Shishiba Yua's Worship
"Eh? So this is the guy who dared lay a hand on Yumeko-sama?"
Ikishima Midari spun her gun with a flourish and pressed the barrel tightly against Suzui Ryota's forehead.
Her remaining eye glared menacingly, with a terrifying aura that made it easy to believe she'd pull the trigger at any moment.
"Hey hey hey! Are you out of your damn mind?!"
"A scum like you actually thought you could touch Yumeko-sama!"
Ikishima Midari's spit flew freely onto the already paralyzed and trembling Suzui Ryota, who was cowering on the ground. She looked ready to pull the trigger at any second.
"I was wrong! Midari-senpai! Please forgive me!"
Suzui Ryota trembled all over, bowing repeatedly and pointing at himself.
"I'll drop out! I'll drop out right now! I swear I'll never appear before Jabami-sama ever again!"
If he voluntarily dropped out now, maybe he could still keep his life.
If his family sold off part of their company's shares, he could repay his debts too.
Japan still had plenty of places to gamble anyway. Screw this damned school—he'd never come back!
Faced with the threat of death, Ryota quickly recognized reality.
As if clutching a lifeline, he grabbed the withdrawal application from the desk, his hands trembling as he signed his name.
Then, he bit his finger hard and pressed a bloody fingerprint onto the document.
Next to the withdrawal form sat his enrollment application from several months ago.
On it, written in his own hand, were lines describing "his self-positioning and future goals," filled with ambition to get into a good university.
But in just a few months, everything had changed.
Suzui Ryota had completely forgotten who he used to be.
That moment mirrored this one.
Hikigaya Hachiman crossed his arms and looked down at Suzui Ryota.
Lacking real ability, bloated with ambition….
He would never degenerate into a hopeless gambling dog like Suzui Ryota.
Because in his eyes, gambling was only ever a convenient tool to satisfy ambition, never a path to profit or a way to change fate.
The afternoon class bell rang as usual.
In the front rows of Class 1-A, one seat was suddenly vacant, as if it had never existed.
The young female teacher standing at the podium noticed this but, after a brief pause, began roll call as usual—skipping that seat's name with tacit understanding. After roll call, the lesson continued normally.
She had been teaching at this academy long enough to understand some of its rules.
She had seen many students forced to withdraw.
At first, she had felt sympathy, reporting to the principal, even visiting students' homes in private.
But during those visits, she never saw remorseful students upset over their withdrawal.
Instead, she saw violent, savage gambling addicts who had completely fallen into the abyss.
From that moment on, she understood.
The students who could endure until graduation were the ones who still had a shred of sanity.
Those who dropped out were without a doubt twisted madmen.
If they could be distorted by gambling even under this school's strict authoritarian regime, then out in society, they would surely become parasites relying on their family's influence to rot the nation from within...
That boy sitting in the corner—Hikigaya Hachiman—this was all his doing, wasn't it?
The female teacher's gaze briefly flicked toward Hikigaya Hachiman, one of the few students in the class who actually studied seriously.
She had heard from colleagues that in Hyakkaou Private Academy, many female teachers, in attempts to quickly climb the ranks, got involved in student gambling—and ended up as playthings for students highly skilled in it...
'I need to stay away from him.'
The teacher didn't want to end up as someone who only knew how to be a beast.
To prevent that possibility, even her original goodwill toward diligent students like Hikigaya was gradually fading.
She rejected Hachiman's question after class and walked away with her teaching materials.
Seeing this, Hikigaya could only sigh softly.
Reputation is a double-edged sword.
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"I'm Shishiba Yua, second-year of Hyakkaou Academy's middle school. Nice to meet you."
In the student council meeting room, Hikigaya Hachiman sat upright, as if facing a formidable opponent, staring at the long-haired girl with a gentle aura in front of him.
Putting her background aside, her natural affinity was like a bottomless swamp, pulling people into her gentle trap before they even realized it.
