"Uh, excuse me?"
Hikigaya couldn't hide his awkwardness. He had mistaken the situation, assuming it was Hashimoto keeping an eye on Class D. That's why he had tossed a small stone in that direction, hoping it wouldn't cause any harm—or better yet, that it didn't hit anyone he knew.
Unfortunately, fate wasn't on his side.
"Hikigaya, how did you even figure out I was here?"
Out from the bushes emerged Kamuro, rubbing her forehead with a look of utter frustration.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Hikigaya quickly moved closer to check on her.
"Did it hit your head? Does it hurt? I'm sorry—I didn't know it was you."
If there's one thing Hikigaya knew, it was that when you mess up, you apologize. Especially when the person you've wronged is someone like Kamuro, who had helped him in the past.
"It's nothing. Don't make such a fuss about it, like some kind of idiot..."
For some reason, Kamuro averted her gaze slightly.
Hmm, maybe she's just not used to people showing concern. After all, this girl didn't have many friends.
"Sorry, but if it hurts, just let me know."
"I said it's nothing… Anyway, your class seems pretty lively."
Kamuro abruptly changed the subject, steering it into a territory Hikigaya would rather not venture into.
"Ah, so you saw it, huh?" Hikigaya sighed deeply. "For no reason, I was suddenly accused of being a panty thief. They searched bags, and even frisked us—our class's girls are downright unreasonable."
"Did they search you?"
"Of course not... Wait, what?"
Hikigaya instinctively answered but then realized something was off. Puzzled, he asked, "Hold on, weren't you spying on us the whole time? Why are you asking me this?"
"No, I only saw half of it. I had to go back to camp for roll call, so when I returned, you guys were already done."
Kamuro shook her head with a slight look of regret.
This girl… Is she just bored out of her mind?
"Are you here to spy, or just to enjoy the chaos?" Hikigaya couldn't help but retort.
"Obviously, I'm spying while enjoying the chaos," Kamuro replied, unabashed.
Why do I feel like she's got that order completely backward?
While Hikigaya was left speechless, Kamuro continued with another question. "So, what happened afterward? Did you manage to clear your name?"
"You could tell by the look in those girls' eyes." Hikigaya spoke with resignation. "No evidence, yet they treated me like a criminal. It's enough to drive anyone mad."
If he hadn't been determined not to drag the class down, he might have just dropped out of the event altogether.
"Well, to be fair… You did act a bit strange this time."
Kamuro, rubbing her chin, examined Hikigaya with a curious gaze.
Before Hikigaya could respond, she jumped in, "With your personality, you usually wouldn't resist, right? Resisting would just cause more trouble, so you'd probably let them search you. That means you must have had something on you. Not necessarily panties, but definitely something you didn't want anyone to find."
"Uh..." Hikigaya was once again at a loss for words. Kamuro had hit the nail on the head.
With a bit of irritation, he said, "What? You know me so well, do you have a crush on me or something?"
"... H-Huh?!"
Kamuro froze for a moment, her face turning bright red before she yelled out, "You idiot! What kind of stupid things are you saying? You... you fool, you dumbass, Hachiman!"
"Sorry..."
—Also, "Hachiman" isn't exactly an insult, you know?
Hikigaya scratched his cheek, unsure of what to do. He had meant it as a light-hearted joke, but Kamuro's strong reaction had made the situation awkward.
Come to think of it, Kamuro didn't look as cold and distant as usual; instead, there was an almost cute expression on her face.
Wait, could she actually be—
"If you keep thinking like that, I'll kill you!"
"Sorry!"
Hikigaya was startled. It seemed Kamuro's 'human observation' skills were just as sharp as his own, if not sharper.
Then again, it made sense—after all, they were both lone wolves with no friends.
However, lingering here would only make things more awkward, so Hikigaya decided it was time to retreat.
"Well then, you do what you need to. I'm going to head out."
After a brief farewell, Hikigaya turned to leave, but to his surprise, Kamuro quietly followed him.
"Uh… "
"What?" Kamuro glared at him. "This island isn't your personal property. I can go wherever I want!"
"No, I didn't say anything..."
It seemed Kamuro was in a bad mood, though it was Hikigaya's fault for provoking her.
"... Hey, you haven't told me yet."
As the silence grew between them, Kamuro suddenly spoke up, sounding a bit hesitant.
"Told you what?"
"What exactly are you hiding?"
Kamuro's tone turned a bit forceful. "Could it be that you stole those panties? I didn't think you had that kind of fetish, but you've got decent taste."
"What part of that is decent…? And could you not ruin my reputation like that?"
Hikigaya hadn't expected Kamuro to be so curious, so he reached into his pocket and pulled out two small packets of cookies.
It was just leftover snacks from the day before that he'd stuffed into his pocket.
"Shiina gave these to me. I just didn't want those guys to see them. It would've caused an unnecessary fuss."
"That's it?"
