Chapter 041: If It's Hikigaya Hachiman Making the Decision!
Hikigaya Hachiman, a first-year student in Class D.
He's not bad-looking, though his dead fish eyes slightly affect his appearance. However, if he were to wear glasses to cover them, his looks might improve quite a bit.
But it's undeniable that this guy's thinking is rather mature.
And his insight is remarkably sharp.
When she assigned one of the class's lackeys to investigate someone, she discovered that his academic abilities were average, but in the subject of Japanese, he could almost score a perfect mark.
In other words, he had a subject he was good at.
So, actually, Sakayanagi Arisu held Hachiman in relatively high regard.
But these were just superficial things.
What really left an impression on her was the fact that this guy had no sense of morality and actually bullied a frail girl like her.
And now.
Hachiman seemed to be frowning.
This was why she walked over when she saw him.
And now.
"I didn't expect to run into the representative of Class A here."
That was what he said.
This meant he must be in some kind of trouble, and he probably wanted her to leave quickly and didn't want to deal with her, right?
And such a good opportunity, why not sit down and listen carefully, let her mood improve a little?
...
Sakayanagi Arisu's expression turned adorable.
Not to say she wasn't always cute.
She had even earned the title of "Princess Sakayanagi" in class, a compliment to both her looks and abilities.
And now she was sitting across from Hachiman.
Kamuro-san stood behind her like an attendant.
Sakayanagi Arisu's knees...
She was wearing white suspenders today.
Her outfit was also cute.
Although her legs were a little chubby, it's said that these kinds of legs feel more comfortable to touch.
"..."
Hachiman.
??
Hachiman quickly stopped his wandering thoughts.
He must have been overthinking.
He had been contemplating a troublesome matter.
That is, how to make Class D "coincidentally" compete with Class A.
The students in Class D were uneven, and even though Chabashira-sensei might be willing to contribute some points, as a homeroom teacher, she couldn't offer support beyond a certain limit.
Otherwise, that would be cheating.
She probably didn't want to intervene too much because she had modeled this year's Class D after her own class, and her previous class didn't receive nearly as much help from the homeroom teacher.
So, she would only offer the minimum amount of assistance.
Which meant Hachiman couldn't rely on Chabashira-sensei.
But now, the key question was how to utilize the behavior standard exam.
Indeed, because of the fundamental gap in abilities, the more exams there were, the greater the probability that Class D would remain at the bottom.
That would make it almost impossible to "coincidentally" compete with Class A.
But now, all four classes started from the same starting line, each with a base score of 1000 for class evaluation.
So, if he could manage to get a good hand right from the start, the chances would be significantly better.
And the 10 million yen cash he wanted was very tempting.
But as everyone had seen, Class D's students were already leading in the point deduction category.
So, how could he extract points from them?
This was why, in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes, Hachiman looked so worried.
...
Just then.
Hachiman noticed that Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't leaving. Instead, she was lingering, sitting across from him.
And she was wearing a cute, polite smile.
Clearly, she had come to gloat.
As expected, it was foolish to let her expression show so easily. Hachiman realized she must have noticed his expression and come over because of it.
Thinking this,
"Tch!" A first-year girl from Class D passed by, holding her tray.
She had long, beautiful golden hair.
The hair reached her waist and was tied up with a green hair tie.
With bright, delicate eyebrows and a lovely smile.
She was extremely cute.
However, compared to Sakayanagi Arisu, she was slightly less striking. The two were of different types—one was a young girl, the other was more of a loli.
But if Sakayanagi Arisu was the cutest girl in the school, this girl could easily take second place.
Moreover, she was wearing bubble socks, which was probably a bonus.
"..." Hachiman.
Hachiman decided to ignore the girls in his class for now.
This girl was also someone he had etched into his memory.
The last time Kamuro-san came to class, she had said that if a girl from another class confessed to someone, it should be the excellent Hirata-kun.
Later, Kushida also reported that someone noticed him eating with Sakayanagi Arisu, and the girls even suspected that he might be a loli lover.
It was clear that the girl who noticed him was probably this girl, Karuizawa Kei.
And now.
[So, you really are a loli lover?]
After a brief eye contact, she left.
But thisKaruizawa was really going too far. To be on Hachiman's little notebook three times in a row, she was definitely unique in her own way.
...
"Is something bothering you, Hikigaya-kun?" Sakayanagi Arisu asked, breaking the silence. "Like, being thought of as a loli lover, perhaps?"
Alright, you can stop now.
She probably just wanted to bring him trouble, which was why she deliberately sat down.
"If you're facing any trouble, why not tell me about it? It will make me happy," Sakayanagi Arisu said. "School life is so dull."
Fine.
So that's how it is.
Well, you're really just a trashy loli.
Taking joy from others' troubles.
But even if she was a trashy loli, she was probably the smartest person Hachiman had met so far.
Hachiman decided to see if he could get any ideas from her.
So he said, "I think our class's evaluation score is probably down to just over 500 points."
"..." Sakayanagi Arisu.
"??" Kamuro.
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't respond, but Kamuro looked at him in shock.
Wasn't it only the fifth day since school started?
According to the school rules he heard from Mashima-sensei, every new class started with a base score of 1000 points for the class evaluation. But you guys in Class D... lost 500 points in just 5 days?
Chapter 042: Sakayanagi Arisu Didn't Get It!
"You previously mentioned that according to past data, after the first month, the class evaluation score for Class D would probably be around four to five hundred points,"
"And now, I realize that the destructive power of my classmates is beyond imagination," Hachiman said. "So, I suspect that if we do nothing, by the end of the month, our class evaluation score will become zero."
Hachiman's tone sounded somewhat despondent.
Those who heard him felt a sense of sadness.
Because.
Five days, 500 points deducted.
"..." X2
It really seems hopeless.
But it was also somewhat perceptible that in Class A, some students were from Sakayanagi Arisu's radical faction, while others preferred the more stable type like Katsuragi.
But no matter which faction, there was one task that everyone had to do.
That was to gather intelligence.
The first month was about assessing students' behavioral norms.
