Food is considered the primary source of energy for humans, so this might be the first common point among all people. But tastes differ when it comes to meals and preferences; there are always many choices in flavors and ingredients.
Personally, I can eat almost everything, except tomatoes. Therefore, the conditions to satisfy me aren't many.
Even during lunch break, yakisoba bread with a small juice box is enough for me.
But today was truly special; I received a warm homemade meal made by Yukinoshita.
I've tasted my mother's cooking, Komachi's, and even my own, but her cooking truly stands out. Even though all she does is follow the recipe without any personal creative touches, the taste makes you think the dish was prepared by a professional chef.
Not only did I regain my energy, but my mood also improved. I was somewhat tense this morning, and after a conflict between Yamauchi and the girls, my mood worsened significantly.
But now, I feel like I could crack a joke.
After finishing the delicious meal, I sat in my new spot behind the school, enjoying the gentle breeze.
No students pass by here, so you can relax without any disturbance. What I really need now is a drink, but I'm genuinely torn between coffee, a soda, or an energy drink.
Why has the choice suddenly become so difficult?
Well, I'll grab something random on my way to class. Let's enjoy a little peace.
Sitting in the shade and watching the clear sky is a perfect opportunity to organize my thoughts.
You receive an announcement from a prestigious school: once you enter, all paths to achieving your dreams open up—studying abroad, at the best universities, or even getting a job as soon as you graduate.
But upon entering, you find yourself entangled in a system that measures everything by ability.
I've become certain that once you pass through this school's gates, you won't leave the same person. Perhaps this school helps students mature, regardless of the outcome, but at what cost? Their thoughts or their personalities?
No matter how much I think, I find that 3 years here are troublesome. Even the tests we might face are unknown.
And I'll be far from Komachi too.
Oh, right, Komachi. I really miss her, even though only two weeks have passed. I wonder if she misses me too. My father must have started spoiling her with the money he saved.
What a terrible father! Well, if it makes Komachi happy, I suppose it's fine.
Let's stop thinking about this now; memories of separation bring tears.
I stood up and started stretching a little. Sitting for a long time without moving is really bad; you feel like your body is under anesthesia.
I took my phone from my pocket to check the time, but it seems there's still time left.
I didn't even bring my novel to waste a little time. What should I do now? Go back to class?
I slowly put my phone back in my pocket and raised my head to the sky again. The weather is still clear. It's better to just sit here.
But it seems this place will lose its peace soon.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted a red blazer.
I quickly lowered my head to a normal level to find a girl with long black hair, with a strand neatly gathered, giving the appearance of a light braid. Her face would have been truly beautiful if it weren't for her sharp, perpetually frowning features.
Behind her stood Ayanokouji with an expressionless face. They were both looking at me.
What are they doing here? Did Horikita lure him here to hit him because he annoyed her?
I wouldn't rule that out; his face is annoying. I might actually enjoy watching them—nothing beats a little entertainment after a meal.
"What are you doing? Is this some kind of ritual?" Horikita didn't bother with any greeting and immediately started throwing out sarcastic words.
But what ritual is she talking about? Just standing doesn't count as a ritual, I think.
"What are you talking about?" I frowned at her. Why does she suddenly appear and start saying strange things?
Horikita tilted her head slightly to the side. "You're looking at the sky as if you're performing a summoning ritual."
"What do you mean? Isn't looking at the sky usually associated with thinking and contemplation?" This scene is always associated in novels with moments of analysis and inner reflection.
"Hmm... Standing behind the school alone, staring at the sky with your strange eyes. Hmm, looking at this situation, it seems like a summoning ritual to me... Don't you think?" Horikita turned to Ayanokouji, seeking his agreement.
But it seems he doesn't intend to engage in this trivial argument.
But seriously, summoning rituals happen at night and require many things like candles and other stuff, don't they?
Anyway, I'll ignore her too. I don't want to continue this.
As if Horikita understood that I wouldn't argue further, she crossed her arms and her face became more serious.
"Alright..." Before she could continue, her tone shifted to something more serious than usual. "Hikigaya-kun, I was looking for you. I want to talk to you about something important." Horikita announced the reason for her appearance here.
So, her coming here really wasn't a coincidence.
Ah... Am I to understand from Ayanokouji's presence here that he's the one who told her where I was?
Damn it, this threatens my peaceful spot.
"So, what do you want?" Better to get straight to the point.
"Hikigaya-kun, do you have anything to do with the changes that have started to occur in class?" It seemed Horikita also didn't intend to waste more time and directly addressed the reason she came.
"Hmmm... Do you mean recent events? What makes you think that way?" I haven't taken any step directly or openly, so it's not easy for someone to suddenly suspect me.
"I've thought about it a lot. This doesn't seem like a normal change to me, especially after seeing Chabashira-sensei's attitude. Suddenly distributing information about the system? She doesn't seem like the type who would suddenly do something like that." From the teacher's behavior on the first day, you can tell she's cold towards her students and has no intention of helping.
