Hearing Shishio's plan, they were dumbfounded, but somehow they agreed since they must admit his words swayed them.
In the name of educating naughty children, they decided to become a demon.
Fighting fire with fire.
His plan would start on the next day during the test of courage.
As for now, they only needed to prepare their hearts for tomorrow's punishment.
Still, while one person wanted to say something, he could see that the crowd was already on Shishio's side, and anything he would say would be only the howl of the loser. He could only agree and follow his words.
"I still believe deep inside that they're good children," Hayama said with a smile, without giving up.
"If the girl who is bullying is a good girl, then the one who is bullied is a bad girl?" Shishio asked lazily.
"No, I have never said that!" Hayama quickly said, feeling a sweat trickle on his forehead since Shishio's every word was like a sharp knife that peeled his mask of hypocrisy.
"I have never said that they're a bad girl or good girl. I don't make such a distinction. Instead, I think they're good girls, but this is the scariest thing. I, we, they, and everyone thinks they're good girls, but their actions are as good as a demon. They hurt people like they're buying something at the convenience store. They don't have regret or remorse or suffer from what they did to those girls. Instead, they think they're right, and they think they haven't done anything wrong. It is what is so scary about them."
"...."
They felt a chill somehow.
If evil had been done several times, it would have become a habit.
They would think what they were doing was something normal and something that they naturally did as breathing.
If such a thing happened, they could imagine many people would be hurt by this group of girls.
"Hayama-senpai, it must be nice to look at everyone from above, right? You don't understand the feelings of those below everyone, and you never try to understand them, either. Maybe "everyone" in your mouth is nothing but lip service to guise your ego into everyone, right?
"Shut up!"
Hayama lost his emotion and screamed angrily. However, he forgot the one he got angry with wasn't those mobs in the school but Shishio.
"Oh? I am right, right? Maybe those girls you want to save are like you, so you want to save them. Like you, who are pampered by "everyone," you also want to pamper them. You are such a nice guy, Hayama-senpai."
Hayama couldn't control his emotion again and wanted to grab Shishio, but Shishio slammed the wooden table, creating a "boom" sound and shattering part of the wooden table.
"....." Everyone.
"If you touch me, it won't be a simple argument."
Shishio looked at Hayama and asked, "Are you ready for that?"
No one dared to say anything, and the chill from his body almost froze them with fear.
"Go. It's disgusting to see your face."
Hayama gritted his teeth and left angrily.
As for others, they didn't know what to do, and they were quite restless.
"Tobe-senpai, go and accompany him."
"Oh-oh! Leave it to me!" Tobe looked at the shattered wooden table and nodded vigorously.
"Oh, by the way, when someone asks what has happened to the wooden table, tell them that it is so old that it is fragile, alright?"
Tobe's lips twitched, but he nodded. "Okay! Okay! Leave that to me too!" He then quickly chased after Hayama while looking at Shishio for a moment before he continued.
Shishio took a deep breath and said, "Leave me alone for a bit. You should go back."
They looked at each other and didn't know what to say.
Shishio didn't bother with them and left since his mood wasn't good. He didn't like someone like Hayama, the double-faced bitch since they thought they were always right. They also had this superhero syndrome that would save everyone in need. However, when the problem was out of their control, they would stay silent without doing anything, leaving the victim hurt without anyone helping them.
Shishio didn't like Hayama, who thought everything he had done was forgiven. Instead, he tore them like it was nothing, telling him that you were just a bitch.
"Shishiron!"
Yui wanted to chase after Shishio.
However...
"Yuigahama-san, it is okay. Leave it to me."
Yukinoshita left first and chased after Shishio.
Not only Yui but Yumiko, Komachi, and Ebina showed bitter smiles. They lamented that the one who could be by his side at the moment wasn't them. Instead, it was Yukinoshita.
On the other hand, Hikigaya knocked the table and attacked everyone's attention.
"Hachiman..." Totsuka was speechless.
"Hey, don't blame me. I just wonder whether the wooden table is that fragile." Hikigaya looked at the shattered wooden table and couldn't help but gulp, thinking about what kind of power was hidden under Shishio's body.
"So it is fragile?" Totsuka asked curiously.
"It's fucking hard."
"...." Everyone.
---
"I am not a child who needs someone to coax me, you know?"
Shishio wanted to walk to Hiratsuka to calm himself, but he didn't expect Yukinoshita to chase after him, so he could only change his direction. He came to the nearby place, covered with wood but with a fine sight of the moon.
"Yes, yes, you're not. Let me see your hand."
"...It's okay. I am fine."
"Give it to me!" Yukinoshita said sternly.
"..." Shishio's lips twitched, but his hand was pulled by Yukinoshita. She grasped his hand gently and saw that it was really alright. She sighed inwardly and asked, "You don't have to destroy the table, right?"
"Sorry, I am just annoyed by him. I don't like him a bit," Shishio said frankly. He didn't like Hayama, but he was like any other adult and pretended to get along with Hayama. However, he felt this guy was sick, thinking that everyone should get along, and everyone should do this, do that.
Who do you think you are?
Shishio couldn't handle it and told him about the reality. He also felt that this guy was targeting him somehow, even though he wasn't sure why.
"Thanks."
"Why do you thank me?" Shishio felt weird.
"What's with that expression?" Yukinoshita stared at Shishio blankly and said, "I also want to do something for that girl."