Class A students had taken shortcuts, knowing how to respond and how to take the exams. So, by the end of this month, they would likely get excellent results and have already distanced themselves from the lower-ranked classes.
Then some students started interacting with the students from Class D.
And then...
Well.
It really does seem pretty bad over there.
But...
"What does this have to do with us?" Kamuro, standing behind Sakayanagi Arisu, asked.
Because, indeed.
How does Class D's decline have anything to do with Class A?
"Kamuro-san," but before Hachiman could speak, Princess Sakayanagi Arisu said, "Please don't bring trouble to the class."
?
Kamuro Masumi looked at Sakayanagi in confusion.
Because, if Class D is doing badly, doesn't that mean Class A is safer?
After all, if the lower-ranked classes can't catch up, Class A will be secure forever.
Hachiman put his hand on his knee.
"Sakayanagi-san probably means that if Class D continues to fail, and since we're already at 0 points, why not drag down other classes as well?"
"After all, once we hit 0 points, there's almost no hope of promotion, so our bottom line can keep dropping."
"For example, if once we reach 0 points, no further deductions are possible, then we could do things that would cause both our class and others to lose points, and if other classes are still above 0, they could still lose points."
"And if we go to the extreme, we could drag Classes A, B, and C all to 0 points."
Hachiman said.
And so, is the plan really to bring all four classes, even Class A, to the same 0-point starting line?
Uh.
You guys are really messed up.
"..." Kamuro Masumi.
Kamuro decided it was better to stay quiet.
He had just heard a proposal that seemed too devilish.
"But doing that, Class D would also be in danger, right?" Sakayanagi Arisu said.
Although Kamuro was her pet, if her pet was in trouble, as the owner, she had to get some justice.
"Because if the school notices such intentions, your whole Class D might be expelled."
"After all, the higher-year Class D also doesn't have a great score. If they all start copying your behavior, it would create chaos, with students using blackmail to affect the higher-ranked classes."
"And the school certainly won't allow that."
"So, they will make an example out of your first-year Class D." Sakayanagi Arisu said.
And this argument was quite powerful.
But.
"That's indeed possible," Hachiman said. "It's just a hypothesis."
Oh.
Such a terrifying hypothesis.
Does that mean there's no threat?
No.
There still is. For example, what if we just do it once or twice?
Then it could still bring down Class A's score.
Uh.
Kamuro Masumi thought hard in her mind.
And then suddenly realized… what Sakayanagi Arisu said earlier about Hachiman needing attention—she might have been right. Hachiman might actually be more suited for Class A than Katsuragi's follower, Totsuka Yahiko.
At that time, Kamuro thought Sakayanagi was talking nonsense.
Even commercial flattery shouldn't be taken this far.
But.
Now she was experiencing it.
Hachiman, this guy, was a bit terrifying.
But for now, it was better to stay quiet.
She was a Class A student, of course, hoping to graduate from Class A and have the school fulfill its promises. She had a career she wanted to pursue.
But she also knew that her own abilities were not enough.
Relying on Katsuragi… she always felt that, although he was stable, there was a feeling of not being able to fully trust him.
But relying on Sakayanagi Arisu, Kamuro's weaknesses were under Sakayanagi's control. Even if she tried to escape, it would be useless.
So, she could only stay quiet.
...
"But I don't think you would go through all that trouble for Class D," Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"After all, you didn't accept my offer to support you," Sakayanagi Arisu added. "So, what happened to make you so concerned about this?"
"…Let's forget about the support thing," Hachiman said. "I won't betray my class."
"And besides, I was the one who proposed splitting the bill, if you really wanted to pay, then you should have done so at that time, not split the bill with me, including the private room fees," Hachiman said.
And this was referring to when the two of them met the day before, and after their confrontation, they went to the cafeteria on the third floor together.
At that time, Hachiman split the bill.
At that time, she thought Hachiman was a person without grace.
But now...
Was he trying to make her pay?
Is that how it was?
Sakayanagi Arisu realized she had missed that point.
Chapter 043: If It's Hikigaya Hachiman Who Has to Make a Decision!
Sakanagi Arisu didn't genuinely want to support him financially.
She simply thought that school life was boring, and after getting some information about Hikigaya from Kushida, she thought maybe he could bring some excitement to her life.
But then, she felt desperate.
She didn't want to reflect on it.
But now, none of that mattered.
Hikigaya was troubled because of class evaluation points.
"I didn't expect you'd be interested in such things," Sakanagi said. "Why not just relax a bit? Look at second-year and third-year students, you'll get used to it."
Get used to it?
Yeah.
Because Class D was universally recognized as a trash heap, there was no chance of them rising.
Second-year D class and third-year D class were good examples.
The second-year D class still had a 200-point evaluation score, but the third-year D class only had 20 points left.
Considering the school provides students' living expenses based on their class evaluation points multiplied by 100:
This meant second-year D class students only received 20,000 yen a month for living expenses.
Their daily food expenses were over 1,000 yen, so it was obviously not enough.
As for the third-year seniors in D class, they were discussing which free-window dishes were good, which was even more pitiful.
So, the seniors set the example.
Then, what about you, first-year D class? If you just accept your fate and let things rot, what's the harm?
After all, no matter how hard you try, it's all in vain!
You'll lose and be deducted.
So, the earlier you give up, the sooner you can relax.
And Hikigaya understood this principle too.
But.
"Because something came up," Hikigaya said. "I need to lead Class D to rise once."
Oh.
I see.
Sakanagi Arisu's expression didn't change, "Do you really think saying this to me is appropriate?"
"After all, I'm also one of the representatives of Class A."
"So, can I take it that you're declaring war on me?" Sakanagi Arisu asked.
"Since the target is Class A, sooner or later we'll clash," Hikigaya said. "So declaring war now is no problem. In fact, because you declared war, Sakanagi-san, as a representative of Class A, I hope you can accept the challenge."
"Because if you don't help me with this situation, Class D can shamelessly break the rules and attack Class A once."
Is that so?
Well, aren't you great.
How shameless.
Sakanagi Arisu felt like she had been tricked.
She had originally come to cheer up after seeing Hikigaya's worried face.
But now, Hikigaya, you want her to think.
