Chapter 123: Hikigaya and Ryuen's Love-Hate Relationship, Hiyori's Proposal
"Let me confirm, Class B and Class C can cooperate, right?"
"Of course, Little Hikki. But let me warn you, Classes A and D aren't as easy as you think."
Hikigaya nodded. "I thought you'd look down on them."
Sakayanagi: "With my condition, I'm in no position to look down on anyone. And in sports, I'm honestly useless. Ryuen and Kanzaki are formidable."
Hikigaya shook his head. "That doesn't sound like you."
Sakayanagi smiled faintly. "What, in your eyes, am I that arrogant?"
Hikigaya: "Not exactly. You're just lowering yourself too much. I'm not used to it."
Sakayanagi: "The real issue isn't just our grade. Since it's Red versus White teams, no matter if we beat Classes A and D, the White team will likely lose to the Red team."
Listening to them, Kamuro and Kushida realized they were on a completely different level of thinking.
The sports festival was about physical limits, yet to them, the outcome was already decided.
Hikigaya: "You mean because of the second- and third-year groupings?"
Sakayanagi's relieved smile confirmed she'd expected him to catch on. "As expected of Little Hikki, you got it quick."
"I'd be an idiot not to after that hint."
Kamuro and Kushida felt like they'd taken a critical hit to their egos.
Sakayanagi continued, "Forget third-year Class A's overwhelming strength, even with Class D, they'll win. And in second year, under Nagumo's rule, Class A won't lose."
Hikigaya: "So, we're planning under the assumption the White team will lose."
Sakayanagi: "Exactly. And not just us, second- and third-years likely know this too."
If the overall score was a loss, the pressure was greater. Failing to secure a good rank meant falling back, no matter what.
What seemed like a casual sports festival, barely affecting class standings except for the tight A-B gap, was different now.
Sakayanagi's info changed everything. Ignoring it risked a steep drop. The goal was to minimize losses.
Sakayanagi: "Little Hikki, want to join our Class B's devilish training? I hear Kito's drills are pretty good."
Hikigaya's face turned to panic. "Didn't you just say the White team will lose? Why cooperate with us then? We're enemies. Training me is like arming your foe."
Sakayanagi, nonchalant: "…"
Sakayanagi Arisu: "That said, since we have this chance, I'd love to team up with Little Hikki to resist the pressure from the upper classes."
Hikigaya Hachiman: "The way you put it… Even if you dropped from Class A, Class B is still an upper class. You're only 10 class points behind."
Kamuro Masumi: "Alright, enough. Don't be ungrateful. Our Princess won't harm you, and training is hard work for us too. Cherish this opportunity."
Hikigaya shot a pleading look at Kushida Kikyo, hoping his classmate would say something like, "We can't let our strategist train with you, what if you break his brain?" to get him out of this.
But…
Kushida smiled faintly, shattering his last hope. "Sounds great! Opportunities like this are rare for Hikigaya-kun. The sports festival is about fitness, points are secondary!"
Hikigaya inwardly groaned, 'You always screw me over, and now this?'
'Kushida-san, you just shared your past with me, how could you do this?!'
He felt like he was staring into hell, his face showing despair for the first time.
Of course, with his classmate's approval, Sakayanagi didn't care about his despair. "Looks like Kushida-san agrees with me. It's the sports festival, time to get fit! I'll notify you about your special training."
Hikigaya's last hope crumbled.
In all his years, he'd never felt this way.
Even his gym sensei hadn't pushed him like this. Now…
Despite having no leverage against him, he couldn't escape this devilish training.
'Sakayanagi-san, you're a terrifying demon.'
Glancing at Kamuro and Kushida, he saw them struggling to hide their laughter.
Kamuro: "Training's good for you. Last time, I had to protect you."
Hikigaya: "I'm training, not learning to fight."
Kushida: "To learn fighting skills, you need a strong body. It's all good."
Hikigaya glared at Kushida. "I swear, you three planned this. Kushida lures me here, then you casually drop this terrifying plan."
Kushida, suddenly serious: "I'd never betray the class or a classmate. It's absolutely a coincidence, all a coincidence."
Kamuro echoed, "Yeah, just a coincidence. Don't overthink it."
Sakayanagi smiled faintly, saying nothing.
No matter how many times he looked at them, this didn't feel like a coincidence.
As Hikigaya pondered, Kushida spotted a familiar figure approaching.
Sakayanagi: "Well, if it isn't Dragon Boy. How'd your talk with Class A go?"
Ryuen Kakeru: "Well, if it isn't the first-year Princess, still in her wheelchair. Don't worry about our class, you should worry about yourselves, your class dropped to Class B."
