Chapter 121: Meeting Nagumo Miyabi
Perhaps due to the approaching sports festival, class discussions revolved around it. Athletic standouts like Horikita and Sudo naturally led the conversation.
While attention focused on Horikita, Karuizawa Kei seized the chance to sit beside Hikigaya. With her usual cute, slightly exaggerated charm, she propped her chin on her hand, feigning ignorance while subtly showing off her figure.
"Hikigaya-kun, have you signed up for any events?"
"Even if I wanted to, it's about talent, right? If I'm grouped with someone like Sudo, I'd basically be signing up to come in last."
Karuizawa, with a mock-disgusted look, said, "That's no good. Losing spirit before it starts? I've never seen an athlete rank well without drive."
Hikigaya nodded. She was right, but he couldn't muster enthusiasm for this.
How had he handled past sports festivals? He muddled through mandatory events, as there were no penalties, and rewards went to those already maxed out in talent.
Obviously, those rewards always went to Hayama.
Then, Karuizawa grinned mischievously, making him uneasy.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're so clever. You don't need to rely on athletics. Just bribe them on-site or make them skip with excuses, and first place is yours."
Hey, don't loudly blurt out the plan I've been mulling over! And when did you get so devious? Who's the bad influence?
If other classes knew Karuizawa suggested this to win the sports festival, they'd curse her lack of sportsmanship.
But honestly, Hikigaya wasn't sure if this exam would involve such shady tactics.
Forget it. Instead of overthinking, I'd rather nap.
Interrupting his thoughts, he glanced at Horikita, diligently discussing the festival with classmates. She was clearly eager to face her brother.
Upperclassmen, huh? I don't know any…
Then he recalled Horikita Manabu mentioning Nagumo Miyabi. He'd never met him or knew what he looked like.
Though only the 1200m relay was cross-grade, this was a chance Hikigaya wouldn't miss. He needed to observe the person even a genius like Horikita Manabu feared.
Karuizawa, watching the daydreaming Hikigaya, said nothing, smiling happily.
Sakura Airi approached, stammering, "H-Hachiman, have you decided on your events?"
Why does everyone ask this? Do I look like the proactive type?
"Not yet, but it's not up to me. With Koenji and Sudo, they've probably claimed everything."
Sakura glanced at Sudo's build, then Koenji's, then Hikigaya's.
She seemed to agree.
Airi, are you thinking something you shouldn't?
Sakura continued, "Horikita-san encouraged me to join some optional events. I'm scared I'm not strong enough and might drag the class down."
Hikigaya was shocked. Horikita, who championed strength, urging someone like Sakura, whose athletic skills matched his, to join optional events? Unbelievable.
Since she asked…
"It's up to you. In life, you don't always need others' advice. Since Horikita gave you this chance, if you want to try, go for it."
He didn't see these three years as life's entirety, especially for someone like Sakura with dreams.
Every harsh event here was class competition, but after graduation, real-world competition would be fiercer.
Joining, succeeding, or failing would be growth for Sakura.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she leaned closer. "If I join an optional event, Hachiman, will you watch me compete? Will you cheer for me?"
"If nothing urgent comes up, of course."
A youthful girl radiating sweat and energy is beautiful.
Their close, ambiguous distance made Karuizawa, who'd been watching, bristle. She yanked them apart, declaring righteously, "You two, this is a public place! Behave, you idiots!"
Sakura, embarrassed, said, "Hachiman, cheer for me!" before fleeing. Karuizawa, unlike her earlier cheer, now looked sullen.
Arms crossed, she refused to tell Hikigaya why she was upset, mimicking Chabashira's scowl, making her impossible to ignore.
Finally, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Karuizawa, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!"
Hikigaya sighed helplessly. He wasn't clueless about girls' emotions. When Komachi got mad, she'd make him guess endlessly, leading to mutual frustration.
But Komachi was Komachi, the world's perfect sister. After his sincere apologies, she'd forgive him, saying, "This Komachi is just too perfect!"
Karuizawa, however, was the trickiest girl he'd met. Her girlish moods and intense possessiveness were daunting.
In just a few days, he'd "coincidentally" see her outside his dorm room when heading to school.
