In the cafeteria, Ibuki Mio set down an extra-large bowl of tonkotsu ramen in front of him.
"How much?" Hikigaya asked.
"No need. It's my treat."
"That's kind of embarrassing."
"Just eat it already. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
Ibuki feigned irritation and shoved a pair of chopsticks into his hand.
This girl… does he think I'm short on cash or something?
Class D hadn't achieved a single result. It was clear this month would be rough for most of them.
Of course, that didn't include Hikigaya.
Ibuki smirked. "What's with that face? Are you so touched you're about to cry pearls?"
"You'll make a good housewife someday, Ibuki."
Hikigaya said it with a straight face.
"You—idiot!"
Her face flushed a deep red. Was it from anger, or embarrassment?
"I treat you like a buddy and you twist it into marriage talk? No way!!"
Ibuki raised a fist threateningly, as if ready to smash him.
"Alright, alright! I was just kidding!" Hikigaya surrendered quickly, hands raised.
As expected, the gentle, considerate 'Hikigaya Mio' from his dream didn't exist in reality.
"Hikigaya, why are you still eating breakfast so leisurely?"
The voice came from behind him. Horikita Suzune appeared, grabbed his arm, and started pulling him toward the door.
"Come with me. We need to talk."
"Hey! You think I don't exist or something?"
Ibuki swatted Horikita's hand off Hikigaya's arm, glaring sharply.
"…"
Hikigaya sighed internally. Great. These two together were a recipe for disaster. Their personalities couldn't be more incompatible—and in his dreams, they'd literally fought each other bloody.
"And you are?" Horikita asked coolly. The force behind Ibuki's earlier gesture clearly wasn't from an ordinary girl.
"It's polite to introduce yourself before asking someone else's name," Ibuki shot back, crossing her arms.
For some reason, just looking at the black-haired girl in front of her filled Ibuki with a natural sense of rejection.
"I'm not obligated to tell you anything. And honestly, I don't want to know your name either."
"This is a Class D matter," Horikita replied sharply. "Please step aside."
Horikita also felt an immediate dislike toward the blue-haired girl standing in front of her. There was something unexplainably antagonistic about her presence.
"Who's in charge of your class?" Ibuki raised an eyebrow and placed a hand firmly on Hikigaya's shoulder. "This guy's eating my noodles. No one's taking him until he finishes."
That's the dumbest reason I've ever heard.
Horikita frowned, glancing at Hikigaya for an explanation.
"It's shameful to waste food," he said calmly, continuing to slurp his noodles.
Seeing this, Horikita could only sigh in defeat and stand aside.
Ibuki waited until Hikigaya drained the last drop of soup before finally relaxing, satisfied.
"Alright, see you later—Hachiman. I'll treat you to dinner next time."
Before leaving, she shot a smug, provocative look at Horikita.
Wait, why did you suddenly call me by my name at the end?
"This girl… she's from Class C, isn't she?" Horikita asked, her brows furrowed as she watched Ibuki walk away.
"She's Ibuki Mio from Class C. Same club as me," Hikigaya replied simply.
"You seem to get along pretty well with girls from other classes."
What's that got to do with you?
He wanted to say it aloud, but held back. A little social tact went a long way.
"My relationship with you isn't bad either."
Just kidding.
"…"
No denial? Really?
Horikita's eyes flickered for a second, but she quickly moved on. "What do you think about the personal points distributed by the school today?"
"How do I 'think' about them? I just check my phone."
Hikigaya raised his student terminal.
"Don't make jokes like that," Horikita said with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm sure Chabashira-sensei will explain it during the class meeting anyway."
Hikigaya wasn't in the mood for speculation.
When they arrived in Class D's room, the place was in chaos. The noise level was higher than usual, filled with complaints.
Everyone was grumbling about how they'd already spent all their personal points—and the school hadn't sent new ones yet.
Seriously? You burned through 100,000 points in one month?
Hikigaya didn't even have the energy to comment.
"Good morning, Horikita and Hikigaya."
Kushida Kikyo greeted them brightly as usual. Of course, her real target was Horikita; Hikigaya was just an afterthought.
Normally, Horikita would at least return the greeting, but today she was too preoccupied. She simply walked past Kushida without a word and sat down.
Kushida's smile froze for a moment before she turned to Hikigaya instead. "By the way, did you get your points today?"
"Yeah."
"Really? Wait, what?"
Kushida's eyes widened. She hadn't expected a serious answer. "You actually received them?"
"Didn't the school send a message confirming the transfer?" Hikigaya asked, as if the answer were obvious.
"But… my account didn't increase at all. No one's did."
Kushida trailed off mid-sentence, her expression shifting.
Unless… the points were distributed—but the amount was zero.
Many in the room had already thought of that possibility, but no one dared to say it aloud. They still clung to false hope, unwilling to face reality.
A class full of fools who won't cry until the coffin's closed.
Hikigaya almost smiled. He couldn't wait to see their faces when they finally realized the truth.
No, hold it in. Don't laugh.
"The corners of your mouth are twitching, fish-eyed boy~"
Koenji Rokusuke was seated in front, holding a hand mirror as he styled his hair.
"Are you perhaps enjoying this?" he said with his usual smug tone.
Where do you even get the gold for that mirror?
Hikigaya ignored him, resting his chin on his hand and pretending to look out the window.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka sitting diagonally ahead of him.
"..."
Right. That guy. The one who acted like a background character but gave off dangerous vibes.
He'd even joined Yamauchi's group, blending in so completely it was almost unnatural.
Ayanokouji's presence was even fainter than his own. And yet… Hikigaya had a feeling this guy was quietly observing everything, like the unassuming extra in a mystery novel who turns out to be the mastermind behind the scenes.
Still, as long as it didn't affect him, there was no reason to get involved.
"Ding-ling-ling~"
The bell rang.
Chabashira Sae entered the classroom, heels clicking against the floor with a heavier sound than usual. Her already cold expression now looked absolutely glacial.
The shift in atmosphere was instant. Even the more oblivious students of Class D began to sense something was wrong.
Of course, that didn't stop certain idiots from being themselves.
"Chabashira-sensei, did someone skip class or something? You look scary!"
"Ahahahaha~"
The joke landed with a thud.
This isn't a joke—it's borderline harassment.
Hikigaya couldn't fathom how someone could claim to "want a girlfriend" yet constantly do things that repulsed every girl in sight.
Do you actually think you're funny?
Chabashira ignored him completely. "Everyone, return to your seats. The class meeting is starting."
She paused for a moment, her voice as cold as ice.
"I'm sure you all have plenty of questions right now. I'll answer them—"
Her tone sharpened.
"—every single one."
Her narrowed eyes swept across the class, carrying the weight of a final verdict in a courtroom.
***
Last Update for today 🫡