AN: Helloooo everyone!!!!!!
It's me again for this week's last update!
And it seems that yesterday's chapter was the 200th chapter I posted... yey!!
I didn't notice that at all. Ahahaha! I hope I can continue writing this book and actually finish it.
To those readers who supported me since the beginning, thank you so much!
DragonConquer1, SparkleEyeMole, Master_Sigil, and After_Wing!
Thank you so much!
Then, without further ado, here is the chapter 179.
Enjoying reading~ see you next week!
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Cruise Ship, Hachiman's Home Planet…
Hikigaya Hachiman groggily opened his eyes and stared at the white metallic ceiling above him.
"...An unfamiliar ceiling."
He didn't know why, but… Hachiman felt like he had to say that line.
'Great. I'm getting infected by Hajime's chuuni-ness.'
He groaned internally.
"Oya, looks like you're finally awake, Hikigaya-boy."
A flamboyant voice said.
Hachiman turned toward the source and saw a tall, well‑built young man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Koenji Rokusuke.
The same arrogant smile—overflowing with confidence—was plastered across his face.
"Waaah… another troublesome guy appeared."
Koenji raised an eyebrow before bursting into laughter at Hachiman's words.
"Wahahahaha! You certainly don't hold back with your words."
"...I said that out loud, didn't I?"
"Indeed, you did! But since I'm in a good mood today, I shall graciously let it slide!"
Hachiman's cheeks twitched as he heard Koenji's declaration, accompanied by the man's signature 'Truly, I am beautiful' line.
"...So, to what do I owe the honor of the young master of the Koenji Group visiting someone like me?" he dryly asked as he sat up from the bed he was lying on.
"Such humbleness! Exactly what one would expect from Humanity's Greatest Hero." Koenji's smirk widened.
Hachiman frowned at the title Koenji casually threw at him. "... What?"
But Koenji didn't answer and simply kept smiling.
"By the way, Hikigaya-boy. It seems you caused quite a stir during this exam."
Hachiman narrowed his eyes at the blatant change of topic.
"Based on the results announced a few minutes ago, your masterful plan worked perfectly. You successfully destroyed Class C and dealt a fatal blow to Class A."
Koenji said it as if he were praising a work of art.
"Oh, right… Those two classes aren't C and A anymore, are they? They're D and B now." His smirk widened further. "Such beautiful machinations. You placed those two classes exactly where they belong."
"I see."
Hearing Koenji's words, Hachiman let out a sigh of relief.
His plan worked.
"Hahahaha! Such a plain and dry answer!"
Amused by Hachiman's reply, Koenji couldn't help but laugh.
"But I guess, for someone who clearly knew what the outcome would be… There is no need to repeat such things, right?"
Hachiman simply shook his head at Koenji's excessive praise.
"Please, it was a group effort. I'll never be able to achieve such a huge effect without the people assisting me."
'Heh, I sure have come a long way now. To think someone like me, who used to do things alone and shoulder everything on my own, would someday appreciate others… I truly did change.'
"And that's why they call you a Hero."
Hachiman looked at Koenji in surprise when he heard that. But just as it came fast, it also left as fast. Koenji returned to his usual narcissistic self.
"By the way, Hikigaya-boy, are you interested in changing this rotten society?"
"...What?"
Koenji's sudden words stunned Hachiman, leaving him only to give a dumb response.
"Due to my family's wealthy status and pedigree, I was born with a golden spoon. I have a prepared future that many would envy." Koenji looked directly at Hachiman as he narrated.
"Be it officials, enterprises, everything is within my reach. All I need to do is grab it, and it will be mine."
His words were something enviable for others, but… Hachiman couldn't hear any pride in his tone.
Yes, from what Hachiman had heard from Arisu, the Koenji Group was an enormous organization with deep connections throughout the country. Politics, corporations—there were very few places where their influence didn't reach. In many ways, they were like a smaller version of the Shinomiya Conglomerate.
And Koenji Rokusuke was the sole heir to that empire. One day, he would inherit the full weight of his family's power once he graduated.
Because of that, the promise of Class A's "guaranteed future" held absolutely no appeal for him. No matter what happened in this school, he already possessed the future everyone else here was desperately fighting for.
