Chapter 031: Hachiman: Horikita, You Want to Reach Class A, Right? Horikita: Isn't That Your Ambition?
Meanwhile—
Damn it, Hikigaya Hachiman had already finished his meal.
Horikita had ordered a modest 400-point set meal.
And hers was exactly the same.
Two dishes and a soup.
Hachiman wasn't picky about food—his mother had told him never to be.
And while the meal was simple, the fact that he was eating with the top-tier beauty of the school made it feel… oddly more enjoyable.
The two of them didn't linger in the cafeteria.
They walked together toward the student dormitories, passing by a vending machine along the way.
Ah.
That vending machine was a place of trauma for Horikita Suzune.
Yesterday, it was here that she had encountered her brother. He had demanded that she drop out. Even though she hadn't been expelled in the end, she had still been dismissed as worthless. And on top of that, she had been tasked with finding Hikigaya Hachiman's weaknesses.
But Hachiman didn't bring up the topic—he spared her some dignity.
At this hour, no one else was around.
Not that this area ever had much foot traffic to begin with.
"This is the information I gathered today," Hachiman said, taking a seat on a nearby bench.
He pulled out his phone and opened his notes. "Class A has already obtained this information. They paid a price of two million points, split evenly among the whole class."
"Two million?!" Even Horikita Suzune was shocked.
She had already confirmed that the points on a student's ID card were as good as real money—there was no inflation, and the prices were almost identical to those outside the school.
In other words—
"And your brother also mentioned that when he told you that being assigned to Class D meant you were trash, that piece of information alone cost him one million points."
"So for Class A students to obtain more detailed information, it makes sense that they would have to pay an even higher price. Two million is a reasonable number."
Horikita had nothing to say in response to that.
"Then… does that still make me a worthless little sister?"
"My brother spent a whole million on me for nothing…" Now that she realized just how valuable points were, she seemed a little shaken.
This side of her was similar to the timid little sister from last night.
"Maybe so," Hachiman replied.
"Ugh…"
It seemed like he had hit a nerve. The moment her brother was mentioned, Horikita deflated like a punctured balloon.
She stared at the phone in Hachiman's hand.
"Please let me see." Her tone had even become polite.
And so, she leaned in.
Since Hachiman had recorded the information in his phone's notebook app, he was sitting there holding it. That meant Horikita had no choice but to move closer.
After all, once she confirmed that this information was worth two million points, she suddenly became a little more submissive.
Instead of trying to take the phone from Hachiman, she sat down beside him to read.
Focused as she was, Horikita didn't notice that her straight hair had fallen across Hachiman's hand.
Her hair was silky and smelled nice.
Maybe it was just the angle, but her left hand ended up resting on the back of his.
Her fingers were soft, slender, and slightly warm.
And—Hachiman realized with alarm—his arm… his arm seemed to be… touching something.
Hey!
Horikita, do you even realize what you're doing?!
But for Hachiman, this was the first time a girl had ever gotten this close to him (Kushida didn't count. His little sister didn't count.).
To say he wanted to pull away immediately would be a lie.
But Horikita probably wasn't thinking about any of that.
And now, pulling his hand away would just make things weirder.
So all Hachiman could do was sit there and wait for her to finish reading the information.
The Rules of the School
The school operates on a system where classes compete against each other.
The so-called high university acceptance rate and employment rate are a deception—only students from Class A officially represent the school upon graduation. Students from other classes will be reassigned to different schools when they graduate.
At the very beginning, every student is evaluated using a standardized system called the S System.
Based on their evaluation, students are divided into Classes A, B, C, and D.
Class A represents excellence.
Class D, on the other hand, is considered the lowest tier.
However, the school does provide students with opportunities. Since it's a competition, everyone starts on an equal footing—with the same baseline of 1,000 points.
And from the very first day of enrollment, a hidden evaluation has already begun, assessing whether new students meet the qualities expected of excellent students at this institution.
In other words, the details that Horikita failed to explain yesterday had now been fully supplemented.
"So… I really am just worthless?"
Last night, she had insisted that she was no longer the weakling her brother knew.
But now, Horikita Suzune was deeply shaken.
Not just because she had been placed in Class D.
But also because she had unknowingly cost her brother a million private points.
Based on the prices at the campus stores, that amount could have bought dozens of computers.
"That's not necessarily true," Hachiman said. He hadn't brought Horikita out here just to discourage her.
He intended to use this information as leverage in a negotiation with Chabashira-sensei.
So—
"There has never been a case where Class D has surpassed Class A and been promoted to Class A. Similarly, no student has ever accumulated 20 million private points."
"But if you manage to do that, what do you think your brother will think of you?"
"Or rather—how will others view your brother?"
"A so-called failure from Class D… rising to the top."
"And what would that signify?" Hachiman continued. "For your brother, it would be nothing short of an honor. I'd imagine it would be enough to make him acknowledge you."
"Unbelievable…" Horikita Suzune started seriously considering the possibility.
"If you're already here, benefiting from what this school offers, wouldn't it make sense to use its rules to climb higher?" Hachiman said.
His words were like the whispers of a devil.
They made Horikita Suzune fall into deep thought once again.
Yes.
She had come here following in her brother's footsteps to prove that she wasn't worthless.
But things had gone poorly from the start, and she had even caused her brother to lose a massive sum of points.
It was as if her brother had wasted a million points just because of his foolish little sister.
That was a bitter pill to swallow.
But what if she could make up for that loss… and prove her abilities in the process?
"..." Horikita Suzune fell silent.
Hachiman glanced at the black-haired girl beside him.
His gaze lowered, unintentionally falling on her thigh-high stockings.
Since they were sitting so close, if he looked directly at her, his line of sight would land somewhere between her neck and her abdomen—which would not be appropriate.
So, he quickly averted his eyes.
But he could sense it—Horikita Suzune was clearly moved by his words.
And now—
"Well then…"
Horikita finally shifted her posture.
She turned slightly, her left hand loosely curled into a small fist.
"If I were to say that I want to climb to the top…" She had made her stance clear.
"That's a good thing," Hachiman nodded. "If you rise to the top, you benefit, I benefit, everyone benefits."
"And your brother would have no choice but to acknowledge you. After all, you'd be using this school's system to climb up."
But then—
Horikita tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"This idea of yours… is quite surprising, and I must admit, it's very tempting."
"I don't want to be expelled."
"I followed my brother here, determined not to stop partway through. I don't want to disgrace him, either."
But—
She stared straight at him, her gaze unwavering.
"So, after uncovering the truth about this school… isn't it you who wants to reach Class A, Hikigaya-kun?"
…Huh.
Did he want to reach Class A?
Would he ever want to reach Class A?
It seemed she wasn't so easily fooled.
She had caught on.
If Hachiman was offering such valuable information for free, just in exchange for her getting him a meal—it was too cheap of a deal.
Yet, at the same time, he was pushing her toward climbing higher.
So now, she was suspecting that he was the one with ambition.
But Horikita, you might be mistaken.
Because—
The real person who wants to reach Class A… is Chabashira-sensei.
