Chapter 378: Hikigaya VS the Kaihin President
Kaihin General High School.
The scale of the school, as well as the various venues and facilities, were better than expected.
Hikigaya originally thought that this school, which had a mediocre deviation value in Chiba, would be dilapidated and shabby. However, looking at it now, it was actually quite nice.
Under Tamanawa's guidance, Hikigaya's group toured the school.
"Hey, hey, everyone look over there!"
"Are those the exchange students from Advanced Nurturing?"
"The guy with glasses leading the way is so cool and handsome!"
Kaihin High students passing along the way stopped and looked sideways, their curious gazes falling on the group. They whispered among themselves, with most of the attention focused on Hikigaya.
"Damn it..."
"Why is this Hikigaya guy hogging the limelight again!"
"I really can't stand it... It's one thing to be conspicuous within Advanced Nurturing, but how come even when we come to another school, we have to watch him show off?!"
The members of the basketball club nearby watched this, their hearts filled with mixed emotions and a belly full of resentment, their faces looking quite depressed.
"Huh?"
"That handsome guy with glasses... why does he look a bit familiar?"
There were a few "familiar strangers" in the crowd.
Hikigaya recognized them at a glance; they were his classmates from middle school: Inoue Akira, Furukawa Toyota, and Kishimoto Kubo.
He wasn't close to them—in fact, they had almost no interaction. The reason he could remember their faces and names at a glance was purely because during middle school, he adhered to his self-entertaining habit of being a "Human Observer," silently memorizing the names and appearances of almost everyone in the school. That was all.
"Hey, hey~ Hikigaya, seeing your old classmates, aren't you going to go up and say hello?"
Orimoto Kaori appeared behind him at some point, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders as she teased him with a beaming smile.
"Ugh~"
Sakura Airi, seeing this from the side, instantly puffed out her cheeks.
Is she jealous?
There was actually no need for that. Hikigaya understood Orimoto Kaori's personality very well; she was boisterous and casual with everyone, and didn't harbor any flirtatious thoughts.
However, others didn't see it that way...
"Orimoto from Class 6, why does she seem so close to that guy?"
"Could it be love at first sight?"
Orimoto Kaori was lively and cheerful, friendly to others, and her face was above the aesthetic standards of most boys, so she naturally had many suitors. Among them was the Kaihin High Student Council President, Tamanawa.
"Ah?!"
At this moment, Tamanawa's habitual hand-rubbing gesture unconsciously grew faster and faster. The amplitude of his hands rubbing together became increasingly exaggerated.
Hikigaya was truly afraid the guy would spontaneously manifest a Oodama Rasengan out of thin air!
"There's no need.
In all likelihood, they've already forgotten my name."
Hikigaya's expression was indifferent. Back in middle school, people in his class often mispronounced his name. Things like "Hiki-penguin," "Hiki-bacteria," "Shut-in"...
"Ahaha~ Not necessarily. At least I wouldn't forget Hikigaya's name."
Orimoto Kaori laughed heartily, looking up to gaze at him seriously.
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya just felt confused. In his memory, the female class representative had never looked at him seriously even once.
"Hikigaya... you've really changed a lot."
Orimoto Kaori opened her mouth slightly; the words were on the tip of her tongue as if she wanted to say something from the heart.
Just then, Asahina Nazuna precisely timed her intervention, cutting off the conversation at the right moment: "Orimoto-kohai, I'm a member of the Advanced Nurturing Photography Club. Could I trouble you to take me around the campus to photograph your school's beautiful scenery?"
"Eh? But..."
Faced with the sudden request, Orimoto Kaori looked dazed, unsure of how to respond.
"Hmm~ That is a good idea!"
Tamanawa immediately nodded in agreement, seizing the chance to join in: "Orimoto-san, then please work hard to take Asahina-senpai around."
"Our Kaihin High's newly built Gymnasium is quite great!"
And so, under the unspoken coordination between Asahina Nazuna and Tamanawa, Orimoto Kaori was forcibly pulled away from Hikigaya's side with a face full of reluctance.
As she left, she kept looking back at Hikigaya, her hand slightly raised and her face full of hesitation, as if she were silently waiting for Hikigaya to ask her to stay.
Unfortunately, Hikigaya didn't grasp that sentiment at all. Just as he was about to say some polite pleasantries, his attention was diverted by Sakura Airi beside him.