As Ryuen spoke, two girls approached.
They were Ichinose Honami from Class A and…
Hikigaya didn't know the other one.
Ryuen, Ichinose, Sakayanagi, and Hikigaya standing together felt oddly charged.
Kamuro, Kushida, and the white-haired girl instinctively grouped together.
Ichinose: "Long time no see, Hikigaya! It's really surprising that Class C sent you."
Hikigaya: "That's a bit hurtful, Ichinose-san. Don't say such sad things so innocently."
Ichinose, embarrassed, said softly, "Sorry…"
This girl's innocence is terrifying.
"You've probably finalized your cooperation with Ryuen's class. That makes us enemies now."
Ichinose glanced at the silent Ryuen, still lively. "Ryuen-san was totally against working with us, but thanks to Hiyori-san's analysis of the benefits, it's fine now."
Ryuen coldly retorted, "I refused because you useless losers would drag us down."
Ichinose: "That's what Ryuen said earlier, but it's not convincing. Your class is Class D now, you need help more than us."
Ryuen: "Keep talking, and I'll rip your mouth off."
Hearing Ryuen's threat, even Hikigaya felt a chill. "You're as scary as ever, Ryuen."
Ryuen: "If a leader lacks authority, how can anyone follow?"
Ichinose: "Anyway, we were allies in the VIP student exam, but now we're enemies. What a shame, Hikigaya-kun."
Hikigaya wasn't surprised. In this school, friends and enemies switched in an instant when interests clashed. Even the strongest allies could become foes. Still, he didn't mind the situation. "At least the first-years are facing off honestly now. Don't pull any tricks, Ryuen."
Ryuen rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Your schemes got seven of my classmates expelled. If I try anything else, we won't even have enough for a class."
Vent all you want, but don't pin it on me! I'm the victim here!
Hikigaya wanted to say it but held back in this setting.
Ichinose: "This is a real fight. Which class ranks high depends on how many athletic stars you have."
The three nodded in agreement.
Everyone seemed intent on keeping the sports festival fair. After so much, the first-years needed a breather, especially Ryuen's class. Their cooperation with Ichinose's Class A showed they'd abandoned their old dictatorial ways.
The one who first convinced Ryuen to give up… was that white-haired girl.
If he recalled correctly, Ichinose mentioned her name.
Hiyori…
At that moment, Shiina Hiyori noticed Hikigaya's gaze linger on her for two seconds.
Just two seconds, a fleeting moment, but she noticed.
If Hikigaya knew her better, he'd be shocked to learn this girl possessed terrifying insight and analytical skills.
Almost identical to his own.
Perhaps due to this resonance, both Hiyori and Hikigaya realized in that moment: the other was no ordinary person.
…
Sakayanagi's smile remained, as if it was her only expression around outsiders. "Ichinose, be careful. That Class A seat isn't yours to keep forever."
Though Ichinose felt no hostility, she knew Class B's goal was to reclaim Class A. With Sakayanagi back in control, if Ichinose's Class A could defeat them head-on, it would boost morale and prove Sakayanagi wasn't invincible.
Especially since Sakayanagi couldn't compete physically.
This was the best chance to solidify Class A's position. Ichinose knew it and was ready.
In the clash for the top spot, the two girls locked eyes while being slient.
Finally, Sakayanagi bid Hikigaya goodbye and left with Kamuro, but not before saying, "Don't forget to come," sending shivers down his spine.
Ichinose, confirming her alliance with Ryuen's class, greeted Hikigaya and the others before leaving.
Those two classes are busy as hell.
As leaders during sports festival prep, they couldn't stay long. Hikigaya had no such worries. With Horikita and Sudo leading, he felt an unprecedented ease.
It wasn't that he was complacent. In a sports festival, he couldn't contribute much, maybe just offer strategic advice.
Most second- and third-years had left, leaving only four students in the gym.
Kushida, Hiyori, Hikigaya, and Ryuen faced each other, the tension palpable.
Except for Hiyori, Kushida and Ryuen were like old enemies.
Hiyori expected harsh words, but what followed stunned even her, she'd never seen this side of Ryuen.
"You're so unethical, poaching my classmates one after another. Now we're struggling to even prepare."
With a shortage of students, Class D's event planning was tough. Beyond mandatory events, everyone had to join two optional ones.
Hikigaya: "You've got the nerve to say that? Your class is always fighting and brawling. They must have learned from you."
Ryuen, with a rare wronged expression: "I admit I'm a bastard and got into plenty of fights. I ruled my class like a dictator, but I never taught them to solve problems with fists."