But what Horikita doesn't know is that teachers are fundamentally prohibited from mentioning anything about the system to students, other than explaining the basics on the first day with vague hints.
Meaning, even if she changed her mind and decided to help, this would be a breach of the rules.
"Maybe Chabashira-sensei didn't like the class's situation and decided to offer some support." No matter how bad a teacher's personality is, they'll try in their own way to help their students—that's their job.
Horikita held her chin and began to stroke it with her fingers, as if thinking about my words.
"You might be right, but why did she wait two weeks to give us this information? And it's also incomplete." Horikita had already noticed that what was provided in the files was incomplete.
Well, I intentionally tried to include information that would grab students' attention and increase their enthusiasm. Everyone likes earning more money, so I mentioned that the better our behavior, the more points we'll earn, and that we might even earn more than other classes.
But I avoided mentioning anything related to competition between classes. No one wants to hear that they're in the worst class and have to climb from the bottom to reach Class A.
"As I said, it might just be support from her. Maybe she gave us some hints after our initial failure."
"Hikigaya-kun, I'm not convinced by this idea, so I think a student orchestrated this." Horikita said, her tone full of confidence in her words.
I don't know the reasons that led her to this conclusion, but if you think about it carefully, you can reach the same result.
I got tired of standing, and it seems Horikita isn't the type to easily accept my words and back down. So I stepped back a little and sat down on my seat, since this won't end anytime soon.
It seems Horikita thinks she's very smart and can understand everything.
"If we assume you're right, it seems to me that someone like Hirata would volunteer to guide his classmates." Most students in the class now understand that Hirata cares about the class and his classmates, so he wouldn't hesitate to do anything to help them.
Horikita exhaled as if my words and my attempt to find an explanation for her thoughts didn't please her.
"I understand that, but this doesn't seem like Hirata-kun's style. Same idea for Yukinoshita-san, and I reached the same conclusion." Horikita seemed confident in her words, making her stance more confident and arrogant.
This is really annoying.
"What makes you say this with such confidence?" If she's sure of her perspective, there's no harm in hearing her arguments.
"I don't think Hirata-kun would rely on someone like the teacher if he wanted to help. Also, Yukinoshita-san—I've interacted with her enough to know she wouldn't use such a twisted method."
Hirata wouldn't need any intermediary to deliver his messages to the class; with his personality, he could easily rely solely on his social skills.
As for Yukinoshita, she gave everyone a glimpse of her style during the pool class.
"Therefore, the person who might do this most likely doesn't want to be in the spotlight. An idea like Ayanokouji-kun, but it seems to me he has no motive or even the desire to do anything." She pointed her finger at the boy behind her.
Ayanokouji was still standing behind her, watching in silence.
I really forgot he was there. He stands still without uttering a single word. I think he came here just as an observer.
"So, that's why you came to me?" I sighed heavily after hearing Horikita's full words.
It's annoying to admit you're the perpetrator, because then everyone will start asking about reasons, methods, and everything else. It'll just be a pain.
It's better for a person to remain unknown. Even if I decide to help, I don't want any unnecessary attention.
Staying out of the picture removes expectations and gives you your own space. Even if you fail, no one was expecting anything from you in the first place.
If Horikita is looking for someone behind all this, it's natural for her to start a process of elimination to narrow down the suspects. But is there really no one left but me?
"There's no one left for me to think about, so I came to ask you directly... Hikigaya-kun, are you behind all this?" Horikita asked her question with complete seriousness. Her voice was sharp, giving the impression she wouldn't accept any answer but the truth.
Direct questioning is an excellent way to uncover the truth, but the other party would be naive if they thought that was the end of it and that the other person would answer honestly and easily.
"Do I really seem to you like someone who would do all this?" You can imagine people's behavior and style only from the impressions they give.
Therefore, it's not difficult to predict.
Horikita sighed dramatically: "Do you want honesty? You seem to me like that kind of person—here without a motive." She turned to look at Ayanokouji behind her.
But what she doesn't know is that we don't need to declare our motives and reasons, because their effect is only on their owner. Most others won't understand them, or might even see them as trivial.
So Ayanokouji might have his motives, but he hides them.
"So, case closed. It's not me. I have no motive either." I waved my hand in front of my face. I still don't understand why Horikita is making all this fuss. Didn't someone else do the work for her?
"Why are you investigating this matter so much? Didn't the plan succeed, and the whole class started to respond?" Although the situation is still unstable, this might be enough to mitigate the damage.
It seems Horikita didn't like my words, as her facial features grew more frowning.
"What do you mean? Do you really think it's appropriate to spread such information among our classmates? I doubt their minds have even grasped the magnitude of the disaster we're close to. Also, they might share that information with other classes." Horikita was truly angry. Her evaluation of her classmates is low, but she doesn't understand many things.
"Horikita, I think you're smart enough to know there's a difference between classes... and that we really are the worst." Horikita's eyebrows furrowed; she was still unsatisfied with my words.
