Chapter 121: Bullying Fujiwara Chika is a Traditional Program
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya Hachiman was already standing at the door of the Student Council Room when he received a message on his phone from "Customer Service Sakiko"
It wasn't official business from the Jujutsu Association, but a personal matter of hers.
"To Sanguinius-sensei."
"Sensei, thanks to you, the five million yen has arrived."
"If you are free, please allow me to treat you properly no matter what."
— Toyokawa Sakiko.
To show her respect for Hachiman, she had actually written the message on a piece of paper, taken a photo of it, and sent it over.
It was just as Hachiman had estimated; Sakiko had received the buyout fee for her music from the Warhammer manufacturing and distribution company within the last few days. This large sum of money was undoubtedly a timely lifeline for her.
To Sakiko, Sanguinius-sensei was her scout and benefactor. Without his appreciation, she would never have laid eyes on that five million yen. She knew that in the current environment, even if a piece of gold is covered by a tattered rag, it remains covered—unable to show its brilliance for a lifetime.
Therefore, while being grateful, she hoped Hikigaya would allow her to repay him properly.
Hachiman felt that typing was too much trouble, so he simply initiated a call through the social media app. It didn't take long for Sakiko to pick up.
"Good afternoon, Sensei."
Toyokawa Sakiko was wearing her Tsukinomori Academy uniform, her small face flushed. She looked a bit flustered, and there was a slight breathlessness in her voice. She didn't forget to tidy her collar with her hand.
It seemed the girl was in the instrument club room, as Hachiman could see a piano in the background of her video feed.
"Sakiko, I thought we said we were a 'community of destiny,' yet you're still being so formal," Hachiman said.
The concept of a "community of destiny" was something she had brought up herself, yet here she was acting like a stranger. "We are comrades-in-arms."
"How could I not be? Matters of work and life should naturally be kept separate," Sakiko said hurriedly.
As "Customer Service Sakiko," being able to fight alongside the Sensei was her good fortune. But having received such care in her personal life, she naturally wanted to reciprocate.
Hachiman didn't intend to have Sakiko go out of her way to thank him for this; five million yen was a drop in the bucket to him. Moreover, he truly admired Sakiko's talent. He was willing to pay for that talent, which is why he had bought out her songs.
However, knowing Sakiko's personality, even if he told her not to take it to heart, she would likely remain fixated on repaying the debt.
"There's no need for a formal reception. Let's just have a simple meal."
Speaking of receptions, Hachiman recalled the time Mei Mei took him in her Escalade for a full-body spa. Even with the most skilled technicians, they couldn't fully relax his muscles. Rather than spending a fortune on complicated things, it was better to keep it simple.
Thus, Hachiman made the decision for her, which also helped Sakiko save some money. Starting out as a musician is difficult; while five million yen might seem like a lot, in the world of music, that money can vanish faster than one might imagine without leaving a single ripple.
"Alright then."
Hachiman didn't forget to add a reminder: "If you have any good works in the future, there is plenty of room for us to collaborate."
The Empire depicted in Hachiman's writings had so many Legions. Even if they released two themes a year, it would take nearly eight or nine years to cover them all. His "Sakiko" was indeed gifted in music—both lyrics and arrangement were excellent. Working together would be a win-win.
"Okay, I understand."
Hearing that the Sensei was emphasizing his willingness to continue mentoring her, Sakiko couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
"Sensei, if you ever need a theme song or background music for a specific Legion, please contact me in advance."
"I will."
This was meant to be a long-term partnership. As the copyright holder, Hachiman held considerable authority.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow night."
Sakiko felt both moved and amused; clearly, she was the one receiving his help.
"I have things to attend to here, so I'll hang up first."
"Understood. I wish you a pleasant day."
After speaking, Sakiko embarrassedley covered her mouth. She had been so formal that she accidentally used her closing line from her customer service job. Fortunately, the Sensei didn't seem to notice the anomaly. She had accidentally treated the Sensei like a customer.
"You too."
.
.
.
In the Student Council Room
After ending the call with Sakiko, Hachiman pushed open the door to the Student Council room.
Shirogane Miyuki was still processing various documents. As the Student Council President, there were many files that required his personal review.
"Good work, Miyuki." Hachiman greeted him as soon as he entered.
"Ah, Hachiman, you're here."
Walking further in, Hachiman saw Fujiwara Chika. Despite having finished lunch not long ago, she was already snacking again. He suggested to her:
"While snacking is fine, as a senior, it's better to be a bit more dignified in front of a kouhai for a first meeting."
Chika, who had been happily eating, suddenly remembered that a newcomer was arriving. "Oh right! Ishigami-kun is coming later, isn't he?"
If she didn't leave a good first impression now, her image would be fixed forever and would be hard to change.
Shinomiya Kaguya was sitting alone at the table opposite Chika, sipping black tea. Hearing this, she couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"Yes, Fujiwara-san, please try to be a bit more solemn."
Hachiman felt something was slightly odd, though. For some reason, the way Kaguya looked at him seemed a bit... resentful?
Could Kaguya not be resentful? She had hoped they would eat together again, but he had slipped away once more. Wouldn't it be nice for the Student Council to eat together? Why did he have to be with outsiders—or rather, "irrelevant" people?
That was why she looked so aggrieved. She didn't even have a good look for Chika. Even now that Hachiman was back, Kaguya merely gave a soft "Hmph." Her expression was like a wife saying, "Oh, so you actually remembered to come back."
Since Kaguya couldn't say it too clearly, she could only take it out on her friend. "Do not be rude in front of our kouhai."