Compared to Mibuomi Aoi, this girl was even more terrifying in terms of performance.
Hikigaya didn't let her young age deceive him—her disguise was more dangerous than Aoi's.
While Aoi had to use speech and gestures to build his appeal, Shishiba Yua simply sat there with a faint smile, and it felt so warm and inviting that one just wanted to hold her close and spoil her.
Shishiba Yua narrowed her eyes, an endless softness flowing through the slits.
It was a warmth that seemed to embrace everything. It gave people the illusion that even if they acted rudely in front of her, she wouldn't get angry.
"Hello."
Since she had come, he would deal with it.
Hikigaya consciously kept his distance, reminding himself this girl was an enemy—not someone to get close to.
In the empty student council room...
Momobami Ririka sat at the head of the table.
Hikigaya and Shishiba Yua sat at opposite ends, creating an odd atmosphere.
"May I join your Service Club, Hikigaya-senpai?"
"Huh?"
Hikigaya was momentarily stunned—this was an entirely unexpected opening.
His mind turned quickly, but after just a brief hesitation, he replied:
"While Hyakkaou doesn't restrict applications for this kind of club, can you tell me what you hope to do?"
"Because... you're there, Hikigaya-senpai."
Shishiba Yua leaned forward, hands on the table, her fragrance washing over him.
The tenderness in her eyes was like spring water overflowing, warming and endearing.
"You're the one who beat Mibuomi Aoi, the student council treasurer, head of the Full-Bloom Association, heir to the Mibuomi family fortune—rumored to control the entire year behind the scenes. And you're just an ordinary first-year who transferred in a month ago."
She clasped her hands over her still-developing chest, her eyes filled with admiration:
"And it wasn't just a normal gamble. It involved 600 billion yen and over a hundred students in a massive gamble!"
"So I really, really respect you, Hikigaya-senpai~"
222 Because of this, I want to get close to and understand Hikigaya-san!"
"No matter if it's the Servant's Club that Hikigaya-san founded himself or the baseball club that's always active, it's all fine! As long as I can get close to Hikigaya-san, I'll do anything."
Shishiba Yua's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her gaze was full of admiration for Hikigaya.
It was clear that she would do anything Hikigaya ordered her to do.
"This... is completely different from what I imagined," Hikigaya said, looking puzzled. Even someone as clever as him couldn't tell if Shishiba was deceiving him or if her disguise was deceiving her.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I'm the one who sent Mibuomi Yua to prison."
"Mibuomi Yua? Who's that?" Shishiba looked puzzled, tilting her head and touching her chin with her finger, as if searching her memory for the name.
"I completely forgot," she said with a pure smile, but Hikigaya found her expression eerie.
"Oh, I remember! He's my cousin who lost to you in a bet, Hikigaya-san," Shishiba said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Gambling, after all, means there are times when you win and times when you lose. What do you think, Hikigaya-san?"
"Indeed, that's true," Hikigaya replied.
Shishiba's eyes shone with admiration, and she gazed at Hikigaya as if she wanted to worship him. "And because Mibuomi Yua was a strong winner, people respected him," she said.
"But since he lost, he's undoubtedly a weakling, a loser. Someone like that isn't worth remembering."
As Shishiba spoke, her gentle and admiring expression faded, and her eyes turned dark and cold, exuding a terrifying aura. "I only like strong people," she said. "As an apology, I'll serve Hikigaya-san devotedly, and I'll do anything he wants me to do.
It's the privilege of the winner, after all.
Until Hikigaya-san loses, that is."
Hikigaya realized that if he were to lose, Shishiba would discard him like trash, just like she did with Mibuomi Yua.
"How about it, Hikigaya-san?"
Shishiba asked, her hands on her school uniform's inner lining.
If Hikigaya nodded, she would tear off her clothes and offer herself to him as a sign of respect.