All Hachiman wanted was a bargaining chip to negotiate with that wicked woman.
And that bargaining chip—was her.
Chapter 032: No Way—Chabashira-sensei, You're Even Poorer Than Me?!
8:30 PM.
Near the vending machine where he had encountered the Horikita siblings the previous day, a boy let out a quiet sigh as he leaned against the railing by the silent artificial lake.
Since he had ample free time in the evening, he had even taken a shower before coming out.
But as expected, some preparation was necessary.
That boy was Hikigaya Hachiman.
He was working hard—for himself.
More precisely, he was working to acquire more points.
Since he had been assigned to Class D from the start, earning points through the class-based system seemed nearly hopeless. Going solo was the best option. However, he had also confirmed that the school's shopping district did not allow students to earn money through part-time jobs or other conventional means used by ordinary high schoolers to cover their living expenses.
That left him with no choice but to take a different approach.
For him, things were rather simple. Upon enrolling, he had already made a deal with his homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei—he would investigate a particular student's records in exchange for 200,000 points.
In this school, points could be used directly as money. Upon graduation, the school would even convert them into cash, making them extremely valuable.
On the surface, it seemed like a great deal.
However, through Horikita Manabu, he had obtained some troubling information.
He suspected that Chabashira-sensei harbored even greater ambitions.
So, naturally, he wanted to renegotiate for a higher price.
Thus, he had arranged a meeting with Chabashira-sensei.
The agreed time was 9:00 PM.
He arrived early.
Not because he wanted to act like a gentleman, but because he needed to gather some information.
For example—details about Chabashira-sensei's salary.
She hadn't answered him directly before, but she had once flaunted a massive sum of 6.02 million points.
She had even taken out her point cards.
When Hachiman scanned them, both cards contained exactly 200,000 points.
No deception.
A display of financial confidence.
But he still needed to ask.
Normally, if one wanted to obtain information, they could simply buy it with points. This was the most direct method. For instance, Class A, where Sakayanagi was, had spent a staggering 2 million points to purchase the school's secrets from their homeroom teacher.
As long as one had the money, there was nothing that couldn't be bought.
Even being placed in Class D at the start wasn't an irreversible fate.
By accumulating 20 million points, a student could directly transfer to Class A.
Of course—
Hachiman had no such ambition.
20 million points?
For an ordinary person, that would take years to earn.
For someone with a low salary, it could even amount to ten years' worth of work without spending a single cent.
So, why not just exchange it for ten years of labor upfront? That didn't seem like such a bad deal.
Hachiman preferred to take the money.
It was the more straightforward option.
After all, even if he made it to Class A and got into his desired university, would that guarantee a good job after graduation?
Would he definitely get a high salary?
There was no certainty.
And if he forwent further education and instead relied on a school recommendation to enter his desired workplace, what if the company faced financial trouble or an economic downturn and he got laid off?
These were all risks.
So, rather than gambling on an uncertain future, he preferred the solid reliability of cash in hand.
Just like how he preferred women who were already wealthy from the start.
Rather than struggling together, it was better if the other party was well-off from the beginning.
Hmm.
These were all the thoughts of a future stay-at-home husband.
But for now—
Hachiman was handling serious business.
After all, at the moment, there weren't any reliable and suitable wealthy women to support him.
However, during his inquiries, he came across some rather troubling news.
It went something like this:
"By the way, Student Council President, do teachers earn a high salary?" Hachiman typed this into his chat with Horikita Manabu.
Horikita Manabu, the student council president, was widely regarded as the most outstanding president in the school's history.
He was also the class representative of 3rd-year Class A.
Based on the rankings of classes A, B, C, and D displayed on the first floor of the third-year academic building...
Hmm.
He now knew that those were called Class Evaluation Scores, which determined the amount of resources a class received from the school.
The rankings of Classes A, B, C, and D were fluid—whichever class had the highest evaluation score would be ranked the highest.
This meant that even the top classes felt pressure, fearing they might be surpassed by lower-ranked classes.
However—
• 3rd-year Class A: 2530 points
• 3rd-year Class B: 1300 points
• 3rd-year Class C: 300 points
• 3rd-year Class D: 20 points
Horikita Manabu's 3rd-year Class A was overwhelmingly in the lead.
As the class representative, Horikita Manabu's contributions were undeniable—he was indeed an exceptional individual.
He was also extremely disciplined.
Even when privately sharing information about the school with his sister, he could have chosen to ignore the rules and not pay any points.
Yet, he chose to strictly follow the regulations, even punishing himself by paying a hefty fine of one million points.
Of course, this might have also been a way for him to teach his sister about the harshness of this school—one wrong step, and you could lose a million points in an instant.
A tough-love lesson from an older brother.
Except… his sister was completely unaware of it.
Seeing this, Hachiman felt somewhat amused.
After all, his own younger sister wasn't someone he had to worry about.
Rather, she was the one worrying about him.
Worrying that he didn't fit in.
Worrying that no one would ever want him.
Worrying that he wouldn't get a job in the future.
But—
"Komachi, just wait. Your big brother is currently studying for free, and during this time, he's accumulating enough money so that he won't even need to work in the future."
Hachiman felt a surge of motivation.
The only downside was that after messaging Horikita Manabu, the other party didn't respond immediately.
As expected.
According to this school's rules, anything could be bought with points.
So, did he need to transfer some points to the student council president in exchange for an answer?
Just as he was wondering how much he should pay for this piece of information, Horikita Manabu's reply finally came through.
[Your homeroom teacher's salary is approximately 200,000 points.] —Horikita Manabu
His wording was precise—your homeroom teacher's salary, not teachers' salaries in general.
This implied that, just as students' living expenses were tied to their class ranking, teachers' salaries might also be linked to the performance of their assigned class.
But if Chabashira-sensei's salary was only 200,000 points…
Then what about the 6.02 million points in her personal account?
"Do teachers receive free housing and meals? Or are there additional bonuses?"
[...]
This time, Horikita Manabu didn't reply with words but simply sent three dots.
Right. Hachiman's question must have seemed odd.
[Normally, teachers, like students, are exempt from housing fees, but they must cover their own meal expenses.]
[However, your homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, seems to be very frugal. Sometimes, when I leave work late and go to the cafeteria, I see her lining up at the free meal counter.]
[I've also seen her picking up free relief supplies on occasion.]
It seemed that Horikita Manabu had sensed Hachiman's interest in this matter, so he provided a bit more information than usual.
Oh.
So that's how it was.
In other words, being student council president was a tough job, which was why Horikita Manabu stayed so late.
But…
Chabashira-sensei was eating free meals?
Did that mean she was also frugal and family-oriented?
…Not a chance.
She had a salary, so why was she eating the Mountain Vegetable Set Meal that even the senior students found inedibly awful?
In other words—
Was she saving money?
Could it be that the 6.02 million points he saw were actually the result of her scrimping and saving over time?
Yet, despite being so frugal, she was willing to pay him 200,000 points just for investigating a student?
Chabashira-sensei.
Maybe it wasn't just about how teachers' salaries were tied to their class rankings.
