Projection
[Hachiman was about to send an email to Chabashira-sensei to inform her that he was now free.
However...
Ding!
He had barely sent the message when he quickly received a reply.
The specific action was that the email Hachiman sent was marked as "read" within two seconds.
But Chabashira's reply seemed somewhat cold and impersonal.
[I've got some things to handle, so I don't have time right now. Meet me at the rest bench near the artificial lake at the student dorms at 8 PM.] ]
Commentary
Komachi: blinking "She read it in two seconds? That's… scary."
Yui: "Eh? Isn't that super suspicious?!"
Hachiman: deadpan "…Instant read receipts are a curse."
Yukino: "More than that—it shows he's being monitored closely."
Ichika (COTE): mutters "Yeah… that's not casual. That's calculated."
Ichinose: frowns softly "So she's pulling him aside again. It feels heavy."
Ryuen: snickers "Heh, teacher's got him on a leash already."
Sakayanagi: tilts her fan "Ara~ a private meeting by the lake. How very… clandestine."
Hiratsuka: sighs "Figures Sae would set the tone like that. Cold and businesslike."
Projection
[It seemed like she had brushed him off.
She was busy and didn't have time to deal with him.
However, upon closer inspection, something unsettling appeared.
Because if she were really that busy, she wouldn't have marked his message as read immediately and replied so quickly.
Even in work-related matters, there's a hierarchy of urgency, so Chabashira's quick response conveyed a sense of urgency.
This was a bit terrifying.
Hachiman felt his sixth sense kicking in. He noticed Chabashira-sensei's previously indifferent demeanor from class was now more alert, and he realized he had become a target.]
Commentary
Komachi: whispering "Targeted…? Onii-chan, you're already in trouble…"
Yui: anxious "That sounds really bad!"
Hachiman: mutters "…Figures. My instincts are like cockroaches—they only twitch when things are dire."
Yukino: calm but serious "He's correct. She's watching him carefully now."
Ichika: clicks her tongue "…That's when the game starts. Once a teacher looks at you differently, you're in the spotlight."
Ichinose: worried "But he's just one student… why him already?"
Ryuen: grins "'Cause he poked the system too soon. That's what happens when you don't lay low."
Sakayanagi: soft chuckle "Ara~ he's already become a piece on the board. How delightful."
Hiratsuka: mutters under her breath "Damn it, Sae. Don't chew him up too fast."
Projection
[However, after observing for most of the day, he found himself in the unfortunate position of being in D-Class.
From the circumstances of the older students in D-Class, poverty and the need for assistance with living expenses seemed to be the norm.
This made the task of assisting Chabashira-sensei in compiling student dossiers, with each file worth 200,000 points, seem like an incredibly lucrative opportunity. ]
Commentary
Komachi: frowns "So… the only way out is spying for Sensei?"
Yui: worried "That's… that's like homework from hell."
Hachiman: mutters "…Homework that actually pays. Too bad the price tag's your conscience."
Yukino: "He recognizes the desperation of D-Class immediately."
Ichika: nods "Exactly. D-Class is where resources dry up. He saw it in a day."
Ichinose: softly "…He's right. It's tempting. Too tempting."
Ryuen: smirks "Information trade. That's real currency here. He's already in."
Sakayanagi: sly smile "Ara, and Sae offers him the knife and the fruit at once. How curious which he'll cut."
Hiratsuka: sighs "And this is where he starts walking a dangerous path."
Projection
[Speaking of huge points, Hachiman opened the school forum and noticed that the post about the chess tournament from the previously arrogant first-year student, Sakayanagi Arisu, had disappeared.
In D-Class, the seniors could only live off relief food, while some seniors were living lavishly.
The disparity was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Which means, Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A might have actually collected an enormous amount of points.]
Commentary
Komachi: blinking "That silver-haired girl again?"
Yui: "W-wait, didn't she already cause a stir earlier?"
Hachiman: deadpan "…Figures. Rich girl with a cane and a fan club. Perfect boss character."
Yukino: sharp "He's deducing her gains without proof. Smart—but dangerous."
Ichika: uneasy "…Yeah. She plays big, even as a freshman. And she's already earning."
Ichinose: sighs "That's terrifying… first-years shouldn't even be at that level yet."
