Hikigaya Hachiman is Kuuga?

She knew it was the voice of Hitotani, a low-ranking member of the class. She only knew his name when she glanced at the class schedule when she spread the gossip about his relationship with Yuigahama Yui.

“Has it started now?”

Even though this was not the person she was waiting for, Sagami Minami still responded, because if she ignored Hikigaya Hachiman's words now, it would undoubtedly make her already terrible image even worse, so she suppressed the nausea that was surging in her heart for some unknown reason and answered the other party's words.

"At least I helped you buy time. It's still not too late to go back now."

“Who’s stalling?”

"Yukinoshita and Miura and the others, right?"

[It's Yukinoshita again. Why is she so powerful? This is the only time she needs me.]

Sagami Minami deliberately changed the time because the closing ceremony required the information she had in her hand at the moment, to let her know that she was still needed. As for the consequences, she had not expected them as her self-esteem had been damaged.

What she needs now is the feeling of being needed by others, so as to maintain her pitiful self-esteem.

"Then why don't we just let Yukinoshita-san go? She's so amazing anyway."

[Sure enough, my pride is at work.]

After hearing what she said, Hachiman Hikigaya realized that it was just as he expected. Figuring that the time was almost up, he no longer planned to continue dealing with her.

So, he began to use his own ideas, which were better than Sagami Minami's method, which was full of flaws and could only restore a little bit of self-esteem.

Of course, he still needs to wait for someone to show up.

Someone who will be here soon.

"Finally found you. You are here. We have all been looking for you."

Just as most people expected, Hayato Hayama made a brilliant appearance as the protagonist. His heroic figure bathed in the sun made Sagami Minami's eyes light up and her voice became high-pitched.

"Yayama-kun~"

That was an expectation that he had never had before when facing Hikigaya Hachiman.

This expectation belongs to the brilliant Hayato Hayama, not to those who stay in the dark corners.

[Very good, Hayama, you are indeed the protagonist~]

Hikigaya Hachiman silently watched Hayama Hayato gently persuading Sagami Minami step by step, and shook his head helplessly.

[Yayama, you can’t keep up with the time, and you can’t give Sagami what she wants.]

[Let me take over the stage and show you how to do something despicable.]

[All you have to do is be the sunny and handsome protagonist who can soothe people and pull your companions out of the shadows.]

"I'm really terrible..."

"Yeah, it's really bad, you~"

He found the perfect moment to interrupt Sagami Minami's words that were belittling him, and his bad tone made everyone present look at him in surprise.

"Isn't that right? Sagami, isn't the reason you ran for chairman just to enjoy the flattery from others?"

"Everyone refused to become the chairman, but you did it, which is an opportunity to highlight yourself."

"Next, you should just need to distribute the work and let others handle the things you don't know how to do. You only need to come up with ideas occasionally. With Yukinoshita around, there won't be any big mistakes. In this way, you will reap the fruits of your labor."

[Strange, why are we talking so much...]

Hikigaya Hachiman found that his current state was a little bit off. His words should not be so harsh. Although it would be more effective, it was not in line with his character.

However, when his eyes fell on his watch and he realized that time was running out, he realized why his words were becoming more and more harsh.

"However, it is a pity that Yukinoshita is too outstanding and has taken away your remaining halo, making you a tool who only needs to nod and formally approve decisions that she confirms are correct."

"Plus, the people on the Action Committee questioned your ability to work, which severely damaged your self-esteem. So, in order to save your boring self-esteem, you are hiding now, right?"

He put an emphasis on the word "hide" and gave a sarcastic smile at the right time.

"Don't, don't confuse me with you..."

The fear that everything she was thinking was guessed made Sagami Minami look at Hikigaya Hachiman in horror, and at the same time she felt angry and humiliated after having her thoughts seen through.

"We are not all the same. We are all people below the top of the pyramid."

[Sagami longs to be at the top of the pyramid, and wants her every move to be noticed, so she wants to be the chairman. The words that can break down her psychological defenses and make her escape from here without thinking, and can also make her feel "growth", are -]

"It's easy to understand, isn't it? Because, I, who have no interest in you, found you the fastest."

