…You know, I think I said it before, maybe, I don't remember, but why did the past player choose me? I've already figured out that it was because I didn't have this… "Love" shit in me, even though I love Komachi – love as in siblings.

"…Well, now that's going to change…"

"Hmm? Did you say something, Hikitani?"

"None of your business." I briefly turn my eyes to glare at him, prompting him to twitch a little but he quickly covers it up by shrugging at me. Sheesh, I don't give a shit about your fakeness but keep yourself to yourself instead of butting in other people's shit, alright? Not to mention that it was you who wanted to talk to me yet never said anything for the past 3 minutes after we got our drink and sat down at a nearby table.

If I get in trouble with the Venomous Ice Queen because I was late to the club then I'll throw you as an offering to placate her… Although, I don't think she would like trash food.

… Anyway, better to get this over with then head to the club, "Oi, start talking already. I got places to be." For emphasis sake, I show him my wrist then lightly tap on it a few times.

"…Indeed." He lets out a sigh then grabs his drink, a can of orange, "Apologies for taking up even more of your time, Hikitani." He brings his drink to his mouth to take a light sip, "Without wasting more time, I will get straight to the point."

I would very much appreciate that since the beginning you know? Instead you just had to repeat twice, "Then hurry up." I scowl at him while bringing my can of maxx coffee to my mouth. On a side note, I would need to bring Komachi to eat at her restaurant tonight as atonement for getting a can of maxx coffee, in the words of Mind-Komachi.

He gives me a look, one that I can't bring myself to bother in understanding, then places his drink down on the table, "It is concerning about… Your actions in class. I –"

"Yeah, how about go eat a sock that was worn by ten different guys over a year without being washed even once." I had the utmost pleasure of watching one of my co-worker during the pub hours, stuffing the sock into his mouth… All because he messed with the head chef, "I'm leaving if you're just going to spew out shits on I shouldn't cause a scene." I quickly get up then grab my drink.

I don't have time or patience to deal with school drama when I need to deal with the system. Especially if it comes from you.

"…Even if it means not getting my help on getting Yui and Miura?"

I feel my whole body freezing at the words then I slowly glance back to see him standing while emotionlessly looking at me. I unconsciously gulp, an action that I despise for doing, then slowly open my mouth.

"…What kind of game are you playing here, Hayama?" It's a game to people like him… It has always been a game to them.

He shrugs, "It's not a game… Oh and I can't help you regarding Saki-san. And well, call it as me trying to keep the status quo in class. I can't force you into submission, be it socially or physically, bribe you since I can see that you are the type of person who would throw it back while justifying why." He lets out a small smile, this one sending alarm bells ringing in my head.

"So… Tell me what method is left?"

…I can think of a few other ways he could force me… None of them are legal by any means but the options are still on the table. Socially most likely means isolating me and making me an outcast but I am already one so it does nothing, physical is something I don't want to brag about but working 4 part-time jobs gave me a body that wouldn't lose out to our athletes in school… Although I still need to eat a lot since I am more on the skinny side due to malnourishment and improper eating.

He's also right on the bribe part since I would rather work for my own money than – oh wait… Can I check on his bio? Logically, I would only be able to see the Heroines bio and not the NPC but –

"Invalid request due to required skill missing."

…Ok, there is a skill needed to view NPC bio. Which means that I would need to conquer Heroines. Ok.

…Anyway, back to the misery of real life, even though I would have liked to be in my mind instead of dealing with this fake. So, I loudly scoff at him then speak in an even tone.

"You're sacrificing them."

I'm not going to play by your rules, Hayama… But…

It would be rude to just leave now, right, Fake?

He blinks then lets out a small laugh, "Oh, come on Hikitani. Using the term "sacrifice"… It's a little too harsh, no? I would rather call it as me giving a nudge here and there for you three instead of continuing being a mere bystander."

…In other words, he's determined to join. Why? To keep the status quo. How? By either helping or disrupting me.

…Fuck. He's got a higher quality and quantity of cards than mine to play right now.

…Damn it…

"…Fine, say what you want right now. I got club."

I see a slight tremor in his eyes after I finished talking… Most likely from the word "club"… Highly weird but not enough information to think about right now.

The tremor disappears and his face settles into calmness, "Alright… I want you to keep yourself under control in class. I don't care if you do it outside but inside the class…" He doesn't finish, letting his words hang in the air in order for my mind to fill in the gaps.

…Honestly, his condition doesn't sound too bad. Getting his help in exchange for doing something that I've been accustomed to? I would have called him a simpleton and an idiot for proposing such a stupid condition while agreeing with him.

If he wasn't Hayama, that is.

"…Oi, this is a trap."

"As expected of Hikitani." He sarcastically claps, "It was pretty easy to see it, no?"

"Easy my shit, I guarantee you that if it was anybody else, then they would have been convinced by you to accept it." Even if they suspect something was wrong, there is a high chance that they would just jump in regardless of their suspicion.

Why? Because it's Hayama.

He shrugs then lightly dangles his can in the air, "Well, I can't deny that since most of our classmates are simpletons… Ah, but I don't mean it in a bad way since it isn't their fault in the slightest that they were born like that."

…Oi, something is very wrong there, especially the last part. It almost sounds as if…

Ah, you're like that.

"You see yourself as superior to them."

He abruptly stops his dangling then blinks at me, "Huh, that was fast, Hikitani. I would have expected for you to figure it out tonight."

My eyes twitch at his honest shock since I would rather have you mocking me than be honest, "Are you going to tell me what else should I expect from accepting?"

"So, do you want to decline?"

…I'm going to stop by a pharmacy to buy medicines since I'm going to need them now, "…Fine. I… Accept."

He smiles, this one just a bit more true than his usual, "Great! Now, see you tomorrow." He quickly turns around then walks away without looking back.

"…" I just continue to look at his back until he disappears around the corner. I let out a sigh then down my can of maxx coffee in one gulp before making my way over to the club, even though I am really not in the mood to deal with Yukino but I need to since I need to conquer her since she's a Main Heroine that I would need to conquer to clear the game!

Haaaaah… Oi, system, tell me just how many times will you force me to go through these kinds of events? I'm fucking tired of dealing with this kind of events, you know? Oh who am I kidding, of course you know since you can control my body like a parasite.

I wouldn't be surprised if all of my previous ramblings are actually true.

*UIOUIOUIO*

A/N

Welp, been busy with my classes, my money problems(kofi plan failed), sick cats, and my family... Haaaaah, it would be great if I can just sleep my worries away, preferably deep underground in the dirt. Ahem, I just want to comment a bit on this chapter and say that Hayama also got changed a bit but it's still along the line of his canon self, just... A bit more twisted. Anyway, on to the comments!

LanceSennin - indeed

bluecookie420 - oh? Interesting. Also, 8man will *REDACTED*

eightmanantartica2428 - *REDACTED*

CrazyxEnigma - maybe, maybe not. Yep. Lmao yep, both of them are more *REDACTED*. Also lmao

Sebas602 - don't worry, you're not alone since most of the time I have no idea what the fuck is happening. Lmao

CMY187 - lmao, always a good laugh whenever I see your comment. Also thx about the birthday and don't worry, I'm just going to keep on going until I self-destruct

Lazy Servant - np. And yep. Thx but I'm way too overworked to the point that it has become normal for me