"Alright class, make sure to turn in your group and location for workplace observation by the end of the week, class dismissed." Hiratsuka began gathering her things. I sat in peace, undisturbed by the bustle of socializing around me, I'll stand up and head to the club once the daily exodus's commotion disperses. One thing that Sobu has going for it is how peaceful it is. "Hikigaya, can I speak to you for a moment." Or not.

"Of course, Hiratsuka-sensei, shall we speak in the classroom or your office?" I kept my voice from conveying irritation. Of course, she would phrase it like a question, we both know damn well that I won't refuse so what's even the point of phrasing it as if there's another option.

"My office." She announced as I followed along. With a brief scan of the classroom, I saw that everyone had departed, aside from Yuigahama whose bag was hanging off her seat. She has yet to return from her bathroom visit. I almost feel bad for her, she has friends sure, but they left her behind.

Then again, I can't talk about leaving friends behind. I haven't reached out to anyone at Shuuchin since I left. We reached her office and she sat down heavily, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag before speaking.

"You have a good memory."

"That's correct."

"And you read the sheet I gave you for workplace observation." She stated, rubbing her temples with a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth.

"That's correct." I responded, "Is there some problem with my submitted form?"

"Yes! There is a problem. I said to get into groups of three and in you're submitted document you have not named the other two members of your group, instead, you wrote, 'Whoever's available.' Explain yourself."

"My parents taught me not to be picky about food or people. So whoever doesn't have a group by the deadline can just join up with me."

"What if they don't want to observe a law firm?" She asked, cracking her knuckles. How violent.

"Not just a law firm, the law firm." I corrected, "Ito & Sato is the biggest law firm in Japan and fifteenth biggest worldwide by yearly revenue. The observation will take place in their international headquarters, who wouldn't want to visit that?" I questioned, not even bringing up the luxury amenities I was going to indulge in, once there. The managing partners had been thrilled to open their offices to me and promised to make time for a round of squash. I also planned to make full use of the catering, masseurs, and spa. Workplace observation, more like workplace vacation.

"Cheeky brat." She muttered

"Don't call me a brat, you're only like five years older than me." I flattered, enjoying how she blushed. Putting her off balance should make it easier to get my way, besides she's beautiful, regardless of age.

"Just go, I'll think about how to handle the workplace observation groups." She muttered as I walked out of the room.

I traveled to the service club and lazily greeted Yukinoshita.

"Issues regarding your feeble attempt at greeting disregarded, you didn't see her?" She asked, tone snide then curious.

"See who? Also, using yo as a way of greeting is not just efficient it's also-" Our buildup to somewhat familiar bickering was cut off as the sliding door flew open.

"Hey!" Yuigahama cried, pointing at me while marching forwards. "I was looking for you all over and couldn't find you. I kept asking people and they were all 'Hiki-who' and that made you really difficult to find." I interrupted before her complaining could reach a crescendo I fear my ears would not survive.

"I'm sorry about that. In the interest of efficiency, why don't I give you my number so you can reach out lest this situation happens again." She stepped back, cheeks darker than her hair. Yukinoshita was gazing over, deciding we were slightly more interesting than her novel.

"Hikigaya, how forward you are, how do we know you don't have lecherous intentions?"

Oh, and I had thought we'd made some progress after playing tennis together. I guess that I was mistaken, what a nostalgic feeling.

"Okay first off there is no 'we', I'm giving Yuigahama my number not you, secondly, I'm giving her my number so she can text me but I won't know her number unless she texts me limiting my ability to commit devious acts." I mocked, she was surprisingly uninterested in sparring verbally and instead hummed, conceding me a point. I was shocked by her capitulation until I followed her gaze and saw the open door and the visitor observing us.

Hayato Hayama walked into the room giving us his best impression of a charming grin. Yuigahama smiled back, ever the friendly beauty. But he found no traction amongst Yukinoshita and me, our faces remained stony and his smile faltered. Nice try, your facade is passable but nothing special, that's for certain.

