Chapter 099 Shiina Hiyori's Surge! The Combat Power of the New World's Heroine!
Ten minutes later, the students of Classes B and D who had withdrawn from the exam finally filtered back onto the cruise ship.
This was no makeshift pier or cramped ferry; it was the sprawling, luxurious tourist vessel they had known since the start.
Stepping onto the deck, the clean, salty sea breeze was a world away from the humid island air thick with mud, sweat, and vegetation. Beneath their feet were solid steel plates instead of sinking sand or jagged rocks. Inside, the air conditioning was crisp, the lighting soft, and the faint aroma of pastries and coffee wafted from the dining area.
A single door was the boundary between heaven and hell.
For the students, returning to the ship felt like a literal return to paradise. They scattered in groups through the lounge; some sprinted toward the restaurant to compensate their stomachs for the days of rations, while others sank into plush sofas by the windows, watching the sea shimmer in the golden-red sunset.
"We're finally... back."
"I thought I'd be eating dirt on that island for a week."
"This feels like a dream. We actually got away scot-free."
Small pockets of conversation drifted through the air, creating a relaxed background hum. Kushida Kikyo sat in the center of the lounge, her posture elegant and her face adorned with her trademark "Angel" smile. Only she knew that beneath that smile, her heart was racing with excitement.
"Kushida-san, what are you thinking about? You look so happy."
A clear voice came from the side. Kushida looked up to see a distinctive blonde ponytail: Karuizawa Kei.
Karuizawa had noticed that Kushida's current smile wasn't her usual "business" mask. It was a genuine, irrepressible good mood radiating from within.
Karuizawa assumed Kushida was just happy to be out of the island's harsh conditions, which was relatable for anyone. Kushida quickly regained her composure. "It's nothing, Karuizawa-san. I'm just so relieved we can finally rest on the ship and that everyone doesn't have to worry about points anymore. My heart is just full."
She spoke with such sincerity and clarity that no one would suspect she was currently running a precise mental ledger of all the debts people owed her.
Oh, Karuizawa thought. As a fellow master of social performance, she could tell Kushida had slipped back into her standard "ordinary classmate" mask.
Karuizawa didn't quite understand Kushida—how she could crave friendship so much yet obsessively collect secrets and weaknesses to validate her own worth.
To Karuizawa, it bordered on perverse. But as allies in the same faction, she maintained surface-level respect.
"You're right. We really owe it to Hikigaya-kun," Karuizawa said softly, her gaze drifting toward the island. "Without him, Class D would still be struggling, likely ending with zero points anyway. That would have been a disaster."
Gratitude, admiration, and a faint, unrecognized sense of pride flashed in Karuizawa's eyes. As his "loyal dog," she felt that his strength was her protection.
"Yes, Hikigaya-kun is truly amazing," Kushida agreed, though internally she was seething with regret. She had just learned the core intelligence from the Class B students: Hachiman had secured a staggering 99 million points (52.8m from Class A and 46.2m from Class C).
Even after splitting it with the Class B fund and accounting for costs, Hachiman was personally walking away with over 40 million points.
Kushida felt like her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand. If she hadn't rejected his offer to be his "romance consultant," at least 20 million of that could have been hers.
'My money! It's all my money!' she screamed internally while remaining placid on the outside.
However, she noted that Hachiman had stayed on the island alone as a "one-man army." This meant he couldn't spend time with other girls—especially Horikita.
That was a silver lining. If he ended up with Horikita, that would be the worst possible outcome for Kushida.
"Karuizawa-san," Kushida transitioned casually, "Don't you think it's odd that Hikigaya-kun didn't withdraw? Class B is gone, yet he's still there with A and C."
Karuizawa tilted her head. "I noticed that too. If the plan was just to take the points, he could have let someone else be the leader and come back to enjoy the ship. Why stay behind to suffer alone?"
"Hikigaya has a sense of responsibility," a calm voice interrupted. Horikita Suzune walked over, her eyes fixed on the island. "In an exam where the whole class puts their hopes on him, he will always choose to be on the front lines. I'm certain of that."
Kushida's impression of Hachiman shifted slightly. He wasn't just a manipulator; he was someone who shouldered the pressure for everyone else.
"By the way," Horikita turned to Kushida, "Kushida, what's your view on Hikigaya?"
Kushida's heart jumped.
'Why is everyone asking such pointed questions?'
Then it hit her: Horikita could also hear Hachiman's inner voice.
She knew about his 20-million-point offer for "romance training."
"Me?" Kushida replied vaguely. "I know what you're thinking, but I've already refused."
Horikita went silent.
She remembered Hachiman's inner monologue about wanting to pursue Yukinoshita Yukino and needing Kushida's help with his lack of romantic experience. Since Kushida wasn't interested, Horikita felt a bit of a missed opportunity to "repay" Hachiman for the easy exam win.
"I'll keep looking, then," Horikita said plainly.
Kushida stared at her.
'Keep looking? Are you his matchmaker now?'
As long as it wasn't Horikita herself, Kushida didn't mind as much. To her, Horikita was an emotional block of wood—completely incompatible with Hachiman's mature, "wounded" mindset.
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In another corner of the lounge, the conversation among the girls was dominated by the "Great Transaction" and the figure of Hikigaya Hachiman.
Airi Sakura sat in the corner, her hands on her knees and her long lashes cast downward. As a photographer, she had been observing the world through that lens, and she couldn't stop replaying the image of Hachiman on the beach—cool, confident, and in total control.
"Sakura, what are you staring at?" Sato Maya, the resident gyaru of Class D, sat down next to her.