Hikigaya Hachiman felt that the smile on his face must be disgusting, to the extent that even if he saw it, he would want to smash that face.

"That means no one is seriously looking for you, right?"

He clearly saw Sagami Minami's expression of surprise and disbelief.

[It’s not enough, add one more sentence.]

"So, do you understand how much you weigh?"

[But, saying these things is really... disgusting~]

Sagami Minami's pupils lost their luster. The cruel reality constructed by the language trap broke through her psychological defenses and made her subconsciously take a few steps back.

[Then, from now on, just move your mouth, and leave everything to Ye Shan without saying anything.]

He opened his mouth but didn't say anything, but with the lessons learned from the past, everyone thought that he would continue to speak sharp and spicy words, constantly hurting Sagami Minami's heart, so for the sake of making things easier for both her and him, Hayato Hayama had to use both hands to pull his collar roughly and pushed him to the wall to stop any possible words.

"That's enough, stop talking, Hikigaya-kun~"

"what?"

As if someone had interrupted her right to speak, she was filled with resentment and frightened by the sudden anger of Hayato Hayama, and petrified the two girls who came with him.

"Calm down, Hayama-kun."

"Yeah, it's not worth it for such a person."

As a person who is at the center of the atmosphere and has the personality of a "sunny, handsome and good guy", Hayato Hayama's emotional intelligence is naturally not low. In addition, he had previously collaborated with Hikigaya Hachiman on the "Tsurumi Rumi being isolated" incident, so he quickly understood the strange atmosphere behind him.

[I see, that's how it is. No wonder you can get the attention of Yang Nai-sister. Am I still too far behind?]

When he figured it out, his hands lost strength and he let go of Hikigaya Hachiman's collar.

The extras who saw him behave like this naturally thought that he had taken their words to heart, so they pulled Sagami Minami, whose psychological defenses had been broken, away.

"Why is this the only solution you can think of?"

Even though he understood the gap between himself and him, Hayato Hayama couldn't help but feel distressed for Hachiman Hikigaya, who hurt himself and helped others.

He knew the other party's intention in doing so, and was also clear about the accusations he would face next, so it was even more difficult to understand what kind of awareness the other party had in making the decision.

He didn't wait for the answer because he still had his part to play.

"Whoo~"

Hikigaya Hachiman let his heavy body slide down from the wall. He lowered his head and listened to Sagami Minami's advice under Hayama Hayato's advice and his friends' excuses of "shirking responsibility". He gradually regained his ability to think.

Sagami Minami became "normal" because of the "memory modification" made subconsciously by the brain as a self-protection mechanism, and a complex smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"See, it's easy, right? We have created a world where no one will get hurt!"

Yukinoshita Yukino accepted the assistance of Sagami Minami and completed the commission of growth when she served as the chairman of the cultural festival. She accepted the former with the interference of her sister, and the latter's sudden growth factor was too high, which might lead to low will, and she also completed the commission of how to reduce it.

From the enthusiastic cheers from the nearby gymnasium during the cultural festival, you can tell that everyone is very satisfied.

So, the world is complete without anyone getting hurt.

------

"How is it? I told you, right? His negative emotions will definitely increase."

Shinichi Kawada leaned on the railing and spoke to the blurry black shadow behind him without turning his head.

"Because of the [real thing] that Hachiman is looking for?"

"That's about right. That brat did help the little girl for his own reasons, but what he said was against his will. In his mind, it naturally became a fake, so he felt upset."

He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman who was dragging his heavy body down the stairs, and his voice was filled with a hint of pity.

"He hates fake feelings, but everything that happened just now is a denial of his past self, because he hasn't realized that he is no longer alone now. What he did is not only for himself, but also for the two girls who can knock on the door of his heart and get his response."

"In this case, his previous approach is no longer suitable."

"Because he subconsciously knows that doing so will make the people who care about him sad."

"Then, a world where no one gets hurt is simply impossible."

Shinichi Kawada turned his head and looked at the sphere in the blurry figure's hand, which was moving in an increasingly mysterious rhythm.