"This is the service club, right?" He spoke, eyes glancing at each of us, on me they grew colder (boohoo, get over it, I beat you at tennis because you're nothing special, just like your facade) and on Yukinoshita they lingered (potential past-connection, possibly romantic, not enough evidence to corroborate currently, would explain why he fought the service club more than a coward like him should have to stay on the tennis court, and why Yukinoshita pushed back so hard.)

He smiled again, wow he does have an arsenal of pleasant expressions if nothing else. "You wouldn't believe how hard it was to get out of my club." He rubbed the back of his head like a damn harem protagonist. Stop it, bro, you're giving me secondhand cringe.

"We don't need your whole life story, just tell us why you're here," Yukinoshita said. I put a hand to my mouth not out of shock but just to be sure that wasn't something I'd said because she took the words right out of my mouth.

His smile faltered again and was slower to recover. We're tiring out his patience; this is fun. Komachi says I can never have spontaneous fun, well look at me now moron. Sorry, you know I love you, little sister.

Anyways, enough digressing, time for more fun.

"I'm here because of this, he showed his phone and I quickly read the three messages sent along with their due dates. So two days ago, which was one day after the workplace observation announcement.

Tobe is a delinquent who stakes out West High kids at the arcade.

Yamato dates three girls at the same time. He is total scum.

Ooka takes out rival schools' aces with rough play.

"Hmmmmm and you want us to find out who's sending you these messages," Yukinoshita asked after taking a moment to read the messages.

"It's not just Hayama, I've been receiving the same messages as well." Yuigahama declared, looking happy to be of assistance.

"Okay, we'll accept this request and find the culprit," Yukinoshita declared. Standing up and facing the window. Wow, she truly does have a flair for the dramatic.

His eyes widened, "Woah, I don't think we need to find the culprit just stop these messages saying bad things about my friends."

"And how do you expect us to do that without finding who is sending them?" Yukinoshita asked while I sat back, happy to watch a verbal boxing match without being a participant.

"That's why I came to the service club."

"So, when did the message first appear?" Asked Yukinoshita, disregarding his last statement.

"Ah…" Hayato said, looking at me "It was around last weekend, right?"

"Mmm" I confirmed, nodding my head.

"Did anything happen in your class around then, Yuigahama, Hayato?" She looked around the room.

"Nothing, in particular, I think…" replied Hayama.

"Yeah, it was the same as always" Yuigahama confirmed.

Yukinoshita stopped for a moment, hand on chin. Then, she turned to me.

"What about you, Hikigaya?" she asked.

"Well, it's gotta be the workplace observations, right?" I replied, bored of watching them search for a clue.

"That's it!" Yuigahama shouted out "It's because we're supposed to be split into groups!" Way to steal my thunder, airhead. Ah well, it's not like I mind.

"How people are grouped affects their relationships afterward. Some people get really sensitive about that stuff." Yuigahama continued after fielding their questioning looks.

"And, your point is…?" Yukinoshita asked.

"We're forced into groups of three. Hayato and his friends make four, someone is going to be in another group." She declared looking quite happy.

Huh, she is kinda cute when she's happy. I felt my lips upturn a fraction.

"So, for starters, we can assume that one of those three is the culprit," Yukinoshita told us after clearing her throat. Wow, even her speaking stamina is poor.

"W-wait a minute. I don't want to think that one of them is the culprit. The message said bad things about all three of them. I don't think any of them di—"

"Are you stupid?" I cut in, glaring sharply at the blonde before me. He was so scared of group dynamics changing that he wouldn't stand up for his two innocent friends being slandered.

All three of them looked over at me, wide-eyed.

"Everyone knows the culprit just did that so he wouldn't be suspected. It's the simplest cover, and it's one of the most effective ones. Furthermore, this denotes a lack of forethought and intellect on the perpetrator's part. If it was me, I would leave one person out to shift the blame away from me." I finished nodding along as their faces matched the way Shinomiya used to look at me. Like I was absolute scum.