Maybe there was something deeper.
Which meant…
Just like the students—teachers assigned to Class D had problems, too?
As he processed this existentially troubling realization, Hachiman sat there in a daze.
"Clack, clack, clack—"
At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed.
1st-year Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, had arrived.
Chapter 033: Chabashira-sensei, Your Mind is Seriously Twisted— I Suggest You See a Psychologist
High heels, a women's suit, black stockings.
A mature woman, an older sister figure.
This was Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-D. She wore her hair in a high ponytail, was tall, and had an excellent figure.
She seemed uninterested in everything, somewhat indifferent, and even in her own class, she was unbothered by the students' antics.
From the complete school rules obtained from Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A, it was clear that all first-year students had undergone a special exam upon enrollment.
It was an assessment to determine whether they possessed the qualities expected of a student at Advanced Nurturing High School.
And then, points were deducted from the uniform 1,000 class evaluation points given to each of the four classes.
Every student was an observed and evaluated subject.
And this was a tradition.
So, on the first day of school, when he went to the shopping district and saw his classmate Sudo Ken being bullied by upperclassmen, the seniors had taunted Sudo with words like:
"You guys will soon experience hell."
Then they left, gloating.
What the upperclassmen referred to was probably this exam.
Every student had gone through this initiation upon entering the school.
Those who had experienced it were used to it.
Having suffered before, they wouldn't want to see others enjoying themselves.
As for Chabashira-sensei, since Horikita Manabu had seen her at school, it meant she wasn't just a homeroom teacher for this batch—she had probably taught a previous cohort as well.
And that was likely when she started saving her salary.
Since students were under closed management and teachers, along with store employees, couldn't leave the school freely,
their salaries were also distributed in points.
But the school probably allowed them to convert it into cash when needed.
Of course, they could also choose not to convert it and just save everything up.
Having sorted all these thoughts out—
Hachiman looked up.
...
The current location was by the artificial lake.
A breeze carrying a faint salty scent blew across the water.
The wind lifted and swayed Chabashira-sensei's ponytail.
In terms of looks, this teacher was undoubtedly beautiful.
Similar to Hiratsuka-sensei, but possessing more feminine charm than her.
After all, Hiratsuka-sensei always wore a white lab coat and pants. Her bold personality and mannerisms gave off a tomboyish vibe.
But in Hachiman's opinion, if Hiratsuka-sensei changed her style and toned down the tomboyish aura, she would be a strikingly beautiful mature woman.
It was a pity, though.
Hiratsuka-sensei was an admirable person, and if others discovered her mature and attractive side, that would be a shame.
Thus—
Hachiman realized he had made the same mistake as before when Kushida had grabbed his hand.
Back then, he had felt the warmth from the little angel Kushida's touch but thought of Sakayanagi Arisu instead.
And now, though it was Chabashira-sensei standing before him, he was thinking about Hiratsuka-sensei.
But Chabashira-sensei had no idea.
...
"So, what did you call me here for this time?" Chabashira took the initiative to ask.
"I actually came into contact with Horikita Suzune," Hachiman said.
"Oh, haven't you already reported that?" Chabashira Sae responded. "And she's the younger sister of Student Council President Horikita Manabu. I've already given you the corresponding point card as compensation."
"Is there an issue with the point card?" Chabashira asked.
"That's exactly it," Hachiman said.
"..."
"..."
But then, Hachiman suddenly fell silent.
"?"
Chabashira noticed his unusual behavior.
This student was very different from the other Class D students. In fact, Chabashira even suspected that an old acquaintance had deliberately sent him here to help fulfill her wish.
But today, Hachiman was clearly… distracted. He kept glancing at her, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
As Chabashira wondered if he would actually voice his thoughts,
Hachiman finally spoke.
"Chabashira-sensei, have you ever seen a psychologist?"
"..."?
The sudden outburst and the slightly worried tone made Chabashira... feel... that she couldn't respond to this.
Chabashira was momentarily stunned.
"See a psychologist?"
"Are you telling me to go see a doctor?" Chabashira almost wanted to laugh.
"Although you might not like hearing this, I really suggest you consult with a psychologist," Hachiman said. "Because you're already broken."
"..." Chabashira.
Chabashira Sae then shifted her focus to Hachiman's hands.
But that was just a distraction.
"Where did you hear this from? Or did you learn something from Hiratsuka-sensei?" Chabashira asked.
Hachiman had been recommended by Hiratsuka Shizune to enroll at the school.
It was somewhat suspicious that he had entered through the backdoor, but since he passed the school's review, it didn't count as really using connections.
He could be considered a regular student.
However, from an external point of view, he had already enrolled in April, so by the time he was recommended, he had already entered the school.
Thus, Hachiman was a student of Hiratsuka Shizune.
So they must know each other.
Now, Chabashira suddenly felt like maybe Hiratsuka-sensei had said something about Hachiman.
"What strange things are you saying?" But Hachiman said, "I deduced from logic that you need to see a doctor."
"Because... Chabashira-sensei, you have an obsession, and this obsession is unrealistic."
"Even..."
Hachiman paused for a moment before continuing, "Twisted."
Chapter 034: The Biggest Problem Child of Class D, Chabashira Sae!
Does Chabashira Sae have psychological problems?
Hachiman proposed a conclusion.
This deduction was based on the information provided by Horikita Manabu.
Chabashira Sae was not very old, and Hiratsuka-sensei was her peer, so they were probably around the same age, both nearing thirty.
And from a typical person's life experience, it would take time after high school to graduate from university.
Since at an advanced nurturing school like this, they would never hire someone who hadn't gone to university to be a teacher, especially one who would be a homeroom teacher.
So Chabashira must have attended university.
After graduating from university, she started her teaching career, and considering what she said on the first day of school—"For the next three years, I'll be your homeroom teacher"—she must have already taught a previous cohort.
So...
Looking at the monthly salary information given by Horikita Manabu, Chabashira's monthly salary was 200,000 yen.
That would be 2.4 million yen per year, and 7.2 million yen for three years.
Yet, her account showed a balance of 6.02 million yen.
Does this mean she's been extremely frugal?
It wouldn't be impossible elsewhere, but at an advanced nurturing school, it's still possible, because the school provides aid for students who lose their points.
So, Chabashira could have been receiving some form of relief.
However...
Something just didn't add up.
Because...
Someone who's so stingy and frugal, yet when he arrived, gave a 200,000 yen reward just for investigating a student?
So generous.
It's like a top-tier donor or a wealthy benefactor. Saving money, even taking out loans, just to reward others?
Does she like him?
Definitely not.
So...
All the clues pointed to one thing—since Chabashira-sensei was willing to pay such a price, there must be something that needed to be accomplished.
And the fact that she had been saving for three years indicated her determination to complete this task.
Thus, Hachiman came to a conclusion.
Class D had quite a few problem children, but as the homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei was the biggest problem child.
...
However.
Now, this black-haired teacher with a single ponytail was looking at the boy with dead fish eyes in front of her.
Her pupils were golden and quite beautiful, and her fingers were slender.