However, this condition was hard to refuse.
Just like his idea of Class D's 0-point operation, being shameless and lowering the points of other classes.
If he really did this, the school wouldn't immediately stop Class D's mischievous actions, so Class A could be dragged down by the points being lowered.
And then, all of the effort from everyone this month would be wasted.
Sakanagi Arisu thought for a moment and said:
"If Class D wants to rise, then they must preserve this month's behavior score."
"Which means accumulating points and narrowing the gap."
"But do your D class students have the ability to do that?" Sakanagi Arisu said. "I can confirm that in these few days, Class A has lost no more than 5 points."
Oh.
Then your Class A is quite excellent.
It's understandable though.
Because each student in Class A paid 50,000 points as a price to buy the school's rules.
Having spent so much money, of course, they would make sure to spend it wisely.
So, they all performed well.
Hachiman thought to himself.
"..." Hachiman.
Because they paid the price, everyone participated…
??
So, that's how it was.
Hachiman suddenly realized something.
Hachiman then looked at the clever silver-haired cute girl.
"This is it," Hachiman said. "I've come up with a solution."
"Sakanagi-san, you really are quite a clever person," Hachiman said gratefully. "Next time we eat together, I'll cover the bill for you."
With that, Hachiman stood up and walked toward the cafeteria exit.
Leaving Sakanagi Arisu still sitting quietly in her original spot.
"Mm-hmm?"
Sakanagi Arisu blinked lightly.
As clever as she was, she quickly realized.
For someone like Hikigaya, a man who usually depended on others, to voluntarily offer to pay for her meal... clearly, something good had happened to him.
In other words,
Hikigaya-kun probably got some inspiration from their conversation.
And just now, Hikigaya had also declared war on Class A on behalf of Class D.
So, as one of the representatives of Class A, had she just made a secret alliance with him?
"Kamuro-kun," Sakanagi Arisu turned around.
"?"
"We didn't talk to Hikigaya-kun just now, right?" Sakanagi Arisu said.
"Eh?"
"Because, just now, it seems we accidentally created a major enemy for Class A," Sakanagi Arisu said. "And I don't want to take the blame for that."
???
Kamuro froze.
Eh?
So, Sakanagi Arisu, you think Class D can really rise and challenge Class A?
Indeed,
Hikigaya had already given her a somewhat dangerous feeling.
But could it really happen?
Because,
Class D had lost 500 points in just five days.
Unless the school showed mercy and reduced Class D's 1000 points to 0 without negative points, there wouldn't even be enough points to deduct.
So, how would Class D manage to hold onto the remaining 500 points over the next 26 days?
Chapter 044: Planning with Horikita Suzune
After leaving the cafeteria, Hachiman found Horikita.
Horikita was in the classroom.
It was already the fifth day of school, and the students had stopped pretending. They had started choosing whichever lifestyle made them feel comfortable.
So, whether it was during lunch break, evening, or morning, they either went to the cafeteria or the shopping street to have a big meal.
Very few people in the class could cook, and even fewer brought their own bento.
But in the first-year D class, there was still a girl who might one day become a domestic goddess.
That was Horikita Suzune.
As a boy who aspired to be a househusband, Hachiman naturally knew how to cook.
However, if it was for his younger sister Komachi, he would wake up early to make a bento.
But for himself, bread was enough.
When Hachiman entered the classroom, he found Horikita sitting at her desk, her books moved aside and put away.
But there was a pink bento box on the desk.
There was also a small tablecloth and tea.
The bento box was opened, revealing rice, tempura, croquettes, cauliflower and carrots, and steamed eggs.
Both the appearance and fragrance were quite good.
Although Hachiman was a bit hungry, he wasn't shameless.
So, he just sat down at his desk and took out a textbook to read.
About ten minutes later, after Horikita finished her meal and had already cleaned her bento box, Hachiman sent her a message.
Then the two of them headed toward the staircase where Kijita had been earlier.
"I just thought of a plan in the cafeteria," Hachiman started.
"I said before, our class is very weak. If we lose too many points from the base score in the beginning, we will fall behind by the end of the first month."
"It will be hard to shorten the gap with the other classes," Hachiman said. "So we need to grab some points this month."
Horikita Suzune nodded.
She listened as he spoke.
After all, her brother had considered her useless.
Although Hikigaya had urged her to show her abilities, after analyzing the situation last night, she realized that Class D was in worse shape than she had imagined.
If things continued like this, the 1000-point class evaluation score given at the start would be completely deducted in just a few days.
In fact, she even had a nightmare about it last night.
It was quite despairing.
So now, could Hikigaya offer any suggestions to turn the situation around?
Of course, he could.
Because the solution was something he had "borrowed" from Sakanagi.
"The students in Class A are performing excellently. Each of them has put in points to buy information, so they are very cautious about this exam."
"They almost don't need any restrictions because they lead by example," Hachiman continued.
"So I want to emulate that in our class."
"Everyone needs to participate, or rather, They have no choice but to participate, and then maintain the points."
Hachiman briefly explained his plan.
However, Horikita did not make an immediate decision.
Because Hachiman's plan… was somewhat shocking.
"And to implement my plan, I considered this point," Hachiman added. "I chose a reliable person."
"And that person will be managed by you, Horikita-san" Hachiman said.
"Me?" Horikita Suzune frowned slightly.
But then she nodded.
"I'll make it work," she said.
Chapter 045: Kushida-san, After the 200,000 Points, You're Useful Again
In the afternoon.
After school, most of the students had left the classroom, but Horikita had not.
In fact, she was now being bothered by someone.
"Horikita-san, I didn't expect you to contact me first."
It was Kushida, with her golden, messy hair, looking extremely cute and… enthusiastic.
Her enthusiasm was like fire.
Meanwhile, Horikita's indifference was like ice.
"You don't have to act so enthusiastic," Horikita Suzune said. "I don't like it."
Very well.
Horikita Suzune still didn't have any friends today.
...
Kushida received the note that Horikita had left in the drawer.
She was asked to stay after school.
What kind of old-fashioned request was that?
It felt very outdated.
But this was also the reason why Horikita didn't have her contact information.
