So this was the "cooling spell" Hayase Saki had mentioned…
Hikigaya Hachiman never would've guessed that the timid, rabbit-like Hayase Saki—usually so quiet and harmless—had such a bold side hidden beneath that soft exterior.
Guess even a cornered rabbit can bite.
He looked down at Saki, her cheeks puffed out in embarrassment, and then sighed as he turned his gaze up toward the ceiling. His expression was complicated.
"Where exactly did you learn that 'magic' of yours? Don't tell me… from your boyfriend?"
Saki's face went pale. "F-from a book! I read it in a book! And… Keita isn't my boyfriend! Please don't be mad at me, Buchou… I-I'll do better next time, I promise…"
Her voice trembled as she spoke, soft and apologetic. She knew she'd messed up. When Miwa cornered her earlier, she'd panicked—her only thought had been to make him believe she already had a boyfriend, to protect her childhood friend Keita from retaliation.
She hadn't meant to drag Hachiman into it, but she'd thought Miwa would never dare pick a fight with him. Unfortunately, her plan had only made things worse.
The president had gone out of his way to help her, and she'd repaid that kindness by making him the target of Miwa's anger.
And now, here she was, facing him—trying to fix her mistake in the only clumsy way she knew how.
"'Next time,' huh?" Hachiman muttered, glancing at her. His eyes caught the faint trace of something at the corner of her lips. "You're saying there's gonna be a next time?"
"Ah—! I-I didn't mean it like that, I just—" Saki froze mid-sentence, stammering. Her face flushed bright red as she tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come out.
"So this was your first time, then?"
"Mm…" She nodded slightly, eyes downcast. "I-I didn't do it very well, did I? You didn't… like it?"
She hugged her arms close and looked up at him through wet lashes, her expression nervous and painfully sincere.
The air in the clubroom felt heavy and stifling—the windows shut, the late spring heat lingering in the walls. Tiny beads of sweat rolled down Saki's temple and neck, catching the light as she tried to keep perfectly still.
She didn't dare move or wipe her face. Some part of her seemed afraid that if she let go, he'd walk away and never look back.
"This isn't about whether I liked it or not," Hachiman finally said, sighing deeply. "Do you have any idea what you just did? You're making me look like Miwa right now."
It sounded harsh, but his voice carried more exhaustion than anger. After all, he hadn't exactly resisted as strongly as he could have. If he'd truly wanted to leave, she couldn't have stopped him.
…Though, knowing Saki, she probably would've tried to bite him if pushed.
"Buchou, you're a good person," she murmured softly, lowering her head. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault…"
Her words trembled with guilt. If she hadn't gone to confront Miwa, if she hadn't dragged her senpai into her mess, none of this would've happened. He'd helped her out of kindness, and she'd only caused him trouble.
"...I'll take care of Miwa," Hachiman said finally. "But you really need to work on your personality."
He looked at her with a sigh. Even now, she seemed more worried about his reaction than her own safety. He reached out and brushed aside the damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead, then pulled a tissue from his pocket and gently wiped away the sweat on her cheek.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't trust people," he continued. "I'm saying you need to learn how to protect yourself. Next time something like this happens, call me first. Don't worry about bothering me—or about me getting mad. If you don't tell me, then I'll actually be mad."
If she'd just contacted him when she first got that threatening note, today's whole situation could've been avoided. He could've easily set Miwa up to get caught red-handed by the disciplinary committee.
"Um… really? I wouldn't be bothering you?" Saki asked softly. Her voice was small, uncertain.
She still remembered the cold look he'd given her earlier, the one that made her think he was done with her for good.
"You're a member of the Service Club," Hachiman said bluntly. "I'm your president. When you're in trouble, I help you. That's how this works. As long as you're not completely hopeless, I'll help."
He rolled his eyes. He had said, in a fit of irritation, that he wouldn't get involved again—but that was just venting. He couldn't actually stand by and let someone like Miwa ruin her life.
"...Not because we're friends?" she mumbled.
Her voice was so quiet that he almost missed it.
"What was that?"
"N-nothing! You're right, Buchou! I'll do whatever you say! If you tell me to do something, I'll do it!" she said quickly, straightening her back as though standing at attention.
Hachiman pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not what I meant. You can't just do whatever someone tells you."
"B-but if I make you mad again…" she whispered, shrinking under his glare.
He stared at her for a long moment, completely speechless. How had someone this timid survived high school without being bullied into oblivion?
"…You haven't eaten lunch, have you? You've been here waiting since morning, right?" He stood up, brushing off his pants. "Class is about to start, so you won't have time to go to the cafeteria. Eat this for now."
He rummaged through a desk drawer and handed her two packs of cookies and a carton of milk.
He'd stashed some snacks there for late club meetings, but it looked like Saki needed them more than he did.
"Thank you, Buchou! You really are a good person!" she said, her eyes lighting up. The tension in her shoulders finally eased as she accepted the food with both hands.
"Don't call me a good person," he muttered flatly. "I'm trying to be a bad one."
"But…" she looked at him, clearly confused. To her, he was nothing but kind—someone who always helped without hesitation.
"Go back to class," he said, cutting her off before she could finish. "And come back here after school. We'll talk about your case then."
He opened the door and pointed toward the hallway, his tone firm but not unkind.
"And next time something happens, tell me first. No more secret plans, no more 'cooling spells.' Got it?"
He paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "If you pull another stunt like this, not even your magic's gonna work. Actually—there won't be a next time."
"Y-yes, Buchou…"
"Didn't hear you."
"Y-YES, BUCHOU!"
Her voice echoed down the empty hallway.
Hachiman gave a faint smirk and turned back toward the clubroom, muttering to himself.
"Seriously… rabbits these days."