SWNOVELXO Chapter 99
Chapter 99: When it comes to playing awkward, I am the professional.
“Wow~ What kind of play are you two doing here?”
Kushida stood frozen, staring at the girl who appeared out of nowhere.
Seeing no one answer, Haruno, with a curious expression, asked again, “Would you two be okay with a third person joining in the play?”
Hikigaya: “…”
Kushida: “…”
Kushida was utterly stunned!
How could you, Haruno, also be this unbelievable? Oh, wait, you are that unbelievable!
The dead fish-eyed boy screamed internally.
The three of them stared at each other, and after a moment of silence, Kushida suddenly screamed “pervert,” quickly pushed Hikigaya away, covered her chest, curled up on the ground, and tears started to pour down like a fountain. Her sobs sounded pitiful.
Hikigaya was dumbfounded, unable to imagine that the girl who had looked so “I’m going to mess you up” just moments ago, now turned into a helpless, wronged, and weak little girl, sobbing as if a pervert had fondled her chest.
Kushida Kikyo, if you don’t participate in Super Change Change, I, Hikigaya Hachiman, will never approve!
“Eh~”
Haruno also watched with interest, seemingly impressed by Kushida’s “acting.” After all, it was a match of skill, and they always appreciated each other’s craft.
Curled up on the ground, the “fallen little angel” Kushida waited for a long time, but still no one came to comfort or ask about her well-being. She looked up only to see the girl across from her smiling and watching her, while Hikigaya yawned in boredom.
“…”
Why does it seem like the script isn’t playing out as expected?
“Kushida, stop pretending. Haruno is mine.”
Seeing that Kushida was about to continue her act, Hikigaya helplessly spoke, shattering Kushida’s delusion.
“Eh… Eh? Hikigaya, are you confessing to me? Really, I wasn’t prepared for this~”
Haruno cupped her face with both hands, looking shy and twisting her body.
Seeing Haruno starting to act up again, Hikigaya suddenly felt a strong sense of regret. He never should have involved Haruno!
While Haruno was indulging in her dramatic role, Kushida also began to play along.
“Ugh, Hikigaya-kun, you’re too much. Even though I rejected your confession, you shouldn’t do such an outrageous thing to me. What am I supposed to do now? How will I face people again? Wuuu!”
Hikigaya: “…”
Looking at the scene before him, Hikigaya’s head was about to explode. What is going on? You two are really addicted to acting, huh?!
But you’re both wrong—when it comes to acting, I’m the true professional!
Hikigaya suddenly looked coldly at the two girls, crossing his arms into what he considered a cool, dramatic pose, and revealing a smirk.
“Heh heh, I am the mad scientist, Hikigaya Hachiman. The world is in my hands! Congratulations, the Dark King is born. My name is the Dark Knight. You ugly, hypocritical masked beings will be consumed by the black flames! The savior of mankind, this sky will be protected by the evil of this world!”
Haruno: “…”
Kushida: “…”
Hmph!
Sure enough, only magic can defeat magic!
Don’t underestimate me, Hikigaya Hachiman!
When it comes to acting and playing awkward, I am completely unbeatable!
It’s precisely because my talent is so astonishing that I had to seal it away until today, when it finally reappears!
Once I accept my weakness, I am invincible!
After Hikigaya’s performance as the Dark Knight, the scene suddenly fell into a strange silence.
Both Haruno and Kushida stopped their actions in sync, as if the director had called “Cut,” returning to their original selves. The only expression they had when looking at Hikigaya could be described in one way.
What is he talking about?
“Ah~ What are you doing? I can’t understand your act at all!”
Haruno complained sullenly, completely uninterested.
Kushida, on the other hand, stopped crying, her face cold as she glared at Hikigaya.
Hmph, Rule #4 of the Lone Wolf Code: As long as I’m not embarrassed, it’s you guys who are embarrassed!
After Hikigaya’s interference, Haruno lost interest and, after glancing at Kushida, smiled and said, “Eh? Hikigaya, what was that about uniforms and fingertips you were talking about in your phone? The noise was so loud, I couldn’t quite catch it.”
Before Hikigaya could respond, he already felt the terrifying gaze of a certain girl, her whole presence radiating a strange, dark aura.
“Eh, you’re Kushida from Class D, right? Are you alright? Why does your face look so bad?”
Haruno timed her concern perfectly.
Kushida, holding back her anger and impulse, forced a smile. “Oh, it’s Class A’s Yukinoshita-san, I didn’t expect such a popular student from Class A would have such an unknown relationship with our Class D’s Hikigaya-kun.”
“Kushida, stop testing me.”