Kushida's choice was direct.
She had planned to go with Karuizawa and the others to the shopping street's Keyaki Shopping Center to look at perfume, but Kushida decided to stay and wait for Horikita instead.
However...
"Ahem."
Hikigaya pretended to cough twice.
Because Horikita, are you really going to end your friendship like this? Is this what you meant by 'leave it to me'?
"What's wrong, Hikigaya-san?" Kushida seemed to just notice he was still in the classroom. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Actually, it wasn't because of that. The real person who wanted to meet Kushida wasn't Horikita, but him.
So, he glanced toward Horikita.
"..."
Horikita Suzune seemed to be making an effort, and then she touched her straight, dark hair with her left hand and looked at Kushida Kikyo.
"Kushida-san, about the class group you mentioned, can I join?"
"..."
Kushida was momentarily stunned.
But she quickly broke into a relieved smile. "Of course you can! I've been worried that you hadn't joined yet, I thought you might feel isolated."
Kushida was like an angel.
But...
"It seems you're quite persistent about me," Horikita Suzune said calmly.
"Aw, I just want to be friends with you, Horikita-san," Kushida replied.
"Well, if you want to be friends, that's fine," Horikita Suzune said. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Mm?"
Kushida Kikyo's long eyelashes fluttered lightly.
"Has something troubling happened to Horikita-san?" Kushida asked, looking suddenly adorable.
She chose to bother Horikita Suzune not because she was a fan, but because she knew Horikita came from the same junior high school as her.
She was worried that Horikita might know her dark past.
That was something that couldn't be exposed; she saw this school as a new beginning and didn't want it to end so soon.
So, she had to deal with Horikita Suzune.
She was sticking to her and trying to befriend her just for this reason.
If their relationship was good, then Horikita wouldn't say anything reckless, right?
At least, on the surface, that's something she could achieve.
But Horikita Suzune was tough, and Kushida found her difficult to deal with.
Now, had Horikita let her guard down and opened up?
Kushida maintained her cuteness.
Then, she heard Horikita's voice.
"Mm." Horikita nodded, then said, "I want you to spread a rumor in the class."
"A rumor about the real nature of this school."
Chapter 46: Destroying Surveillance, 50 Points Deducted from Class 1-D!
1. This is a school funded by the government, with financial allocations to ensure the money is spent effectively.
2. From senior students in clubs, I learned that this school has many exams, and the content varies. The penalties for failing are severe, including but not limited to expulsion.
3. Many senior students have been expelled. The second and third-year students have eight classes in total, but none of them have 40 students.
These are the rumors Horikita Suzune wants Kushida to spread.
She wants Kushida to release these rumors.
But...
"..." Kushida.
Kushida carefully observed the content of the three rumors.
Then she quickly glanced in one direction.
There, sitting and packing up his bag slowly, was the dead-eyed boy who hadn't left yet.
That was Hikigaya Hachiman.
Now, there were only the three of them left in the classroom.
.
.
.
Kushida initially thought that Horikita Suzune had finally opened up and let her get close, and she should seize the opportunity to cut off any chance Horikita might mention her dark past.
But now, she suddenly looked toward Hachiman.
Because...
Horikita had asked her to spread a rumor, which was a somewhat troublesome task.
But the content of the rumors wasn't excessive.
Yet, she felt that the content was oddly familiar.
Because, on the day of enrollment, she met Hikigaya Hachiman at the dorm, and he had said similar things to her. Then the two of them went to investigate the other grades together.
They visited the first floors of the teaching buildings of the three grades.
And she remembered meeting the student council president, Horikita Suzune, and the secretary, Tachibana Akane, back then.
However...
At that time, Hachiman hadn't mentioned anything else related to the school, but these three pieces of information felt like something Hachiman had discovered.
But...
Why was Hachiman, who knew all this information, having it passed on through Horikita's mouth?
Didn't they have a bad relationship?
When did they start secretly getting along like this?
And had Horikita said anything bad about Kushida to him?
"Um..." Kushida seemed to be gathering her emotions, and her already sweet voice became even more pleasant. "Hachiman-kun~"
"..." Hachiman.
Kushida was an old acquaintance to Hachiman, and with her acting coquettishly, he immediately understood.
Kushida was now questioning his presence.
"Horikita seems to have noticed some other information," Hachiman said. "She caught me and then I had no choice but to help."
Oh.
I see.
Hachiman was being forced by Horikita.
This answer was barely acceptable.
After all, Horikita Suzune was such a tough person, completely unable to understand normal human interaction. Like how she had waited outside his door in the morning to walk to school together, but he treated her as if she were air.
And it was the third time.
As for Hachiman, although he was difficult, he was the kind of person who couldn't resist others.
So, it was understandable that things had turned out this way.
Kushida kept her smile.
After all, what mattered now was to win Horikita Suzune's favor and become her friend first.
Although asking her to spread rumors made people uneasy.
But there was nothing wrong with the content of the rumors Horikita prepared. If she were asked to say bad things about someone, then she would reconsider if it was worth it, as it would ruin her image.
But as for these contents, they were fine.
And she also realized that the nature of this rumor was good.
It was probably meant to make the students take this school more seriously.
As someone who went to explore the school with Hachiman on the first day, she also found the school's actions strange. Why did they treat them so well?
Did they really deserve it?
After all...
Although she thought her former classmates in middle school were outrageous, the students in this class were even more frightening.
Some of them were people she didn't even want to consider as "friends."
So the school's uniform treatment of everyone seemed strange, no matter how she thought about it.
.
.
.
Kushida probably really wanted to win Horikita's favor, so she started to take action right in front of the two of them.
Her actions were skillful.
First, she called a girl and talked about how an older student had flirted with her and then told her that she should take things seriously at school. But when asked further, the older student refused to speak.
This made her feel confused. Was the older student hiding something?
Then, she sent a message to another classmate.
She started setting the tone.
And soon...
Changes appeared in Class D's group chat, with students already discussing such things.
Like how some of the senior students' eight classes didn't have the full 40 students per class.
The school's finances were in trouble, and they were expelling students to cut costs.
Hmm.
