Chapter 152: Kushida Kikyo: Only Him!
The day after the exams concluded, the sun remained as brilliant as ever. Inside the dormitory:
Hikigaya Hachiman leaned against the window, phone in hand. The screen displayed the message Hoshinomiya Chie had sent again last night—3:00 PM, at the cafe; he was to "accidentally" run into Chabashira Sae. He stared at the lines of text for a few seconds and let out a soft sigh.
Meeting Chabashira was no big deal—he already had an appointment with her, after all. The problem lay in the fact that Hoshinomiya needed him to "act." She wanted to investigate who had changed Chabashira, and he couldn't afford to expose himself just yet.
Once Hoshinomiya realized that the "culprit" was him, given that homeroom teacher's personality, she would likely lose her mind on the spot. Although she had been acting quite normal lately—even sporting a "white lotus" vibe similar to Kushida—Hikigaya knew all too well that when people of that type are poked in a sore spot, the backlash is often terrifying. Especially when a best friend she couldn't change for over a decade was suddenly transformed by someone else.
Just thinking about it was chilling.
Therefore, he had to put on a convincing performance this afternoon. He needed to find a student to accompany him to the "chance encounter," pretending they were just passing by, and execute a perfect performance in front of Hoshinomiya. Afterward, he'd dismiss the student and stay behind to talk with Chabashira.
But the question was—who?
Leaning against the window, Hikigaya quickly cycled through candidates in his mind.
Karuizawa Kei. The person who trusted him most, and the only girl who had proactively told him she could hear his inner voice.
Reliable, obedient, and a decent actress.
The issue, however, was that she was too much "his person." If Hoshinomiya noticed her, she might draw connections. She might even try to seek out Karuizawa privately.
Next option.
Kushida Kikyo. First-rate acting skills, strong adaptability, and since they had been meeting daily for the Dragon Group, they were on familiar terms.
However, his relationship with Kushida had been a bit distant lately; perhaps he could use this opportunity to meet. Plus, regarding the previous Ayanokouji Kiyotaka incident, she had messaged him directly saying she owed him a favor. This was a perfect time for her to pay it back.
Of course, there was also Matsushita Chiaki.
Basically everyone knew now that Matsushita had aligned with him, making her the most convenient choice. But she had only just joined the inner circle; their chemistry wasn't quite there yet. If she messed up the performance...
As for Horikita Suzune, Sakura Airi, or Ichinose Honami—they were out.
With Horikita's personality, asking her to act was harder than asking her to solve a complex equation. Sakura was too timid; she'd fold the moment things got tense. Ichinose... it wasn't that her acting was bad, but Hikigaya felt it just wasn't right to involve her in this kind of scheme. Furthermore, he'd have to dismiss the person afterward, and a "use and discard" maneuver might make someone as sensitive as Ichinose overthink things.
Hikigaya pulled back his thoughts and looked at the desk. Three small pieces of paper, crumpled into balls, sat there. He remained silent for two seconds, then reached out, picked up the three paper balls, and bounced them in his hand.
Let's draw lots. Leave it to fate.
Just then, Kanzaki Ryuji's voice came from behind him.
"Hikigaya-kun, what are you doing?"
Hikigaya turned his head to see Kanzaki walking out of the bathroom, water droplets still on his face, clearly having just washed up. His gaze fell on the three paper balls in Hikigaya's hand, and his brow quirked slightly. "What are those?"
Hikigaya paused for a second before answering honestly, "They're for drawing lots."
Kanzaki blinked. "Drawing lots?"
"Yeah." Hikigaya spread the three paper balls out on the table. "I need to find a girl to go out with me this afternoon. There are too many candidates and I couldn't decide, so I'm letting fate choose."
Kanzaki's expression instantly became a sight to behold. He stared at the three paper balls, then at Hikigaya. He opened his mouth, but for a long time, no words came out. It took several seconds before he spoke in a tone of utter disbelief.
"You... you mean to say, you're going to draw a lot to choose one of three girls to go out with you?"
"Correct."
"..."
Kanzaki fell silent. He walked over to the window and looked at Hikigaya with a whirlwind of complex emotions—shock, envy, and a trace of inexplicable... admiration? Even though he
knew Hikigaya and Ichinose weren't dating and were just close, the scene before him still exceeded his imagination.
