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★★★
So, she was thinking if it was Kamuro from Class A? It shouldn't be Sakayanagi, Kamuro's master, who was interested in Hikigaya… Interesting.
This thought was truly surprising.
Was that the result?
Did Hikigaya intend for Sakayanagi Arisu to take over from the very beginning?
...
The school was quite large.
About ten minutes later, the two had arrived at the meeting point.
Kato Cafe.
There, Horikita Suzune was already waiting.
Horikita remained as cold as ice, but it was undeniable that she was very beautiful.
Just by sitting there, passersby would look in her direction.
It could also be noticed that while she was looking at a vocabulary book, she was holding a folder.
"Horikita-san." Kushida immediately greeted.
"..." Suzune.
Horikita did not respond.
Clearly, Kushida had been rebuffed by Horikita Suzune again.
She almost doubted her life.
Last night, she had entered the other party's dorm, shared information, arranged for Ichinose and Kanzaki to meet, and even went with Hikigaya to the Student Council to print the roster.
Logically speaking, she had been a great help.
But now, Horikita Suzune was ignoring her again.
Is it true that when she's useful, she's Kushida, and when she's not, she's ignored with a "..."?
The scene was a bit awkward, but Kushida, Horikita, and Hachiman were all used to it.
So, the three sat down.
Kanzaki and Ichinose, who were supposed to meet them, hadn't arrived yet, so they could only wait.
They didn't wait long.
"Kushida—"
As Hachiman and the others sat there, they heard someone call Kushida's name.
"Ichinose-san~"
And Kushida Kikyo immediately stood up, clasping her hands together, showing her joy.
Hachiman and Horikita looked over, and a man and a woman walked in from the cafe entrance.
The man had slightly curly purple hair and was very handsome.
His legs and arms were also very strong, suggesting he was excellent in sports.
Although Kushida didn't have a photo of him, this young man must be Kanzaki Ryuji.
And the woman.
They had seen her photo yesterday.
It was Ichinose Honami.
But in person, she was even more beautiful than in the photo.
She was a girl with long, golden-pink hair and a very good figure.
She was also lively and very pretty, but also very outgoing.
Several times, she could be seen surrounded by her companions.
Hachiman gave her beauty a very high rating.
She would not lose to Horikita.
But in terms of popularity… Horikita probably couldn't compare to her.
"..."
And Horikita said nothing.
Hmm.
Horikita continued to be aloof.
But now.
They had arrived.
"I am Hikigaya Hachiman from Class D. And this is Horikita, as for Kushida…" Hachiman stood up and said, "As for Kushida… I'm sure Ichinose is very familiar with her."
"Hello!"
Kanzaki and Ichinose looked over.
"I am Kanzaki Ryuji from First Year Class B."
"Ichinose Honami."
They also introduced themselves.
So, everyone sat down at the table.
...
Kanzaki didn't seem like a very outgoing person.
He remained quiet after sitting down.
Ichinose Honami seemed more like the one in charge between the two.
"So, Hikigaya, and Horikita, you wish to... form an alliance with our Class, right?"
Ichinose said.
"That's about right." Hachiman nodded.
"We are students of Class D, and you are students of Class B. We all heard the school rules from our Teacher."
"Only students who graduate from Class A can receive the rewards promoted by the school." Hachiman said.
"Hmm…" X2
However, surprisingly, the two big shots from Class B didn't seem to show strong reactions.
They didn't seem very enthusiastic about Class A.
"Indeed, every Class has some good students, but after being promoted to Class A, the entire Class can receive rewards. I think this is a very good thing. Everyone works hard together, strives together, and then receives rewards together." Hachiman said.
"I see…" Ichinose began to consider.
"That doesn't seem bad either." Kanzaki also started to react.
Is that so?
Both of them are the type to care for their companions.
"Then I'll speak." and Kanzaki, who had just been relatively introverted, began to express his opinion, "Everyone's goal is Class A, that's correct, but from the announced Class evaluation scores, our Class B cannot compare to Class A, but your Class D is the last Class."
