Chapter 101: Absolute Trust in Hikigaya
[In Class 1-A, Katsuragi and Yahiko…]
[Yahiko: "You're saying we've been in that guy's trap from the start? Impossible! Absolutely impossible. I've never seen anyone more meticulous than Katsuragi."]
[Unlike Yahiko, Katsuragi's face showed little panic, though it wasn't exactly calm either.]
[Katsuragi: "I'm starting to think our loss in the island exam wasn't just bad luck. Class D always has monsters lurking in the shadows."]
[For the first time, Yahiko saw Katsuragi admit defeat. As his loyal follower, he couldn't believe the once-dominant Katsuragi, former leader of Class A, would say such a thing.]
[Yahiko: "I still can't believe it. How could someone plan this far? This guy… no, he's not human. That level of meticulousness makes him a monster."]
[Katsuragi's expression remained heavy, but he didn't deny Yahiko's words.]
[He'd started planning before the exam. While facing two classes, Class D, led by Hikigaya, stayed composed. First, he saw through Ryuen Kakeru's plan, forcing him to withdraw. If bringing Kushida back to Class D's side involved some luck, outsmarting Class A's strategy with his own was pure skill.]
[And now, Class A didn't even realize they were on the brink of collapse.]
[In Class 1-A, Sakayanagi Arisu sat elegantly with Kamuro and others, sipping coffee without a hint of surprise.]
[Hashimoto: "Princess, you saw this coming, didn't you?"]
[Sakayanagi, unhurried, set down her mug, closed her eyes, and shook her head. "Hashimoto, it depends on what you're asking. I'm not surprised by this outcome, I always thought Class D would win. As for the process… no one could've predicted it."]
[Her meaning was clear: even she couldn't guess what went on in Hikigaya's mind. Occasional mind-reading was possible, but not in this case.]
[Kitō Hayato: "Princess, if you faced him, could you win?"]
[Sakayanagi opened her eyes, her anticipation shining through. Before she could answer, Hashimoto cut in, "Kitō, are you doubting the Princess?"]
[Kitō: "No, it's just a question. In my heart, Princess, you're unbeatable."]
[Sakayanagi shook her head, dismissing Kitō's blind faith. "In the island exam, honestly, I'm not confident I could beat him. But in chess, I'd never lose."]
[Hashimoto, Kitō, and Kamuro fell silent. It was the first time they'd heard the Princess admit she might lose to someone, and so openly.]
[Hashimoto quickly smoothed things over. "Well, Princess, your legs do make things inconvenient."]
[Sakayanagi Arisu: "That may be one factor, but it doesn't change the big picture. I say this for my own reasons."]
[Kamuro Masumi: "Princess, if that's the case, Class A's position might really be at risk."]
[Sakayanagi turned her gaze to Hikigaya in the video with a faint meaningful smile on her face.]
["It depends on how far he can grow. Right now, shaking Class A's position is still too difficult for him. But in the future, I look forward to a true showdown with him."]
[In truth, Sakayanagi didn't care whether Class A dominated the grade or graduated as Class A. For capable people, even graduating from Class D would lead to a bright future. Her classmates were misguided by their obsession with status.]
[What she craved was a battle that would exhaust all her energy, spirit, stamina, and intellect, whether in the video or outside it. Her desire never wavered.]
[But whether it was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka or Hikigaya Hachiman, a true showdown was still too far off. Only after eliminating the lesser players could such a battle happen.]
[Though it was distant, Sakayanagi would wait relentlessly, unwilling to let that future duel have any regrets.]
[In Class 1-C…]
[Ryuen Kakeru: "I knew that kid wasn't simple. He's got some serious patience."]
[Ibuki Mio: "Someone who could frame our class like that, I have reason to believe he can think on this level."]
[Ryuen: "I really want to see what he looks like when he loses… His mind is meticulous, almost to the point I respect it, but he's not unbeatable."]
[Ishizaki Daichi was visibly excited. Though it was just a video, his expulsion because of Hikigaya still gnawed at him. Hearing there was a way to beat him fired him up.]
[Hiyori Shiina, usually silent and unassuming, spoke up unexpectedly: "We'll soon see the future."]
[Her words snapped everyone back. They'd only seen up to the island exam. If the video continued, future exams would unfold before them.]
