Chapter 020 Hoshinomiya-sensei's Probe
"Is this girl... an idiot?"
Hikigaya caught the fainted Ibuki.
Her face was flushed, and she was drenched in sweat. Looking closely, her facial features were quite elegant, and her stature was somewhat petite. The streamlined muscles on her thighs overflowed with athletic beauty.
"Um, does anyone know her?"
Hikigaya swept his gaze toward the others on the track, but no one responded.
"Is this guy trying to show off to us?"
Someone whispered as they passed by.
In the eyes of onlookers, the two of them had been running side-by-side for so long that they clearly looked like acquaintances or classmates. Naturally, there was no need for outsiders to stick their noses in.
Hikigaya also read the meaning behind the glances of those around him. He felt an immediate wave of speechlessness.
'Who knows her? I don't even know her name!'
He had just come out for a run and somehow got tangled up with a stubborn brat. That being said, leaving her behind seemed too cold-hearted.
"Sigh... Such misfortune..."
Hikigaya sighed helplessly. He had no choice but to carry this stubborn blue-haired girl on his back and head toward the infirmary.
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"Collapsing first thing in the morning... you kids really are something..."
A female sensei with long brown hair, dyed and permed at the ends, and wearing exquisite makeup, stood there.
She stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks in a feigned pout. "I say, why isn't it a princess carry? Isn't this male student a bit too lacking in romance?"
The sensei's sweet, soft voice, combined with her coy little expression, gave her a very strong sense of approachability.
However, Hikigaya saw a sense of déjà vu in her—Kushida Kikyo.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, this student fainted from overexertion on the track."
Hikigaya carefully placed Ibuki on the resting bed.
When he had gone to find Chabashira Sae previously, he had memorized the names of the senseis on the office nameplates. Thus, he knew the female sensei before him was the homeroom sensei of Class B, Hoshinomiya Chie.
This was a school founded on meritocracy; not only did the students compete, but a competitive relationship also existed among the senseis. Hikigaya did not believe that a woman capable of being the homeroom sensei for Class B was simple!
"Is that so? Let me see."
Hoshinomiya Chie did a quick check on Ibuki and reached a conclusion: "She's fine. Just physical exhaustion. She'll be okay after some rest."
"Oh. Since she's fine, I'll be going now."
Hikigaya prepared to leave.
"Wait a second? Aren't you going to leave your name, student? Helping a cute girl is an easy way to earn points with her, you know~~"
Hoshinomiya Chie winked at him playfully, her words laced with a hint of bait.
"No need."
Hikigaya's face remained impassive. He didn't believe in these kinds of plot points that only appeared in romance novels!
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave~"
Seeing him actually about to walk out, Hoshinomiya Chie hurried forward and grabbed his arm.
The soft sensation pressing against his arm caused Hikigaya's body to stiffen momentarily. However, he quickly resisted the gravity—simply because he had witnessed even greater gravitational forces! Moreover, the strong scent of perfume on her made him feel uncomfortable.
"Pardon me, I'm about to be late."
Hikigaya subtly pulled his arm back.
"What does that matter? Being late once or twice isn't a big deal~"
'Is that something a sensei should say?'
"Come, sit down. Chat with me for a bit."
Hoshinomiya Chie used her body to block the doorway.
"..."
Hikigaya wasn't sure what her motive was, so he chose to wait it out, remaining silent the entire time.
"Eh? At a time like this, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"My apologies. I have a shy personality and am not very good at talking to women."
"Are you nervous because you saw a beautiful sensei? Heehee~ I'm so happy~~"
"..."
Seeing that all her methods failed to extract any useful information, Hoshinomiya Chie eventually had no choice but to let him go.
Watching Hikigaya's departing back, Hoshinomiya Chie dropped the smile. She opened her laptop and used her sensei privileges to access the student files.
"First Year Class D, Hikigaya Hachiman...
He's actually a student from Class D."
Hoshinomiya Chie showed a look of surprise. Initially, she thought he might be from Class A or C, and she had intended to fish for class intel.
"Just based on his unshakable composure, it's clear he's no ordinary student. I hope he doesn't become Sae-chan's winning chip."
Though she used an affectionate nickname, there was no trace of a smile in Hoshinomiya Chie's eyes.
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.
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After escaping the infirmary, Hikigaya quickened his pace toward the academic building.
'There's something wrong with that female sensei.'
Hikigaya noted the trouble. In a perfectly good school, they didn't focus on studying but instead spent time on all this nonsense!
The school bell rang...
Predictably, Hikigaya was late. But he wasn't alone; four others were late as well: Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, Sudo Ken, and Sotomura Hideo.
The students in Class D cast gloating looks at them. Horikita Suzune, on the other hand, gave Hikigaya a slightly surprised glance; her impression was that he wasn't someone who lacked a sense of time.
"Yo~ Hikigaya, welcome to our ranks!"
Yamauchi and the others cast friendly looks at him for the first time. However, this friendliness was akin to people stuck in a mud pit trying to pull someone else down to join them.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I really can't accept it."
Hikigaya declined coldly.
"What's that?
Acting all high and mighty!"
Sudo Ken glared at him, looking annoyed.
"Exactly, you're late yourself, so why act like a model student?"
Ike Kanji spoke with a sarcastic tone.
Sotomura Hideo sniffed the air hard, his gaze becoming suspicious: "This guy... he has the scent of girls on him. And more than one!"
'Damn, are you actually a dog?'
Hikigaya complained internally.
"Nani?!"
As soon as those words were out, Yamauchi and the others cried out in shock. Just as they were about to grab Hikigaya for an interrogation, the English sensei currently in the middle of the lesson finally reached his limit!
"Shut up!
"ou latecomers, do you have no shame as students? If you don't want to come to class, you can get lost! Don't disturb the other students!!"
The sudden, harsh scolding startled Yamauchi and the rest.
"Uh, it's only a few minutes late. There's no need to be that harsh... Mashima-sensei."
Ike Kanji was still a bit defiant. Since the other senseis hadn't scolded them, they had already developed a slack and lazy attitude.
"I don't care how other senseis handle it! In my class, no one is allowed to be late!"
Hikigaya recognized him—as expected of the homeroom sensei of Class A.
Mashima Tomonari was famous for his strictness. He had a robust physique like a professional wrestler. Currently an English sensei, it was said he had taught other subjects as well, making him a versatile and excellent sensei!
"Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, Sotomura Hideo, and Sudo Ken! The four of you, take your textbooks and stand at the back for the lesson!!"
Mashima Tomonari roared at the four. Facing his towering figure of over 190 cm, even the short-tempered Sudo Ken didn't dare utter a sound.
"Wait, what about Hikigaya?"
Yamauchi Haruki spotted the one who had slipped through the net.
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