Kamuro pouted, looking thoroughly unimpressed. But instead of leaving, she continued to follow Hikigaya.
This was starting to get strange.
Could it be that she wanted someone to hang out with?
Hikigaya figured that must be the case. Kamuro was sent to scout Class D on Katsuragi's orders, but she didn't want to follow them, so she probably took this chance to slack off.
However, she was too shy to admit it outright.
Since that was the case, Hikigaya didn't bother to call her out on it. After all, he also wanted to take it easy.
Together, they left the forest and wandered leisurely along the coast.
Although they spent much of the time in silence, surprisingly, it didn't feel awkward.
If this wasn't just him being delusional, Kamuro probably felt the same way.
… Wait, am I not just deluding myself?
Hikigaya began to question his thoughts again, but at that moment, Kamuro spoke.
"By the way, Hikigaya, who's that arrogant girl with the black hair in your class?"
"Black hair… You mean Shinohara?"
There were quite a few black-haired girls in Class D, but the one with an attitude problem was Shinohara.
"I don't know any Shinohara," Kamuro shook her head. "The one who was arguing with you at the front—she's the leader of the girls in your class, right?"
"That would be her. But calling her the leader is a bit of a stretch."
Hikigaya hadn't expected Kamuro to take an interest in the dynamics of Class D, but since she was curious, he saw no harm in explaining.
Besides, there wasn't anything worth keeping secret.
At present, the girls in the class are split into several factions. Even Shinohara and Karuizawa, who were close friends, had their separate cliques.
Compared to the boys, the girls seemed much more conscious of things like factions and territory.
Most of the time, they got along well enough, but in certain situations, they would hold each other in check. However, when a crisis arose, like this recent panty theft incident, they would quickly band together.
It was incredibly complicated...
Among them, Kushida was the most unique. She was well-liked in every group and had a certain level of influence in each.
If Kushida had stepped up during this incident, the other girls might have listened to her. However, Hikigaya understood that it wasn't easy for Kushida. After all, she was still just a girl. Unless she had the overwhelming charisma of someone like Ichinose, who could command the respect of all her classmates, it would be impossible for her to take the boys' side in such a sensitive matter.
Hikigaya hadn't asked her for help this time, choosing instead to handle the situation on his own.
"Oh, I see."
However, Kamuro didn't seem particularly interested in the details, leaving Hikigaya puzzled about what she was trying to get at.
"You must dislike Shinohara, huh?"
"Well… it seems like any guy would."
Hikigaya's response was deliberately vague.
His mind wandered toward the underwear incident. Even if Hirata hadn't intervened and Ayanokouji's possession of underwear had been exposed in public, Ayanokouji would likely remain unperturbed, even in the face of widespread condemnation and taunts from the girls.
But how would Ayanokouji have reacted if that had happened? Despite his calm demeanor and well-reasoned arguments, it was clear that the girls wouldn't have been inclined to listen to his explanations.
Given Ayanokouji's current stoic persona, he might have even gone so far as to…
Hikigaya suddenly found the idea of seeing the usually composed Ayanokouji grovel rather amusing. He regretted not taking the chance to expose him earlier.
Lost in his thoughts, Hikigaya didn't notice that Kamuro, sitting beside him, was deep in contemplation.
Her expression suggested she was scheming something mischievous.
After wandering along the coast with Kamuro for a while, Hikigaya found himself back at the place where they had first landed on the island—the same beach where Mashima-sensei had announced the special exam. Out at sea, a luxurious cruise ship was anchored, a constant reminder of the comfort awaiting those who had already checked out of the competition.
Hikigaya couldn't help but feel envious. Koenji, who had opted out early, was probably lounging in the ship's air-conditioned cabins along with most of the Class C students, enjoying a well-earned break.
Same people, different destinies, Hikigaya thought bitterly. I wish I could be up there, relaxing in a cool room.
As he stared longingly at the ship, Kamuro flicked her hair and turned to him.
"That Shiina you mentioned earlier—she's from Class C, right?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
Without another word, Kamuro reached out and grabbed his arm, tugging him lightly.
"Stop staring. You won't get up there no matter how hard you try. It's about time we headed back to camp."
Hikigaya sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
As much as he hated to admit it, staying there wouldn't change anything. But the thought of spending another four days with his class didn't fill him with enthusiasm either.
Then, of course, there was the looming issue with Class A.
Despite the tension surrounding their situation, neither Hikigaya nor Kamuro mentioned it on the way back, sticking to light conversation. Hikigaya had initially thought that once he dealt with the Class A captain, Katsuragi, things would settle down. But Katsuragi had an annoying habit of stirring things up, which meant overtime for Hikigaya.
If it were just Katsuragi, Hikigaya wouldn't have cared. He had ways to handle him and the rest of the Katsuragi faction. But doing so would feel like pushing things too far.
Hikigaya might not care much for others' feelings, but Kamuro had been helpful—especially during Haruno's birthday celebration—and their relationship was on relatively good terms. He didn't want to burn bridges for no reason.