"So, if he refuses to recognize this, he will only get deeper and deeper into trouble and make the invisible bomb even more terrifying. When it explodes one day, our plan will be complete."

Then, he shifted his gaze from the sphere and looked at the [Power of Darkness] that had appeared at some point on the other side - Dou Zhen. He ignored the anger on his face and spoke in a joking tone.

"Don't forget what the root cause is. If you want that brat to have a better life in the future, it's better to follow my plan, unless you want him to remain that twisted being."

Dou Zhen looked at him quietly. The mysterious and obscure runes on the back of his right hand were flashing with a faint black halo, showing his inner unrest.

"Are you sure you can undo my mistake?"

"Didn't I almost prove it to you before?"

"You're really not afraid of me..."

"Don't say such big words. If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it in ancient times. Why would you wait until now?"

Kawada Shinichi waved his hand with a look of “forget it” on his face, “You are just afraid that the brat can’t hold on, just like you don’t believe that anyone can resist Agito’s power. But am I not a very good proof, just one step away from success?”

"Children, one day you will leave your parents' wings and experience the ups and downs of life. How can you see our progress and growth if you keep watching over us?"

The sudden softening of the tone calmed Douma's heart. He looked at Hachiman Hikigaya who was looked down upon despite having done good things in the distance, and the increasingly perfect sphere in the hand of the blurry black shadow, and sighed deeply.

"I said the same thing again. If Hachiman collapses, there will be no need for this world to exist."

"He is the reason why I am reluctant to make up my mind. You should all know this."

After he finished speaking, Douzhen disappeared.

“Tsk~ You said it so decisively, but why don’t you stop Kikiru and let that brat become the final winner? Aren’t you still waiting and watching? Really…”

Before Kawada Shinichi could finish his words, his mouth was covered by a blurry black shadow.

"Stop talking, let's go too."

Chapter 163: Daguba Returns, and Kikiru Is About to Change

Sobu High School Gymnasium.

Hikigaya Hachiman stood silently in the shadows, listening to the people around him who sympathized with Sagami Minami's plight and slandered him. He didn't know why the words that he should have been immune to now sounded so harsh. He felt heavy in his heart and it made his breathing a little uncomfortable.

[It’s really a bit strange about my current state. Negative emotions increase quickly, but they also disappear quickly. Even if I think I have a strong will, I’m not that efficient.]

[So that unknown being is responsible? But what's the point of collecting my negative emotions? Do they want me to hit myself? Is there any need for that?]

Of course, Hikigaya Hachiman has also read hot-blooded comics, and the famous scene of "I hit myself" naturally came into his mind, but he was a little confused.

That unknown being did so many things just to create a negative emotional self. What is his purpose?

[Does he want me to kill a lot of people? But if I do that, the gods will just kill me, which is meaningless!]

Unable to figure out the reason, he kept the question in his mind and would think about it carefully when he had time. Otherwise, without the chain of clues now, it would be a waste of time and brain cells to think more.

"Hachiman, are you okay?"

Of course, the main reason why he didn't think about these things was because the angel - Totsuka Ayaka was walking towards him with a worried look on her face. Her tearful look made his heart tighten.

"fine."

Totsuka Ayaka was stunned by the decisive tone, then she breathed a sigh of relief as if she was completely relieved, revealing a healing smile, "Since Hachiman said it's okay, then it must be okay."

"Well, how was your performance today?"

Although talking about this topic would make Hikigaya Hachiman want to beat up Hayama Hayato who was speaking up for him, he was willing to do it in order to divert Totsuka Ayaka's attention.

Rather than making others worry about him, he would rather suffer a little, so that he will feel better.

"This~"

Totsuka Ayaka recalled the girls who were shouting until their throats were broken, some fainted in their friends' arms, some wiped their saliva with a "hissing" sound, and some covered their noses to stop the bleeding. Complex emotions surged in his heart and he didn't know how to answer.

"…Should it be okay?"

Hikigaya Hachiman nodded in agreement with his troubling question, "I think it's great."