Chapter 75: Hitori Gotoh's Secret
"What do you think of these conditions?"
Haruka was utterly stunned.
Did this Principal have any idea what he was saying? Were these really conditions one could offer a student?
Well… apparently, they were.
It was common knowledge that top students enjoyed special privileges—an unspoken rule, especially in a rigidly hierarchical society.
So...
"...Deal."
Faced with such an offer, Haruka had no reason to refuse. The Principal's offer was simply too generous to refuse.
Picking up the pen again, Haruka looked at the exam paper.
He swept his eyes over it roughly.
No problem.
It was a piece of cake.
The answers seemed to flow out of his brain instinctively, as if they were second nature.
"Principal, I think you can go ahead and call the teachers now."After saying this with a smile, Haruka lowered his head and began writing furiously.
The Principal showed no dissatisfaction; instead, he watched with eyes full of anticipation.
***
When Haruka left the office, he was personally escorted out by the Principal himself.
The two agreed to have dinner together that evening to discuss the competition in detail.
Watching Haruka walk away, the Principal took out the signed document, falling into deep thought.
Something he had originally planned to give up on... now seemed worth a shot.
'As long as he surpasses Yukino Yukinoshita, I'll sign this document. Let's make a bet!'
A flash of gambler's passion sparked in the Principal's eyes.
***
Meanwhile.
Haruka, walking away, was also lost in thought.
This trial run allowed him to truly feel the gains he had obtained from the Simulator. It was truly incredible.
If his academic ability was already at this level, then what would that miracle-working medical ability look like?
Additionally, he needed to think about the Principal's offer.
As for the specific details of the competition, the Principal had said he would explain everything in detail after Haruka finished the exams and proved his genius. For now, during dinner tonight, he would provide a brief overview to help Haruka prepare.
Given how serious the Principal was acting, this competition likely held significant benefits for him; otherwise, he wouldn't have offered such extravagant conditions.
But it didn't matter. Either way, Haruka wouldn't lose out.
Compared to his original goal of just wanting some freedom, the conditions he had secured now far exceeded his expectations.
Besides, how hard could a high school competition be for him?
Everyone knew that most competitions were just standard affairs—city level, prefectural level, or regional level.
For him, someone capable of dominating one of the "Big Three" high schools, what difficulty could there be?
Unless it was a national-level competition featuring the country's true freakish elites, or a world-class competition—that might pose some challenge.
But how was that possible? It was just a competition. Based on the timeline, neither the World Olympiads nor the National Finals were scheduled for now.
Haruka smiled, relaxing his shoulders.
Now, it was time to go home.
Oh, right. Tomorrow would be the third day. The Simulator's update should be finished by then.
What would he gain this time? And what would he lose?
Haruka looked up at the sky.
It was vast and cloudless.
Only the sun shone down on all things, eternal and unchanging.
'Desire is like a boulder rolling down a mountain...'
Haruka headed toward the Service Club room.
He still had to help Shoko and the others find recruits.
Fortunately, Hiratsuka-sensei had agreed to give him the roster.
He needed to take a good look and see if there were any suitable candidates outside of the simulation to join them.
***
Afternoon.
After finishing the activities with Shoko and the others.
Yukino Yukinoshita proposed that the group stay in the Service Club room to do homework, answer each other's questions, and improve themselves.
Regarding this proposal...
Aside from Bocchi, it passed with three votes.
Haruka looked at the shrinking, trembling Hitori with a sympathetic smile on his face.
Seeing her like this really made him want to help.
Sometimes, maybe she just needed a little push.
Just then, Shoko presented a fountain pen to Haruka.
?
"Nishimiya-san, this is...?"
Shoko waved her hand and signed: For you.
Haruka hesitated for a moment, then accepted the pen.
Shoko smiled, her bright eyes curving into crescents.
Beside them, Yukino Yukinoshita and Bocchi watched silently.
Bocchi: 'Why am I getting this weird vibe... like they're in love or something?'
"Gotoh-san, I recall your grades aren't exactly ideal..."
Listening to Yukino's nagging begin, a look of despair filled Bocchi's eyes as she gradually melted into a puddle.
Then, during the study session that followed, Bocchi became the primary focus of Yukino's attention.
It was unspeakable suffering.
***
6:30 PM.
Haruka and the others walked out of the school.
They parted ways one by one along the road.
However, Haruka suddenly remembered—he hadn't picked up the roster from Hiratsuka-sensei yet!
He stopped at the intersection.
"...Never mind. I'd better go back and get it. Hiratsuka-sensei shouldn't have left work yet."
Haruka turned around and started walking back.
After passing two intersections, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The sound of a guitar rang out.
It sounded pretty good, though it was intermittent. And it sounded a bit familiar.
But the sound was coming from a dark, gloomy alleyway!
"..."
Haruka shifted his footing slightly and walked toward the alley.
And there he saw it.
A pink figure wearing a face mask and a baseball cap, with the lower half of her body submerged in a trash can. She was playing the guitar, but her eyes were constantly darting left and right, as if waiting for something, or perhaps guarding against something.
From a distance, a distinct aura of sketchiness radiated from her.
She looked like she would vanish instantly at the first sign of trouble.
"..."
If he wasn't mistaken, this person should be Hitori Gotoh, who had just parted ways with him.
But... why?
What was this situation?
Why was she playing guitar in a trash can in an alleyway?
Wait.
Should he go in?
Given Hitori's severe social anxiety...
Hmm...
Haruka stood at the mouth of the alley, unable to move his feet.
Seeing no one around, the guitar playing finally stabilized.
The melody gradually grew more spirited.
But Haruka still didn't get it.
Who was she playing for?
Was she just entertaining herself? Just as Haruka was thinking this...
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
A gentle breeze blew past.
From atop a wall, a gray cat jumped down. It glanced at him warily, then walked toward Hitori with an elegant cat strut.
Then, it sat down right in front of Hitori's trash can. It didn't make a single sound the entire time.
It was like a signal.
Immediately, one after another, cats began to arrive—gray, white, black, calico…
Most were dirty stray cats.
They all showed hostility toward him, yet none attacked. Instead, without a sound, they went to sit next to the gray cat.
Before long, a large audience of cats had gathered in front of Hitori.
It was a spectacular sight.
Hitori, with half her body sticking out of the trash can, saw the cats arrive. A smile appeared on her face beneath the mask, and her playing continued without interruption.
Haruka stood at the entrance of the alley, watching this scene with a WTF expression.
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Hand over all of your Power Stones!!
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