Chapter 69: Hikigaya Hachiman, Who Exactly Are You?
Hikigaya could not fathom the source of Horikita Suzune's anxiety.
Until now, Horikita had always been the epitome of calm, cold, and often, in Hikigaya's eyes, somewhat cool.
But ever since discovering that Class D was the lowest tier, Horikita had exhibited an unmistakable sense of panic and unease, as if she were standing on a hidden landmine that could explode at any moment.
After a moment of hesitation, Hikigaya tentatively voiced his confusion.
"Horikita, are you aiming for a prestigious university?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You seem unusually concerned about being in Class D. Yet, you have no shortage of points and never seem bothered by others' opinions. If that's the case, the only real issue with being in Class D seems to be the inability to secure recommendations for further studies."
"I see…"
Horikita took a deep breath, clearly realizing that her visible agitation had betrayed her thoughts.
Even so, she couldn't relax. With a visibly disinterested tone, she responded, "Isn't it natural for everyone in this class to be worried about such things? If they had announced this before enrollment, it would have been a different story. But revealing it at this stage is unacceptable."
"Indeed."
It wasn't just Class D; students in Classes C and B likely harbored similar discontent.
After all, the school seemed intent on favoring Class A and treating all other students as mere sacrifices.
Hikigaya had seen this coming days before the semester started.
However, Horikita's concern was clearly not limited to these superficial matters. The intensity of her distress suggested a deeper issue.
To uncover this, Hikigaya knew he had to probe further.
"Horikita, I know this must be tough, but think of it this way: being in Class D doesn't mean all hope is lost," Hikigaya said, attempting to offer some reassurance. "Didn't the teacher, Chabashira, say that if our class scores improve, Class D could potentially be promoted to Class A?"
"Do you think that's possible?"
Horikita shot Hikigaya a skeptical look. She believed that surpassing Class A was an impossible dream for a group as inept as theirs.
Hikigaya noticed her disbelief and had anticipated her reaction. So he spoke with a natural air of confidence.
"Setting aside whether it's possible or not, if we don't try, it will never happen. Are you the type to give up without even attempting?"
"…"
Hikigaya's words, though blunt, seemed to hit home. Horikita paused, her agitation giving way to a semblance of calm.
She wasn't an impulsive fool but had been caught off guard by an unexpected turn of events, making it hard for her to regain composure.
Realizing that there was still a glimmer of hope for moving up to Class A—even if it was slim—brought a temporary sense of relief to her previously troubled mind.
"By the way, didn't Chabashira-sensei say that even if Class D's scores decline, nothing bad will happen? You didn't explain what she meant by that."
Horikita cast a reproachful glance at Hikigaya. Her look, more accusatory than dissatisfied, combined with her striking appearance, could make any male heart race uncontrollably.
Hikigaya was no exception.
"Ahem…"
He struggled to steady his racing heart, debating whether to reveal everything to Horikita.
Finally, faced with her questioning gaze, Hikigaya sighed and said, "The answer is quite simple. If our scores don't drop, it means that Class D can act with impunity. We won't face any penalties for breaking the rules. It's somewhat like a get-out-of-jail-free card."
"A get-out-of-jail-free card?" Horikita's face showed clear confusion, as she struggled to understand the term.
Hikigaya explained with an air of casualness, "For example, if someone from Class D gets into a conflict or makes a mistake, normally, points would be deducted. However, since our class points are already at zero, further deductions won't result in any additional penalties. What do you think that means?"
"That…"
Horikita understood Hikigaya's explanation but was still struck by disbelief. The concept seemed too outrageous to be true.
"It seems you get it. Yes, this means Class D can now flout school rules without worry, and even use this to drag other classes down with us!"
Hikigaya recalled the recent altercation with the senior, Sudou. The seniors, aware of Class D's reputation, had refrained from taking serious action, knowing that the repercussions would only hurt them.
This also meant that Class D could exploit this situation to provoke other classes, including Class A, bringing their scores down to Class D's level.
When everyone's scores were low, the disparity between them would naturally decrease.
This was what was meant by "the barefoot don't fear the shod," and it was Class D's greatest advantage at the moment.
"…"
Horikita's expression shifted through various stages of realization. It took her a while to fully grasp Hikigaya's point, astonished by the perverse strategic use of the point system.
She was even more shocked to find that this seemingly unremarkable person had understood the school's rules better than she had.
"Hikigaya Hachiman, who exactly are you?"
"I'm just an ordinary student in Class D," Hikigaya replied with a standard response.
Horikita was dissatisfied with his answer and instinctively sensed that this man was not as simple as he appeared. Yet, as a sharp-tongued individual, she couldn't bring herself to offer any praise.
In the end, she could only scowl and coldly remark, "Hmph, you really are a born troublemaker, aren't you?"
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