Here's the next chapter of the story! It will start to get dark and sad starting from now on. I'm feeling inspired once again to write a lot

Hachiman spent the remaining of the afternoon classes thinking about how to deal with the situation at hand. Obviously, this time, a social suicide wouldn't help or be effective. He took glances at Naho who just focused on the blackboard the whole time. A normal person would just think she was invested in the lessons but he knew better. People who have been hurt in the past tend to be able to feel the pain of those around them. Kuwahara was no exception.

The girl's face was blank, no smile, no scowl. Eyes devoid of any light or target. You could guess that she was spacing out, a state that the loner was pretty accustomed to. He thought hard about what was happening inside this head of hers.

Sighing as he was getting nowhere with so little knowledge about the girl, Hikigaya glanced in Kawasaki's direction while packing his belongings. Saki caught him staring and understood the message and nodded before slowly getting out of the room.

"See you tomorrow Naho-chan!" Said Yui before going to Hachiman's side.

The mute girl just waved goodbye with the same smile which was making the outcast disgusted.

"Let's go Hikki! Yukinon is waiting for us already!"

Too close woman, learn not to invade someone's personal space! He thought

"Yeah yeah go ahead, I have something to do before that but I'll be there."

"O-Okay, you better come!" She said while leaving and a bit disappointed

Hikigaya turned his head to Naho. Both of them stared at each other in complete silence. She dropped the smile seeing the annoyed look on his face before looking at her feet out of shame.

"Aaah... Bye. See you I guess." He said while scratching his head.

Kuwahara nodded silently, still not facing him.

Hachiman left the room following Yui for once. Hands in his pockets, he grit his teeth trying to find a way to deal with Hiratsuka's request.

Yuigahama observed silently Hachiman from the corner of her eyes on their way. She knew that something was weighing on the loner mind and she wanted to know but now was not the time. He club will be the best place to talk about it since there won't be any eavesdropping ears around them.

A minute later they arrived and started their usual ritual. Greeting each other, taking their seat and having a warm and delicious tea brewed by the ice queen herself. Everything was like it should be, yet an uneasy feeling remained between each members. This weird feeling has been growing each day more and more. Things were getting complicated.

"Hikimoody-kun, I know I was too harsh last time and got you angry but it is not a reason to bring your bad mood in this room. Things are already difficult as they are."

"Yukinon..."

"Why do you think that Yukinoshita?"

"Eto... Then why are you so tensed Hikki? You've been wearing this serious face since you returned from Hiratsuka-sensei's office and said goodbye to Naho-chan."

"Did something happen between you and her?" Asked Yukino arching an eyebrow out of curiosity.

"No need to hide it from you anyway, you're part of the request from sensei. Kuwahara was bullied to a whole new level today. She got attacked and they got her clothes soaked with water and cut her hair in a horrible way if I guess correctly. Thankfully Kawasaki helped her and did her hair to fix the damage. This is getting out of hand. And also..."

"Also what?" Said the president now gripping the hem of her skirt out for anger.

"… I learned some uneasy truth about her from sensei's mouth. I don't know if I should spit it out. Anyway I think the whole thing is getting out of our power as students. We can't do anything about it. We can't the Disciplinary Committee, the Student Council or teachers."

"Isn't there like anything we could do to help Naho-chan then?!"

"What Hikigaya-kun said is true Yuigahama-san. As student from the Service Club, this is getting out of our field of activity. We are not entitled to do anything about it. Kuwahara-san ought to deal with her problem herself."

"But..."

Hachiman eyed the snow woman intently, knowing full well that she was talking about her past experience with the bullying.

"Is what I would say as a club president but I guess from what Hikigaya-kun knows that we don't and the handicap she has. It's not something we should overlook. We may not have a lot of possible actions but we have strong bonds with the Student Council after all."

"So you envisage to ask for Isshiki's help to put pressure on the bullies expecting them to stop? Pardon me but you should know better than me that it's useless. As long as there's no proof, eye witness or confession from the bullies it won't help. There's only so much the Council can do."

"I know that full well but I think that putting pressure will cause them to think twice before acting so boldly and they will also make some mistakes. They aren't criminal masterminds. We are just students and still immature. We will caught them red-handed. With the gravity of their latest act they could even get expelled."

"I see, getting them expelled could be indeed a good answer to the problem but will it really mark the end of it? I mean, they could attack her outside the school and then we would be powerless. It would be up to the police after that but that doesn't mean that they would get punished enough. You know how far it can go Yukinoshita. There's no easy solution to these cases."

"Do you have a better idea then?"

"We could always find out who they are and blackmail them or threaten them? It works."

"What a despicable way of solving one's problems. And let me guess, you will be the scapegoat again?"

"Who said I would be the one to blackmail or threaten? There are things like social networks and rumors. You don't need to know who started the thing. It will spread like a wildfire. Even if they will die in a short time. Rumors are still rumors and if the perpetrator is being blackmailed with evidence or something shameful he or she does not want the world to know then they will stop."

"You are as twisted as ever Hikishady-kun. We're not in a thriller movie. This is the real world."

"Just saying."

Yui was overwhelmed by her clubmates exchanging ideas and possibilities.

"Hmm... Guys. How about we talk about it with her instead?"

"Yuigahama-san, I don't think that's a good idea. We know things we shouldn't and she might get scared if we just go and ask questions out of the blue."

