Ryūen's plan was simple—buy off Hachiman Hikigaya with points.
To show that he meant business, Ryūen whipped out his phone and proudly displayed his account balance: 4,452,000 points.
Over four million!
It had to be said—Ryūen's grip over Class C was brutal. On average, each student had to hand over more than sixty percent of their private points every month.
"So? What do you think?" he asked with a grin. "Instead of following that brat Sakayanagi, why not join me?"
He threw an arm around Hachiman's shoulder, laughing heartily. Despite the bruised corner of his lip from earlier, he still managed to look generous and commanding.
You had to admit—it took a certain charisma to pull that off.
Even Hachiman's dead-fish eyes flickered with a hint of intrigue.
It wasn't that he hated the idea of class competition; he just didn't see the point when the effort-to-reward ratio was so unbalanced. Refusing Sakayanagi's offer earlier had been partly because that smug little gremlin seemed like endless trouble… and partly because she hadn't offered enough.
But if the payoff was high enough—sure, he'd consider getting his hands dirty.
He held up four fingers. "I won't ask for much…"
"Forty thousand?" Ishizaki Daichi blurted out. "Hey, that's pretty reasonable."
He had paid about that much to buy off Yamauchi and Ike earlier, so he assumed the same rate applied.
"Idiot. Shut up."
Ryūen kicked Ishizaki aside and sneered. "You really think Sakayanagi's that stingy?"
"You mean… four hundred thousand, right? Fine. Deal."
Ryūen said it so easily, like tossing spare change on the table.
"No," Hachiman said. "Four million."
Ryūen's grin froze. "…You messing with me?"
"You're the one who said it," Hachiman replied calmly. "No matter what Sakayanagi offers, you'll double it. What's wrong? Can't keep your word?"
His expression didn't waver—deadpan as ever, but his words hit like a jab to the ribs.
"Bullshit!" Ishizaki shouted. "There's no way Class A would pay two million just for you!"
Two million points—that was enough to live comfortably for all three years of high school!
"…"
Ryūen, however, frowned, clearly thinking it over.
Wait—was he seriously considering it?
Hachiman almost choked on his own disbelief.
"Listen, Hikigaya," Ryūen finally said, his voice low and steady. "Right now, what you've shown me isn't worth that much."
His sharp gaze locked onto Hachiman's face. The message was clear: it's not that he couldn't pay—it was a question of whether Hachiman deserved it.
"Of course, we could always start with a smaller deal," Ryūen added smoothly. "Points, bonuses, other benefits—you'd earn plenty by sticking with me."
Ah, there it was. The classic "join me and you'll get rich later" line.
Hachiman saw right through it. The moment he accepted, he'd be trapped on Ryūen's pirate ship—and jumping off later would be nearly impossible.
"I refuse," Hachiman said plainly.
"You call Sakayanagi a brat," he continued, "but at least her sense of scale is bigger than yours."
He pulled out his phone and flashed the transfer screen: 500,000 points.
Ryūen's eyes narrowed.
Ishizaki's jaw practically hit the floor. "Wait—she really gave you that much?!"
"This is just her goodwill deposit," Hachiman said casually. "I haven't even agreed to anything yet."
The quiet confidence in his voice was a slap straight across Ryūen's face.
One offered actual money; the other offered empty promises.
If you were in his shoes, who would you pick?
"Tch."
"Don't get too full of yourself, Hikigaya," Ryūen growled, scowling. "Class D's full of pawns. I don't need you."
"Then we're done here."
Hachiman brushed past him without a glance back.
"Boss, we're just letting him walk away like that?" Ishizaki muttered, glaring after Hachiman's retreating figure.
"What else do you want me to do?" Ryūen snapped. "If we beat him up today, he'll just tail you to the bathroom tomorrow. What then?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me. A man's most vulnerable moment is when he's on the toilet."
As Ryūen said this, Albert—who had been silently standing nearby—shifted slightly, his expression darkening.
From the very first day of school, Ryūen had latched onto him.
Sure, Ryūen wasn't Albert's match in a straight fight—but the guy was annoyingly persistent.
He followed him everywhere.
Even to the bathroom.
Once, while Albert was in the middle of his business, Ryūen actually climbed over the stall door to talk to him.
That was the moment Albert finally broke and joined Ryūen's crew.
So yeah—Ryūen's paranoia about bathroom revenge was… personal.
***
Club practice ended late that evening.
After an intense sparring session with Muto-senpai, Hachiman left the Martial Arts Club, sweat cooling under the night air.
As he walked back toward the dorms, he heard a familiar, obnoxious voice echoing from down the path.
"Hey there, cutie~ Out here alone at night? Must be boring, huh?"
"Uh… I just came out to buy something."
"Perfect! We'll come with you. Think of us as your bodyguards!"
"Uh…"
The culprits were none other than Haruki Yamauchi and Kanji Ike, who had cornered a gray-haired girl with a timid expression.
Hachiman frowned. Normally, he wouldn't bother interfering in something this stupid.
But ever since he started martial arts, his blood felt… hotter. His body stronger, sharper. That kind of training changed a person—it pushed you to act instead of look away.
Maybe that was what Advanced Nurturing High School really meant by "academic and physical development." Not just teaching students how to fight, but how to stand up.
"Hey, you haven't told me your name yet," Ike teased.
"I'm Kanji Ike, and I'm currently recruiting a girlfriend~"
"Oi, Ike!" Yamauchi snapped. "I thought you were chasing Shinohara!"
"T-that's got nothing to do with this! And you're one to talk—you said you liked girls with, uh, bigger chests!"
"Shut up! Cute's cute—size doesn't matter!"
The two idiots bickered openly, leaving the poor girl frozen in confusion.
One was a two-timing scumbag. The other was pure, concentrated pervert.
Ugh, boys are the worst! she thought miserably, trembling as she looked down.
Her frightened reaction only seemed to excite them more.
"She's blushing! So cute!"
"Haha, yeah—can't blame her for getting shy around two handsome guys like us!"
Help me, Ichinose…
The girl silently prayed for her beloved upperclassman to appear.
Then—tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps behind her.
Her eyes lit up. Could it be—Ichinose-senpai?!
She turned around hopefully—
—only to be met by a pair of sharp, lifeless eyes.
"U-uh…"
Her breath caught.
Now she was truly terrified.