Chapter 164: The True Inter-Grade Showdown
After the unexpected meeting with Hiyori ended, Hikigaya finally arrived at the spring break he had been most looking forward to.
However, the consequence of this spring break was the loss of his physical energy. His bed felt like it had a new owner; he simply couldn't get that feeling of quietly sleeping until late afternoon all by himself anymore.
Fortunately, even though it was winter, through their intense 'exercise,' Hikigaya finally found the last bit of solace in this cold season. Aside from being occasionally tired, sleepy, having a sore lower back, a slightly numb mouth, and needing to change the sheets frequently, Hikigaya's life was quite good.
As for the girls... they were more than just comfortable.
[In the Chat Group, thanks to Satō Asahi's masterful manipulation, the electricity was always successfully cut off just seconds before that happened.]
[Of course, with this back-and-forth happening so many times, everyone started to feel unhappy. Just like the Service Club's projector, which was almost dismantled by Yukinoshita a few times, the situation at the training school was clearly no different. With the combined watch of Sakura Airi, Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyō, and Kamuro Masumi, this power outage caused their mood to sink to a low point.]
[Haruno: "I see, Hikigaya-kun has become an adult, hasn't he? He's much younger than me. Don't you agree, Shizuka?"]
[Hiratsuka Shizuka rolled her eyes at Haruno: "Do you think that's appropriate to say to a 'maiden' who is almost 30 and still single? Also, doesn't knowing this make you sad?"]
[Haruno scoffed: "Me? Why would I be sad?"]
[Hiratsuka Shizuka gave her another helpless glance: "I mean, aren't you sad for your sister? I don't recall you being so self-absorbed. Remember, back in school, even when faced with dozens of confessions, you..."]
[Before Hiratsuka Shizuka could finish, Haruno suddenly stretched out a hand to interrupt her. Her expression was a little different from usual, but she still spoke calmly: "Yukinon is still young. That kind of thing is too premature for her. Although... It's a bit of a pity. But after all, it's just in the video, so it's not... completely unacceptable, I guess."]
[Hiratsuka Shizuka was speechless. Why were all her students talking in riddles...]
["So, can you accept it or not?"]
["Shizuka, are you asking a foolish question? You're thirty, and your student isn't even twenty yet..."]
["Alright, alright, stop talking."]
[Yukinoshita Yukino looked at their conversation and felt that something was slightly off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.]
[Yukinoshita Yukino: "If you have something to say, just say it. What's with the power outage?"]
[Haruno: "Oh my, how would big sister know about something like that, Yukinon? Are you suggesting that big sis would know something you yourself don't know? Is this an admission..."]
[Yukinoshita: "Alright, I got it."]
[Clearly, she still knew nothing, but she just didn't want to hear anything that suggested she was inferior to her sister.]
[Sakayanagi frowned, also seeming to perceive something, but in the end, she merely smiled faintly, choosing to pretend she didn't notice.]
[Ryūen also scoffed: "Isn't it just that small matter? I, the great master, was already unimpressed with that in middle school. Why make it so mysterious?"]
[Ibuki: "Hmph, why don't you project your middle school escapades then?"]
[Ryūen: "Little chick, you have become more and more arrogant lately. Do you always have to interrupt like this?"]
[Hiyori: "What matter? Is it that kind of thing?"]
[Ryūen: "Go play on the sidelines, kid."]
[Hiyori: "Who says I don't know? I've read plenty about it in books..."]
[I didn't expect Hiyori to read explicit books, too...]
[Hikigaya seemed to realize something as well, but he continued to play dumb.]
[Karuizawa: "Wait, wait, I mean, it can't be that kind of thing, can it... Wait, wait, Hikigaya wouldn't do something like that, would he..."]
[Ichinose: "What thing?"]
[Kamuro: "It's that thing..."]
[Yuigahama: "Hikki?"]
[Ebina: "Hikigaya-kun actually betrayed Hayama-kun..."]
[Miura: "Hey, hey, Hina, don't talk nonsense. Also... I don't get what's happening either."]
[It seemed everyone understood tacitly. Those who understood didn't speak directly, and those who didn't, truly didn't understand anything.]
[Fortunately, there was no evidence yet. Although all circumstances pointed toward that situation, as long as there was no absolute evidence, it couldn't be confirmed that Hikigaya had done that kind of thing. That was Hikigaya's last path to survival.]
