Chapter 81: Terrified Kushida, 20 Million to Transfer or 20 Million to Drop Out? She Knows How to Choose
After the other party picked up the phone, Hachiman didn't hesitate for a second.
"Where are you? If you're alone right now, then—" Hachiman got straight to the point. "Come to the dormitory lounge immediately."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
Hachiman added a follow-up: "I just saw Ayanokouji head out."
Only then did Kushida Kikyo's voice come through.
"How unpleasant. What does Ayanokouji-kun have to do with me?" Kushida's tone remained the same as usual—that sweet, soft, and seductive voice of someone who knew exactly how cute she was.
However, that cute voice sounded a bit strained.
It seemed Kushida-san had just been engaging in some physically demanding activity. Her stamina was naturally good—though slightly inferior to Horikita Suzune's—but her current ragged breathing suggested she had just finished her unique method of venting in this meritocratic school: kicking a railing to release her fury.
"Come back now," Hachiman said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"...Understood," Kushida replied. Though she sounded displeased, she agreed.
"I'll wait for you in the dorm lounge," Hachiman added before hanging up.
About five or six minutes later, Kushida appeared at the dormitory entrance. The student ID card reader made a crisp "beep" as she pushed the door open and walked in.
Tonight, Kushida was still wearing her school uniform rather than casual clothes. She was naturally adorable; a slight, cute smile from her was enough to make anyone's heart race.
Unfortunately, Hachiman wasn't a student of Class D and wasn't so easily swayed by Kushida's charms.
After a moment's thought, he decided to "input" his inner monologue.
'As expected, the direction Kushida came back from is exactly where Ayanokouji just went. While I can't prove it yet, there's a high probability Ayanokouji was intentionally tailing her.
I previously commissioned her to use GPS to track Ayanokouji, but conversely, as long as they are friends, Ayanokouji can lock onto her position via GPS as well. She's been running off to remote places late at night lately, which surely alerted Ayanokouji. He went out looking for a chance to catch her off guard.'
Regardless of whether it was true or not, he needed to seize upon Kushida's anxieties first.
Sure enough, as he voiced these thoughts in his mind, Kushida's face reacted instantly.
The sweet smile on her face didn't change, but a flash of realization and tension flickered in the depths of her eyes. It seemed she felt the crisis—and understood why he had called her back.
Hachiman: "...."
So, as expected, his inner voice had become a "shared channel" among the girls; anyone could hear it.
However, it wasn't everyone.
It seemed only the key characters from the "original story" could hear him. For instance, when Hachiman was in Class B, he knew Ichinose and Shiranami could hear him. Yet, when he experimented with Amikura—an athletic girl who was also close to Ichinose—she couldn't hear a thing.
Regardless, he couldn't just let Kushida stand there. People were coming and going, and it would attract attention.
"Go back to your room first. I'll call you in a bit," Hachiman said, remaining seated in the lounge.
Kushida instantly understood his intent.
If there was something to discuss, they clearly needed a more appropriate location. This was a public hall; though many students had returned to their rooms, they could still be spotted.
For a girl like Kushida, meeting a boy from another class this late at night wasn't good for her reputation.
Furthermore, Hikigaya-kun was a prominent figure in Class B, and in Class D, he was known as the "rich guy" who could suddenly produce 500,000 points to buy useless votes. If they were seen talking here any longer, "pink news" (rumors of a romance) would likely surface by tomorrow.
For someone like her, who only wanted to maintain a perfect social standing and absolutely avoided romantic scandals, that would be a nightmare.
Thus, Kushida simply raised her left hand toward Hikigaya-kun and gave her usual friendly smile.
"Bye-bye then, Hikigaya-kun."
She then took the elevator upstairs.
Hachiman waited another minute before heading toward the stairs. The boys' rooms were on the lower floors, making the stairs more convenient than the elevator.
-
-
-
Ten minutes later.
Hachiman returned to his room, and a message from Kushida arrived.
[Call now?] she asked.
It seemed she remembered Hachiman's instruction to go to their separate rooms before talking. Such a deliberate separation clearly meant there was something serious to discuss.
"Wait a bit. Let's talk in half an hour; I need to shower first," Hachiman replied. In truth, he had already showered, but Kushida was still in her school uniform and had arrived in the lounge smelling slightly of sweat—likely from running back.
