Chapter 169: The Joker Game, Kōenji's Intentions Seen Through
After a simple breakfast, they arrived at the classroom, where seating arrangements became an issue. Hirata intended to let the upper-year students choose their seats first as a sign of respect for their seniors. However, Ryūen, Kōenji, and Kitō had no intention of listening to Hirata and immediately found seats and sat down.
Hikigaya didn't know what to say at this point. He could only say that this was within his expectations. After all, how could these three people possibly be well-behaved?
On the contrary, the three Class B students, Yahiko of Class A, and the tall Albert were surprisingly obedient, which made Hikigaya feel a little better.
It could be said that the members of this group were basically operating independently, and not only that, but Hikigaya had to manage the daily lives of these big men most of the time. Fortunately, Hirata's presence greatly reduced Hikigaya's burden.
Normally, he was the one being taken care of, for example, by Kikyo and Airi, who almost managed his daily life. Although Hikigaya wasn't completely incapable of living independently, the huge change caught him off guard for a moment.
'It seems being a househusband isn't so easy...'
'And, it's really more than a little bit troublesome without a few women around...'
But what could he do? Who told him that Hikigaya was virtually the worst in terms of physical ability here? It wasn't that his physical ability was weak, but simply...
Whether it was the all-around capable Hirata, the towering Albert, the dominant Ryūen, the Class A physical powerhouse Kitō, or Kōenji, these guys' physical abilities were already far ahead even if they were put into any random group. And now they were all grouped together...
Perhaps realizing this, the three Class B students also tried their best to offer help where they could.
During the subsequent physical education class, Hikigaya's group members were mostly on their own. Even when he encountered problems, aside from Ryūen who came to watch the joke, and Kōenji who came to laugh loudly and shout 'Go, boy,' the rest were Kitō who came to yell at Hikigaya, and the expressionless Albert.
If anything, Hirata would still come to help him a bit.
However, this amount of physical training exhausted even Hirata himself, so it could not be considered mutual assistance; at best, it was shared suffering.
Fortunately, even so, they persisted.
Unexpectedly, thanks to the presence of Ryūen, Kitō, and Albert, their physical fitness seemed to be at the forefront of the small groups. And in terms of academics, since they were only compared to other boys, having Hikigaya, Hirata, and the three Class B students put them in a fairly advanced position, and... they also had the versatile Kōenji.
This exam was proving to be simpler than they had imagined.
After dinner, Hikigaya walked back to his room alone. He had no chance to talk to the girls or get any intelligence during dinner, so Hikigaya planned to rest early.
It was in this corridor that he unexpectedly bumped into a silver-haired fairy.
She was still the same as usual, leaning on her cane with a faint smile. Upon seeing Hikigaya walking toward her, her smile became more pronounced.
The two stared at each other, both momentarily lost in thought. In that instant of distraction, the silver-haired fairy's cane seemed to lose its support and fell over, followed by the girl's frail body.
Hikigaya immediately snapped back to attention, quickened his pace, and extended his hand to the girl.
At this moment, the girl placed both hands behind her, barely supporting her body. Her legs slowly stood up, finally crossing over each other, with an embarrassed expression. Clearly... She was very dissatisfied with her loss of composure.
Sakayanagi looked at the hand Hikigaya offered, momentarily in a trance. After offering a slight smile, she suddenly reached out her hand to him.
Only when their hands touched did Hikigaya truly realize how light her body was. With just a gentle pull, the silver-haired fairy seemed to be carried by momentum, ready to fly up.
Hikigaya bent down to pick up the cane, and politely returned it to her.
'Sakayanagi-san must have it hard too... Although her academic ability is impeccable, this assessment also includes physical ability. The small group that could accept her...'
Unless it was like Katsuragi's situation, with Sakayanagi's current influence in Class A, forming her own small group would not be difficult, but...
In that case, Class A this time would undoubtedly be pulled closer by the other classes.
Sakayanagi returned a polite embrace, gave Hikigaya a meaningful look, and then resumed her calm smile. Clearly, she had already figured out what Hikigaya was thinking.
"Little Hiki, you're still so gentle..."
