Chapter 373 Assignment: Kaihin General High School
"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment. On behalf of the Student Council, I have two quick things to say."
As Mizuhara Yue's gentle voice faded, the noisy Photography Club clubroom instantly fell silent. Every member's gaze snapped toward her.
"I have finished coordinating with President Toyoda. Regarding the Basketball Club's trip for the inter-school tournament, the Student Council has decided to dispatch additional members from the Photography Club to accompany them for filming."
"Your primary responsibility will be to record the highlight moments of our school's Basketball Club as they fight on the court and to preserve visual data of the event."
The moment those words left her mouth, a subtle commotion rippled through the room. Disbelief and surprise were written on everyone's faces.
"We actually got slots for an off-campus trip?!"
Advanced Nurturing High School had always implemented strict, closed-campus management. On normal days, students had almost zero chance of leaving. This assignment was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime exception.
Standing to the side, Hikigaya watched the scene. His brow twitched subconsciously as he began to process the information.
It was true that Advanced Nurturing had a tradition of clubs traveling for competitions; last year it was the Martial Arts Club, and this year it was Basketball. That in itself wasn't an issue.
However, the anomaly lay in the Student Council specifically adding extra slots for the Photography Club. This ran completely counter to the school's usual policy of strict isolation. No matter how you looked at it, something felt off.
'In other words, this is another one of Nagumo Miyabi's new policies—an attempt to test the boundaries of the school rules.'
Of course, for this to be approved so smoothly, it undoubtedly had the silent permission and indulgence of Acting Chairman Tsukishiro Tokinari behind the scenes.
"The location is Chiba Prefecture."
As she said this, Mizuhara Yue looked at him with deep meaning. "Hikigaya-kun, I believe your hometown is in Chiba, right? The Student Council needs a supervisor for this trip, so I'll leave this matter to you. Any problems?"
"Eh? Kouhai's hometown?" Asahina Nazuna's interest was instantly piqued.
Beside her, Sakura Airi's eyes suddenly lit up. She gripped the hem of her shirt, whispering in a voice thick with hidden anticipation: "In that case... maybe there's a chance to meet Hachiman-kun's family..."
'Isn't this basically a 'meet the parents' trip in disguise?!'
"Mizuhara-senpai, is this President Nagumo's idea?" Hikigaya frowned.
"It was indeed Miyabi's proposal, but whether you actually go depends on your own will," Mizuhara Yue replied with a smile.
This was an overt plot—the kind that didn't even bother with a disguise. Was Nagumo Miyabi intentionally choosing this time to send him away so he could make a major move at school? Hikigaya guessed that Nagumo planned to remove his influence from the Student Council to cause trouble.
Even so, he had no reason to refuse. After all, no matter how big the trouble was, it didn't compare to the importance of seeing his little sister!
"Since it's the President's arrangement, I accept." Hikigaya agreed decisively.
Upon hearing this, Mizuhara Yue immediately handed over a prepared document. "This is the basic information on the partner school and the full itinerary for the trip."
Hikigaya looked down and opened the file. His eyes paused on the school's name: "Kaihin General High School?"
"What is it, Hikigaya-kun? Are you familiar with this school?" Mizuhara Yue asked curiously.
"I wouldn't say I'm 'familiar'... it's just that this school is right next to my house," Hikigaya replied flatly.
The coincidence was truly unexpected. Previously, the partner school had been Sobu High, which was one of the top schools in Chiba. For Advanced Nurturing to cooperate with them was a peer-to-peer match. As for Kaihin General, it was a newly built school; its academic level and overall reputation couldn't even be compared to Sobu.
Back then, Hikigaya had ignored this school and applied for the better Sobu High. Who would have thought his parents would take the liberty of altering his application, leading him to Advanced Nurturing by a twist of fate?
"Really?" Asahina Nazuna teased with a grin. "Then doesn't that mean Hachiman-kun might run into old classmates from middle school? Maybe you'll even have a chance encounter with your first love or an ex-girlfriend~"
"Nazuna-senpai, please stop joking." Hikigaya's mouth twitched violently as he rubbed his forehead.
Though he denied it out loud, he knew he couldn't fully refute it. Kaihin General was the closest school to his old middle school and the top choice for local graduates. More than half
of his middle school classmates likely went there. Therefore, the probability of bumping into someone he knew was quite high.
However, even if he did run into them, they probably wouldn't recognize him. For three years of middle school, he was the ultimate outsider among outsiders, possessing zero presence.
He still remembered his graduation photo day; nobody had bothered to tell him the time. When the class photo was finished, not a single person noticed his absence. In the end, his photo had to be photoshopped in separately. It was peak awkwardness.
"Hachiman-kun is so gentle, you must have been very popular back then. Lots of girls probably liked you..." Sakura Airi bit her lip, her clear eyes looking at him with a mix of jealousy and hope.
"No." Hikigaya shook his head instantly, his tone as certain as could be. "Absolutely impossible."