Her face was filled with reverence, and her eyes sparkled with a mesmerizing glow.
However, her words were completely at odds with her innocent and excellent student image, and she exuded an eerie aura that amplified the darkest desires in people's hearts.
"Is this an order from the Mibuomi family?" Hikigaya asked coldly.
Shishiba's words had unleashed the darkest desires in people's hearts, but they didn't seem to have any effect on Hikigaya.
"No, it's what I want to do," she said, sticking out her tongue and licking her lips in a gesture that was unbecoming of her age. "After all, getting close to someone like Hikigaya-san would be very educational, don't you think?"
Hikigaya's eyes turned icy cold as he watched her.
Shishiba's actions didn't tempt Hikigaya; instead, they fueled his anger, like sparks igniting dry firewood.
His anger burned fiercely.
Hikigaya raised his hand, and with a swift motion, he struck the air near Shishiba's head, his blow landing mere inches from her hair.
The force of his strike was unmistakable, and it reflected the icy coldness in his heart.
Shishiba's words had no effect on Hikigaya, and instead, he felt a deep sense of disgust.
What had turned a 14-year-old girl into this twisted person, devoid of self-respect and self-love, with only sex and profit in her eyes?
Strong people? Winners? Worth worshiping?
It was all rotten.
Shishiba had absorbed twisted desires and tainted her own heart, embracing the corrupting influence without reservation.
This had warped her will and created a distorted personality.
Hikigaya had no doubt that this girl would fall even further in the future, with no qualms about using any means necessary to achieve her goals.
Her twisted nature was even more pronounced than Mibuomi Yua's.
She would offer herself to anyone who could provide her with benefits, without hesitation.
How pathetic.
Hikigaya looked at the face that was as immature as his sister, Komachi, and a surge of unnamed anger filled his heart.
Although he had no relation to her, Hikigaya couldn't bear to see a 14-year-old girl fall to such a state due to distorted thinking.
Despite his strong exterior, deep down, Hikigaya hoped that everyone could retain a pure and kind heart.
"What's wrong? Nothing's wrong."
"Get out! Don't appear in front of me again."
Hikigaya Hachiman was not a saint, and he didn't have the extra thoughts to save the girl.
Although he could foresee that the girl would fall into hell, he didn't have the mood to save her.
Hikigaya, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly felt a bit deflated, with a hidden feeling in his heart. Perhaps... if everyone fell, then no one would be considered fallen.
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Momobami Ririka's heart was filled with tension as she saw Hikigaya's ferocious expression for the first time.
The unmasked disgust in his eyes seemed to want to trample her into the dust. 'It's... it's so fierce.' 'How did my sister usually deal with Hikigaya?'
Ririka's thoughts were in disarray, as she had almost no interaction with males from a young age, and even when she was in her Ririka persona, this sudden accident was difficult to handle.
"..."
Being treated with a garbage-like gaze by Hikigaya, even someone like Shishiba Yua, who was used to squinting and had merged with her mask, couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
One shouldn't hit a smiling face.
Hikigaya's behavior was too excessive, and Yua didn't understand why he was so angry.
Her smile disappeared, and she revealed a calm expression: "Since you're not willing to accept, then Hikigaya-senpai will have to accept our punishment from the Mibuomi family."
Shishiba Yua left.
Without a word of farewell, without feeling fear, she calmly stated her intention to retaliate against Hikigaya before leaving.
The air seemed to still hold the fragrance of the girl, and Hikigaya waved his hand in disgust.
As long as Momobami Kirari helped him deal with the pressure from outside the school, in the Hyakkaou Academy, no matter what Shishiba Yua did, she wouldn't be his match.
Hikigaya was able to reject the evil intentions from the roots so decisively, relying solely on his strength.
If he didn't have the strength, saying such words would not be considered upholding his principles, but rather being arrogant.
He looked at Momobami Kirari with a slightly apologetic gaze, as he hadn't controlled his emotions, and despite Kirari's promise, his behavior was no different from causing trouble for her.