"If it were me, I'd never leave a trace. Grab their weakness, and even if they're beaten, they wouldn't dare snitch."
Hikigaya, hearing Ryuen casually admit to shady tactics, groaned, "It's a miracle you haven't been expelled."
Ryuen mocked himself weakly: "Say what you want, but in the end, I couldn't escape your schemes. So it's pointless."
He once believed violence conquered all, that absolute force was unstoppable. But recent events changed his mind.
Sometimes, defeating someone didn't require fists.
Too bad he learned it too late, his seven classmates were gone.
Kushida, stunned, asked incredulously, "Are you two… this close?"
Hikigaya: "He's just pretending to be friendly. We're not close at all."
Ryuen: "Bullshit, Kushida. Which eye saw me being chummy with him? Open your eyes."
Kushida could only say she misspoke.
But…
Ryuen suddenly turned polite. "Do you know why I don't have Albert and Ibuki with me anymore?"
Hikigaya: "Because they don't respect you. No one follows a leader who keeps losing."
Ryuen: "Hikigaya, stop playing dumb with the answers. You're disgusting, you know that?"
Hikigaya shrugged helplessly.
Ryuen answered himself: "I realized having Albert and Ibuki around didn't show I'm the brains. Hiyori's different. With her behind me, doesn't she look like my assistant? Elevates my vibe, right?"
Hikigaya deadpanned: "I think you look like her lapdog."
Ryuen: "Hikigaya, I'm gonna rip your mouth off! I swear I will!"
Hikigaya: "Hey, didn't you just say no violence? What's with you, split personality?"
Kushida watched them bicker like a comedy duo, unsure if their relationship was good or bad.
But one thing was clear: the dictatorial Ryuen she knew was gone.
Hiyori, meanwhile, was easygoing.
She didn't use her terrifying insight to analyze them but clapped like a spectator, treating them like actors in a play.
Kushida looked at the trio, glad they weren't in her class, otherwise, it'd be chaos every day.
Two clowns, one innocent girl, a comedy.
[Ibuki Mio: "Albert, you think Hikigaya's got that much charm? Something's off… How'd Ryuen turn out like this?"]
[Albert: "I don't know…"]
[Ryuen, coldly: "What are you two muttering about? Do you think I'm that idiot in the video?"]
[Hiyori: "Ryuen-san, don't insult yourself."]
[Ryuen, exasperated but turning to his class: "I'll never become that idiot in the video, so relax."]
[Shiina Hiyori: "What a pity. I actually think this Ryuen-san is pretty cute."]
[The class's discussion grew louder, and many slowly agreed with Hiyori's "cute" comment.]
[Horikita Suzune: "I think he's kind of cute too."]
[Ryuen Kakeru: "Horikita, you're asking for it."]
[Ichinose Honami: "Don't be so harsh. It's just a video, have some fun."]
[Though Ryuen had a bad temper, he couldn't really vent about the video in reality.]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: "It's kind of surreal. I'm almost forgetting what the old Ryuen was like."]
[Ryuen wanted to snap, "It's all your fault!" but then thought it sounded like something a petty girl would say, not fitting his vibe at all. Nope, not suitable.]
[Yuigahama Yui: "It's weird, Hikki. You're amazing, turning a delinquent onto the right path."]
[Hikigaya: "No, no, no, I didn't turn him around, okay? Maybe he was always like this and just never showed it."]
[Everyone nodded, as if thinking, "That makes sense."]
[Only Ryuen's veins were about to pop. This guy not only messed up his video self but was now slandering the real him. Disgusting, so disgusting!]
After teasing Ryuen, the group returned to normal. Though none were in a rush, they couldn't stay there forever.
Having enjoyed the show, Hiyori approached Hikigaya without expression.
"I'm Hiyori, Shiina Hiyori."
"Oh, I'm Hikigaya, Hikigaya Hachiman."
"I'm Kushida, Kushida Kikyo."
'Why are we introducing ourselves like this? Is it some new contagious trend?'
Hikigaya grumbled inwardly, but the girl before him maintained her innocent demeanor.
It puzzled him.
She clearly had terrifying observational skills, yet she seemed unwilling to overthink or analyze deeply.
Hikigaya couldn't tell if she was deliberately acting this way or if it was genuine.
Though they'd officially met, he remained wary of her.
It was instinctive caution. Conversely, Shiina Hiyori showed no such wariness toward him, which he found hard to grasp.
In the end, he memorized the Class D girl's name.
She shared too many similarities with him, yet was vastly different in other ways…
(End of this chapter)