"That means our feelings are the same." Shishio smiled.
"...It's good that your mood is good now." Yukinoshita sighed, feeling molested by this bastard.
"Oh, my mood is bad. I want to destroy another table later."
Yukinoshita rolled her eyes and said, "Then, wait here until your mood is better."
"How can my mood get better?"
"Oh? You mean with my presence isn't enough to calm you down?"
"...Can you not be so narcissistic?"
Yukinoshita sighed and said, "Then, I will help you to calm down. What do you want to do?"
"...Are you serious?" Shishio asked in doubt.
"As long as it isn't something so perverted, then I might try to deal with it." Yukinoshita looked away.
Shishio stared at Yukinoshita for a moment and asked, "Then, give me a hug."
"...Hug?" Yukinoshita blinked her eyes.
"Yeah, can you?"
Yukinoshita stared at Shishio for a moment and let out a long sigh. "It can't be helped, but only this once."
"...."
Shishio wondered what was wrong with Yukinoshita, but he didn't hesitate and hugged her.
"...You don't have a hesitation?" Yukinoshita was speechless and her tense body slowly relaxed.
"I am afraid that you'll regret your decision."
"I already regret my decision, though."
"It's too late. I won't let you go now."
Yukinoshita let out a long sigh, feeling helpless. Even if she was startled, his hug was gentle and felt warm. She quickly accepted and felt the warmth on his body, and wanted to move closer, so she hugged him.
Neither of them was saying anything.
Shishio buried his face in her neck, feeling her long silky black hair on his nose, which wafted a pleasant smell from the shampoo. He wondered why her smell was so nice, and it was so gentle.
Yukinoshita was also the same since his body gave her reassurance and dependability. Yet what she liked the most was when he talked before since his words meant a lot of things.
Unlike Hayama, who wanted to help Rumi while staying clean without dirtying himself.
Shishio didn't hesitate to get himself dirty, bloody, and many others as long as he could save the people he cared about. He was an egomaniac that didn't care about the others, but this made him reliable and could make her trust him.
"By the way, I got your first again, Senpai."
"...Can you not say something so misleading?"
However, Yukinoshita must admit many of her first times were taken by Shishio, yet how could she admit it?
"You're not going to ask?"
"You mean about your relationship with Hayama-senpai?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you're probably a childhood friend or something, right?"
"You're not wrong."
"So, have you encountered a similar situation like Rumi-chan, but in the end, he did nothing?"
"That's right." Yukinoshita didn't hide the truth and told him what had happened.
When she needed someone to help the most, no one helped her.
Even Hayama decided to ignore her and stayed in the status quo, maintaining his popularity.
While Shishio wanted to blame Hayama, he couldn't say much in this situation since everyone was different. One person had more courage than the others, and many were like others. They just lived to maintain a status quo, living how people would live normally.
The reason why Hayama wanted to save Rumi was that he didn't want to feel any more regret since Rumi's situation was something similar he had encountered in the past.
Yet it didn't change the fact that Shishio didn't like Hayama.
"...Do you blame him?" Shishio asked.
"No."
"May I ask the reason?"
"It's my problem, not anyone else, so I can handle it alone." Her voice was firm, yet it was strangely desolate.
"You're strong."
Yukinoshita chuckled, but then she felt him hug him tighter.
"Shishio?"
"But you're not alone now. I am here with you, so can you let me shoulder the burden that almost crushed you?"
Yukinoshita was silent, and her eyes were slightly wet. She closed her eyes and thought about what would happen after this training camp, and she was glad to meet him this time.
"Thank you."
"Is that all?"
"...What do you want?"
"Shouldn't we kiss or something?"
"Your wish, scumbag!"
They looked at each other before they laughed.
"Congratulations on your book, I haven't congratulated you yet, but I have bought and read your book. I love it," Yukinoshita said with a smile.
"Thanks, and I am happy that you like it."
"Will you write something again?" Yukinoshita asked.
"Probably."
"Then, I can't wait for it." Yukinoshita stared at Shishio for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Shishio asked.
"....." Yukinoshita hesitated.
"Do you want to hug me once again?"
Yukinoshita snorted and said, "Don't misunderstand. I just think you're not alright, so I will give you a chance to hug me again."
"....."
"Okay, then, the last time."
"...The last time," Yukinoshita murmured.
"Well, we're going to sleep after this, right? So this is the last time. Also, I won't take the initiative. I want you to be the one who takes it." Shishio stood in silence and opened his arms.
Yukinoshita looked at Shishio for a moment and took the initiative to hug him, burying her face against his chest.
Shishio naturally hugged her back.
Yukinoshita closed her eyes, feeling moonlit in the night sky and the rustling leaves because of the wind, feeling glad that she had met him.
"Shishio."
"Hmm?"
Yukinoshita opened her mouth before she closed it again. "Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's just I am glad to be here, so let's stay like this for a while." Yukinoshita hugged him tighter and took a deep breath of his scent, ensuring she wouldn't forget this feeling.
Shishio glanced at Yukinoshita for a moment and gently caressed her hair. The words that were about to come out of his mouth stopped before he sighed and said, "Me too. I am glad that I am here."
Yukinoshita smiled and said, "Thank you."
The two continued until tonight, hugging each other as if they were about to disappear into twilight.