Chapter 375: Cunning Honami, The Gal Group's All-Out Assault!
"This Friday, the school is organizing a Cultural Festival.
It doesn't count as a special exam, so no one needs to worry about the threat of expulsion.
However, classes that perform well will receive class points and individual point bonuses.
I hope everyone participates enthusiastically."
Standing before the podium, Hirata Yosuke issued a serious call to the entire class.
"Next Friday?
That overlaps with the time I'm scheduled to head out."
A flash of surprise flickered in Hachiman's eyes, but he didn't care much. Since he was a child, the only time he had ever performed on stage was when he wore a cardboard cutout to play a Christmas tree. He wasn't even a background extra; he was pure scenery.
Therefore, he had zero interest in performing. The conflict with his trip was a perfect excuse to avoid the whole ordeal.
Usually, the students of Class D were lifeless whenever exams or chores were mentioned. However, upon hearing there was fun to be had without the risk of losing points, they cheered and clamored as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
On the contrary, Karuizawa and her two friends, who usually loved the spotlight, were exceptionally quiet. They huddled together with their heads down, whispering as if plotting something.
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After School.
Hachiman declined Horikita Suzune's request to discuss the Cultural Festival and also turned down Kushida Kikyo's invitation to "read books at a cafe"—which was effectively a date invite.
He was heading out tomorrow with the basketball club, which for him meant going home. Since he was making a rare trip back, he naturally had to prepare a gift for his sister.
At a girls' accessory shop.
Hachiman ran into Ichinose Honami just as she was coming out of the store.
"Hikki, what a coincidence~"
Ichinose Honami squinted her eyes with a gentle smile, though it seemed slightly forced. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the gift bag in her hand as she asked softly, "Are you here to buy a gift for a girl?"
"Yeah. A souvenir for my sister when I go home."
Hachiman explained simply and bluntly.
"Home?"
Ichinose's eyes shifted as she remembered something: "Ah~ Hikki is referring to the basketball club's outing, right?"
There was a student in her class, Year 2 Class B, who was also a member of the basketball club, so she knew about the trip.
"Hikki is such a good brother, always keeping his little sister in mind."
"Of course. Is there a brother in this world who doesn't dote on his sister?"
Hachiman spoke with total conviction.
"And there isn't a sister in this world who doesn't dote on her younger sister either."
The two smiled at each other, sharing the silent understanding of two hardcore sibling-complex sufferers.
Hachiman asked casually, "What about you, Honami? Did you prepare a gift for someone?"
His gaze fell on the gift bag in her hand.
"That's right. Tomorrow is Chiaki-chan's birthday."
Ichinose Honami nodded gently, her eyes curving into crescents. "Luckily, the individual points for May were just distributed."
Her eyes darted around as she proactively leaned in, her tone turning enthusiastic: "Hikki, do you need me to help you pick something out?"
"I'll leave it to you then, Honami."
Hachiman readily agreed. A girl's aesthetic would naturally be better at understanding what another girl would like. The two walked into the shop together and began browsing.
"If it's for a student, I highly recommend this Casio Baby-G series."
Ichinose Honami pointed to a cherry-blossom pink watch in the display case that was bursting with "girly" energy.
"Won't it... be too heavy?"
Hachiman frowned. "Komachi has always disliked things that are cumbersome or thick."
"Then you can choose the lightweight resin model; it only weighs 38g."
Ichinose Honami was clearly well-versed in this, introducing it in detail: "It's waterproof, shockproof, solar-powered, and even comes with heart rate monitoring and a one-touch emergency alarm..."
This immediately made Hachiman's eyes light up. "Safety features? That's a must!"
More importantly, this watch could bind to a phone app, allowing him to check his sister's heart rate status at any time. For instance, if her heart rate spiked abnormally while she was with a member of the opposite sex... No, no, no! That kind of thing is absolutely, positively impossible!!
"Clerk, please wrap this one up for me."
Hachiman made his decision instantly.
"That fast?"
"You're not going to look a bit more?"
Ichinose Honami was dumbfounded. Was shopping for guys always this efficient?