No, seriously, man! Are you drawing lots to select a concubine?! Even my wealthy father never did something like this.
Kanzaki took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Hikigaya-kun, may I ask which three girls?"
Hikigaya thought about it and decided there was no reason to hide it. "Karuizawa Kei from Class D. Kushida Kikyo, also from Class D. And Matsushita Chiaki, also from Class D."
Kanzaki's expression grew even more convoluted. All three were girls from Class D. And they were all... well, Karuizawa was essentially the core of the Class D "gal" group, Kushida was the universally recognized "little angel," and while Matsushita was low-profile, her looks were rumored to be top-tier.
Kanzaki suddenly felt a pang of bitterness. "So," he phrased his words carefully, "is this... a date?"
"It's not a date." Hikigaya shook his head. "I need them to help me put on an act. I can't really explain the specific reason, but it's nothing romantic."
'Oh. I see.'
Kanzaki nodded understandingly, not prying further. But in his heart, he couldn't help but marvel—date or not, the fact that three girls were willing to help to the point where he had to draw lots was impressive in its own right. In this school, having three people willing to "act" for you wasn't something just anyone could pull off.
"Then go ahead with your drawing." Kanzaki patted Hikigaya on the shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of genuine envy. "I won't disturb you."
With that, he turned back to his own desk and flipped open a book. But after a few seconds, he couldn't help but look up again at the three paper balls in Hikigaya's hand.
Three. There were actually three.
Kanzaki sighed softly and lowered his head again, pretending to read. But his mind wouldn't find peace for a long time.
Hikigaya didn't notice Kanzaki's inner turmoil; his attention was fixed on the three paper balls. Just as he was about to grab one at random, his phone vibrated. He tapped the screen. It was a message from Kushida. There was only a single symbol.
[ . ]
Hikigaya stared at that period for a few seconds. A period. Not a question mark, not an exclamation point—just a plain period.
This was strange. Given Kushida's "little angel" persona and her desire to gain favor with others, her messages were always meticulously designed—particles, emojis, and perfectly placed punctuation. A solitary period meant either she had sent it by mistake, or... her state of mind was very complicated.
Hikigaya stayed silent for two seconds, then stuffed the three paper balls into his pocket.
It's her.
He exited the chat and composed a new message.
[Meet me by the deck at 2:30 PM. I have something I need your help with.]
Less than ten seconds after sending it, Kushida's reply came.
[Okay.]
Short and to the point.
Looking at that "Okay." Hikigaya felt a subtle sensation. In the original story, she was a two-faced girl, an angel on the outside and dark on the inside, willing to use any means to maintain her persona. But after interacting with her for a long time, he felt that she was actually quite simple.
Forget it, I'll deal with it when the time comes.
.
.
.
At 2:30 PM, the sun was just right.
Hikigaya arrived at the deck five minutes early. It was much quieter than usual; no other students were in sight, though the occasional cry of a seagull echoed through the air. He leaned against the railing and waited.
Exactly at 2:30 PM, footsteps sounded behind him. Hikigaya turned and saw Kushida Kikyo walking toward him.
She was wearing the school's red blazer today, but Hikigaya's gaze was drawn to her shirt—it wasn't the standard white, but an orange undershirt that looked incredibly fresh.
Hikigaya was slightly taken aback. "Kushida-san," he began, "your shirt..."
Kushida walked up to his side, looked down at her clothes, and flashed a cute smile. "What, is it weird?"
"It's not weird," Hikigaya chose his words carefully. "I just remember Sato Maya and Karuizawa wearing something similar. Are you... going for a 'gal' look?"
Kushida chuckled softly, not answering directly, but simply saying, "I just thought it would be interesting."
Interesting.
Hikigaya looked at her profile, his mind working quickly. Kushida's state today was "off." Usually, when she appeared before others, she wore that perfect angel smile, her eyes gentle and her posture graceful. Right now, although the smile remained, it lacked the "service-oriented" feel; it held a touch of... exhaustion.
And the orange shirt. That definitely wasn't her usual style.
Hikigaya suddenly understood.
