章 10: Peer Rejection
After leaving the electronics store, Hikigaya headed back to the dorm.
On the way, he suddenly noticed a classmate from his own year in a heated argument with a group of older students. The classmate, a red-haired boy who looked like a delinquent, was causing quite a scene.
He remembered from the earlier self-introductions that the boy's name was Sudo Ken.
Sudo had a clear "stay away" aura about him.
"Hey, first year? This is our territory."
Sudo was sitting alone on a bench, slurping instant noodles when the second-year students confronted him out of the blue.
With a temper to match, Sudo snapped, "What do you want? I was here first… You're in my way, so get lost!"
"Did you hear that? He told us to get lost."
"Looks like we've got a pretty cocky first-year here."
The second-year students weren't impressed by Sudo's bravado. They laughed and looked at him with mocking expressions, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Smash!"
Sudo abruptly stood up and hurled his half-eaten noodles to the ground.
"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a first-year!"
Sudo was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.
Even Hikigaya shook his head at the sight. Being friends with someone like that would be incredibly exhausting.
Anyway, he was sure he wanted nothing to do with this mess…
Hikigaya had no interest in getting involved in the argument between Sudo and the second-year students. He wasn't even interested in watching the commotion unfold.
After all, he was the type to go to the zoo and only think about whether there were penguins, rather than lingering by the monkey enclosure to watch the chaos…
The conflict continued unabated in the distance.
"You actually dare to talk to us second-years like that? Can't you see our stuff is here?"
"Who cares about your stuff, jerk!"
"Oh—so scary! Which class are you from? Let me guess… It's Class D, right?"
"So what if it is!"
The clash between Sudo and the second-year students escalated.
Hikigaya was about to walk away, but he suddenly stopped upon hearing the mention of Class D.
Why use that tone when talking about Class D?
At the same time, the second-year students, upon hearing that Sudo was from Class D, displayed expressions of surprise before bursting into laughter.
"Did you hear that? He said he's from Class D."
"Typical of Class D! What a disgrace."
"Let's leave these pathetic rejects to it for today. We're out of here."
After learning that Sudo was from Class D, the second-year students lost interest in making trouble and left on their own.
"Hey, you think you can just walk away?"
"Ha, keep shouting, fool! You'll soon find out what hell is like, you Class D trash. Hahaha."
The second-year students' dismissive attitude, as if they were waiting for a spectacle, sparked Hikigaya's curiosity.
Hell?
What did they mean by hell?
As he thought about it, he suddenly noticed a hidden surveillance camera positioned above Sudo's head.
The number of surveillance cameras in this school was far greater than he had imagined, exceeding the level and appearance that a normal school should have...
Could it be?
Seeing Sudo, frustrated and unable to channel his anger, kick a nearby trash can over, Hikigaya's expression grew increasingly complex.
He became more acutely aware of the school's problems and realized that for the sake of his own future stability, he might need to take some decisive actions immediately.
…
On the second day of school, Hikigaya woke up early and headed to the classroom.
On his way there, he deliberately took a longer route and discovered numerous cameras installed in the corners and even in seemingly concealed places.
Geez, what exactly are these things meant to handle?
Hikigaya felt a heavy mood settling over him. He increasingly felt that his previous suspicions were correct: this was not a place dedicated to normal education.
The true nature of this school likely surpassed many people's expectations.
Entering the classroom, Hikigaya immediately spotted Horikita Suzune sitting at her desk.
She was indeed the epitome of an exemplary student, arriving at the classroom even earlier than Hikigaya.
However, since they were not friends, Hikigaya had no intention of initiating a conversation. This way, there would be no awkwardness or unpleasantness.
In general, Hikigaya preferred to ignore those who were not part of his personal sphere.
After all, feelings of awkwardness often arise from forced thoughts like "I must talk to her" or "I need to get along with her."
When you're on a train, you don't feel "Oh no, it's just the two of us! So awkward!" if someone is sitting next to you, right?
Thus, when alone with someone, if you just pretend you don't see them, all concerns will vanish!
That's Hikigaya's life philosophy!
"Is your eyesight like that of a dead fish? It was already dull, and now you can't even see someone right in front of you."
"..."
Hikigaya was taken aback by Horikita's comment. He hadn't expected her to speak to him directly, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"Can't you even respond when someone talks to you? I might have to question your species," Horikita continued with a touch of sarcasm.
"...Good morning."
Unable to tolerate Horikita's mocking any longer, Hikigaya reluctantly greeted her in a manner akin to what he'd learned in kindergarten.
To his surprise, a faint smile appeared on Horikita's face.
This was the first time Hikigaya had seen her smile, and it felt like witnessing a plum blossom blooming amidst the snow...
"Good morning. I didn't expect you to be up so early, Hikigaya."
"I have a good habit of going to bed early and waking up early. But you—didn't you say you didn't want to make friends with anyone? Why are you talking to me then?"
"I don't need friends. I enjoy being alone; it's not that I'm socially awkward... I still talk with people who have a similar atmosphere to mine."
Horikita looked at Hikigaya as if he were the one who was socially awkward, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
After a while, Hikigaya sighed and said, "Then why don't you talk to Ayanokouji? He's someone with a similar atmosphere, isn't he?"
"That kind of pervert? I would never speak a word to him in my lifetime."
"..."
Hikigaya was taken aback by how poorly Ayanokouji was regarded in Horikita's eyes. Since he was the cause of this, Hikigaya couldn't help but display a mixed expression of wanting to laugh and cry.
"By the way, Horikita, have you noticed the surveillance cameras around the school?"
It was both a casual conversation starter and a way to gauge Horikita's awareness. Hikigaya spoke up while taking his seat.
"Surveillance cameras? What's so noteworthy about those things that are everywhere?" Horikita responded with a sense of detachment.
Her simple and indifferent expression clearly conveyed her thoughts.
"Nothing much, just mentioning it casually." Hikigaya shook his head, realizing that Horikita was not his ally.
From what he had observed in Class D, it seemed that most people might not be aware of the pressing issue at hand.
Perhaps the only one who might notice was Ayanokouji.
But Ayanokouji...
Recalling Ayanokouji's seemingly emotionless face, which was actually shrouded in unknown thoughts, Hikigaya decisively abandoned the idea of considering him as an ally.
After all, similar individuals often repel one another.
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