Chapter 324: I am Hikigaya Suzune!
"Yahiko-kun, are you declaring war on me?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes narrowed slightly, her cold voice carrying an invisible weight of authority.
"No, no...
I'm just speaking the facts!" Yahiko said, bracing himself. "Kamuro's actions have indeed caused losses for our Class A."
"What losses have they caused?"
"Class A's reputation..."
"And what role does reputation play in class competition?"
"..."
Yahiko was momentarily speechless.
Sakayanagi Arisu pressed on, step by step: "A 'good' reputation only makes people think you are weak and easily bullied—just like the current Class B."
"Furthermore, even if Hachiman-kun cleared Masumi's name out of affection for those associated with her...
What are you doing right now?
Are you determined to pick up that blame and shove it back onto the heads of our Class A students?
Yahiko-kun, what are your intentions!"
The final point was aimed directly at Yahiko, causing the members of Class A to look at him with a sudden change in their eyes. Assuming Kamuro Masumi's theft charges stood, she would 100% be expelled, and Class A would lose a massive amount of points because of it.
"I—I didn't mean it like that!" Yahiko panicked, quickly trying to defend himself.
"Sakayanagi, that's enough."
Katsuragi Kouhei stepped in to intervene. "Yahiko means no harm; he is also trying to protect Class A's honor."
"Hehe~ Class A's honor lies in the fact that we are Class A.
Not in falling down to Class B or Class C."
Sakayanagi's words were a clear attack on the fact that the class rank had slipped during Katsuragi's leadership.
"That was all because people from your Sakayanagi faction purposefully tripped him up, even teaming up with outside classes to frame Katsuragi!" Yahiko was indignant, pinning the blame on internal traitors.
"Oh? According to you, then, you think the criticism vote should be cast for me?" Sakayanagi looked at him with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Huh? When did I say—" Yahiko was startled. Even if he didn't submit to Sakayanagi's rule, he knew it was impossible to get her expelled.
"Then let me ask a different way. If one person between me and Katsuragi-kun must be designated for expulsion, who do you think it should be?" Sakayanagi continued her interrogation.
"..."
Yahiko was suddenly drenched in sweat, stuttering and not daring to answer.
"The answer is definitely me."
Katsuragi Kouhei took over the conversation. "Regardless of the reason, my strategic errors led to the class falling behind. That is an indisputable fact."
"In terms of contribution to the class, I indeed cannot compare to Sakayanagi."
"..."
Yahiko looked anxious.
"So, Sakayanagi."
"Are you planning to cast your criticism vote for me?" Katsuragi stared straight at her.
Sakayanagi didn't answer directly, only asking in return: "Is Katsuragi-kun volunteering to sacrifice himself?"
Katsuragi shook his head. "Sorry, I have a reason why I must stay at this school."
His family was very poor, and he had a sickly younger sister. The generous treatment at Advanced Nurturing High School—waived tuition and living expenses—was incomparable to any other high school.
"If you intend to attack me, I will do my utmost to struggle!"
Admittedly, Sakayanagi was the leader of Class A, but elites have their pride; not everyone followed her blindly. Most were students with independent thinking who believed supporting Sakayanagi helped maintain Class A's advantage, but that didn't mean they actually rejected Katsuragi Kouhei. Katsuragi, being excellent in all comprehensive abilities, would be a massive loss for Class A if expelled!
"Hehe~ then we shall wait and see."
Sakayanagi smiled without saying more. As the class meeting ended, everyone began to leave the classroom.
"Masumi-kun, accompany me for a stroll."
Sakayanagi rose, leaning on her cane, and teased as usual: "Maybe we'll even run into Hachiman-kun~"
"..."
Kamuro Masumi remained silent. Thinking about her "live-fire" battle with Hikigaya a few days ago was simply too embarrassing!
"Hmm?"
Sakayanagi keenly sensed something was off. Her narrowed eyes scanned the other girl suspiciously.
"Come to think of it, Masumi seems to have changed over the last few days."
"Wh-what's different?" Kamuro looked tense.
"You've become very... womanly."
