Chapter 18: Ichinose: Chabashira-sensei? Why would it be Chabashira-sensei?!
"Hikigaya-kun." Ichinose took a few more steps forward and finally couldn't resist speaking up.
Hachiman glanced at her. "Hmm?"
"I wonder how the White Team will arrange things." Ichinose's tone carried a hint of worry, but it was mostly grounded in calm analysis. "Katsuragi-kun isn't someone who yields easily. And Sakayanagi-san is there too. If they join forces, Class D might find themselves in a very passive position."
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and continued walking. He remained silent for two seconds before speaking. "Are you worried about Ayanokouji?"
Ichinose startled slightly, then gave a soft nod.
After all, based on what she had gathered from Hikigaya-kun's inner thoughts previously, Ayanokouji-kun was a rather terrifying person. And now, there was a very high possibility that he would fully reveal his true abilities.
"Don't worry," Hachiman said. "I've already made arrangements."
Ichinose looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"I had Horikita use Class D to pressure Class B. They can drag Class B down by having them go easy on Class D's academic and athletic underachievers. However, Class B won't just comply quietly," Hachiman explained. "So, the likely price is that Class D's participation list will be handed over to Class B to arrange."
Ichinose's footsteps faltered slightly.
Her mind raced, breaking the sentence apart and piecing it back together.
Handing Class D's participation list to Class B—this meant Class B would know Class D's personnel arrangements in advance and could adjust their own list accordingly. It might even mean Class B literally organizes Class D's list.
But once Class B cooperates with Class D to adjust the athletes, then...
"Is the goal to use the participation list Horikita obtains at that time to conversely deduce Class B's actual list?" Ichinose asked, a hint of realization in her voice.
Hachiman looked at her, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Normally, you could do that."
"Normally?" Ichinose repeated the word, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Class D's participation list will likely be leaked to high heaven," Hachiman said, spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "And Ayanokouji is bound to do something during this exam. Therefore, relying entirely on the participation list is useless."
Ichinose fell silent.
She remembered Ayanokouji's maneuvers during the deserted island exam—using injuries to switch the leader, causing both Class A and C to guess the leader information incorrectly. That kind of person was unscrupulous and certainly possessed the ability. If he intended to do something in this exam as well, it was indeed dangerous.
"Then what should we do?" she asked.
Hachiman stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"There is actually a loophole in this exam," he said. "There are nine mandatory events that everyone must participate in; there's no escaping that. However, for the recommended events—even if the roster is submitted, the school doesn't force everyone to compete exactly according to that list. As long as you use points, you can substitute participants."
Ichinose's eyes widened slightly.
"Could it be..."
"I believe Ayanokouji will seize upon this," Hachiman said. "Class D's participation list can't be protected anyway. But this is where we can make a move."
Various possibilities flashed through Ichinose's mind. Recommended events not being mandatory meant that even if you signed up, you could choose not to take the field. If Ayanokouji exploited this—for example, signing up one group of people but actually swapping them for another during the match—the information on the participation list would be meaningless.
"So," she looked up at Hachiman, "we need to make a move on the recommended events as well?"
Hachiman didn't answer directly.
He turned back around and continued walking.
"Whatever needs to be done, I will cooperate," Ichinose said, quickly catching up.
Hachiman glanced at her. "No need to rush. I've arranged for Horikita to take the initiative. I think Ayanokouji will definitely do something this time."
Ichinose nodded and said no more. The two walked side-by-side, their footsteps echoing softly on the quiet path.
After walking for a while, Ichinose suddenly spoke up. "Hikigaya-kun, I practiced running during the holidays."
Hachiman looked at her.
"I ran every morning," her voice was soft, tinged with a bit of embarrassment. "I might still not be able to outrun others, but at least I won't hold the team back."
Hachiman didn't say anything. He looked at Ichinose's profile; that gentle face held a stubbornness he rarely saw. It wasn't the "hating to lose" kind of stubbornness, but rather a "I know I'm not good at this, but I still want to try" kind.
"You don't need to do that," he said.
Ichinose blinked and turned to look at him.
"Your physical stamina was already..." Hachiman paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.
But Ichinose understood. Her stamina wasn't good; that was a fact. It wasn't something that could be changed by morning jogs during a single holiday break. But she still wanted to try. Not out of spite, but because she didn't want to be a burden.
"I know," she said softly with a hint of a smile. "But it's better than doing nothing."
Hachiman knew that this version of Ichinose also had quite a high level of self-respect, but her "strength" manifested in her desire not to be a drag on others.
In that sense, Ichinose truly was a kind girl.
And so.
Hachiman didn't speak further. The two continued walking, quiet and unhurried.
Ichinose's gaze fell on his face, specifically on those black, thin-rimmed glasses. The sunlight hit him from the side, making his profile exceptionally clear. Behind the lenses, those eyes looked much more spirited than usual.
"Hikigaya-kun," she suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
"Those glasses... they look quite good on you."
Hachiman's pace faltered slightly. He turned to Ichinose, a look of confusion on his face. "?"
Only then did Ichinose realize what she had just said. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she shook her head hurriedly. "No, I mean—those glasses you're wearing suit you quite well."
Hachiman looked at her and was silent for a second. Then he reached up to adjust the frames, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "Actually, I don't really like them."
Ichinose was stunned. "Why? Your image has improved, hasn't it?"