"...!"
"Tell me, when does the basketball game start?"
Sakura Airi blinked her eyes, expressing great curiosity... not!
"It should start in the afternoon."
"The game is primarily an exhibition, serving as promotional material for both schools."
Hikigaya explained casually, while glancing at Airi with a hint of strangeness. When did this kid become interested in basketball? She clearly has her own... er, thinking that way is wrong!
"Correct! Friendship first, Competition second!"
Tamanawa snapped his fingers with a stylish flair.
Hikigaya's forehead was instantly covered in black lines. Although President Nagumo also liked to put on airs, he would at least exercise some restraint in his words and actions. This Tamanawa fellow was purely forcing an act where there was none!
"Next, I will lead you all to visit our Multimedia Room.
Let us experience high technology in an immersive way together~~"
Tamanawa continued to talk eloquently, introducing everything incessantly. The members of the basketball club, who were being led by the nose the whole time, had long since grown tired of listening. Yet they couldn't refuse the nominal "kindness" of the other party and could only follow along with forced smiles.
However, Hikigaya didn't want to play these empty games with him and interrupted directly: "President Tamanawa, we came all the way from Tokyo by long-distance bus early this morning."
As he spoke, Hikigaya began to imitate the other's tone and hand-rubbing technique on the spot: "Our stamina has declined. In order to have a better Competition this afternoon, I hope our athletes can have sufficient rest time. Don't you think so?"
Tamanawa's expression instantly turned solemn. He quickly accelerated his hand-rubbing rhythm and retorted seriously: "Your idea is too casual, whatever. Resting immediately upon arrival might make people feel that Kaihin High is neglecting our honored guests. We should interact more to improve mutual trust."
Hikigaya didn't budge an inch and continued the verbal sparring: "Interaction time can be adjusted at any time. I am simply trying to suggest the main business. Partnership and a partnership where one can offer a free suggestion are also very important."
"Tsk! This is the task of our Student Council; this is something everyone needs to think about together."
Tamanawa couldn't help but tsk, seemingly not expecting the other party to be so difficult to deal with.
Playing the abstract game, are we? When it came to talking serious nonsense, Hikigaya had never been afraid of anyone!
"Conversations of the Student Council are certainly important, but one must not fail to distinguish between primary and secondary matters, affecting the athletes' game. Conceptually speaking, this is the Lincoln spirit, which is the proper work of a Student Council. If we can't even distinguish this, today's match cannot proceed with fairness."
Everyone present watched in stunned silence at the "hand-rubbing dialogue" between Hikigaya and Tamanawa.
"Um... Is it because my IQ isn't high enough?"
Sudo Ken's brain was buzzing: "Since a moment ago, I haven't known what they're talking about."
"Though I don't understand, it feels very impressive!"
Sakura Airi picked up her camera and excitedly took photos and videos of Hikigaya.
"Regarding this..."
Tamanawa was momentarily at a loss for words, sweating profusely and unable to respond at all.
Seeing that the effect of his harrassment had been achieved, Hikigaya stopped while he was ahead.
"Therefore, for the next stop, let's visit the cafeteria."
Nominally a visit, it was actually just finding a place to rest properly. Tamanawa had lost the "hand-rubbing dialogue" and had no choice but to compromise.
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The Cafeteria.
"Hikigaya, you really saved us!"
"That idiot President, talking a load of nonsense—it's infuriating just looking at him!"
"As expected of the Great Demon King, you were like you were chanting an incantation just now. In short, you won, right?"
The basketball club members looked at Hikigaya with faces full of admiration.
"Winning this kind of nonsense isn't something to be happy about at all!"
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
"Mhm-mhm~ Hachiman-kun in debate mode is also very cool!"
Sakura Airi praised him without stint.
"Sigh..."
Hikigaya sighed helplessly, feeling that his dark history had increased once again.
"Oh my, oh my~
It seems I missed a good show."
Asahina Nazuna came to the cafeteria giggling. She pulled up a chair and sat next to Hikigaya, staring at him with a playful look: "I've learned a lot about Hachiman-kun's past from that Orimoto-kouhai."
"Nazuna-senpai..."
Hikigaya showed a bitter smile: "There's no need to talk about that boring past, is there?"
"Oh my~ Is Hachiman-kun embarrassed?"
The smile on Asahina Nazuna's face grew wider.
