Chapter 3: Even so, Hayama Hayato is everyone’s hero.

By the time we had handled several requests, spring had slipped away before I realized it, and the scent of early summer was drifting in through the window.

Inside the Service Club room, where a slight heat lingered, there were—unusually—two outsiders.

While organizing the words of one of them, Hayama-kun, in my head, I began to speak.

"I see. So, in short, you want to do something about those chain emails."

"That’s right. They’re circulating through the class... is there anything you can do?"

The situation was exactly as I remembered it. Chain emails badmouthing the three people who are always with Hayama-kun were making the rounds in class. It was unpleasant, and the atmosphere in the classroom was turning sour, so he wanted to know if we could find a solution. That was the request brought to the Service Club.

Hayama-kun asked me with an ambiguous smile on his face. It was extremely rare for him to initiate a conversation with me like this. He seemed to be quite troubled.

I turned my eyes toward my old acquaintance, who still wore that faint smile. When our eyes met, he averted his gaze ever so slightly. It was an attitude unlike his usual self, the man who acted civilly toward everyone.

...Is he still ashamed of his past self who couldn't help me, feeling a sense of debt for having to beg for my help now? How ridiculous. Even if he couldn't save me back in elementary school, it couldn't be helped. There is no saving a person who is intent on making themselves miserable.

Hayama Hayato is already surrounded by so many wonderful people; why does he still care about someone like me?

...No. My thoughts are wandering. It’s absurd for me to feel guilt just by looking at someone else feeling guilty. I shook off the feeling and looked up.

"There is only one solution for chain emails, isn't there? You identify the culprit and publicly call them out. What else is there?"

I spoke while looking Hayama-kun in the eye. His face clouded over slightly.

In fact, that’s how all the bullying used to be. Back when I was still in elementary school. The people around me must have felt resentment toward me for maintaining my solitude with a composed face. I went through a terrible time—being badmouthed, having my indoor shoes hidden, and my textbooks torn to shreds. Back then, the innocent cruelty of children fell upon me without mercy.

And those things never stopped, no matter if Hayama-kun tried to intervene or report it to the teachers. In the end, there is only one way to solve such things. You have to cut it off at the root.

Hayama-kun opened his mouth with that same ambiguous smile.

"...Isn't there a more peaceful way to solve this?"

"I don't recall you being a bird-brained person who learns nothing from the past, but was I mistaken?"

When words harsher than I intended came out, the expression vanished from Hayama-kun’s face. Seeing that, I was struck by a small wave of regret. He didn't say anything back.

"...Fine. We will expose the culprit, and what you do after that is up to your discretion. Is that acceptable?"

"Yeah. That helps."

That said, the situation and the actors are different now compared to when I was in elementary school.

He—Hachiman Hikigaya—will surely notice.

Because the protagonist of this story isn't an cliché hero who tries to live up to everyone's expectations, but a Dark Hero who resolves problems through "crooked" methods.

"The cause... the cause of the chain emails, huh... Oh, could it be that? The group selection for the workplace experience."

Yuigahama-san's energetic voice rang out. While I was lost in thought about his future exploits, the conversation had moved forward.

Group selection. For a high school student, it is an unexpectedly vital event. Who you are close to and who you aren't—those ambiguous social standings manifest in a visible, concrete form.

That is why adolescent boys and girls are pathologically obsessed with who they go on workplace visits with. Particularly when the required group size doesn't match the number of people in a regular social circle, it can even lead to strife.

"Ah, I see. You mean someone got left out during the group selection? And they did all this just for that...?"

"I see, so that's why... but who would do such a thing...?"

Hayama-kun put his hand to his chin and began to think.

"Hah. It’s obviously someone in your own group."

Hikigaya-kun’s mouth twisted into a smirk. As if he were mocking Hayama-kun. Seeing this, Hayama-kun’s expression hardened. When he spoke, there was a sharp edge to his tone.