Kushida had been under a lot of pressure lately. He had sensed it long ago. The Dragon Group discussions, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's threats, and... the things he had said in the Dragon Group that day. Because of the risk posed by Ayanokouji, she couldn't vent like she did in the original story—she couldn't go around kicking railings and cursing people out.
So, she was looking for other outlets. Changing her clothes and her image was likely one of them.
Hikigaya was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "Kushida-san, if you have something you want to say, you can message me. Or write it down. It might help vent those emotions."
Kushida turned her head and looked at him. A flash of complex emotion flickered in her burgundy eyes. But she quickly looked away and shook her head gently.
"In middle school, I used to keep a blog," she said, as if talking to herself. Then she stopped, not continuing further.
But Hikigaya knew what she wanted to say. In the original story, Kushida used a blog to record her true thoughts—her complaints about classmates and her loathing for hypocritical relationships. But the blog was discovered, her true face exposed, and she became a "two-faced" traitor in the eyes of everyone.
Keeping a diary? Not safe. If found, it would be the blog incident all over again. Messaging him? Also not safe. If she got caught up in the heat of writing and accidentally forwarded it to someone else... The thought was terrifying.
Hikigaya was silent for a few moments, then said, "If doing that causes you stress, then why not try to change—"
"I probably can't do it," Kushida interrupted him, her tone carrying a rare note of resolve.
Hikigaya looked at her and said no more. He realized that Kushida was also incredibly stubborn. Perhaps her stubbornness was on the same level as Chabashira's. But on
Chabashira's side, there was at least a breakthrough point—using the voice recorder, the truth, and the past trauma. As for Kushida... He hadn't found that breakthrough yet.
The fact that he knew her true face was offset by the fact that she could hear his heart. And their current relationship was too familiar; a tactic like "Kushida-san, you wouldn't want XXX to happen" was definitely no longer appropriate.
As Hikigaya was thinking, Kushida suddenly spoke.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Yeah?"
Kushida turned to face him. Sunlight poured down from behind her, enveloping her in a soft halo. The orange shirt looked exceptionally vivid in the light, making her skin appear even paler.
"Now that Class B has risen to Class A, is your task... considered complete?" she asked.
Hikigaya was stunned.
Task? What task? Who gave me a task?
He quickly recalled the events of the last few days. Then it hit him.
During the Dragon Group discussion, he had told Kushida the reason for Ichinose's change in mood—the message he sent said Ichinose felt she "might be leaving soon." And Kushida... she could hear his heart. She knew he was a transmigrator.
So, she was asking him—was he about to leave? Did she mistakenly believe that because Class B reached Class A, he was going to depart?
Hikigaya looked into Kushida's eyes. Those burgundy eyes now held an emotion he couldn't quite name. It wasn't worry, it wasn't reluctance; it was a kind of... confirmation. As if she were confirming if he was still there.
Hikigaya suddenly realized that the message he sent that day might have put pressure on Kushida. She was already anxious about her true face and Ayanokouji's threats. Add a "transmigrator who's about to leave" to the mix...
Hikigaya was silent for two seconds before speaking, "Kushida-san, why don't you try talking to Horikita more? If you told her some of your true feelings—"
"No," Kushida shook her head, her voice calm. "Once or twice might be fine, but if I do it too often, Horikita will ignore me."
Hikigaya fell silent.
True. Given Horikita's personality, although she and Kushida had formed a small clique, that relationship was based on "mutual utility" and "common interest." If Kushida truly poured all her dark side onto her, Horikita would likely frown and then... ignore it.
Or rather, if you want feedback while you're cursing someone out, do you really think Horikita is the one to give it to you? Kushida-san, really... you're too greedy.
Thinking about it this way, there really weren't many people who could completely accept Kushida. Hikigaya suddenly felt a wave of sentiment.
Kushida looked at him and sighed softly. The sigh was faint, scattered into the air by the sea breeze. She could feel that Hikigaya had noticed her emotional shifts and that her stress was reaching its limit. And a part of that pressure did indeed come from him—from the notion that he "might leave."
Although she had formed a group with Horikita Suzune, Karuizawa, and Sakura, and although her true face had been exposed to them, she still couldn't fully open her heart to them. Because she knew that once she showed her true self entirely, their evaluation of her would likely drop even further.
So, the people who could accept her for who she was were very few. And currently, the only one she had encountered—was perhaps only Hikigaya Hachiman.