Ryuen: grins "Heh. Class A brat's got teeth. Fine. I'll rip 'em out when the time comes."
Sakayanagi: hides her smirk behind her fan "…Ara, to be noticed so soon. I'm flattered."
Hiratsuka: mutters "He doesn't miss a damn thing."
Projection
[With this thought in mind, he heard voices coming from downstairs.
"You'll see hell soon enough!"
"You idiot!"
The commotion downstairs caught Hachiman's attention as he was near the window on the second floor and could see what was happening.
It was a tall male student with red crew-cut hair being mocked by two older male students.
Hachiman recognized this tall student.
He was from his class.
This was the same guy who, during the self-introduction segment by Hirata and Kushida, suddenly kicked the table and shouted, "Are you all kids? Why are we doing self-introductions like this?"
But when it was his turn, did he introduce himself?
Yes, he did.
He appeared strong but seemed to be all bark and no bite.
Hachiman remembered his name: Sudo Ken, who was good at basketball and seemed to want to join the high school basketball club. ]
Commentary
Komachi: startled "That scary guy from earlier!"
Yui: squeaks "He's fighting already?!"
Hachiman: mutters "…Predictable. Loud types always crash first."
Yukino: coolly "Impulse without substance. A liability."
Ichika: sighs "…Yep. Saw that coming. Sudo's got power but zero control."
Ichinose: worried "He'll drag everyone down if he keeps this up."
Ryuen: grins wide "Heh! I like him. Idiots who punch first make the game fun."
Sakayanagi: tilts her head "Ara… another delightful pawn. So noisy, yet so easy to move."
Hiratsuka: pinches her nose "…Basketball idiot. Always the same story."
Projection
[ "Don't run away!" Sudo shouted.
But the older students had already left.
He seemed still quite upset and kicked over a nearby plastic trash can.
Then, in displeasure, he walked off.
"..."
Hachiman returned to his conversation with Chabashira-sensei.
"What's the deal with the rest bench near the artificial lake at the student dorms?"
[There are no cameras there. It's one of the few places on campus where students can meet in private.] — Chabashira
Oh.
Commentary
Komachi: gasps "No cameras?! That sounds shady!"
Yui: nervous "That's… that's way too suspicious…"
Hachiman: sighs "…Figures. Every prison has its blind spots."
Yukino: coolly "And those are the most dangerous places of all."
Ichika: mutters "…She's setting the stage for private deals."
Ichinose: frowns "So that's… how they operate here."
Ryuen: smirks "No cameras means freedom. That's where the real game starts."
Sakayanagi: hiding a smile "Ara~ how generous. A fox den right on school grounds."
Hiratsuka: grim "Damn it, Sae. Of course you'd lure him there."
Projection
[But this is a shopping mall.
And the place Sudo had just been at had cameras directly facing it.
So, Hachiman went downstairs and righted the trash can that Sudo had kicked over.]
Commentary
Komachi: proud "See! Onii-chan's responsible!"
Yui: smiles softly "That's so… Hikki. Quietly fixing things."
Hachiman: mutters "…It was crooked. It bothered me. That's all."
Yukino: faint smile "No. It was decency. Admit it."
Ichika: stares "He… just did it? Without saying anything?"
Ichinose: warmly "That's… really kind. Unexpected."
Ryuen: scoffs "Tch. Pointless. Trash cans don't win wars."
Sakayanagi: sly "…But little gestures reveal true character."
Hiratsuka: smiles faintly "…You really are my student."
Projection
[Since the meeting time was set for 8 PM, Hachiman decided to go shopping first.
He didn't have any experience staying in a dorm, except for when he went to Chiba Village for nature lessons back in elementary school.
But now, he had to stay at one place for three years.
The dorms were fully equipped with all the necessary facilities, so he only needed to buy basic living supplies.
Things like toiletries, toilet paper, pajamas, slippers, shower gel, shampoo, and other miscellaneous items—nothing expensive but still a hassle.]
Commentary
Komachi: giggles "He's shopping like an old man already."
Yui: laughs lightly "That's… kinda cute, actually."
Hachiman: mutters "…Survival comes first. Cute has nothing to do with it."
Yukino: calmly "At least he's being practical."
