Chapter 088 Conflict? Hachiman decisively cuts through the mess!
"Hikigaya, you said you found a capturable spot upstream?" Hirata Yousuke looked pleasantly surprised.
The rest of Class D immediately cast admiring glances toward Hikigaya. Even without outdoor camping experience, common sense dictated that a water source was the most critical priority for wilderness living.
"Um, I also found a spot near the river..." Ike Kanji chimed in weakly, sounding like he lacked confidence. His spot was downstream and the terrain wasn't flat, making it a poor choice for a campsite.
"Hikigaya, you're too mean," Yamauchi Haruki said, seemingly sticking up for his friend. "Stealing the spotlight in the one area Ike is actually good at!"
'The one area he's good at is camping; are you sure you aren't just insulting your teammate?'
"Finding a great place to camp so quickly... Hikigaya-kun is actually quite capable, isn't he?" Karuizawa Kei took the lead in praising him.
"I also think Hikigaya-kun is amazing," Matsushita Chiaki chimed in.
"Wow~ Hikigaya is so great!" Sato Maya added. She didn't quite grasp the importance, but since her friend supported him, she did too.
Shinohara Satsuki frowned deeply. She usually looked down on "outcasts" like Hikigaya, but she couldn't find a fault with him now. Instead, she glared at Ike Kanji, who she was close with: 'Tsk, useless man!'
Ike's face turned beet-red; his pride had taken a massive hit! However, Hikigaya had no interest in this spotlight.
"No, you're praising the wrong person. Koenji found it. He asked me to bring the news back to the class."
Upon hearing this, most of Class D believed it instantly. "Oh, so it was Koenji. That makes sense."
"I just saw him flying through the trees earlier; he's insanely strong!"
Personalities aside, Koenji Rokusuke was the undisputed top tier of Class D in both academics and athletics. This was why, no matter how much he refused to cooperate, no one in Class D dared to exclude or bully him. After all, the essence of a bully is to pick on the weak and fear the strong!
Hirata Yousuke's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion. He didn't doubt Koenji's ability, but given the latter's arrogant personality, he didn't seem like the type to do "good deeds" for the class. But since Hikigaya said it, he accepted it as Koenji's work.
"I see! It seems Koenji-kun is also silently contributing to the class!" Hirata smiled brightly, deciding to use this chance to help Koenji integrate into the group.
'Yeah, sure, go ahead and warm Koenji's heart with your sunshine, Hirata!' Hikigaya suppressed a laugh.
About ten minutes later, Koenji returned, carrying a bag with a Red Cross label—likely a medical kit.
"Eh? Why has everyone suddenly discovered my beauty?" Koenji looked confused as he noticed the newfound kindness in the class's eyes.
"Back so soon? As expected of the 'Beauty Brother' who conquered the forest." Hikigaya stepped forward to divert the topic.
"That is true, but those people—" Koenji began.
"No need to mind those commoner gazes." Hikigaya pulled him away from the crowd.
Looking at the two walking off together, Hirata beamed: "Hmm~ Hikigaya and Koenji are getting along well. Those two will eventually integrate into the class together, right?"
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"So, that place wasn't occupied yet?" Hikigaya's gaze fell on the medical kit.
"On the way back, I saw people from Class A. They are likely searching for that spot below the cliff... This is supplies collected from that spot. To someone with a perfect physique like mine, it is useless, so I shall give it to you." Koenji tossed the medical kit to him.
"That's a huge help!" Hikigaya looked delighted. He wasn't sick, but a certain "Stubborn-kita" was! The manual listed medical supplies for 20 to 30 points—outrageously expensive. One meal for the whole class only cost 10 points. This kit was worth three days of food! Horikita would definitely choose to suffer rather than waste precious class points. But Hikigaya felt no such burden for the class.
"Wait a moment, Koenji. I'm going to exchange for a medical kit from Chabashira-sensei." Hikigaya had a sudden flash of inspiration.
"Don't you already have one?" Koenji was puzzled.
