The others all wait outside of the school where they normally do. They look concerned and worried a bit as Kitaro comes out of the hall in his normal clothes and bag in hand. They all rush to crowd him as he approaches them.
Sugawara "How much trouble did you get into?"
Hisana "What happened to you? Did you survive?"
Lucy "I hope she went easy on you."
Kitaro smiles and motions for everyone to calm down.
Kitaro "It's alright, I only got expelled."
Everyone "What?!?"
He laughs at them.
Kitaro "Kidding! I'm kidding. She just told me not to put my hands on another student like that in the future, that the adults will handle it, then sent me on my way."
They sigh in relief as Hisana punches him in the arm. He chuckles a bit as Shiori speaks.
Shiori "Sorry you had to go through all that for me…"
Kitaro "Don't worry about it. I don't regret doing it and will do it again if she tries anything. I can't stand people like that."
Suiyoubi "Wow, I didn't peg you for someone so passionate."
Kitaro "Yeah, well I've had my share of dumb bullies."
He then looks at Hisana who looks back with a soft smile. He thinks back to a time when she was pushed to the ground as he watches, hiding around a corner.
Kitaro "I won't anything like that happen again. Not to my friends."
Chizuru "Aww he called us his friends."
She says while playfully wiggling around.
Kitaro "Shut up, let's just go already."
They laugh about it as they grab their bags and begin walking home. Before they fully leave the front gate, Shiori looks to the side to see Mr. Goda coming out of a side hallway talking to another teacher. He waves before walking down the sidewalk.
Shiori "You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up."
They look at her confused before she runs off to catch up to Mr. Goda.
Shiori "Mr. Goda!"
He turns and sees her approaching him and smiles a bit.
Goda "What seems to be the problem?"
Shiori "Oh there's no problem. I just… I wanted to apologize to you for failing to win the Sports Festival. That was the whole request you made to the Helpers Club and we couldn't follow through… I'm sorry…"
He stares at her for a second as she looks down with disappointment on her face. He laughs to himself a bit.
Goda "You mean the first place medal? Eh, I don't need that old thing. I got a perfectly good one right here."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out Shiori's silver medal. She looks surprised and checks her pockets before realizing she had forgotten it.
Goda "That right there is very important to me so next time don't leave it in the locker room, okay?"
He hands it to her and she takes it with a smile.
Goda "That medal that you earned is more than enough for me. Because between you and me, seeing you try your hardest and seeing your friends go above and beyond, all for me. That makes me feel like a winner in my book."
Shiori looks at him with surprise and shiny eyes. He gives her a smile and a pat on the shoulder.
Goda "Now get going. You're friends are waiting for you."
He looks behind her as she turns around to see the others staring before dashing behind the wall to hide. She shakes her head a bit before turning back around to face him.
Shiori "Thank you, Mr. Goda."
Goda "No, thank you for making my first Sports Festival as a teacher the best I could ask for."
He smiles at her and nods before turning and walking down the path. She comes back to the group as they all try to act not suspicious.
Chizuru "So, what'd you do?"
Haru "We definitely have no idea that you were talking to Mr. Goda."
Sugawara elbows him playfully. Shiori smiles and shakes her head again. She looks at her medal one more time before putting it around her neck.
Shiori "Come on, let's go home."
She says as Hikigaya nods. They begin to walk home together when they realize the others are still following them. They ignore it, thinking that their friends are just being silly but as they get closer to their house they start to sweat and get concerned.
Hikigaya "You guys know that our house is this way, not yours, right?"
They all smile and continue anyway. They act natural as they approach the front of their house.
Shiori "This has 'trap' written all over it."
She whispers to him without looking at him.
Hikigaya "Yeah, I know."
They approach their front door as the others are right behind them. Shiori grabs the door handle carefully and slowly turns it. When she opens the door, she is met with all of their parents and a few others shouting.
Party "Surprise!"
Shiori and Hikigaya are stunned as the others push them into the house. Total head count for the party excluding the main group is: Asami, Hamasaki, Takanou, Riku, Henry, Pastel, Emiko, Koa, Willow, Kenji, Yuri, Natsu, Fuyu, Aki, Tsuki and Mormo.
Shiori "What's all this for..?"
