Chapter 012: Horikita Suzune: Fine, I'm a Pig!
Chabashira finally realized the intentions of the Class B representative recognized by her good friend Chie.
The boy was definitely Chie's star pupil, as he was capable of making her blood boil; however, in terms of the ability to irritate others, it seemed he held the upper hand.
Still, Chabashira couldn't just stand by and watch Horikita Suzune be toyed with.
As a graduate of this school—and a formidable person who had once taken Class D all the way to Class B—Chabashira could sense it: this Class B student seemed to be baiting Horikita Suzune.
"Your name is—" Chabashira said.
"First-year Class B, Hikigaya Hachiman."
"...I see, Hikigaya," Chabashira said. "Do you know what you are saying?"
"I am simply learning the rules of this school and utilizing them. Is there something wrong with my request?" Hachiman looked toward Chabashira-sensei.
"..." Chabashira took the cigarette in her hand, crushed it into the ashtray, and extinguished it. "This method is naturally legitimate. However, if you truly need me to appraise the price of the questions, you will need to pay me a fee as well."
Then she turned her gaze toward Horikita.
The only thing she could do was attempt to give a warning. By formalizing the matter, Horikita, you should realize what kind of situation you are going through, right?
"Then I'll buy ten minutes of Teacher's time," Hachiman said.
"..." Chabashira. "1,000 points."
"Deal." Hachiman nodded. "But that depends on whether Horikita-san wants to proceed with the transaction for the questions."
"..." Horikita.
Horikita's brow furrowed. She realized that asking questions had suddenly become a formalized process. Though she lacked social graces, she wasn't a fool.
Her intuition told her she was being hustled. Furthermore, once it was formalized, buying the answers to the questions would mean she really had to pay.
As she was thinking this...
"Then let's begin. You want to know the truth about this school, right?" the boy named Hikigaya said.
Horikita's heart tightened. This was exactly why the other party had called her a pig in his heart, and she wanted to know why exactly she was a pig.
"Or the contents of this month's special exam?" he added.
Special exam?
Horikita was slightly confused. The fact that the word "special" was added to "exam" gave her a bad feeling.
"Or perhaps, Student Council President Horikita Manabu's phone number?" the boy continued.
Horikita Suzune: "..."
This time, Horikita's expression froze.
Because...
This phrasing suggested he knew she was the Student Council President's sister. Otherwise, logically, he wouldn't bring this up out of the blue.
Then...
Horikita recalled that everything she had heard just now were the inner thoughts of the boy named Hikigaya Hachiman in front of her. If she asked the questions, he might give the answers in his heart.
However...
'These are all great questions; Horikita should be unable to refuse them.'
And just like that, the inner voice ended.
So, since you know they are great questions, why didn't you say the answers in your heart?
Although the act of eavesdropping on someone's inner voice to get answers was a bit despicable and contemptible, Chabashira-sensei's serious and formal behavior just now made Horikita feel a bit uneasy.
Horikita looked at Chabashira-sensei, only to find her mouth slightly open, showing a look of surprise.
Horikita: "..."
Does this mean even Chabashira-sensei was surprised by his questions?
Since she didn't directly deny them, does that mean the things he's questioning really exist?
So have I really... failed to notice anything?
She felt that if she had noticed nothing, her brother would definitely be disappointed in her.
"Then, the first question," Horikita said. "I want to know. The truth about this school..."
"Fine," Hachiman said. "This school is very special. Although its external publicity is excellent with various benefits, the only ones who truly receive these rewards—and the future employment or exam-free entry into desired universities—is Class 3-A. All freshmen are actually evaluated by an evaluation system the moment they enroll. Being assigned to Class A means you are excellent in all aspects. Class B is slightly lacking, Class C is 'not great,' and Class D is 'trash'—"
"Class D is trash!" Horikita Suzune almost slammed a table. But since there was no table here, she could only show her shock.
If this news was true, then she had indeed asked the right question.
"Yes, it's a special evaluation system. So, the fact that you were assigned to Class D means your overall strength is 'trash.' Of course, it could also mean you are extremely lopsided—possessing great defects. Even if your academic or physical ability is excellent, you were still dumped into Class D. You are very likely the latter," Hachiman added.
Horikita: "..."
This sounded a bit like a consolation, but she actually found herself unable to reject it.
She had followed her brother to this school to prove she wasn't useless, and yet... she was evaluated as a "defect" the moment she entered.
The contrast was simply...
But if it was like this, even if her brother knew she was in Class D, his evaluation of her might not have turned into "completely useless."
Horikita felt she might still have a shred of confidence left, rather than being so crushed that she'd withdraw from school to avoid further humiliation.
"Of course, if you are dissatisfied with this evaluation, you can fight back. That is exactly the charm of this school.
While inequality exists, the school also grants the weak a chance to revolt," Hachiman said.
"I said earlier that only Class 3-A can enjoy the rewards promised by the school, but 'Class A' is fluid. From enrollment to graduation, there are special exams every month, and these exams are tied to the class rankings."
"So is this the second question you mentioned?" Horikita said.
She now understood what Hachiman meant by "special exams."
"Yes, but I suggest you don't ask the second question for now," Hachiman said.
"Because your balance is insufficient."
"...?" Horikita looked at Chabashira.
Hachiman had just invited Chabashira to be the appraiser of the value. And now, for the very first question, her balance was insufficient...
"This question was bought by Class 1-A at a high price on the first day of enrollment. At that time, Class 1-A paid 1 million points," Chabashira said with a stiff face.
"Now, because ten days have passed, the value of the question might have decreased over time, but Horikita, if you were to buy this answer from me, it would still cost 650,000 to 700,000 points."
Does that mean Horikita Suzune is now over 600,000 points in debt?
No.
Almost instantly, Horikita felt that not only had she failed to perceive the school's true nature, she was indeed worse than a pig. If she fell into a debt of over 600,000 to Hachiman just like that, her brother would definitely treat her like a pig too.
"Earlier... you said... a question is at least 200,000... so there is a 200,000 option.
So this question shouldn't be charged that high," Horikita Suzune said.
In other words, she was trying hard to minimize her losses.
And this meant she was actually willing to pay 200,000 points for a question. She was an honest person.
"Admittedly, your class teacher has appraised the value of this question at 600,000 points, but that's the price for asking a teacher. Asking a student might be different, and I have no grudge against you," Hachiman said.
"So let's settle the bill at the minimum price of 200,000 points."
As he said this, he took out his phone and pressed the "End Call" button on the screen, which had been showing [Call in Progress].
Then he held up the phone toward Horikita Suzune.
"As a price for this compromise, I want to take a photo of you. You can agree to that, right?"