Chapter 110: Ayanokouji: Sakura, Being Expelled is Just a Result of Your Lack of Effort!
Night soon fell.
The air-conditioned breeze in the cabin carried a faint aroma of food, mixing with the boisterous chatter of boys and girls as it drifted through the door cracks into the hallway.
Hachiman was leaning against the wall outside the buffet restaurant, his eyes still a bit dazed because he had only recently woken up.
So, why was he here?
It was simple. After waking up, he merely mentioned in the class group chat that he was awake, and then... the students in his class took the initiative to organize a victory banquet—a banquet held specifically for him.
At this point, he had no reason not to go.
Straightening his collar, Hachiman pushed the door open and entered the buffet.
The clamor immediately washed over him. All of Class B was present. The buffet tables were laden with various delicacies and drinks. Everyone was gathered in small groups, talking and laughing; the tension from the deserted island exam had completely vanished, replaced by a sense of ease and joy.
"Hikigaya! You're finally here!" Shibata was the first to spot him, waving and shouting loudly, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The noise gradually died down as all eyes focused on Hachiman—eyes filled with admiration, gratitude, and undisguised happiness.
"Hikigaya-kun, that was amazing! 26.4 million! Are those private points you can actually get from a single exam?"
"And Class A only got 120 points. The gap between us hasn't widened much at all!" A lively student squeezed to the front, their tone brimming with excitement.
"While that is the total amount, Class A will be paying it back slowly every month. We won't get that many points all at once," Hachiman added as a supplement. "So, at that time, our monthly class funds will only increase by 800,000..."
"But that's more than enough to put us at ease!" a student immediately chimed in, their satisfaction unconcealed.
Hachiman understood instantly. Even if the students of this class could calmly accept the results of a lottery or being chosen when facing the risk of expulsion, no one would willingly give up if they didn't have to. Therefore, having a risk-management fund of over 20 million points truly soothed many hearts.
"However, I think that compared to avoiding expulsion, it might be better to take the points and get expelled," Hachiman said, shifting the tone. "After all, 20 million isn't a small amount.
The school recoups points at a specific ratio upon graduation; these 20 million points could be converted into 16 million in cash."
He was thinking of Kushida's perspective.
"Ahhh... Hikigaya-kun, let's not say things that are bad for unity for now." Ichinose hurried over, pulling him toward the center of the students with a smile. "Today is a day to celebrate your success; let's not talk about other things."
And so, Class B's victory banquet officially began.
"Yeah, yeah! If it weren't for you, how could our class have had so much income this time? As expected of our class representative!"
"Come over and sit! We specifically saved the best seat for you, and we have the coffee you like!"
Everyone chimed in, enthusiastically surrounding him. Some handed him drinks, others pulled him toward the table; the sincerity in their voices held not a hint of falsehood. Hachiman was ushered forward by the crowd.
He had never been good at socializing with girls, and his interactions with other students in the class weren't frequent. To be honest, the enthusiastic and noisy atmosphere of Class B made him a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't deny that such an atmosphere wasn't unpleasant.
Thus, Hachiman accepted everyone's blessings. But only he knew that behind this festivity lay an impending "VIP Exam" that might far exceed expectations.
From the school's perspective, the budget for the deserted island exam likely hadn't been exhausted. The remaining budget would very likely be added to the next special exam.
Especially since the exams for this year's first-year students were so intense—every class had shown stellar performance. Class A had suffered setbacks but their foundation remained, keeping them in Class A; Class B had seized a massive amount of points; Ryuuen of Class C had also made a splash; and Class D had seen the hidden maneuvers of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
As a school centered on the "nurturing of venomous insects" (gu) philosophy, the educators would likely provide them with more competitive opportunities to keep the game going.
Therefore, the next stage would likely still be the VIP exam, but there would certainly be changes—even the logic for selecting the VIP might be modified.
Thus, he couldn't completely rely on the original plot; there might even be variables. For example, Sakayanagi Arisu might participate.
While she couldn't participate in the first island exam due to physical reasons, her body could fully endure a second exam held on a cruise ship.
In the original story during the second year, Sakayanagi had participated in an island exam; though she only stayed at the starting point and didn't follow the long trek, it proved she could participate as long as strenuous exercise wasn't involved.
Considering the point values and the integrity of the exam, the school would likely notify Sakayanagi to participate—and given her personality, she would never miss this game.