Ichika: nods "Yeah. He knows points aren't infinite."
Ichinose: softly "…It's smart. Most people splurge."
Ryuen: scoffs "Pathetic. Buy a console instead."
Sakayanagi: amused "Ara, sensible spending? How dreadfully un-class D of him."
Hiratsuka: nods "That's the difference. He thinks long-term."
[The shopping street only had one shopping center, but there were many discount supermarkets and convenience stores.
Hachiman went to one of these supermarkets because they offered points. After making a purchase, he'd receive a point card, and after accumulating enough points, he could redeem them.
It felt very much like regular life.
Apart from the fact that he was using private points instead of cash.
]
Commentary
Komachi: giggles "See? Onii-chan treats even a survival school like… grocery shopping."
Yui: laughs nervously "It feels… normal, but not normal?"
Hachiman: mutters "…A trap wrapped in convenience. That's what it is."
Yukino: nods "Indeed. The structure is deliberate—to lull students into forgetting the danger."
Ichika: frowns "Yeah… we fell for that at first too."
Ichinose: sighs "It's scary how familiar it all feels."
Ryuen: scoffs "Normal life? Bullshit. Just fattening pigs for slaughter."
Sakayanagi: smiles faintly "Ara~ and yet… he sees through it faster than most."
Hiratsuka: smirks "Of course. He's always skeptical."
Projection
["Alright, time to go," Hachiman muttered as he leaned back in his chair and glanced at the clock.
It was 7:15 PM.
There were still 45 minutes until the agreed meeting time of 8 PM.
The meeting place wasn't far away, just around the student dorms, near the rest bench by the artificial lake.
It took less than 10 minutes to walk from the dorm.
Very close.]
Commentary
Komachi: pouts "Why's Sensei making him wait until 8? That's so late!"
Yui: "Yeah, it feels… ominous."
Hachiman: deadpan "…Every shady deal happens after sundown."
Yukino: dry "You've clearly read too many crime novels."
Ichika: serious "…She's testing his patience."
Ichinose: nods softly "Or giving him time to think."
Ryuen: laughs "Nah, she's setting him up. Classic."
Sakayanagi: amused "Ara~ twilight rendezvous by the lake. How dramatic."
Hiratsuka: mutters "Sae always did like theatrics."
Projection
[When Hachiman returned to the dorm with his bags, he made a point to check the area.
It was very open, and although it was near the artificial lake, it was enclosed by a guardrail, making it very safe and a great place to enjoy the natural scenery.
The wind was a bit strong there.
So, most people wouldn't choose to go there, but that made it an ideal place for a conversation.]
Commentary
Komachi: tilts her head "Onii-chan's already scouting the battlefield…"
Yui: whispers "He… really thinks like that, huh?"
Hachiman: mutters "…Habit. Every space has a purpose."
Yukino: calm "That was a tactical evaluation, not sightseeing."
Ichika: smirks "Good. That's how you survive."
Ichinose: softly "…It's smart. He doesn't underestimate the setting."
Ryuen: grin "Kid thinks like me. Always check the turf first."
Sakayanagi: amused "Ara, such vigilance. Deliciously paranoid."
Hiratsuka: sighs "You've learned too well."
Projection
[However...
Hachiman opened his phone.
GPS.
As long as friends had added each other, they could directly locate each other via GPS.
And now, Hachiman noticed that Chabashira-sensei was not too far away.
She was in the northwest direction.
Which was the direction he needed to go to.
So...
"..."
Even though there were still 45 minutes left before the scheduled time... Chabashira-sensei, you're already there, huh? ]
Commentary
Komachi: gasps "She's already waiting?!"
Yui: "That's… super suspicious."
Hachiman: mutters "…She's eager. Or she doesn't trust me."
Yukino: serious "Most likely both."
Ichika: tight smile "…Yeah. That's a predator move."
Ichinose: sighs "She's not giving him breathing room."
Ryuen: grins "Heh. She's hunting. And he knows it."
Sakayanagi: chuckles softly "Ara~ teacher and student circling like foxes. How delicious."
Hiratsuka: grim "Damn it, Sae. Couldn't wait, could you?"
Projection
[Although Hachiman knew Chabashira-sensei was in a hurry, he didn't want to make her wait too long.
