Chapter 15: Let's Start with this Senior
Horikita Suzune: "He's probably only the second person my brother has ever praised like that."
Horikita Manabu: "I confirmed at the beginning of the year that there was no such student in this class. But if he truly exists in this school, I will recruit him into the student council and have him work for me."
Even the legendary Horikita Manabu had acknowledged the boy, and Class D was in an uproar.
Karuizawa Megumi: "No way… how could someone like that even exist?"
Hirata Yosuke: "I have to admit, he's incredibly calm. His predictions might be based on personal speculation and not entirely accurate, but they're still at least 90% correct."
Kushida Kikyo: "Yes, we all went through that same dark period. It was difficult for all of us. But… he managed to see through it all within just one week of school starting."
Ike: "No way, no way, no way! This has to be fake! That video must be some kind of prank!"
Yamauchi quickly nodded in agreement, but everyone else just looked at the two like they were fools.
The disappearance of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka aside, nothing else in this world had changed. That alone proved this timeline truly existed.
Even Chabashira muttered under her breath:
"I'm really curious what kind of sparks would fly if he and that monster were in the same class."
---
Meanwhile, in the staff office at Sobu High.
Hiratsuka Shizuka took a long drag of her cigarette before stubbing it out—her usual style.
"Perceptive to the utmost," she said.
Haruno, sitting nearby, didn't seem surprised by the evaluation. She laughed lightly:
"As expected of Shizuka-chan's student. Truly outstanding."
Hiratsuka knew exactly what she meant. After all, Yukinoshita Yukino was also her student.
"In that small clubroom, his strengths are obvious. But… over time, he'll drift further away from his emotions, from the genuine things he's always pursued. As his teacher, I don't want that to happen."
Haruno smirked:
"Oh? Then I'm curious—what would Hikigaya become if Yukino-chan wasn't by his side?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "You really are terrible…"
---
[Inside the Service Club…]
Isshiki Iroha, listening to Hikigaya's calm analysis, stared at him in disbelief. Even if she didn't understand everything, he sounded undeniably impressive.
Isshiki: "This isn't the first time I've thought this, but… you're really clever, Senpai."
Hikigaya: "Are you a parrot? Stop repeating yourself."
Yuigahama: "Hnnnnnn! Hikki is soooo smart!"
Hikigaya: "Hey, don't say it like that, it's embarrassing."
Seeing Yuigahama's shining eyes, more excited about his praise than her own, he sighed. Seriously, what's wrong with her?
Miura: "Honestly, I never expected this. I always thought you were just a gloomy hikikomori type—someone who'd just go home and sleep. But… turns out you're pretty sharp."
Hikigaya: "Thank you for your honesty, Miura-san, but maybe try not to be so brutally hurtful next time?"
On the other hand, Hayama and Ebina weren't nearly as surprised. They had always known about Hikigaya's sharpness. After all, if not for his help during that messy confession incident, their own group might have already fallen apart.
The more people spoke, the more awkward Hikigaya felt. Meanwhile, Yukinoshita Yukino calmly sipped her tea, her expression serious as ever.
Behind those eyes, though, was the same question her sister had raised.
Would Hikigaya have turned out differently if I hadn't appeared? Did I change him? Or would he have always walked this path regardless?
From this video, Yukinoshita felt she needed to find that answer.
She wanted to save the boy who stood lost before her.
---
The video continued.
Hikigaya's analysis had ended. Now came the difficult part—proving it. If he couldn't, then his deductions would be nothing more than empty words.
How to prove it? Hikigaya recalled what Chabashira-sensei had said:
"In this school, points can buy everything."
If that was the school's unspoken rule, then surely the seniors had already experienced the same struggles. As long as he had enough points, the information he sought wouldn't be hard to obtain.
But he'd also need someone to stand by his side and vouch for him. Someone credible enough to convince the class.
Horikita Suzune? Impossible. She was a loner, just like him. Even if she reached the right conclusion, nobody would believe her.
That left… Kushida Kikyo or Hirata Yosuke. Both were the class's central figures, and their words could sway most people.
Between the two, the choice was obvious. He had just rejected Kushida, and her hypocrisy made him unwilling to deal with her any further. Hirata, at least, was a "good guy" type—easy enough to work with.
After school, Hikigaya approached Hirata with his plan. Predictably, Hirata agreed without hesitation.
As expected… this kind of personality really is a skill. Just like Hayama.
---
At the cafeteria, it wasn't hard to spot the seniors who were struggling. Anyone eating the cheap relief meals every day was probably short on points. First-years, with their 100,000-point allowance, would never stoop to that.
Without saying much, Hikigaya sat down beside a senior who was eating alone.
"Freshmen, huh? What are you doing here?"
Hikigaya: "Yes, Senior. You've got 100,000 points for living expenses, but you're still eating relief meals? How pitiful."
The senior sneered:
"What's with you? Hah… you're still clueless, aren't you? Doesn't matter. You'll be experiencing hell soon enough."
Hirata was about to speak up, but Hikigaya held up a hand to stop him.
Hikigaya: "Well then… why don't you tell us?"
**
T/N: Well... Happy Onam