A complex expression appeared on Sakayanagi's face. If her body allowed it, she would also want to have a thorough, "deep" exchange with Hachiman. But it was fine; at least Masumi was "her dog." Better than letting some stray cat from the outside have him.
Just then, Sakayanagi's phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily. "Impatience already? It seems today's discussion in Class D was quite exciting. A pity I couldn't see it with my own eyes."
Sakayanagi answered the phone with a smile: "Hello, Shinohara-san. I guessed you might run into some trouble... It's okay, for the sake of Satonaka-kun, I will definitely help you."
Kamuro Masumi watched her with a speechless expression.
This trashy loli was up to no good again!
"Right now? I'm shopping, but since it's a request from a friend~
I naturally prioritize my friends.
Then let's meet at the Karaoke."
After finishing her serious-faced deception, Sakayanagi turned to Kamuro: "As you can see, our itinerary has to change."
"Whatever. I just think the target you're using this time is a bit too stupid." Kamuro couldn't help but complain.
Back in the first semester, Class A had bribed Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji as spies.
The result was zero valuable intel and a waste of points. Being a spy is technical work, after all; not just any mutt can do it.
"Well~ even stupid people have their uses." Sakayanagi smiled slightly.
"You... you aren't trying to deal with Hachiman this time, are you?" Kamuro couldn't help but ask.
"Eh? Masumi, why would you think that?" Sakayanagi feigned surprise, covering her mouth.
"Huh? Besides Hachiman, who else in Class D is worthy of being your opponent?" Kamuro said irritably.
"Tsk tsk~ a love-struck brain is truly terrifying!
Sigh~ now in your eyes, besides Hachiman-kun, you can't see a second man, can you~" Sakayanagi clicked her tongue while putting on a show of sighing.
"Wh-who's love-struck?
I'm not that kind of terrible woman!" Kamuro stubbornly refused to admit it.
"Fine, let's handle the business first.
Follow me to the Karaoke. Pay special attention to whether there's a little tail behind us," Sakayanagi commanded.
"Hmph~ I think you've just done too many bad things and are afraid of being followed and retaliated against!" Kamuro complained, but her body was obedient.
This made Sakayanagi think to herself: 'No wonder Hachiman-kun chose Masumi for his first 'battle.' The follow-up handling isn't troublesome at all.'
.
.
.
Dorm Room 404
Hikigaya had invited Horikita Suzune over, a rare occurrence.
"... It's rare for you to proactively invite me over as a guest."
Horikita Suzune had specifically changed into a stylish set of loungewear. From a close distance, one could smell a fragrance mixed with body wash.
'This girl... why did she specifically take a shower before coming over?'
"Then, let's begin."
After saying this, Hikigaya pulled a stack of math exercises from his bag.
"..."
Horikita's expression froze. "You called me over today... for studying?"
"What else?" Hikigaya asked back with a look of incomprehension.
"..."
Horikita took a deep breath. "I just thought since you've been slack for many days, why the sudden urge to work hard?"
'I can't help it. I originally planned to keep my math score above 75.'
"I never expected that after relaxing a little, the end-of-month quiz would drop below 70." Hikigaya shrugged helplessly.
"Hmph~ math is like that; if you don't move forward, you fall back.
Let's see if you ever dare to be lazy again!"
A flash of joy went through Horikita's eyes. She thought that for the next good while, Hachiman would be pleading for her help with tutoring.
"Yes, I was wrong. Dear Suzune-sensei~" Hikigaya clasped his hands together, pleading for mercy.
"I like that title."
"Uh... wait, don't you find it embarrassing?"
"I learned it from you. As long as you aren't embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to others. Stop talking nonsense and do the problems!"
Horikita picked up a ruler and lightly thwacked his back a few times.
"Sss~~"
'This kind of perfectly measured whipping... why does it feel strangely stimulating?'
Hikigaya's heart rate suddenly accelerated.
Three hours later.
Hikigaya looked as if his soul had been drained, collapsing weakly on the floor.
"Too slow! Only eight sets of exercises? This is just the beginning." Horikita kicked his waist lightly.
