Chapter 302 What Intel? We Just Wanted to Have Dinner With You
Inter-school Mountain Camp, Day 2.
The group had to wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare breakfast. Having gained experience from the first day, the first-years managed to avoid a total state of chaos.
"Horikita-senpai, can we talk for a moment?" Hachiman took the initiative to approach Horikita Manabu.
"What do you want to talk about?" Manabu replied, looking down as his kitchen knife rhythmically sliced carrots into fine strips with professional precision.
"It's about Tachibana-senpai."
Hachiman held his chopsticks, stirring eggs in a bowl. He made sure to keep his hands busy so no one would accuse him of slacking off. Manabu's knife work faltered for a fraction of a second before he responded calmly, "Go on."
"Tachibana-senpai's group is being targeted." Hachiman didn't beat around the bush, relaying the information Hiyori had given him.
"The person in charge is from 3rd-year Class B. I expected them to launch an attack," Manabu said in a low voice. "During the intel exchange at the cafeteria last night, Akane told me there wasn't much of a problem."
'Just as I thought...'
Dinner at the cafeteria was a crucial time for exchanging information. Since Akane Tachibana was facing a crisis, she could have asked Manabu for help. But she chose not to, deciding instead to face it alone.
"Horikita-senpai, when it comes to understanding women, you still have room for improvement," Hachiman sighed.
"Can't you tell? Tachibana-senpai is enduring this in silence specifically because she doesn't want to distract you while you're in a showdown with Nagumo."
Manabu's eyes widened, and he fell into a long, heavy silence.
"I see. So that is Nagumo's strategy."
With his quick mind, Manabu immediately grasped the core of the issue. In a head-on confrontation, Manabu was confident he could take first place for the large group. But if Nagumo Miyabi's target wasn't him, but the people around him, things became difficult.
"Can't the Class A girls launch a counterattack?" Hachiman asked.
"Impossible. To balance the combat power distribution, Akane is leading three of the more introverted girls from our class," Manabu furrowed his brows. "With the dorms separated by gender, it's hard for me to intervene in the girls' affairs."
This was the brilliance of Nagumo's plan. Even if you saw through it, it was nearly impossible to interfere with conflicts inside the girls' quarters.
"I think passive defense will only lead to being pulled by the nose. Senpai, why not take action against the second-years?" Hachiman nudged.
"But my agreement with Nagumo was not to involve others..." Manabu hesitated.
"Nagumo has already broken that agreement. You have no obligation to stick to the rules anymore," Hachiman persuaded further.
"Fine."
Surprisingly, Manabu made the decision quickly.
He was clearly angry.
Even the selfless Horikita Manabu would break the rules when those close to him were being bullied.
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After breakfast came Meditation Class. Everyone's performance was notably better than yesterday; they were getting used to the cross-legged posture, though maintaining it for long periods was still a struggle.
Hachiman kept his eyes half-closed, peering out the window. On the training ground, a large group of girls was running. Leading them was that Inogashira-senpai—short hair, small stature, and tanned skin. From a distance, Hachiman could see her talking to the girls around her.
Tachibana-senpai, with her hair in a bun, was clearly being ostracized. She ran alone at the very back of the pack, looking haggard and exhausted as if she hadn't slept at all. She looked pitiful.
Just then, Shiina Hiyori deliberately moved to run side-by-side with Akane. Although she didn't speak, this simple gesture broke Akane's state of isolation.
'That kid really is an angel' Hachiman thought.
However, Hiyori's stamina was truly lacking. After just two laps, she was gasping for air, her body swaying. It looked like she might collapse at any moment. Fortunately, her group mates, Komachi Yumeko and Shiraishi Asuka, noticed and slowed down to support her from both sides.
Inogashira and the others seized this opportunity to harass Hiyori's group. Akane Tachibana stepped forward and got into a heated argument with them, causing the entire group's long-distance training to grind to a halt.
"What's so interesting?" Ryuen Kakeru, sitting behind him, followed Hachiman's gaze and immediately lost interest. "They're just yelling. It's not like a fight is going to break out."
"You really just want to watch the world burn," Hachiman rolled his eyes. "By the way, Hiyori is being targeted now too. You don't seem worried at all."
"Shiina is just like that. She likes meddling in other people's business." As her classmate, Ryuen knew Hiyori's personality well. Back when he ruled Class C through violence, she often lectured him. Since she was one of Class C's few "strategists," he couldn't easily turn on her and had to compromise to an extent.
"As for worry? Not even a little," Ryuen's eyes turned playful. "If there's real trouble, our 'Great Demon King' will surely step in and cruelly tear the enemy apart, won't he?"
"What 'Great Demon King'? You make me sound like a villain," Hachiman grumbled.
"Then, a 'Messenger of Justice'?"
"You're grossing me out."
"Heh, the only thing left of you is your stubborn mouth."
"Mashima-sensei! Someone is slacking off in class!" Hachiman suddenly called out.
"You son of a—!!"
Under Hachiman's "just" reporting, Mashima-sensei walked over with a cold face and rewarded Ryuen with a sharp crack from a wooden sword!
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Meditation class ended "happily." The subsequent Labor and Speech classes were unremarkable, and Hachiman coasted through them.
During afternoon P.E., Koenji Rokusuke started acting up again. Mid-run, he simply left the group without permission to go play in the mountains by himself. Hachiman didn't care—it wasn't the official exam, so Koenji could do whatever he wanted.
Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kanzaki Ryuji, however, were frantic. They cared deeply about the group's score and immediately led a search party. Naturally, it was futile. No one could catch up to Koenji's ape-like mobility.
By the end of P.E., Koenji was still missing. But worrying about him getting into an accident was a waste of time. At dinner, Koenji appeared in the cafeteria, having picked up a second-year senpai. The two were shamelessly playing "open wide" feeding games in front of everyone. What an infuriating guy.
"Hachiman-kun!"
"Hacchi~"
Sakura Airi and Hasabe Haruka approached him, carrying their dinner trays.
"Airi, Haruka. Did you find me because you have some intel to share?" Hachiman met them and found a quiet corner to sit down.
"..."
"We just wanted to find you to eat together."
The two girls looked at him with pure sincerity. Intel? Was that really so important?
Looking at the two stunning girls in front of him, Hachiman gave a relaxed smile. Staring at beauties while eating made even plain white rice taste like a feast.