Hachiman wasn't so cruel as to deny her the right to clean up.
[Okay,] Kushida replied instantly.
The speed of her reply confirmed she hadn't even noticed he had already showered and carried the faint scent of communal bath soap. Her recent stress seemed to have dulled her observation skills.
Why? Hachiman wondered. He had already pulled her into the small "Class D inner circle," giving her companions to whom she could speak some of her true thoughts. Theoretically, it should have been the prototype of a Service Club, helping to alleviate her mood.
Of course, it was also possible that being teamed up with Horikita was the problem.
Horikita was the complete opposite of Kushida—someone whose inside matched her outside. Being stuck with her polar opposite must be stressful, especially since she couldn't attack Horikita now that she knew Horikita's brother was the Student Council President.
Add to that the fact that she knew Ayanokouji Kiyotaka might be watching her. To Kushida, the pressure lately was indeed mounting.
Thinking this, Hachiman sent another message.
"Go shower first. We'll video call later; some things need to be said face-to-face. Also, I have a favor to ask."
If they were going to video call, Kushida really did have to shower. Otherwise, it would be easy to tell if she hadn't.
Kushida Kikyo: "....."
She looked at the message and couldn't help but grumble internally.
'What is Hikigaya Hachiman doing? He's going to shower and telling me to shower too? Are we showering at the same time?'
However, as long as he wasn't being a pervert and asking to video call during the shower, it was acceptable. Besides, the fact that he specifically called her away from the railing where she was venting showed he was protecting her.
'As expected. This person really knows everything about me, Horikita, Sakura, and Karuizawa. He even knows the future. He's a very mysterious man.'
'So... damn you, Ayanokouji!'
After being warned by Karuizawa, she had intentionally avoided Class D's celebration and avoided traveling alone to prevent him from tailing her. She knew that when her mood hit rock bottom, she would go kick railings and curse—if that scene were recorded, she'd be finished.
And yet, today, she had only gone out for a brief moment to vent, and she almost got caught?
With those thoughts, Kushida decided to shower first since she had to video call Hikigaya-kun later.
She stopped overthinking and stepped into the bathroom.
-
-
-
At exactly the half-hour mark, Hachiman initiated the video call.
The first thing that appeared on the screen was his own dorm room. It was a typical boy's room, but because his goal was to be a "full-time house husband," it was exceptionally clean and tidy. The layout was minimalist: flat light-gray bedding, a desk against the wall with a dusty laptop, two stacks of frequently read books, and a white desk lamp.
As the connection went through, Kushida's room appeared. Unlike Hachiman's minimalism, hers was a warm, girlish space. Pink bedding with plush toys, a delicate storage box and incense on the desk, light-colored decorative stickers on the wall, and skincare products neatly arranged on the vanity. Even the lighting had a soft pink hue.
Perhaps because she had just showered, her eyelashes looked long and her eyes moist. Her voice was soft—less of her forced sweetness and more of a lively, domestic cuteness. She looked completely non-threatening.
"Hikigaya-kun, what exactly did you want to talk about?" Kushida leaned toward the camera, her eyes curving into a gentle, obedient smile.
Hachiman leaned back in his chair and said, "The school trip this month is essentially a special exam arranged by the school. You've probably noticed the signs. Sakayanagi Arisu
from Class A won't be attending due to health reasons. I need your cooperation then. For this exam, I plan to pull Class A down."
"Oh. I see."
A flash of surprise crossed Kushida's eyes before she regained her composure. She never believed the school would provide a free trip for no reason.
Sakayanagi's absence meant a leadership vacuum in Class A—a perfect opportunity. Because of her excellent social network, she knew Class A was split into two factions. Without Sakayanagi there, her faction wouldn't fully support Katsuragi and might even sabotage him to ruin his credibility.
It was entirely possible for Hikigaya-kun to seize this chance and defeat Class A.
However, she was a Class D student; Class A's status didn't concern her. She nodded gently. "I understand. I'll cooperate with whatever you arrange, Hikigaya-kun."
As she said this, she realized she was a bit like Karuizawa. Both of them had their secrets discovered by Hikigaya, but by cooperating and proving their value, they could receive his protection.
