Chapter 193: Guard Against Fire, Theft, and Best Friends!
"Hikigaya, the rise or fall of our Martial Arts Club rests on this single battle!
We're counting on you!!"
Mutou led the entire club in a deep bow toward Hikigaya.
"..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched. It was just a friendly spar, not some national tournament.
Why make it so dramatic?
However, he could understand the concerns of Mutou and the others. After all, Advanced Nurturing emphasized "S-System" (meritocracy). If the Martial Arts Club lost in an exchange with an outside school, their status as the "Number One Club" would surely be shaken and potentially usurped by another club.
"I'll give it my all." Hikigaya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.
"This guy doesn't look that buff."
"His eyes are just a bit fierce."
"He looks kind of cool, though."
The Sobu High students below whispered their assessments of Hikigaya.
Surprisingly, he didn't hear negative comments like "dead-fish eyes" or "gloomy guy."
This was likely the change brought about by long-term martial arts training; Hikigaya's mental state and presence were worlds apart from how they used to be.
Consequently, the first impression he gave the Sobu students was above average.
Of course, based on their school loyalty, they unconditionally supported Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Yukinoshita! Yukinoshita! Yukinoshita!" The cheers echoed throughout the gymnasium.
"Hikigaya! Hikigaya! Hikigaya!" Mutou led the Martial Arts Club in a frantic shout, but their volume was quickly drowned out by the sea of Sobu High students.
"Go for it, Brother!!" Komachi stood up, cupping her hands like a megaphone.
"Hachiman~ You're the best!!" Totsuka Saika waved his hands energetically.
Hearing this, Hikigaya felt his entire body surge with power!
"Go, Hikigaya..." Amidst the unanimous cheers for Yukinoshita from her classmates, Yuigahama Yui only dared to whisper her support.
"Hmm? Yui, who were you just cheering for?" Miura Yumiko, standing beside her, cast a suspicious glance.
"Th-that... well..." Yuigahama Yui's cheeks flushed, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Ooh~ Yui has that look on her face. Something's up!" Their other best friend, Ebina Hina, nudged her shoulder with a teasing grin.
"Spill it, spill it!" Miura Yumiko's gossip instincts were ignited.
"It's like this..." Yuigahama Yui told her two friends about what happened that morning.
"Wow~ A hero saving a beauty, just like an idol drama!" Ebina Hina chuckled.
"So that's how it is." Miura Yumiko sized up Hikigaya on stage with interest and nodded.
"His face is actually quite handsome, and since he's in the Martial Arts Club, his personality should be pretty upbeat. He seems like a good match for our Yui."
To "normies," members of athletic clubs were a definite plus!
"After school, try asking him out on a date."
"Wait, Yumiko! We just met, we're not even close yet..." Yuigahama Yui waved her hands frantically.
"Don't worry, we'll help cheer for you!"
With that, Miura Yumiko quickly gathered a group of followers and began a collective chant: "Go, Hikigaya!"
In the midst of the Yukinoshita supporters, the cheers from Miura's group were exceptionally conspicuous. This left the members of the Martial Arts Club stunned.
"What's the deal?
Why are there so many girls from Sobu High cheering for Hikigaya?"
"No wonder there are rumors on the school forums about Hikigaya dating multiple girls. This kid is something else!"
"He just got to Sobu High and he's already winning over so many girls!"
On stage. Hikigaya was initially bewildered, but after looking at Yukinoshita Yukino opposite him, a look of realization dawned on him.
"Yukinoshita-san, it seems things aren't easy for you either." Hikigaya took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"What do you mean by that...?" Yukinoshita Yukino frowned.
"They support me, your opponent, because they dislike you. Isn't that right?"
Hikigaya saw right through the girls leading the chant in the stands. Rather than supporting him, they were acting in opposition to Yukinoshita.
"..." Yukinoshita Yukino's expression froze for a moment, and her gaze toward Hikigaya turned curious.
"How could you tell?"
"Is that so hard to understand?" Hikigaya recalled something Horikita had once said. He cleared his throat and intentionally spoke in a cold, detached tone: "I've been cute since I was a child, and because they were jealous of me, they banded together to ostracize me...
Am I right, Yukinoshita-san?"
Facing Hikigaya's vivid and spot-on imitation, Yukinoshita Yukino's lips parted slightly. Despite having a thousand retorts in her mind, she couldn't say a word at that moment.
"Please don't just go around mimicking things other people have said!" After a long silence, Yukinoshita Yukino finally managed to say something with feigned sternness.
"I wasn't mimicking you, so what are you getting worked up for?" Hikigaya felt she was being far too overbearing.
"..." A flush of crimson rose to Yukinoshita Yukino's fair face; she was clearly becoming a bit incensed out of embarrassment!
"What are they talking about?"
"As expected of the man known as the Great Demon King, Hikigaya!
He actually made that ice queen opponent blush just by talking!"
The members of the Martial Arts Club all wore expressions of immense admiration.
"Haha! That Yukinoshita is angry!
This guy is good!
Yui has good taste in men!" Miura Yumiko wore a look of schadenfreude.
"Um, actually, I wanted to become friends with Yukinoshita-san too..." Yuigahama Yui mentioned weakly.
"Huh?
Yui, what kind of stupid talk is that?
Haven't you heard the saying: Guard against fire, theft, and your best friends!
If you become friends with Yukinoshita, watch out or she might steal your boyfriend!"
Miura Yumiko warned.
"That wouldn't happen~ Having someone you like and making a good friend—isn't that a double joy?"
Yuigahama Yui smiled, not taking it seriously. She felt her friend's words were pure nonsense.
Ignoring the chatter from the crowd below, the two on stage locked eyes, sparks of fighting spirit flying between them.
"Let's end the small talk here!"
"Don't want to chat a bit longer?"
"My stamina has recovered enough."
Hikigaya was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting her to say that. Seeing Hikigaya shocked by her words, the corners of Yukinoshita Yukino's mouth curled up slightly. "Hmph~ don't think you're the only clever one!"
"However, I must express my deep respect for your noble martial virtue!"
Thank you, Hikigaya-kun!!" Yukinoshita Yukino gave him a solemn, respectful bow.
"No, you seem to have misunderstood something. Miss Yukinoshita."
Hikigaya stared at her with his dead-fish eyes.
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