"...Then why are you even here in this school?" Hachiman muttered in confusion.
Koenji smiled faintly.
"Because, just like someone else… I chose to rebel against fate."
Hachiman's body stiffened at those words. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"...You… how?"
"Freedom," Koenji replied simply. "That is what I pursue. That is why I am here."
He ignored Hachiman's question and continued speaking.
"After witnessing the darkness of the society we live in… I chose to step away from it. Even if only for a short while."
Hachiman let out a sigh. He knew exactly how dark the other side of the world could be.
'No matter how bright the light that illuminates the world may be… it will always cast an equally dark shadow.'
"With your connection to that little princess—no, with your insight and past experiences—you should already understand that this school is a microcosm of the political world outside," Koenji continued. "It was designed by the Chairman so that those who survive this harsh environment will be able to thrive in the real political arena. Which is precisely why only those in Class A are allowed to become officials."
Hachiman nodded slowly.
It was something he had already realized during the first semester. This school valued ability, cooperation, and complex thinking. On the surface, it appeared restrictive—but in truth, it offered a surprising degree of freedom.
"I'll be honest. I nearly gave up on this little defiance of mine a long time ago… But after witnessing a miracle last year—seeing how a group of people who called themselves the Phantom Thieves managed to change a part of our society… I began to wonder if perhaps this world can still be changed."
Hachiman stared at Koenji with a flat expression when he heard him mention the Phantom Thieves. Yet a moment later, he found himself blushing lightly at the completely unrestrained praise being directed at him.
"...So what exactly do you want from me?" Hachiman asked after a short pause.
Koenji's usual grin returned. He raised his hand toward Hachiman.
"Come and work with me, Hikigaya‑boy! Let us change this rotten world from the inside."
Hachiman blinked, wearing a thoroughly dumbfounded expression.
"Don't you think that's a bit… You know… too much? That sounds suspiciously like a revolution."
"Revolution? Wahahahaha! I like the sound of that!" Koenji laughed loudly. "Then tell me, Hikigaya Hachiman—are you willing to follow me and bring that ideal into reality?"
"...You're insane."
"Insane? Ahahaha! Precisely! It is madness!" Koenji declared with delight. "After all, courage alone will never be enough to break the deadlock of this world!"
Hachiman couldn't help letting out an amused snort at Koenji's fiery conviction.
"So, what do you say?" Koenji asked again. "Will you work with me?"
Hachiman smirked. "Sounds tempting. But…"
He lifted his hand and finally shook Koenji's.
"Unfortunately, I can't work with you. Apparently, I'll be the next chairman of the Sakayanagi Group… So at best, I could only help you."
Koenji's eyes widened in surprise before he blinked once—then burst into a full‑throated laugh.
"Wahahahaha! Of course! Having your help is the greatest fortune anyone in this world could receive!"
After calming his laughter, he grinned brightly at Hachiman.
"I look forward to our future cooperation, partner!"
"With your abilities, I'm strangely looking forward to it as well," Hachiman replied, returning the same grin.
At that moment, a familiar chime rang within Hachiman's mind.
A voice spoke from deep within his consciousness.
[I am thou… thou art I…
The bond thou hast forged with the man who walks freely beneath the sun
has begun to take shape.
Through courage and conviction, this connection shall become a power
that illuminates the path ahead.
The Sun Arcana has been born.]
Hachiman felt a faint warmth settle within his chest.
A new bond had been formed.
—---
Once the four classes reached the cruise ship, Honami didn't hesitate for even a second and immediately ran toward the infirmary. The rest of her class quickly followed behind her.
Kushida Kikyo from Class C (formerly Class D) watched the direction Honami had gone with a longing expression. She also wanted to follow—to see Hachiman's condition with her own eyes… but she forced herself to stay where she was for now.
After all, her class had just achieved victory. Naturally, they would want to celebrate, and as the class's 'idol', they would surely invite her.
But someone beside her had already noticed Kikyo's feelings.
Wang Mei-yu.
Kikyo's best friend—and the only person in Class D with whom she had formed a genuine bond.
"Kikyo-chan, do you want to follow Class B—ah, I mean Class A now?"