Then there was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Ayanokouji was a truly twisted person in the original work. In Volume 16, during Class D's second internal voting expulsion exam, he gave up on expelling Kushida. But time was tight, so he chose the only person at the time who would wholeheartedly accept the expulsion penalty for him: Sakura Airi, who had feelings for him.
If someone had to be sacrificed and would follow his lead completely, Sakura was indeed the only choice.
However.
After Sakura was expelled, when she gathered the courage to bid him farewell with her true face, his internal thoughts were: "Airi said that to me with a brilliant smile I had never seen before, then turned her back to me.
Then she started walking, but before long, her pace gradually slowed, as if she were about to stop.
Even so, she desperately kept moving forward, not intending to look back.
Her voice echoed in the empty hallway.
It was the sound of sniffing and desperately suppressed crying.
Seeing that scene, I recalled a sight I had often seen before. Losers always look back at their miserable state after it's too late and feel regret. Whether in the White Room or this school, that never changes."
That was truly twisted.
Wasn't he the one who kicked her out? And then he says Sakura is just like the White Room students, only regretting their lack of effort after being kicked out? Wasn't it because you chose her to leave, and she chose to leave for you?
In that situation, if Sakura hadn't been willing, could he have really ended that exam?
It was from this point onward that Ayanokouji fell from "Ayanokouji-senpai" to a lesser status in Hachiman's eyes.
At crucial moments, he still only knew how to use PUA (Pick-Up Artist/manipulation) tactics on girls. Even in Volume 0, it was revealed his father was a former host from a low background
and his mother worked in the entertainment industry; some joked that he was "following the family business" with his expert manipulation skills.
In Sobu High, Hachiman would create a "World where only I am hurt" for the sake of others, but for Ayanokouji, it was a "World where only I am NOT hurt."
In this exam, Hachiman had interfered with Ayanokouji's battle plan, making his score even lower than in the original story. But Ayanokouji truly intended to rise to Class A, so for the upcoming VIP exam, he would likely give it his all.
Therefore.
The next exam wouldn't be easy.
However, he didn't plan on telling everyone his worries.
There was a time and place for everything; now was a time to relax. Besides, the exam would likely be delayed by a day or two compared to the original, giving everyone a two-to-three-day vacation. Mentioning the exam now would only add pointless anxiety.
"Sorry, I'm going to the restroom." Taking advantage of a gap in the cheering, Hachiman stood up and spoke. Without waiting for a response, he quickly walked out of the buffet.
He needed some quiet time to organize his thoughts and check the messages on his phone.
The corridor outside the buffet was exceptionally quiet, a sharp contrast to the noise inside. The night breeze blew in through the window at the end of the hall, carrying a chill that dissipated some of his drowsiness and irritation. Hachiman leaned against the window, and just as he was about to pull out his phone, a slightly surprised voice came from behind him.
"Hikigaya-kun, you came out alone too?"
He turned around and saw a twin-tailed girl from his class, Himeno Yuki, standing not far away. She held a glass of juice, her expression calm, devoid of the forced smile she had in the restaurant. Like everyone else, she wore the school uniform, yet she seemed out of place among her enthusiastic classmates. During the banquet just now, she had been standing quietly in the corner, rarely speaking.
Hachiman raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. "Why use the word 'too'? Are you out here alone as well?"
Himeno Yuki walked to his side and leaned against the window with him, looking at the pitch-black sea. She lowered her head slightly and spoke, "I see you always inseparable from Ichinose-san, whether in class or during exams; you're always discussing things and acting together. But I've always felt that, by nature, you're actually more used to being alone."
She paused, glanced toward the buffet, and her voice softened. "Especially on an occasion like today—so lively, with so many people gathered—you probably feel uncomfortable too."
Hearing this, Hachiman's lips curled into a faint smile. He neither denied nor confirmed it, but instead asked back, "Generally, someone who can say that usually speaks from personal experience. Himeno-san, the reason you say that is because you don't fit into Class B's lively atmosphere, right?"
He had noticed Himeno Yuki long ago.
Most people in Class B were like Ichinose—enthusiastic, cheerful, fond of crowds, and good at socializing. But Himeno Yuki was different; she was always quiet. Whether it was class gatherings or group activities, she would attend but rarely initiated conversation.
Most of the time, she just sat quietly to the side, her smile appearing forced.