But her gaze was sharp, as though she were being hunted. Hachiman didn't move.
Instead, Chabashira herself looked away first.
"An obsession, huh..."
"Why do you think that?"
Chabashira took a lady's cigarette out of her suit pocket, lit it, but didn't inhale.
"You should know that I'm an adult. If something's wrong with my health, I'll take care of it myself."
In other words, this was the attitude of an adult—handling her own problems, right?
But...
"Some people just can't let go." Hachiman said.
"Heh..."
Chabashira seemed to smile, but now she looked troubled.
"If I say there's nothing wrong, what will you do?" Chabashira asked.
"I'll probably return the two point cards you gave me." Hachiman replied. "Then our deal... might just end here."
For Hachiman, this was a regrettable decision.
After all, being in Class D and losing the chance to get points from Chabashira was a significant loss.
However...
Knowing that the other person had a problem, and then taking the money that she had saved so hard for, Hachiman couldn't do it.
At this point, maybe he'd have to go check out the school clubs or other places to see if there were any other ways to make money.
But the seniors had already been picked over by Sakayanagi, so now it seemed like he could only scrape together a little bit of soup to drink.
However, being supported by Sakayanagi or something like that... he'd rather pass on that.
Hachiman felt that such a manipulative, petty girl wasn't worth the trouble. She'd say one thing but then do the opposite. For example, when they went out to eat together, she'd say she'd be his sugar mama, but when he suggested splitting the bill, she agreed right away. It was clear her words and actions didn't match up.
Hachiman took that as a lesson.
...
"You little brat." Chabashira said, extinguishing the cigarette. "Why did you suddenly cut off the deal?"
"Because you probably have the students' files, right, Chabashira-sensei?" Hachiman said.
"..." Chabashira. "You're quite interesting. Indeed, as the homeroom teacher, I have access to the files, but the information in the files might not be the same as the actual situation. So, isn't it reasonable to ask you to help me?"
It was reasonable.
But...
"The cost you're paying is too high, and your salary is only 200,000 yen." Hachiman said.
"Only? ... Are you worried that I don't have money?"
"Indeed, yes."
Chabashira Sae seemed to adjust her wording. "When I came to this school, my salary wasn't very high. And as you speculated with your 'meritocracy' theory, our teachers are also merit-based."
"As the homeroom teacher of Class D, my salary is only 200,000 yen."
"But this is different from the outside world. When I was in university, I was the same age as your Hiratsuka-sensei, but I didn't choose to work with her at a local high school for this reason."
"Because this school offers all students the opportunity to rise. As your homeroom teacher, although my starting salary is low, if you're able to move up to Class C, my salary will double, and if you make it to Class B, it will double again."
"And this is something the outside world can't offer."
"So, this is my ambition. I want to earn a higher salary, and right now, I'm just making some initial investments. What's wrong with that?" Chabashira said. "I admit, asking you for help is partly to complete the task of evaluating students."
"At the same time, I also hope you can find the outstanding students, and we can rise together."
"This is a win-win-win situation."
She admitted that her deal with Hachiman was to get him to identify potential problem children in the class.
Although these problem children were like bombs, there was no denying that their basic capabilities were still noticeable.
So, there was potential for improvement.
Chabashira's saving habits were also part of her investment plan.
She wanted to use points to encourage the students to rise.
It looked like both an inspirational and opportunistic strategy.
But...
"You're lying." Hachiman calmly and mercilessly judged.
Chapter 035: Chabashira Sae: Don't underestimate me, I've gamed the system with Hiratsuka Shizune!
Hachiman made an immediate judgment that Chabashira Sae was lying.
"..." Chabashira. "Why do you say that?"
"Because of the contradictions. If the goal is to rise up and improve the treatment of homeroom teachers, then there's no need to be this frugal at the beginning."
"And to invest this much."
Hachiman said, "I think it's not just about obtaining a higher salary. There should be something deeper within you."
"..." Chabashira.
So, this brat was more troublesome than expected.
Chabashira stopped speaking and walked over to the railing, pressing both hands against it. The railing trembled slightly, as if touched, but in reality, it didn't move.
Chabashira-sensei was gentle.
She simply placed her hands on it.
"I had a good opinion of you before," Chabashira said, facing away from Hachiman. "But now, that opinion might need to be raised."
"Indeed."
She continued, "I have my own obsession. I was once a student at this school, and I came from Class D."
"The class I was in eventually got promoted to Class B, just one step away from Class A."
"But unfortunately, we ultimately failed to overturn the hierarchy."
"But this matter has always stayed with me." Chabashira said. "The data I've gathered shows that Class D has never been able to rise to Class A, but I want to see if there's a chance."
"And this time, after seeing your records, I found all these problem children and thought maybe I could give it a try."
I see now.
It was remorse.
Hachiman nodded.
"But I think Chabashira-sensei, you might still be lying." Hachiman analyzed.
"Because the motivation is insufficient."
"I think a simple regret doesn't fully explain your level of obsession. So, was the reason that your class couldn't make it to Class A because of you?"
"Because you ruined everyone's hopes for the future, so you've been stuck at that moment in time?" Hachiman said.
Bang!
At that moment, the railing, which had been treated so gently, made a sound.
Chabashira's left hand was pressing against the trembling railing.
"You're a scary man," Chabashira Sae turned around, her expression now changed, "And you're cruel."
...
Chabashira Sae.
After the school started operating, she enrolled as a student in the 10th batch.
At first, she was placed in Class D.
In the innocence of the first month, they didn't have any remarkable performances, but after a month, they understood the nature of the school.
But in doing so, they lost the starting line.
However, although the class was a bit behind others, they didn't get discouraged.
Instead, they demonstrated unity.
Through hard work, they eventually reached the position of Class B.
By the end of the third year, the class's evaluation score was very close to that of Class A, with just one expulsion exam left.
In this exam, as long as someone expelled themselves, the class could safely pass.
Otherwise, they would suffer penalty points.
If they maintained the current gap with Class A, they would have a chance to rise during the next special exam.
To avoid infighting and backstabbing in the class, the class representative proposed to let everyone vote for her to be the one to drop out, so everyone could achieve the goal of reaching Class A.
This idea was agreed upon by everyone in the class, except for one person.
And that person was Chabashira Sae.
While everyone else agreed to the plan for the class representative to drop out, she chose to oppose it.
She kept this stance until the exam ended.
As a result, the class did not earn the reward from the exam and had penalty points deducted.
Thus, they couldn't surpass Class A in the final special exam.
They ultimately graduated as Class B.
This caused a rift in Chabashira's personal relationships.
Her best friend grabbed her collar and scolded her, and most of her classmates resented her, thinking that if she hadn't insisted on opposing the class representative's plan, maybe they would have all graduated as Class A.
They could have gone to their desired universities without exams or gone straight into their desired jobs.
In addition to that, they could have received the prestigious title of being excellent graduates from the school, a title that was considered a symbol of talent.
For some people, it was almost like a chance to change their destiny, but that was all gone.
After that, things became more ordinary. No one wanted to remain, and everyone went their separate ways in life.