Hikigaya shook his head: "No, anyone would have lent a hand in that situation."
Sakayanagi showed a meaningful smile once again: "So cunning. You clearly know I wasn't talking about that. But... thank you again this time. I lost my composure."
Hikigaya no longer continued to deny it. Since Sakayanagi had seen through him once more, he admitted it frankly: "Sure enough, you've seen through me again."
Sakayanagi said proudly: "Of course. I know very well what Little Hiki is thinking, even if we are not the same kind of people..."
"For example, you're worried about Masumi, right?"
That's right, this was where Hikigaya was confused. If Sakayanagi had lost her right-hand man, she would have fallen into this situation today. Generally speaking, Sakayanagi would not let herself become helpless. Kitō was in the boys' group, but Kamuro was uncharacteristically not with her.
Hikigaya's heart skipped a beat, and he finally nodded without hesitation.
Sakayanagi: "Don't worry, she won't have any problems. She is currently in a small group with Horikita. Both of them are considered top students in the grade, both academically and physically."
Hikigaya: "Since you arranged it, I'm relieved."
Sakayanagi: "You mustn't let Masumi hear that, or even as her leader, I won't have an easy time."
Hikigaya: "I'll take that as a joke."
Sakayanagi returned a faint smile.
Then, she asked: "How about your side? How are things over there?"
"It's alright, better than expected."
'Since she's in the girls' group, she probably doesn't know about Nagumo's and Manabu's battle...'
Sakayanagi spoke as if she had already seen through everything: "Kitō didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"
"How do you know he's in my small group?"
"That guy, despite his appearance, has no friends in the grade at all, and... even fewer people he can trust."
"Even in our group, there's no one he can trust, right?"
"Little Hiki, you really don't understand anything..."
The fact that he was trusted by everyone was something he didn't want to admit at all.
After a brief exchange of a few sentences, the two parted ways in different directions.
Reaching the end of the corridor, the girl finally turned back and said with a smile:
"Little Hiki, don't stare at a girl like that again, alright?"
...
The time after dinner was relaxed. Hikigaya did nothing but read, and occasionally chatted with Hirata and the others. Ryūen and Kitō, on the other hand, acted like two sworn enemies, ignoring each other. Kōenji was as free-spirited as ever, doing his own thing, such as a simple spa.
Time finally reached an hour before lights out, when an unexpected guest quietly arrived. That's right... The Student Council President actually brought the third-year students to the first-year room.
Since they were all in the same large group, it wasn't surprising, but Nagumo Miyabi, under the pretext of increasing friendship, half-forced them to play a game of 'Old Maid.'
The so-called Old Maid game is a simple card-drawing game where the person left with the Joker card at the end loses.
Of course, a game requires a wager, otherwise, this inherently boring campus life in the forest would only become more disappointing. Nagumo directly ignored the third years' objections and immediately proposed a six-round game of Old Maid with the number of times they would have to cook breakfast as the wager.
Since it was just a game, and the cooking would be entirely left to Hirata and Hikigaya, Kitō and Ryūen instantly formed an alliance and eagerly volunteered to play!
Hikigaya didn't refuse either. He kept the match between Horikita Manabu and Nagumo in mind. Perhaps this was an opportunity for him to make his move, or even if he remained on the sidelines, he still greatly needed this chance to scout out Nagumo's abilities.
The rules of the wager were simple: lose one time, cook breakfast for one day. Each grade would send two people, with no substitutions allowed during the game. After the result of each round was announced, players could be swapped.
Normally, facing the pressure of the senior students and the prospect of the entire group having to wake up early to cook, everyone should be reluctant to step forward, but Ryūen and Kitō felt no such pressure and directly volunteered to play.
In the first round, the game was only halfway through when one of the third years and one of the second years were completely out of cards. Ryūen then straightforwardly played his last card and looked at Kitō with disdain.
Only Kitō and one third-year senpai remained. At this moment, Kitō still had two cards in his hand. If the opponent only had one, it meant the Joker was on the first-year side. If the opponent drew the Joker, Kitō would have one more turn.
However, after a brief consideration, the third-year senpai decided to draw the card on the left side, and the first year lost the first round.