'If I show my value, can I be protected from Ayanokouji's attacks?'
Speaking of Ayanokouji, Kushida had originally thought he was just a plain, socially awkward loner. The fact that he was actually tailing her was unexpected.
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun... what do you know about Ayanokouji?" Kushida leaned in closer, asking quickly. Since it concerned her safety, she was particularly invested.
After asking, she paused and frowned. Usually, if Hikigaya-kun had thoughts, she could hear them clearly, but during this video call, it was silent. She couldn't receive any information.
'So, I can't hear his inner voice through communication devices?'
Normally, inner thoughts never lied and were the fastest way to get information. Words, however, were filtered by the brain and could be deceptive. She worried Hikigaya might not tell the truth about Ayanokouji.
But Hachiman's next words shattered her concerns.
"Ayanokouji. Full name: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. He is the child of a politician who rose from the grassroots. His father worked as a host in his youth, and his mother was a sex worker. He inherited his father's surname, but his first name comes from his mother's favorite lover."
Kushida: "..."
"Eh?" Kushida's expression on the screen was one of utter shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.
She thought Hachiman would hold back, but he revealed everything. Such a "sordid" family background was even more shocking than the trouble she had caused in middle school.
'What is wrong with this Class D? It seems everyone's past is scarier than mine.'
Hachiman continued without stopping: "His father is extremely ambitious. Along with his superiors, he founded an institution similar to Advanced Nurturing High School called the 'White Room.' But that place is entirely different—it's inhumane. It's a completely closed-off, high-intensity training facility. Except for eating and sleeping, every waking moment is spent on endless competition and skill acquisition. Its cruelty is far beyond this school.
Training starts in early childhood. If you don't meet the standard, you're eliminated immediately. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is the only successful 'product' from there," Hachiman said.
"That... that sounds like a training facility from hell," Kushida blurted out.
She quickly recalled everything she knew about Ayanokouji in Class D. That quiet, average-looking boy... he survived a purgatory like that? No, perhaps he himself was a genius capable of enduring that "hell mode."
Hachiman watched Kushida's expression. In the original story, Kushida initially tried to get Ayanokouji expelled, only to realize how terrifying he was and nearly get expelled herself.
She only stayed because Horikita protected her. Kushida didn't yet have a true grasp of Ayanokouji's danger.
Thus, Hachiman added, "He underwent training far beyond human limits. While he lost most of his normal human emotions and empathy—becoming cold and selfish—his learning and tactical thinking abilities are top-tier. If you fall into his hands, the risk to you is extreme."
Kushida's heart sank. She gripped her phone tightly, her voice trembling slightly.
"So him tailing me... he wants to get dirt on me to blackmail me?"
"Correct," Hachiman nodded. "He came here on a mission from his father. The White Room, as a rival to this school, needs proof that it can defeat this system. Taking Class D—the lowest tier—and climbing to the top is the perfect proof. However, because competition is class-based, even with his strength, he has weaknesses. He needs pawns, and he needs to clear obstacles. You, with your fatal secret, are a natural target."
"Pawn? Obstacle?" Kushida's voice turned cold. Her domestic cuteness vanished, replaced by suppressed malice and irritation. This sharp, icy face was the polar opposite of her "angelic" persona.
Anyone else would have been stunned by the transformation, but Hachiman knew her nature—the obsession and darkness beneath the mask—so he wasn't surprised.
Sensing a true crisis, Kushida's soft tone was gone.
"That guy is crossing the line! What did I ever do to him? I just want to maintain my persona and graduate peacefully. Why does he think he can use me as a pawn? Why won't he leave me alone!?"
Usually, she hid her negativity behind a perfect smile, only venting in private. This was the first time she had shown her anger so rawly to someone else. It was clear that Ayanokouji's interference touched her bottom line.
After a moment, she took a deep breath to calm down, though the malice remained in her eyes. She leaned toward the camera.
"Hikigaya-kun, let me ask... Hirata-kun... was he kept in Class D because of Ayanokouji? When Hirata wanted to drop out, I couldn't figure out why Ayanokouji stepped up to save him. Now that I think about it, did he want to bring Hirata under his wing as a tool for class promotion?"