Chabashira chose to pursue further studies and attended the same university as Hiratsuka Shizune.
After graduation, Hiratsuka Shizune decided to return to her hometown, Chiba, while Chabashira chose to return here.
She accepted the offer from Chairman Sakayanagi and became the current homeroom teacher for Class D, which everyone knows.
However, upon returning here, everything from the past—the choice that could have changed the fate of the entire class—came back to her mind.
And it became her burden.
So now, she just wants to know if the students of Class D can really make it to Class A.
If the students of Class D can make it to Class A, it would prove that the students of Class D have the potential to rise.
And she would admit that she was wrong.
All of the above were psychological scars for Chabashira Sae, and now she has opened up her past to herself.
However...
The one who made her confront her scars was herself.
Hachiman did not force her; she chose to do this on her own.
She certainly understood her own obsession.
As for psychological counseling, she never applied for it, nor did she believe it would be effective.
She probably would only turn back after truly hitting a wall.
...
With her past now laid bare, Chabashira remained silent and stared at the boy sitting on the bench, lost in thought.
Chapter 036: Do You Realize You Just Said Something Like a Proposal?
Hikigaya Hachiman.
Chabashira watched this seemingly reclusive boy.
She had indeed underestimated him.
This was her second year teaching as the homeroom teacher for Class D.
However, the ability of this year's students was different from previous ones, even more outstanding than her own cohort.
She discovered that many students, who had been placed in Class D due to various flaws, actually had the potential to be in Class A or B.
It was as if they were discarded after being filtered out.
And this was also true for her cohort.
There were always students who appeared excellent but were deemed unsuitable by the school and placed in Class D.
But...
When she saw Hachiman, she thought there was hope.
He was exceptionally intelligent, came from Class D, yet performed remarkably well. His sharp insight was even stronger than the upper-class students from her own time.
Now, everything was laid bare.
What would he choose?
"Chabashira-sensei, it is impossible for Class D to be promoted to Class A," Hachiman said. "I don't think you should hold out hope, especially for our class."
Is that so?
As expected, he chose to reject it.
This child was very mature, probably thinking she was a hassle.
Indeed.
He just wanted to make some money, be supported by a rich woman, or become a wealthy man himself.
How could he possibly choose to teach a class?
He cared about points.
And he was a good kid; he probably guessed that she was trying to get him to help her solve the problems of the troublesome students and then guide them toward reaching Class A.
This made Chabashira feel a bit ashamed.
After all, she had taken advantage of him.
Initially, she had hoped to use points to get him to help connect the problem students and solve their issues, then collectively aim for Class A.
But now, that deal was over.
Wait.
Chabashira suddenly realized something.
"Hachiman, you like money, don't you?" Chabashira asked.
"What do you mean?" Hachiman was confused.
"I mean, if I add money, that would motivate you, right?" Chabashira said.
"?" Hachiman looked at her.
"If I give you more money, you would help me, right?" Chabashira asked.
"..." Hachiman.
"No, Chabashira-sensei," Hachiman refused. "If you're still talking about those points, I won't accept them."
"I didn't say I don't have money," Chabashira replied. "I have saved up from my salary at school because I lost my temper and didn't feel like spending it. But when I was in college, I started a business with Hiratsuka, and we both made enough money that we wouldn't have to work for the rest of our lives."
"You didn't notice? Even though she's your teacher, she drives an Aston Martin to work."
"And she has two properties in Chiba."
"So," Chabashira added, "if you help me, I can give you 1,000... hmm, since we're at Advanced Nurturing High School, I can probably offer you 30 million in cash."
"..." Hachiman.
???
What kind of shocking revelation was this?
A rich woman was right beside him, and he had no idea?
...
In this school, Hachiman had encountered three wealthy people.
One was Sakayanagi Arisu.
She was a young lady, never lacking money.
And Chabashira-sensei, who he had thought she was poor and was frugal with her points, but it turned out she had amassed enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life.
And even Hiratsuka-sensei from Sobu High was a dark horse?
She turned out to be a wealthy older woman.
When he was in class, he had heard some students talk about seeing Hiratsuka-sensei driving a red, beautiful sports car on the weekend, only to get pulled over by traffic police and scolded.
But at the time, no one took it seriously.
Including Hachiman.
It was just treated as a possible true or false piece of gossip that he had heard.
As a result, Hiratsuka-sensei, you're actually a wealthy older woman?
Driving a luxury car and owning more than one property?
Hachiman seemed to have opened a new world.
He suddenly felt a bit regretful, because maybe if he had stayed at Sobu High, he too might have encountered a rich woman who would support him.
But that also seemed difficult, after all, Hiratsuka-sensei probably wouldn't choose someone like him, a kept man.
She was so driven, she probably liked dependable people.
But then again, it wasn't entirely hopeless.
Because having similar personalities and interests could bring people closer, but marriage doesn't require the same traits—what it needs is complementarity and support.
So, someone like him, a househusband, might actually be more suited to Hiratsuka-sensei, right?
Hmm.
Hachiman shook off the strange thoughts, because this was his first time experiencing something like this.
Getting thrown out 10 million, 20 million, or even 30 million by a wealthy woman. He had never experienced anything like this.
He had to consider his own family situation—his father worked as a mid-level manager in a company.
The total family income was about 5 million yen per year.
It seemed pretty good.
But...
30 million.
"..."
Indeed.
He had come to this school and was given 100,000 yen worth of private points directly on his phone.
And it could be spent directly, with the school kindly agreeing to take them back at graduation.
So it could be understood as points being equivalent to money.
He had even personally received two 400,000 yen points cards from Chabashira-sensei.
Even the student council president, Horikita, had personally transferred points to him.
As an ordinary boy who had only received 2,000 yen for pocket money per month at home, these past few days had brought a shocking change to his perspective on money.
And now.
30 million.
Hey, hey, hey, it's not 100,000 or a million, it's 30 million!
His family's house was worth only 12 million yen.
So even if he was kicked out for not wanting to work, he could still buy a house, live with his sister, and even have 18 million yen in savings.
If he saved a bit, spending only 1.8 million yen per year, he could live at home for 10 years without working.
This was incredibly reassuring.
"Chabashira-sensei." Hachiman tried to calm his inner excitement. "Stop joking. 30 million is a huge amount of money. Although it may be untimely for me to say this, please take money seriously and establish a proper value system."
In other words, he hoped she wouldn't waste money.
"..." Chabashira.
"By the way, aren't you getting a bit excited, little brat?" Chabashira said. "If I give you 30 million, will you coperate with me?"
"..." Hachiman.
Your words are so subtle.
It was like one of those marriage proposal lines you see in a drama.
But in those cases, it's usually the man marrying into the woman's family.
However, there was one thing Hachiman still needed to confirm.
"Are you sure about this offer?" he asked.
"..." Chabashira.
So, you're really interested, huh, little brat?
Chapter 037: The D-Class Does Not Have the Ability to Rise in This School, Unless!
Chabashira-sensei had the capital, and Hikigaya Hachiman was willing to accept her employment.