Like this victory banquet; she sat in the corner, barely speaking the whole time, only occasionally dealing with the chatter of nearby classmates. The exhaustion in her eyes was plain to see—Hachiman never used flowery terms like "imperceptible." He saw it clearly: it was simple, pure exhaustion from social situations.
Himeno Yuki clearly hadn't expected him to expose her thoughts so directly. She froze for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. This smile was far more genuine than the one she used to appease her classmates. "As expected of our class representative, Hachiman Hikigaya. You really are different from the others. You see things quite accurately."
Her laughter wasn't deliberately hidden, carrying a hint of relief. "In the past, I never stayed in a class like this. My previous classes were very cold; everyone looked out for themselves. There were never gatherings like this, and there weren't so many people celebrating one person with such sincerity."
Hachiman nodded slightly; he had guessed as much. "I can see that. Even though you participate in class activities every time, it's clear you don't like this prolonged liveliness; instead, it exhausts you."
"Yeah," Himeno Yuki admitted frankly. "I don't like crowded places, and I don't like staying in lively atmospheres for long. After every gathering, I feel very tired. But everyone is so enthusiastic, and since it's a collective class activity, I don't want to seem out of place, and I certainly don't want to be ostracized."
She paused and added with a hint of helplessness, "I know that even if I didn't participate, nothing would happen, but those guys in class would definitely drag me along, which would be even more troublesome. Those do-gooders... But because of that, I still try to keep up with everyone's pace and pretend I'm adapting."
Hachiman was silent for a moment.
This was likely the norm for many people—forcing themselves to integrate despite disliking it, just to avoid being isolated, just to keep in step with those around them. This wasn't strange. Hachiman had once faced the same choice, but like Yukinoshita, he chose quality over
quantity. He didn't want to force himself to smile or hide his true thoughts just to maintain so-called "friendships."
But he also knew that the vast majority of people were weak. The weak like to huddle together; they fear loneliness. So, Himeno Yuki's approach was perfectly normal.
"That's just socializing; it can't be avoided," Hachiman spoke slowly. "Just like today's victory banquet—it was specifically held for me. No matter how much I dislike crowds, it was impossible not to show up. Besides, experiencing the atmosphere of the class is actually quite good."
He turned to Himeno Yuki, his eyes serious. "At least this way, I can truly feel that the things I did were indeed for Class B and that they were meaningful. Everyone's smiles and gratitude aren't fake, and that's enough."
Himeno Yuki blinked gently, nodding as if she only half-understood. She had never given her all for a group, nor had she ever felt the taste of being recognized and thanked by everyone. She couldn't fully comprehend Hachiman's feelings.
Seeing her bewildered look, Hachiman thought for a moment and said, "If you're feeling down or suppressed and don't want to stay in a lively place, you can go to the stern of the ship. It's very quiet there, no one else is around. You can shout out loud and vent all the frustration and fatigue in your heart."
"Shout out loud?" Himeno Yuki was stunned, her face showing hesitation. "Wouldn't that be weird? What if someone hears me? It would be so embarrassing."
"We're on a ship. Very few people go to the stern. Even if you shout, no one will hear you," Hachiman said. Without waiting for her reaction, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Come on, I'll take you to see."
Himeno Yuki's wrist was thin and her skin was cool. The moment she was grabbed, her body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively wanted to break free. But seeing Hachiman's serious gaze, she slowly relaxed, letting him lead her down the hall toward the stern.
Hachiman's pace was fast, but his heart was pounding a bit. He had never been good at dealing with girls, especially introverted and sensitive ones. His action just now was indeed a bit impulsive. Perhaps he had been infected by the "Saints" of Class B, or perhaps Himeno Yuki shared a vibe similar to his past self. Looking at her was like seeing his own immature past self, and he instinctively wanted to guide her as a senior.
But what if she thought he was weird? What if she was unwilling? Countless thoughts flashed through his mind; he was even prepared to be pushed away and blamed.
But just as they reached the stern and he let go of her wrist, about to apologize, Himeno Yuki took a deep breath and, facing the pitch-black sea, shouted out loud—
"AAAAHHHHH—!"
The sound was loud, carrying long-suppressed fatigue and irritation, echoing in the open space of the stern before finally dissipating in the night wind.
Hachiman was stunned. Standing there, looking at Himeno Yuki's back, he didn't know what to say for a moment. He had thought that even if she went to the stern, she would hesitate for a long time and at most just feel the sea breeze, never actually shouting. He hadn't expected her not only to shout but to do so with such gusto.