Everyone was meeting for the first time. First impressions are vital. What if the first impression was terrible?
Unfortunately, Fujiwara Chika didn't seem to care. "What should we ask him?"
She suddenly realized that while they were hiring, they didn't actually know what to ask. Because she had followed Kaguya into the Student Council from the start, she had never been interviewed—she just got in. Now, the thought of interviewing a kouhai was particularly fun for her.
"How should I interview him?"
A playful expression appeared on Chika's face, and her whole body began to sway side-to-side like a flower. Knowing her personality, the others couldn't help but think of her chaotic train of thought; she was bound to come up with something terrible.
"Actually, Chika, you just need to sit there, stay quiet, and act like a master."
Since Hachiman was the one who decided to recruit him, he would naturally be the one conducting the interview. If Chika was allowed to ask unexpected questions, the already unconfident Yu Ishigami might just shut down.
"Indeed."
Hachiman's words resonated with Shirogane and Kaguya. If it was just one newcomer, there really was no need for Chika to turn up the pressure. Furthermore, the candidate had recently suffered from bullying and would be very sensitive. If Chika stayed quiet, there would be no pressure and no added trouble.
"Eh?"
Chika heard the underlying meaning—the scent of their collective disdain.
"You're all bullying me!"
Her face crumpled into a sob-like expression as she looked piteously at Kaguya, wanting her friend to back her up. "Kaguya-san..."
Unfortunately, the person Chika trusted most was on the same side as those "mocking" her.
Hachiman gave Kaguya a look, signaling her not to be too harsh. Although he had started the topic, Hachiman's intention was simply to have the matter left to him to lighten the load for the others.
The so-called interview was really just a formality to see if this kouhai's skills were as outstanding as his records suggested. Letting him create a few spreadsheets would reveal all the professional skills necessary.
However, Hachiman felt Kaguya was about to deal a fatal blow to her best friend, causing her to lose all her composure. The relationship between these two sisters was truly strange; it was a miracle they had known each other for over a decade.
If Chika ran out crying and screaming, what would they do? The kouhai and his guide might already be in the hallway; Chika running away in tears wouldn't look good.
"Honestly, am I really that cold-blooded?" Kaguya felt helpless; she had accurately received the "that's enough" signal from Hachiman.
"What Hikigaya-kun likely means is that Fujiwara-san only needs to observe." She took a sip of tea and placed the cup down elegantly. "There's no need to intervene too much."
Hachiman and Shirogane, watching from the side, felt their hearts skip a beat. What Kaguya said wasn't a consolation at all—it was fundamentally no different from what Hachiman had said.
"..."
Fujiwara Chika's pupils instantly went hollow. "In other words, even Kaguya-san thinks I can't help at all?"
"I didn't say that, did I? Simply by sitting here, Fujiwara-san is already providing us with the greatest help," Kaguya said directly.
"Fujiwara-secretary, what Vice President Kaguya means isn't..." Shirogane stepped forward to smooth things over.
Right then, a knock came from the closed door, followed by Miko Iino's voice.
"President, I've brought him."
"Waaaaah..."
Feeling targeted, Fujiwara Chika looked up, her eyes filled with tears. "I just wanted to contribute to the Student Council too!"
'I've bled for the Student Council, I've cried for the Student Council!'
"But... but... everyone is a cold-blooded animal! Waaaaah!"
Chika suddenly burst into loud, heartbroken sobs.
"I haven't felt for a single second that being in the Student Council is a happy thing!"
After saying that, Chika covered her eyes with both hands, pulled open the door, and bolted out.
Miko Iino, standing at the door, saw the door swing open and prepared to walk in. Instead, someone sprinted out. When Miko saw the person's face, she looked surprised.
"Fujiwara-senpai!"
Fujiwara was someone Miko respected immensely. But she saw her respected senior running away in tears, looking like a pear blossom bathed in rain, pushing past them in a panicked flight!
"Eh? What happened?"
The two kouhais, Iino Miko and Ishigami Yu, were left dazed as they watched the wailing figure disappear into the distance.
Chika's dramatic exit caused Kaguya's calm, victorious expression to crack. The "ice queen" sat with her mouth open, a look of small shock on her face. "Why did Fujiwara-san run away?"
"Oh boy." Shirogane simply held his forehead in resignation, though this was a daily occurrence for their council.
"Good work, Iino."
Hachiman could only accept the situation of Chika running away in tears, as he had suspected this might happen when Kaguya tried to "comfort" her. Besides, Chika would be back after a short cry.
Scenes like "Persecuting Fujiwara Chika" happened time and again in the council; it was practically a traditional program for this year's Student Council.
"Pardon the scene; Secretary Fujiwara had to leave for an urgent matter."
Hachiman stepped forward, taking control of the situation as soon as he spoke. "Ishigami-kun, hello. I am Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hachiman looked at Yu Ishigami standing beside Miko and extended his hand.
To Ishigami, this was their first meeting, but Hachiman had already seen him once back at that "cult" dojo.
"I'm sorry. Although the culprit has been punished, it is justice delayed, and you were subjected to unfair treatment. I apologize for that."
If it weren't for Miko's persistence in appealing the case, Hachiman wouldn't have discovered the truth.
"No, no... please don't let it weigh on you, Hikigaya-senpai."
Ishigami's voice was trembling. He was a nobody. How could someone who stood at the peak of Shuchiin apologize to him?
Furthermore, as the one who had been rescued, he was already beyond grateful to Hachiman.
"I won't say much else. The reason I called you here is that I want you to join our Student Council. I saw in your records that you are quite adept at data processing."
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