"Certainly, guest!
That will be 56,000 points."
The clerk had a radiant smile. Usually, students were very frugal and had to think thrice before buying. Someone completing a purchase in minutes like this was incredibly cool!
"Okay!"
Hachiman didn't even blink as the payment went through. It was as if he had just spent 50 points instead of 50,000.
"Hikki is really extravagant..."
Ichinose Honami couldn't help but sigh. "Actually, the same watch is quite a bit cheaper outside the school."
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, the points I'm using were earned in this school," Hachiman said nonchalantly.
"That's true. With Hikki's abilities, you must have accumulated quite a lot of individual points by now?" Ichinose chuckled.
Based on the information she had, Hachiman had made millions by selling information at the start of the year. Later, during the deserted island exam, he signed a long-term contract with Class C, bringing in hundreds of thousands every month. By a conservative estimate, his savings were likely reaching 10 million.
At this rate, he would almost certainly save the 20 million points needed to reach Class A by graduation. In short, while everyone else was struggling to rise in rank, Hachiman had already "beaten the game" on his own.
"With Honami's strength, I believe you can also gather enough points to move up," Hachiman said.
"Well~ I'd rather take my entire class into Class A together."
Ichinose Honami's tone was frank, her gaze clear. This was her consistent way of doing things—valuing her comrades and refusing to move forward alone.
"By the way, since you're making a rare trip out...
Aren't you going to prepare a gift for... them as well?"
Ichinose Honami narrowed her eyes, her words loaded with meaning.
"Them?"
Hachiman's heart tightened slightly, but he feigned ignorance.
However, Ichinose had no intention of letting him play dumb. She directly named names: "I'm talking about the 'Highland Flower' of Sobu High, Yukinoshita-san, and that... broad-chested Yuigahama-san."
"...How does Honami know those two names?"
A trace of embarrassment crossed Hachiman's face.
"I heard from a senpai in the Budo Club.
Hikki was quite popular back at Sobu High!"
Ichinose Honami stared at him with a beaming smile.
'How is everyone's information so well-connected...'
"It's nothing like that, you're overthinking it, Honami!" Hachiman explained righteously. "Besides, the partner for this trip is Kaihin General High School. I won't be seeing any Sobu High students."
"Oh?"
Ichinose Honami pursed her lips and made a deadpan prediction: "At a new school, you'll encounter new pretty girls?"
"I don't know any Kaihin students, okay!"
Hachiman complained loudly. "I'm not some 'normie' character; I don't just make friends randomly."
"Pfft~ The current Hikki has zero credibility saying that."
Ichinose Honami teased him with a side-eye.
After leaving the shop, the two talked and laughed all the way back to the dorms. When the elevator reached the fourth floor—Hachiman's floor—he started to step out.
"Wait, Hikki!"
Ichinose Honami grabbed his hand, her voice tinged with urgency: "Can you... come to my room for a moment?"
Even though she was asking, Honami gripped his hand so firmly she gave him no chance to refuse. After a few seconds of hesitation, the elevator doors closed. Hachiman had no choice but to follow her to the girls' floor.
"Heehee~ Welcome.
It's been a long time since Hikki visited my room."
Ichinose Honami warmly invited him in and thoughtfully brought him his own dedicated slippers.
"Um, I can't stay too long tonight...
I have to get up early for the bus tomorrow morning," Hachiman reminded her.
Ichinose was stunned for a moment, her cheeks turning crimson. "I-I didn't mean I wanted Hikki to stay the night..."
"Oh, oh, my mistake then."
As soon as he said that, Ichinose Honami lowered her head, her fingers nervously picking at the hem of her shirt as she murmured softly, "Actually... it's not like I don't have any thoughts about it at all..."
"It's fine then."
Hachiman coughed lightly, changing the subject. "By the way, why did you specifically ask me to come over?"
"..."
Ichinose Honami turned and pulled an exquisitely crafted bookmark from a drawer, handing it to him. "I made this myself. I want to give it to Komachi-chan."
As if afraid he would refuse, she quickly explained: "It's not anything expensive, just a small token of my feelings."
