Karaoke, the top trending entertainment for popular kids.
Hikigaya had always thought he wouldn’t set foot in such a paradise for popular kids, but one of the people he’d invited to plot today had a different situation.
He couldn’t call her to the dorm for a private talk, so the private karaoke room Kushida recommended was the only option.
“Chie, Hikigaya-kun is really troubled right now.” Ichinose Honami looked somewhat helplessly at her homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie.
This cute woman, somewhere between twenty-five and thirty, was sticking close to the student with dead fish eyes, her fingers poking his cheek unceremoniously.
“Sensei just wants to get closer to Hikigaya-kun,” Hoshinomiya’s ample body leaned against Hikigaya.
“After all, Hikigaya said he wants to become my student.” Of the four homeroom teachers for the first-year students, Hoshinomiya was the least like a “sensei.” The other three were serious types dressed in suits, while she alone was a free spirit who liked wearing cute clothes.
There were four people in the room.
Besides Ichinose and Hoshinomiya, there was also Kanzaki Ryuji, a gloomy-looking boy.
Being a man of action, he quickly pulled Hoshinomiya away, rescuing Hikigaya.
“The condition is that I get decision-making power for Class B,” Hikigaya said, sitting down a bit further from Hoshinomiya.
“Ichinose, you need to support me as the leader.” Unlike the situation in Class D, with many factions, Class B had only one absolute center: Ichinose Honami.
All the students sincerely believed in her unparalleled charisma.
Class B, with such strong cohesion, was both very strong and very weak.
Without Ichinose, they were like ants without their queen.
“I disagree,” Kanzaki, a devoted admirer of Ichinose, had his own thoughts.
Like other Class B students, he wanted Ichinose, whom they recognized, to lead them, not Hikigaya, an outsider who was changing classes.
“Ichinose-san won’t work.
This school simulates society much more deeply than you think,” Hikigaya said, looking at Ichinose.
“You’re too kind.
Without the resolve to expel students from other classes, you won’t reach Class A.” Unlike Kushida, who was a fake angel, Ichinose’s kindness was genuine, from the inside out.
Her moral standards were far beyond those of ordinary people.
She wouldn’t use dirty tactics, nor could she deal with others’ dirty tactics.
“Hoshinomiya-sensei, having been a student at this school yourself, you must agree with my assessment.
Special exams are not child’s play; they are life-or-death struggles.” In Hikigaya’s memory, Class D’s homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, had mentioned she was a graduate of this school.
And Hoshinomiya was her best friend and classmate, which led to the inference that Hoshinomiya also came from this school.
“I don’t know where you heard that,” Hoshinomiya said, leaning close to Ichinose, who looked a bit dejected, and pulling her into a hug.
Her large chest squeezed Ichinose’s shoulders.
“I don’t have much obsession with whether students graduate into Class A.
Ichinose, just do what you think is right.” A sensei’s value is tied to the performance of their class’s students.
If the class moves up to Class A, Hoshinomiya will also get a promotion and a raise.
Hikigaya thought she would support him.
Although she didn’t affirm him, the implication was clear: she didn’t hold much hope for Ichinose and her classmates to reach Class A.
Since he couldn’t get Hoshinomiya’s assistance, Hikigaya could only present a more brutal reality to Ichinose.
“Based on my judgment, there are two students in Class D stronger than me, and three who are slightly weaker.” Hikigaya was self-aware.
He currently only had the advantage of foresight.
Koenji Rokusuke and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in Class D were beyond his reach for now.
Although Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune each had their issues, they each possessed their own strengths in terms of ability.
“Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kohei in Class A go without saying.” “Class C is the only class whose raw strength you can overcome in a fight, but their leader, Ryuen Kakeru, is someone who will win by any means necessary.
He’s a perfect counter to your class.” “Class D has so many students stronger than you?
You’re joking, aren’t you, Hikigaya-kun?” Hoshinomiya was still smiling, but Hikigaya could not detect any mirth in her eyes.
“In terms of physical strength and academic ability, I admit I am far below them.
Only in judgment do I think I might be comparable, but even then, it’s just a possibility.” “So, Class D has a chance to reach Class A?” “I’m sure if Class D gives it their all, Class A is within reach.” Hikigaya didn’t know how Class D, giving it their all, could lose.
Their top-tier combat power was undoubtedly the strongest among the four classes.
Although they each had personality issues, in terms of pure strength, they crushed the other three classes.
In the era of special exams led by Nagumo Miyabi, individual strength was infinitely amplified.
Like a game, this meta was not suitable for Class B at all, whereas Class D was the “child of the meta.” “Heh.” Hoshinomiya’s sweet smile had vanished.
To Kanzaki and Ichinose’s surprised expressions, she sat next to Hikigaya.
“From now on, I’m Hikigaya’s partner.” Hoshinomiya’s behavior made Hikigaya suspect that she and Chabashira Sae had some irreconcilable conflict.
“Even if Sensei agrees, I object,” Kanzaki insisted, his opinion unwavering.
He didn’t trust Hikigaya.
“There’s no need to make a decision right now.
Tell me your answer after the midterm exam.
I don’t want to force a sale,” Hikigaya said, not desperately wanting to join Class B.
“If you have that in mind, you can save up your private points.” Hikigaya took out his phone and opened his personal terminal.
A long string of Arabic numerals displayed his private points, reaching over fourteen million.
This was undoubtedly proof of his strength.
“I’m sorry, Hikigaya-kun.
I’ll give you an answer as soon as possible.” Ichinose lost her usual energetic demeanor.
She forced herself to smile and then, with Kanzaki, left.
Her homeroom teacher’s disapproval made her feel a bit sad.
The strength of other classes also put immense pressure on her.
She began to doubt if she could bear her classmates’ expectations.
Only Hoshinomiya and Hikigaya were left in the room.
“You’re a bit wicked, Hikigaya.” Hoshinomiya ordered a dozen bottles of liquor via the intercom and began to drink them down heartily, without any regard for her image.
She could have simply told Ichinose not to eliminate the possibility of other students graduating into Class A, and Ichinose would have surrendered.
Now, she had to be the bad guy.
But even if it violated school rules and was detrimental to her professional ethics, she would do it.
The fact that her best friend, Chabashira Sae’s class, would be promoted to Class A was something she absolutely had to prevent, no matter the cost.
Her life had been stuck since that special exam with Chabashira Sae, the one where they could have been promoted to Class A.
Clearly, Chabashira was the reason they lost the chance to reach Class A.
She could not allow Chabashira Sae to be saved alone.