Chapter 26: Little Hikki, I'm Here!
Ryūen: "Hahahaha, so modest. I don't dislike that either."
Ryūen scanned Class D's students before casually walking into the classroom.
Chabashira: "Ryūen, don't go too far."
Ryūen: "Huh? It's lunch break now. I'm just here to say hi and chat with Class D's students. The one who shouldn't be here is you."
Ryūen's words weren't wrong. It was lunch break, and the school had no rule against visiting other classes. Meanwhile, Chabashira was the one taking up the students' break time.
Seeing Chabashira no longer stopping him, Ryūen spoke as if unleashed: "Hikigaya Hachiman, since you won't say it, I'll lay it all out."
Ibuki stepped forward, trying to stop Ryūen from going too far. After all, letting Class D fall apart was to their advantage. But… Ryūen just glared at her, and she backed down.
"You probably don't know the school's rules yet. Judging by you Class D losers, you're probably a bunch without even basic common sense."
"The so-called 100,000 points? It's just a facade, you know that?"
Karuizawa Kei, hearing such condescending words, stood up to retort: "Of course we know. Hirata figured it out, right?"
The girl looked to Hirata for support, but… he just shook his head slightly.
"I said a long time ago, everything was found out by Hikigaya Hachiman himself. It has nothing to do with me."
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"Knowing all this and still breaking the rules on purpose? What a bunch of idiots, hahaha!"
The classroom fell silent except for Ryūen's laughter and Karuizawa Kei standing there, stunned.
"So… you all understand, right? The school's ranking system, the so-called A, B, C, D classes seem randomly assigned, but they're absolute rankings. In other words, if you stay in a lower class, coming to this school is meaningless."
"Though you're the useless Class D, the pointless Class D, no matter how hard you try, you can't surpass our Class C. But I have to say, because of him, the gap between us has been cut in half. Still, you're so arrogant it's laughable."
Ryūen's words were like knives, striking at every Class D student who had just mocked, ridiculed, and criticized the boy. Though they knew about the ranking and point system, they hadn't realized the reward system was tied to so many hidden aspects of the school.
Hikigaya: "What's the benefit to you in saying all this?"
Ryūen flashed a terrifying smile, looking at Hikigaya Hachiman with deep appreciation: "No, no, no, you've got it wrong."
"It doesn't need to benefit me. For someone I admire, whether they're an enemy or a friend, I'll do everything to help them… and then crush them."
"That's terrifying. But I don't have the confidence to be a tyrant's friend or enemy…"
"Hahahahahahaha! One day, you'll have no choice but to make a decision."
Ryūen and Hikigaya locked eyes, a bond of both rivalry and camaraderie taking root in their hearts.
'I didn't expect to meet so many weird people at this school. What a hassle… but it's kind of interesting, Ryūen.'
Though Hikigaya couldn't admit Ryūen was his friend, compared to the guys in Class D, he trusted Ryūen more.
He could feel the genuine emotion in how Ryūen treated him. Though it carried some manipulation and ambition to climb higher, it was mostly admiration. Unlike the hypocrisy of Class D, this feeling was more comfortable to deal with.
Sudo: "How do I know if what you're saying is true?!"
Sudo, one of the "three idiots," finally spoke up, his words like a last act of defiance, unwilling to admit his mistakes. Such arrogance.
Ryūen gave Sudo a cold glance: "Brainless thing, get lost."
Ryūen was always like this—relentlessly pursuing what interested him and kicking away what didn't.
"You!"
Horikita: "Since sensei's here, we just need to ask you directly to verify this, right, Chabashira-sensei?"
Chabashira let out a cold laugh, looking at Class D's students with disdain.
"I didn't expect you to be this stupid, beyond my imagination."
"Do I even need to confirm it? According to past years' rules, we're supposed to reveal this when you're shocked by the point distribution next month. But now, I'll tell you early."
"Ryūen's right. You're a bunch of idiots. Class D's always full of idiots, hahahahaha!"
With sensei's confirmation, the Class D classroom fell silent again.
Seeing his task complete, Ryūen said nothing more.
"Hikigaya, I helped you this time. Remember you owe me one… And Class C's always open to you!"
With that, Ryūen turned to leave but spotted a petite silver-haired girl standing at Class D's door.
"Oh? Isn't this Sakayanagi?"
"Arara, if it isn't dragon boy. But I'm not here for you this time."
Ryūen instantly saw through Sakayanagi's intentions. After all, for her to come to Class D alone, it could only be for him.
"Sakayanagi, I'm telling you, don't try to steal him from me!"
"Steal? Why would I need to steal?"
The silver-haired fairy gave a calm, mischievous smile, exchanging a glance with Ryūen before brushing past him.
"Little Hikki, remember our promise? I'm here for you!"
The silver-haired girl waved excitedly at the boy from Class D's door, her innocent and cute demeanor showing no trace of the Class A leader.
Horikita Suzune: "Though you have no friends, I have to admit I was wrong. You're definitely not unpopular."
Kushida Kikyō: "This is… Class A's leader… Why is she here?"
Hasebe Haruka: "Little Hikki? Is she here for Hikigaya too? What's going on… Are they openly poaching him?"
( End of this chapter)