Projection
[Almost right after Hachiman received the email that seemed to be from the school, Chabashira-sensei's phone call came through.
However, since Kushida was still there, Hachiman didn't immediately answer the call. Instead, he rejected it and sent a message saying he couldn't take the call at the moment and would contact her later.]
Commentary
Komachi:frowning "Onii-chan! Don't ignore Sensei's call!"
Yui:nervous "Eh, isn't that dangerous? Teachers hate that."
Yukino:measured "Not necessarily. It shows he prioritizes discretion. He didn't want Kushida hearing."
Hachiman:flat "…Yeah, discretion. Or cowardice. Same thing."
Ichika (COTE):arms folded "…He's careful. Most first-years would just panic and answer."
Ichinose:softly impressed "He didn't want to reveal anything. That's considerate… or cautious."
Ryuen:smirks "Heh. Hiding cards from classmates already. Not bad."
Sakayanagi:fan hiding smile "Ara~ he's learned not to trust anyone, even this early."
Hiratsuka:grins "Finally using that rotten brain for survival."
Projection
["What place would you like to go next?" Hachiman said as he put his phone away.
"Eh? Hachiman-kun, have you already finished exploring the school?" Kushida asked, a bit surprised.
"I'm planning to go to the shopping street to buy some daily necessities, and it's already about time for lunch," Hachiman replied.]
Commentary
Komachi:teasing smile "Onii-chan, asking a girl where to go? Progress~!"
Yui:smiling nervously "S-So they're going to lunch together? That's… kinda like a date…"
Yukino:flat "Don't exaggerate. It's logistical planning."
Hachiman:deadpan "…Exactly. Lunch. Food. Nothing else."
Ichika:half-suspicious "…She's tagging along everywhere."
Ichinose:gentle smile "Maybe she just likes company."
Ryuen:snorts "Company, my ass. She's probing him."
Sakayanagi:soft chuckle "Ara~ yes. Let's see how long before he breaks."
Hiratsuka:gruff "Don't let her lead, idiot. Use your own pace."
Projection
["So, Hachiman-kun, are you planning to go eat first?" Kushida asked after checking her phone.
"Pretty much," Hachiman replied. "According to the GPS on my phone, it'll take nearly 10 minutes to get to the shopping street, but the cafeteria is only 5 minutes away."
"I see, so do you want to eat together?" Kushida asked, extending the invitation.]
Commentary
Komachi:gasps "She invited him!!"
Yui:blushing furiously "E-eating together… isn't that… like…"
Yukino:arch tone "Don't mistake ordinary socializing for romance."
Hachiman:mutter "…Exactly. Ordinary. Nothing special."
Ichika:side-eye "…She's way too proactive."
Ichinose:smiling faintly "Or maybe she's just kind."
Ryuen:laughing "She's reeling him in like a fish."
Sakayanagi:smirking "Ara~ how forward. I do enjoy boldness."
Hiratsuka:snorts "Careful, brat. This is where most guys get dumb."
Projection
[The school cafeteria.
It was the first time for both of them, and they found it to be very large with many food counters.
"Hachiman-kun, I found something! Some of the food counters don't require points for payment," Kushida said.]
Commentary
Komachi:perking up "Free food counters?! Onii-chan, use those!"
Yui:relieved "Ahh, that's nice. They won't starve at least."
Yukino:serious "Not generosity. It's a safety net. Minimal survival guarantee."
Hachiman:dry "…Exactly. They feed you just enough to keep you desperate."
Ichika:grim "…She's right. Free meals meant you were already failing."
Ichinose:softly "Still… it's reassuring for students. At first."
Ryuen:snorts "Che. Free food's just scraps for losers."
Sakayanagi:smiling faintly "Ara~ yet even scraps can become lifelines."
Hiratsuka:nods slowly "…Good. At least he noticed the sign too."
Projection
[And the seniors from class D had the largest number relying on free meals.
So, as expected... the school must have limited living expenses for the students, and going forward... the students in class D were going to have a hard time.]
Commentary
Komachi:worried "…So Class D really is doomed?"
Yui:frowning "That's… really harsh."
Yukino:coolly "It aligns with the school's intent. Pressure breeds growth."
Hachiman:flat "…Or just breeds misery."
Ichika:grim nod "…Yeah. We lived that. First month is brutal."
Ichinose:looking down "It hurt. Seeing friends panic when points vanished…"
Ryuen:grinning "Hah! Hardship's where the fun starts."
Sakayanagi:softly amused "Ara… pain reveals character. I wonder what he'll show."
Hiratsuka:tight voice "…Figures. They stacked the deck against him."
Projection
[After the meal, Kushida didn't continue to hang out with him.
Because she was also a busy person, similar to Hirata, but not to help; rather, she had been invited by some other girls to go shopping and buy supplies.
So the two of them split up outside the fountain near the shopping street.]
Commentary
Komachi:pouting "Aw, she ditched him?"
Yui:relieved sigh "At least… he's not being completely smothered now."
Yukino:analytical "Not abandonment. She's managing appearances. Social calculation."
Hachiman:flat "…Classic. Don't get seen with the loner too long."
Ichika:grim "…That's how it goes. Smile, then cut ties when convenient."
Ichinose:biting her lip "Or maybe… she just didn't want to upset the other girls."
Ryuen:snickers "Heh. She's hedging bets."
Sakayanagi:eyes gleaming "Ara~ clever girl. Appearances are currency too."
Hiratsuka:gruff "…Welcome to politics, brat."
Projection
[He also noticed that some of these seniors were spending money lavishly, buying very expensive items.
For example, gold pendants and bracelets.
Some seniors couldn't afford meals, while others were spending money recklessly.
It was a very interesting scene.]
Commentary
Komachi:confused "…So it's that extreme?"
Yui:worried "How can some starve while others buy gold?"
Yukino:cool "Proof that the system fosters disparity."
Hachiman:flat "…And stupidity. Gold chains over meals. Real priorities."
Ichika:grim nod "…Yeah. Saw that with our seniors too."
Ichinose:sad smile "It's… ugly when people fall apart."
Ryuen:laughing "That's survival. Winners eat steak, losers lick scraps."
Sakayanagi:amused "Ara~ how poetic, Ryuen-kun."
Hiratsuka:tight smirk "…And Hachiman's already dissecting it."
Projection
[Among them, the leader seemed to be a silver-haired girl.
Her health seemed to be poor, as she was holding a black cane with her left hand.
But her appearance was very cute.
In fact, the moment Hachiman saw her…
The term that immediately popped into Hachiman's mind was:
"Fragile loli."]
Commentary
Komachi:stifled laugh "Onii-chan!! You can't just call her that!"
Yui:turning red "H-Hikki, you're the worst!"
Yukino:glaring at him "…Disgusting terminology."
Hachiman:deadpan "…I call it like I see it."
Ichika:narrowed eyes "…That's Class A's leader. And he just labeled her that?"
Ichinose:stunned "That's… Sakayanagi-san?! She's… so delicate-looking."
Ryuen:snorts "Fragile? Don't buy it. Girls like that hide steel."
Sakayanagi:fan hides sly smile "Ara~ how rude. But amusing. Dead fish-kun saw me clearly enough."
Hiratsuka:pinching the bridge of her nose "…Idiot. Of all nicknames, you had to go with that."