As they neared the D class camp, a few familiar faces appeared ahead.
"Welcome back, Hikigaya-kun," Kushida greeted him with her signature smile. Standing beside her were her two close friends, Wang Meiyu and Inogashira Kokoro, each holding bags stuffed with wild fruit.
Kushida's eyes flicked over to Kamuro. "Oh? Kamuro-san? I didn't expect to see you two together."
Kamuro gave a curt nod in response, casting a glance at Hikigaya. "Well, I'll be off then."
Kamuro's aloofness was as predictable as ever. She said her piece and left without lingering. Hikigaya wouldn't have minded following her, escaping the situation entirely, but that wasn't an option. Kushida's eyes stayed glued to him, and Wang Meiyu and Inogashira were looking on with curious expressions.
Curious?
Hikigaya realized something odd. After the incident earlier in the day, it made sense for Kushida to act normally around him, but the other girls should have been keeping their distance.
Class D's gender conflict had reached a boiling point, yet Wang Meiyu and Inogashira seemed unaffected.
Was it because of Kushida?
"Hikigaya-kun," Kushida suddenly clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.
"We found a lot of wild fruit, but we want to gather more so we don't have to make multiple trips. Could you help us out?"
"Sure," he agreed, not seeing the harm. If the girls didn't care about lingering tension, he wasn't going to either.
While they busily picked fruit, Wang Meiyu spoke up quietly. "Hikigaya-kun?"
"Yeah?" Hikigaya was caught off guard. He had never spoken to Wang Meiyu or Inogashira directly before. They were known for their timid personalities, sticking close to Kushida and following her lead without question.
"Um… thank you," Wang Meiyu stammered.
"For what you said about Karuizawa-san earlier. We've all been a little afraid of her, so we didn't dare speak up."
Ah, so that's what this was about.
It became clear to Hikigaya that girls like Wang Meiyu and Inogashira, who were easily intimidated, would naturally be targets for Karuizawa. She likely roped them into her schemes without giving them a chance to refuse. Even Kushida had been forced to lend points, so it was no surprise the others suffered silently under Karuizawa's pressure.
"You don't need to thank me," Hikigaya said, shaking his head. "I was just irritated with those self-righteous girls."
The situation reminded him of something that had happened back in the fourth grade when he'd dealt with similar schoolyard politics. People like Karuizawa existed everywhere, and Hikigaya's hatred for them was almost instinctive.
"But still," Wang Meiyu insisted, "you're the only one who's spoken up for us. We appreciate it."
Both Wang Meiyu and Inogashira bowed their heads in gratitude and left.
Hikigaya found their sincerity refreshing. They were good kids, unlike certain others he could name.
Before he could reflect further, Kushida sidled up to him. "Hikigaya."
"What now, Kushida?" he muttered, sensing trouble.
"Don't play dumb," she hissed under her breath. "I don't care who you mess around with—Class A girls, Class C, whatever—but don't you dare lay a finger on Horikita or my friends. Got it?"
"Would you stop with the nonsense?"
Her threat didn't even warrant a response. The sheer absurdity of it was tiring. It almost sounded like she cared about Horikita more than just a friend. To someone who didn't know the dynamics, they might even think the two were close.
"Forget it," she waved it off. "But I have to admit, you did well this time. Shinohara's been throwing a fit all afternoon."
She poked his side, a grin plastered on her face. "And Karuizawa? She tried whining to Hirata about it, but he told her to shut up. I almost couldn't stop myself from laughing."
"Good for you," Hikigaya sighed, uninterested in her glee.
The island's pressures had gotten to Kushida, and she was now shamelessly gossiping despite the other girls being nearby.
"It's too bad I missed out on this morning's drama," Kushida continued, her tone shifting to irritation. "I had to go comfort that idiot."
"Idiot?"
"You know," she rolled her eyes, "Karuizawa. Crying over stolen underwear like it's the end of the world. Always acting so high and mighty, but the moment something happens, she falls apart."
Hikigaya suspected that Kushida was catching on to the cracks in Karuizawa's façade. She was right—the Karuizawa everyone knew would've raised hell after the theft, not cowered in a tent, weeping.
"Oh, by the way," Kushida leaned closer, her breath tickling Hikigaya's ear. "I've got a fun little secret."
"Do I even want to know?"
"Come on, don't be like that. This one's good." She smirked, drawing him in.
"From day one, we girls pooled our class points to buy pillows and cordless fans. It's been so cool at night." She beamed, clearly pleased with herself.
Hikigaya blinked. That's it?
Now it all made sense. No wonder the girls hadn't complained about the heat. Meanwhile, the boys had been packed into their tent like sardines, silently suffering.
These girls…
But Hikigaya wasn't surprised. Kushida had always been one to stir things up, whether subtly or overtly.
It seemed no one on this island would ever calm down.
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