Her self-evaluation must be very high. I noticed this from her interaction with Yukinoshita in the library. But unfortunately, that's the truth. Even Yukinoshita has moved past it.
"I think the other classes have already understood the system for a long time. They won't need someone like Yamauchi or Ike to leak information to them." More than that, I think Classes A and B wouldn't need any monitoring to adhere to the rules.
Therefore, I didn't hesitate to adopt my method and spread the news in class. The goal now isn't to win, but to reduce the damage and at least stay in the competition.
"Ah... regarding their comprehension, it seems they succeeded and understood the information provided to them, at least, and have even started implementing some measures. So stop considering them just baggage." I finished my words and stood up again in front of Horikita.
She froze in front of me without any movement, as if struck by lightning and her mind was still processing what happened.
"This just seems like optimism to me... Are you really saying those students might be good?" Horikita murmured. I couldn't see her features, as her eyes were fixed on the ground.
"Optimism?" Optimism isn't my habit, so I was surprised when someone suddenly described me as optimistic.
"Horikita, wake up to reality. Stop imagining that you're the smartest and everyone around you is beneath you. Then you won't call this optimism." Even Yamauchi might surpass Horikita in something; he at least doesn't wander alone, and he's succeeded in forming a group of friends around him.
Even social skills can be useful.
Frustration mixed with anger appeared on her face. No one might dare say these words to her face, but unfortunately, this is my way.
"Are you saying you're smarter than me?" Horikita uttered the words through her teeth, frustration dominating her more.
I don't understand how things got to this point, but I didn't mean anything like I'm smarter than her.
"No, I didn't mean that. I know my worth well, and I also know there's always someone better than me. That's what you need to understand too." I tried to avoid my confrontational tone as much as possible so she wouldn't feel mocked by my words.
I might pretend many times that I'm wonderful and get involved in problems I barely get out of, but I don't think like her at all, because I know my limits well.
"This is really annoying. You talk as if you understand everything."
"Unfortunately, no, but I know well that just as you see your classmates as an obstacle in your way, there are those who also see you as just an obstacle in theirs." Horikita's face paled and her features became sad.
Is it possible I accidentally stepped on a landmine?
Has she experienced this before?
"Tch... It doesn't matter now." Horikita stomped her foot on the ground and started walking quickly from where she came.
She must be unsatisfied with the outcome of our discussion.
Ayanokouji remained standing in place without any movement.
We have nothing to talk about, so I remained silent. Our eyes met for a moment before he turned and left.
I watched his back as he left until he disappeared around the corner.
This is really annoying.
I sat down again in my seat. This discussion drained my energy once more.
I admit Horikita is a truly smart girl. She deduced a lot about the system on her own in a short time, but she's not mature yet. She needs someone to guide her. But who could help with that?
She's really difficult and doesn't accept others' words.
So far, I think we'll face a number of strange tests. The whole class might need to unite if we want any chance of winning. We'll need to deal rationally with what we face, and everyone in the class needs to be ready, especially the outstanding ones.
That's not available right now.
Damn it, why did you bring her here, Ayanokouji?
My mood has worsened again.
---
'Narrator'
After Horikita left, Ayanokouji quickly followed her. She looked angry and sad; he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason.
But she began to regain her composure.
She stood in front of the school with Ayanokouji facing her.
"Ayanokouji-kun, thank you. I think we're even now." A few days ago, Ayanokouji and Kushida planned a meeting between her and Horikita at the café, but she uncovered their plan.
And today, when she tried to find Hikigaya but couldn't find him anywhere, she decided to rely on Ayanokouji. She pressured him with the idea that he had deceived her earlier and lured her.
"No problem. But it seems you didn't gain anything." Hikigaya didn't answer her question, but skillfully evaded.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. I wanted to know who did this and why, and also how they convinced Chabashira-sensei." Horikita looked sad again; she had tried to think of a way to convince the teacher to help, but couldn't come up with anything.
"Yes... There must be some way." Ayanokouji had already thought of a method: if anything can be bought with points, then convincing the teacher isn't too difficult.
"Anyway, why did you insist on accompanying me?" Even after he told her where she might find Hikigaya, Ayanokouji insisted on accompanying her.
"I wanted to make sure he was there or not." He had already seen him before at that spot, but he accompanied her mainly to observe their conversation.
"Hmmmm... Thank you for your cooperation. I'll go now." Horikita thanked him again politely, then entered the school building.
Ayanokouji remained outside alone.
He slowly raised his head towards the clear sky, in the same position they had found Hikigaya in.
Going with her had truly good results.
He had always felt a strange feeling towards Hikigaya, but now, when he was just an observer and occupied only the spectator's seat, he was able to understand more about him.
He's good with words, yet you feel he can read people well and understand their intentions.
His style is strange and distinctive.
He didn't hesitate to confront someone like Horikita honestly and directly.
Ayanokouji wondered if he himself could do that too.
A style he didn't learn in a strange facility, nor receive from anyone.
Ayanokouji couldn't help but think: how did Hikigaya Hachiman become who he is?