"Mii-chan?" Kikyo looked at her friend in surprise.
"You want to check on Hikigaya-kun, right?" Mei-yu said gently. "After all, he's the only one missing from his class. And with Ryuen-kun's punishment… he must have been involved with him somehow, right?"
Kikyo lowered her head and slowly nodded.
"Then Kikyo-chan should go now!" Mei-yu said with a bright smile.
"Ehh? B-but wouldn't I just bother him right now?" Kikyo asked hesitantly.
"Mhmm! Mhmm! That's impossible!" Mei-yu shook her head firmly. "Kikyo-chan is a wonderful person, after all! And I'm sure Hikigaya-kun knows that too! He'd definitely be happy if you went to visit him!"
Kikyo blinked, still looking uncertain.
"B-but… everyone from his class must be surrounding him right now. If I go there, it might become awkward…"
Her voice grew smaller.
"And besides… I don't really have the right to—"
'After I put him in danger because of Ryuen…'
She couldn't finish her words. Shame and guilt caught in her throat.
But someone beside her refused to let her drown in that self‑doubt.
"Kikyo‑chan."
Mei‑yu called her name.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a firmness that made Kikyo look up in surprise. Mei‑yu placed her hands on her hips and stared straight at her with a small pout.
"You're doing that again."
"…Doing what?"
"Putting everyone else first without thinking about yourself."
Kikyo froze.
"Especially when it comes to Hikigaya‑kun," Mei‑yu continued with a sigh. "You always wait until everyone leaves his side before going to him. Like it doesn't matter how little time you get with him, as long as you can be with him even for a moment."
Mei‑yu stepped closer.
"But that's wrong, you know."
Kikyo's shoulders trembled slightly. "That… that's just…"
"You like him, right?" Mei‑yu said it plainly. "And it's obvious he cares about you, too. After all, if he didn't… why would he keep staying by your side?"
Kikyo's eyes widened slightly.
"But—"
"No 'buts.'"
Mei‑yu gently flicked Kikyo's forehead.
"Ow!"
"If you don't go now, you'll regret it later."
Mei‑yu smiled warmly at her.
"You don't have to pretend with me anymore, Kikyo‑chan. You might think you're able to keep up your act, but when you're with me… the real you sometimes slips up."
Kikyo's lips trembled.
"At first I was confused," Mei‑yu continued softly. "But later on… I realized something. No matter which side it is, Kikyo‑chan is still Kikyo‑chan."
She gently poked Kikyo's shoulder.
"And that means even the real Kikyo‑chan deserves to be loved too."
The words hit Kikyo harder than she expected.
For a moment, Hachiman's voice from that day came to her mind.
"Then if you truly want to stand beside me… stand there as the complete Kushida Kikyo. Not as someone who throws pieces of herself away."
Her hands slowly clenched.
"…Mii‑chan… I think… I might fall in love with you, too." Kikyo wiped the tear that slipped from her eyes and laughed weakly. "Honestly… someone like Hirata doesn't deserve you."
Mei‑yu blinked once before her face turned bright red.
"G‑Geez! What are you even saying, Kikyo‑chan?!" she sputtered. "Stop talking nonsense and go already—to your beloved Hikigaya‑kun!"
She gave Kikyo a light push toward the corridor.
"He should be waiting."
Kikyo nodded, though she hesitated for a moment.
Then, for the first time since the lighthouse incident…
She took her real step forward.
—-----
Ryuen Kakeru walked down the ship's corridor with a blank, hollow expression.
Just moments ago, he had lost everything.
Even with absolute confidence in his methods, everything had been shattered by a single person.
All of his meticulous planning and schemes… had become meaningless in the face of Hikigaya Hachiman. Every move he thought of making—every plan, every trick—had already been anticipated.
When he believed he was in control… the truth was that he had only been allowed to think that way by the real mastermind.
Lost in those thoughts, Ryuen suddenly bumped into someone.
"Waah…!"
He instinctively clicked his tongue, ready to lash out—but the moment he saw who it was, he stopped.
Albert Yamada.
A tall Afro‑Japanese man with a powerful, muscular build. More importantly… he was Ryuen's most loyal subordinate.