Once the rumor spread, it became distorted in a scary way.
But the effect was quite good.
The more absurd it was, the more attention it could attract.
So, was there a way to confirm this?
Yes.
Like the student, Sudo Ken, who was late in the morning.
He joined the basketball club and became a starting player. He was late because he had been practicing and was excited.
But this was also an opportunity to interact with students from other classes and upper grades.
"Eh? You want me to ask the upperclassmen?"
"They're all watching me, jealous that I got selected as a regular."
That was Sudo's response.
Alright.
This guy is hopeless.
But—
"Upperclassmen, huh?"
"Yesterday, I passed by the soccer club and was considering whether to join. I was in the soccer club back in middle school."
"I'll go ask."
That was the gentle and reliable Hirata.
Before long—
The dependable Hirata returned with information.
The second and third years also had 160 students when they entered. But now, the second years had only 112 students left, while the third years had 133.
However, he had to pay a price— The vice-captain of the soccer club wanted him to join.
Previously, Hachiman had already noticed on the school forum that upperclassmen were recruiting freshmen to join clubs.
Performing well could even earn points as a reward.
Clearly, the school likely allocated funds to the clubs, and the clubs had to meet certain requirements in return.
So, they needed new members, and those members had to perform well.
And since Hirata had been a core player in his middle school soccer club, they immediately pulled him in.
This also meant that clubs might be a way to earn points.
However, since the upperclass clubs had already been exploited due to Arisu, if they kept pushing, the upperclassmen might become wary.
It wouldn't be so easy to deceive them again.
Besides—
They should finish the task they received from Chabashira-sensei first.
After all, it was ten million, wasn't it?
He was still just a student, yet he was already working on big projects.
Hikigaya Hachiman was in high spirits.
Chapter 047: The Steady Katsuragi—Even Sakayanagi Can Misjudge!
Hikigaya had already made up his mind.
But—
"Speaking of which, Horikita-san, I've completed my task. I still have some time now. Want to grab a meal together or go shopping in the mall?"
Kushida was trying to earn credit with Horikita Suzune.
She knew very well that someone like Horikita Suzune wouldn't acknowledge her unless she directly stated what she had done.
After all, Horikita had zero understanding of social etiquette.
"I'm not interested. I'll go back to my dorm and cook for myself. And I don't like shopping," Horikita replied. "Kushida-san, weren't you supposed to have lunch with Karuizawa? It's not good to break an appointment so casually. You should go find her."
I see.
So, once she's done using someone, she just tosses them aside?
What the hell.
Kushida was probably feeling annoyed inside, but she maintained her polite smile.
How exhausting.
Hachiman thought to himself.
Now that Kushida had served her purpose, it was time for him to act.
…
Thus, he headed toward the Student Council.
Originally, he could have brought Horikita Suzune along.
But she was the Student Council President's younger sister, and that foolish little sister had already wasted her brother's 1,000,000 points.
Moreover, after understanding the true nature of this school, it became clear that the identity of the Student Council President's sister could be a weapon if used well.
Conversely, if used poorly, it could make her a target.
Especially since the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, was now a third-year in Class A, and this was his final year.
If any information about Horikita Manabu's sister got out at this critical time, it could disrupt his mental state and possibly cause trouble for Class A.
So—
For now, keeping their sibling relationship a secret was the safest choice.
And when Hachiman invited her to the Student Council—
"I'd rather not go," Horikita Suzune said.
But Hachiman didn't think she was aware that her identity as his sister might negatively affect her brother.
Her reason for refusing was probably just cowardice.
Afraid of seeing her outstanding brother and being reminded of how insignificant she was. Afraid of causing him more trouble.
Horikita Suzune was under a lot of pressure.
It must be tough, having such an exceptional older brother.
On that note, Hachiman felt at ease.
At least he had never pressured his little sister, Komachi. After all, he was just a useless big brother who wanted to sponge off others.
But now—
Komachi, watch closely.
Even though I can't make friends—
I'm working hard to earn money.
And so—
Hikigaya Hachiman headed to the Student Council office alone.
…
The Student Council of this school had considerable authority.
They even had their own office.
The office was on the first floor, near the school's swimming pool. According to the information he got from Kushida, it was moved there by a former president.
As for the reason—
Hachiman figured it was so they could discreetly watch the girls' swimming classes without arousing suspicion.
What a beast.
This was practically forcing people to join the Student Council.
But—
"You are… a first-year?"
"Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-D?"
The Student Council office door was closed, and just as Hachiman was about to knock, it opened from the inside.
Two students walked out.
Both were male.
One was burly, the other slightly thinner.
The burly one was tall and gave off a strong sense of security—but he was bald.
Completely bald.
The thinner one had slightly greenish hair, decent facial features, but an unlikable expression.
From Hachiman's observation, the way this thin guy positioned himself and looked at the burly one felt familiar.
It reminded him of how Kamuro Masumi behaved around Sakayanagi Arisu.
The one who called out Hachiman's name was the burly one.
And he had also noticed Hachiman staring at his head.
"Oh, you're looking at my head. It's not that I shaved it—I have alopecia. Also, I'm Katsuragi Kohei from Class 1-A." The student introduced himself.
He seemed like a pretty straightforward guy.
However—
Hachiman didn't recognize him.
"So you're Hikigaya Hachiman, the one who's been hanging around Sakayanagi a lot?" The thin student beside Katsuragi spoke up. "I heard you had lunch with her again during break today."
"Yahiko, be more polite," Katsuragi scolded him.
"Is there something you need from the Student Council, Hikigaya?" Katsuragi asked.
Katsuragi was from Class A.
Five days had passed since he learned the true nature of this school, and by now, it was clear that Class A had the highest overall competence.
Meanwhile, Class D was the weakest.
However, as a steady and cautious person, Katsuragi treated everyone equally.
So, if a Class D student came to the Student Council, they must have some sort of agenda.
"I wanted to ask if damaging a surveillance camera would result in punishment. Someone in my class broke one," Hachiman answered honestly.
"Heh…"
Yahiko stifled a laugh, probably finding the situation ridiculous.
Since Katsuragi was still wary of Class 1-D, he had asked a few extra questions.