It seemed he really didn't understand girls.
Hachiman sighed silently in his heart, reaching up to rub the back of his head with a helpless smile. He was used to silent observation and arbitrary analysis, thinking he saw through people's hearts, yet he was still at a loss when facing girls, still guessing their thoughts wrong.
'Sigh, it seems my experience points for interacting with girls are still very low.'
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts. He pulled out the phone, unlocked the screen, and saw two unread messages, both from girls.
The first was from Horikita Suzune: [Hikigaya, are you free? Regarding the strategy for the deserted island exam, I want to review it with you. There are some parts I still don't quite understand.]
Hachiman raised an eyebrow, feeling surprised.
Horikita was always proud and rarely took the initiative to find him, let alone suggest a strategy review. Thinking about it, she had only stayed on the island for less than four hours before returning to the ship, having done nothing. Her desire to grow had fallen through, and seeing Class A fail so spectacularly forced her to face the gap between herself and Classes A and B.
So she wanted to learn!
Also, Hachiman remembered that the payment split for this exam hadn't been allocated to Horikita yet.
The second message was from Shiina Hiyori of Class C.
[Hikigaya-kun, the exam is over. I wonder when you will be free. I want to read books with you again. I haven't finished the book you recommended last time.]
Seeing this message, a ripple of emotion stirred in Hachiman's heart.
Shiina Hiyori was a literary girl, and her alignment was somewhat "chaotic." He had thought that after the exam, given the competitive relationship between Class C and Class B—and the fact that he hadn't allowed Class C to get many points—she would stop contacting him privately. He didn't expect her to take the initiative to invite him.
It seemed she really was lacking a book buddy.
Hachiman fell into hesitation. On Horikita's side, a strategy review was necessary—she needed to get stronger, and Class B needed a stronger Horikita. Furthermore, the next exam might deviate from the original plot, and Horikita in Class D would be his best collaborator to interfere with Ayanokouji. So, they needed to keep in touch.
As for Shiina Hiyori, if he refused her proactive invitation, it would seem heartless. Besides, reading with her was relaxing; he didn't have to think about complex exam strategies. At the same time, those dark thoughts he couldn't tell Ichinose—even if Hiyori noticed them, she could accept them calmly, allowing him to temporarily set aside all thoughts and immerse himself in the world of reading. After all, he liked reading very much himself.
But while he was undecided, his phone vibrated again. A third message came in, the sender being Chabashira Sae.
[Hikigaya, are you free? I want to say a few words to you, regarding the exam, and also regarding my resignation.]
Seeing this message, Hachiman had almost no hesitation. He immediately decided to prioritize the meeting with Chabashira/Big Horikita.
Horikita's review and Shiina Hiyori's invitation could be pushed back, but Chabashira's matter could not be delayed.
He had an agreement with Chabashira: as long as Class D failed to "take off" in this exam, she would give up on her long-held wish to reach Class A through them and completely let go of her obsession.
And Hoshinomiya Chie's madness was rooted in Chabashira's obsession. As long as Chabashira let go, Hoshinomiya could return to normal. A normal Hoshinomiya would be a blessing for Class B.
And now, he had indeed fulfilled his agreement with Chabashira. Although Class B got zero exam points, they had seized an unimaginably large amount of private points, making them the biggest winners. Meanwhile, Ayanokouji's score was slashed from 300 to 50, and he still failed to lead Class D upward. The pawn Chabashira had bet on failed completely. Therefore, Chabashira should fulfill her promise and let go of her obsession.
Regardless, he had to see Chabashira.
"It seems Hikigaya-kun is quite popular." Himeno Yuki's voice came from beside him. She had finished venting her emotions; the fatigue on her face had vanished significantly, and her gaze was much more relaxed. She was looking at the phone in his hand with a half-smile. "Just getting your phone back and you already have so many girls asking for you. It's truly enviable."
Hachiman froze for a second, instinctively stuffing the phone back into his pocket, and said helplessly, "You misunderstood. It's not what you think."
He really wasn't good at communicating with girls, let alone being popular. If he were truly popular, he wouldn't be hesitating between Horikita and Hiyori, nor would he still be troubled by interacting with girls. It wasn't until Chabashira's message arrived that he finally determined his destination.
"The person I'm going to see is a teacher," Hachiman added. "It should be about the exam."
