Chapter 276 You Brought Him Here Yourself, Idol!
"Ryuen! Don't go too far!
Class D will absolutely never pay this 1 million points. Besides, we can't afford it even if we wanted to," Teruhiko Yukimura said through gritted teeth.
"Hmph! A bunch of paupers!"
Although Kakeru Ryuen dismissed the former's impotent rage with disdain, he had to admit that the latter half of the sentence was the truth. Class D was simply too poor; there wasn't a drop of oil left to squeeze out of them.
The only person who possessed a massive amount of points...
Ryuen turned his gaze toward Hikigaya.
Hikigaya instantly understood his meaning. Without saying a word, he simply returned a kind, friendly smile.
"Tch! You bastard, you really are all intake and no output!" Ryuen cursed in irritation.
"Glad you know. Don't even think about coming after me."
It was absolutely impossible for Hikigaya to pay out of his own pocket to help Class D.
"Fine. As an act of mercy, I'll waive the compensation points for Class D," Ryuen compromised, his eyes fixed intensely on Hikigaya.
"But I definitely want the person!"
"Fine, I'll go."
Hikigaya's blunt answer immediately shocked everyone present.
"Hachiman-kun! Are you... are you going to abandon us—our class—and go to Class C?" Ichinose Honami stared at him with eyes full of resentment.
The way she said it made him sound like a scumbag abandoning his wife and children.
Teruhiko Yukimura also joined the denunciation: "Hikigaya, how can you go help a rival class?"
"Rival class?"
"I've said it countless times, I'm not interested in class competition,"
Hikigaya explained with a calm expression.
"I think you all have your priorities reversed. As students, studying is the primary objective. Instead of worrying about how the class is doing, you should put more effort into improving your own academic performance."
As soon as these words came out, everyone paused.
"Hachiman is right. No matter how the classes compete, exams ultimately depend on the students' academic grades," Horikita Suzune was the first to speak up, supporting Hikigaya's viewpoint.
Although Yukimura hated Class C, he agreed with Hikigaya on the point of "academics first."
"That's right, we shouldn't use the class to kidnap Hikigaya-kun."
Class A students, being sensible "good kids," expressed their understanding.
"..."
In contrast, the usually broad-minded Ichinose Honami bit her lip, appearing unwilling to let go.
"But what? The person involved has already agreed. What does it have to do with you?" Ryuen criticized coldly. Then, something occurred to him, and he gave her a meaningful look.
"Or is it that you want to keep Hikigaya in Class A for personal reasons, Ichinose?"
"I... I don't..." Ichinose denied it, though her voice lacked confidence.
"Heh! If you really can't bear to part with those dead-fish eyes, you're welcome to come study in Class C with us," Ryuen said maliciously.
Before Ichinose could speak, Chihiro Shiranami beside her couldn't sit still and objected sternly: "No! Honami-chan will definitely not go over there!"
The members of Class A chimed in as well. As the leader of Class A, how would it look if Ichinose went to another class to study?
Ichinose clearly understood this and could only sigh helplessly.
"I will go to Class C with Hachiman," Horikita Suzune suddenly spoke up.
"No!" Ryuen refused immediately.
"Why?" Horikita frowned.
"Do you think I'm not qualified to tutor Class C?"
"Not really. I just think you have a foul temper. Coming to my Class C would serve no positive purpose other than arguing with people," Ryuen said with a face full of disgust.
"What did you say?!" Horikita was furious.
"I said I don't want you! Class D only needs to provide Hikigaya." Ryuen picked his ear with a contemptuous look.
He thought to himself that if it weren't for a certain someone specifically naming Hikigaya, he wouldn't want to invite him to Class C at all. If he really had to choose, a hothead like Yukimura or a soft target like Wang Mei-yu would be much easier to control.
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A contract was signed, and a settlement was reached.
Class A would compensate Class C with 1 million private points and send two honor students to Class C for tutoring. Class D designated Hikigaya to go to Class C to tutor.
In this round of class confrontation, Class A suffered a setback; hopefully, they would learn their lesson and not fall into the same trap again.
As for Class D, expecting them to reflect was a waste of time.
Back at Class D.
Horikita informed the class of the details.
