104 - The Twin Sisters' Declaration of Defeat
Because it was after school, the streets were crowded with students.
This also meant that quite a few people saw the leash in Hikigaya's hand—and the twin sisters from the Ougatou family being walked like dogs on the other end.
People stopped in their tracks to watch.
The male students looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with envy. After all, who wouldn't want the power to subjugate such a pair of beautiful twin girls?
The female students had mixed reactions. Some were ordinary students who scoffed at the shamelessness of the Ougatou twins. Others were members of the Full-Bloom Association, who clearly recognized the two officers and were shocked by their actions. How could they dare betray President Mibuomi?! Weren't they afraid of being hunted down by him?!
They were the ones being walked, but the one who lost face was clearly President Mibuomi!
For a moment, everyone who saw the scene was shaken to their core.
Mibuomi Aoi's Full-Bloom Association was a secret organization.
Normally, regular students would be invited to join, and upon receiving the invitation, they would attend a briefing in a small hall where Mibuomi would promote his ideology of "Livestock Liberation." During that session, all the officers would appear on stage. Each of them was a charismatic figure at Hyakkaou Academy, and under their influence, many students joined on the spot.
But now, even those regular students who had received invitations from the Full-Bloom Association were wavering. If even their officers could be walked like dogs, then what was the point of joining as an ordinary student? Besides, if the student council president found out, wouldn't their end be worse than just becoming livestock?
Hikigaya Hachiman deliberately slowed his pace so more students could witness the scene.
The usual five-minute walk to the broadcast room took him ten full minutes.
By the time they arrived, the two sisters were drenched in fragrant sweat. Their long, athletic legs were trembling, their steps unstable. They could barely stand.
Leaning against each other, they collapsed together onto Hikigaya Hachiman's chest.
Listening to his heartbeat, which wasn't nearly as calm and composed as his outward appearance.
Hikigaya raised his head and looked at the gold-embossed signboard:
[Broadcast Room]
At Hyakkaou Academy, there existed a neutral faction known as the "Supervisory and Enforcement Committee." It was the only group in the school with the authority to reject challenges from livestock and also prohibited from initiating any themselves.
Their duties were to strictly enforce the outcomes of wagers and monitor the Student Council, the Disciplinary Committee, the Beautification Committee, and even the Full-Bloom Association.
They also controlled the broadcast room and were responsible for publicizing the results of gambles.
Hikigaya signaled with his eyes for Jabami and Saotome to wait outside, then calmly pushed open the door. Inside was only one girl—wearing a bunny-hoodie, a lollipop in her mouth, and holding a game console horizontally with both hands.
As for why she was referred to as a girl...
From Hikigaya's perspective, her figure was far too petite. She looked even younger than his sister, Komachi.
Upon hearing the door open, Yomozuki Runa didn't even turn her head and continued playing her game console.
She muttered, "Oh~? Someone coming to the broadcast room after school?"
"If you've got business, just say it~"
"Chairwoman Yomozuki, long time no see. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. I'm here to have my personal livestock make their loser's declaration. I'd like to borrow the school's broadcast."
Hikigaya didn't underestimate her because of her childish appearance.
This girl was actually his senior, a second-year student. She was known by Juraku Sachiko as a robot with a cold and ruthless personality. Although flattering her wouldn't yield any benefit, it was best to maintain good relations before issuing a challenge.
Yes, in the bet between Hikigaya and Momobami Kirari, where he had to challenge all officers, that included the girl before him.
This bunny girl, dubbed "the robot," was still a mystery when it came to her gambling specialty.
In the first semester of her first year, all of her gambling matches had been conducted in secret under the supervision of other committee members. Not even Momobami Kirari or Juraku Sachiko knew what she was capable of.
Since becoming a member of the Enforcement Committee, she hadn't participated in any public gambling at all.
How was he supposed to challenge someone like that?
Hikigaya felt a headache coming on. For now, he would have to start with the basics—gathering information.
"Eh? Hikigaya?"
As soon as she heard his name, Yomozuki Runa threw down her Switch and spun her chair around, staring at him intently.
"It's been forever, Hikigaya!" she said with a strangely familiar tone.
She slurped on her lollipop, then shifted her gaze to the side.
"Eh… Aren't these two the captains of the baseball club? And now they've become your personal livestock, Hikigaya?"
Yomozuki hopped down from her chair and jogged over to the three of them. With a surprisingly affectionate air, she patted the Ougatou sisters on the head like one would a dog.
"Unbelievable… You actually betrayed Aoi-kun this easily. If he finds out you've become Hikigaya's personal livestock, I bet the look on his face would be priceless. Ohoho~"
"You're really something, Hikigaya!" Yomozuki, still chewing her lollipop, gave Hikigaya Hachiman a big thumbs-up.
Without hesitation, she then eagerly grabbed the broadcast room microphone and gave it a firm tap.
Her tone grew a little sentimental:
"It's been a long time since anyone used this mic. That's because, once you do, the relationship between winner and loser becomes completely irreconcilable. Few ever go this far."
"But judging from your relationship... I doubt there's any danger of that happening."
"Alright, go ahead and announce your situation!"
Yomozuki held the microphone up to the sisters' mouths, smiling sweetly, showing no hint of concern for the Aoi-kun she had just mentioned.
'This girl... she's just in it for the fun,' Hikigaya Hachiman narrowed his eyes, calculating in his mind. 'So, if I want to get her to gamble with me... the key is entertainment.'
The two sisters exchanged a glance, then—without hesitation—began to recite their declaration of defeat.
If you're not ruthless, the road ahead is shaky.
To them, pride and dignity meant nothing. What mattered was each other—and the future. As long as they spoke the declaration of defeat and pledged loyalty to Hikigaya, they could seize that future.
"Hello, everyone at Hyakkaou Academy."
"I am Ougatou Naoko, captain of the baseball club. At 4:41 p.m. today, in the gambling match 'The Hidden Rule', we were defeated by first-year student Hikigaya Hachiman."
"As per the terms of the wager, from this moment forward, we will unconditionally become the personal livestock of Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Hikigaya Hachiman is granted the right to perform any action based on personal will toward us, the personal livestock, so long as it does not cause bodily harm."
"This contract will be fulfilled under the supervision of the Chairwoman of the Enforcement Committee: Yomozuki Runa."
"That is all."