Of course, he didn't mention that the one looking for him was Class D's homeroom teacher, not Class B's Hoshinomiya.
But this explanation was basically plausible.
And it was the truth.
"Oh, since a homeroom teacher is looking for you, you should go." Himeno Yuki showed a look of understanding and stopped teasing him, turning back toward the buffet restaurant. "I feel much better after that shout. Thank you, Hikigaya-kun."
"Thank you for accompanying me out to catch some air," Hachiman replied with a nod.
Watching Himeno Yuki's back disappear at the end of the hall, Hachiman took out his phone and replied to Chabashira: [Sensei, I'm free. You decide the location.]
Not long after the message was sent, Chabashira replied: [Then let's go to the deck, near the stern. I'll find you there in twenty minutes.]
Hachiman was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
He hadn't expected Chabashira to choose this place as well. Good; it was quiet, with no one else to disturb them, making it suitable for discussing private matters.
He put away his phone, leaned against the railing at the stern, and looked up at the night sky. Tonight's sky was very clear, without clouds; countless stars dotted the pitch-black canopy, sparkling.
Actually, the best place to see stars was the top of the cabin, where the view was wide and unobstructed, but he didn't go—that was mostly a place for couples. He and Chabashira were just teacher and student; going there together would inevitably lead to misunderstandings, which would be too awkward.
The stern was fine—quiet enough and private enough to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. The night wind blew gently, carrying the salty scent of the sea, brushing past his cheeks and bringing a wave of freshness that chased away his remaining drowsiness.
Twenty minutes passed quickly.
Hachiman heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Sae Chabashira approaching. She wasn't wearing her usual professional attire, but simple casual clothes. She still had her high ponytail, but her face was free of makeup, and she looked somewhat exhausted with faint red streaks in her eyes, clearly not having rested well.
She held a bottle of a drink in her hand, walked up to Hachiman, and handed it over. "Here. I see you often drinking this."
Hachiman took the drink, looked down, and his eyes lit up slightly—it was MAX Coffee, his favorite kind. He usually carried a bottle to stay alert in the classroom or library; he hadn't expected Chabashira to notice that.
This was actually a bit terrifying. It meant Chabashira had been watching him. Clearly, she had pinned her desire for Class A so heavily on Class D that she paid such close attention to him as a competitor.
This behavior was on par with Hoshinomiya.
"I saw you drinking this coffee often in the classroom and library, so I guessed you liked it," Chabashira explained quickly, sensing his surprise. Her tone was a bit unnatural, as if she feared being misunderstood for paying him too much attention. "The vending machine on the ship happened to have it, so I brought one for you."
"Thank you, Sensei." Hachiman unscrewed the cap and took a sip. The familiar taste spread in his mouth, instantly driving away some of his fatigue.
Chabashira leaned against the railing, standing side-by-side with him, looking at the black sea. She said softly, "You won this exam. With you there, Class D indeed couldn't make it."
Her tone was very calm, without a ripple, yet it carried a hint of relief.
Hachiman nodded, neither arrogant nor humble. "I suppose so. Although our exam score was 0, our class obtained enough private points to reach our goal."
"Yes." Chabashira nodded slightly. "I keep my word. After this year's students graduate, I will resign and leave Advanced Nurturing High School."
She paused and added, "However, considering Class B's current situation, I might wait a few days before telling Chie about this."
Hachiman understood her thoughts instantly.
They were still on the ship, and the VIP exam would start soon with high point values, making it vital for Class B. Hoshinomiya Chie had an extreme personality; if she knew now that Chabashira was resigning, she would definitely lose control and do something crazy, interfering with Class B's assessment.
To some extent, Chabashira truly understood her best friend and knew when the best time was to tell her the news.
Hachiman took a sip of coffee, remained silent for a moment, and suddenly remembered the relationship between Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo. He couldn't help but ask, "Sensei, I have a question for you. If one day you saw your classmate alone in a corner kicking railings and cursing to vent their emotions, what would you do? Would you ignore them and walk
away? Would you quickly flee for fear of being targeted? Or would you proactively walk over and ask them what's wrong?"
He asked this because he wanted to know what Horikita really thought about Kushida's obsession and madness.
As someone who had read the latest Light Novel volumes, he knew how similar Kushida's obsession with Horikita was to Hoshinomiya's obsession with Chabashira.
He wanted to see if Chabashira's choice would be the same as Horikita's.
