Projection
[Chabashira turned to analyze the student who had chased after her.
A boy—his features were delicate, but his lifeless fish eyes ruined his overall attractiveness.
However, in Chabashira's professional opinion, if he wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses, his charm level would probably go up significantly.]
Commentary
Komachi: giggles proudly "Sensei even says he'd look good with glasses! Onii-chan, see? Upgrade your look a little!"
Yui: blushing "H-Hikki would… um, actually look kinda cool with glasses."
Hachiman: grimace "…I'll pass. Dead fish eyes with glasses just makes you look like a tired office worker."
Yukino: matter-of-fact "At least she noticed. It means she's evaluating you carefully, not dismissing you outright."
Ichika : smirking "Delicate face, bad eyes… sounds like an act. People like that are dangerous."
Ichinose: softly "…Or just misunderstood."
Ryuen: snorts "Nah, misunderstood my ass. That's predator camouflage."
Sakayanagi: hiding a smile behind her fan "Ara~ already an enigma. Quite fun."
Hiratsuka: crosses arms "…Figures. He never puts effort into appearances."
Projection
["Hmm. So, what exactly are you asking?" Chabashira said. "There are some things I can't tell you."
"As expected," the student replied. "The school has placed a gag order on you, huh?"
"But, sensei—you yourself said it in class, didn't you? With enough points, you can buy anything."
"So—can I use my student ID points to buy answers to my questions?"]
Commentary
Komachi: gasps "Onii-chan! Straight to bribery?!"
Yui: panicking "Y-you can't just… pay teachers off like that, Hikki!"
Hachiman: shrugs, deadpan "The school said everything can be bought. I was testing their honesty. Simple."
Yukino: nodding "Logical. A system reveals its flaws when pushed at its limits."
Haruno: laughing "Ufufu~ Bold of you, Hikigaya-kun. I like it."
Ichika: eyes narrowing "…We didn't think of that until way later."
Ichinose: impressed "He's… already challenging the rules."
Ryuen: grins wide "Hah! He knows it's a game and plays dirty from the start. I respect that."
Sakayanagi: delighted "Ara, what a fascinating boy. He rattles cages without realizing it."
Hiratsuka: smirks proudly "That's why I shoved him into this hellhole. He's sharp where it counts."
Projection
[Oh?
Chabashira paused.
Now this was interesting enough to make her stay and listen.
Indeed—
She had explicitly stated that everything in this school could be bought with points.
Which meant—even knowledge about the school's true nature could be purchased.
However—
This kid… is already thinking this far ahead?]
Commentary
Komachi: beaming "Hehe! Even Sensei's impressed! Onii-chan's the best."
Yui: relieved "So he's not being dumb. Just… overthinking like usual."
Yukino: quietly approving "Not overthinking. He's applying logic faster than the others."
Ichika: admits grudgingly "…Tch. Took my class weeks to test the system like that."
Ichinose: nodding slowly "…Yeah. He's already seeing through it."
Ryuen: smirks "Schemer type. Those are the ones you gotta watch."
Sakayanagi: fan hiding her smile "Ara… deliciously ahead of the curve."
Hiratsuka: softly "…Knew you wouldn't let me down, idiot."
Projection
["I did say that, and you can use your points this way. However, unfortunately, the 100,000 points you have is far from enough," Chabashira replied.
"So, in other words, the purchasing power of 100,000 yen worth of points is that low?" The student seemed a bit disheartened.
"No need to be so negative. You just asked three questions—I'll make an exception and answer one of them," Chabashira said.]
Commentary
Komachi: pouts "Only one answer? Boo!"
Yui: murmurs "Still… she didn't have to give even that. Maybe she… likes Hikki?"
Hachiman: deadpan "…No. That's not 'like.' That's called 'using a guinea pig.'"
Yukino: flatly "Correct."
Ichika: frowning "…We had to pay through the nose for info. He's getting it cheap."
Ichinose: thoughtful "No… she's testing him. Seeing what he does with crumbs."
Ryuen: laughs "Teacher's baiting him. Good. Let's see if he bites."
Sakayanagi: amused "Ara, Sae can't help herself. She's already intrigued."
Hiratsuka: exasperated sigh "…Sae, I know that look. You're gambling again."
Projection
[Her previously indifferent attitude shifted.
As the homeroom teacher, she had reviewed all the student files in Class D before their arrival.
But then—
Her close friend, Hiratsuka Shizuka, recommended a student.
That student was—Hikigaya Hachiman.]
Commentary
Komachi: tilts her head, thoughtful "So… in this world, you didn't turn it down, Onii-chan. You actually let Sensei push you forward."
Yui: smiles faintly "Yeah… in this world, you actually took the opportunity. Maybe even… to make some friends."
Yukino: nodding faintly toward Hiratsuka "…A rare judgment call. But the right one."
Hiratsuka: grins, unapologetic "Damn straight. He'd have rotted at Sobu. Here, he either fights or sinks. No middle ground."
Ichika: folds arms "…So the stories were true. He's the teacher's pick."
Ichinose: thoughtful smile "And he accepted. That makes all the difference."
Ryuen: snorts "Hah! So the brat chose the shark tank. Figures."
Sakayanagi: light chuckle "Ara~ a willful participant, not just a victim. How very interesting."
Projection
["I see…" The student seemed a bit bashful. "Chabashira-sensei, you said I don't have enough points… so does that mean you'll be the one paying the price?"
Oh?
Chabashira glanced at him.
She realized that this student understood social dynamics quite well.
"Indeed, I'll pay the price. after all, I have six million, don't I?" Chabashira replied.]