And the conclusion?
Class 1-D really was a mess.
"I see," Katsuragi finally said, deciding to end the conversation. "I heard you've been getting close to Sakayanagi Arisu from my class. If she's bullying you, I apologize as your fellow first-year, but there's nothing I can do."
His words sounded sincerely kind.
Katsuragi probably already knew that Sakayanagi was a little schemer.
Maybe he even misunderstood, thinking Hachiman was being pushed around by her.
However, Hachiman had already considered the current situation because of Sakayanagi. And since her intelligence was useful, he didn't want to bring trouble to her.
So, he simply nodded at Katsuragi and brushed past him, entering the Student Council office.
"…"
Katsuragi Kohei.
He didn't leave right away but instead stood at the doorway for two minutes.
Sakayanagi was a decisive and aggressive person. Katsuragi didn't believe she would actively associate with a Class D student unless there was a reason.
So perhaps this Hikigaya guy was different.
As a cautious and steady person, should he keep an eye on him?
And so, Katsuragi remained at the door.
But—
"Student Council President, I'd like to ask something. A student from my class damaged a surveillance camera. Will there be any punishment? And if compensation is required… how is it calculated?" Hikigaya's voice came from inside.
"…" Katsuragi.
So he really was here just to ask whether damaging a surveillance camera would result in punishment.
How pathetic—Class 1-D.
It seemed even Sakayanagi had misjudged this one.
Chapter 048: Nagumo – It's Not That I Look Down on Class D Students! It's Just That They're Really That Bad!
Hachiman stepped into the student council room.
The office was spacious, with the workspace and the reception area connected.
However, he also noticed that the windows were covered with blinds. That area just so happened to face the swimming pool, where students were having their swimming lessons.
So, it was just as he thought. Kushida's intel was accurate.
If someone joined the student council, they would indeed have the opportunity to watch girls from other classes during their swimming lessons.
Of course, given Student Council President Horikita Manabu's personality, Hachiman didn't believe he was that kind of person.
It was probably just that moving the office again would have been too much of a hassle, so he left it as it was.
At this moment, there were three people in the student council room.
Aside from Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Secretary Tachibana Akane, whom he had met before, there was also a third person—a short-haired blond guy who looked like a sporty pretty boy.
And this guy seemed quite flashy.
Unlike everyone else, whose desks had no special markers, his desk had a nameplate that read [Vice President Nagumo].
Among them—
Horikita Manabu was seated at the president's desk, while Secretary Tachibana Akane stood behind him, almost like an attendant.
Although describing her that way wasn't exactly polite—
Hachiman had already gotten used to this kind of scene over the past few days.
Like seeing Kamuro following Sakayanagi Arisu.
Or earlier, that green-haired Yahiko tagging along with Katsuragi.
And now, Tachibana Akane standing behind Horikita Manabu.
Of course, considering that Horikita Manabu was Horikita Suzune's older brother, he probably didn't intend it that way. But this secretary of his was clearly devoted to him.
—
"What's the matter…"
Horikita Manabu had been sitting at his desk, holding a fountain pen in his left hand. When he noticed a student entering, he put the pen down and turned to face them.
The Student Council, since it had "student" in the name, naturally wouldn't prevent students from coming in.
However—
"Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-D, are you also here to submit an application to join the student council?" Horikita Manabu asked.
"Oh?"
Almost as soon as the president mentioned "Class 1-D," the blond pretty boy lounging in the student council room turned around.
Meanwhile, what caught Hachiman's attention was the phrase "you also" and "join the student council".
The word "also" suggested that Katsuragi had probably come here earlier for the same reason.
In other words—
This President Horikita was pretty interesting.
He just let something slip.
He revealed Katsuragi's information.
But—
"What are the benefits of joining the student council?" Hachiman asked.
"As a member of the student council, you receive a monthly stipend of 50,000 points."
"And if you reach the position of student council president, you receive 100,000 points per month."
"100,000 is a nice number," Horikita Manabu remarked.
Becoming student council president meant getting 100,000 points per month.
For a first-year, 100,000 points was the standard amount they received upon admission.
As for Hachiman, he and this Horikita president already had some history.
Horikita had once transferred him 100,000 points as hush money—to keep him quiet and not interfere with his plans to educate his sister.
And now, the number 100,000 had come up again.
So, he was basically reminding him not to say things he shouldn't, huh?
"…" Hachiman.
Hachiman glanced over at Vice President Nagumo.
Then, he remained silent.
"But as you are now, I don't believe you have the potential to join the student council," Horikita Manabu said.
"So even if you submit an application, I won't accept it," he added.
Oh.
Then why even bring it up?
Hachiman spoke up.
"Student Council President Horikita, I'm here to make an inquiry."
"It's about a student from my class damaging a security camera. Will they be punished? And if compensation is possible, how much would it be?" Hachiman asked.
"..." Horikita Manabu.
"..." Vice President Nagumo.
"..." Katsuragi.
The moment Hachiman finished speaking, Katsuragi immediately left with his people.
Meanwhile, Vice President Nagumo looked slightly surprised, then as if he was holding back laughter.
—
Because Hachiman had gotten information about the school rules from Sakayanagi Arisu, he understood the reality of how this school functioned.
From the perspective of those who already knew the school's system, Class D was the worst.
And now, the first-year Class D—Hachiman's class—had only been in school for five days, and they were already causing trouble.
They directly broke a security camera?
So, for anyone who was even thinking about giving Class D or Hachiman some credit, the reaction would simply be—tsk tsk.
It wasn't that people wanted to look down on Class D.
It was just that Class D really was terrible.
"You're quite the interesting little junior."
The blond-haired Vice President Nagumo spoke up.
"Since you just started school, I think it'd be better if you behaved yourself," he added.
"By the way, why are you the one making this inquiry? Was it your friend who broke the camera? If so, you should have brought them along," Nagumo said.
"I was the one who accidentally broke the camera."
Hachiman responded.
Oh.
Well, that changes things.
So the reckless troublemaker was this guy?
"President, I have other things to do, so I'll be heading back to my class."
Vice President Nagumo seemed to have lost interest.