He started going downstairs and jogged over.
In six minutes, he reached his destination.
He saw a woman in a professional OL outfit leaning against the guardrail, holding a cigarette in her left hand.
She wore high heels.
Her black hair was tied up in a single ponytail with a blue ribbon, giving her a very professional look.
Perhaps hearing his footsteps, Chabashira turned around and seemed to smile.
That smile reminded him of a sly fox—slightly teasing.
Of course, this wasn't something a student should be thinking.]
Commentary
Komachi: wrinkles her nose "Smoking? Sensei, that's gross!"
Yui: blushes "B-but she looks… cool."
Hachiman: mutters "…She always did give fox vibes."
Yukino: calm "Calculated charm. It's part of her manipulation."
Ichika: smirks "…That's intimidation wrapped in allure."
Ichinose: frowns "It feels… unfair. She's a teacher."
Ryuen: grins "Fox teacher, huh? My kind of woman."
Sakayanagi: hiding her smirk "Ara~ she plays her role perfectly. A predator in heels."
Hiratsuka: glares "Sae, you haven't changed a bit."
Projection
["You arrived a little early, Chabashira-sensei," Hachiman said seriously.
"You came early too, didn't you?" Chabashira Sae retorted.
"...Heh—" X2
Both of them seemed to laugh, but it was an awkward laugh.
They both understood that this had actually been a confrontation, a very tense one at that.
Hachiman's comment about her coming early was meant to imply that she was anxious, and Chabashira directly responded, explaining that she arrived early because she was eager to carry out the task she had assigned him.
In other words, let's not complicate things.]
Commentary
Komachi: wide-eyed "They're… dueling with words."
Yui: nervous laugh "E-eh? But they're… laughing?"
Hachiman: mutters "…That wasn't laughter. That was barbed wire."
Yukino: nodding "Correct. A subtle clash of dominance."
Ichika: smirks "Yeah. That's power testing."
Ichinose: frowns "It feels… tense. Not like teacher and student at all."
Ryuen: laughs "Heh! That's my style! Jabs and counter-jabs."
Sakayanagi: delighted "Ara~ delicious tension. I approve."
Hiratsuka: mutters "You two… always making everything into a battlefield."
Projection
["A day has passed," Chabashira didn't continue to play games and said directly. "You should have some answers now."
"..." Hachiman. "Yes, this school is indeed very different, and it seems to use class competition as a way to motivate the students."
"Oh?" Chabashira lightly took the cigarette out of her mouth. "What do you mean?"]
Commentary
Komachi: proud "Onii-chan's already figured it out!"
Yui: wide-eyed "That fast?!"
Hachiman: mutters "…Patterns aren't hard if you look."
Yukino: approving nod "Yes. He observed and concluded swiftly."
Ichika: grudging "…Tch. Took us way longer."
Ichinose: quietly "He's amazing…"
Ryuen: grins "Heh. Sharp bastard. Already nailed it."
Sakayanagi: soft smile "Ara~ no wonder Hiratsuka-sensei recommended him."
Hiratsuka: smirks proudly "That's my idiot."
Projection
["I went to the three grade-level buildings with Kizuna today," Hachiman continued. "And I found that the setups were all the same—there was a bulletin board and a small blackboard. Except for our first-year class, where the small blackboard was blank with no writing."
"The second and third-year classes' small blackboards had numbers on them."
"The format was the same, divided into A, B, C, D, and then followed by a string of numbers," Hachiman explained.
"Hmm." Chabashira nodded calmly. "So?"]
Commentary
Komachi: gasps "He took notes on everything!"
Yui: "That's… really detailed…"
Hachiman: mutters "…Observation is free. People waste it."
Yukino: cool "Sharp. He notices what most ignore."
Ichika: grudging "…Okay, that's impressive."
Ichinose: softly "…He really pays attention."
Ryuen: smirks "Kid's thorough. That's dangerous."
Sakayanagi: amused "Ara~ he even saw the hidden scales. Lovely."
Hiratsuka: nods "…This is why I trust him."
Projection
["I suspect this is some kind of evaluation system," Hachiman said. "It's an evaluation that the school provides based on each class."
"I observed that the seniors in the second-year D class and the third-year C and D classes live off of aid."
"And that matches with this."