"I'd rather fight eight battles than do these math problems," Hikigaya replied grumpily.
"What nonsense are you talking about..."
Horikita didn't seem to understand the subtext. Her gaze inadvertently swept across the room, and she frowned.
"By the way, your room is too messy. You haven't cleaned up at all."
"I've been too tired lately."
Hikigaya usually insisted on tidiness. It was just that lately, he had been truly overworked and had no energy left for chores.
"I really don't know what you're so busy with every day...
Fine, consider this a reward for your hard study."
Horikita rolled up her sleeves, preparing to clean up for him herself.
"This... bothering Suzune-sensei like this, I feel so bad~"
Hikigaya said he felt bad, but his body remained sprawled on the floor, showing no intention of moving.
"I'll mark it down. You owe me a favor."
Horikita first picked up the clothes strewn about, folding them neatly. Then she swept the entire room with a broom, not missing even the space under the bed.
Watching her busy figure, Hikigaya suddenly felt a healing sense of happiness. He thought to himself: If one day she becomes Hikigaya Suzune, she would definitely be a good wife!
"HIKIGAYA HACHIMAN!!!"
A sudden scream jolted Hikigaya out of his daydream.
"Wh-what happened?!"
He saw Horikita Suzune, her face like frost and her eyes burning with fire as she glared at him.
"Explain. What is this?"
Horikita pointed to the ground at something swept out from under the bed. Wrapped in a ball of tissue was a severely stretched rubber item.
"..."
Hikigaya was instantly dumbfounded.
This-this-this... I actually missed one during cleanup?!
"Hachiman!"
Horikita stepped forward, giving him a close-range "stare of death."
"That... is a health product."
Hikigaya felt his scalp tingle, his brain's CPU running at high speed, trying to think of how to bluff his way out.
"Don't you dare try to dodge the question!"
Horikita gritted her teeth and shouted: "Hachiman, who did you use this with?!"
"Can I keep that secret?
It involves personal privacy."
Hikigaya didn't want to say. He was afraid of bringing unnecessary trouble to Kamuro Masumi.
"You... how could you do this...
We're only high school students..."
Horikita was full of anger and chagrin, and even a thick sense of being "unwilling" to lose!
"Suzune, although it might not be appropriate for me to say this, by legal definition, we have reached the age of sexual consent.
Precisely for this reason, the school supermarket provides these items, don't they?" Hikigaya gave a serious and logical explanation.
"Shut up!"
Horikita suddenly lost control of her emotions. She lunged forward, straddling Hikigaya's stomach, her hands frantically thumping his chest.
"Hachiman, you big liar!!
We agreed that once you defeated my brother, we would be together!!!"
Hikigaya, being thrashed so hard he could barely breathe, blurted out: "Wasn't that all just dream-talk?
How do you know it was a dream?"
Horikita froze.
"Huh...?"
Hikigaya also froze.
The two made eye contact, suddenly falling into a strange silence.
After a long time.
Horikita finally spoke: "Hey~ Hachiman, you had that strange dream too, didn't you?"
"Uh..."
What Hikigaya wanted to say was that he had had many strange dreams.
"Hachiman..."
Horikita lowered her head, and in the depths of her eyes, a certain indescribable, intense emotion seemed to be surging.
"Hachiman..."
Horikita repeated his name, and her hands began to move restlessly.
"Calm down, Suzune!"
Hikigaya was startled and hurriedly tried to stop her from further action. But the result was her using a grappling move, locking his arm and pinning him firmly to the floor.
"If she can do it, why can't I?"
Horikita bit her lip hard, her eyes brimming with tears.
"No, what I mean is..."
Hikigaya was conflicted. At this moment, Horikita Suzune was clearly stimulated and acting impulsively and irrationally. Hikigaya didn't want to take advantage of her or do anything that would hurt her.
"I don't want to hear your nonsense!!"
Horikita adjusted her position, using a scissor-leg lock to firmly restrain his arm so she could free her hands.
"From now on, I am Hikigaya Suzune!!"