His three years of middle school contained enough "dark history" to fill a tragedy novel. Throughout the entire period, the only female he had ever conversed with was the class representative sitting next to him. And the conversations were limited to "Good morning," "Good afternoon," and "Good night."
Her responses were usually "Haha," "I'm going to take a shower," or "I'm falling asleep," ending finally with the dreaded red exclamation mark of a blocked message.
Looking back now, even he wanted to roast his past self for being so overly self-conscious.
'But... it couldn't be that coincidental, right?' Hikigaya laughed inwardly, holding onto a shred of hope.
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After leaving the Photography Club room, Sakura Airi followed him silently. Hurrying her pace, she finally mustered the courage to speak.
"Hachiman-kun! I—I've decided, I want to sign up for the Photography Club's trip!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unprecedented determination.
"Is that so? That's good. Good luck, Airi." Hikigaya nodded warmly, giving her his approval.
For the socially anxious, shy, and introverted Sakura Airi, actively seeking an opportunity to go outside was a massive personal breakthrough.
"However, Airi, you don't get the slot just by signing up. You'll have to compete with the other members," Hikigaya reminded her gently.
The Photography Club was different from others; it was highly professional, with almost no slackers or "ghost" members. Furthermore, everyone had their own equipment, and the gear competition was intense.
"Mm-hmm! I will definitely work hard to get the spot!" A light of confidence, rarely seen before, shone in Airi's eyes.
Photography had been her only hobby since childhood. Her private photography blog already had over 100,000 followers. Her technical skills and sense of composition were far more solid than many of the senpais in the club.
"Our president said that everyone will take their own entries first, and the club will hold an internal vote. The person with the best and most outstanding work gets the spot." Airi analyzed seriously. "In terms of hardware, my entry-level Canon EOS definitely can't beat the senpais' professional Sony A9 series."
Because she was in Class D, her personal points were limited. Airi had saved up for a long time just to buy a second-hand camera.
"So I can only win through content and texture—beating them with the final product." At this, Airi looked up, her eyes burning with anticipation and entreaty. "Hachiman-kun, could you... be my exclusive model?"
"A model, huh... I'm not really one for standing out." Hikigaya sighed. "But since it's Airi's request, I accept."
"Great! Thank you, Hachiman-kun!" Overjoyed, Airi subconsciously grabbed his arm, her face blushing as she spoke excitedly: "I will definitely make Hachiman-kun look like the most, most, most handsome person in the world!"
"That really isn't necessary..." Hikigaya felt caught between tears and laughter seeing her so happy.
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The second day of the Golden Week holiday.
The Student Council rarely had work today, allowing Hikigaya to sleep in. However, the doorbell disturbed his dreams.
"Tada~!"
"Are you surprised to have two beautiful girls knocking on your door so early in the morning?"
The visitors were Hasabe Haruka and Sakura Airi. Both had changed into carefully coordinated private outfits. A sense of youth radiated from them, and their figures were particularly striking.
Hasabe Haruka wore a slim-fit, short white knit tee that perfectly cinched her waist, showcasing her slender frame. She paired it with high-waisted light blue denim shorts, leaving her long, straight legs fully exposed.
Beside her, Sakura Airi wore a light apricot floral blouse with a cinched waist. The gentle cut of the neckline was just right, and the slim fit traced her graceful curves. She wore a versatile light gray pleated skirt, looking pure, sweet, and gentle.
However, the clothes were secondary to the girls themselves. Standing together, the two—both remarkably well-endowed—were natural magnets for attention.
"Airi, Haruka, why so early?" Hikigaya opened his eyes, his drowsiness instantly banished.
"Airi dragged me here first thing in the morning!" Hasabe Haruka waved her hands energetically, giving Hikigaya a spirited peace sign. "Airi said she wanted to take 'Hachi-kun' out to pick some new clothes specifically for the photoshoot.
The long-awaited three-person Date Operation—Start!!"
"Yes, it's material for the shoot." Airi stood by, her cheeks slightly flushed, nodding with a gentle smile and eyes full of hidden anticipation.
Since it was a promise he had made, Hikigaya naturally complied. After a quick wash, he headed out wearing a simple casual T-shirt.
The shopping mall plaza was teeming with people, the bustle of the holiday hitting them full force. For Hikigaya, buying clothes meant going straight to a store, picking something, paying, and going home. But with girls accompanying him, the process became complicated.
"Hachiman-kun, how about this one?" Airi took a light blue casual shirt off the rack and held it up with both hands.
"It's okay." Hikigaya glanced at it and gave a neutral evaluation.
"Then what about this one?" Hasabe Haruka pulled a cream-colored thin crewneck from another rack and measured it against him. She tilted her head, studied him for a moment, and nodded. "Mm-hmm, this color really suits Hachi-kun's vibe."
"Yeah, sure." Hikigaya nodded.