Hachiman watched her through the screen, thinking to himself: 'Kushida-san, do you really have the right to say that? You're one of the four "spies" he's cultivating in Class D. Horikita, Karuizawa, and Sakura have all reported to him, but you haven't.'
But Hachiman was feeling generous today. He didn't point it out. Seeing a "white lotus" turn "black" was worth the price of admission anyway.
Unfortunately, since Kushida already knew he knew her past and saw that he didn't look at her differently, she felt comfortable showing her true self without fear of him judging her. This meant her "dark history" was no longer a weakness he could use to scare her, but it also meant her trust in him had increased significantly. Trust was vital, whether as a partner or a spy.
Perhaps because he already had his "first puppy," Hachiman felt he could cultivate Kushida in a similar direction.
Kushida didn't notice Hachiman's internal musings. Her questions kept coming. "And Yamauchi—that guy is just a public nuisance. If Ayanokouji wanted to promote the class, Yamauchi would only be a drag. But if he can save Sudo and cut Yamauchi, that's a good move. Even if Hirata breaks down over Yamauchi leaving, he'd accept it if Sudo is saved."
Hachiman thought: 'I have to admit, while Kushida isn't as smart as Horikita, her EQ is high. She's great at reading people. When a crisis hits her, she shows flashes of brilliance.'
"While it's just a theory, I can confirm Ayanokouji didn't save Hirata out of gratitude or kindness," Hachiman explained.
"If he wants to promote the class, Hirata's gentleness maintains surface-level order in Class D so Ayanokouji doesn't have to clean up messes. Keeping Hirata only benefits him. As for Yamauchi, he's already a pariah in Class D, making him a perfect candidate for expulsion. You've probably noticed that every class except 3rd-year Class A has fewer than 40 students. That means the school frequently arranges situations where students must be eliminated. Someone has to go.
So, keeping Hirata to maintain the status quo while prepping Yamauchi as a sacrificial lamb... that was his real reason," Hachiman concluded.
Kushida gasped, a look of dread in her eyes.
"But why act now? Class D had 1,000 points at the start, and Horikita told everyone the truth about the school within 10 days. If he wanted to promote the class, wouldn't it have been better to act then? Instead, he let the 1,000 points drop to 0 and only started moving now that we're at 80 points."
Hachiman didn't answer directly. "You've been here three months. You know the nature of Class D. Do you think those students would have willingly followed orders and worked hard to promote if things were comfortable?"
Kushida was speechless.
She knew Class D too well. They were a bunch of selfish, rebellious people who could share hardship but not prosperity. If they had points, they'd become lazy and decadent.
The only way to unite them was to let them lose everything—to fall from 1,000 to 0. Only in desperation would they realize the importance of unity and follow orders to climb back up.
For Class D, it was the worst start, but also the most effective one.
"That's... so cold," Kushida whispered. "Ayanokouji survived a place like that just to heartlessly calculate against others? He treats everyone like a tool without a shred of humanity."
Of course, her complaint assumed she was the one being hurt. If someone else was the victim, she wouldn't care.
She quickly focused back on the practical side. "But wait... if Ayanokouji really intends to lead Class D, isn't that a good thing for the class? He's so capable. Maybe he can actually take us to Class A, and our points will increase."
Her thinking was realistic: in this school, following the strong was the way to survive. If Ayanokouji was an elite from a "monster institution," his strength was unquestionable.
Hachiman shook his head. He remembered the original light novel where Ayanokouji's first thought about "recruiting" Karuizawa was that she was cute and would do anything for him—even a honey trap if it meant taking down the Chairman. He wasn't a normal human.
"You're too naive. Ayanokouji's leadership isn't 'help,' it's 'control.' His methods are more ruthless than you can imagine.
He will sacrifice anyone to reach his goal—including those who trust and follow him. Do you think he'll only blackmail you into helping the class? If necessary—say, if the Chairman stood in his way—he wouldn't hesitate to use a girl who trusts him as a tool for seduction to get what he needs. Do you think you could handle being used as a piece of meat in a sordid trade like that?"
Hachiman's words were like a thunderclap in Kushida's mind. She froze. The lingering hope vanished, replaced by deep terror.