Hikigaya interjected before Haruno could speak, afraid that she might cause more trouble. “Haruno just heard a few words from my phone earlier, then I turned it off, so you don’t need to worry about the rest.”
The reason Kushida discovered Hikigaya’s presence was because of Haruno’s sudden call. When Hikigaya was discovered by Kushida, he picked up the phone from his pocket, believing that Haruno, with her personality, would come looking for him since they hadn’t been apart for long after leaving the restaurant.
“Heh, do you think I’ll believe that?”
Kushida coldly stared at Hikigaya, and if looks could kill, Hikigaya believed he would have been dismembered by Kushida countless times.
“It’s not about believing or not believing, it’s about you only being able to believe it.”
Hikigaya ignored Kushida’s vicious expression. “Anyway, the so-called ‘evidence’ you think you have is already useless. Also, do you think continuing this nonsense has any meaning?”
“Hikigaya, you… bastard!!”
Kushida was furious with Hikigaya’s words. The previous threat of ‘fingerprints’ was no longer useful, and now with Haruno—who was clearly on Hikigaya’s side—there was no room for her to fight back!
But her biggest worry was still that one question. Kushida looked toward the girl across from her, who had her arms crossed—Yukinoshita Haruno. Kushida naturally knew who this woman was.
She was the only first-year student, aside from Hikigaya, to join the student council, and Kushida had gathered quite a few evaluations of her from students in Class A.
She was friendly, willing to help classmates solve problems, excelled in both academics and sports, and was very skilled at handling interpersonal relationships. Her social skills were particularly charming, and she had a surprisingly wide social circle. Many students from Classes A and B had high praise and good feelings toward her. It was said that many students, when facing trouble, were willing to seek her advice, and they often received great responses.
In some ways, Yukinoshita Haruno was trusted more by upper-class students than Kushida Kikyo herself. Though she wasn’t the leader of Class A, her popularity and prestige were not inferior to Class B’s Ichinose Honami!
Even Kushida had to admit she was a bit jealous of the status and prestige Haruno held.
Because of this, Kushida couldn’t understand how such a high-and-mighty ‘queen’ would look at a gloomy, introverted guy like Hikigaya.
“Hehe, you’re from Class D, Kushida, right? I didn’t expect you to be so bold in private. I wonder how those ‘puppies’ will react when they find out?”
Haruno smiled mischievously, sizing up the slightly disheveled Kushida, her malicious personality completely unhidden.
“You know, right, Hikigaya-kun, you wouldn’t want people chasing you around the campus with a big machete, would you?”
Haruno suddenly turned her head with a wicked smile, looking at Hikigaya.
The threat in Haruno’s words was clear, but Kushida wasn’t angry. In fact, she felt a bit more at ease. Her biggest fear was that her ‘other side’ would be exposed, but Haruno’s words proved she didn’t know the full story.
If it was just the handprint scene that was seen, it wasn’t completely unacceptable—or rather, it was the best outcome.
“Yukinoshita-san, you misunderstand. Actually, Hikigaya-kun was just very curious about that… that aspect, and asked me for help. I was afraid that if I didn’t agree, he’d go after other girls, so… wuuu, please don’t tell anyone. If the school finds out, I’m afraid Hikigaya-kun… he’ll…”
Kushida wiped her tears, her image transforming into that of a saint, selflessly offering herself up for the greater good. In just a few short sentences, her situation had completely turned around, with a 180-degree shift.
“I see, you’ve been wronged, Kushida-san.”
Haruno suddenly pulled Kushida into a hug, gently patting her back, wiping away her tears with a sad expression. “We’re really two of a kind, aren’t we?”
“???”
Kushida had several question marks appear above her head.
“Wuuu… Actually, Hikigaya already made his move on me, but I’ve been silently enduring it so that he wouldn’t harm other girls. But I never expected he’d still be unsatisfied, reaching out to our classmate… sigh… If I had acted first, or if Kikyo-chan had been spared this misfortune, it’s all because of my carelessness… I couldn’t satisfy this man’s beastly desires.”
“…”
Hikigaya was on the verge of jumping up and cursing! Why are you suddenly acting so familiar? ‘Haruno-sister,’ ‘Kikyo-chan’? What the hell, are you two filming a Korean drama here?!
And what is this ridiculous, absurd scenario?
Reputation victim +1+1+1+1.
“Eh? Kikyo-chan, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s okay, everything will be fine. Just live well, tomorrow will be another beautiful day.”
“Ah? Okay… I understand.”
“Eh? Hikigaya, where did he go?”
Haruno looked around and noticed that Hikigaya had already disappeared.
“He should have gone to turn himself in.”
The little angel said blankly, like a broken toy, with no expression on her face.