"That’s impossible! They’re all good people! Besides, the emails said bad things about everyone..."

"That’s obviously just to keep suspicion off themselves. Just how optimistic is that brain of yours?"

At Hikigaya-kun’s biting words, Hayama-kun’s gaze grew even sharper. Hikigaya-kun’s rotten eyes locked with Hayama-kun’s piercing ones. Yuigahama-san looked on, flustered by the scene.

A tense atmosphere dominated the clubroom. The sudden silence lacked the usual comfort of the Service Club.

To blow it away, I cleared my throat loudly.

"Ahem... anyway, if we are to search for the culprit, I believe the two members in the same class are best suited for the job. Yuigahama-san, can I leave it to you?"

Upon hearing my words, Yuigahama-san’s face brightened instantly.

"Yukinon is asking me for a favor...! Yeah, leave it to me! I feel a bit bad doubting my friends, but those chain emails made me feel gross too. I’ll solve it!"

"And Hikigaya-kun, who is looking on like this is someone else's problem—you too, please."

"...Yukinoshita, are you familiar with the phrase 'the right person for the right place'?"

Hikigaya-kun asked with his characteristically dull eyes. His face practically had the word "troublesome" written all over it.

So, I replied with a smile.

"There is no such thing as a 'right place' for someone like you, Hikigaya-kun. After all, you have no place where you belong."

"You hit the nail on the head, but it’s really annoying when you say it with a smile!"

"Oh, my apologies. I suppose it’s true that the truth hurts people sometimes."

Hikigaya-kun’s face twitched as he fell silent. He must have realized that saying anything further was useless.

"Yukinon, what about me!?"

"Yuigahama-san... well, don't forget the details of the request."

"...Am I being treated like an idiot?"

"I’m not treating you like an idiot. I just think you're a bit... 'unfortunate' in the head."

"Waaaaah! Yukinon, that's mean!"

After receiving my words, Yuigahama-san suddenly hugged me. Unable to respond to the suddenness of it, I simply accepted the embrace.

"It's hot..."

And... they're soft...! Something warm and soft was being pressed against my chest. Ah, so these are Yuigahama-san’s...! They're huge...! The "romance of men" that I had dreamed of and yearned for in my previous life was right there.

As her "oppai" were pressed against me, I savored the sensation. My heart began to race like a bell at the sudden fulfillment of a dream from my past life. Heat gathered in my face. It wasn't just "hot." Could this be... love?

Though it has been about ten years since I was born into this body, I have never felt more glad to have become Yukino Yukinoshita than I do right now.

While I was reeling from the shock, Hayama-kun, who was watching the scene, whispered to Hikigaya-kun.

"You guys get along well, don't you?"

"Huh? ...Oh, those two do."

"You too."

Hayama-kun’s whisper just barely reached my ears.

...As he said, have I managed to become friends with Hikigaya-kun? Wrapped in Yuigahama-san’s arms, I found myself thinking about it for a moment.

A few days later, the three members of the Service Club and Hayama-kun gathered in the clubroom. We listened to Yuigahama-san’s report, but as expected, there were no significant results. Next, we turned to Hikigaya-kun.

"I didn't find the culprit. However, there is something I did find out."

Hikigaya-kun gave a triumphant smirk. His lips, usually curled in self-deprecation, formed an arc, and for some reason, the cloudiness in his eyes seemed to vanish. It was an expression worlds apart from his usual demeanor.

...I wish he wouldn't show a face like that without warning. My heart just skipped a beat.

"That group of four—Hayama and the others—aren't actually all friends with each other. Hayama is friends with the other three, but the others are just 'friends of a friend.' It’s a distorted group."

"...Even if we know that, it only serves as a motive. Unless we remove the cause, the problem won't be solved."

"No, what we need to remove is something else entirely. Hayama, you want to hear it?"

At Hikigaya-kun’s thin smile, Hayama-kun nodded fearfully.