Initially, when everyone heard that Yukimura had been provoked by Class C into a fight, they all looked reproachful. However, upon hearing the result—that no private points were required for compensation—they were fine with it.
As for Hikigaya being "borrowed" by Class C, most didn't care.
Some were even wishing this eyesore of a Great Demon King would never come back!
"Useless Horikita!
You can't even keep an eye on one man!
You let the Class C people steal Hachiman away!!"
Kikyo Kushida scolded Horikita privately.
"When did I ever promise you I'd watch over Hachiman?
Besides, Hachiman is going to Class C to study. It's no big deal," Horikita countered coldly.
"Are you an idiot? Class C specifically asked for Hachiman by name. It's clearly that Shiina girl's idea!" Kushida looked exasperated.
She hadn't forgotten the public declaration Hiyori Shiina made while holding Hikigaya's hand during the scavenger hunt at the sports festival.
"Hiyori..."
Horikita's pupils shrank, and she unusually didn't refute Kushida's words.
No wonder Ryuen had refused her earlier and gave a bunch of high-sounding reasons—in reality, he just didn't want her interfering!
"Heh! Scared now?" Kushida laughed angrily.
"That tea-serving girl's methods of stealing a man are quite sophisticated!"
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Class C Classroom.
"Welcome, Hachiman-sensei, to our Class C.
Please, have some tea."
Hiyori Shiina handed the freshly brewed tea to Hikigaya.
"Oh, thanks."
Hikigaya quickly took the cup with both hands, somewhat unable to meet her gentle gaze, which held a distinct, lingering meaning.
"Hamaguchi-kun and Moriyama-kun, please have some juice as well."
Shiho Manabe and the others hypocritically stepped forward to welcome the two honor students sent by Class A.
The two from Class A were dissatisfied with Class C's shameless tactics, but out of politeness, they couldn't be rude to people who were smiling at them.
They could only accept the juice.
"Thank you."
See? They even said thank you!
Manabe and the others exchanged looks. Honest people are so easy to handle!
"Well, well, Hachiman! So your grades were actually this good?"
Ibuki Mio attacked from behind, boisterously throwing an arm around his neck.
"Only my liberal arts are okay," Hikigaya spoke the truth.
"Don't worry, Hachiman-kun. In return, I will tutor Hachiman-kun in the sciences.
We will learn together and progress together."
Hiyori Shiina was one of the few top students in Class C, excelling in all subjects. However, her physical education was poor, which was likely why she was assigned to Class C at enrollment.
In Hikigaya's view, Hiyori's academic ability and intelligence were top-tier; she shouldn't have been in Class C under any circumstances.
He guessed the school did this for the sake of class competition, intentionally leaving a top talent for Class C.
Horikita Suzune was placed in Class D for the same reason. Otherwise, no matter how flawed her personality, it couldn't hide her powerful profile of excellence in both academics and sports!
By the same logic, the upper classes, A and B, would have "sand" mixed in by the school to serve as "weak points" in class confrontations.
For example, Yahiko from the original Class A. Back then, Hikigaya used that fool as a breakthrough point to successfully take down their class.
In summary: The school's claim at enrollment that classes were assigned fairly according to student ability was pure nonsense! They preached fair competition, yet it was unfair from the start!
However, from the perspective of simulating a social environment, the school wasn't wrong. After all, in the real world, true fairness doesn't exist.
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After the simple tea hospitality, they got down to the business of studying.
The study atmosphere in Class C couldn't compare to Class A. Those slacking off were only slightly better than those in Class D.
"What is the next line after 'The boundless forest sheds its leaves shower by shower'?
I'm talking to you!"
Hikigaya slapped the back of the head of someone looking down at their phone.
"Bakayaro!!"
Tokito's face flushed red, and he immediately moved to stand up and fight!
"Albert, hold him down!"
At Ryuen's command, the big man performed a "man-lock" from behind, firmly pinning Tokito.
"Let me go, Albert!
Ryuen, you bastard! You're actually helping an outsider!" Tokito shouted in frustration.
"Hmph! I invited Hikigaya here to tutor everyone in their studies.
This is the authority I've given him!" Ryuen sneered.
'This guy, is he using me as his enforcer?'
Hikigaya frowned, instantly seeing through the maneuver.
