Chapter 150: President, You're Talking About This?!
[Yukimura: "Trouble… our opponent is that fairy again."]
[Ike: "Ah, just seeing her gives me a headache. Now I understand why Hikigaya found her troublesome at first glance rather than pretty."]
[Sudō: "Indeed, Sakayanagi seems to calculate everything…"]
[Shinohara: "Even so, we shouldn't give up. We have Hikigaya… he's also a monster, don't forget."]
[Sakura was still worried, not doubting Hikigaya, but knowing how strong Sakayanagi was in all areas except sports. For Hikigaya and the class, winning games like chess against her was nearly impossible.]
[Kushida patted Sakura's shoulder: "Don't worry, he always has a trick up his sleeve."]
[Karuizawa: "Exactly, he can deduce patterns from just two privileged students, he's not much worse than Sakayanagi!"]
[Horikita: "Confidence is good, but this will undoubtedly be a tough battle."]
[Horikita's words brought silence. Kamuro, observing the chat, looked at Sakayanagi: "They're saying this about you, Princess. Any thoughts?"]
[Sakayanagi smiled: "Everything should be based on video results. What's said now is just speculation. Besides… when has he ever won without starting at a disadvantage?"]
[Kamuro realized: this guy has always been underestimated but always won.]
[Kamuro also worried, if she became his enemy, they might clash again in future exams.]
[Also, it had been a while since she appeared in the video; Hikigaya might have forgotten her.]
[Yukinoshita: "Another exam full of headache… I admire this school for inventing such weird rules."]
[Surprisingly, Yukinoshita complained, which she rarely did, but now she felt injustice for Hikigaya.]
[No one noticed her hand beneath the table, holding Hikigaya's tightly.]
[Hikigaya was shocked, expecting her to pinch him, she simply held his hand, feeling the warmth, doing nothing else.]
[He was completely stunned.]
[Yukinoshita Yukino was worrying for him, feeling unfairness for him, comforting him.]
[Haruno: "Yukino, you finally changed."]
[Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Do you think this is okay? Changing because of this video?"]
[Haruno shook her head: "It doesn't matter. If the video exists, it means everything has meaning."]
[Hiratsuka smiled wryly: "I don't know who's teaching whom anymore."]
[Haruno: "Ah, Shizuka, you should get a boyfriend soon. You're getting more naggy, it's the age!"]
[Hiratsuka felt as if a thousand knives had pierced her heart. Ten years of teaching, many students learned from her, but she had ended up teaching two "dads."]
[One of them keeps saying in videos that she's an old leftover woman, while another despises her for being an old leftover woman outside of the video.]
[...]
[Hayama: "But, this kind of exam… maybe it's the chance for Hikigaya and the others to move up to Class B. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing."]
[Isshiki: "Yeah, although the pressure that senpai gives isn't as intense as that fairy's, I think senpai won't lose."]
[Yuigahama noticed the hand Yukinoshita had placed on Hikigaya's hand and, after pretending to smile, clenched her fists: "Yeah, I also believe that A-chan can win!"]
[Miura: "Even though you're really annoying, and you always mumble and beat around the bush, I'll still bet on you winning."]
[Hikigaya: "...Oh-oh!"]
The next day, Hikigaya participated in the class discussion as usual, but as the discussion went on, several Class A students lingered outside the hallway. It wasn't hard to guess they were eavesdropping for information.
Of course, there was one person Hikigaya hadn't seen in a long time, Kamuro, and she was also outside in the hallway.
Unlike the other Class A students wandering outside, she knew Hikigaya would definitely notice them, so she simply made a face.
'This guy really hasn't changed at all.'
'It seems that Hashimoto leaving had no impact on her… no, wait, judging by that expression, she actually seems pretty happy about it.'
Still, it wasn't Hikigaya's fault that he rarely spent time with Kamuro. First, they weren't in the same class, and walking together would always arouse suspicion. Second, he was currently at the center of scrutiny and had no intention of jumping into the fire.
The second point was that Karuizawa and Ichinose had almost completely taken over his classroom time, under the excuse of "work," leaving him no room to escape. Meanwhile, back in his room… it was Sakura and Kushida's territory, which was impossible to get away from.
Of course, if you asked what they were doing in the room, it was indeed "serious work," such as discussing how to handle Hirata's situation or which contests to use to defeat Class A. After all, as the strategist, Hikigaya felt a lot of pressure and occasionally needed an outlet.
Here, Akito seemed to have thought of a good proposal.