There was no need to graduate from Class A. As long as they led the first-year D-Class to challenge Class A and succeeded—even if only once—Chabashira-sensei would pay Hikigaya Hachiman between 10 to 30 million yen in cash.
A deposit of 1 million points would be paid first.
Due to school restrictions, Chabashira couldn't bring cash in easily.
So, the two of them were drafting an agreement they both agreed on.
Chabashira also took out her phone and used one of the 2 points cards that Hachiman had planned to return to her, transferring 1 million points into it.
Of course.
"You little brat, you're being sly," Chabashira immediately said.
Because there's no such thing as paying money just for leading the first-year D-Class to challenge Class A and succeed.
The minimum payment should be 10 million yen in cash.
It was almost like being a sucker.
"I think you understand well enough. Being assigned to D-Class is a terrible situation," Hachiman said in response.
"And," Hachiman paused, "The first month is a behavioral evaluation, testing whether the new students are worthy of the school's excellent student performance."
Then.
"And now,"
"How many points do you think we have left?" Hachiman asked.
This was actually a little smokescreen.
The specific rules for the evaluation had been obtained from Sakayanagi Arisu, and the behavior test for the first month and the base score of 1000 points for the four classes was also something he knew from Sakayanagi.
Then.
On the blackboard on the first floor, there was nothing.
Unlike the second and third years, whose class evaluation scores were directly announced.
But.
As the class teacher, Chabashira, as a staff member, probably had higher privileges, like knowing her class's point deductions.
However.
"..." Chabashira.
Chabashira-sensei actually fell silent.
Hey, hey, hey.
So this really is the case?
It's only the fourth day of school today!
Has the deduction in points made you unable to speak?
So, they must've deducted a large amount of points.
But those were just his thoughts, now it was time to bargain with Chabashira-sensei.
Actually, when Chabashira-sensei had proposed to see and confirm whether D-Class had the potential to challenge Class A, Hachiman understood.
Chabashira was fundamentally mistaken.
Because.
Chabashira-sensei was obsessed with her class's failure, which shattered the A-Class dreams of everyone.
However.
The reality was that this event had happened so many years ago, and she was still troubled by it—it was meaningless.
Chabashira-sensei.
Even if you bet on this year's first-year D-Class now, it's just a temporary fix, not solving the root of the problem.
Because what you regret is the past, not the present.
But some people only realize the truth when they hit the wall once, when they see it for themselves, then they'll understand that this is reality.
And also.
Hachiman needed money.
And Chabashira-sensei had her own problems.
So, this could be considered you seeking medical help while I charge a consultation fee.
Hachiman still had a sense of conscience, so as long as he demanded 10 million yen in cash, that would be enough.
While thinking about this.
"That's a bit strange," Chabashira Sayaka said. "How do you know that the first month involves a behavioral evaluation?"
Chabashira realized that she had almost been misled by him.
"I got the information from the students in Class A," Hachiman said. "I'm a student in D-Class, and they're in Class A."
"But, Chabashira-sensei, do you understand the difference between the two?"
"Because if D-Class wants to rise up and challenge Class A, the first thing they have to do is defeat Class A."
"But, they got the essence of this school from the first day of enrollment. When I asked you about the school, their whole class shared the cost of that information, so they knew about the school's evaluation earlier than anyone else," Hachiman said.
"Is that so?"
It was indeed quite despairing.
Speaking of which, was this year's Class A really that strong?
Chabashira had originally thought that this year's D-Class had a few students who seemed to be "cheating" or performing at an exceptionally high level, but it turned out that Class A had received the same sort of boost.
"So you think it's impossible to graduate as Class A?" Chabashira asked.
"Isn't that a given?" Hachiman replied. "Not every student, especially those in the lower classes, can just rise up."
"First of all, the school is government-funded, and the school needs to produce qualified students."
"And do you really think the students of our D-Class can be trusted by the school to be sent out to the public for evaluation?"
"Students like Yamauchi and others are supposed to represent the school's achievements when they face society."
"What do you think will happen?"
What would happen?
It would probably be disastrous.
The next official funding might not come through.
"So, does this mean you've already thought that the school won't give the D-Class students a chance?" Chabashira asked.
"That's a possibility," Hachiman responded.
"On one hand, the basic qualities of everyone when they were assigned to their classes were different. The lower classes' abilities are weaker compared to the upper classes. So, as long as they face enough exams, they'll still end up being weaker overall than the upper classes. And in the school building, our class and C-Class were separated from A and B."
"Doesn't it feel like they're worried we might disturb A-Class and B-Class?" Hachiman said.
"Well... ah."
Chabashira's eyebrows twitched. Her expression showed uncertainty.
"True," she murmured.
Chabashira realized she was wavering.
Because, when it came to their own D-Class, it had taken nearly three years for them to rise.
And in the crucial expulsion exam, her class had been deducted 200 points in the class evaluation score.
Then there was the final special exam before graduation.
Back then, the exam score was only… only 50 points.
Even if they had won, they couldn't have caught up.
So, could it be understood that the exam scores were manipulated by the school, intentionally not giving them a chance to overtake, not allowing them to graduate as Class A representatives?
"…"
But she couldn't think further on that.
Thinking more would only increase her negative emotions toward the school.
"And I don't know how the previous D-Class students were, but I think the D-Class students in my class are quite dangerous," Hachiman said. "There are a lot of bombs."
"And aside from the bombs, there are probably students who are genuinely underperforming in every area."
"Which just holds everyone back."
"So even if they manage to get into Class A, they won't be able to hold their ground."
"Rather," Hachiman said, "just having the ambition to rise up and challenge Class A is already difficult."
"…" Chabashira.
Alright, stop talking now.
"So, is there no way to save this?" Chabashira asked.
"There's none," Hachiman replied.
Actually, that was a lie.
Because there was still one way for the school to acknowledge them.
Chapter 038: My Heart Can't Take It!
D-Class has a way to gain the school's recognition.
And it's a legitimate way to become Class A.
Hachiman thought to himself.
Because the biggest issue with D-Class students is the large number of problem students, followed by those who drag everyone else down.
But if the problem students could be tamed, and if they don't cause trouble or explode, then the students with strong basic abilities could shoulder the responsibility.
As for the ones who drag others down?
Three years might be enough for people to grow, and maybe they could develop into the kind of students the school wants to see, though the chances of that are slim. Rather, it's more feasible to focus on those problem students, helping them overcome their explosive tendencies, and then they could be presentable.
But expecting this from the general D-Class students is asking too much.
Some might never grow into what the school expects, even if given three more years.
However, there's another option.
That's to eliminate those who can't meet the standards.
In other words, of the 40 students, perhaps a third or even more would have to be cut.
But that would be far too cruel.
…
Since it was a private meeting, and they had been out here for a while in the wind, after ensuring that Hachiman and herself had signed the agreement, Chabashira left in her high heels.
However.
"Beep!"
Hachiman didn't leave but instead reached into his pocket with his left hand and took out his white-shell phone.
The screen was completely black.
However, he pressed a button on the edge of the phone.
In a moment.
