

"Oh, but Hikigaya-san, you've set Kakeru-san off. I fear he's going to try and size you up the next time around. He don't let anybody go by him so simply."

Hachiman concealed his displeasure. "Mr. Sieyes," Hachiman said, facing him seriously, "Don't let him order you around. It'd best serve you to keep away from his cunning schemes. But, if that son-of-a-bitch ever slugs you again, you let him have it." The two of them continued on with their way back to the classrooms. Albert Yamada Sieyes initially did not understand what Hachiman meant. However, the latter had already conjured something in mind.

Such congregations led by a delinquent were not in his favor. Hachiman knew, as he already went through it firsthand. His class had always been led by the same tyrannical group of imbecile thugs and riajuus, who menaced every other student weaker than them. First, the popular girls from middle school. Then came Hayato and his clique, and in college came the frat punks who would've hustled his money all the way if he didn't have his associates from the cabstand do him the favor. A loner never got any peace. What a fucking joke. This time, he swore to have it his way.

And so Hachiman decided to do what he knew best since his high school days: divide and destroy the status quo.

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This one took a while. Now that it's established that there's something going on between Hachiman and Haruno, that'll certainly be the cause of more drama and intrigue down the line..

We're starting to see the prelude of a conflict between classes, and the different students in each. There's definitely going to be some internal conflicts within Class IV, considering the precedents being set.