"…Albert. Why are you—?!"
Before Ryuen could finish his question, Albert grabbed his collar and began dragging him away without a word.
A few minutes later, they entered one of the ship's karaoke booths.
Inside, everyone from Class C—now Class D—was already gathered.
The moment they stepped inside, Albert released Ryuen's collar. Ryuen straightened his uniform and looked around, only to find all of his classmates staring at him.
But when his eyes landed on the person sitting calmly at the center of the room, sipping tea as if nothing had happened…
Ryuen felt his blood run cold.
"Hello, Ryuen‑kun. I hope Albert‑kun wasn't too rough with you?" The person's soft voice called him out.
The one who spoke was Shiina Hiyori, the very person sitting at the center of the gathering.
She had silver hair that reached the middle of her back, neatly tied with black ribbons, and light‑purple eyes that carried a gentle warmth. At first glance, Hiyori looked quiet and reserved, the type of girl who preferred books over people. Her soft features gave her an innocent, almost fragile presence.
But that appearance was deceptive.
Just like Hachiman, she possessed an exceptional ability to observe and understand others. She might not reach the same frightening depth of analysis as he, but it was more than enough for her to grasp a person's intentions and behavior.
Hachiman himself once described her as:
"An innocent‑looking fairy hiding an iron will. Shiina Hiyori is someone who would break the world without hesitation for the sake of the people she treasures."
She was someone Hachiman had once openly considered a friend.
During the first month of school, the two of them had become constant book companions in the library.
However… that relationship had only lasted a month.
After the truth of this school was revealed, Ryuen had forcibly severed their connection.
At the time, Hachiman, as the Class B representative, had chosen his class over her. He had "given up" on Hiyori.
Yet Hiyori never resented him.
She understood his situation. She understood his priorities.
Still… the moment left a small void in her heart.
The first friend she had made… had disappeared because of the very person now standing in front of her.
Albert, after dragging Ryuen here, silently walked past him and took his place behind Hiyori like a loyal bodyguard.
"…Shiina." Ryuen's expression tightened.
Hiyori and the rest of the class couldn't hide their surprise at how meek Ryuen sounded now. The difference from his former domineering, tyrannical attitude was striking.
"...It seems what you experienced during this exam left quite the impact," Hiyori said calmly.
Ryuen's hands clenched into fists, but he forced himself to face her directly.
"So… are you here to deliver the judgment against this tyrant who failed?"
Hiyori's expression remained blank as she gently placed her cup down on the table.
"It appears you were already expecting this moment."
"Hmph! I might act like a thug on the streets, but I'm not that stupid," Ryuen snorted. "I know how tyrants in history fall."
He kept his gaze fixed on Hiyori, maintaining a brave façade.
"The moment they show weakness or failure, the people who resent them rise. They remove the tumor that dragged them down."
"I see," Hiyori replied softly, closing her eyes for a moment.
A brief silence filled the room.
Then she opened her eyes again.
And delivered the verdict.
"Ryuen Kakeru, you are hereby removed from your position as the Class Representative and leader of our Class… D."
She almost said C, but after remembering the changes in the class standings from the previous exam, she corrected herself without hesitation.
"You are now prohibited from taking part in any matters involving class policies. From this moment onward, all decisions and new policies for this class will be handled by me. This change will take effect immediately."
No one objected.
Not Ryuen. Not his former subordinates. Not even the rest of the class.
Everyone silently accepted the new arrangement. Shiina Hiyori was now the leader of their class.
Hiyori then raised her hand slightly, signaling the rest of the class to leave.
One by one, the students exited the karaoke booth without even sparing Ryuen a glance.
The only people who didn't move were Hiyori, Ryuen, Albert, Ibuki Mio, Satoru Kaneda, Ishizaki Daichi, Kondou Reo, and Komiya Kyogo.
Aside from Hiyori—who sat there without care and, completely relaxed—the rest had all once been Ryuen's loyal followers.
They would have carried out Ryuen's orders without the slightest complaint.
But they also couldn't oppose Hiyori.
After all, Hiyori was the smartest person in their class when it came to academics. Time and time again, she had helped pull the lower‑scoring students through exams that required serious study.
Because of that, everyone respected her.