The screen lit up.
It showed that the phone was in the middle of a call.
And the person on the other end was Horikita Suzune.
...
Girls' Dormitory.
Hachiman's dorm was on the third floor, Room 304.
The first-year students had their dorms in an entire building, with the boys on floors 1-3 and the girls on floors 4-6.
Everyone had a single room.
It was rare for boys to visit the girls' floors, and similarly, it was uncommon for girls to come to the boys' floors.
So showing up on a different floor was quite conspicuous.
Hachiman chose the safe stairwell.
The reason for this was simple.
[It's a bit late now, come on up.] — by Horikita Suzune.
Horikita was originally meant to be Hachiman's bargaining chip to push Chabashira into agreeing to his deal.
But he later realized that Chabashira was more problematic than expected, a D-Class student herself.
So, the bargaining chip wasn't used.
However, when Hachiman later called Horikita to inform her that he was involved in D-Class's efforts to rise up, he had prepared an excuse.
He could tell Chabashira that he had brought Horikita in to show that he was serious and working, not just procrastinating.
He could also tell Horikita that he had brought Chabashira on board, as the homeroom teacher, to assist them within her limits. So, they still had a chance to win. He would then invite Horikita to join them.
This way, he could drag Horikita into the mess.
Although Horikita came off as cold, her position as the student council president could be quite useful.
...
However, he started feeling like it was too reckless.
As he reached the floor where Horikita's dormitory was, he overheard a conversation between two girls.
"Hehe... Kushida-san, thanks for today."
"No, no, I'm happy I could help~~"
The voices sounded familiar.
It seemed like it was Kushida and her new friend, Wang Meiyu.
And it wasn't good.
Hachiman was currently on the stairwell, directly facing the door to Room 505.
But the voices from Kushida and Wang Meiyu were coming from Room 507.
Oh no.
That meant if Kushida walked in this direction, she would spot him!
If she were to ask him, [What are you doing on the girls' floor at this time? Are you looking for Horikita Suzune? Didn't you say you had no connection with her?]
That would be bad.
Since Kushida and Horikita were from the same middle school, Kushida likely held some strong reservations against Horikita.
If Kushida found out Hachiman was involved with Horikita, she would probably be wary of him as well.
So, of all people, he didn't want to run into Kushida.
"See you tomorrow~"
Kushida's voice was heard.
But she didn't come toward the safe stairwell. Instead, the sound of her footsteps faded away.
Then there was a thud.
Hachiman noticed that she entered Room 509.
That should be her dorm.
Did that mean he had just gotten the address of Kushida Kikyo, the popular little angel of the class?
Since joining the class group chat, Hachiman had often seen students praising Kushida, both boys and girls.
Kushida's popularity was skyrocketing.
Students like Ike and the others even felt somewhat awkward, noticing how girls seemed to be acting cold toward them, which made them feel uncomfortable.
But Kushida still paid attention to them. She was truly an angel!
However, Hachiman knew very well that this little angel was, in fact, a ticking time bomb.
Just knowing she and Horikita came from the same middle school made her nervous.
If she found out he was deliberately seeking Horikita, he would probably... be kept under close watch.
...
"Ha."
That was a shock.
Hachiman placed a hand on his chest, then quickly made his way to the door of Room 505.
"Ding-dong!"
After pressing the doorbell, the door opened within three seconds.
Horikita Suzune opened the door, and Hachiman quickly slipped inside.
Horikita furrowed her brow.
"What's wrong with you?" Horikita Suzune said. "You look so uneasy, like you're doing something sneaky."
"..."
Hachiman.
Hey, hey, hey, can you not word it like that? If he had to describe his feelings right now, Hachiman thought it was more like sneaking around with an affair.
Chapter 039: Sakayanagi Arisu: Why does Hikiya-kun look so troubled?
Horikita has no friends, she has always been by herself.
And if you ask her, her reply would be, "Huh? I've been alone for nine years, and if you count kindergarten, it's even more."
So, she doesn't really have much experience interacting with others.
Probably because he had entered the girls' room, Hachiman found himself feeling a bit unstable.
But still, Horikita's room gave him a sense of comfort.
The girls' dormitory layout is the same as the boys', both being 4x5 in size.
There's a single bed, a computer desk, a swivel chair, a landline phone on the desk, a storage cabinet next to it, and an air conditioner mounted above the desk.
The bed is directly ahead when you enter, and to the right of the door, there's a bathroom and toilet.
The wall outside the bathroom is a closet.
From the entrance to the bed, there's also a small kitchen.
That's everything in the room.
It's simple, but well-equipped.
For a student, it's an absolutely excellent environment.
But since it's a girl's room, Horikita had wallpapered the walls, making it feel more feminine.
She also added some personal touches, creating a homely atmosphere.
The kitchen showed signs of being used, with a tablecloth on the table.
It made the place feel very comfortable, like visiting someone else's home.
But of course, he wasn't here to tour her dorm.
"So, you signed the agreement with Chabashira-sensei?" Horikita Suzune asked.
In her dorm, Hachiman's phone was on, and she overheard the conversation between him and Chabashira-sensei.
"Pretty much." Hachiman replied.
Hachiman then pulled out the agreement.
It clearly mentioned the goal of pushing D-Class to A, along with Chabashira-sensei needing to pay 10 to 30 million yen in cash.
"And if we make it to A, I'll get the money, Chabashira-sensei will fulfill her regrets, and you'll get your brother's approval. It's a win-win situation for all three parties," Hachiman said.
"..." Horikita Suzune.
Horikita seemed to be considering the feasibility of this plan.
Previously, being placed in D-Class had caused her brother embarrassment, which she was already aware of.
Additionally, due to her own lack of intelligence, her brother lost 1 million points, which she also knew.
She still felt like a failure.
But even if she's a failure, she still wanted to try to make things right.
So, the idea Hachiman proposed about moving up to A-Class was still something worth considering.
However…
"You make D-Class sound so hopeless, but is there really a chance of moving up?" Horikita Suzune asked.
Hachiman must have called her after Chabashira's big reveal about being a rich woman.
So, she had also heard about how Hachiman had rejected Chabashira's offer to graduate with A-Class.
This was a point Horikita Suzune was considering carefully.
She found it very tricky.
…
"This school doesn't have any record of D-Class moving up to A-Class successfully," Hachiman said.
"Even moving from D to C or B is rare, so if you could at least get your class to B, your brother would probably approve of you."
"So your goal doesn't need to be A-Class," Hachiman continued.
"Then you're going to refuse Chabashira-sensei's offer?" Horikita immediately pressed.
"No," Hachiman shook his head. "Actually, there's a reason why I agreed to Chabashira-sensei so quickly."
"Because our current D-Class does have a chance to try for A-Class," Hachiman said.
"If we do it continuously for three years, with one special exam each month."
"In three years, we'd have over thirty assessments."
"As a class that lacks in various aspects, it's impossible for us to succeed under this intensive examination system."
"But we've just started school."
"And you've seen the school rules. The starting point for all four freshman classes is the same when we entered."
"Each class starts with a score of 1000."
