Chapter 077: Hirata! So Even a Saint Can Lie?
Hachiman looked at Hirata in shock.
Because…
He had thought Hirata wanted to tell him Karuizawa's secret, but instead, it turned into a proposal about dating her.
Hirata explained himself.
"Karuizawa was severely bullied in the past and hoped to find peace at this school. Unfortunately, she ended up becoming the type of person she despised the most."
"But this is also a method of survival. I have no reason to judge her."
Hirata continued, "She came to me and asked to fake a relationship, hoping it would solidify her position within her group."
As the class's "little sun" and a popular figure, dating Hirata would serve as a support system for her.
However—
That was Karuizawa's arrangement with Hirata. So why was this suddenly shifting to him?
Or rather, did Hirata originally accept her request but then decide to push her onto Hachiman instead?
Since she needed Hirata's help, there was no way someone as kind-hearted as him would refuse.
But if he actually engaged in a fake relationship, even if it was pretend, they would have to act it out in front of everyone.
First of all, acting itself wasn't a good thing. And in a fake relationship, the two of them would inevitably have more interactions—seeing each other more often, spending time together, and so on.
But Hirata belonged to everyone.
If he got into a fake relationship, it would become harder for him to help others.
So, this was Hirata's way of looking out for everyone.
Hachiman quickly analyzed the situation.
"But why me?" Hachiman asked. "I'm not popular in class."
"Popularity, huh…" Hirata looked slightly surprised.
"Because, Hachiman, during the Code of Conduct Exam, didn't you stand up against everyone on your own? That left a deep impression on people."
"..." Hachiman.
Really?
He didn't think he had been that aggressive.
"But my reputation among the girls isn't great. Choosing me doesn't seem ideal," Hachiman pointed out.
"That's not a problem," Hirata said. "I just need to interact with you more. If we appear to be close friends in front of everyone, your reputation will naturally improve."
Oh, so that's how it works.
But why…
"Wait a minute," Hachiman narrowed his eyes. "Hirata, are you deliberately trying to push me and Karuizawa together?"
"..." Hirata.
"You caught me," he admitted, scratching his head.
"Karuizawa was bullied in the past, and I'm very sensitive to these kinds of things. Even though she just wants to live safely in this school…"
"I think she also needs emotional support."
So, in other words, Hirata had once failed to save a friend, and that friend ended up taking extreme actions. He felt guilty about it. Now, seeing Karuizawa, who had a similar experience, stirred his compassion.
He wanted to help her.
But was "helping" really about making Hachiman the one to heal her emotional wounds?
And this kind of thing…
"Why do you think I'm suited for this?" Hachiman asked.
"A gut feeling," Hirata said. "If it had been you back then… if my friend and I had met someone like you, maybe things would have turned out differently."
So, Hirata was still carrying his own regrets, wishing for salvation.
He believed that if someone like Hachiman had been there in the past, things wouldn't have gone down the same path.
I see.
Well, then… you're overestimating me.
All I wanted was to watch my own world be destroyed, then become the god of a new world—nothing more.
"But," Hachiman said, "even if you want me to pretend to date her, wouldn't Karuizawa refuse?"
"I haven't told her about this yet. Actually, I haven't even given her a response," Hirata admitted.
"But I don't think it will be an issue. Karuizawa just needs someone to rely on—anyone who can serve that purpose will do."
That was a little harsh.
But…
She was searching for a lifeline.
And when you're drowning, any straw you can grab onto is important.
Still—
This whole "dating" thing wasn't going to happen.
Besides, he had already given her the tools to stand on her own.
Though he wouldn't say that out loud.
…
The Next Day
Morning.
The first class was chemistry. The teacher was a bespectacled, introverted-looking person.
But no matter who the teacher was, their teaching style was always the same—
A monotonous tone from start to finish, with no emotional fluctuations. They strictly followed the textbook, and the moment the bell rang, they left immediately without any delay.
