53 - Hikigaya Hachiman: Undressing with Curves
"Hey hey, Hikigaya-kun, what are you going to do after becoming the Disciplinary Committee Chairman?"
"Will you raise a personal pet like Juraku-senpai?"
Jabami Yumeko, sweating lightly, raised the cat tag in her hand as if offering it to Hikigaya.
"Meow meow meow~"
Hikigaya Hachiman's face was full of black lines, and he rubbed his forehead.
"I don't have the same weird preferences as Juraku-senpai. So don't have any strange fantasies, Jabami. Be normal."
"Is that so... what a shame. I thought after becoming the Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Hikigaya-kun might want to do something H-like."
"I don't have such vulgar tastes."
Suddenly, three people appeared from the corner ahead. Leading them was a yellow-haired, crew-cut guy. His bloated and oversized frame blocked the narrow hallway like a wall, standing directly between Hikigaya Hachiman and Jabami Yumeko.
Students in the surrounding area quickly made way, casting curious, gossiping glances toward them.
'That's... Kiwatari Jun,' Hikigaya's gaze sharpened as he immediately recognized the guy.
In the intel Juraku Sachiko had given him yesterday, this guy was listed.
He was a mid-ranking member of the Full-Bloom Association, often handling dirty work for Mibuomi Aoi. This included—but was not limited to—using violence to force others into gambling, turning them into pets, and then having other Full-Bloom members approach and absorb them into the organization.
Once Aiura Kokoro joined Full-Bloom Association, she would likely become Mibuomi Aoi's new black-gloved enforcer. People like this shared common traits: gambling skills above average—but not by much—and infamous reputations. They were easy to control and could be unleashed like dogs to bite at will.
Their core strategy was simple: amass the power of ordinary students to overthrow the student council. One had to admit, Mibuomi Aoi was quite skilled at manipulating people.
Kiwatari Jun leaned against the wall with one hand, blocking Hikigaya's path.
"Hey, you're Hikigaya Hachiman, right? Heard you beat Aiura Kokoro yesterday? Not bad, huh."
As he spoke, he extended his greasy hand, trying to pat Hikigaya on the head in a fake friendly gesture.
Unexpectedly, Hikigaya sidestepped quickly, deftly dodging Kiwatari's attempted touch.
He didn't even like having unnecessary contact with Jabami Yumeko, let alone someone like this—whose brain probably developed like a gorilla's.
Kiwatari Jun's face twisted with a mix of shame and anger. Just as he was about to erupt, his not-so-bright eyes spun a bit, and he turned to face Jabami Yumeko with a sleazy grin.
His shifty eyes roamed openly over Yumeko's curvy and seductive figure.
But before he could enjoy even a proper glance, Hikigaya stepped in front and blocked his view.
"Hey, she's a 'stray cat,' right?"
"Come with me for a bit."
Kiwatari tilted his head slightly, gesturing for Yumeko to follow them.
Yumeko didn't even lift her eyes, standing obediently behind Hikigaya.
"So sorry, I have absolutely no interest in you. Let's not do this."
Kiwatari's expression darkened viciously. He waved his hand, signaling his two lackeys to grab a chair from a nearby classroom and bring it over so he could sit.
"What? A stray cat dares defy a human's order? Are you trying to go against the pet system designated by the student council?!"
He shouted loudly, drawing everyone's attention to the scene, faithfully executing the mission Mibuomi had assigned him:
-"Smear the student council—use the pet system to stir up scandalous incidents."
Kiwatari didn't know exactly what that pretentious big shot in the student council was plotting, but since he had Mibuomi's backing, he could act without restraint.
Examples included: targeting students whose girlfriends were pets, then forcing the girls to pour drinks or give massages in front of their boyfriends… making them strip off their school jackets and dance… or cutting the hair of any pet who dared disobey…
His list of atrocities was long. He was often reported, but thanks to Mibuomi Aoi's manipulation, not only did nothing ever happen to him, he was even awarded a "Model Student" commendation at the end of the semester.
Several times, he had seen those female "stray cats" he had humiliated go to Mibuomi Aoi and cry to him, and it gave him a sense of secret satisfaction.
On the outside, he was the son of a Chiba legislator. In school, he was a bully with the backing of the student council's treasurer.
He was invincible, reckless.
If Hikigaya Hachiman dared to make him uncomfortable, he would dare to publicly humiliate Hikigaya Hachiman.
For example, he could make Jabami Yumeko, this "stray cat," strip off her clothes and stockings in front of everyone. If she didn't comply? If she defied the student council? Then she'd have to wait for the Disciplinary Committee and Beautification Committee to pay her a visit.
"Take it off, and do a striptease dance."
The noisy hallway suddenly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, watching Jabami Yumeko, curious about what Hikigaya Hachiman would do.
As for Kiwatari Jun, a second-year student, the others were angry but too afraid to speak out. Rumor had it that he had connections within the student council. He had bullied first-year students multiple times without facing any punishment. So, everyone suspected that some members of the student council were covering for him.
That said, Jabami Yumeko's body was indeed quite impressive, and her face was also stunning. This was the thought of many of the boys at the moment. If they could take advantage of this and feast their eyes, it wouldn't be too bad.
"I don't want strangers to see my body. If it's Hikigaya-kun, then I wouldn't mind. But you guys—"
"You're way off from my type."
Jabami Yumeko glanced at Hikigaya, her cheeks flushing slightly. She extended two fingers, crossing them in a playful gesture.
Seeing that Jabami Yumeko was so dismissive of him, Kiwatari Jun's face turned dark. He immediately jumped up from his seat, intending to teach her a lesson.
"A mere stray cat, don't get too cocky!"
"You, on the other hand, perfect. Since you don't want to strip, I'll help you out. I'll do what you want and take you on as you wish."
"As for you, Hikigaya Hachiman, just stay put and watch, hahaha!"
Kiwatari Jun cracked his neck, emboldened by his own sense of superiority, and took slow, confident steps toward the two of them.
Hikigaya Hachiman's expression remained neutral as he tightened his fist. As a detective novelist who spent most of his life behind a desk, Hikigaya didn't want to end up with a body full of ailments when he grew older. That's why he dedicated time each day to exercise.
At the moment, he wore his school uniform, and to the casual observer, he looked like a weak, scrawny chicken. However, if he were to take his clothes off, they would see the well-defined muscles hidden beneath his thin appearance. If he were thrown into a martial arts tournament or had to face off with the club's ace in a one-on-one fight, Hikigaya Hachiman would definitely not be his opponent.
But Kiwatari Jun was just a pig-headed fool relying on his fat and brawn—nothing more.
"Yo, you want to be the hero and save the damsel in distress? You weakling!"
Hikigaya took a deep breath and silently recited prime numbers in his head, forcing himself to enter a state of mental calm as he observed Kiwatari's movements. After all, it was his first time using his well-trained body for a fight, so Hikigaya had to be extra cautious.
Just like with gambling, Hikigaya wouldn't engage unless he was confident of winning.
'He'll swing his right fist at a 45-degree angle, aimed directly at my face.'
It was as though time had slowed down. Just before Kiwatari's punch connected with Hikigaya's face, Hikigaya's body shifted a fraction of an inch backward. The punch's force grazed his face, but it couldn't harm him at all.
Hikigaya suddenly crouched down, his fists clenched and positioned level with his eyes, assuming a combat stance. Kiwatari Jun's bloated body was wide open, and Hikigaya could spot seven or eight vulnerable spots to strike.
'Turns out, fighting isn't that hard...'
Hikigaya took another deep breath, his muscles tense, ready to counterattack.
"Stop!"