Chapter 31: The Parallels
Of course, Horikita Suzune knew basic etiquette and had even received proper training, but… her arrogance often made her speak to others in an absolute tone.
Naturally, this didn't help Hikigaya at all. He didn't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings, and he would never answer unless he was sure someone was addressing him. As for why he had this habit—well, it all started because of an old friend.
Horikita looked at him, her face faintly red. She was left speechless for a moment after being so bluntly refuted.
"I say, if you really want to make friends—"
"I don't need friends—"
Before he could finish, Horikita cut him off with a sharp rebuttal.
"What a disgusting guy! Why is everyone in this school such a problem child? …I know I'm one too."
Hikigaya couldn't understand why she was so resistant to the very idea of friends.
In some ways, she was very much like him. And yet, completely different.
Neither of them needed friends.
He thought he couldn't do anything.
She thought she could accomplish everything without anyone's help.
But since she was so certain she didn't need friends, there was nothing more to say.
For Hikigaya, maintaining the status quo was enough. Unless someone made a request of him, he would not move. Perhaps it was because of the Service Club that he had developed this habit: if someone asked for help, he would accept—but otherwise, he would never act on his own.
After all, even now, he still needed someone to give him a reason. Just like Komachi had, back then.
"So, what are you trying to say?"
"Although I don't think you're that great, I don't understand why the leaders of Class A and Class C think so highly of you."
I don't know either…
"Still, I don't dislike you. And what you've been doing does help the class in its own way. Since Chabashira-sensei said it herself… I still hope you'll stay in Class D."
The blush on her face deepened, her words trembling with embarrassment.
Only then did Hikigaya truly feel her presence beside him. Up until now, she had seemed like a machine—always studying, always listening, never reacting to the class around her.
He nodded slightly.
"Don't worry. I don't plan to move to another class. I don't have any friends in Class D, but it'd be the same in any other class. In that case… I might as well spend three peaceful years here."
His words reassured her, but also left her faintly dissatisfied.
Every student had come to this school with the promise of a future valued by society, thanks to the 100% college acceptance and employment rate. Yet here he was, showing no ambition at all.
"What's your ideal, then?"
She was genuinely curious. Why apply to this school if he only wanted a peaceful life?
"Ideal? I don't have anything lofty like that. If I had to say—being a househusband, lying around at home, taken care of for life… that'd be happiness. No—super happiness."
"You… bastard. Let me take it back. I really don't like you. You're twisted and mean."
"Thank you. It's been a while since anyone called me twisted or bad. I kind of missed it."
Hearing this, Horikita widened her eyes in disbelief.
"You really are unpredictable."
The boy didn't answer. Perhaps it was best to end their conversation here.
---
From then on, Hikigaya returned to his peaceful routine. Though strange looks followed him after the incident, he ignored them. His exchanges with Horikita also grew rare.
Fortunately, after that incident, the class stopped openly breaking the rules. They still dazed off during lessons, but since it wasn't technically against the rules, no points were deducted.
Not only that—after learning the school's system from Chabashira-sensei and Ryuen many classmates even returned the items they had wasted points on earlier. In its own way, that was a fresh start.
In the following two weeks, Kamuro still trailed after him often. Not that he minded—it didn't affect him either way. And since that incident, neither Ryuen nor Sakayanagi came to Class D looking for him again.
On the contrary, Sudo—once one of the class's infamous "three idiots"—now often invited Hikigaya out for meals. Though Hikigaya always refused with excuses, he could see the changes in Sudo.
At the very least, the guy was earnest now, nowhere near as arrogant as when school began.
In some ways, Sudo was the one he communicated with the most. Perhaps influenced by Hikigaya, his temper had mellowed considerably. He still spoke harshly, but no longer shouted like a gorilla.
Though his face still looked scary… it was clear growth.
Of course, that only applied to his personality. His grades, however…
Still hopeless.
Time passed, and May 1st arrived.
According to school rules, today was the day for monthly point distribution. As the teachers had explained, the S-Point system continuously evaluated each student, and the final totals were calculated and distributed at the end of the month.
Given Class D's behavior over the last two weeks, everyone was tense. Just how many points would they be left with?
---
Meanwhile, where the students watched the recordings, Class D's tension was just as palpable.
Horikita Suzune: "Can we really overturn that 0-point past?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: "Hikigaya Hachiman… let me see what you're capable of."