According to the rules, anyone could exchange points for supplies without class approval. Hikigaya soon obtained a kit from Chabashira, but the packaging was a different color than the one Koenji found.
"Koenji, here is a second request. Please take this new medical kit back to that spot at top speed. If Class A has already occupied it, cancel the action... I will still pay you the 50,000 points."
Koenji was stunned for a second, then his eyes narrowed with a sharp glint. "...A fine plan to switch the 'pillar for the beam' (substitute the real for the fake)!"
'You aren't simple either, seeing through the tactic in one glance.'
"Just a precaution." According to the intel from Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi of Class A was planning something big. Hikigaya didn't care if Class D got messed with, but if it affected the people close to him, he wouldn't hesitate to strike back.
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In the Afternoon
Class D occupying the upstream spot was a good start. Next should have been the division of labor to set up tents. But a fight broke out over supplies.
"I can endure anything else, but this cardboard box... is absolutely unacceptable!" Karuizawa Kei and Shinohara Satsuki were in rare agreement, demanding they spend points for a portable toilet. This included Hasabe and Sakura; naturally, the girls wanted cleanliness.
"A toilet costs 20 points! That's two meals for the whole class!"
"Can't you just use the cardboard? There's absorbent sponges and deodorizers; it shouldn't be that hard."
"Tsk, girls are so fussy!" Yamauchi, his group, and Yukimura were in opposition.
Both sides were at each other's throats. Hirata tried his usual "muddied water" tactic, telling everyone to discuss it.
"Stop arguing. How about we ask the leader's opinion?" Kushida intentionally shifted the thorny issue to Horikita.
"Horikita, you're a girl too, you'll surely agree, right?" Shinohara played the gender card. "Horikita-san, please make a fair choice!" Yukimura felt a fellow honors student should stand on the side of "justice."
"..." Horikita pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to keep her brain clear. Seeing this, Hikigaya silently left.
A moment later, he returned, leading school staff pushing a portable toilet.
"Hikigaya, you...!"
"How could you take it upon yourself to exchange points?!" Yamauchi and the others glared at him in fury.
"Yeah, I did it. So what?" Hikigaya didn't deny it. To him, the issue wasn't "should we," but the fact that nearly half the class wanted it. This was an irreconcilable conflict. Instead of wasting time on pointless bickering, it was better to cut the Gordian knot.
Because per the manual, anyone could exchange points. This meant the pro-toilet faction could have gone themselves at any time. Rather than waiting for the fallout, Hikigaya ended the topic himself.
'See? A world where no one gets hurt is easily achieved.'
"..." Horikita's gaze wavered. She seemed to realize his purpose—this was a responsibility that should have fallen on her as the leader.
"Hikigaya, I misjudged you. I didn't think you were this kind of person!" Even Yukimura complained about him wasting points. Hikigaya didn't bother explaining; he just thought the guy was too rigid.
"Alright, since it's already done, let's accept reality. Hikigaya did this for everyone's sake..." Hirata reacted quickly, handling the damage control.
"What do you mean 'for everyone'? He was clearly just sucking up to the girls!" Yamauchi grumbled.
'You found the truth, Master Yamauchi!' Hikigaya indeed did it with Airi, Haruka, and Horikita in mind. He was afraid that in her sickly state, Horikita might trip and fall into a cardboard box... that was a mental image he couldn't bear to look at!
'By the way... Karuizawa and the others, why are you all looking at me? You don't think I did it for you, do you?'
Because Hikigaya absorbed most of the "aggro," no further major conflicts broke out. They worked together and finished the camp before dark.
"To be able to integrate a scattered mess like Class D is quite a feat, Fish-Eye Boy~" Koenji had returned at some point.
Unlike his usual pristine self, he was covered in dirt, his clothes were torn in several places, and he had scratches on his face and arms.
"Koenji, what happened to you?" Hikigaya was amazed.
"The Class A people were already heading down the stairs. To beat them to it, I slid down the cliff face... No matter. Even with slight flaws on my face, I remain the most beautiful man in the world!" Koenji held a small mirror, admiring the scratches on his face with great interest.
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