"Wow, you are terrible Hikki," Yuigahama murmured. As the other two stared at me. I take it back Yuigahama, any minuscule amount of cuteness that you had before has gone right down the drain.

"There are no buts. Nine times out of ten, that's the situation. Probability-wise, it's one of them. Case closed." I finished.

While the room digested my previous statements, I added a note, "Besides, I already know who did it."

"You do!" They all asked simultaneously. But the emotions behind each were varying, the girls had intrigue and curiosity plain as day on their faces, but Hayama looked nervous. Regardless of who did it, this will change social dynamics. Hayama is a man who fears entropy above all else.

"Yeah, I do. But it doesn't really matter, either way. It's not what Hayama wants; now is it?" I gestured to him with a smirk. He clenched his fists so hard that the knuckles were white.

"No, it isn't." He gritted out, barely restraining the fury he felt.

"Then the solution is simple. Randomize who gets kicked out. Roll a dice or something. That way no feelings are hurt and no relationships are forced to evolve." I waved a hand dismissively, "Now run along, soccer club awaits."

He retreated soon after and the other two members of the club looked at me.

"Hikigaya, how did you know who sent the message?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Yeah, how did you know Hikki?" Yuigahama added.

"It's not important. Would telling you guys, change anything?"

They considered, "But Hikki, I still want to know, maybe not the name but how you found out?"

"I observed all the people and using my talents determined who the culprit among them was."

"Hikigaya, that's hardly proof at all."

"Hikki, just because you think someone's guilty doesn't mean that they are." Yuigahama pouted. Wait a moment. Did Yuigahama just make a good point about justice and investigation? What has the world come to?

"That's fair," I countered, "but I also have definite proof. The phone number that sent those messages was a second phone number attached to a device that was registered to one 'Ooka'" I concluded they both paused, there, maybe they're mollified now.

"How did you track the phone number?"

"That was easy, I know an executive at a cellular service company and he's an old friend. So I just asked a favor." I declared, omitting the part where I defended him from an embezzlement case of approximately a billion yen.

I stood up and left the clubroom. Only once I was in the hall did my own idiocy strike me. This wasn't Shuuchin, there, tracking a phone was hardly a big deal. Most people had enough influence but here it probably made me look like a criminal or something. I don't love the service club but to some extent, I do enjoy the company of the other two members.

My melancholy was pierced by the sound of slippers slapping the floor, someone's running; and the yells of "Hikki, wait!"

A slightly red-faced Yuigahama stood in front of me, "Hikki, why did you run away?" She pouted.

I was taken aback by her astute observation, "I didn't run away I was just heading home."

"Well anyway, Hikki. There's something I need to tell you." Oh boy, she's going to say that she doesn't want to be around me anymore. I knew it was coming but it still hurts.

Instead, all I felt was warmth as she threw her arms around me, "Thanks for saving my dog, Hikki!" She murmured from my shoulder.

"I was nothing special." I protested

She stepped back, a frown on her pretty features. "You always say that the things you do are nothing special but that's not true. You threw yourself in front of a car and you obviously recognize me but you never asked for a reward. You are pretty selfless when it comes down to it so don't say that you're nothing special. You're a good guy."

She turned and walked back to the clubroom, calling out, "I'll tell Yukinon you said bye."

I stood frozen, I should call back and correct her. Let her know that no good deed can make up for what I've done. Her words shouldn't mean anything but they do. The weight I've been carrying since before I left Shuuchin seems to have lightened just a little.

Her words are wrong.

I know that they're wrong.

If she knew what I did, then she would know that they were wrong.

So then why do they make me happy?

(A/N): Thanks for all the feedback and I am also looking for a beta reader to help review my work. Please PM me if you're interested. Also, in this story 8man is more proactive in turning in his work observation document earlier than necessary. Hence, why Yuigahama doesn't receive the chainmail while exchanging numbers as she does in the show.