Chapter 44: The Arrogant and Inferior Defective
Hikigaya believed he wasn't wrong. At some point, the world started equating having no friends with failure, but he never saw it that way.
Even without friends, even if he was always alone, it wasn't wrong. Loneliness wasn't a mistake. What he wanted was never those fake relationships.
So, having no friends was fine. Having no companions was fine.
Hikigaya's words left the Horikita siblings stunned.
Horikita Manabu: "You're really interesting."
"In this school, teamwork is crucial, but individuality is just as important."
"In the future, this school has many special exams you haven't seen. I'm looking forward to your performance…"
Horikita Manabu glanced at Hikigaya, then at Suzune, who was still frozen in place, before turning to leave.
"Suzune, if you want to reach Class A, you'd better fight for it with your life."
Under Hikigaya and Horikita Suzune's gazes, the student council president finally walked away.
Hikigaya let out a soft sigh. That guy's oppressive aura was intense, even more intimidating than Class C's Ryūen at times.
Hikigaya handed the still-warm black tea to Horikita Suzune, then went back to the vending machine to buy another.
Horikita Suzune sat on a nearby bench, taking a small sip, still thinking about her brother's words.
"Hikigaya, have I changed?"
"People go through millions of changes every day, mentally and physically. You may not notice, but waking up makes you different from yesterday. That's growth. In that sense, you've probably changed."
"You're really hard to understand. As always, you're so twisted…"
Hikigaya opened his black tea and took a big gulp.
"I don't know what happened between you and your brother, but I was surprised to see this side of you."
Recalling how she'd looked earlier, got completely exposed in front of him, Horikita's face flushed slightly.
"Forget it right now."
"Even if you say that… it's hard to forget."
"Do it!"
Feeling her murderous glare, Hikigaya quickly nodded, promising to forget it.
Holding the warm black tea, Horikita Suzune gradually calmed down. Thinking of everything the boy had done, a sentence slipped out unconsciously.
"You're pretty impressive. Even someone like Sudo changed because of you."
"I don't think I changed him."
"But it's true, no matter how much you deny it. Even I… hearing my brother say that made me realize I've been changed by you without noticing."
"…"
"I used to think someone like Sudo was beyond saving, so I always ignored him. But today… because of your words, I believe he'll change in the future…"
If she'd argued with him, it would've affected the class again, shattering the study mindset he'd worked hard to build.
She must have noticed this and chose to compromise. No… it was Hikigaya who conveyed that to her in that moment, leading to this outcome.
"Tell me, Horikita, why are you so obsessed with Class A?"
"Isn't it obvious? To catch up to my brother, to make him see me differently."
"Chasing your brother? I can understand that… but…"
"But what?"
"Reaching Class A doesn't guarantee his approval. You should know that. In other words, there's something more important than reaching Class A."
"No, there isn't. If I can't reach Class A, I'll never earn my brother's recognition or surpass him."
Horikita's words were resolute. Clearly, she hadn't yet realized what her brother truly cared about.
If that was the case, Hikigaya saw no need to spell it out. In her three years at this school, she'd figure it out eventually.
The topic ended there. Hikigaya took another big gulp of black tea, the bitter aroma bursting in his mouth. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
He was still a loner in this high school, but because of some accidents and the school's system, he couldn't just do nothing.
At the very least, if he didn't want to be expelled, he had to act.
"If things continue like this, can Sudo and the others really reach a safe score?"
Horikita shook her head. It was a fact no one wanted to accept, but it was true. There was too little time, and the foundation of Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi was shockingly poor.
At this rate, there was maybe a one-in-ten chance they'd avoid expulsion. They probably knew that too.
But they had no choice but to push forward. Giving up even that slim hope would truly be waiting for death.
Hikigaya: "Do you know what the passing line is?"
Horikita Suzune: "Based on past exams and regular quizzes, it's likely the class's average score. Why, are you scared?"
Hikigaya: "It's hard not to be, especially for someone like me who's clueless about science…"
Horikita Suzune: "You're an overly self-aware rational monster with a terrifyingly fast mind. It's a bit unbelievable that you're bad at science…"
Hikigaya: "Maybe science has a bias against me."
Science near zero, humanities near perfect, averaging around 50. It almost felt intentional.
Horikita Suzune: "Now I understand… what Chabashira-sensei meant when she said Class D students are full of flaws. I used to be too arrogant, genuinely looking down on the weak. That's probably why I was put in Class D. And you… Hikigaya Hachiman, you're the same…"
Horikita didn't say more. After finishing the last sip of her black tea, she waved and left.
Arrogant yet inferior—in a way, Hikigaya was a defective product too.
( End of this chapter)