Chapter 20 – One is Rich and One is Cheap
Yuigahama lowered her head sadly.
What Miura said sounded nice on the surface, but in truth, she was just forcing her idea of "team spirit" onto others. According to her logic, if you couldn't follow along, you weren't her friend.
That was basically a heresy trial to exclude those who didn't conform.
"I'm sorry…" Yuigahama apologized timidly with her head down.
"So! I! Said! I don't want to hear an apology. Isn't there something else you should be saying?" Miura spat out her words, one syllable at a time.
When she put it like that, who would dare speak? This wasn't a conversation or a question anymore—it was just one-sided pressure to make the other person apologize and attack them.
Duan Shiji took a bite of his steamed bun, feeling irritated.
"In nobility and humility, friendship is revealed"… It really is a great truth of this world.
[Note: This is a quote from the Records of the Grand Historian, specifically the Biography of Ji and Zheng. Sima Qian observed how men of talent had many guests while in power, but were left in silence once they lost their status. He quoted Duke Zhai of Xiaguai, who, upon witnessing this fickleness of society, posted a sign at his gate that read: "Only through life and death can friendship be tested; only through poverty and wealth can character be revealed; only through nobility and humility can true friendship be seen."]
"Relationships based on power fade when the power is gone." Miura's behavior was just using friends as tools—wasn't that also a form of profit-driven relationship? If this continued, conflict would just be a matter of time.
[Note: From Records of the Grand Historian, the House of Zheng.]
Across the room, Hikigaya stuffed the last bite of his bun into his mouth while pulling out his phone, trying to distract himself.
But besides the bun in his throat, he felt something else stuck too.
…How should I put this?
Even though I really didn't want to help, watching a girl I know nearly in tears right in front of me made my stomach twist, making food taste worse.
People want their food to taste good, you know? Besides, I'm usually the one who gets attacked like this—why should I let someone else take my spot?
Oh yeah… and also… she's just pissing me off.
Hikigaya originally tried to talk himself out of caring, but in the end, he talked himself into stepping forward.
So, he suddenly stood up: "Hey, that's enough—"
"Shut up!" Before he could finish, Miura shot him a venomous glare, like a snake.
"...I-I mean, maybe I should go buy a…" Hikigaya immediately wilted.
"Are lords and kings born special?"
"The heavens are dead, the yellow heavens rise; this year is the start of a new age!"
Duan Shiji, watching Hikigaya suddenly rise with righteous fury, felt fired up.
"When the people no longer fear authority, even greater power arrives."
So, before Hikigaya could chicken out, Duan Shiji quickly stood up: "You should go buy your own drink, shouldn't you?!"
"Huh?" Miura looked over like she didn't understand.
Cold sweat formed on Duan Shiji's forehead, but he stood his ground, looking Miura straight in the eyes.
Seeing this, Miura ignored him entirely and turned her attention back to the shrinking Yuigahama.
"I'm doing this for your own good. That vague attitude of yours is just annoying to look at."
Miura claimed it was for Yuigahama's sake, but really, it was for her own emotional satisfaction and personal gain. Her words contradicted themselves at the core.
"...I'm sorry."
"Another apology?"
Miura let out a loud, mocking laugh filled with anger and frustration, making Yuigahama shrink back even more.
I can't believe even I'm getting scared…
"To see what's right and not act is to lack courage."
[Note: From The Analects, "Wei Zheng" chapter.]
Duan Shiji grew more and more frustrated. He slammed the table and glared at Miura.
"Can you stop already? Can't even eat lunch in peace."
He crossed his arms and slightly lifted his chin, giving off a proud, almost domineering vibe.
"Hah? What does this have to do with you? No one's talking to you." Miura sneered at Duan Shiji.
At the same time, Yuigahama also looked toward Duan Shiji. Miura seized the moment and asked in a cold voice:
"Hey, Yui, where are you looking? You've been apologizing non-stop since just now—"
Getting ignored twice in a row—who wouldn't be mad at that? Just as Duan Shiji was about to explode…
"You've got the wrong person to apologize to, Yuigahama-san."
That voice was even colder than Miura's last sentence. It was like an Arctic wind, making people flinch instinctively.
She appeared at the classroom doorway, but it felt like she was standing at the very center of the world—drawing every gaze toward her.
Duan Shiji's rage instantly vanished. Looks like his role was over.
Thinking that, he quietly stepped back, leaving the battlefield to Yukinoshita.
No one knew when Miura had stopped tapping her fingers on the desk, but now the classroom had fallen into complete silence.
Then, Yukinoshita spoke first:
"Yuigahama-san, you were the one who invited me, but then stood me up. Don't you think that's wrong? If you were going to be late, you should've told me."
Hearing this, Yuigahama looked relieved and smiled at Yukinoshita: "S-sorry. But, I didn't know your phone number…"
"...Is that so? Then I guess I can't blame you too much. Let's just forget about this time."
Yukinoshita spoke calmly, completely ignoring the mood in the classroom.
Her complete indifference made Duan Shiji want to clap.
"W-Wait a second! We're not done talking!" Miura finally snapped out of it and protested at both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama.
"Is something the matter? I don't have time to waste talking to you—I haven't even had lunch yet."
Yukinoshita gave her absolutely no face.
"W-What? You suddenly show up and start talking nonsense? I was in the middle of talking to Yui!"
"Talking? That was yelling, wasn't it? You think that was a conversation? All I saw was hysterics—forcing your opinions on someone else."
"Huh?!"
"Sorry, my bad. I didn't realize your species' customs. I assumed it was some kind of ape trying to intimidate others."
And just like that, Miura's anger was instantly extinguished by Yukinoshita…
All she could do was glare hard at Yukinoshita, who responded with a cold, uncaring gaze.
"It's fine if you want to play queen of the hill, but don't step outside your little mountain. Otherwise, you'll end up like your makeup—completely exposed."
"...Hmph, what are you even saying? Who understands your crap anyway?"
Miura sat back down, sulking, furiously playing with her phone.
No one said anything to her. Even Hayama, who was usually good at reading the room, just faked a yawn.
Yuigahama stood to the side, tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, as if she had something to say.
Yukinoshita noticed and deliberately left the classroom first: "I'm going ahead."
"I-I'll go too…"
"...Do whatever you want."
"Mm."
Yuigahama smiled then—but she was the only one in the room smiling.
The atmosphere in the classroom was so awkward, it was nearly unbearable.
Most people either pretended to be thirsty or said they had to use the restroom and quickly left. In the end, only Hayama, Miura's group, and a few bored onlookers remained.
Duan Shiji and Hikigaya also packed up their desks and quietly followed the crowd out.
As soon as Duan Shiji stepped out, he saw Yukinoshita leaning against the doorframe.
She had her arms folded across her chest, eyes closed, listening quietly. Maybe because of how cold her aura was, there wasn't a single person around her.
It was very, very quiet...