Airi stiffened, a blush creeping up to her ears. "I... the sea breeze was just strong... I was spaced out."
"Haha, you've been following Hikigaya-kun with your eyes since the beach," Sato teased. "It's so obvious. You think he's cool, right?"
"Is it... that obvious?" Airi whispered, trying to explain it away as mere gratitude. But the more she talked, the more flustered she became.
Then she realized who she was talking to: Sato Maya, a "real" gyaru. Airi, being introverted and timid, was terrified of "sparkly" people like Sato.
"Don't be so nervous," Sato laughed. "I'm not going to eat you. I just saw how intensely you were looking at him. I like the athletic type anyway, so 'brainiac' types aren't my thing."
Airi felt a wave of relief. Sato wasn't an "enemy."
Sato continued casually, "Kushida-san mentioned before that Hikigaya-kun is looking for a girlfriend. She said she could help set someone up if they were interested."
Airi's heart hammered against her ribs.
'He's looking for a girlfriend? For real?'
To Airi, Hachiman was her hero—the one who saved her from the stalker clerk. She felt she didn't deserve to be the "heroine" compared to the others, but hearing he was "available" made a spark of hope flare up in her chest.
"Wait, that topic is actually over!" Kushida hurried over, pulling Sato's sleeve and giving Airi a forced smile.
"Don't listen to her, Airi-san. I was just joking before. He doesn't have those plans anymore."
"Too bad," Sato shrugged. "Since Class B sold those supplies, he's definitely a rich man now."
Two people in the room felt their hearts shake at that. One was Kushida (for obvious reasons), and the other was Matsushita Chiaki.
Matsushita had been "playing weak" in Class D to avoid being targeted, but she was actually highly capable and had a "strong-worship" complex.
She wanted to be "carried" by someone truly powerful. Hachiman fit every criteria. Hearing he was now both capable and wealthy, she decided she couldn't stay in the shadows anymore. She needed to be proactive.
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Back on the Island
Hachiman stood on the beach. Most students were gone, leaving only him, Hirata, Ayanokouji, and Sudo. The Class A and C students were busy hauling the massive mountain of supplies.
Hachiman walked toward Mashima, the Class A homeroom teacher. "Mashima-sensei, I have a question. Is there a 'hidden egg' or a hidden spot on this island that gives extra points?"
The beach went silent. Ryuen stopped working, his eyes narrowing. Their agreement included a clause about a hidden spot worth over 50 points.
Mashima smiled enigmatically. "If you didn't ask, I wouldn't have said. But since you did... yes. There is one special spot. If a leader swipes their card there, the class gets a one-time bonus of 50 points."
An explosion of gasps followed. A single spot held for seven days only gives 18 points—finding this was a jackpot.
"So you were right," Ryuen said to Hachiman. "The 350-point deal stands."
Hachiman knew from the original story that Ayanokouji had found this place near the white tower. The island was artificial, and the "hidden spot" was essentially the staff's living and management quarters. Seeing through the island's artificial nature was the key to the reward.
Next, Hachiman fulfilled the final part of the deal: publicizing the leader info for B and D. He produced his card, and Hirata produced his.
Class B Leader: Hikigaya Hachiman Class D Leader: Yosuke Hirata
"As you can see, the rest of our classes are gone," Hachiman said calmly. "The four of us—myself, Hirata, Ayanokouji, and Sudo—have no supplies and no spots. For the next seven days, you are responsible for our relief. We need you to take us in and provide food."
The atmosphere turned tense. Taking in an rival leader was dangerous. If their own leader info leaked, their debt would become "real" and their scores would plummet.
Katsuragi proposed a compromise: "Class A bought Class B's info, so we take Hikigaya. Class C bought Class D's, so they take the other three."
"No way!" Sudo roared. "I'm not being 'raised' by Class C! I'm not staying anywhere near Ryuen!"
Ryuen sneered. "Like I want a piece of trash like you in my camp?"
With Sudo and Ryuen at each other's throats, Katsuragi offered the final solution: "Fine. We won't take anyone into our camps to protect our leader info. Instead, we will give the four of you enough supplies for seven days. You can find your own place to stay on the island. We fulfill our relief duty, and our secrets stay safe."
This was the optimal move for Katsuragi. He couldn't risk a leak.
"No objections," Hachiman said. He glanced at Ayanokouji. "Ayanokouji, what do you think?"
Ayanokouji paused, seemingly surprised to be asked. "No objections."
Just as the matter seemed settled, Kamuro Masumi from Class A stepped forward. "Wait. I think Class A should take Hikigaya. He's dangerous, and keeping him where we can see him is safer for surveillance."
In truth, Kamuro only wanted to stay close enough to hear his inner voice to fulfill her secret mission.
"Absolutely not," Hashimoto, her fellow faction member, argued. He didn't want any risks that could lead to more debt.
Then, Ryuen stepped forward with a smirk. "If Class A doesn't want him, Class C will. I'll personally monitor Hikigaya's every move. He won't have a chance to play tricks."
Everyone was stunned. Taking a rival leader into your camp was suicidal. Was Ryuen that bold, or did he trust Hachiman?
Hachiman looked past Ryuen toward the back of the Class C group. There stood a girl with long silver hair and a serene, gentle smile: Hiyori Shiina.
She met his gaze without flinching.
Hachiman sighed internally. This wasn't Ryuen's idea—it was Hiyori's. In the original story, she was the true brains behind Class C after Ryuen's fall.
The "New World Heroine" was finally ready to stop idling and start exerting her power.
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