He didn't see a reason to stay in the student council room any longer.
He wanted to leave.
"Hmm." Horikita Manabu's expression remained unchanged.
And so, after Katsuragi left, Vice President Nagumo also exited the office.
Now, only three people remained in the room.
Hikigaya Hachiman, Horikita Manabu, and Tachibana Akane.
The three exchanged glances.
Chapter 049: Sakayanagi – "Katsuragi is Reliable, But His Dog is as Dumb as a Pig!"
The three of them remained in the student council office.
"Hikigaya, you're actually quite sharp," Horikita Manabu remarked. "You understood my hint just now."
"Vice President Nagumo was promoted by me, but there are certain things best kept from him," Horikita added.
?
Meanwhile, Tachibana Akane, the secretary, seemed a bit confused.
She had already recognized this first-year, Hikigaya, as the same student she saw on the first day of school—the one who went with his classmates to scout out the third-year building.
She remembered that back then, the President had spoken quite highly of him.
But now...
She didn't understand.
She hadn't noticed any secret signals from President Horikita to this first-year from Class D.
And beyond that...
Certain things couldn't be said?
Did that mean there was some connection between President Horikita and this first-year from Class D?
Or could it be...
The two of them shared a secret they couldn't tell anyone else?
Tachibana stood there, completely bewildered.
Of course, she had no idea that Horikita Manabu was simply protecting information about his sister.
At this school, strength is everything, and the ultimate goal was graduating from Class A—the dream of all students.
That meant the moment competition arose, underhanded tactics were fair game.
So, someone like Horikita Suzune—if her relationship with Horikita Manabu were ever exposed—it would definitely be used against her.
That was why Horikita Manabu had stopped Hikigaya from mentioning it earlier—to make sure that information never got out.
In other words, there were people in the student council that even Horikita Manabu couldn't control.
Even as Student Council President, he couldn't rule with absolute authority.
So, in the end...
People who are too upright and insist on sticking to their principles—they're always struggling against the system.
That must be exhausting.
Hachiman thought to himself.
—
"So, what's your real reason for coming here today?" Horikita asked.
"The security camera thing was just an act, right? Playing dumb to lower people's guard?"
"Nope."
Hachiman replied.
"I was genuinely here to ask what the consequences would be for breaking a security camera."
??
"You really did something that reckless?"
Horikita Manabu almost stood up from his seat.
Since he was the one who personally transferred 100,000 points to keep the other party quiet, Horikita Manabu recognized Hachiman's keen insight and perceptiveness.
And he didn't believe that Hachiman would do something so foolish.
"This isn't recklessness," Hachiman said. "It's a carefully thought-out decision."
"Because I want to climb up. More precisely, I want to use Class A as a stepping stone, so I can't let my class be completely crushed in this first month."
"Breaking the security camera will definitely result in school punishment, right?"
"Compensation is one thing, but what I want to know is—will this action drag my entire class down? If it will, then I'll do it."
If it will drag the class down, then you'll do it?
What kind of grudge do you have against your class?
You'd actually sabotage your own classmates?
And you already have your sights set on Class A, yet you still want to make your class lose points? Are you insane?
Wait a second...
Sabotaging the class... dragging them down... but there has to be something to drag down in the first place.
"..." Horikita Manabu furrowed his brows, sitting in his chair, deep in thought.
He was trying to figure out why Hachiman, who aimed for Class A, would intentionally make his own class lose points.
After about a minute, he understood.
Horikita adjusted his glasses slightly.
He had misjudged Hachiman—even just a little.
"You..." Horikita said. "I take back what I said about you. Your ambition is terrifyingly big."
"Do you want to join the student council?" He extended an invitation, rather than just telling Hachiman to submit an application.
"??"
Tachibana Akane, on the side, was completely lost.
Why were the President and Hachiman once again talking about things she didn't understand?
Earlier, she hadn't noticed any secret signals between them, but now... she was completely unable to follow their conversation.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, as the student council president extended his invitation...
Katsuragi had already returned to Class A with Yahiko.
Yahiko's full name was Totsuka Yahiko.
He was the proud and ambitious type, but after entering this school and meeting Katsuragi, he was immediately won over by him.
"Katsuragi, Totsuka, you're back."
As soon as they stepped into the classroom, students immediately came up to greet them.
And as Katsuragi's right-hand man, Totsuka had earned the respect of the class.
The person greeting them was Hashimoto Masayoshi, a student who had joined Katsuragi's faction the day before.
Tall and slim, skilled in various areas, and also quite handsome.
By now, the students of Class A had already divided into two factions—Katsuragi's group and Sakayanagi's group—while a few students still remained neutral.
Hashimoto belonged to Katsuragi's faction.
"Did you submit your student council application?" Hashimoto asked.
"The student council president said he would review it," Totsuka replied.
"That's great. If we can get someone into the student council, it'll be a huge advantage for our class." Hashimoto said, feeling pleased.
This school was all about strength, and students were given a great deal of freedom. The student council had tremendous power.
If one of their own joined the council, it would be easier to gather intel and secure benefits for their class.
As students of Class A, this was reassuring.
"..." Katsuragi remained silent.
He simply watched as Yahiko and Hashimoto conversed.
Right now, they were still in class, and Yahiko had openly announced that he had submitted the student council application.
His goal was likely to show off to the students who were still undecided, trying to sway those who hadn't chosen between Katsuragi's faction or Sakayanagi's faction.
He was sending a message: choosing the stable path is the correct choice.
Even though Katsuragi wasn't particularly interested in this kind of political maneuvering...
He did agree that Sakayanagi, while incredibly aggressive and intelligent, was ultimately too reckless.
He couldn't let her do whatever she wanted with their class.
For example, when they privately discussed class strategies, Sakayanagi had actually suggested that even if Class A lost, it wouldn't matter.
They still had three years to climb back up.
And the experience of falling and rising again would serve as a valuable lesson for the students.
But...
What if they fell and couldn't climb back up?
What if they failed once, twice, or even three times and never made it back?
The psychological damage would be devastating.
That was why he refused to take such a risky approach.