"Ryuen, you answer!"
"Why do Japanese people need to learn so many Chinese poems... Slap!"
Hikigaya took the opportunity to deliver a hand-chop to the top of Ryuen's head.
"@#%...!"
Ryuen's blood pressure spiked instantly.
"Hey, Ryuen."
Tokito cast a cold, mocking gaze his way: "You brought him here yourself, idol!"
Ryuen fell silent.
"Pfft—"
The members of Class C couldn't help but stifle their laughter. Although they accepted Ryuen's tyrannical rule, it didn't mean they didn't harbor some resentment.
"What are you laughing at?!
If you don't memorize these poems today, none of you are leaving this classroom!!" Ryuen roared in embarrassment and rage.
"Ryuen, should we award you the title of Study Representative?" Ibuki's eyes were strange; she really couldn't help but roast him.
"Shh~ It's rare for a delinquent to turn over a new leaf. It's worth praising!"
Hikigaya smirked. He suddenly found that being in Class C was actually quite fun!
"Hachiman-kun, it seems you really like my... our class~"
Hiyori Shiina rested her cheek in her hand, looking at him with a face full of smiles.
"Well~ it is indeed quite interesting."
Hikigaya almost felt an impulse to transfer to Class C.
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An hour later.
Hikigaya finished his language tutoring for Ryuen and the others.
"You piece of work, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Ryuen had been called on to recite Chinese poems several times, and yet he was the one who had established the rules for the class.
He had truly shot himself in the foot!
"Ryuen, don't be ungrateful.
I was looking out for you, urging you to study hard and improve every day," Hikigaya preached solemnly.
"Go away!"
Ryuen was thoroughly disgusted and turned to find the honest guys from Class A to study chemistry. He suddenly had the urge to get into a medical university in the future just to learn how to make poison and kill this bastard!
"Alright~ next it's my turn to teach Hachiman-kun science."
Shiina Hiyori pulled him to a corner of the classroom. Ibuki and Manabe's group followed.
"...I want to learn other subjects, I'm going over to Hamaguchi-kun's side."
During the first semester, Manabe and her friends had received a "stern education" from Hikigaya; they wanted to turn and run the moment they saw him.
"Oh, everyone ran away. What a shame.
And I really wanted to tutor everyone," Hiyori sighed helplessly.
'A shame? Why do I feel like you're actually quite happy?'
Hikigaya keenly noticed the slight upward curve of her lips.
"It's okay, Hiyori. I'm here with you, I want to learn from you!" Ibuki comforted her kindly.
"...Um, Mio-chan is so nice," Hiyori replied with a smile.
Half an hour later.
"Wait, there are so many formulas, how can I remember them all? Nooooo!!"
Ibuki cried out in pain from the mental destruction.
"Oh my~ I'm doing this for the sake of improving your grades, Mio-chan," Hiyori said with a serious face.
"Sorry! My stomach suddenly feels bad... I have to go take a dump!"
Ibuki was truly scared; she didn't even care about being refined anymore as she slipped away like her feet were greased.
"Eh~ everyone ran away again... Is my teaching that difficult?"
Hiyori Shiina looked sad, then turned her gaze to Hikigaya: "Hachiman-kun, you're the last one left. You're not allowed to run away!"
Hikigaya broke into a cold sweat.
"Hiyori, are you a demon teacher?"
"How mean~ I clearly just want to teach a few more knowledge points. I don't have any bad intentions." Hiyori spoke with an innocent face.
"You don't need to teach so much. Half is enough." Hikigaya felt ashamed.
"No, when it comes to Hachiman-kun, I must go all out." Hiyori gazed at him with a serious expression.
"Isn't... isn't this a bit too heavy?" Hikigaya suddenly felt a mountain of pressure.
"Heavy is good.
That way, Hachiman-kun won't have time to worry about other things, right?"
Hiyori clapped her hands together and tilted her head, looking at him with a beaming smile: "I'm not just referring to studying~"
"This... this is a problem. Just studying alone is heavy enough," Hikigaya shook his head with a wry smile.
"It's okay, Hachiman-kun.
I will always be with you."
Hiyori's gaze was firm: "Whether it's in your studies, or in your life."
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