Just like during the Code of Conduct Exam.
Even though the midterm exams were approaching, none of the teachers bothered to highlight key points or explain what students needed to focus on.
That's why Hachiman figured Kushida's plan to gather intel from upperclassmen was worth watching.
There had to be some kind of shortcut to the written exams.
However—
As someone who prided himself on observing people, Hachiman noticed something unusual today.
Karuizawa, sitting at the front, kept glancing in his direction.
Her seat was in the fourth column, third row.
Meanwhile, Hachiman sat by the window in the very last seat.
So even though Karuizawa might have thought she was being subtle, her movements were actually quite noticeable.
She deliberately pushed her chair back, leaned against it sideways, and slightly turned her head. While she tried to make it seem like she was just spacing out and gazing at the scenery outside, it was obvious to anyone paying attention that she was actually watching Hachiman.
Well, not that many people were paying attention.
After all, the diligent students sat in the first two rows, while the rest were too busy with their own things to notice Karuizawa's odd behavior.
Moreover, this phenomenon only started today.
He had intended to let his mind drift off during class, but the sensation of being watched made him unable to relax, forcing him to stay alert.
Still, he had a good idea why she was looking at him so nervously.
Yesterday, her secret and the scars on her body had been exposed.
For her, this was a critical issue—if the truth got out, the social circle she had built among the girls would likely collapse immediately.
In other words, she would lose her place of belonging.
But Hachiman had already promised her that he wouldn't reveal anything.
Yet, before he could even leak anything, Karuizawa had already exposed herself.
Because—
At the end of the first period, he received a message.
"What happened between you and Karuizawa?" — from Kushida.
…
Even though the Code of Conduct Exam was over, Kushida, could you please focus on your own lessons instead of observing others?
Observing people was his job.
Regardless—
Hachiman quickly typed a message and sent it to Karuizawa.
"Stop looking back during class. Just focus on playing with your phone."
Last night, for the sake of communication, they had added each other as friends, so he could now message her directly.
At that moment, Karuizawa was chatting with her female friends during the break. Her phone was resting on her desk.
"Bzzzt—"
The sudden vibration startled Karuizawa, almost making her jump out of her seat.
Only when she opened her phone and saw the message from Hachiman did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she subtly turned her head and gave a small nod.
And sure enough, for the rest of the second period—then the third, and even the fourth—Karuizawa didn't look his way again.
Hmm. Impressive execution.
"..." Hachiman.
After being stared at so intensely during the first period, suddenly not being watched anymore left him with an odd sense of emptiness.
Hachiman found himself experiencing this strange feeling.
…
And so, lunchtime arrived.
Normally, lunchtime meant going to eat, but the students at this school were a bit different.
Hachiman had visited the student council several times before and noticed that, despite it being break time, the student council president was always there.
Rather, he was constantly busy.
The president had a lot of privileges, but… those privileges came with a lot of responsibilities.
It seemed exhausting.
However, during lunch break, Hachiman didn't go to the student council with Karuizawa right away.
Instead, he waited alone under the stairs for a while before Karuizawa arrived.
It wasn't that she was acting high and mighty.
Hachiman had simply been curious whether Karuizawa would actually follow the instructions he had given her after the first period.
So, he had tested it.
And now, here she was—arriving exactly five minutes later, just as agreed.
Her execution was really on point.
Horikita had said that Karuizawa was academically weak—a slacker—and that she wasn't particularly good at sports or other talents either.
But right now, wasn't this level of discipline something to be admired?
Seeing her approach, Hachiman spoke.
"Let's go to the student council. I'll introduce you to the president."
"Well… thanks," Karuizawa said somewhat awkwardly. "But, why did the student council president give you a position just like that? Don't tell me… you two are acquaintances?"
"You guys know about the student council too?" Hachiman looked over.
"The girls have been talking about it."
"For example, the current student council president is really cold and aloof, so does that mean he's secretly passionate inside?"