The two remained silent for a few seconds. Then Hikigaya pulled a small notebook from his pocket. He flipped to a new page, picked up a pen, and quickly scribbled a line of text before handing it to Kushida.
Kushida looked down.
[The "I'm leaving" I mentioned last time was a lie. I'm not going anywhere for the time being. Or rather, I'm not sure when I'll leave myself.]
Kushida's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Hikigaya continued writing.
[Also, Kushida, you can actually hear my inner voice, can't you?]
After writing this, he turned the notebook around so Kushida could see it clearly. Kushida's pupils constricted slightly. She looked up at Hikigaya in disbelief.
'He knows? He knows I can hear his heart? Then that means—'
Countless thoughts flashed through Kushida's mind. The exams for Classes A and C—why they were so convinced the VIPs followed a pattern, why they were so relentless in deducing that "pattern."
So that was it. It was Hikigaya using his inner voice to mislead them.
Kushida suddenly felt that all the things she couldn't figure out before were now perfectly clear. But right now, she had no time to dwell on that. She stared at Hikigaya, waiting for his reaction.
"..."
Hikigaya didn't speak, but continued writing in the notebook.
[I don't know when I'll leave, but I don't think it'll be too soon. Because—]
He paused, the tip of his pen resting on the paper for a second, then continued.
[I haven't learned any experience in getting along with girls yet. If I leave now, I won't be able to conquer a "meal ticket" who can support me in the future.]
Looking at that line, Kushida's mouth couldn't help but twitch. Meal ticket. Support him. This guy is still thinking about this, even now.
She looked up at Hikigaya with a complicated gaze. "Do you like being a 'leech' that much?"
Hikigaya nodded with a serious expression.
"Naturally. I don't want to become a corporate slave."
Kushida was speechless. But she suddenly realized that after talking to Hikigaya through writing like this, the stifling feeling in her heart seemed to have lessened considerably. It wasn't because she had received some grand comfort. It was because... she knew he wasn't leaving so soon. She knew he was still here.
Hikigaya continued writing.
[If anything happens, you can still message me. Especially if you're worried about an attack from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, you can come to me.]
Kushida looked at the words and nodded gently. "I understand," she said.
Then her gaze fell on Hikigaya's notebook—besides their conversation, there were rows of numbers, densely packed, looking like some kind of statistics.
"What's that?" she asked.
Hikigaya glanced down. "A summary for Class B for this exam." He flipped the notebook to the front and pointed at the numbers as he explained, "The VIPs for the Snake, Sheep, and Rat groups were all from Class B, and they all stayed hidden. Since the other classes guessed wrong, we gained 50 class points for each group, and each VIP receives a 1-million-point reward."
Kushida nodded, listening intently. There was no need to discuss Class D's situation; the reason she only came out this afternoon was because Class D had already had a massive argument.
Ultimately, Hirata Yousuke hoped the students in the five groups that reached Outcome 1 would each contribute 100,000 points to be distributed among the other six groups that finished early. The reason it wasn't seven was because Koenji Rokusuke, in the Monkey group, made up the point difference himself.
So, compared to Class D, the statistics for Class B felt much more like an actual exam.
"Then the Dragon and Cow groups reached Outcome 1. The VIPs of those two groups get one million each, so two million total," Hikigaya continued. "The one who guessed the VIP of the Rabbit group was Horikita. We got 100 points, and we need to pay her..."
Hikigaya paused and wrote a number in the notebook. "The equivalent of 50 class points."
Kushida looked at the number and quickly calculated in her head. Equivalent to 50 points—according to school rules, that's a monthly payment until graduation. Three years, so thirty-three months left.
33 x 200,000 = 6,600,000! It was actually 6.6 million!
"Finally, there were twelve regular members who reached Outcome 1," Hikigaya added. "500,000 each, totaling six million."
He totaled the numbers on the notebook and pushed it toward Kushida.
[3M + 2M + 1M + 6M = 12 Million.]
Kushida stared at the number, silent for several seconds. Twelve million. Just from one exam. This guy, Hikigaya Hachiman, really is...
She withdrew her gaze and said softly, "Horikita really trusts you. As soon as she was chosen as the VIP, she told you immediately."