"What benefits do we get from forming an alliance with you, and can your Class really climb up?" Kanzaki said.
This was quite impolite.
It was similar to saying, we are the superior Class, you are the inferior Class, we are at an advantage, and you are a burden.
So why should we carry the burden?
"Most of us in Class D are poor students. If we were to take regular written exams to get into university, it would definitely be hopeless. So, we don't want to miss this opportunity to be promoted to Class A and receive tuition and examination fee waivers." Hachiman said.
"My Kokugo (National Language) is good, but my Physics and English are not, so I also want to take this shortcut provided by the school."
"Oh. Is that so." But Kanzaki said lightly, "I see your determination, but I don't see any substance."
These words were already somewhat cruel.
Kushida, who was accompanying them, already felt the gap between the Classes, or rather, the feeling of being looked down upon when in an inferior Class.
In fact, it could be seen from Sudo that seniors sometimes ridiculed juniors, especially students from Class D.
But it couldn't be denied that the overall hardware configuration of Class D students was not as good as other Classes.
Climbing up was very difficult.
"Is that so?" And Horikita Suzune, who had been silent, spoke.
"You want substance, huh? Well, if you refuse us, our Class D students might join forces with Class C students."
"And everyone wants to get into Class A, everyone wants to climb up."
"Class D climbing up means climbing past Class C first, and Class C climbing up means kicking your Class B down."
"Do you think such a thing is acceptable?" Horikita Suzune said.
Horikita still had combat power.
Hachiman evaluated in his heart.
But it was probably not enough.
Because.
Ichinose gently tapped the table, "May I say something?"
"You may." Horikita Suzune said seriously.
"Although I don't mean to look down on everyone in Class D, Class D is the lowest-rated Class. How can you attack us? If you can't help, then an alliance won't benefit us either." Ichinose said.
"...Many students in Class D are very bad, but that doesn't mean all of them are useless…" Horikita suddenly stood up.
But such an explanation seemed pale and powerless.
And Kanzaki remained calm.
"This month's behavioral conduct exam is not over yet." Hachiman said at this moment.
"So there's still a chance that First Year Class B could become Class D."
"And if you fall down, can you still talk to us like that?"
??? X4
Almost instantly, four pairs of eyes focused on him.
On one side were Hachiman's companions, Horikita and Kushida, and on the other were the two representatives from Class B.
"What do you mean, Hikigaya?" Kanzaki immediately asked.
"Are you threatening us?"
And Horikita, on the side, entered a state of serious attention.
Previously, to break the deadlock, Hachiman directly destroyed the camera, leading to the exposure of the Class evaluation scores.
So, did he have some new insight now?
It was indeed a new insight.
"Because my Class's score was deducted, the evaluation scores of the four Classes were exposed, and the teachers also told us the school rules in advance."
"And our Class D is indeed very bad. In the past 6 days, my Class has been deducted over five hundred points."
"But hasn't the gap between your Class B and Class A also been exposed? They deducted 4 points in 6 days, and you also deducted over a hundred points in 6 days."
"But since the rules are known, if constraints are put in place, then major deductions can be prevented."
"However, the behavioral conduct exam is not over yet."
"So, if at this time, Class A hires us or Class C to cause your Class to lose points, what would be the result?"
What would be the result?
Or rather.
What a terrifying conjecture this was.
What was known now was that everyone's base score was 1000 points, and then the behavioral conduct exam in the first month of enrollment would widen the distance between them.
And after that, there would be special exams every month.
But what would be the scores of those exams then?
Certainly not 1000 points anymore, right?
After all, the school provides living expenses to students based on Class evaluation score X100.
If too many points were constantly generated, the school's finances would be strained.
So, the next special exam would definitely not have such high scores.
And it could also be confirmed from the Class evaluation scores of the upperclassmen that even after experiencing so many special exams in school, their Class evaluation scores were not in the thousands or tens of thousands.
So, there was a high probability that the upcoming special exams would have small scores like 100 or 200 points.