Hearing this question, Chabashira froze for a moment, then laughed with a hint of helplessness. "Isn't that just Chie? Back in high school, I encountered her on the school rooftop in the middle of the night kicking railings and cursing. She was cursing the students in the class and our homeroom teacher at the time."
Hachiman: "..."
He fell silent. He had asked a hypothetical question, but he didn't expect Chabashira to relate it directly to a real event.
It seemed Horikita and Chabashira were truly the same type of person—both naturally possessed a "magnet for obsessive best friends" constitution. Horikita attracted Kushida, and Chabashira attracted Hoshinomiya—both seemingly gentle but actually obsessive types.
'What kind of weird setting is this?' Hachiman complained internally.
'So, you Horikita-types, why do you all come with a built-in magnet for Kushida-type psychos?'
He only complained in his head and didn't say it out loud, but Chabashira frowned slightly and looked at him in confusion, as if she had heard something. Since it was just the two of them, she naturally suspected Hachiman had said something rude.
But then she shook her head.
Because Hikigaya hadn't continued speaking, how could she have heard his voice?
Thinking this, Chabashira's expression became somewhat dazed.
Hmm?
Hachiman looked closer and noticed her cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes a bit blurry, and she carried a faint scent of alcohol—it turned out she had been drinking.
No wonder her state was strange today, taking the initiative to buy him coffee and talking about high school events. It seemed she had many emotions bottled up and only dared to speak frankly under the influence of alcohol.
"Sensei, have you been drinking?" Hachiman couldn't help but ask.
Chabashira nodded without denial, her tone a bit low. "I drank a bit with the other teachers just now. Not much, just feeling a bit dizzy."
She paused and turned to Hachiman, her eyes filled with a trace of confusion. "Hikigaya, regarding the question you just asked, I actually never knew how to answer it. Whenever I saw Chie like that in the past, I would always walk over and tell her to calm down, but every time I was cursed at and told to mind my own business. Later, I stopped going over. I could only watch her from afar, wait for her to vent her emotions, and then silently walk over to sit with her for a while."
Hachiman remained silent. He could feel the helplessness and guilt in Chabashira's heart—the powerlessness of wanting to get close but being rejected was something perhaps only she could understand.
After some thought, Hachiman spoke up. "If that's the case, then I might know why Hoshinomiya-sensei is so obsessed with you."
"Huh?" Chabashira looked puzzled.
"After that failed exam back then, you were criticized by the students in the class, and that surely included Hoshinomiya-sensei, right?" Hachiman continued. "She was your best friend, the most important person to you. She originally thought you could get into your ideal university together and have a bright future together. But as a result, because of a single failed exam, you threw away your own future and ended hers as well."
He paused, his tone becoming heavier. "And the reason for all of this was simply because you accepted the class representative's confession and dated him for less than twenty four hours. Then, for him, you gave up the exam, gave up your future, and gave up hers.
I think Hoshinomiya-sensei's obsession probably stems from this kind of emotion." Hachiman looked at Chabashira, his gaze serious.
"You could tolerate her kicking railings and cursing, you could tolerate all her temper, yet at the most critical moment, for a boyfriend you just started dating, you easily discarded her. To her, that was probably the most hurtful thing."
After saying these words, Hachiman couldn't help but think of Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui. They were also a pair of great best friends, yet they were different from Chabashira and Hoshinomiya, or Horikita and Kushida.
Between them, there was no obsession, no blame—only mutual respect and support.
If Yukinoshita encountered a difficulty or made a choice, Yuigahama would definitely respect and support her, even if she was sad and crying; she would never blame her. And for Yukinoshita, if Yuigahama obtained happiness, even if that happiness might hurt her, she would likely choose to endure rather than fight for it.
So, why was the gap so large between the same types of best friends? Perhaps true friendship always involves two-way giving, rather than one side forcing the other to compromise or possess.
Chabashira leaned against the railing and was silent for a long time, her face devoid of expression, her eyes staring blankly at the dark sea as if immersed in memories of her high school days. After a long time, she spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of a sob.
"Is that so... I thought Chie simply blamed me for not persevering, for violating everyone's ideal of reaching Class A together, and for ending her future."
She had always thought Hoshinomiya's obsession was due to the unwillingness to lose Class A, but she had never considered that the root of this obsession was her abandonment back then—for a boyfriend she had dated for less than a day, she gave up their shared ideal and their future.
Recalling it now, everything about that time felt bizarre.