"If we truly compete by strength, Class C will lose without a doubt. So why not base all the contests purely on luck, such as the rock-paper-scissors idea Ike suggested earlier?"
"Even at worst, there's over a 20% chance of winning in 7 events."
Of course, this idea was immediately dismissed by Yukimura on the spot, even before considering feasibility.
The reason was simple.
"If each event is assumed to have a 50% win rate, the probability of our class being selected in all five of the seven events is only 8.33%, and the chance of reaching four wins first in these events is only 18.75%."
Yes, less than one-fifth probability.
But that was already relatively high; Yukimura pointed out another flaw: as the strategist, Sakayanagi could intervene in the probability. After Hikigaya reconsidered and took all factors into account, the final probability of Class C winning was perhaps…
1.56%...
This kind of probability could basically be rounded down to zero in Hikigaya's eyes, so it was immediately rejected.
Still, probability theory is always unpredictable.
[Just like the two people watching the video, they completely ignore all this. After all, even a simple rock-paper-scissors contest isn't decided by probability calculations.]
[However, not everyone is like the two people. In this school, no one can achieve such a massive amount of calculation, so… it's better to honestly think of other conditions for victory.]
During yet another fruitless discussion, some people began to grow impatient.
Since this concerned the entire class, every discussion required full participation. But in reality, this exam didn't need so many students, at least, that was Sotomura's opinion.
"This exam's large group event won't require all students no matter how you calculate it. For example, a project like baseball only needs nine participants. Even accounting for substitutes, it doesn't even reach a third of the class."
Yukimura: "What are you trying to say? Just say it directly."
Sotomura: "What I mean is… normally, strong students are prioritized for both academics and sports. So for those of us with poor grades and poor athletic ability, staying here to discuss is pointless. It would be better… to just leave, right, Ike?"
Ike didn't respond immediately. Although he had thought of running away, he couldn't bring himself to say it in front of everyone.
Horikita: "That's extremely irresponsible. As a class, we must consider all circumstances."
Ichinose said with a smile: "Yeah, Sotomura, internal unity comes first. You're not wrong, but when large-scale events occur, we all have to participate. Besides, brainstorming together is a good opportunity, too!"
Ichinose's words immediately improved the class atmosphere, and even Sotomura didn't continue venting. Naturally, the discussion continued.
Honestly, Hikigaya could understand Sotomura's thinking. After all, this exam was the last of the second semester, and everyone wanted to get through it easily, Hikigaya included.
But if everyone thought that way, the team would collapse on its own.
Only a few days had passed, and the class's disintegration was already beyond Hikigaya's imagination. If not for Ichinose stabilizing the situation, the discussion would have ended in conflict.
Still… leading such a team is like Sun Bin commanding a group of reckless, undisciplined kids, no matter how brilliant the strategy, it can't defeat a fully armed army.
It seemed that to defeat Sakayanagi, more thought was required.
If Class C had any chance, it was in sports. With Koenji and Sudo as key players, basketball, tug-of-war, and similar events were almost impossible to lose, as the strategist had little influence.
If all else failed, they could reuse the sports festival events that Class C won, bringing them back here. Perhaps the odds would improve.
With that, the discussion ended again, and Hikigaya left the classroom. On his way out, he happened to encounter two upperclassmen.
At first glance, the two looked like a couple.
Perhaps noticing Hikigaya, Tachibana naturally stepped back, leaving Hikigaya to speak quietly with Student Council President Horikita.
"How is your special exam going? If there's anything you need to know, feel free to ask. I'll tell you whatever I can."
Hikigaya was surprised that Horikita would say something like that. In his mind, Horikita was supposed to be impartial and just.
However, Hikigaya shook his head. He didn't intend to request any help for this exam. After all, at the beginning of the semester, she had already helped him and Sakura enough. Honestly, he didn't want to owe anyone more favors.
"After all, isn't it supposed to be my line? The fallen youth asking the high-and-mighty Student Council President for help."
Horikita and Hikigaya exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.
[This made Horikita in the chatroom somewhat envious.]
After confirming the boy didn't need her help, Horikita didn't push further, simply saying:
"After this exam ends, the third semester begins, and I will step down as president. Don't forget what you promised me."
"Of course I won't forget…"
"What about Horikita Suzune? How's she been lately?"
[In the chatroom, Horikita Suzune, hearing her brother mention her name, suddenly became alert, her eyes seemingly shining.]
"Your sister is already an outstanding talent. In academics and sports, she's among the best in the school. Maybe you think that isn't first-rate, but she certainly hasn't sunk to the point of desperately chasing after you."