"Then, the living expenses are the same for everyone, each with 100,000 points."
"Seems pretty 'fair.'"
"So we can start from there. If we build a strong foundation and manage to perform well in a few upcoming exams, we might just make it to A-Class," Hachiman said.
"..." Horikita Suzune.
"..." Horikita Suzune.
"What's wrong?"
Hachiman noticed the silent expression on Horikita's face.
"I'm not trying to rain on your parade," Horikita Suzune said. "From the school rules you got, we've already started the first month of behavioral exams since the first day of school."
"How many points do you think the average student has lost?"
"…To be honest, this exam only evaluates the basic qualities a student should have. Why are there so many people distracted in the classroom? People playing on their phones, reading manga, or sleeping, or being late," Horikita Suzune said.
"..."
Okay.
You, the good student, stop talking.
Hachiman was sure that he had lost points too.
For example, he had looked at his phone during class.
And there were times when he spaced out.
For example, sitting next to Horikita, sometimes when he felt tired in class, he would look at her for a little energy boost. After all, she was a top-tier beauty, and her serious face was like a painting.
Although she was cold as ice, after interacting with her… she was still cold.
But still, she was fun to look at.
Also, Horikita, your evaluation of behavioral standards is a bit one-sided. The school is filled with cameras, and with so many cameras, they capture more than just your behavior in class.
They also capture students' actions during breaks or after class.
So, if you think the points only get deducted for class behavior, you're still young.
Classmates are being deducted points in all sorts of places.
But even with this in mind, it does feel kind of hopeless.
This is also why Hachiman told Chabashira-sensei that she might be overestimating the D-Class this year.
Because Sakayanagi had mentioned that past D-Classes would still manage to score about 400-500 points by the end of the first month.
But the current situation might be worse than in previous years.
What kind of hidden talents or underachievers are in this class?
"Even so," Hachiman said in the end. "Things are still manageable. I believe there's still a solution."
Chapter 040: Sakayanagi, the Cute Little One: Seeing You Frowning, I'm Really Happy!
The next day.
Morning.
Hachiman arrived at the classroom and sat at his desk, zoning out a bit.
He was thinking about a way to break the deadlock.
Considering the quality of the students in his class, it would be hard to move up to A-Class, and even attempting to "piggyback" onto A-Class would require some luck.
The best opportunity to do so was right at the start of the school year.
He needed to play his cards right.
However…
Ding-ling-ling—
Five minutes into the class, and still only 39 students had shown up in the first-year D-Class. One of them was still asleep, and despite the teacher already being at the podium, there were students already reaching for their phones.
At this moment…
"Report!"
"I was selected as a regular member of the basketball team, so I was practicing a little and ended up being late."
A tall boy at the front of the classroom spoke up.
He had a red buzz cut, long limbs, and looked athletic.
Hachiman was somewhat familiar with him. This was Sudo, the boy who was good at basketball.
He was all bark and no bite.
He had initially said, "Huh? Self-introduction? Still a kid?" but when it was his turn to introduce himself, he did so right away.
He also had a rebellious look that led upperclassmen to tease him with, "You'll soon see what hell looks like."
But to Hachiman's surprise, Sudo had joined the basketball team two days ago and had already made it to the starting lineup.
In sports clubs, positions were typically determined by ability, and joining at this point meant he would have to start as a junior helping the older members. But for Sudo to become a regular member this quickly meant he was highly regarded in terms of athleticism.
Hachiman took note of that.
But…
Hachiman glanced at the camera positioned in the top left corner of the classroom, which could capture the entire scene.
Right now, the remaining class evaluation points for D-Class had likely dropped by 1.
Because…
As a student at this school, being late for the first class was a serious mark against you.
…
The morning consisted of four classes: Physics, Chemistry, English, and Biology.
They were all taught by male teachers, and the classes were a bit tough to endure.
Similar to Chabashira-sensei, all the teachers just let the students do whatever they wanted and ended the classes as soon as the bell rang.
When the bell rang signaling the end of the fourth class, Hachiman glanced over at Kushida, who was quite popular in the class.
Kushida's gaze met his briefly.
"Eh? Really? That's interesting. Let's go to the Keyaki Shopping Center after school and check it out," Kushida's voice said.
She was chatting with her friends.
Clearly, she wasn't paying attention to him, and she continued walking with her group of girls.
That was actually kind of reassuring.
It seemed that as long as he didn't step on her nerves or interact with Horikita, who probably knew her embarrassing history from middle school, she was very genuine.
But today, Kushida's group had changed. It wasn't Wang Meiyu anymore, but her usual group of "gyaru" girls.
They were chatting with Karuizawa, and it seemed they were discussing some topic about perfume.
She and Hirata were doing similar work.
Hirata was like a mother, handling various conflicts and interpersonal issues among the class.
Although Kushida also greeted some of the boys, it was clear that she mostly interacted with the girls.
This was inevitable since the boys were simpler, but the girls had quickly formed their own small circles.
For example, the 20 girls in the class were split into three groups.
One group was Kushida, Wang Meiyu, and a girl named Inogashira Kokoro.
The other group was the gyaru clique, led by Karuizawa Kei.
In this group were girls like Sato Maya, Shinohara Satsuki, Matsushita Chiaki, and Hasebe Haruka, who was once highly praised by Yamauchi.
However, based on Hachiman's observations, Matsushita Chiaki seemed to be a fake gyaru.
Then there were the less remarkable girls in the class, like Onodera and others who were mostly nameless NPC types, trying to blend in with the others.
In just a few days, these groups had already formed their own little ecosystem.
It was really quite scary.
The girls' social dynamics.
At this point, there were still two girls excluded from everything. One was Horikita Suzune, who hadn't even joined the class group, and the other was Sakura Airi, the girl with pink twin tails and pink-framed glasses.
Her full name was Sakura Airi, and it was a rather cute name.
Moreover, Hachiman noticed that she seemed to glance at him cautiously, seemingly confirming whether she was being stared at.
When she realized that she was indeed being stared at, she quickly raised her book to shield her face.
So cute.
Hachiman felt that, after enduring the exhaustion of 4 male teachers and being forced to listen to 45-minute classes four times, he was healed by this small interaction.
Just look at Horikita, in just a few days you've been isolated by the girls. Don't you think it's time for a change?
But Hachiman didn't have the right to say that to Horikita.
Because he was still in the state of having zero friends.
As Hachiman made his way to the cafeteria, he sighed softly.
"Well, well, isn't this Hachiman? Why the long face?"
The voice came before the person did.
Hachiman noticed a silver-haired princess with a cane approaching.
And behind her was Kamuro Masumi, with purple long hair and two hairpins, keeping a certain distance from Sakayanagi, but still showing a clear level of obedience.
It was obvious.
It seems that in just two days, Kamuro-san's level of taming has increased by +1.
"Didn't expect to run into the representative of A-Class here," Hachiman said.
"Oh?"
Sakayanagi was originally just passing by, preparing to grab her cane and leave, but now, upon hearing the flattery from that annoying Hachiman, she suddenly decided not to leave.
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