Commentary
Komachi: eyes sparkling "Onii-chan, you actually cornered the teacher into paying for you?!"
Yui: stunned "H-how did you even…?!"
Hachiman: rubs neck awkwardly "…I just asked if she'd cover it. Didn't think she'd actually agree."
Yukino: flat tone "That's manipulation, whether intentional or not."
Ichika: grits teeth "…We never pulled that off."
Ichinose: soft awe "…He's… resourceful."
Ryuen: grinning wolfishly "Heh! Kid's already making adults pay his bill. Damn, that's good."
Sakayanagi: smiling slyly "Ara, such a dangerous boy. Extracting value from authority itself."
Hiratsuka: smug smirk "That's my boy."
Projection
[Then.
She listened as he spoke.
"I want to know—can points be converted into cash?" Hikigaya asked.
"Then, I want to convert my points into cash and send them home."]
Commentary
Komachi: tearing up "Onii-chan…! You were thinking of me?"
Yui: soft smile "That's… actually really sweet."
Yukino: eyes softening "…Family devotion. Unexpected, but admirable."
Haruno: teasing grin "Ufufu~ So underneath the cynicism, he's a siscon after all."
Ichika: blinks in shock "…He… wasn't even thinking of himself?"
Ichinose: smiling warmly "That's… selfless. Really selfless."
Ryuen: snorts "Heh. Family-first, huh? Weird priority in a place like this."
Sakayanagi: tilts head "Ara… loyalty to blood before ambition. How very… quaint."
Hiratsuka: quiet, proud "…Knew it. He'd never forget home."
Projection
["I'm just a regular Japanese high school student," Hikigaya said.
"My monthly allowance is only 2,000 yen, and I get it once a month.
Now, suddenly, I have a huge sum of money—I want to send it home."]
Commentary
Komachi: sniffling "Onii-chan… you really thought of me first."
Yui: softly "I didn't know you could be that sweet, Hikki."
Yukino: looking away "…Unexpected. But commendable."
Ichika: shakes head "…Damn. He's not what I thought."
Ichinose: smiling brightly now "He's… kind. Underneath it all."
Ryuen: clicks tongue "Tch. That'll get him eaten alive here."
Sakayanagi: fan hiding grin "Ara… a soft underbelly. How intriguing."
Hiratsuka: chuckles softly "…Idiot. But a good idiot."
Projection
["I can answer your question." Chabashira said.
"When you graduate, the school will convert your remaining points into cash."
"However, the exchange rate is not 1:1.
It's about 0.7 to 0.8."
"If you want less loss, you can buy unopened electronics from the school shop and sell them off-campus.
That might get you a 90% return."]
Commentary
Komachi: pouts "Only at graduation? That's so unfair!"
Yui: sighs "So they lock you in until the end."
Yukino: frowns "Practical, but manipulative. They control every outlet."
Ichika: grim "Yep. That's what we figured out too. No easy escape."
Ichinose: nodding "…Yeah. We had to swallow that reality too."
Ryuen: snarls "Exactly. They leash you until the finish line."
Sakayanagi: softly amused "Ara~ And yet, he asked on day one. Remarkable."
Hiratsuka: muttering "…Of course he did. Never satisfied with surface answers."
Projection
["Then—"
Hikigaya pressed on.
"Chabashira-sensei, what exactly does the school want from us?"
"To be precise—"
"The school gives us such privileged conditions.
What does it expect in return?"
"Free things are the most expensive."
"I doubt we'll receive another 100,000 points next month.
But—"
"If the school plans to convert our points into cash at graduation—
That means it must offer ways for us to earn more points."
"This school must have methods for students to acquire large amounts of points."
"I want to know—how do we earn a lot of points?"]
Commentary
Komachi: eyes wide "…Onii-chan figured it all out already?"
Yui: in awe "He… he actually said it. On the first day."
Yukino: quiet pride "…Yes. He reached the truth immediately."
Ichika: jaw tightening "…Damn it. We bled through the first exam to learn that. He… just guessed it right."
Ichinose: hands clasped "It took us so long. And he… already knows."
Ryuen: growls "Che. He's dangerous. Too sharp, too fast."
Sakayanagi: delighted "Ara, how absolutely fascinating. This year's Class D is unlike any other."
Hiratsuka: smiling faintly, arms crossed "…Exactly why I put him here. To stir the waters."
Hachiman: sighs, muttering to himself "…And in our world, I turned this down. Told her 'thanks, but no thanks.' Should've known I wouldn't escape."
Projection
[This kid… isn't just "potentially talented."
He was placed in the wrong class.]
Commentary
Komachi: clapping her hands, smiling proudly "See?! Even Sensei admits it—Onii-chan doesn't belong in Class D!"
Yui: beaming "Hikki… you're actually being recognized!"
Hachiman: grimacing, mutters "…Recognition just means more trouble. Wrong class or not, I'll still be the one cleaning up messes."
Yukino: eyes narrowing slightly "Placed in the wrong class… or perhaps the only class capable of forcing you to grow."
Ichika: grits teeth "…If he's in the wrong class, then what does that make the rest of us?"
Ichinose: softly, encouraging "It means you're not alone in Class D anymore. That could change everything."
Ryuen: snarling laugh "Wrong class, huh? Doesn't matter. If he's in my way, I'll crush him just the same."
Sakayanagi: hiding her grin behind her fan "Ara~ but a misplaced piece on the board often causes the most chaos. Delightful."
Hiratsuka: smirking with pride "Damn right he's in the wrong class. That's why he'll shake it up—and that's exactly why I threw him in."