"I'm not embarrassed."
Hikigaya forced himself to remain calm.
"For example, every day when turning in homework, you intentionally stacked your notebook together with the female class rep's..."
Asahina Nazuna's eyes were teasing.
"Absolutely not! Why would we do such a stupid thing?"
Hikigaya's face flushed red as he firmly denied it.
"Yes, yes~ If Hachiman-kun says no, then there isn't~~"
The corners of Asahina Nazuna's mouth remained upturned.
"Hachiman-kun, it's okay!
Actually, I also secretly stack my notebook with Hachiman-kun's."
Sakura Airi self-exposed with an embarrassed face: "By the way, Haruka also takes the opportunity to press her notebook on top of yours."
"Are you guys elementary schoolers?!"
Hikigaya was truly powerless to complain.
"Wow~ Airi-chan, how innocent!"
Asahina Nazuna couldn't help but hug her affectionately, rubbing her cheek against the other's full chest.
"Really, even though you're a senpai, lying in a kouhai's arms like that—where are your manners?"
Hikigaya frowned in criticism.
"While Hachiman-kun is lecturing, could you restrain your intense gaze?"
Asahina Nazuna glanced at him sideways: "Hmph~ Men! You're all 'Big Chest Aliens'!!"
After lunch.
Hikigaya and his group were arranged to rest in an activity room.
.
.
.
In the afternoon.
The basketball competition began.
Advanced Nurturing's Basketball Club VS Kaihin General High School's Basketball Club.
From the lineups of both sides, the former seemed to have a stronger average physique. However, looking at stats alone didn't mean everything. After all, the other side had the home-court advantage.
In the spectator stands, the students of Kaihin General High School shouted and cheered in unison. This wasn't as classy as Sobu High. Back when Hikigaya stood on stage as a member of the Martial Arts Club, he received applause and a welcome even from the Sobu High students.
Tweet—!
The referee's whistle suddenly sounded, the players on both sides took their positions, and the match officially began.
Serving as a forward, Sudo Ken leaped up and successfully snatched the opening tip-off. He dribbled flexibly past three opposing defenders, but unfortunately was blocked under the backboard with no chance for a layup. Sudo Ken made a split-second decision and decisively passed the ball back to a teammate. The teammate didn't fail the trust, steadily scoring a layup and securing the opening points for Advanced Nurturing!
"That guy Sudo has actually learned teamwork."
Hikigaya nodded in affirmation. At the start of the school year, Sudo Ken was purely a brainless beast who would only crash around to show off himself; he would never have been content playing support.
Click-click-click~
Flashlights shone on his face.
Hikigaya turned around in annoyance to remind them: "Airi, Nazuna-senpai, you're from the Photography Club here to capture the exciting moments of the basketball players on the court. Why do you keep taking pictures of me?"
"Sorry, I forgot..."
Sakura Airi gave a sheepish smile.
"Well~ such small matters, just do enough to get by."
Asahina Nazuna stuck out her tongue nonchalantly.
"You two, at least be a bit serious!"
Hikigaya warned with feigned anger.
By the end of the first half, the Advanced Nurturing side held a temporary lead thanks to steady cooperation. After the second half began, the Kaihin High side began to frequently use petty tricks on the court to secretly trip them up.
During a struggle for the ball, an opposing player secretly threw an elbow, directly knocking Sudo Ken hard to the ground. The referee for this match was originally a physical education teacher from Kaihin High; he immediately blew a "homer" whistle, ruling it a fair collision and ignoring the foul!
"President Tamanawa, are you just going to stand by and watch such blatant malicious fouls without doing anything?"
Hikigaya's tone was cold, his gaze fixed straight on Tamanawa.
"Th-this... court rulings are entirely up to the referee's discretion. Our Student Council has no right to interfere in the tournament adjudication."
Tamanawa seemed to know he was in the wrong; at this moment, he didn't have the face to use foreign languages to put on airs and could only make vague excuses.
"Since your Student Council is inactive, then I will go directly to negotiate with your school's leadership in person."
Hikigaya immediately rose from the spectator stands, stepping out toward the direction of the Kaihin High school officials.
"W-wait! Please don't be impulsive...!"
Tamanawa panicked instantly, inwardly lamenting: 'How is this Student Council member from Advanced Nurturing so bold? He goes to confront school leadership at the drop of a hat?'
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