"They have low evaluations, like the third-year D class, which only has 20 points."
"And the living allowance they get from the school based on these evaluations is definitely very low."
Hachiman said. "It's absolutely not enough to live on."]
Commentary
Komachi: claps her hands "Onii-chan already cracked the code! He's amazing!"
Yui: shocked "He… figured that out in one day?!"
Hachiman: mutters "…It wasn't that hard. Numbers don't lie, people do."
Yukino: nods firmly "Correct. He connected observation with logical deduction immediately."
Ichika: frowns "…We only pieced that together after bleeding points."
Ichinose: softly, impressed "…He's sharper than most upperclassmen I know."
Ryuen: grins wide "Heh! Kid's a natural. Dangerous sharp."
Sakayanagi: fan half-hiding her smile "Ara~ how delightful. He sees through the school's veil with ease."
Hiratsuka: smirks proudly "Told you. He's always two steps ahead, even if he pretends not to care."
Projection
[Oh.
Chabashira nodded lightly.
"I see."
'So... D-Class might have really struck gold this time,' she thought.
"Good insight." Chabashira pressed the cigarette against the guardrail. "In that case, you were the right person to entrust with the task of investigating and compiling the student dossiers."
"20,000 points per student."
"And you said you went with Kushida to investigate the school buildings."
"Then you can choose her to start making the dossiers," Chabashira said. "What do you think of her?"]
Commentary
Komachi: tilts her head "Wait, Sensei wants Onii-chan to… rate people like homework?"
Yui: frowns "That's… kind of messed up."
Hachiman: mutters "…That's exactly why it makes sense."
Yukino: coolly "It's information gathering. The most efficient weapon."
Ichika: smirks "So Sae-sensei's turning him into her informant, huh?"
Ichinose: uneasy "…Profiles worth 20,000 each? That feels wrong."
Ryuen: laughing "Hah! Perfect. Spy work suits him."
Sakayanagi: sly "Ara~ a shadow broker, right from the start. How intriguing."
Hiratsuka: sighs "And of course Sae's corrupting him instantly…"
Projection
["Well…" Hachiman spoke, but his head didn't lift.
"Is there something you can't say?" Chabashira asked.
"No," Hachiman shook his head. "If I'm to give an evaluation, it's not very good."
"Oh?"
Chabashira Sae blinked.]
Commentary
Komachi: worried "Ehh? Why not good? She seemed so nice!"
Yui: soft gasp "Hikki doesn't… like her?"
Hachiman: mutters "…It's not about liking. It's about what's underneath."
Yukino: serious "He's already suspicious. Correctly so."
Ichika: tight-lipped "…He's onto something. But he doesn't even know how right he is."
Ichinose: conflicted "…She did seem friendly, but…"
Ryuen: grins "Keh! Knew it. Always trust your gut, not the smile."
Sakayanagi: delighted "Ara~ already smelling the rot beneath the perfume. Delicious."
Hiratsuka: mutters "So even you picked it up this fast, huh? Good instincts, idiot."
Projection
["Chabashira-sensei, could you first tell me if Kushida is good in regular areas like academics and sports?" Hachiman asked.
"What do you mean?" Chabashira furrowed her brows.
"If Kushida excels in these areas, and she also helped Hirata set up the class group, obtaining contact information for most of the class members in a short time."
"She's also active in interacting with the students," Hachiman said. "These are all excellent traits."
"But the more she seems to excel... the more I feel she..."
"Maybe there's something major going on with her."
"That this problem is so big that, once it's exposed, all her good qualities will become meaningless."]
Commentary
Komachi: shocked "Onii-chan … you think she has a secret?!"
Yui: wide-eyed "B-but she seemed so kind!"
Hachiman: mutters "…That's why it's suspicious."
Yukino: sharp "Indeed. Overly polished surfaces conceal cracks."
Ichika: jaw tight "…He doesn't even know. But he's right on the money."
Ichinose: troubled "So he… already senses it…"
Ryuen: smirks "Heh! I like him. He calls bullshit fast."
Sakayanagi: fan tapping her lips "Ara~ uncanny intuition. Even without evidence, he strikes true."
Hiratsuka: soft sigh "…Good. Don't let pretty words fool you, Hachiman."