Hikigaya nodded. Yes, Horikita Suzune was the VIP of the Rabbit group, and Hikigaya had arranged for a student in the class to guess her correctly to secure the 100 points.
"She made a good profit this time," Hikigaya said. "Equivalent to 50 points for thirty-three months, totaling 6.6 million."
Kushida's eyes widened slightly. Even though she had just done the math in her head, she still felt a pang of bitterness. She looked at Hikigaya, unsure of what to say for a moment.
In this exam, Horikita Suzune clearly hadn't done much, and Kushida felt there was no place for her to intervene, yet... Horikita suddenly had 6.6 million.
Envy! Damn it!
So Horikita made all that just by being selected as the VIP. So this is what it means to be a "VIP"! They really are "privileged"!
Hikigaya pulled two point cards from his pocket and held them out to Kushida.
"This one is for Horikita, 6.6 million," he said, pointing to one, then indicated the other, "This one is for Matsushita Chiaki, one million. The fee for her help."
Kushida stared at the two cards, silent. Matsushita Chiaki. That girl who seemed like just another member of Karuizawa's "gal" group could actually get a million points?
She looked up at Hikigaya, her tone laced with complexity. "Matsushita... has she sided with you?"
Hikigaya didn't deny it. "If Horikita leaves Class D, she's the candidate to replace her."
Kushida fell silent. She knew Matsushita wasn't simple—she had enough insight to see the girl was "a pig eating a tiger." But hearing Hikigaya say it so bluntly still sparked a trace of jealousy.
'Is Matsushita smarter than me? No, she just wasn't fond of using her brain. But Matsushita was indeed... calmer, more cautious, and better suited for the role of a "dissenter."'
Kushida took a deep breath, suppressing the messy emotions. "So, can Matsushita hear your..." Kushida trailed off. She wanted to ask if Matsushita could also hear Hikigaya's heart.
"No," Hikigaya said quickly. "Once I realized you could hear it, I restrained myself. She didn't hear anything."
'I see. So, Hikigaya Hachiman, you really did start lying or deliberately controlling yourself once you discovered other girls could hear your heart. But doesn't that also prove that even though Matsushita is smart, she still can't beat me in this regard?'
Thinking this, Kushida's mood suddenly felt lighter.
Hikigaya didn't notice the shift in Kushida's mood; his focus was on the two point cards.
Class B's total income from this exam was 12 million. Buying off Koenji Rokusuke cost 1 million, plus 1 million for Matsushita and 6.6 million for Horikita. The final amount flowing into Class B's funds was 3.4 million.
However, he had also lent Ryuen Kakeru 2 million points—on the condition that it be repaid as soon as the exam ended. This portion of points wasn't counted as an exam expense. After all, it was just a loan and a repayment.
As he thought this, Hikigaya's phone vibrated. He glanced down, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. A transfer notification appeared on the screen.
[Ding! Your private account has received 2.4 million points. Sender: Ryuen Kakeru.]
It was Ryuuen's transfer. And it was for 2.4 million. He even paid back the 400,000 borrowed at school. It seemed the funds were all present.
Kushida, watching his expression, couldn't help but ask, "You seem to be in a good mood?"
Hikigaya nodded. "Yeah, the funds for this exam's expenses are all set." He paused, his gaze fixed on the distant sea, his tone contemplative. "However, there's still one more bit of income that needs processing."
Kushida looked at him, waiting for him to continue. Hikigaya knew that Kushida was interested in gathering secrets and intel on others. Talking to her about this might actually reduce her inner stress.
Thinking this, Hikigaya spoke slowly after a few seconds of silence. "During the deserted island exam, I got evidence from Ryuen that Hashimoto Masayoshi betrayed Class A. A recording."
Kushida's brow twitched slightly. "So, during the island exam—it was Hashimoto from Class A..."
"Yes, it was him who betrayed Class A. Of course, even if he hadn't, Class A's leader's info would have been guessed anyway. But since he did betray them, the evidence is still valid."
'I see. Then Hashimoto-kun really is terrible.' And according to Kushida's understanding of Hikigaya, now that he had the evidence, he would surely choose to... sell it. Exchange it for some warm, cozy points.
"You want to sell it to Sakayanagi Arisu?" she guessed.