"..." Hasabe Haruka puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, putting her hands on her hips. "Why are guys like this when shopping for clothes? Everything is 'fine.' Can't you give some constructive input?"
"..." Hikigaya's mouth twitched. He thought as long as the clothes were decent, what was the point of being picky?
His daily style was simple to the point of being crude: a perpetual cycle of black, white, and gray. His pants were always dark, and his shoes were forever canvas sneakers—or running shoes if he had to be active. It wasn't that he was pursuing minimalism; he just found picking clothes to be a massive pain.
"I think..." Airi held the two items side by side, comparing them seriously. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and her voice was soft but firm. "The light blue one is better."
"Hachiman-kun has a 'cool-toned' aura. Blue clothing brings out his aloofness better, while still having a bit of the ocean's inclusiveness." As she spoke, Airi unconsciously slipped into her professional photographer mode, her tone becoming fluent and confident. "Also, light blue has a high tolerance in front of the lens. Whether it's natural or indoor light, you won't get overexposure or color bleed, and it leaves more room for post-processing."
"I see!" Hasabe Haruka clapped and teased, "Airi, you really know your stuff! As expected of a professional photographer!"
"Hmph~ I'm pretty great, right!" Airi beamed, tilting her chin up proudly.
Watching this, the corners of Hikigaya's mouth curled up slightly. This girl really did show a completely different side of herself when talking about photography. Her personality became lively and confident.
"Then this one it is." He took the gray-blue shirt, ready to head to the checkout.
"Wait a minute!" Hasabe Haruka stepped in front of him, making a big "X" with her arms. "Hachi-kun, you weren't planning on stopping after just one shirt, were you?"
"...?" Hikigaya asked back as if it were obvious.
"Of course we're buying a full outfit!" Hasabe Haruka wouldn't let go of his hand.
"That's right. Pants, shoes, and socks—everything has to match," Airi added with a serious nod.
"Spare me..." Hikigaya felt a headache coming on.
"No way! It's a promise. I have to photograph the most, most, most handsome Hachiman-kun!" Airi's stance was surprisingly firm.
"..." Hikigaya looked helpless, but he knew resistance was futile in this situation. Better to just lie down and accept it than to struggle.
For the next three hours, Hikigaya was reduced to a mindless clothes rack.
"Hachiman-kun, try this apricot linen shirt! It has a very 'artistic youth' vibe!"
"Hachi-kun, look, look! This vintage washed denim jacket has so much personality. Try it on!"
"Ah, this thin trench coat is good too. We could get a cinematic shot at sunset!"
"And this black turtleneck base layer—a classic that never goes wrong..."
Airi handled the professional selection while Hasabe Haruka physically handed him the clothes to try on; the two worked in perfect sync. Hikigaya expressionlessly took garment after garment, entered the fitting room, put them on, walked out, turned around, and went back in to change.
The cycle repeated so many times he began to feel like he wasn't trying on clothes, but performing some strange endurance training.
"Wow, this looks great!"
"Heavens, Hachi-kun, you look like a different person in formal wear!"
The girls' exclamations drew frequent looks from passing customers. Hikigaya stood blankly in front of the full-length mirror, looking at a version of himself that was unrecognizable.
Dark slim-fit trousers, a light gray shirt under a sharply cut navy trench coat, with the top button of the shirt left open to reveal his collarbones. He looked clean and cool. Paired with his flat-framed glasses, he actually had the look of an idol.
"This should be enough." Looking at the bags piled up in front of him, Hikigaya thought these clothes would last him for years.
Fortunately, transactions at this school used points. Since Hikigaya had plenty of savings, he didn't need to worry about his wallet.
"Sorry, Hachiman-kun, Haru... I need to excuse myself for a moment..." Airi's face turned red as she hurried away.
Seeing her awkward gait, Hikigaya understood instantly. He muttered with an odd expression, "How long has Airi been holding it? Can buying clothes really turn into a 'bladder match'?"
"Pfft~ A girl who's holding it—don't you think that's cute?" Hasabe Haruka giggled, covering her mouth.
"How is that cute!" Hikigaya felt the urge to roast her.
"Of course, it's sa— mghf!?"
Sensing she was about to say something unrefined, Hikigaya quickly covered her mouth.
"We are in public! Please don't violate public morals..." Hikigaya warned with a glare.
"Yes, yes~" Hasabe Haruka blinked, whispering in his ear, "It's fine as long as the door is closed, right?"
"Haruka, I think you're asking for it!" Avoiding the security cameras, Hikigaya gave her a sharp smack on the backside.
"Eek!?" Hasabe Haruka let out a small cry, then gave him a reproachful look. "As I thought, the person who ignores public morals the most is the Discipline Committee Chairman!"
Hikigaya retorted righteously, "I am the discipline. Who below the stage dares to accuse this official?"
"Anyway, Hachi-kun, when do you plan on 'eating' Airi? Since I already got ahead of her... I feel a strange sense of guilt."
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