Then he remembered, Ike, Yamauchi, Sudo, and Kushida got his room key at the last celebration. If Karuizawa got it, the consequences were unthinkable.
So…
She absolutely cannot know they have my key.
Another secret weighed on his heart.
[Chat Room…]
[Ike: "With the sports festival coming, this guy's not even thinking about it."]
[Sato: "Ike, why do you always rely on others? He's helped our class so much. This is his weak spot, so it's normal he's slacking."]
[Ike, scratching his head sheepishly: "You're right, I feel bad. He always helps us, and I feel insecure without his planning."]
[Yamauchi sighed: "Our class is always targeted, and we realize it too late. It's not your fault, Ike, I feel the same. Those guys are too cunning."]
[Everyone had opinions on Hikigaya's inaction. Matsushita Chiaki, another class outsider, seemed detached.]
[Matsushita: "He's starting to trust those around him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so relaxed."]
["He thinks with Sudo and Horikita, the festival will be a safe win."]
[This put immense pressure on Horikita and Sudo. The class was rising, and this was the first time Hikigaya wasn't acting.]
[Success would be welcome, but failure would shift all pressure back to Hikigaya.]
[Sudo: "If nothing changes and he has to carry everything, it means we haven't grown. No matter what, this festival must go smoothly."]
[Horikita felt the same. For the class, her brother, and Hikigaya, who'd quietly supported them, she had to excel.]
[Hikigaya, hearing their resolve in the chat, let out a relieved breath.]
[Yuigahama: "Looks like all the planning's up to Horikita-san, right, Hikki?"]
[Hikigaya: "If someone doesn't participate but tries to command, they're just talk. That's despised. Leaving the festival to Horikita and Sudo is best."]
[Yukinoshita nodded. With her strong organizational skills, she knew participants needed more say than strategists. Better to let them lead.]
[Isshiki sighed, disappointed. "Too bad we won't see senpai's fighting spirit. Such a shame."]
[Isshiki, your comments are dangerous. Trying to work me to death?]
[Miura: "So, Hikigaya, you'll have it easy?"]
[Hikigaya wanted to think so, but Sakayanagi's words gave him goosebumps.]
[It probably won't be that easy…]
Meanwhile, with class affairs handed to Horikita and Sudo, preliminary inter-class talks naturally fell to the diplomatic angel, Kushida Kikyo.
To classmates, she was no longer the angel, but she hadn't betrayed the class, so she faced no hatred.
To other classes, she remained the angelic Kushida.
Rumors spread that she wasn't what she seemed, but since they were hearsay, others didn't believe them.
Now, Kushida deliberately resumed her angelic facade during inter-class talks, it was a potent weapon.
One might expect her to team up with Hirata, another diplomatic ace, but she dragged Hikigaya, still pondering how to appease Karuizawa, out instead.
When Karuizawa, peeking with one eye, noticed Hikigaya was gone, her fists clenched, her face radiating killing intent. Her gaze was so intense it felt like it could scorch the earth. Classmates had never seen such ferocity; meeting her eyes felt like being consumed.
"He dared sneak off! I'll make him pay!"
Outside, Hikigaya, pulled away by Kushida, was flustered. Leaving without a word meant Karuizawa was likely furious, and he dreaded the torture awaiting him.
Kushida: "You've got too many problems, huh?"
Hikigaya Hachiman: "You know I've got enough problems, and you still dragged me out here."
Kushida Kikyo, feigning seriousness: "Exactly because you have so many problems, I'm helping you out."
Hikigaya was speechless.
Seeing him silent, Kushida continued, "Besides, I'm not confident I can take the lead in these negotiations. Facing that monster Sakayanagi, all my facades and thoughts would be seen through instantly."
Hikigaya: "Idiot, I'd be seen through too."
"But at least you can guess what she's thinking."
"What, I've learned mind-reading now? Why can't I figure out what Karuizawa's thinking then…"
"Stop worrying about that, it's not your strength. Honestly, you're the type who should be playing mind games with someone like Sakayanagi."
"Then wouldn't I be a monster too?"
"You already are…"
Kushida's words left Hikigaya at a loss for words.
