Chapter 4: Entrance Ceremony (Part 2)
The entrance ceremony refers to the welcome event held by the school for new students, marking their official admission.
It usually takes place before or just at the beginning of the school term.
During the ceremony, the principal, teachers, and student representatives give speeches, introduce the school's history and culture, and encourage new students to study hard and integrate into school life.
That's how it usually goes.
However, what Hikigaya was seeing now was different—the spacious auditorium was only occupied by student council members and some staff assisting with the ceremony.
Not a single school official had appeared.
"Ahem, mic check… All new students, please remain quiet."
While Hikigaya was still puzzled, a sharp-looking man with glasses stepped up to the podium, gently tapped the microphone to confirm the sound level, and immediately began speaking in a brisk, decisive tone.
"I am the student council president, Horikita Manabu.
On behalf of the current students, I warmly welcome all new students enrolling in our school this year. Our school is renowned for its balanced focus on both academics and physical education, as well as its high university acceptance and employment rates.
I'm sure you all know that these accomplishments are the result of the continuous efforts of both graduates and current students—something we take great pride in.
I hope you new students will inherit this tradition... This school is a place of absolute meritocracy. I hope each of you will experience an unforgettable high school life!"
Horikita Manabu placed both hands on the podium, swept his gaze across the large group of freshmen with eyes that seemed to see through everything.
Any noise in the auditorium instantly died down wherever he looked.
His expression was stern, his body leaning slightly forward. Despite speaking only a few lines, he exuded an intimidating aura that demanded respect without anger.
"Absolute meritocracy… huh?" Hikigaya pondered the deeper meaning behind the student council president's words.
Emphasis on ability, a ceremony run by the student council, surveillance cameras everywhere...
He couldn't help but feel he had ended up in a truly extraordinary school.
Looks like he'd been tricked by his bastard of a dad again.
"…The entrance ceremony is now over. All classes, please leave in the order of A, B, C, D and return to your classrooms. Your homeroom teachers will explain more about the school in your upcoming class meetings."
Compared to other schools, this ceremony was extremely simple. It ended shortly after the student council president's brief speech.
Since they had to go back to class for the meeting, Hikigaya and the others wouldn't be able to retrieve their luggage until after that.
Hikigaya quietly followed his classmates toward Class 1-A when Sakayanagi suddenly addressed him:
"Hikigaya-kun, what do you think the student council president meant by 'absolute meritocracy'?"
Indeed, that phrase was very odd.
If this were a normal school trying to motivate students, they might prioritize academic ability—test scores, in other words.
But the student council president emphasized a balance of academics and physical training, which meant this "ability" wasn't limited to grades.
It likely included various other qualities—what society might call the traits of successful elites, like sharp observation, teamwork, and strong execution.
Ugh, how disgusting. Isn't this just training corporate drones?
Furthermore, judging from how students from different classes behaved in the auditorium, the school might've already ranked students based on certain evaluation criteria, possibly with different assessment methods aimed at cultivating truly talented individuals.
Hikigaya considered these criteria—not just academic or physical ability—by comparing Sakayanagi, who had mobility issues, and himself, who was thoroughly average.
If these guesses were accurate, and judging by the impressive qualities of his classmates, had he lucked out and been placed in an elite class?
No, Hikigaya thought just the opposite. If every classmate was as formidable as Sakayanagi, then for someone like him, with no notable abilities and likely to drag the class down, this was probably the worst-case scenario.
Ugh, just thinking about all this is such a hassle. Maybe I should just drop out and go home—then I could see my dear little sister.
Hikigaya shared his guess briefly with Sakayanagi.
She suddenly stopped walking toward the classroom. Standing still, she examined Hikigaya with an appreciative gaze, her clever, cat-like eyes narrowing.
Hikigaya felt uncomfortable under that look, like his whole body was itchy.
He stopped as well and looked at her with confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Hikigaya-kun, I already had a high opinion of you, but it seems I still underestimated you. Even though you have those dead-fish eyes, your brain works surprisingly well."
"No… My grades are barely passable outside of the humanities. Also, next time you want to compliment me, could you not insult my appearance while you're at it?"
She smiled like a little devil—or more accurately, a big one. "You're right, I'll be more careful next time."
"…Are you some kind of politician?"
"Let's go," Sakayanagi changed the subject on her own and continued walking toward the classroom.
Hikigaya let out a quiet sigh and silently followed her.
.
.
.
After following the crowd for a while, Hikigaya and Sakayanagi arrived at the classroom labeled Class 1-A.
Aside from the surveillance cameras hanging from the ceiling, the classroom wasn't much different from those in other schools. Below the tall, wide podium were 40 neatly arranged desks and chairs.
Because of Sakayanagi's mobility issues, they arrived a bit late, and most of their classmates had already chosen their seats.
In this kind of situation, someone with an outcast mindset would usually take a corner seat, claiming it as their personal domain that no one else dared approach.
Since the best spots were already taken, the only choice left was one of the remaining seats at the back by the window.
Having made up his mind, Hikigaya silently walked toward one of those corner spots. Unexpectedly, Sakayanagi followed close behind.
The moment he sat down, she took the seat to his right and gave him a playful "gotcha" smile. Her voice was sweet and innocent, like that of a little girl.
"Hikigaya-kun, it looks like we're desk mates. Let's get along from now on."
I've been targeted! I've been completely targeted by the little tyrant!
Seeing Sakayanagi's incredibly cute smile, Hikigaya suddenly shivered.
Realizing he might have to sit next to her for the next three years, warning bells rang in his head, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
He desperately racked his brain to think of a way to make her leave.
"Uh, Sakayanagi-san, if you sit all the way in the back, you might not be able to see the blackboard."
"True, I can't attend outdoor classes due to my health and can only stay at home. But to keep up with the coursework, I studied a bit on my own. As for the high school curriculum—well, it's not really a problem for me."
W-wait, what? You learned the high school curriculum just through self-study? If you've already mastered it, then just skip grades and graduate early already!