Hamasaki "You did such a good job today, we wanted to do something a little special for you!"
Takanou "With the help of your friends, we were able to put this together a little last minute."
Shiori "But we didn't win."
Takanou "Oh, winning shminng! That doesn't matter! All that matters is that we are so proud of you! Both of you."
He looks at Hikigaya with a smile. He gets a little embarrassed as he rubs his head.
Hikigaya "Oh, well I didn't really do anything. She was the lead, ya know?"
Asami "Perhaps, but we all know you encouraged her and helped keep the team together, right?"
The others all shout 'Right!' in response. Asami nods before turning around.
Asami "Now come on! Let's get this party started!"
They all cheer as everyone starts having a good time with food and drinks. Eventually, Emiko sits down next to Shiori who is talking to Ryuji and Chizuru.
Emiko "You know, Tom is gonna be mad when he finds out we partied together without him."
Shiori "Yeah, I wouldn't blame him. Still, I'm surprised you came. How did you even find out about the party?"
Emiko "Well, when your little brother is invited to things, you're invited to things. Get what I'm sayin'?"
She says jokingly. She laughs a little and looks at Touma talking with Lucy. Mostly her talking and he listening.
Shiori "Why was Touma invited? Don't get me wrong, he seems really cool but it's not like we've been hanging out much."
Ryuji "It was at the request of a certain someone."
He says with a slight smile before all three of them turn and look at Chizuru as she sips her drink. She notices them staring at her and she begins to blush in embarrassment.
Chizuru "I-it's like you said Shiori. He just seems cool and I'd like to get to know him better."
They give her looks as if knowing her true feelings but move on.
Shiori "Alright, that's fair but what about Sky?"
Sky "Oh, I just followed you guys here. You were loads of fun in the Sports Festival so I've decided to make you all my companions!"
She says confidently. They sweat and look at her confused a bit but accept it.
Chizuru "Well welcome to the club! I always love making a new friend!"
She smiles warmly as Sky blushes and looks away.
Sky 'So cute!'
The others laugh a bit as Hikigaya and Kitaro stand against a wall by the kitchen. Hikigaya stares at Tsuki who is in the kitchen pouring chips in a bowl and such.
Hikigaya "Why is he here? Who invited him?"
Kitaro "I have no idea. No one in our group, I'll tell you that. I don't know a single person in our group who actually enjoys his company. Except maybe Mormo but he's a freak anyway."
Tsuki "You know I can hear you guys."
Hikigaya/Kitaro "Good."
He sweats a bit from the reaction.
Tsuki "We all hangout in the same clubroom. I can hear the plans you guys make even if I am in the chair of shame. Besides, I'm just trying to make a good impression by helping out. That's all."Kitaro "Maybe try impressing those cookies by not letting them burn."
Tsuki sniffs the air a bit before getting a shocked look and turning around to the oven.
Tsuki "Oh no! The cookies!"
He quickly tries to pull them out as they laugh at him. Asami then walks up next to them.
Asami "Such a good lad, that one is. He followed us after the festival with that talking bear and offered to help setup. It was very kind of him."
Hikigaya "Yeah… he's the best…"
He says with an upset look. Asami smiles as she walks away. After a moment, Hikigaya hears something.
Voice "Certainly better than you. He wouldn't let his sister die."
A dark figure appears by his shoulder and whispers into his ear. He quickly turns and looks but sees no one there. He sweats as he looks down, hurting.
Eventually the party ends and everyone says their goodbyes. As the parents finish cleaning up, Hikigaya goes upstairs.
Hikigaya "I'm going to bed."
Asami "Already? It's only like 8 o'clock."
Hikigaya continues up the stairs, ignoring his mother. Shiori sees her reaction and speaks.
Shiori "Yeah! It's just been a long day and we're super tired so I'm gonna turn in too. Goodnight!"
She waves to them then rushes up the stairs to catch up to Hikigaya as the parents look with concerned expressions. Hikigaya is at his door when Shiori catches up to him.
Shiori "Hey Hikigaya, you okay?"
He stops and looks at her for a moment.
Hikigaya "Yeah, I'm fine."
He then goes into his room and shuts the door. Shiori stares with a look of concern but hesitates before looking down and going into her own room.