Hikigaya nodded. "Sakayanagi is indeed the most suitable buyer. I just don't know if she still has the points to buy it."
Right. Indeed. Sakayanagi was no longer Class A's representative, and Class A was still burdened with a massive debt of 52.8 million. And now Class A had even dropped down. How tragic.
Perhaps feeling some sympathy for Class A, both remained silent for a few moments. The sea breeze passed between them, carrying a faint, salty scent.
Kushida looked at Hikigaya's profile and suddenly felt that this man was truly complex. He wanted so badly to be a house husband, yet he performed the most shrewd calculations. He knew she was two-faced, yet he was still trying to help her. From the conversation just now, she could tell he was "therapy-talking" her in his own way.
Even though she misunderstood that he was leaving, he had already considered the future and arranged everyone's positions. He had even prepared a successor in case Horikita left Class D.
"Hikigaya-kun," Kushida suddenly spoke.
Hikigaya turned to look at her. Meeting his gaze, she said softly, "Thank you."
Hikigaya was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "No need to thank me." He paused, his tone carrying a rare note of sincerity. "As long as I'm still at this school, if you really run into trouble, you can come to me anytime."
Kushida looked at his face and remained silent for a few seconds. Then she nodded gently. "Okay."
"But if you want to thank me, accompany me to the cafe in a bit and pay back that favor," Hikigaya added. "You wouldn't want to keep owing me, would you?"
"Uh." Kushida. Pay back the favor. So, was this the real reason he called her out? Kushida had felt the atmosphere was actually quite nice, but in the end, this guy Hikigaya really didn't know how to deal with girls!
Hmph!
-
-
-
While Hikigaya and Kushida were on the deck, by the pool on the top floor of the ship, Koenji Rokusuke for a split second felt that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka also didn't know how to deal with people.
The pool's surface shimmered, reflecting fine golden specks of light. It was quite a beautiful sight. Koenji Rokusuke lay on a lounge chair under a parasol, one hand behind his head and the other holding a glass of chilled fruit juice, looking as leisurely as a cat basking in the sun. He wore flashy swim trunks, his blonde hair glinted in the sunlight, and he radiated an aura of "I am the freest person in this world."
A few students were playing in the pool, but no one dared approach his area—or rather, Koenji's aura itself had drawn an invisible boundary. This was why the girls of Class D categorized the boys as Hirata Yousuke, Koenji, and "the others." Koenji occupied a category all on his own.
Koenji's gaze lazily swept across the edge of the pool, but suddenly stopped. He noticed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka passing by the pool, still wearing that expressionless face, hands in his pockets, his pace neither fast nor slow, as if just taking a casual stroll.
"Yo, Ayanokouji-boy."
Koenji's voice came from behind, lazy yet teasing. Ayanokouji's footsteps paused as he turned to face the man on the lounge chair. Koenji raised a hand and beckoned with a finger. "Come, let's chat."
Ayanokouji was silent for a second before walking over and sitting on the lounge chair next to Koenji. Koenji took a sip of his juice. "You've seen the exam results by now, haven't you?"
Ayanokouji didn't speak, but his silence was an answer in itself.
Koenji chuckled. "The Monkey group was indeed correct. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the name I guessed." He said this without boasting, merely stating a fact. To him, guessing the VIP wasn't something to be proud of. It was something he should have been able to do.
"However—" he paused and turned to look at Ayanokouji, a playful glint in his burgundy eyes, "Class D's total score this time was 0."
Ayanokouji's brow twitched slightly.
Koenji continued, "In other words, Class D did have a VIP, and they were guessed. Looking at the situation of the four classes—" He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the sea, his tone thoughtful. "It seems Hikigaya-boy found out who Class D's VIP was."
Ayanokouji remained silent. Koenji gently swirled his juice glass, the ice cubes clinking against the side with a crisp sound.
"No wonder when I asked him for 3 million points, he didn't refuse outright," he muttered to himself, as if talking to Ayanokouji and himself at once. "Even though he only paid 1 million in the end and Class C picked up the remaining 2 million—so that's what the 3 million for me to end the Monkey group exam early meant. A buyout."
He paused, a slight smile forming on his lips. "My guessing the Monkey group VIP should have given Class D 100 points. But those 100 points were offset by Class D's own VIP being guessed. So in the end, Class D got 0 points."
He turned to look at Ayanokouji. "Hikigaya-boy is quite the calculator."
Ayanokouji met his gaze, his golden pupils showing no emotion.
"But—" Koenji's tone shifted to one of sentiment, "a flat 3 million private points is also quite nice. At least for me, it's much more practical than those 100 class points."
With that, he took another sip of his juice.
Ayanokouji was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "Is this why you called me over? To inform me that you got 3 million points and lost 100 class points?"
Koenji raised an eyebrow. "Of course not." He set down the juice glass and sat up straight, his posture becoming uncharacteristically serious.
"Ayanokouji-boy, given that this exam lacked a pattern across the classes—you must have had no way to crack it, right?"
Ayanokouji looked at him, silent.
Koenji continued, "You can't control Class D, nor can you restrain its students. I can see that." He paused, his tone full of meaning. "However, your personal strength is very high. You just don't use it."
Ayanokouji's brow twitched slightly.
Koenji leaned back against the chair, returning to his lazy posture. "Look at me; for the Monkey group exam, I only needed three discussions to guess the VIP. With your brain, you could have at least mastered the Dragon group's VIP, couldn't you?"
Ayanokouji was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "The Dragon group's VIP was Hikigaya Hachiman."
Koenji's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh?"
"I guessed it," Ayanokouji's voice remained flat, devoid of emotion. "But I didn't have conclusive evidence, so I didn't answer."
Koenji stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "I see." Koenji looked back toward the sea. "Without conclusive evidence, you didn't dare to gamble. That is indeed your current situation."
He paused, his voice tinged with sentiment. "Ayanokouji-boy, you're too cautious. Or rather, you're bound by this idea of 'control'."
Ayanokouji said nothing.
Koenji continued, "You want to control Class D, you want to control the situation, you want to control everything. But this exam told you—there are some things you cannot control." He turned to look at Ayanokouji.
"But you forget, you yourself are a powerful weapon. You don't need to control others; you can achieve many things on your own. That's why I don't support your unscrupulous methods. Only if you can discard such actions will you be worthy of a duel with me."
Ayanokouji remained silent, seemingly considering his words.
After a few seconds, Ayanokouji spoke slowly, "The exam is over. Chabashira-sensei will probably be looking for me."
"Hmm," Ayanokouji's tone remained flat, "I didn't achieve a result that would satisfy her."
Koenji raised an eyebrow. "Class D's homeroom teacher?" Koenji chuckled. "Then you might be disappointed. I saw her at breakfast this morning, and she didn't look unhappy at all."
Ayanokouji looked at him.
But Koenji didn't explain, simply picking up his juice and taking a leisurely sip. "Forget it, let's stop here." Koenji leaned back into the lounge chair and closed his eyes. "You can go now, I'm going to sunbathe."
Ayanokouji looked at him for two seconds, then stood up and walked away. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back. He didn't think Koenji would say these things without reason.
But Koenji just lay there, his blonde hair shining in the sun, radiating an aura of laziness that was at peace with the world.
Ayanokouji withdrew his gaze and continued on.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship.
Chabashira Sae leaned against the dormitory window, an unlit cigarette between her fingers. Sunlight poured in from outside, falling on her and highlighting her profile with sharp clarity.
Her gaze rested on the distant sea, her expression unusually calm.
The exam was over.
Class D got 0 points.
Ayanokouji hadn't delivered a result that satisfied her.
Yet, her mood at this moment was unexpectedly peaceful.
If it were before—if she still clung to her old wish—she would likely be frustrated, resentful, and thinking of ways to exploit Ayanokouji to make him perform better next time.
But now—
She just quietly watched the sea, letting the sunlight wash over her.
Hikigaya Hachiman 's face suddenly surfaced in her mind.
That man, with a single recording, had forced her to change direction, letting her know that her wish was impossible to achieve from the very beginning.
Chabashira sighed softly and tucked the cigarette back into her pocket.
'So be it.'
She turned and left the window.
She prepared to head to the cafe. At 3:00 PM, she would meet with Hikigaya, but for now, she had to deal with Chie.
Chabashira also felt that Hoshinomiya was a bit of a handful.
But as the sunlight fell on the empty windowsill, it cast a warm glow.
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