And now that she had become the class leader, none of them would disobey her or challenge her authority.
She had earned that much trust and loyalty.
To put it simply, if Honami was considered the 'Mother' of her class… then Shiina Hiyori was the 'Big Sister' of hers.
Once everyone else had left and the door of the booth closed, Ryuen finally voiced the doubt that had been lingering in his mind the entire time.
"Shiina… tell me the truth. Were you aware of Hikigaya's true abilities all along?"
"Yes. Yes, I was," Hiyori answered casually, as if the question meant nothing to her. She lifted her cup and calmly took a sip of her now lukewarm tea.
Ryuen grimaced at how nonchalant her reply was.
"And you didn't bother to inform us about it?"
"Because you didn't ask?" Hiyori tilted her head slightly, an innocent gesture that contrasted with the small smirk forming on her lips. "Or perhaps… this is my little revenge for you pulling Hachiman‑kun away from me?"
Ryuen's jaw tightened at her unexpected and yet strangely expected answer. But what caught his attention the most was the way she addressed Hachiman.
"…You're calling that guy by his first name?"
Hiyori allowed herself a small, amused smile.
"Hehehe… isn't it only natural to call your friend by their name?"
Ryuen's hands slowly clenched as he glared at her.
"…So all this time you kept in contact with him? Did you betray us? Your own class?!"
Hiyori slowly raised her head and fixed Ryuen with a cold stare.
The sudden change in her expression made him instinctively step back.
"?!"
"Ryuen‑kun, please don't flatter yourself," she said in a deadly calm voice that carries an unexpected chill. "I never betrayed this class, and I never will."
Her eyes remained locked on his.
"The truth is simply that you never earned my respect or loyalty in the first place."
A small pause followed before she continued.
"To be honest, I did intend to follow you and your policies. However…"
Her fingers gently tapped the table.
"…the moment you took away my right to spend my personal time with Hachiman‑kun… that possibility disappeared."
She gave a faint, almost melancholic smile.
"Like a bubble bursting and vanishing into nothing."
The sheer coldness in her tone made not only Ryuen, but everyone else still inside the room, feel a chill down their spines.
This was not the innocent and reserved Shiina Hiyori they had known over the past months.
"And for your information," Hiyori continued, her voice remained soft, "Hachiman‑kun and I honored the agreement you forced on us. We never spoke to each other. Not in person, not through our phones, not through any other means."
She calmly took another sip of her tea.
"Since I happened to have a lot of free time, having no one to spend time with, I mostly stayed reading in the library. One day, I came across a book written by an amateur author and read it."
She let out a faint, gentle smile as she replayed the memory.
"After finishing it, I wrote my thoughts about the story and left the note inside the book."
An amused chuckle came out of her lips.
"I didn't expect anything from it… But the author replied."
Her fingers lightly traced the rim of her cup.
"After that, 'Kageno-san' would occasionally leave new stories for me to read. And each time, I would leave my thoughts behind for him."
Her eyes narrowed with happiness as she remembered the warmth and effort to keep that exchange.
"It was nothing more than a simple exchange between a reader and an author."
The smile on her face widened.
"…But to me, it was enough."
Her voice softened just slightly.
"For someone who had always been alone… it felt like I had found a new friend."
Then, almost like she was admitting something she had accepted:
"Even if… we can't meet face to face."
Then she raised her head and looked straight at Ryuen.
"So that is why whatever accusation you try to throw at me won't matter. Because neither 'Hikigaya Hachiman' nor 'Shiina Hiyori' violated the agreement you forced on us."
The air in the room suddenly felt heavy.
Everyone present felt as if they were being suffocated by the oppressive aura Hiyori was giving off. Not a single one of them could gather the courage to deny her words.
Despite her delicate, girlish appearance, at this moment Ryuen, Albert, Ibuki, Kaneda, Ishizaki, Kondou, and Komiya all felt as if they were standing before a titan.
That was how overwhelming Hiyori's presence had become.
It was in this moment that they finally realized something.
Shiina Hiyori was far more dangerous than the delicate girl she allowed everyone to see.
"So, Ryuen‑kun," she finished calmly, "you'd better get your facts straight."
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