[Of course, he was certain that if Yukinoshita, who was right next to him, found out, it would certainly be a death sentence.]
[...]
The spring break passed relatively quickly, possibly because apart from occasionally reading, Hikigaya was either sleeping in bed or being forced into sleeping in bed by others for most of the time.
This feeling undoubtedly made his life feel incredibly empty, and not just physically, but mentally too.
Therefore...
Hikigaya had never wanted a special exam so much.
It shouldn't be like this. The spring break was almost over, and the school still hadn't made any noise. It was unbelievable.
Based on previous situations, the school would usually implement some kind of special exam to torment them, though right now, it was the exam Hikigaya was dreaming of.
For several days in a row, Kamuro and Kushida's nearly daily visits left Hikigaya's body practically exhausted. Of course, with the presence of these two, who dared to love and hate fiercely, any attempt by Ichinose or Karuizawa to get close to Hikigaya, even to ask him out to play, was ruthlessly refused using Hikigaya's phone.
However, Ichinose was at least slightly more reserved. Karuizawa, on the other hand, went straight to his door, knocking furiously, which startled both Kamuro and Kushida, who were in the middle of a vigorous 'exercise' inside.
Fortunately, Kamuro and Kushida managed to forcefully cover Hikigaya's mouth. After Karuizawa knocked for half an hour and then sat outside the door for two hours, she finally brought herself to leave.
Thus, they decided to rethink their strategy regarding Karuizawa.
Hikigaya was helpless and felt bad, but he was in no position to control the situation. Unless school started again, it was unlikely Karuizawa would get to see him.
Moreover, unlike before, Sakura, Kushida, and Kamuro would circle Hikigaya's floor a few times to confirm safety before entering his room, which successfully avoided many watchful eyes.
Strangely, Sakura hadn't been over for a long time, so long that Hikigaya wondered if she was on her period.
...
Rewinding time to the night before the transition ceremony, Kanzaki, Ryūen, Hikigaya, and Sakayanagi were all summoned by one person to a quiet area of the building.
Kanzaki: "There are too few opportunities to speak with the Student Council President. Even after nearly half a year at this school, I haven't genuinely talked with the Student Council President, so I have all sorts of questions I want to ask."
Ryūen: "Heh, are you a curious baby or someone who's not fully developed? You have so many questions."
Kanzaki ignored Ryūen's mockery and kept his gaze fixed on Horikita Manabu.
Horikita Manabu spread his hands, his expression remarkably serious.
"There's no need to be polite. Ask away. I came here precisely for that purpose."
Kanzaki: "Then I won't hold back..."
Ryūen: "I'm only interested in one thing..."
He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, still looking at the Student Council President with a dismissive air.
"Are first-year students only allowed to compete with other first-year students?"
Kanzaki was a little speechless. This guy had just finished criticizing him, and now he was asking this kind of question.
"Cutting in line isn't a good habit, Ryūen."
"Mind your own business."
Tachibana Akane finally couldn't stand it and said unhappily: "Asking questions is fine; that's why we're here. But your tone is a little too arrogant."
Kanzaki: "Do you have some misunderstanding about yourself, Ryūen? Confidence is a good thing, but overconfidence is not, especially since you're the one leading the first year's Class D."
Ryūen: "Have you forgotten the result of the Command Tower exam? You Class B students don't think you're stronger than us, do you?"
Faced with their argument, Hikigaya simply watched the show, while Sakayanagi remained very quiet, showing a serene smile, and stood beside Hikigaya, clearly feeling relaxed.
Tachibana: "It has nothing to do with ability. Your attitude towards your seniors is wrong."
However, Horikita Manabu looked meaningfully at Hikigaya, then at Sakayanagi, gently adjusted his glasses, and said calmly:"For the first year, being able to progress to this state in one year is indeed more remarkable than our previous years. That much is undeniable. As for your question, Ryūen, perhaps starting tomorrow, you will learn about the dark side of this school. Unlike me, once Nagumo takes over, he will definitely host more inter-grade battles."
Ryūen rubbed his hands together, his expression clearly excited. "That's great. I can't wait to defeat all of you."
Sakayanagi shook her head: "Dragon-boy, just as Kanzaki-kun said, confidence is good, but overconfidence is not."
"Huh?"
Ryūen looked at Sakayanagi with renewed displeasure, watching the girl who needed a cane to stand upright, who clearly exuded a terrifying aura.