Humans, in essence, don't change easily.
They just suppress their emotions through training.
Hikigaya saw through himself, having long decided to be a self-interested and refined egoist.
But when it came to the test of his true nature, he still couldn't help but make irrational actions.
Without expectations, there would be no disappointment; he had expected too much from human nature's goodness.
"Sorry, President, I lost my composure."
"Hmm... it's fine."
Ririka waved her hand, reminding herself that she was currently in her Kirari persona.
Before her sister returned, she absolutely couldn't reveal her true self.
So, as Ririka, what should she say now?
Scold him? Encourage him? Or... reward him?
Ririka's face unconsciously turned red, and her mind was filled with many strange thoughts.
Her reaction was noticed by Hikigaya, who felt a pang in his waist, as every time Ririka blushed, it was always accompanied by his physical exhaustion.
Was it possible...? This woman... Hikigaya's eyes twitched, and a bad feeling grew in his heart, making him want to escape.
It was just this morning...
If he were to stay now, he wouldn't be able to handle the inspection by Yumeko at night.
But Hikigaya was currently in a position where he needed Ririka's help, and leaving now would be too impolite.
He could only grit his teeth and pretend to be calm, waiting for the President's decision.
However, he didn't know that the woman in front of him was not Momobami Kirari, but Momobami Ririka.
As the older sister, she didn't know what her younger sister's situation was like when she was alone with Hikigaya, and could only make tactical adjustments based on Hikigaya's reactions.
Hikigaya didn't leave, which meant...
Ririka's heart skipped a beat as she thought back to the conversation she overheard between him and Ririka outside the secondary gate that morning, and gradually understood everything.
Her promiscuous younger sister, it seemed, was indeed doing that kind of thing with Hikigaya when they were alone.
Although she felt shy and embarrassed, Ririka still had to go along with it.
As Ririka's substitute, she had long been prepared mentally.
She had no self, no right to choose her own life.
Kirari's choices, Kirari's commands were her everything.
No matter who the other person was, or what feelings she had towards them, she couldn't reveal them.
Everything had to be handled according to Kirari 's behavior pattern.
The only thing was that her body had never been touched by anyone before, and even if it was... that kind of thing, it was absolutely not allowed to go that far.
Except for that one place, the only thing she could use was...
Ririka looked down at her own slender and delicate hands.
The pure Ririka had no idea how many strange and peculiar ways her sister had already discovered. She still naively thought...
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Seeing the President sitting in her position without taking action, he thought it was Ririka's attempt to lure him into apologizing.
As an adult, one should take responsibility for their mistakes, and the current situation was a result of his own doing.
Considering this, Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't care less about Yumeko and could only take the initiative to apologize.
He stood up, his tall figure gradually covering Ririka, who was sitting in the main seat.
"...That, that place is not allowed!"
"Huh? Is this... okay?"
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Hikigaya Hachiman only felt that the President was a bit strange in the afternoon, but he didn't think about it in any other way.
How should he put it?
The movements seemed somewhat awkward?
However, Hikigaya's brain was a blank, and he didn't have time to think deeply.
With his clothes in order, his legs felt a bit weak, and he subconsciously held onto the soft sofa as he walked out of the meeting room.
Momobami Ririka was left sitting in the chair, her face flushed red.
There seemed to be some transparent and sticky liquid on the corner of her mouth, and her black small leather shoes had been kicked off at some point, revealing her small feet clad in matte-colored stockings.
Her feet were somewhat weak and numb, stepping on the ground, and it seemed that due to sweat, she had left a shallow, wet footprint on the luxurious wooden floor, leaving room for imagination.
The matte-colored stockings wrapped around her white and tender instep, which seemed to be slightly red and swollen, forming a strange color difference with the surrounding skin.
It was as if she had bumped into something rough, causing her tender skin to be bruised.