Therefore, once too much distance was created at the beginning, and the scores of the next exam and the one after that were low, it would become very difficult to catch up.
Then Class B would only be further away from Class A.
And being far away was one thing, but if they were to be dropped down to Class C or D in the first month… that scenario was terrifying to imagine.
Their morale was greatly diminished, and they lost a lot of face.
In other words, Class B now needed to ally with the students of Class D to prevent being knocked down by Class A, right?
Thus, like a pressure game, the pressure instantly shifted to Class B.
It became Class B's responsibility to form an alliance to ensure their Class would not be attacked by underhanded means and fall this month.
The pressure instantly fell on Class B, making it necessary for Class B to consider carefully.
It's just that...
"Would Class A do something like that?" Kanzaki said after a moment of silence.
"Then how do you think Class A managed to only lose 4 point in 6 days?" Hachiman said.
"If you observe the Class evaluation point of the upper-Classmen, you'll find their point are not that exaggerated, which means the point the school gives for special exams each month are not that high."
"In other words, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once your Class falls behind by several hundred point, or even close to 1000 point, then even if you want to catch up, it might take five or six consecutive wins."
"And do you have the confidence to win five or six times in a row?"
"Of course, this is just a risk I'm pointing out." Hachiman said.
"Class A students can choose not to do this."
They can choose not to do it, but what if they actually do?
Can Class B bear it?
They are Class B now, but if they were truly framed and became Class D, even if everyone wanted to work hard, continuous setbacks would lead to unimaginable consequences.
Furthermore, Hikigaya's point about falling behind in point and needing five or six wins to catch up.
The question is, can they really climb?
Rather, as newly enrolled students, they hadn't yet realized this was a place where strength was paramount.
It wasn't until the Teacher told them the true nature of the school the day before yesterday that they were enlightened.
In contrast, Class A only lost 4 point in 6 days.
This is very terrifying.
It's as if they grasped the rules of this school from the very beginning.
Instantly, a sense of inferiority arose.
Thinking this, the two representatives of Class B indeed became more cautious.
"I apologize." Ichinose Honami said. "We were a bit dismissive of you just now."
Hachiman did not immediately respond.
Because facing arrogant words, retreating is meaningless.
What is needed is a direct, no-holds-barred counterattack!
"So, regarding the alliance, what do you need us to do, and of course, since it's an alliance, Class D students can also assist us, right?" Ichinose said.
And this meant that Class B was willing to form an alliance.
Although Class D's various configurations were very poor, once an alliance was formed, the probability of Class B providing support was very high.
In fact, when Class B students first entered the school, the atmosphere was very good, with everyone feeling like Little Angels.
And it was only the day before yesterday that the Teacher explained the school's rules, and everyone didn't take the Class rankings too seriously.
However, after Hikigaya's description, it became very frightening, because once they were attacked and dropped by Class A, it might mean that the Class and students would no longer be able to enjoy a wonderful school life.
Although such a thing had not happened, as long as there was a risk, they did not want it to happen.
"If Class A wants to hire us to do something underhanded, our Class will refuse." Hachiman said.
"And when you are in danger, we will also take action."
"And the agreement has already been written."
Hachiman then looked at Horikita.
When Horikita Suzune arrived, she was looking at a vocabulary book alone, but at that time, Kushida also noticed that she had brought a folder.
And now, the folder opened.
She took out two copies of the contract.
She handed one to Ichinose and Kanzaki, and naturally kept one for their own side.
Kushida could see the words on it.
[BD Alliance Agreement
First, in exams of all kinds, neither party shall attack the two Classes to seize or reduce the other Class's point.
Second, when Class D is in danger, Class B needs to do its best to provide support. When Class B is in danger, Class D will provide reasonable assistance.
Third, when the point of the two Classes are very close, this alliance becomes void.]
The alliance contract was very simple.
And because of Hachiman's scare, Ichinose and Kanzaki did not want to take this risk.
However, after taking the agreement, the two still read it several times.
Then they placed the contract on the table, "Hikigaya, Horikita, Kushida, your contract is very unreasonable."