Sakayanagi showed no fear. The smile on her face remained serene, but she secretly moved a little closer, standing behind Hikigaya, and then said: "Even for our Class A, wanting to defeat Ryūen would be a pipe dream. If I'm not mistaken, the reason your class had no expulsions in the expulsion exam was through your connection with Nagumo, correct?"
Ryūen wasn't surprised. After all, this wasn't hard to guess. The people who could help their class in this school were few.
In contrast, Kanzaki on the side was somewhat dumbfounded.
Hikigaya had actually guessed it too. Based on the anonymously disseminated information when the Ichinose incident was resolved, he had figured it out.
Ryūen: "And so what?"
Sakayanagi: "He can control the entire second year. You should know this better than I do. Pitting one class against an entire grade is like throwing an egg against a stone. You're not an idiot, Ryūen."
Ryūen still gave a dismissive cold laugh. For him, there were absolutely no undefeated enemies.
Horikita Manabu also nodded: "I have to say, if Nagumo Miyabi hadn't conflicted with me on governance issues, I would never have become his enemy. But even so, I cannot deny his talent. To be able to gain a foothold in the second year in just one year, and then control the second year to this extent in another half year... Even our third-year Class A would probably be unable to oppose him."
Kanzaki and Sakayanagi both nodded. Ryūen also folded his arms and remained silent.
Tachibana: "Not only that, Nagumo Miyabi doesn't just control the second year. He has considerable influence even in the third year. It's like if third-year Class B wanted to win against us, it means... Horikita-senpai has to face the siege of five classes, or even more."
Kanzaki: "One class, facing five classes... and still holding its ground and staying in Class A. Is that the Student Council President?"
Ryūen remained silent, and Sakayanagi also smiled in respect.
Horikita Manabu: "Indeed, the second year has already fallen, and the third year might also rise up in revolt, trying to overthrow our class. However, the first year does not have much of Nagumo's influence. I believe you are all capable people who are unwilling to be ruled by him. Therefore... all hope must be placed on you. On that note... I'd like to hear your thoughts, Hikigaya."
The silent Hikigaya's body trembled slightly. After all, he had hoped to remain silent until the end, but since he was called out...
"Your analysis is sound. If Nagumo is the opponent, our four first-year classes, plus your Class A, Horikita-senpai, might not lose even against all the remaining classes combined."
Kanzaki, Ryūen, Sakayanagi, Tachibana, and Horikita Manabu were all a little surprised. This guy actually thought they could fight the remaining seven classes with just five classes. This was a massive difference in numbers.
Moreover... Was it truly possible to unite all first-year students right now? It was probably still a little difficult.
However, if the difficulty only lay there, Hikigaya was confident he could solve it. The real trouble was...
Hikigaya: "Nagumo Miyabi, as Vice President, was already able to directly interfere with first-year exams. If he becomes the real Student Council President, his power might be so great that it could directly overturn the school's balance."
"Ryūen, you may feel you utilized Nagumo, but that's not the case. It's impossible for the school not to know about the anomalies in first-year Class D. And if you think the school is just turning a blind eye out of sympathy, then you are too naive."
"Has the Student Council President ever had such a precedent in this school?"
They were, of course, discussing the transaction between Ryūen and Nagumo. Aside from the clueless Kanzaki, everyone else was well aware.
Horikita Manabu shook his head.
"To my knowledge, the reason this school can be called a school that prioritizes ability is due to its cruel system. They would never feel pity, even if an entire class was expelled."
Sakayanagi gently clapped her hands, smiling and nodding.
Ryūen was deep in thought, and only Kanzaki was still reeling from the massive amount of information.
Hikigaya: "Now you understand, don't you? I can be 100% certain that Nagumo's influence has expanded to the school's administration. To win against him is to touch upon the interests of the school and the sensei. Just like in officialdom, it is a huge industrial chain, a black industrial chain. From a certain perspective, even if he cannot win against third-year Class A, he cannot be defeated either."
Tachibana was completely stunned. Although this guy was indeed valued by Horikita Manabu, but...
How could he, how could he see this far?
What kind of future could he possibly foresee?
Horikita Manabu also smiled softly. Even when lowering his head, he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from twitching.
"As expected of you, Hikigaya. You've already seen this step. Even I only grasped these fragmented pieces of information after a year as Student Council President, and you analyzed the entire thing based on just one incident."
