The Odd One Out

Chapter 8.3 - Brand New Determination

Hirata didn't come to class for the next few days, which caused our class to worry.

"Hirata is still absent..."

"What should we do?"

"Sensei, will we lose class points because of this?"

Class D students expressed their worry.

"It's been three days. I'm afraid if this keeps on, Class D will lose more class points," Chabashira-sensei said.

"At this point, class points aren't important. I'm worried about Hirata!"

"Yeah... but he has locked himself in his room for the past days."

"Have you tried talking through the door, Mii-chan?"

Mii-chan was amongst the girls who followed Hirata when he left the classroom after the Class Poll Exam. Apparently, Hirata asked them to leave him alone and went straight back to his room. Mii-chan and a few other girls discreetly followed him and tried to talk to him through his door.

"Yes but... he hasn't said a word to us."

"Say, Horikita, do you know what room Hirata is in?" I asked her.

"Yes. We held a few meetings in his room. He lives in Room 302."

"I see."

"Are you going to go talk to him?"

"Who knows."

"Tch. I hate it when you're vague like that."

Since there weren't any important announcements, Chabashira-sensei used this period of homeroom to answer our questions if we had some and let us chat with our classmates.

Later that afternoon, I decided to head to Hirata's room.

Upon leaving the elevator on the seventh floor, I bumped into Mii-chan who was in tears.

"A-Ayanokouji-kun? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to talk to Hirata."

"To Hirata-kun?"

"Were you talking to him, Mii-chan?"

"Um... yes, I was happy he talked to me... but... he just told me to go away... he said that I was annoying. Do you mind if I stay to listen to you talking to him?"

"I would like to talk to him alone if possible."

"O-Okay," Mii-chan left the seventh floor and entered the elevator.

I walked to Room 302. I first knocked on the door, but heard no response.

"Hirata, it's me, Ayanokouji."

I put my ear on the door to listen for any noise.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to talk to you."

"Go away."

I sat down on the ground with my back leaning on the door.

"Leave me alone, please," Hirata said.

"Hirata, who do you think is at fault for Yamauchi's expulsion?"

"It's everyone else's fault. They betrayed our agreement."

Knowing my classmates, they probably told Hirata useless things such as we're sorry, it won't happen again, and similar phrases. However, those words don't work. They have the opposite effect.

"Wrong, Hirata."

"Huh?"

"It's nobody's fault but yours."