"Then I'll thank you on Komachi's behalf."
Hachiman took the bookmark and looked it over. Seeing it was just a simple handmade item, he accepted it.
"Thank you. This is only right!
Hikki's sister is my sister!"
Ichinose Honami stared at him with burning eyes.
'Wait, sister? Girl, with that look in your eyes, don't tell me you've finally made up your mind?'
Hachiman swallowed hard. Ichinose Honami's eyes shimmered as she took a bold step forward, pressing closer and closer!
The battle was on the verge of erupting...
At the critical moment, the doorbell rang.
"Honami-chan, we're here to talk about Chiaki's birthday party tomorrow."
The voices of Shiranami Chihiro and Amikura Mako came from outside the door.
"Ugh..."
Ichinose Honami immediately puffed out her cheeks, her face full of gloom and resentment.
"Seems like it's not the right time... haha!"
Hachiman suppressed his urge to laugh and took the opportunity to decisively stand up and bolt. When the door opened, Shiranami Chihiro and Amikura Mako saw Hachiman inside the room and their eyes widened in shock.
"Hikki?
Why are you in Honami-chan's room...?" Amikura Mako looked astonished.
Shiranami Chihiro was startled, subconsciously looking inside to confirm Ichinose Honami was fully dressed. She let out a sigh of relief.
'...Honami's eyes look a little scary right now!'
"It's nothing, we were just chatting."
"I have things to do, so I'll be going. Make yourselves at home."
Hachiman exchanged a few pleasantries and quickly left the girls' floor.
He returned to the boys' floor.
However...
He saw three girls waiting at the door of room 404.
"!!!"
Hachiman sensed danger and subconsciously took a step back.
"Hachiman!"
"Where do you think you're escaping to?"
"Come back here!!"
Karuizawa Kei, Matsushita Chiaki, and Sato Maya spotted him instantly and rushed forward, grabbing him firmly to prevent any chance of escape.
"Kei, Chiaki, Maya—what are you doing?"
Hachiman looked speechless.
"We came to play with you."
Karuizawa Kei's eyes flickered as if she were trying to hide something.
"Next time... tonight isn't convenient.
I have to get up early for the long-distance bus tomorrow."
Hachiman tried to deflect.
"No!"
"We have to settle this tonight!"
Matsushita Chiaki's tone was exceptionally firm.
"Settle... settle what?"
Hachiman's eyes froze; he had an ominous premonition.
"Hmph! Don't try to play dumb, Hachiman!"
Matsushita Chiaki glared at him sharply. "Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo, Hasabe Haruka... those three have 100% been 'taken' already!!
And Sakura-san will probably be taken naturally during this trip where you'll be alone.
If we don't act now, we'll be left far behind!!!"
Sato Maya looked indignant. "That's right! We can't be the last ones!"
Hachiman was at a loss for words, so he tried to persuade them tactfully. "Well, look, I can understand your feelings. But this kind of thing requires a step-by-step process; it shouldn't be forced...
Besides, even if we take ten thousand steps back, I think the 'first battle' is very important. It should be done one by one...
What kind of 'new player' jumps straight into a four-player co-op match right from the start?"
It simply wasn't proper!
"Stop being so indecisive, you're talking too much!
We are 'Gals,' so of course we're different from other girls!!"
Karuizawa Kei gritted her teeth, her face full of unwilling resentment. "Especially Hachiman—you're already a battle-hardened veteran. Newbies would just be played in the palm of your hand."
"It's not fair!!"
Matsushita Chiaki nodded in support. "Kei is right! Facing a Demon King of such transcendent strength, the three of us only have a chance of survival if we work together and take turns advancing and retreating!"
"Wait, shouldn't you all calm down?"
Facing the combined assault of the three, Hachiman could only retreat repeatedly until his back hit the wall. He had nowhere left to go.
"Yo~ Lord Demon King, are you scared now?"
"Don't you love 'chaining ships' together?"
"Now, show us how you do it!!"
The three "Gals" clamored wildly. It really did feel like a group of "Gals" ganging up on a young boy.
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