Hikigaya felt his heart bleeding.
In the second round, Hikigaya, who had been a spectator, could clearly see the hand of one of the third-year senpai. The Joker card had been on that senpai from the very beginning, but in the middle, it was drawn by a second-year senpai.
After several rounds of drawing, it eventually came down to a one-on-one between Kitō and Kiriyama of the second year. Hikigaya had met Kiriyama once, but couldn't really claim to know him.
The Joker card was once again in Kitō's hand. At this moment, he was trying his best to control his emotions and expression. Not even his micro-expressions showed any change. Thanks to his messy long hair, there seemed to be no flaws.
However, even so...
After a brief moment of hesitation, Kiriyama made the correct choice.
Hikigaya seemed to notice something wrong. He frowned slightly, leaned into Hirata's ear, and quietly said a word to him.
Hirata nodded tacitly, and Ryūen, who had lost two consecutive rounds, couldn't contain himself anymore.
"I said, do you even know how to play? You've been drawn twice in a row. If you can't handle it, go play at the kids' table. Don't cause trouble. Although I don't have to work, I find it embarrassing."
Kitō was also very annoyed. Even now, he didn't understand why he had lost so badly.
So...
"I'm not playing anymore, you guys play. Go to hell!"
Due to Kitō's withdrawal, the game suddenly had one less player. The three Class B students seemed unwilling to take on the responsibility, and Yahiko was the same.
Nagumo Miyabi showed a senior's smile. Seeing the blonde boy, he immediately waved and called him over to play.
However, what kind of person was Kōenji? He wouldn't just come when called...
So, he completely ignored Nagumo Miyabi in front of him, treating him like thin air. This instantly made Nagumo, who had been in a good mood, feel a hint of anger.
However, he still tried his best to restrain his emotions and said with a smile: "Kōenji, I know you. Perhaps others can't understand you, but I'm different. I, Nagumo, am a person who cherishes talent. As long as you want to join the Student Council, the doors of our Student Council are always open for you."
Even Kiriyama, standing nearby, was stunned by this sudden recruitment. To the first-year students, it was even more unbelievable.
It should be known that the current first-year student council member was only Sakura Airi, and those who knew the inside story were aware that Hikigaya helped her get in. Even Katsuragi, despite his best efforts, failed to join the Student Council. For a Student Council like this to recruit so openly now, it must be said... everyone who was just playing the game was completely dumbfounded at that moment.
However... something even more incredible followed.
Kōenji took out his mirror. After confirming his beauty was flawless, he showed a set of white teeth and said very proudly: "The Student Council is just an organization in the school. May I ask this senior, what benefit do I gain from joining? It would simply waste my beautiful time."
Facing the current Student Council President's enthusiastic invitation, Kōenji's arrogant refusal stunned everyone even more. No one had imagined that a person could say something like that.
Please, this was the Student Council...
Before Nagumo could reply, Kōenji continued: "It's nothing more than a place for a group of people to play house. It has nothing to do with me, and I have no interest in it."
This sentence not only denied Nagumo but also denied Nagumo's desperate efforts over the past two years. Even if he could tolerate it further, facing the mockery of a junior, he couldn't possibly continue to swallow his anger.
"Kōenji, it seems you really are a troublesome guy. However, I also know why you have such confidence."
Nagumo showed a cold smile, then looked at him with sharp eyes.
"I've always heard about you. I've been paying attention to you since the last sports festival. In this school with so many troublesome rules, the reason you can get to where you are with that casual and indulgent attitude is purely because you are absolutely confident you can graduate from Class A, isn't that right?"
Seemingly hearing interesting information, Kōenji finally put down his mirror and looked at Nagumo Miyabi with his usual smile.
"Oh? What is the basis for the Student Council President's speculation?"
Nagumo Miyabi didn't hide anything. He simply spread his hands and said: "Using 20 million private points to be promoted to Class A, this is perhaps a plan everyone wants to complete but finds difficult to achieve. Normally, even by saving diligently, if the class situation is poor, the amount is absolutely impossible to accumulate even after three years. And for someone like you, who spends money extravagantly, it's even more impossible."