Ryūen also lost his previous arrogance. If Hikigaya's analysis was true, then the second year... was simply unshakeable.
Nagumo Miyabi... What a terrifying guy.
Sakayanagi looked at Hikigaya with a hint of praise, then offered a slight smile.
As the school chairman's daughter, she had always been aware of the darkness within this school, but...
It was an uncontrollable darkness.
But now, she saw hope.
If she could use Hikigaya-kun to completely defeat Nagumo Miyabi, and even help her father clean up this black industrial chain, allowing the school to be completely reshuffled and restarted, then...
Even if the boy was using her, what did it matter?
Having a congenital defect, she would likely continue down this path in the future, and her immediate goal was to first clean up her own 'home.'
The six people each held unspeakable thoughts in their hearts.
Finally, Horikita Manabu was the first to speak: "Ryūen, the exam you wish for will naturally take place when the time comes. However, I cannot guarantee that the exam will proceed as you imagine. That is something no one can predict."
Ryūen put his hands in his pockets, his smile now gone.
"Even so, I, Ryūen, will absolutely never lose."
Fighting spirit, only relentless fighting spirit.
He was no longer a tyrant. Now, he was just an ordinary student in Class D.
Like all his classmates, he had goals he absolutely had to achieve.
[Ichinose: "We really heard something incredible... So Nagumo-kun has already reached that level."]
[Shirabe: "Doesn't that mean that now that he's Student Council President, with his unshakeable status, it's impossible for him to fail?"]
[Kanzaki: "If he has the backing of the school administration, then..."]
[Shibata's face was clearly troubled.]
[Hiyori: "It's alright. We will win against him."]
[Ibuki: "The statements of children are always moving. Shiina, I'd like to hear how you plan to win against that Nagumo guy."]
[Ryūen and others also focused their attention on her. But she merely pointed gently, placing her hand on Hikigaya's face.]
["Horikita-senpai said Nagumo Miyabi took two years to control the second year, but Hikigaya-kun took less than one year, you see..."]
[Ishizaki: "Idiot, are you an idiot? That guy isn't our friend, and he hasn't reached Nagumo's level yet."]
[Hiyori: "It's just that he doesn't want to do that."]
[Ryūen's body suddenly trembled.]
[Ishizaki: "Even so... are you suggesting we should cooperate with them?"]
[Hiyori: "Wrong. It's four classes."]
[The people in Ryūen's class scoffed. Asking four classes to cooperate was simply a joke; how could such a thing be possible?]
[Horikita: "So, Brother has always had this trouble. It's a pity I can't help him. I'm still too weak. I can't do anything."]
[Kushida: "Me too... all that smug information I gathered is completely useless now."]
[Karuizawa also seemed to regret how poor her athletic ability and grades were. Compared to Kushida and Horikita, she was even a liability.]
[Sakura lowered her head, trying to find a solution. Kamuro's face was also completely pale. She had never heard of such an opponent...]
[Everyone seemed to be covered by this heavy atmosphere, completely unable to breathe, only looking at the video with a sense of despair.]
[Nagumo's power was more terrifying than the viewers had imagined. The key was... his authority was simply too great. Only now could they slowly begin to understand what Horikita Manabu had said earlier.]
['The true darkness of the school will only truly manifest on the day I retire...']
[It seems Horikita Manabu anticipated this point, which is why he summoned the actual leaders of the current four classes to his presence before his retirement, to inoculate them, and to try and make them realize the importance of 'cooperation.']
[Of course, anyone with eyes could see that all of this depended on whether Hikigaya was willing to get involved in this mess. If he was unwilling to be enemies with Nagumo, then Sakayanagi, Kanzaki, and Ryūen absolutely could not come together. And even now, although Horikita Manabu had persuaded him to join the Student Council, whether he was willing to be an enemy of Nagumo was also a big question, though it might concern his ability to graduate from the third-year Class A.]
[If his sister asked him, he would definitely help, but... he was Horikita Manabu. His pride and confidence would absolutely not allow him to do that. Even facing an army of thousands, he would stand alone at the front.]
[If Hikigaya could stand by him and help him, he would certainly be happy. If not, he would not have any complaints. As the leader of third-year Class A and the former Student Council President, his ability represented the absolute individual strength of this school.]
[Everything, absolutely everything, now depended on what was in the heart of Hikigaya Hachiman. The path forward would be decided by him alone.]
(End of this chapter)