And so, the story progressed just as I knew it would. He turned the group of "Hayato Hayama plus three others" into a "group of four."

By having the three people other than Hayama-kun form a group for the workplace visit, he resolved the friction existing within their circle. As a result, Hayama-kun would end up alone, but well, he should be fine.

The Dark Hero resolved the problem using a method only he could have come up with. The story proceeded correctly.

A few days later, I was alone with Hikigaya-kun in the Service Club room.

"So, is Hayama-kun’s group going to work out like you said?"

"That’s up to them. How should I know?"

Hikigaya-kun spoke listlessly as he sipped the Max Coffee in his hand. ...He really is drinking Max Coffee. I'm actually a bit moved. I tried it once myself, but it was so sweet I had to give up halfway through the can.

In tandem with him, I sipped my canned coffee. Mine was black. A cheap bitterness spread through my mouth.

"...It’s rare to see you drinking coffee. You’re usually a tea person."

"Yes, that’s true. ...I just remembered something unpleasant, that’s all."

"Heh," Hikigaya-kun grunted disinterestedly and took another sip of MAX Coffee.

Hearing the words "Workplace Experience" had reminded me. The break between Hikigaya Hachiman and Yuigahama Yui. Hikigaya-kun’s rejection and Yuigahama-san’s tears. That event was supposed to happen after the workplace visit.

...Should I say something to Hikigaya-kun? My thoughts, which had been going in circles for days, reached the same conclusion. That separation is a climax they must experience. Therefore, I shouldn't meddle.

And yet, I can't help but think. Am I really going to just stand by and watch his choices, knowing the outcome and knowing he will be hurt? I know. His suffering and his mistakes are necessary factors in completing the story.

Still, I ask myself: By standing by while knowing everything, do you think you’ve become some kind of god?

Lifting my head, I saw Hikigaya-kun staring vacantly at the schoolyard. In the yard illuminated by the setting sun, the sports clubs were still active and energetic.

"...What are you staring at so blankly? Even if you watch the sports clubs on the grounds, they aren't going to suddenly start changing clothes, you know?"

"That's not it. ...Wait, are you still hung up on me seeing you change during the tennis match?"

"O-Of course I am! In fact, you should be grateful I didn't report you to the police! If I felt like it, I could turn you in as a pervert right now!"

That part was truly outside of my calculations. I remember what happened after that tennis match.

After the tennis match ended, I was changing behind the school building to switch back out of the clothes I had swapped with Yuigahama-san.

Since I knew Hikigaya-kun was destined for a "lucky lecher" moment, I had initially refused Yuigahama-san’s suggestion. However, I was dragged away by her unexpectedly strong strength, forcing us to change outside.

Even so, I had hoped that since an "anomaly" like me was involved, that miracle wouldn't happen.

After all, "lucky lecher" moments are for heroines. I thought a "fake" like me wouldn't be a target. This was the result.

"Here, Yukinon. Your skirt."

"Thank you. ...Yuigahama-san, could you hurry a bit? Someone might come."

"It's fine, no one ever comes back here—"

"Yukinosh—... Ah."

Just as I was halfway through putting on both my top and bottom, Hikigaya-kun suddenly appeared. His gaze pierced my body.

—He saw me. My underwear, my skin. The moment I realized that, my face turned beet-red with shame, and in my agitation, I blurted out something ridiculous.

"—Wh... why even me (Boku)?!"

""...Boku?""

"Ugh! Shut up! Die!"

The racket I threw struck Hikigaya-kun’s forehead with pinpoint accuracy. As he collapsed, he wore a satisfied smile at the very end.

...Thinking about it is making me angry again.

"Maybe I should report you after all?"

When I shot him a sharp glare, Hikigaya-kun muttered, "Crap, I just remembered I have something to do," and quickly scurried out of the room. ...I’ll make him pay this debt back someday.