"Why is it that when Class D is in danger, Class B has to help with all its might, but conversely, you only provide so-called reasonable help?"
It was indeed very unreasonable.
"Is that what you're dissatisfied with?"
Hachiman did not answer her directly.
"...That's it." Ichinose and Kanzaki exchanged glances, then nodded at Hachiman together, "If the second point is changed, then we can accept it."
"Alright, then let's change it to: When Class D or Class B is in danger, the other Class will do its best to help."
Saying this, Hachiman looked at Horikita Suzune.
Horikita then took out a new contract from the folder.
And the contract had simply changed the second clause to what he had just said.
It had become an equal contract.
Eh!
So, they intentionally showed them an unreasonable contract at first, didn't they?
"Indeed, Hikigaya might be a very extraordinary person." Ichinose said.
"Earlier, the notice board announced that Hikigaya was deducted point for damaging a camera."
"Now that I think about it, this was Hikigaya's way of getting the school rules announced in advance, wasn't it?"
"And our Class B also benefited greatly from you. Otherwise, with our previous attitude towards life, we would probably have another two or three hundred point deducted by the end of this month."
Saying this, Ichinose then placed her hands flat, "Then... from today until the contract is void, our alliance is established. Let me reintroduce myself, I am Ichinose Honami from Class B."
"Kanzaki Ryuji."
"Horikita Suzune."
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Kushida Kikyo."
Thus, on this day, the six-month BD Class offensive and defensive alliance was officially established.
However, "Since we've allied, let's share this information with you too."
Hachiman then looked at Kushida.
Kushida immediately handed one of the three stacks of documents she was holding to Ichinose.
"This is..." Kanzaki seemed to not have reacted yet.
"This is the roster for the entire grade. Since it's a Class competition, it's reasonable to be familiar with the information of all the students, right?" Hachiman said.
Uh.
Indeed.
Kanzaki and Ichinose exchanged glances.
Their initial disregard for Class D was indeed ill-advised.
Because if they hadn't paid attention to anything, then perhaps... they wouldn't just have to worry about whether Class A would play dirty tricks on them this month.
They felt like they might even fall themselves.
...
Because it was a holiday, and Ichinose was a busy person, she was quickly called away.
Kanzaki seemed not very talkative and left with a slightly embarrassed smile.
So now, only Hikigaya and the others were left in the cafe.
Since they were already in the shop, the three of them ordered food.
After all, it was already almost noon.
While waiting for their meal, Hachiman noticed something strange about Kushida: she, who was usually everyone's Little Angel and was trusted and relied upon by everyone, surprisingly didn't check her phone.
Even though her phone had 67 groups.
"By the way, Kushida, were you not invited out by anyone today?" Hachiman asked.
"I posted on my chat app that I wanted to sleep in today." Kushida said.
So, you implicitly told everyone not to disturb you, but then you came out with them anyway?
Well, you're quite something.
You value them so much.
But if that's the case, it also means that Kushida's daily life must be very tough.
If you're too popular, you don't have any free time for yourself.
And if your friends have all sorts of problems, you have to help them out in various ways.
However, Hachiman noticed Kushida was staring at him.
"Hikigaya..." Kushida said.
"Are you perhaps very smart?"
Very smart?
Horikita Suzune had been maintaining a cool and detached demeanor.
She had just recalled the negotiation process with Class B.
She felt a little regretful.
She hadn't been useful, and had even allowed Class B to underestimate them.
However, "Is it really possible for Class B to fall and become Class D?" Kushida asked.
"That's uncertain." Hachiman said. "It's just a hypothesis. If I were in Class A, I might do that."
"Because if you create a gap of nearly 1000 point, it's very difficult for the opponent to catch up."
"Moreover, during the behavioral conduct assessment period, as long as you induce the opponent to make a rule-breaking move, the opponent will be heavily penalized."
"So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Hachiman said.
I see.
Horikita and Kushida stopped talking about other things.
After all, thinking about these things was not as good as thinking about how to prevent their Class's point from being deducted so severely.