Hachiman's POV
"...Hmph. I don't know who taught you the ropes, but whoever gave you your knowledge must have taught you that the best way to get ahead is to seduce the girls. What a total hack of a mentor. You're just a reflection of your scumbag teacher!"
The hallway went dead silent.
"Hey, watch it!" Okino-san shouted, his voice cracking with shock. "That's way over the line! You don't bring in people who aren't even—"
"Hey…"
My voice was low, barely a whisper, but it cut through Okino's shouting like a blade.
"...H-Hikigaya?" Okino stammered.
I looked at Senior B. My vision was tunneling. "You… who do you think you're talking about? Did you just mock the person who raised me?"
Senior B sneered, though his eyes were darting toward the exit. "So what? What if I did? Did I say anything wrong? Whoever taught you to play 'Big Brother' to manipulate these girls is a bottom-tier loser. Simple as that."
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor as Kuronuma-san rounded the corner. "What is all this racket? I can hear you from the other end of the—Hikigaya?" He stopped, his expression shifting as he saw the look on my face.
"K-Kuronuma-san…" Senior A whispered, backing away.
Senior B, emboldened by the audience, kept going. "Hmph. What, are you and Okino both going to take the rookie's side? I'm telling you, this kid is—Hey! What are you doing?!"
I didn't say a word. I just started walking.
Step. Step. Step.
"H-hey! Say something! Don't just… don't come any closer! Get back!"
I kept walking. My expression didn't change. My eyes stayed locked on his.
"I said stop! Stay away from me!"
I reached him.
SLAM!!
I drove my palm into the wall right next to his ear. The impact echoed like a gunshot in the narrow hallway. Senior B let out a pathetic yelp, his knees buckling.
"You… you really have a big mouth for someone so ignorant," I hissed, my face inches from his. "You want to talk about my mentor? The 'scumbag' you just insulted is a Triple Crown winner from the United States."
Senior B's face went white. "Wh… what? You're lying!"
"No way…" Okino gasped behind me.
The murmurs of the other trainers started up instantly, but I didn't care.
"To mock a person's benefactor without knowing a single thing about them… you're the lowest of the low," I said, my voice dripping with cold disgust.
"I-I… look, I didn't know! If your teacher is a US Triple Crown winner, then—"
"Then what?" I interrupted, my grip on the wall tightening. "The second you hear a prestigious title, you flip your script? You're pathetic. Either way, I have no intention of forgiving someone who mocks my mentor."
I let go of the wall and stepped back. He slumped against the lockers, trembling.
"Relax. I'm not going to hit you. Violence is for people who've already lost the argument, and I'm not interested in a suspension. I'm a trainer. I'll let my results do the talking. Don't you ever forget this."
I turned around and walked away. My heart was still pounding against my ribs, and the adrenaline was making my hands shake. I needed to get out of there.
"H-hey, Hikigaya!" Okino called out.
"...I'm going to get some air," I muttered without looking back.
— Outside —
The night air was cool, but it wasn't doing much to lower the temperature of my blood. I leaned against a stone pillar, staring at nothing. I hadn't realized how much Taliato meant to me until someone dragged her name through the dirt. My "boiling point" was apparently much lower than I thought.
"...You. What are you doing here?"
I looked up. Air Groove was standing a few paces away, her arms crossed over her chest. Even in the dim light, she looked regal—and annoyed. "As a trainer, lingering in the shadows and doing nothing is a nuisance to the students."
"Air Groove, huh? Sorry. I've just… had a bit of a rough night."
She looked at me for a long moment, her sharp eyes scanning my face.
"I'm heading out," I said, pushing off the pillar. "Time for a late-night bow—wait."
"Stay," she commanded.
I blinked. "What is it?"
"Tell me what happened," she said. Her tone was firm, but the usual edge of her 'Empress' persona seemed slightly dulled.
I hesitated. "..."
"If you wish to keep it to yourself, I won't pry," she added.
"...Fine. But I'm hungry. Come with me, I'll buy you dinner and we can talk."
I guess the ramen will have to wait for another night.
— A Small Restaurant —
"...And that's the gist of it," I said, leaning back in the booth after finishing my story. "I was just sitting there in the wind, wondering when I became the kind of guy who loses his temper over a bunch of nobodies."
Air Groove set her chopsticks down precisely. "Do not be absurd. To feel rage when someone you respect is slandered is a natural, honorable emotion. However, that trainer sounds like a disgrace—not just to this academy, but to the human race."
"Hearing you say that makes me feel a bit better."
"Don't read too much into it," she said, though her expression softened ever so slightly. "I, too, would become emotional if someone mocked those I admire or aspire to be like."
I watched her for a moment. We didn't interact much, but Air Groove had a way of cutting through the noise. She was a good listener—scary, but good.
"Your life here is certainly complicated, Hikigaya," she continued. "Nearly every student in this school refers to you as 'Brother.' You don't exactly encourage it, do you?"
"Of course not," I deadpanned. "If I actually wanted a thousand teenage girls to call me 'Brother,' I'd be a pervert. I'm just a guy who can't say no."
Air Groove let out a short, dry laugh. "Hmph. I suppose. If you weren't a licensed trainer, I likely would have reported you as a suspicious person long ago."
"Wow. You're really blunt with me, aren't you?"
"I might reconsider my tone once you become a first-rate trainer," she teased, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"I already have a trainee, you know. Doesn't that count?"
"Talk to me once you have a team."
"Yes, yes… sorry, Your Majesty. Allow me to pay for the meal as an apology for my lack of status."
"I expected nothing less," she said, accepting the gesture with a graceful nod. "I will accept your hospitality this once."
We ate in relative silence after that. She asked a few professional questions about Rudolf's training session earlier, and I gave her the data she wanted. It was… peaceful.
— The Walk Back —
"Thinking back," Air Groove said as we approached the dorms, "it's been exactly a year since we last sat at a table together like this. If I recall… Fine and Taiki were there as well."
"We had ramen that time," I remembered. "I really should go back there. Or maybe just make it myself; it's been a while since I cooked from scratch."
Air Groove raised an eyebrow. "You can make noodles from scratch?"
"I can do most of the basics. If you're ever interested, I can whip something up for you too."
"A tempting offer," she said, stopping at the path to the student dorms. "But only when the mood strikes you. For now, focus that energy on your trainee. Rice Shower deserves your full attention."
"Spoken like a true Vice President," I muttered. "Goodnight, Air Groove."
"Goodnight, Hachiman."
I watched her walk away. I felt a lot better than I had ten minutes ago. I hadn't hit anyone, and I'd managed to clear the fog in my head.
I guess I'm glad I didn't actually punch that guy.
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