Hearing Suzune's name, Horikita's expression showed a trace of disappointment.
"You, who are so good at reading people, misjudged this."
"My disappointment with Suzune isn't about her academics or sports. Even if there's a gulf between us, that wouldn't matter."
"Maybe you see her as growing, but I see her as regressing. Don't be fooled by how she seems now, she used to be a child who always smiled."
At this, Horikita smiled in a rare, satisfied way. In that moment, Hikigaya also seemed to realize something.
He had always assumed Horikita had enormous expectations for Suzune, but he was wrong. All the expectations were Suzune's own, imposed on herself.
Which brother would want his sister to work so hard just to chase after his shadow?
He only hoped Suzune could once again show her pure, untainted smile.
And Hikigaya felt the same.
At this moment, Hikigaya truly understood. Horikita, however, didn't seem worried and continued:
"During her later years in elementary school, Suzune began imitating me. Perhaps it was admiration at first, but letting her develop without guidance was my mistake. I thought our long separation would improve things, but it backfired."
"After meeting Suzune again at this school two years after middle school, she still hadn't changed. Everything I told her, she executed faithfully, academics, sports, what's allowed, what isn't, even her tastes in clothes and colors depended on me."
Yet even so…
Horikita lightly patted Hikigaya's shoulder.
"Perhaps in this school, it's easy to lose yourself without realizing it. But I'm not worried Suzune will continue like that, because now she has you by her side."
"This is an advice I can give as a senior."
Listening to Horikita, Hikigaya felt a bit enlightened. He shook his head, trying to dismiss it: "This is her growth, it has nothing to do with me."
Horikita smiled faintly: "You're the same as always. But it's okay. Suzune has changed a lot since enrollment, heading in the direction I hoped for. Though she's not complete yet…"
"I still believe that one day, she will fully grow, cut her dependency on me, and continue moving forward proudly. After all, she's my sister."
"By that time, even you will likely marvel at her growth."
Hikigaya was a bit dazed, unsure what to say, and finally smiled faintly in a joking tone:
"You're only two years older, yet you speak as if you're lecturing me."
Horikita returned the smile: "You're the same. When you leave this school, you'll realize just how much you've changed."
"If that day comes, I hope to have a proper match with the you of that time."
"I don't want to duel someone who's a little sister's protector."
'Though I'm not in a position to say that either.'
The two Horikita siblings clearly cared about each other but always used tsundere-like ways to distance themselves. Truly, the Horikita family tradition.
If it were Hikigaya, he couldn't do that.
Perhaps even Hikigaya himself hadn't realized it, but the boy who once thought he couldn't live without his sister had gradually started finding his own path in this school.
"By the way, Horikita, are you really not dating the girl behind you? If Suzune finds out…"
Jokingly, Hikigaya teased, but Horikita just smiled calmly and shook his head.
Tachibana, always aware of his feelings, spoke: "In these three years, for better or worse, I've mainly focused on school affairs. But since you're chatting as an ordinary student, I have to ask, have you gotten a girlfriend?"
Now it was Hikigaya's turn to be unsure how to answer.
"Not exactly…"
'We haven't confirmed anything.'
Horikita Manabu immediately noticed Hikigaya's ambiguous answer and said seriously: "As her older brother, I know my sister well. Her feelings may be immature, but she will pursue what she loves, no matter how tsundere she is. So be careful. If it's discovered… even I won't be able to protect you."
'What a troublesome girl…'
Hikigaya spread his hands, helpless.
Seeing him not respond, Horikita lowered his head and smiled, then sighed helplessly.
"The third-year students will graduate in a semester. If it is you, I could trust Suzune to you. But you seem uninterested in her as a beautiful girl… or maybe all beautiful girls."
Hikigaya couldn't be interested. His room already had two statues of Buddhas to attend to. If a third, fourth, fifth… appeared, he couldn't even imagine the scene. Though he had feelings, he had to suppress them for morality's sake.
Sensing a fun topic, Tachibana finally joined in.
"President, you're actually talking about romance!"
Horikita Manabu sweatdropped: "Uh, I'm just a high schooler, not even 20 yet. Isn't that weird?"
Hikigaya and Tachibana: "Very weird!"
Horikita Manabu: "Fine, I'll try not to… in the future."
Before he could finish, Tachibana interrupted, flustered: "President, you should understand this stuff too! It's part of youth! I think it's great! Yes, great!"
"And Hikigaya, you better take good care of Sakura. Though she's my assistant, from chatting with her, I know her feelings for you are genuine. Don't let her down!"
(Endofthischapter)