…Alright.
The girls were clearly discussing a completely different topic.
"He offered me a position before and then transferred it to you. But since it wasn't given directly, its value has dropped," Hachiman said.
That was the difference between being the secretary and just a low-level disciplinary committee member.
…
The two of them arrived at the student council office.
The room was empty except for the student council president, Horikita Manabu, who was working alone.
As expected, the higher the position, the harder the workload.
Horikita Manabu glanced at Hachiman, then shifted his gaze to Karuizawa, who was standing behind him.
"Uh!"
Karuizawa seemed startled.
Probably because she was intimidated by Horikita Manabu's aura.
Hachiman then explained why he had brought Karuizawa—to fulfill the promise regarding the student council position.
However—
"So," Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and looked at Hachiman. "Have you made your decision?"
"Yes," Hachiman said. "Thank you for your consideration, but I don't think I'm suited for such an important role. So I'd like to transfer the position to Karuizawa, who's standing behind me."
"Heh…" Horikita Manabu let out a chuckle.
It wasn't amusement—it was a headache.
One reason he had offered Hachiman a position in the student council was because he recognized his abilities.
But on the other hand—
He also had his own motivations.
As a third-year student, even though he was the president now, he would eventually have to step down.
However, if he didn't intervene, the next student council president would most likely be the vice president, Nagumo.
Horikita acknowledged Nagumo's abilities but didn't agree with some of his philosophies.
For example, this school emphasized competition between classes.
Horikita supported that system, but Nagumo took an even more extreme stance—he believed in pure individual competition rather than class-based competition.
Once Horikita stepped down, the chances of Nagumo taking over were very high.
So even though the odds were slim, Horikita wanted to create a possible countermeasure.
That was why he had considered bringing Hachiman into the student council.
But now he was being rejected.
"Oh, you think you can refuse but still keep the position? Dream on," Horikita Manabu said. "Since you're transferring it, then—Karuizawa, right? From today onward, you are officially a member of the student council. Your position will be a disciplinary committee member."
"Ah… Yes." Karuizawa, now a low-ranking disciplinary committee member, quickly responded.
And so—
The process of placing Karuizawa in the student council was complete.
The two of them walked out of the student council office together.
"It's not a very impressive position," Hachiman said. "And you won't have to do much. But you'll hold the only first-year seat in the student council."
"Just mentioning your position should be enough for Manabe and the others to get the message."
"They're in Ryuen's class. Ryuen already understands the school's rules very well, so Manabe and the others will understand too."
"I get it," Karuizawa said, nodding slightly.
Then, as if feeling a little embarrassed or awkward—
"Um… thanks."
"…" Hachiman replied, "I'm just doing this for my own goals. I want to get promoted to Class A, so I need someone to assist me."
"Ah… yeah, I get that," Karuizawa responded.
There were indeed some troublesome students in their class.
Trying to reach Class A with this group was going to be a struggle.
Rather—Karuizawa had been putting on a façade all this time. Deep down, she was probably always observing those around her.
And she had already figured it out.
Some of the students in their class looked excellent on the surface, but others… were absolutely terrible—worse than anything she had ever seen before.
"So with this, you don't need to fake relationships to gain influence anymore," Hachiman said.
"Just being the only first-year in the student council is already enough to establish authority."
"After all, you're a member of the student council. Even if it's a minor role, you're still part of it."
"Eh?"
Karuizawa blinked.
"You mean… the fake relationship thing?"
"Yeah, Hirata told me," Hachiman said. "You wanted to fake-date him to gain influence and secure your position among the girls in class, right?"
"No, that's not it," Karuizawa shook her head. "I never said anything like that to him. I just told him I used to be bullied and wanted help. Then he said he'd figure something out."
…Eh?
Hachiman's eyes widened.
Wait—
So that's how it was?
Hirata!
So you purposely made it seem that way just to help Karuizawa, didn't you?!