I watched all the students leave the classroom quietly. No one remained except me, Yukinoshita, and Hirata, who stood frozen in place.
I don't know why he broke down this morning, but I need to talk to him before things get worse. This is my responsibility—I'm the one who pushed him this far.
My eyes met Yukinoshita's as she stood in front of her desk. I nodded for her to go ahead. There were things I needed to talk to her about, but not now.
She gave a small, calm smile, picked up her bag, and left. Now only Hirata and I remained in the classroom. A heavy silence filled the air, as if it might swallow us whole.
I took a deep breath before standing up. I don't know how Hirata will react—he might even lash out at me. Even if he blames me for everything, I won't hold it against him.
I pushed my chair back and walked toward him. He was still sitting there without moving, his face tense. I couldn't see his expression clearly since he was looking down at the floor—unlike his usual self. A strong aura of sadness surrounded him, replacing his usual bright presence.
I got close enough for him to notice me, but he didn't react at all, as if his mind was disconnected from reality.
I sat down in the seat behind him quietly. I don't know what to say in a situation like this, but I'll try.
"Hirata…" I called his name gently so I wouldn't startle him.
"Ah… Hikigaya-kun." He noticed me after hearing his name, recognizing me by my voice alone, but he kept staring at the floor without turning around.
"I'm really sorry… I let you down." His shoulders trembled, even though his voice remained calm.
"No… without you, we wouldn't have gotten this far in the first place." What I said wasn't just empty comfort—it was the truth. If Hirata hadn't stepped in from the beginning, the class would've likely continued its behavior without caring about evaluations. At best, they'd follow the rules for a few days before giving up.
Without him, the results would've been disastrous.
"No… I would've ruined everything if Yukinoshita-san hadn't stepped in… I thought I wouldn't make the same mistake again… but a little pressure made me lose control." His voice sounded broken and sad, but there's no time for regret now.
I don't know what caused Hirata to reach this state—maybe a past experience… I'm not sure, and I won't ask him.
Everyone has their own past and circumstances.
"Hirata, you might think my words are just comfort, but it's the truth. You did your best to help the class. It's okay to feel a bit frustrated or angry—your nerves aren't made of steel. But you need to understand that there's no time to worry now. Even if Yukinoshita stepped in, the class still needs you."
Even though Yukinoshita played an important role today, there are roles only Hirata can fulfill.
He's still an important figure in Class D.
"Do you really think so…?" He seemed to carefully consider my words as he gradually calmed down.
"Honestly, Yukinoshita-san's words… are what brought me back to my senses. If she hadn't intervened, I don't know what I would've done."
Her cold speech that targeted everyone had reached him too, and it seems it guided him back after he lost control.
That's the effect of Yukinoshita Yukino.
"So… do you still want to help the class, or will you give up?" My question was blunt, but I couldn't think of a better way to put it.
There's no time to hesitate. Will you stand up and move forward, or stay where you are and let the class lose you?
I could only see his back, but I was sure he was thinking carefully.
"Of course I'll help." For the first time since we started talking, Hirata turned to face me. His face was still sad, but his eyes shone with real determination.
"Then there's no time to hold back." If he wants to help everyone, there's no room for hesitation or disappointment.
Silence fell between us as he kept looking at me.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're right… I'll start now. First, I'll apologize to everyone." The sadness in his voice disappeared, replaced by determination.
He must think his classmates were upset by his aggressive behavior, especially since he's usually the friendliest one in class.
"Alright." I nodded. I don't know the best course of action, but an apology might be a good start.
I have no idea—I'm not Hirata Yosuke.
There's no point thinking about what I'd do in his place.
Hirata stood up, grabbed his bag, and turned to me.
"Hikigaya-kun, thank you for helping me… and I'm really sorry. I promise it won't happen again." His voice was sincere—he meant every word.
I tried to form a faint smile.
"No need to apologize."
He responded with an awkward smile.
"I'll head out now." He quickly walked toward the door and left.
"Goodbye…" I muttered softly. I don't know if he heard me, but it doesn't matter right now.
Hirata returning to normal this easily isn't a good sign.
It means he hasn't reached his lowest point yet—things might get worse, and he could lose control again.
I don't know what's causing this behavior, but… I need to keep an eye on it.
My gaze wandered around the empty classroom. The atmosphere was quiet, with only empty desks, and the soft light of the sunset slipping through the windows on my left.
I carefully observed the peaceful scene. There was nothing special about it, yet it blended perfectly with the silence.
As expected… Class D is full of troublemakers.
I stood up and made sure to return the chair to its place.
I picked up my bag and headed toward the door. As I slowly opened it, I found someone standing right in front of me.
"Ah! You scared me!" I jumped back in surprise. Yukinoshita stood there, looking at me with her blue eyes.
"Hikigaya-kun, your reaction is exaggerated." She looked annoyed.
But isn't she the one to blame? Standing like that behind a door in an empty hallway—of course I thought she was a ghost.
"Were you standing here the whole time?"
"No, I was waiting outside the building. When I saw Hirata-kun leave, I knew you were done." She brushed a strand of her hair aside calmly.
So she wasn't spying… that's good.
"Hirata-kun seems better. Did you talk?" She noticed the change in his mood.
"Yeah, he seemed regretful." Honestly, I don't think I was the reason he improved. Even without me, he probably would've returned to normal—it wasn't a complete breakdown, just an outburst.
"Hm… anyway, we got through the storm." She smiled slightly.
She's right. A storm had been ahead of us—at best, it would've shattered our fragile paper boat.
"Oh… one more thing."
"So, have you decided to become the class leader? Should I salute you?" I straightened my posture and raised my hand like a soldier.
Her expression darkened, and she gave me a cold glare that sent chills down my spine.
"Hikigaya-kun, could you stop those strange actions? You look disgusting… and weird." Her eyes were as cold as ice.
Am I really that strange? I quickly returned to my normal posture.
"So… why did you intervene?"
"Isn't it obvious? If I hadn't, the foundation you built would've collapsed."
My eyes widened in surprise. Did she really do all that for someone else?
She seemed to realize what she said and turned away, her ears slightly red.
"D-Don't misunderstand! It's not to preserve your efforts… you could say it's to maintain the situation too. They're annoying—they irritated me, so I acted… yes! Are they kindergarten kids acting so immature?" She spoke quickly, trying to justify herself.
That just makes it more obvious… but I'll pretend I didn't notice.
Understanding without words is enough.
"Alright, let's go." We walked down the hallway together.
It was quiet—every classroom was empty.
"Hikigaya-kun, will you be okay for the exam?… Don't you need help?" She sounded concerned.
All my grades are above average except math—I only get around 9 points and rank last. I had already given up on it.
But now, I'll try to take it seriously.
"No, I'm fine. I'll just study properly." That's the best option. Yukinoshita would be a strict teacher, and I wouldn't be able to focus if she's with me.
It won't go too badly. If I study, I can get a decent grade.
Ugh… math is the worst.