That said, he hadn't seen Sakayanagi in a while. She hadn't joined the luxury cruise or the two exams, reducing their chances to interact.
If possible, he'd rather not deal with her at all.
Being seen through like that felt awful.
At the designated meeting spot in the gym, students gathered, waiting for their allies. Not just first-years, second- and third-years were present, clearly valuing this exam.
Even a busy figure like Horikita Manabu came in person.
Seeing Hikigaya, Horikita Manabu nodded calmly, and Hikigaya returned a respectful nod.
"You did well on the uninhabited island exam," Horikita said.
"Just luck," Hikigaya replied.
"Luck is part of strength."
"Then it's just a fluke."
Horikita Manabu didn't argue further. Though third-years didn't join the cruise or island exam, as student council president, he monitored all grades' exams, with Hikigaya being a key focus.
At that moment, a blond delinquent-looking student emerged from the crowd, greeting Horikita Manabu casually.
"Isn't this our esteemed student council president? You came in person."
Horikita Manabu, expression cold: "It's my last high school sports festival, so I'm taking it seriously. It's surprising you showed up, Nagumo."
Nagumo laughed, maintaining respect: "I'm just a clueless kid compared to you, President. For a major event like this, I had to come myself."
Hikigaya, caught between them, stayed silent but observed keenly.
This blond was Nagumo Miyabi, the one Horikita Manabu mentioned. Unlike Horikita Manabu's calm pressure, Nagumo exuded a strange, unsettling aura.
From their brief exchange, Hikigaya sensed their ideological conflict. Horikita wanted his help with second-year issues, yet Nagumo still respected him.
Before Hikigaya could ponder further, Nagumo's intense gaze landed on him.
He fidgeted with his hands, his eyes teasing. "No way, a nobody like you is talking to Horikita Manabu? I have never heard of you."
Hikigaya's expression stayed neutral, trying to read Nagumo's intentions through his face.
Nothing.
"First-year Class C, Hikigaya Hachiman."
"A first-year, huh? No wonder I haven't heard of you. Hikigaya… sounds familiar, but whatever. I'm Nagumo Miyabi, second-year Class A."
Leaning close, Nagumo whispered threateningly, "Horikita Manabu isn't someone a guy like you can chat with."
This guy's… kinda unhinged.
He wants to defeat Horikita Manabu but also protects him. No wonder even Horikita calls him tricky.
'I can't read anything from his expression. He's not simple.'
Nagumo then grinned brightly, slapping Hikigaya's shoulders. "I am looking forward to your performance at the sports festival, kouhai."
With that, he bid Horikita Manabu farewell and left to find his allies.
Horikita Manabu's expression never wavered. "What do you think?"
Hikigaya: "He's a tough one. Definitely tricky."
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses. "I acknowledge Nagumo's ability, but his methods clash with mine. Right now, almost the entire second year is under his dictatorship."
Hikigaya caught a hint, saying calmly, "A dictatorship, huh? If it's not absolute, there's a weak point."
Like Ryuen's past class dictatorship, any autocracy had flaws.
It wasn't unbreakable.
But for now, he didn't need to overthink. To challenge Nagumo's rule, they'd need to rise to a higher class first. Taking on a whole grade with one class wasn't enough.
His path was long, and this was just the start.
After parting with them, Nagumo opened his phone and dialed someone casually.
"Hey, Nagumo-nii, what's up?"
"Keep an eye on someone named… Hikigaya something. Record all his sports festival results. Do well, and I'll get you into Class A."
"Nagumo-nii, really?! Just watching a first-year? Leave it to me, I'll handle it perfectly."
"Good. Check if he's hiding his strength. If you mess up, you're stuck in Class D forever."
"…Got it, I'll do it!"
Nagumo didn't head to his allies. To him, allies were dispensable. His goal was met the moment he saw Horikita Manabu.
The second years would end with his total victory. Nothing fun was left in his grade.
The soon-to-retire Horikita Manabu and this new first-year were his current focus.
Though… that pink-haired girl in the gym was pretty. Probably a first-year.
If possible, he'd love to recruit her to the student council.
(End of this chapter)