Based on the data and the experiences of past seniors, the best method was Katsuragi's steady leadership—maintaining Class A's dominance all the way to graduation.
So, he allowed Yahiko to do whatever he needed to win people over.
"By the way, when we went to the student council, we saw that first-year Class D's Hikigaya Hachiman was there as well." Yahiko remarked.
The students of Class A would always gather intel on students from other classes.
But as for the first-year Class D students, most of them had been largely ignored.
That said, there had been an incident where Sakayanagi arranged for Kamuro Masumi to approach a first-year boy from Class D.
And after that...
Sakayanagi Arisu herself had even gone out for a meal with him.
Chapter 50: Sakayanagi Arisu's View on Choosing a Partner!
Sakayanagi Arisu was seen having a meal with a male student from Class 1-D.
They seemed to have a good relationship.
At first, this was just a rumor, but during yesterday's lunch break in the cafeteria, more than one of her classmates confirmed that Sakayanagi Arisu was indeed sitting across from a boy.
That boy was none other than Hikigaya Hachiman.
.
.
.
"But Hikigaya isn't like us—he's not aiming to join the student council. Actually, not only does he lack that awareness,"
"He even treats this school like a normal school."
"He only went to the student council to ask what would happen if someone accidentally damaged a school surveillance camera. Things like whether they'd get expelled or have to pay compensation."
Totsuka Yahiko commented, "In other words, Class D is hopeless after all."
"Yahiko." Katsuragi cut him off, stopping him from spreading rumors further.
Although it was unfortunate that a significant portion of the class still believed in Sakayanagi, Katsuragi was certain of her reckless nature and the risks she posed.
He couldn't let the entire class gamble on her leadership.
But Yahiko's words had gone too far.
Because if he continued, it would start to question Sakayanagi's ability to judge people.
Katsuragi only wanted his classmates to trust and follow him, not split the class apart completely.
So, he intervened.
It seemed like the discussion had ended there.
But in reality, it hadn't.
Because Masayoshi Hashimoto, who had just joined Katsuragi's faction yesterday, wasn't actually loyal.
He was a spy planted by Sakayanagi's faction, secretly infiltrating Katsuragi's group under her orders.
Over the past few days, the class had split into three factions:
1. Katsuragi's steady, cautious faction
2.
3. The group that firmly believed in Sakayanagi's intelligence
4.
5. A handful of neutral students who hadn't taken sides yet
6.
So, as soon as Hashimoto gathered this new information from Katsuragi's group, he immediately relayed it back to Sakayanagi's side... or rather, to Kamuro Masumi.
.
.
.
Just like Totsuka Yahiko served as Katsuragi's right-hand man, Kamuro Masumi acted as Sakayanagi's closest aide.
Because of this, Sakayanagi's faction respected her—not for her personal strength, but simply because of her close relationship with Sakayanagi.
Thus, any important updates were reported to Kamuro first.
Sakayanagi had once said:
"Kamuro, I value you. You're more than capable of handling things like gathering intelligence and relaying messages, right?"
And just like that, Kamuro Masumi became her messenger.
However, Kamuro was fully aware that this was just because Sakayanagi couldn't be bothered.
Back when the class pooled their resources to obtain real insider information from Teacher Mashima, every student had contributed 50,000 points.
On the surface, this seemed fair.
But in reality, it robbed Sakayanagi of what should have been her personal achievement.
Because if Sakayanagi had paid for it herself, then all the credit would have gone to her alone.
And there would be no Katsuragi faction vs. Sakayanagi faction—it would have been her victory from the start.
Kamuro Masumi hadn't originally joined Sakayanagi's side on the first day of school.
But later, she heard about what happened from the students who did.
Sakayanagi had led ten students straight into a battle with upperclassmen.
They used chess as a wager, crushed the seniors, and took a huge amount of points from them—giving them a harsh lesson.
So, in reality, Sakayanagi was extremely decisive and aggressive.
If there was a way to describe her...
She was like a "Mini-Tyrannosaurus Rex."
So now, this whole "Katsuragi faction vs. Sakayanagi faction" conflict—
Kamuro felt that Sakayanagi didn't care about it at all.
Which was why...
The intelligence gathered by Sakayanagi's faction was just dumped onto her.
If she refused to take it, it would seem like she was rejecting her own faction's efforts.
But at the same time, Sakayanagi didn't want to deal with the hassle herself.
So naturally—
"Kamuro, this important task is yours to handle."
And that was how it ended up like this.
She had become nothing more than Sakayanagi's messenger.
In conclusion...
"Sakayanagi, you sure don't seem to care much about the whole class struggle or the goal of graduating as Class A, huh?"
But this wasn't something that could be said to her face.
And now—
"Totsuka is talking about Hikigaya and you again," Kamuro Masumi said. "He also mentioned that when Katsuragi and the others went to submit their student council applications, they
happened to see Hikigaya consulting the student council president, asking about what kind of punishment a student would receive for damaging a surveillance camera."
"Oh," Sakayanagi Arisu responded calmly. "Looks like Hikigaya is stirring up trouble."
"Wait a second, was Hikigaya really asking about the punishment for damaging a surveillance camera?" Sakayanagi questioned.
"Hold on, I'll confirm," Kamuro said as she quickly operated her phone to contact Hashimoto.
But soon after—
"That's correct. Katsuragi and Totsuka overheard it as they were leaving the student council," Kamuro reported.
However, as she spoke, she suddenly noticed that Sakayanagi Arisu was smiling—just like a pampered Ragdoll cat.
"As expected of Hikigaya."
"Being on the same campus as him really makes my heart race," Sakayanagi murmured.
"?"
Kamuro stared at her in surprise. "Wait… when you say 'heart race'… don't tell me you actually like him—"
?
Sakayanagi gave her a puzzled look.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? My standards for a partner are very high," Sakayanagi stated. "A guy like Hikigaya, who has no ambition and just wants to be taken care of—I don't like that type at all."
"Besides, with my weak body, romance isn't something I can afford to entertain."
Oh.
So that's how it is. Well, for now, Kamuro decided to take her words at face value.
Because Sakayanagi often contradicted herself anyway.
Kamuro thought to herself.