"I know but... There must be a way to help her. She does not deserve this. She's the most gentle girl in the classroom! Even Yumiko loves her, she's part of my group with Yumiko, Tobecchi and Hina! Even SakiSaki seems to affectionate her or so it seems."

"Wait, this is proving useful information."

"Huh?"

"This is making things easier for us if Kuwahara-san is appreciated by the majority of the students. Even more so if she's part of Miura-san's group. Being a member of the popular kids group gives you social power. And knowing Miura-san she won't let this slide easily if she really consider Kuwahara-san as a friend of hers."

"Oh! I see! I'm sure Yumiko is already fuming and working on this!"

"Poor souls. I would almost feel sorry for the bullies if they were to be caught by the wrath of the fire queen. Also when you get the bad attention of Miura you will likely deal with mister Bright smile who will defuse the situation and put an end to the problem. Pfft I can already see it."

"Hikki meanie! Stop making fun of Hayato at every opportunity! He's not even in our class this year."

"And bless this year for that."

Yui pouted at Hikigaya's attitude toward the blonde prince while Yukinoshita smiled slightly.

They continued their little conversation for a bit before a knock on the clubroom's door got their attention.

"You may come in." Said the ever so polite club president.

The door was slip open slowly and silently while a quiet figure entered the room with a notebook opened in front of her of a page where she wrote a questions :

'Is this the Service Club?'

It was Naho with her new haircut and her mesmerizing odd-eyes. A left light brown eye and a green right eye. Yukinoshita who saw her for the first time was a bit taken aback by her appearance. She was wearing piercings and it was too much for the ice queen.

"Yes it is indeed. I assume you are Kuwahara Naho am I wrong?"

The girl nodded in response, still hiding part of her face with her notebook.

"Hey Naho-chan! I did not think you would come here!"

Hachiman looked her way and gave her an odd stare before nodding to her like it was the most normal thing to do.

Why is she here He thought.

"If I may, I know our school is pretty lax with the uniform policy and the look standards but I think this is way too much Kuwahara-san. I'm amazed that nobody told you anything about all those metallic things on your head."

Surprised, the girl took her bottom lip piercing and unclipped it before the eyes of everybody. She followed with the ring on the right side of her bottom lip. She then wrote again on her notebook.

'Those are clips. Not real ones, I'm sorry I forgot I wear them sometimes. But the earrings are real.'

"F-Fine."

The situation was getting a bit awkward, Yukinoshita invited Naho to their table to ease everyone.

"So tell us Naho-chan! Why are you here?! Do you have a request?"

'Oh no, not really. I mean there's something but you can't really help with this I think. You both know I got attacked but I'm used to it, don't worry about me. Also Miura-san kept fuming and eyeing everyone to find who the culprit is. I think I'm fine with her around.'

"I-I guess so hehe..." Laughed Yui awkwardly.

"So may we know why you are here then Kuwahara?" Asked Hachiman.

'In fact I was curious about the club you attended Hikigaya-san. So I wanted to visit and see who were the members and what you were doing there. You don't strike me as someone who spend time with others at first. I guess I was wrong, sorry.'

"Oi. You may be mute but your words are awfully sharp aren't they?"

She looked away like she was innocent while Yui laughed and Yukino couldn't help a small grin.

'Also, I wanted to know. Why were you on the roof back then while I was drawing Hikigaya-san? '

The question made the girls curious and tensed because it brought back the memories of this day.

"Ah... I had a lot on my mind. I need to cool down and I spaced out while looking at the first thing I found while looking aimlessly."

"Gross Hikki! You were totally observing her!"

"Despicable as always." Said Yukino out of habit.

"Hey, I didn't necessarily observed her."

'I don't mind, I know it wasn't intentional but I got surprised. I'm not accustomed to people watching me draw.'

"Sorry about that then."

"Oh you draw Naho-chan?! Can I see them?"

Kuwahara stared blankly at Yuigahama for a split second and started to wave her hand negatively while shaking her head, she didn't want to show anything of her art to others.

"Oh...Too bad... Why can't you?"

"Yuigahama, you're being pushy and rude."

"Yes Yuigahama-san, could you stop it?"

"Hrmm..."

'It's fine, It's just that it's personal. It's not something I want others to see. My art is... Complex.'

Hachiman let his eyes wander to Naho's bag which was next to her chair. What he saw was her drawing book. 'Yoko Kuwahara' was written on it. He must have stared a bit too long since it seems he got caught by the owner who glared a bit at him and extended her arm to her bag to close it.

Usually Naho's arm were not visible. Only the tip of her fingers could be seen since her sleeve were too long. This time however, her movement was fast and she had to move her body in a way that the sleeve uncovered her hand and a bit of her wrist. Hachiman was shocked by what he saw. His vision was sharp. His eyes were good and he was sure of what he saw. There were scars on her left wrist. He had a very bad feeling seeing this but he chose to keep silent for now. Bringing it up wouldn't do any good.

After a bit of chit-chat, Kuwahara said goodbye to the member of the Service Club and left the club.

"What a peculiar girl." Said Yukinoshita.

"You don't say."

"That's Naho-chan for you. She's a fun weirdo if I Had to describe her."

Hachiman stared at the door for a bit before resuming his novel reading.