Why did the class representative confess to her the night before the exam? Why did he lead everyone to vote for someone to be expelled during the exam the next day? If he were truly willing to be expelled, why bother confessing to her?
After all, if one is to date, one naturally hopes to stay in the class and rise together, rather than hoping to be expelled after dating.
Furthermore, in an exam requiring one person to be expelled, they could have clearly chosen to discard a member who contributed little or even harmed the class—like Yamauchi at the beginning of last month. To prevent Yamauchi from being expelled, Hirata was even willing to sacrifice himself. Hirata was the core of Class D; his expulsion would have been a massive loss, which was abnormal in itself.
So, the class representative's self-expulsion... could that really allow everyone to rise to Class A? Fearfully, they would have been doomed in the next exam anyway.
Chabashira suddenly realized that the past was actually a tangled mess she had never truly seen through.
Looking at her depressed state, Hachiman felt no sympathy, only a hint of helplessness.
"Wait a minute."
He suddenly realized something and quickly asked, "Chabashira-sensei, is it true that you accepted the class representative's confession but broke up the very next day because of the exam? And since then, you've never had another relationship, right?"
He asked this because from Chabashira's tone and eyes, he saw numbness and resistance toward feelings. When she mentioned that past relationship, her tone was as flat as if she were talking about someone else's business. Clearly, that brief dating experience left no beautiful memories but instead made her resistant to emotions.
Chabashira's body stiffened slightly, then she nodded gently, her tone terrifyingly calm. "That's right. Accepting his confession back then was indeed an emotional impulse—perhaps the exam pressure was too high, or perhaps I wanted someone to rely on. When we broke up the next day, he had no emotional reaction, and neither did I. It was as if we had never dated at all."
She paused and added, "I don't even know if that counted as a real relationship. However, because of the failure of that exam and that brief dating period, I stayed trapped in the shadows of the past. I could only rely on academic ability, studying hard to get into university. After graduating, I returned to Advanced Nurturing High School to become a teacher.
Since then, I've never had the thought of dating, and I've never thought about starting a new relationship."
Hachiman sighed softly. As I thought.
Chabashira was like him—the type of person who closes their heart once hurt. No wonder she was usually cold and stern, and no wonder she avoided emotional matters—she was also like a "block of wood," not knowing how to express or accept emotions.
This reminded him of Hiratsuka Shizuka; it was probably the same for her.
And such female teachers were likely very hard to marry off.
'This way, if Shizuka-chan stays single in the future, there will be someone of the same type staying single with her.'
"..." Hachiman was thinking very rude things—the kind of things that would surely earn him an "Iron Fist of Justice" from Hiratsuka-sensei if said aloud.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship, in the infirmary, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.
Hirata Yosuke sat on a hospital bed, his pant legs rolled up. Gauze and bandages were wrapped around his leg, and his face was still a bit pale.
He was undergoing dressing changes by a doctor. Although he had been bitten by a non-venomous snake, care had to be taken to prevent infection.
Once the doctor finished the dressing change and gave some instructions, he hurriedly left the infirmary with his tools—after all, he also had to attend the teachers' dinner since the exams were over and the faculty should relax.
Thus, Hirata Yosuke was the only one left in the infirmary.
He leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes to rest for a moment. In his mind, he instinctively recalled the events during the deserted island exam—thinking of the Class D students and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
In this exam, Class D ultimately only got 50 points. While not very high, it wasn't too bad either. To Hirata Yosuke, the points weren't important; what mattered was that the students of Class D had become more united during this exam, and the atmosphere among everyone was getting better and better.
As long as everyone could get along harmoniously and work hard together, he didn't care if the score was low or if the class ranking was behind.
Just then, the infirmary door was pushed open gently, and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka walked in.
He was still wearing his simple school uniform. He walked to Hirata Yosuke's bed, stopped, and got straight to the point. "Class D's final score for this exam is 50 points."
Hirata opened his eyes, looked at him with a gentle smile, and spoke easily, "I know. It doesn't matter what the score is, as long as everyone is safe and the class atmosphere stays this good, that's enough."
However, Hirata paused and looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka with a look of understanding and a faint hint of pity. "But it's truly a pity, Ayanokouji-kun. You couldn't fulfill your ambition. I know you always wanted to lead Class D upward and make us stronger. You had the chance to get a higher score this time, but due to various accidents, you didn't succeed."
"..." Ayanokouji.
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