[Manabe Shiho: "Yeah, seeing the future? That's incredible."]
[Komiya Kyogo: "The future, huh? Too bad I got expelled in the video. Otherwise, you'd see my shining moment."]
[Ishizaki Daichi slung an arm around Komiya, sharing the same sentiment but with one difference, he was still in this school.]
["Don't worry. Once we see the future, we'll crush the other three classes."]
[Hiyori: "But the other classes can see it too."]
[The class fell silent.]
[Right, they weren't the only ones watching. If everyone saw the future, didn't that cancel it out?]
[Ibuki's mind raced, and she used her last bit of brainpower to ask, "Ryuen, you said there's a way to beat Hikigaya. What is it?"]
[Ryuen: "He's strong but also weak. Without him, Class D is far below our Class C. If the school holds an exam based on individual or small-group merit, the scales tip in our favor."]
["No matter how great he is, he can't control the whole class, that's not his strength. Given time, he might elevate Class D to new heights, but not yet."]
[Ishizaki: "So we still have a chance to turn things around!"]
[Ryuen, still confident: "Of course. If I'm not mistaken, next semester has a sports festival. Sudo's a problem, but Hikigaya's useless physically. Breaking their class then isn't impossible."]
[Hearing this, Class C felt hope was within reach.]
[In Class 1-B, Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji…]
[Ichinose: "As expected, no matter how many times I see it, Class D wins big in this island exam."]
[Kanzaki, hand on his chin, thoughtful: "But it's not a bad thing. They're fighting tooth and nail with Classes A and C, leaving us in Class B to reap the benefits."]
[Ichinose: "And I don't want to make enemies with other classes. If possible, I'd prefer peaceful competition."]
[Kanzaki looked at the naive Ichinose with a complicated expression. Her mindset was wrong, at least to him. In this school, without a competitive edge, others would quietly devour you.]
[If Ichinose kept this mindset, though Class B had an advantage over lower classes now, they'd eventually fall into the abyss.]
[He hoped that day never came.]
[He knew Ichinose's weaknesses but also her strengths. Without her, Class B wouldn't have united so quickly or resolved conflicts so easily.]
[But too much comfort left them unprepared for real crises.]
[In Class 1-D, Karuizawa Kei's mouth hung open, speechless, like many others. Though Class D was poised for victory, it was almost too much.]
[They hadn't expected one person, Hikigaya, could change Class D so drastically.]
[First, Class A would lose 50 points for guessing Class D's leader wrong, while Class D would gain 50 for guessing Class A's correctly, a 100-point swing. Plus, Koenji Rokusuke held evidence of Class A breaking school rules by attacking first, undeniable proof recorded on video.]
[Ike Kanji: "Who'd have thought he had a camera!"]
[Yamauchi Haruki smirked: "Here's the scary part, it's Class C's camera, not bought with our points."]
[Ike, enlightened: "Right! I'm floored. How can someone be this smart? Sure, that punch looked painful, but what he gained from it is insane."]
[Shinohara Satsuki, excited: "Forget the rest, I want to jump into that class in the video. In one semester, we rose to Class C and crushed Class A, all because of one guy."]
[Karuizawa: "And all his seemingly irrational actions now connect perfectly. He was planning this before the exam even started… that's so sly."]
[Though she called him "sly," her eyes shone with admiration.]
[If someone like him protected her, would she have avoided the bullying from the start?]
[It was a pity. Even now, the video's Karuizawa hadn't noticed his brilliance, seeing him as a marginal figure. He'd helped her buy a toilet, and she must've been grateful then, she was sure of it.]
[Perhaps because everyone focused on Hikigaya, no one noticed Kushida's change. Or maybe they knew her true face but, as classmates, didn't call her out.]
[She hadn't betrayed the class yet. Though her hidden persona angered some, learning her story softened their resentment.]
[Of course, opinions varied. Some found the real Kushida easier to get along with, others saw no need to interact with her, and a few fools believed the video was fake, a self-deception that would soon collapse.]
[Horikita Suzune's face was heavy. She couldn't fathom how adding Hikigaya boosted the class's strength so quickly.]
[Watching the video, the once-arrogant Horikita recognized her shortcomings and her brother's good intentions. In this school, individual strength meant little. To reach Class A, you needed to lead the class. Now, her worldview was shattered again.]