Hachiman didn't answer immediately. He stared at the path ahead for a few seconds before slowly speaking. "Wearing these glasses makes me look too much like a corporate slave."
Ichinose blinked, and then suddenly understood.
Hikigaya Hachiman's ideal was to be a full-time house husband. He wanted to be a man supported by an excellent wife. He wasn't supposed to go to work. With the glasses, he looked
spirited, reliable, and like an elite—the complete opposite of his ideal. He didn't want to be an elite, he didn't want to be a corporate slave, and he didn't want to work himself to death leaving early and returning late. He wanted to stay home, cook, clean, look after the family, and live a plain, simple life.
These glasses made him look too much like the kind of person he was trying to escape from being.
Ichinose almost laughed out loud. She quickly covered her mouth, but her bright eyes were already full of mirth.
Hachiman glanced at her but didn't say anything. However, his expression carried a subtle "I know you want to laugh, but you'd better not."
Ichinose held it in. But the curve of her lips betrayed her.
The two continued forward.
In the flowerbeds along the path, several unknown flowers were in full bloom, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. The air was filled with a faint floral scent mixed with the moist aroma of soil, making one feel very comfortable.
But as they reached the corner of the flowerbed, Hachiman's pace suddenly slowed.
Ichinose followed his gaze and saw a familiar figure.
Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class D, was squatting by the flowerbed. She held a watering can in her hand and was focused on watering the flowers. Her long black hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her dark red hair tie shimmered slightly in the sunlight. She wore a white shirt with a black blazer over it; her whole aura seemed much softer than usual.
Hearing the footsteps, she looked up. Her eyes fell on Hachiman and Ichinose, and a flash of surprise crossed them.
"What are you doing here? Isn't it the opening ceremony for the Sports Festival right now?" Chabashira asked.
Hachiman stopped. "We in Class 1-A left early."
Chabashira looked at him and was silent for a second. Then her gaze fell on the bridge of his nose and lingered.
"The glasses," she said. "They suit you quite well."
The corner of her mouth moved slightly—the movement was so small it was almost imperceptible. But Ichinose noticed—it was a smile. Chabashira-sensei had smiled.
Hachiman reached up to adjust the frames. "Thank you."
Chabashira said nothing more, merely nodding before looking back down to continue watering the flowers. The water flowed from the spout in a thin, even stream, sprinkling over the petals and leaves, sparkling with fragmented light under the sun.
Hachiman turned and continued walking. Ichinose followed behind him, and after a few steps, she couldn't help but look back. Chabashira was still squatting by the flowerbed, focused on her task, the sunlight falling on her and making her profile look exceptionally soft.
Ichinose withdrew her gaze and quickly caught up with Hachiman.
"Hikigaya-kun," her voice was very low, tinged with surprise, "Your relationship with Chabashira-sensei is... actually quite good?"
Hachiman glanced at her. "She's Hoshinomiya-sensei's best friend."
Ichinose was stunned, then she suddenly realized something. She remembered when Hoshinomiya-sensei had asked her to get in touch with Ayanokouji—at that time, Hoshinomiya-sensei said she wanted to know who had changed Chabashira-sensei and asked for help investigating. She had thought it was strange then but didn't think much of it. Later, she told Hachiman about it, and Hachiman said he would handle it.
So that was it.
"So," Ichinose's voice held a hint of clarity, "The reason you went to see Chabashira-sensei was because of what I told you?"
Hachiman didn't deny it.
Ichinose lowered her head and looked at the notebook in her hand. Her fingers brushed lightly over the cover, and her voice dropped a bit lower than before. "Hikigaya-kun, it seems my affairs have caused you a lot of trouble."
Hachiman looked at her, his tone very flat. "It's fine."
He paused and reached up to adjust the glasses on his nose.
"Besides, these glasses were a gift from Chabashira-sensei."
Ichinose nodded. Then she froze.
She whipped her head around to stare at Hachiman, her bright eyes wide with shock.
"Eh?" Her voice rose several octaves. "Chabashira-sensei gave them to you?"
Hachiman looked at her. "What's wrong?"
Ichinose opened her mouth to say something but found she didn't know what to say. Because at that moment, all sorts of thoughts were racing through her head—glasses given by Chabashira-sensei. Not Karuizawa, not Horikita, not Sakayanagi, not Shiina, not Kushida—it was Chabashira-sensei.
The homeroom teacher of Class D.
The Chabashira Sae who was always cold-faced and never showed anyone a shred of kindness.
She gave Hikigaya Hachiman a pair of glasses.
Ichinose's mind was a mess. She remembered that faint smile from earlier when Chabashira-sensei said they suited him; she remembered her squatting by the flowers; she remembered Hachiman's casual tone when he said "these glasses were a gift from Chabashira-sensei."
Incredibly, she suddenly realized that these two were actually... in a way, quite a match. After all, Chabashira-sensei had a job, which perfectly met Hikigaya-kun's criteria for a partner.
"What's the matter?" Hachiman looked at her, his brow slightly furrowed.
Ichinose shook her head hurriedly. "It's nothing. Just—a bit unexpected."
Linking Hikigaya-kun and Chabashira-sensei together so suddenly was truly a bit unbelievable. However, Hikigaya-kun already had a girl he liked—that girl named Yukinoshita—so she told herself it was better not to let her imagination run wild.
Thinking this, Ichinose quickly composed her expression and stopped her wandering thoughts.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting