Chapter 155: Sakayanagi Arisu: Am I Really a Love-Struck Fool? No, That's Not Right!
After taking off his glasses, Hachiman began to move; after all, the meeting was in ten minutes. Since Sakayanagi had asked so urgently, he didn't think much of it and headed straight toward the café on the third floor.
However, as he pushed open the café door, Hachiman's steps faltered slightly.
It was this café again. One way or another, he had come here with Kushida, talked with Chabashira-sensei, and had even been dragged here for a seat by Hoshinomiya-sensei on her "return trip." Now, here he was again.
In less than an hour, the girls sitting at this table with him had changed three times in a row.
"..." Hachiman.
Hachiman shifted his gaze expressionlessly.
The staff member at the door was a young woman with a ponytail. Seeing him enter, a professional smile appeared on her face as she prepared to say "Welcome," but her gaze froze on his face for a second.
In that second, her eyes shifted from "Welcoming a guest" to something indefinable—there was confusion, suspicion, and a subtle hint of... bewilderment.
Clearly, just as Hachiman remembered the café, the staff... also remembered him.
However, Hachiman's acting skills had improved lately, and his skin had thickened considerably. He simply pretended not to notice anything and walked straight inside.
Scanning the shop, he quickly locked onto a window seat.
There sat Sakayanagi Arisu. A black cane rested by her left hand, and notably, she was wearing a beret today, looking quite adorable. Indeed, no matter how many times one looked, it was still a bit stunning.
She sat there quietly, her back very straight, her posture elegant and composed, with even a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
He walked over and sat down opposite her.
"Sakayanagi-san."
Sakayanagi looked up, her gaze landing squarely on his face.
But her eyes lingered for a split second on the bridge of his nose—there was nothing there. No glasses, no frames, only those familiar, perpetually half-lidded eyes. The pause in Sakayanagi's gaze was very brief, almost negligible, but Hachiman caught it nonetheless. He wasn't entirely sure what it meant; it just felt like she was looking for something, yet looking at nothing at all.
Sakayanagi withdrew her gaze and nodded slightly.
"Hikigaya-kun."
The waiter approached, but Hachiman waved a hand to indicate he wasn't ordering.
"..."
The waiter froze for a moment, her gaze darting between him and Sakayanagi. Her mouth twitched slightly with a subtle "just as I thought" expression as she turned to leave.
Hachiman pretended not to see.
He looked back at Sakayanagi. Finding that he wasn't ordering, her expression didn't change, maintaining that same composed demeanor. However, Hachiman felt a strange sense of low pressure in the air, like the oppressive heat before a storm.
Hachiman had a rough idea of what was going on.
"Sakayanagi-san," he began, his tone remaining calm. "If you're here to demand an explanation for this exam, I won't take responsibility. Because I didn't do anything wrong."
Sakayanagi's fingers paused slightly.
She looked up at Hachiman, a flash of surprise crossing those violet-blue eyes before they returned to a state of calm.
"Does Hikigaya-kun think I am here to demand an explanation?" Her voice remained in that sweet tone, yet it carried a trace of an indiscernible smile.
"Is that not the case?" Hachiman countered.
Sakayanagi didn't answer immediately. She rested her hand on her knee, her fingertips lightly tapping the hem of her skirt.
"I'm not so petty," she said calmly and steadily. "An exam is an exam. Misjudging information or being misled—those are results of my own lack of ability. I can still distinguish that much."
Hachiman looked at her, somewhat surprised.
He had originally thought Sakayanagi would take this opportunity to expose the fact that she could hear his inner thoughts, or even further question him on why he sent false messages through his thoughts and induced Class A to believe there was a pattern to the VIPs.
So, he had even prepared a set of excuses.
But she didn't mention it at all.
She simply glossed over the matter as if it wasn't worth bothering with. But it was impossible for her not to care—for instance, right now, she looked somewhat annoyed.
Hachiman remained silent for a few seconds.
So, Sakayanagi wasn't angry about the exam. Then what was the deal with this current mood of displeasure?
He watched her, but she was looking at the empty table. Strands of silver hair fell on either side of her face, making that exquisite profile look a bit softer. However, her slightly pursed lips still betrayed her inner feelings.
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and decided to change the subject.
"Sakayanagi-san, you didn't ask me out just to congratulate me on my class promotion, did you?" He paused, then added, "Of course, if I could get a 'congratulations' from you, I'd still be quite happy."
The corner of Sakayanagi's mouth twitched slightly.
So, knowing full well that Class A had dropped down, you still want her to congratulate you on your successful promotion?
She felt she truly hadn't misjudged him. Hachiman Hikigaya was indeed a very cruel person.
Sakayanagi's gaze shifted from the empty table to him. A complex emotion flashed in those violet-blue eyes.
"Of course not." She paused, but still uttered the congratulations. "Regardless, congratulations are in order. Hikigaya-kun, you indeed did very well in this exam. Class B rising to Class A has broken a school record."
Hachiman shook his head. "It's because the students in the class cooperated well. I couldn't have done it alone."
Sakayanagi only gave a soft laugh. "You are still as humble as ever."
She didn't continue on that topic, but instead shifted the conversation.
"Hikigaya-kun, what are your plans for the upcoming holiday?" Sakayanagi inquired.
The holiday... huh?
Hearing this, Hachiman was slightly taken aback. He thought for a moment. "The school is under closed management; we can't exactly leave the campus at will."
Sakayanagi nodded. "Indeed, one cannot leave at will. However, if one possesses points, many things can be done. It is even possible to send items outside. Last month, Katsuragi-kun sent a gift out of the school for his younger sister."
Oh?
Hachiman's brow twitched slightly.
Using points to send items out of the school? He actually knew about this, as it was a plot point in the original story.
However, that was because it was Katsuragi's sister's birthday, and Katsuragi wanted to send a gift.
The change here was likely because, unlike the original, Katsuragi had entered the Student Council directly and had known about or handled such matters as an officer.
Hachiman pondered Sakayanagi's purpose in mentioning this. She didn't seem like the type to engage in idle small talk, so she likely had something in mind. He lowered his head, his gaze falling on the tabletop. Sakayanagi also lowered her eyelashes, remaining quiet. A brief silence fell between the two.
But Hachiman knew Sakayanagi was waiting for his inner thoughts again.
The fact that she wouldn't expose her ability to hear his thoughts, wouldn't question him, wouldn't pursue it, and even pretended nothing happened—it proved one thing: she actually still wanted to listen. Within those inner thoughts were his true feelings, his plans for the future, and things she couldn't get out of his mouth.
Of course, in this exam, there were also his lies. But now that the exam was over, she likely wasn't here to listen to lies.
Hachiman was silent for a few seconds, then chose to transmit.
'What Sakayanagi said about points being able to do many things—for example, converting points to cash or buying items to send out of the school—if one obtains enough points in this school, they could even improve their family's circumstances. However, that's for the students of this world. Whereas Sakayanagi and I... we are separated by two worlds.'
Sakayanagi's hand resting on her knee paused slightly.
But Hachiman continued transmitting his thoughts.
'I will also return to my world one day. But before that, I need to make some arrangements. For example, if I want to steadily maintain the status of Class A, perhaps I can suggest Ichinose buy Sakayanagi over. The original Class A with only Katsuragi is nothing to fear…'
The thoughts ended there.
Sakayanagi Arisu immediately looked up at Hachiman.
There was a ripple in those violet-blue eyes.
Because...
This guy Hikigaya, knowing full well she could hear his heart, was still playing her like this. Painting grand visions, arranging "afterlife" affairs, comforting her yet specifically not letting her see what she wanted to see.
Because the reason she asked him out now was actually just to see what he looked like in that photo Mashita Ai had taken.
Furthermore, she had limited the time to 10 minutes after Mashita Ai arrived at the lounge; in such a tight timeframe, Hikigaya might have forgotten to change out of his glasses.
So, she wanted to see that specific look.
And the result? He came without wearing anything at all. It was even possible that because he was meeting her, he had deliberately taken the glasses off.
Not only that.
She also cared about those thoughts just now.
Hikigaya Hachiman said he might return to his own world.
She obviously knew Hachiman was a "transmigrator." She had known this since she first heard his thoughts—known he came from another world, known he knew the entire "plot" of this school, and known he viewed everything here with the detachment of a bystander.
But she had never seriously considered what the word "transmigrator" implied.
It meant he didn't belong here.
It meant he could leave at any time.
Sakayanagi suddenly felt a sense of stifling annoyance. She let out a soft breath, trying to calm her heart.
"Sakayanagi-san?"
Hachiman's voice pulled her back to reality.
Sakayanagi snapped out of it, realizing her hand was unconsciously pinching the edge of the tablecloth. She quickly let go, smoothing out the wrinkles.
"It's nothing." Her voice was slightly unnatural. "The 'leaving' you mentioned..."
She paused, not continuing.
Hachiman looked at her but didn't press further.
Sakayanagi suddenly felt her question was stupid. Leaving was leaving; what else could it mean? Returning to his own world, returning to his original life, returning to a place without this school, without these exams, and without... her. It was the most normal thing in the world.
Yes, that was a very likely scenario.
Sakayanagi fell somewhat silent.
Seeing her like this, Hachiman suddenly spoke. "Sakayanagi-san, how many points do you have left right now?"
Sakayanagi was slightly startled. "What do you mean?"
Hachiman weighed his words. "You resigned from your position as Class A's leader, and Class A's points are basically controlled by Katsuragi to handle the exams. You, personally, probably won't be able to obtain many points. Even a leisurely, high-consumption lifestyle might be hard to maintain."
Sakayanagi didn't speak, just watched him.
Hachiman continued, "I can assist. For the duration of my time at this school, I can give you 300,000 points every month."
Sakayanagi's eyes widened slightly.
"So," her voice carried a hint of disbelief, "Hikigaya-kun, what you mean is..."
She paused, a mischievous glint flashing in those violet-blue eyes. "Are you going to keep me as a mistress?"
Hachiman's mouth twitched. "It's not keeping a mistress; it's an investment."
"An investment?" Sakayanagi repeated the word, her tone playful.
"Yes." Hachiman nodded. "I just hope that after I leave the school, Sakayanagi-san can look after those close to me a bit more. For example... the 'puppy' I'm raising according to Sakayanagi-san's suggestion."
Sakayanagi was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood his meaning.
Karuizawa Kei.
The puppy she suggested he raise.
Although Karuizawa-san was in Class D, she had indeed performed the role of a good dog. So, it wasn't strange for Hikigaya-kun to consider giving back to her.
However...
"Hehe—" Sakayanagi laughed softly, a smile filled with a sense of relief and an indescribable sentiment. "Hikigaya-kun is truly responsible. You've even made arrangements for your own puppy."
Hachiman didn't deny it.
Sakayanagi looked at him, silent for a few seconds.
She suddenly felt this man was truly strange. He clearly wanted to be a househusband, yet he made the most shrewd plans. He clearly could have ignored everything, yet he arranged the path of retreat for everyone.
She lowered her eyelashes, then raised them again a moment later.
"Hikigaya-kun." Her gaze fell on Hachiman's face. "Is what you said about 'leaving' true?"
Hachiman was silent for a second, then nodded.
Hachiman's "speaking" was transmitted via thought, so Sakayanagi speaking it out loud now was also an acknowledgement of his method of providing information.
Sakayanagi didn't continue speaking.
After a long while, she finally spoke slowly.
"I understand."
She looked up, that elegant smile returning to her lips. "If the price is you leaving the school, then simply helping you... it is indeed a good thing for my class."
Is that so?
Hachiman looked at her and nodded slightly.
Although Sakayanagi wasn't entirely reliable—in the original story, Kamuro was eventually expelled due to Hashimoto's betrayal, and Sakayanagi, despite saying the harshest words, ended up being expelled herself.
Then, presumably after being expelled, she would end up staring blankly at Kamuro Masumi, who had also been expelled.
Because wouldn't that mean Sakayanagi completely failed to avenge her?
However.
Now he was commissioning Sakayanagi for help.
As the heiress of the Sakayanagi family, simply giving Karuizawa an opportunity or a position was very easy; it was something she could do with minimal effort.
"Thank you," Hachiman said.
Sakayanagi didn't respond, just sat there in silence. Just when Hachiman thought she wasn't going to start a new topic, she suddenly spoke.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Yes?"
"Have you ever thought about... changing your image slightly?"
Hachiman was startled. "Changing my image?"
"Yes." Sakayanagi's tone was casual, like a common suggestion. "For example, wearing a pair of glasses or something."
Hachiman froze for a moment.
Glasses?
He thought of the plain-glass spectacles Chabashira had given him earlier. But unfortunately, after putting them on, his own classmates didn't even recognize him. Furthermore, it looked very much like a corporate drone style, which he wasn't used to.
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?" Hachiman asked.
But Sakayanagi just smiled softly and didn't answer.
At that moment, the surface of the sea outside the café window was shimmering, and a few seagulls flew past with crisp cries.
Looking at her, Hachiman felt Sakayanagi was a bit strange today.
However, Sakayanagi only mentioned it once and didn't continue, so Hachiman began to discuss another topic with her.
It was also the topic he had thrown out during the VIP exam to get Sakayanagi to "buy," but hadn't yet cashed in.
That was the matter of Hashimoto's betrayal.
Sakayanagi's attitude was also very clear: she would buy. Although she didn't have enough points now, she could exchange other things for it.
Clearly, having learned from Hachiman about Kamuro's future fate of expulsion, she had taken it to heart.
Perhaps she truly could change Kamuro-san's fate.
.
.
.
Six minutes later.
When Sakayanagi Arisu pushed open the door to the rest area, only Kamuro Masumi was in the room.
Kamuro was leaning against the sofa by the window, idly flipping through the copy of Scarlett that Sakayanagi had been reading earlier. Hearing the door, she looked up, a flash of surprise in her eyes when she saw Sakayanagi.
"Sakayanagi?" She put the book down and quickly glanced at the clock on the wall. "You've been gone for less than ten minutes."
Sakayanagi didn't answer. She simply walked to her seat, leaning on her cane. Her movements were still elegant, but Kamuro noticed that she placed her cane down with a bit more force than usual, the tip making a sharp thud against the floor.
"Back so soon?" Kamuro watched her, curiosity in her tone. "I thought you two would talk for a long time."
Sakayanagi picked up the still-warm black tea on the table and took a light sip without speaking.
After all, how was she supposed to say it? Say that Hikigaya-kun not only wasn't wearing glasses, but didn't even order water for her?
Kamuro stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly remembered something, a slight curve appearing at the corners of her mouth. "By the way, wasn't that photo of Hikigaya wearing glasses quite good? You went to see him in person; did you think he didn't look good?"
Sakayanagi's finger paused slightly on the teacup.
"He wasn't wearing glasses at all," she blurted out.
After speaking, her movements stiffened for a moment.
Kamuro looked at her, seemingly wanting to laugh but holding it in, then sighed softly. She was already used to Sakayanagi's occasional slips of the tongue, especially regarding Hikigaya Hachiman. She didn't press further, simply leaning back into the sofa and picking up the book again.
"Oh, he wasn't wearing them. That's a pity."
Sakayanagi was silent for a few seconds, then pulled a recording pen from her pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Kamuro.
Kamuro put the book down and looked at the recording pen, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's this?"
"The evidence you failed to get on the uninhabited island." Sakayanagi's voice was calm, yet filled with meaning.
Kamuro was stunned for a moment, then understood. She picked up the pen and hit the play button.
In the quiet room, clear voices emerged.
"Hashimoto, you bastard actually came." It was Ryuen Kakeru's voice.
"I'm just here for an opportunity," another voice sounded, slow and steady, carrying a deliberate composure. "As you know, I belong to the Sakayanagi faction. Naturally, I can't just watch Katsuragi take over six hundred points."
Kamuro's fingers tightened slightly.
Because that voice belonged to their classmate, Masayoshi Hashimoto.
One should say, as expected, it was him.
"Don't talk nonsense." In the recording, Ryuen's voice carried a cold laugh. "Would internal strife really go this far?"
A brief silence.
"Fine, whatever you're thinking," Ryuen continued. "Tell me the information for Class A's leader. I can pay one million points."
"No way." Hashimoto's voice became wary. "It has to be two million. I'm taking a risk here too. Once caught, I'm the criminal who cost Class A tens of millions."
"Understood." Ryuen's tone sounded pleasant. "Here is the agreement. I'll transfer the points to you after Katsuragi collects them. So, Class A's leader is—"
A pause.
"Katsuragi's sidekick, Yahiko Totsuka."
The recording ended there.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Kamuro turned off the pen and placed it on the table. Her brow furrowed, then relaxed.
"It really was Hashimoto," she said softly, her tone lacking much surprise. Although it was something she had long suspected, hearing it with her own ears felt different.
Class A dropping to Class B was indeed... not surprising.
Katsuragi's misjudgments, Hashimoto's betrayal, Sakayanagi being deceived and her overconfidence, and so on.
These were all reasons why Class A became Class B.
While she felt a bit melancholy, she thought of how this was a tool Sakayanagi used to prevent her own expulsion—the one Hikigaya had mentioned—as a form of precaution. She looked up at Sakayanagi.
"So, Sakayanagi, what price did you pay to get this? You don't have many points left on your end either, right?"
Sakayanagi didn't speak.
Kamuro quickly calculated in her head.
As Sakayanagi's "puppy," even things like buying meals were arranged by Kamuro, so she knew exactly how many points Sakayanagi had.
As a member of the Dragon group, Sakayanagi had received 500,000 points from the VIP exam results. But that money had already been handed over to Katsuragi for unified distribution, and in the end, each person only received 112,500 points. Then, Sakayanagi had paid an additional one million points for a fee on the ship. According to her understanding of Sakayanagi, while she was required to stay at school during the island exam, she certainly wouldn't have spent nothing—she likely spent a large sum of money to hire senpais.
Adding it all up, Sakayanagi's private account probably didn't have much left.
Sakayanagi picked up the teacup, which still had some heat, and swirled it slightly. "You should thank me. To get this recording pen, I directly cancelled the 'mistress' plan Hikigaya-kun suggested."
Kamuro nodded.
Then her movements froze.
She snapped her head up, staring at Sakayanagi, her eyes full of shock.
"Mistress?"
Sakayanagi glanced at her, that exquisite face wearing a look of natural composure. "Don't be so provincial. I'm adorable to begin with; isn't it normal for someone to want to keep me?"
Kamuro stared at her for a few seconds, then slowly shook her head, saying with absolute certainty, "Hikigaya isn't that kind of person. Rather than keeping someone, he's the one who wants to be kept."
"..." Sakayanagi.
The corner of Sakayanagi's mouth twitched slightly.
She recalled Hachiman's ideal of being a "househusband" and the serious expression on his face every time he mentioned "being supported by an excellent wife."
True.
She put down her teacup and sighed softly. "You're right."
A few seconds of silence.
Sakayanagi pulled her thoughts back, her tone becoming serious. "Actually, Hikigaya-kun is planning for his puppy's future. He hopes that if he leaves the school, I, as a member of the Sakayanagi family, can support Karuizawa Kei a bit in the future."
Kamuro was slightly startled.
Karuizawa Kei. That puppy Hikigaya was raising. No wonder when she occasionally bumped into the other girl on the ship, she always felt like she was looking in a mirror.
Kamuro was silent for a while, then nodded slightly. "I see."
Inwardly, she was a bit envious. Hikigaya was truly good to his puppy, unlike Sakayanagi, who just treated her like a servant.
Hmph.
But she didn't ask more. Sakayanagi didn't explain everything, but she could feel that the other girl was deliberately avoiding certain things.
Sakayanagi's gaze fell outside the window, those violet-blue eyes carrying an indiscernible emotion.
Hikigaya Hachiman.
That man had even arranged things for after he left.
"Kamuro," Sakayanagi suddenly spoke.
"Yeah?"
"That photo," Sakayanagi's tone sounded very casual, "let me see it again. I know you definitely asked Morishita-san for it."
"..." Kamuro.
Kamuro gave her a look of speechless disbelief. However, she hadn't asked Morishita Ai for the photo for herself; she simply felt Sakayanagi might need it.
Thus, she didn't say much, simply pulling out her phone, opening the photo, and handing it over.
Sakayanagi took the phone, looking down at the screen.
In the photo, the boy was walking sideways in the hallway, his black thin-rimmed glasses making the contours of his face exceptionally clear. She stared at that face for a few seconds, then gently handed the phone back to Kamuro.
"It's a good shot," she said flatly.
Kamuro took the phone back and looked at Sakayanagi's profile, only to find the other girl's gaze was slightly out of focus, as if she were lost in thought.
Sakayanagi was indeed thinking about a very important matter. Hikigaya-kun said he might leave this world. He had even arranged things for after he left. "Leaving"—these two words suddenly surfaced in her mind, making her feel somewhat displeased.
Sakayanagi suddenly remembered when she last experienced the weight of the word "leaving."
It was when her mother passed away.
Back then she was still small and didn't understand what "forever" meant. She only knew her mother said she "had to leave for a while," and then never returned. Later she grew up and
understood what "leaving" implied—it meant that person completely vanished from your world, it meant you could never see them again, it meant all the words you didn't have time to say and things you didn't have time to do became eternal regrets.
And now, she had heard the word "leaving" from another person.
Sakayanagi's fingers tightened slightly.
No.
This wasn't right.
Why would she compare Hikigaya Hachiman to her mother? Why would she feel his "leaving" would bring her the same feeling?
She lowered her head, looking at her hands resting on her knees. Those hands were trembling slightly, as if using great strength to suppress something.
'Sakayanagi Arisu, what are you thinking?'
She questioned herself in her heart.
He is just your opponent, just a classmate who makes your school life interesting, just a transmigrator who knows too many secrets. The relationship between you is nothing more than that. Nothing more than that.
But her heartbeat, unbidden, quickened slightly.
She thought back to where it all began—simply finding his cold-blooded operation that left Class C with 0 points interesting. Then Kamuro being able to hear his heart surprised her; a supernatural phenomenon had actually appeared. Eventually, she herself could finally hear his thoughts, only to hear himself being evaluated as having a "love-struck brain." And then, the fact that he was a transmigrator, a prophet who knew the entire plot. She felt school life had become interesting; she had gained an opponent worth taking seriously.
And then?
Later, in the Dragon group's discussion room, she sat beside him, listening to his complaints, listening to him praise her for being cute in his heart. Later, in the exam, she was induced by his thoughts, plotted against by him, and played for a fool. Later, in the lounge, she looked at the photo of him wearing glasses, and a thought popped into her head—"I want to see what he looks like in person."
Was all of this just the attention given to an opponent?
Sakayanagi closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.
"Could it be..." she suddenly murmured, her voice as soft as a self-whisper, "could it be that I truly have the fate of a love-struck fool?"
"Huh?" Kamuro felt she had heard something incredible.
Sakayanagi snapped back to her senses, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face.
"...It's nothing." She picked up the teacup, only to find it was already empty.
"So, do you still want to read that copy of Scarlett?" Kamuro asked. "You seemed to dislike it before."
Sakayanagi was silent for a moment. "I'll look at it again. Go brew some more black tea." She paused, her tone carrying a hint of a complaint. "I just went to see Hikigaya Hachiman, and he didn't even buy me a drink."
Oh.
So that's how it is.
Masumi Kamuro understood; so she came back with a stomach full of anger because she didn't get anything to drink. That guy Hikigaya is still so clueless about the atmosphere and how to get along with girls.
Kamuro stood up and took the teapot to refill it, her lips unable to stop themselves from curling up slightly.
And so.
Hachiman had no idea that during the break, there was actually a girl who cared about the progress of his social interactions with girls.
At this time, the final exams for the first semester of the first year had completely concluded.
Once the exam results were confirmed, they were naturally transmitted back to the school.
Meanwhile, in the Advanced Nurturing High School Student Council office, the second and third-year students remaining on campus had also completed their final exams for the semester.
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