[Hikigaya, alone, had taken Class D to Class C, something she'd desperately wanted, believing personal strength was enough. Yet Hikigaya, not particularly strong, did it. How?]
["Ayanokoji, what do you think?"]
[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, silent until now, rested his hands on the table. "What are you asking?"]
["Do you think someone's individual strength can lead a whole class forward?"]
[How should Ayanokoji answer?]
["It probably exists."]
["So, if you're strong enough, you can lead the class to a different path?"]
["If you mean the Hikigaya in the video, you're dead wrong. He doesn't rely on his strength. You've probably noticed, he's not a strong person and has major personality flaws."]
[Horikita nodded. With their omniscient perspective, they couldn't be clueless after watching so much.]
["Then what does he rely on?"]
["If I had to say, it's his unconscious ability to change those around him with sincerity. He craves genuine connections, so he treats others with sincerity. In this exam, despite many variables, they all chose to stand with him."]
[Ayanokoji analyzed calmly. In reality, he'd never share such critical insights, but since it was a video, it didn't matter.]
[Maybe it'd even help Horikita break through.]
[But that was wishful thinking. Horikita still looked confused, staring at Ayanokoji. "You mean his friends helped him? But even someone like Hirata didn't take this path."]
[Ayanokoji shook his head slightly. "No, it's different, completely different. I don't know how to explain this feeling, but it's like…"]
[Horikita cut him off, shaking her head. "Forget it, don't explain. I can't be like you or him. Maybe my brother was right, only by changing can I move forward. After all, the guy in the video is constantly changing too."]
[Ayanokoji gave Horikita a deep look, then glanced meaningfully at the video's Hikigaya.]
[This guy was impressive, subtly changing those around him, even those outside the video.]
[He was a type of guy Ayanokoji had never seen: meticulous, with a grand perspective, top-tier intellect and emotional intelligence, nearly maxed out except for his weak physicality.]
[In the Service Club…]
[Compared to the viewing room at Advanced Nurturing High School, the Service Club was even more incredulous.]
[Not just because Hikigaya's plan was so meticulous, leading Class D to victory, but because he took a real punch.]
[That sudden blow startled Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuihama Yui. Whether Isshiki Iroha was shocked, Hikigaya didn't notice, so he wasn't sure.]
[But even he was startled. That punch felt like it pierced through the video, hitting him square in the gut. It was painful.]
[Watching himself get hit was new. He wasn't an actor or in any performance, and that punch was very real.]
[Yuihama, sweating: "H-Hikki, you okay?"]
[Hikigaya, weak but still snarking: "If that video's attack could actually hit me, then I would be in trouble."]
[Yukinoshita, visibly angry: "You're still joking at a time like this? Talking nonsense when you should've been exercising…"]
[Realizing her outburst or sensing everyone's eyes on her, Yukinoshita lowered her head, silent.]
[Hikigaya, unfazed: "I got beaten by my parents as a kid, so it's not a big deal. No need to be shocked, right?"]
[Hayama Hayato rubbed his head awkwardly. "Uh, I'm not."]
[Hayama's a monster, always obedient since childhood.]
[Yukinoshita, head down, murmured, "Me neither."]
[Of course, Yukinoshita too.]
[Yuihama forced a smile. "Hahaha, Hikki, me neither."]
[Why not Yuihama? I'm filing a complaint. She doesn't seem like a good kid.]
[Ebina Hina nodded. "I get what Hikigaya-kun's saying. It's not like it's bullying or life-threatening. The pain isn't really on him, so it's fine."]
[Ebina, aren't you too optimistic? If I really died, that would be scary!]
[Isshiki Iroha snapped out of her daze, joining Ebina. "Yeah, yeah, Senpai just got a little hurt. No big deal. Like they say, a dead pig doesn't fear boiling water."]
[Hikigaya, expressionless, deadpanned: "Hey, Isshiki, I'm not dead yet."]
[Isshiki grinned devilishly. "Close enough."]
[You're not even listening! It's not close at all!]
[Seeing the warming atmosphere in the club, a sudden thought struck Hikigaya.]
[If he died in the video one day, what expressions would they have?]
(End of this chapter)