Nagumo's face was filled with confidence, as if stating an absolute truth: "Of course, this is just the surface of you. In reality, you knew from the time you enrolled that as long as you weren't expelled, when the third year graduates, the remaining private points would be converted to avoid waste, and by cashing them out at a certain ratio, you could directly promote yourself to Class A with your abundant family wealth. It is precisely because you saw this loophole that you dare to be so idle, isn't that right?"
After hearing Nagumo's analysis, everyone present was stunned for what felt like the umpteenth time. It turned out this school actually had this way of playing. It must be said that this was truly a method that only people with absolute wealth could think of.
Hikigaya also heard of this method for the first time. Although Nagumo's words were full of logic, in Hikigaya's mind, he didn't believe Kōenji would use this method. Perhaps he could truly produce such a huge sum of money, but could a high school student build such a huge relationship of trust? For a person like him, what did it matter which class he graduated from?
A gold coin will always shine. Kōenji was that person who would always shine.
Kōenji smiled fearlessly, then said frankly: "Fortunately, before I enrolled, I publicly posted a facial photo of the terrifying company president on the company's homepage. Mobilizing tens of millions of funds is very easy. Of course, you're right. It's precisely because I understood the loophole in this school before the school started that I became increasingly unmotivated, even feeling that everything about this school was nothing special."
"So, you don't have to think that I'm wasting tens of millions on this so-called degree. In my opinion, it's nothing special..."
'As expected of a rich young master, his perspective is completely different.'
It must be said that Hikigaya was once again reminded of Kōenji's story. Even an unrestrained person like him had an absolutely impenetrable inner core. That was a pure land in his heart, a goal he must achieve in this lifetime.
Reforming the official world...
Facing Kōenji's indifference, Nagumo Miyabi continued: "In fact, there are many people who could sell points to you, such as people in the second year, but they tend to trust me more. As for the third-year students, although I can't absolutely control them, as the Student Council President, I need to prevent improper transactions within the school. So, if such a thing really happens, I will report it to the school fairly and justly, prohibiting all illegal point transactions. I'm sorry, Kōenji-kun."
Everyone could clearly tell that Nagumo Miyabi was targeting Kōenji, and this should have been devastating news for Kōenji. Of course, this was from Nagumo's perspective.
For Kōenji...
This plan had already been rejected by him.
After meeting Hikigaya in front of him, he felt that this so-called school of absolute meritocracy was not so boring after all, and...
He truly met a remarkable guy.
The two talking individuals were still discussing in a very calm and composed manner, while the other listeners were already so surprised that their jaws wouldn't close.
Ryūen: "This guy is a complete rich young master. Even if he's expelled, he doesn't have to worry about the future at all."
Kitō: "The gap between people is determined from birth."
Yahiko: "How disheartening... What we've been fighting for is a joke in the eyes of others."
This evil of capitalism truly dealt a significant blow to the students present. Even Nagumo Miyabi clearly realized that he could no longer control this guy.
The game of Old Maid was still going on. On the contrary, Kōenji, this time, was very interested and elegantly jumped down from his bed.
"Nagumo-senpai, I've never been interested in you, but since you understand me so well, I'll play a round with you."
Nagumo showed a meaningful smile: "Oh? How about we bet on something else?"
Kōenji: "Anything is fine, because I will absolutely not lose. Before that, let's go buy a new deck of cards, alright?"
Upon hearing this, the third-year students frowned, and Nagumo's smile instantly disappeared.
Only a few of the first-year students hadn't yet grasped the situation.
Meanwhile, Hirata finally rushed back.
Hikigaya: "Hirata, did you buy the cards?"
Hirata nodded with a smile and immediately tossed them to Hikigaya.
Hikigaya had planned to enter the game himself, but now... it seemed unnecessary.
He tossed the cards to Kōenji, who nodded in satisfaction, and finally, with an absolute presence, said to Nagumo Miyabi: "Senpai, I'm only playing once."
"One round determines the winner."
"Please...."
(Additional Match) Wager: 1,000,000 Private Points.
Everyone present serves as witnesses.
(End of this chapter)