If he'd use girls who liked him as honey traps, what would he do to her—someone he already had leverage over? Her perfect persona would crumble, she'd be used until she was empty, and then expelled.
She might even end up as a "used-up rag" trampled by others.
"......" Kushida bit her lip, her fear turning into a silent curse. Fck!*
"I... I understand..." Kushida's voice trembled. Her palms were sweaty. In this moment, she suddenly understood Karuizawa.
She understood why Karuizawa pledged loyalty to Hachiman the moment she realized he knew her secret. The fear of being targeted by Ayanokouji was paralyzing.
"Ayanokouji is too dangerous. I can't let him get a handle on me, and I definitely can't be used by him," she said urgently.
"Hikigaya-kun, I'll cooperate with you perfectly from now on. I won't drag you down. You must help me avoid him. I want to spend three pleasant years here, not a nightmare!"
She had abandoned all hesitation. Her only thought was to stick close to Hachiman. If he knew everything and could plan ahead, he was her only shield.
In her nervousness, she looked directly into the camera. "Hikigaya-kun, rest assured, I'm not a 'loose' girl! I won't be seduced by someone like Ayanokouji, and I won't become a tool for his trades. I have my own bottom line!"
She spoke with fierce determination, terrified that Hachiman might look down on her or think she was easily bought.
Hachiman watched her and was reminded of his time at Sobu High.
Yuigahama Yui had once blushed and urgently explained to him that she wasn't a "sl*t" like people said.
'What are these girls thinking?' Hachiman grumbled internally.
'I never thought that way about her, nor did I ever look down on Yui. Why do they always feel the need to defend themselves to me? Do they think I'm the type to judge everyone?'
He shook off the thought. "It doesn't mean it will happen. I'm just saying there's a risk. Be careful."
"......" That didn't help Kushida. Knowing such a monster was near her was enough to keep her on edge.
"Is there a way to get him expelled?" As Kushida, her first instinct was to eliminate the threat.
"Impossible," Hachiman shook his head.
"He's here on his father's orders, and his father's influence and position currently exceed even our Chairman's. Even if an expulsion scenario arose, he could probably secure 20 million points to cancel the penalty. His father has people inside the school."
"So it's... unsolvable?
How can it be like this? It's like the whole world revolves around him!" Kushida complained.
In a way, she was right. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was the protagonist of this story, after all.
Kushida decided to change the subject. It was too heavy and only made her more anxious.
Hachiman, sensing her unease, continued, "But it's not completely hopeless. Our school's Chairman is trustworthy. Even if Ayanokouji has a mission, as long as he's a student here, he must follow the school's rules. He can only climb within those rules. If you're careful and don't give him any leverage, you're safe. Of course, there is one way to be absolutely safe."
"What is it?" Kushida asked immediately.
"Transfer out of Class D," Hachiman said. "Collect 20 million points and apply to transfer to another class. Once you leave Class D and stay away from Ayanokouji, he can no longer threaten you."
"..." Kushida.
It was a good solution. If Ayanokouji was in Class D, she just needed not to be in Class D.
But... where would she find 20 million points? Would she have to work like Horikita Suzune, scraping points together bit by bit?
She hated Horikita. The idea of following the same path as her was suffocating.
"20 million points..." Kushida whispered. Her expression turned serious. "If I actually managed to get 20 million points... I think I'd just drop out."
"Huh?"
"And before I drop out, I'd use those points to buy luxury goods. When Sudo almost got expelled, I asked Chabashira-sensei. She said expellees sign a non-disclosure agreement, get 100,000 yen for travel expenses, and can take their personal belongings that aren't related to school secrets. So, if I buy valuable items with points before I quit, I can take them with me."
Kushida continued, "If I use 20 million points to buy gold or other valuables, then drop out and sell them second-hand, I could walk away with over 10 million yen in cash. Leaving this school with that much money sounds much better."
Hachiman noted the difference between her and Horikita.
Horikita was honest; if she got 20 million, she'd use it to help her brother or transfer classes as planned.
Kushida was pragmatic and flexible. She didn't care about "Class A" or "transferring"—she saw the literal value of the points.
With her academic ability, she could just go to another high school, use the 10 million yen for tuition and living expenses, and easily get into a good university.
Her future would be set.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting