Chapter 091 New Bride in a Dream: Karuizawa Kei
"Why change the plan?
We agreed I'd be responsible for Class D!" Ibuki Mio voiced her protest angrily.
"Hmph! Your reaction right now only makes me more certain about replacing you." Ryuen Kakeru's voice was icy. " Ibuki, you've become far too close to that 'Dead-fish Eyes' from Class D."
"What do you mean by that? Are you doubting I'd betray the class?" Ibuki raised an eyebrow, though she didn't deny being close to Hikigaya.
"Not quite. You don't have the brains for that," Ryuen said dismissively.
"What did you say!" Ibuki's face flushed with rage.
"Enough. I don't have time to bicker with you. I can't let your relationship with 'Dead-fish Eyes' affect this operation." Ryuen remained firm.
Ibuki fumed, but she couldn't find the words to refute him.
"Hey, Ibuki! Stop being so reckless. You should know that for this operation, the boss is paying the ultimate price!" Ishizaki Daichi spoke up seriously.
The rest of Class C chimed in with their persuasion.
According to Ryuen's plan, most of Class C would soon withdraw from the exam and return to the ship. This would leave Ryuen Kakeru alone on the island to experience a true "wilderness survival" scenario. During this time, he could not be discovered by other classes—a grueling task that few could endure.
"Wait, Ryuen-kun.
I want to know: will this operation harm Hikigaya-kun?"
Shiina Hiyori suddenly spoke, her words striking the hidden key information Ryuen was trying to gloss over. Ryuen wanted to argue, but meeting Shiina Hiyori's calm yet sharp gaze, he realized lies would not work on this exceptionally intelligent girl.
" Shiina, you should understand, this is a class competition...
I understand, but I cannot accept anything that harms Hikigaya-kun!" Shiina Hiyori stated her stance firmly.
"What? You're really going to play dirty against Hikigaya?" Ibuki Mio also immediately started making a scene.
"This is the target Katsuragi specifically asked us to attack as a sign of 'good faith' for our cooperation." Ryuen frowned deeply.
Shiina Hiyori turned to leave.
"Stop her!" Ryuen shouted.
The Manabe trio immediately surrounded her. "Let me go, I'm going to tell Hikigaya-kun." Shiina struggled.
" Shiina, you better behave. What's so good about that 'Evil-eyed' guy? I'll introduce you to a real hunk later," Manabe and her crew tried a mix of threats and coaxing.
"No! Hikigaya-kun is unique. I won't let you hurt him!" Shiina Hiyori was resolute, leaving zero room for negotiation.
"You bitches, let go of Shiina!" Ibuki Mio transformed into a violent gale, stepping forward and swinging a high roundhouse kick.
"Eh?" Manabe Shiho was caught completely off guard. The kick landed squarely on her cheek, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Oh? Well done. Saves me the trouble of doing it myself." Looking at Manabe's face, which was already swelling into a massive bruise, Ryuen clicked his tongue.
When girls fight, they really don't hold back.
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In the Evening
Yamauchi Haruki, who was responsible for gathering firewood, brought back an injured Class C girl.
" Manabe-san, are you okay?"
"Who did this? This is such a heavy hit!"
"How cruel!"
Most of Class D looked on with sympathy. Hikigaya's first suspicion was that this was a "self-injury ruse" from Class C.
However, looking closely at the massive swelling on Manabe Shiho's face... if this was an act, it was a bit too committed. Based on his knowledge of Ryuen, the guy wouldn't usually hit that hard.
Seeing Manabe's teeth-gritting resentment, he figured you can't expect someone who hates you to follow your orders faithfully.
Hikigaya tentatively judged that Manabe was likely not a spy. Still, for caution's sake, he went over to test her.
" Manabe-san, if you don't mind, let me help you—"
"I mind a lot!" Manabe glared at him, her tone incredibly sharp. "Also, can you stay away from me, you 'Evil-eyed' creep!"
'What's the deal here? Why does she look like she got hit because of me?' Hikigaya was baffled.
However, to the rest of Class D, this looked like Hikigaya failing to hit on a girl.
"Haha! Shut down, eh?"
"Having one in the bowl and looking at the pot—serves you right!" Ike Kanji mocked him with glee.
Yamauchi took the chance to try and play the hero, but he was also shut down by Manabe, making him look like a clown.
" Ayanokouji-kun~ can I ask a favor?
Can you blow on my face? It really hurts~" Manabe Shiho turned around and grabbed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's arm, acting all cute and spoiled.
Ayanokouji was speechless. Did this woman take him for a fool?
" Ayanokouji!!" Yamauchi and the others looked at him with eyes full of jealous fire. Because of Manabe's arrival, Class D was once again in chaos.
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The First Night
After dinner, Koenji Rokusuke left the class group on his own. Shortly after, Class D received notice that Koenji had withdrawn from the special exam due to "poor health" and had returned to the ship alone.
'The staff are resting at night and the boats have stopped running. How did he get back? He didn't swim, did he? The ship's ladders are pulled up... the only way is to climb the anchor chain...'
The guy's physical fitness was simply absurd. Hikigaya couldn't even be bothered to roast him.
"That Koenji guy cost us 30 points! This is unacceptable!"
"Don't say that. After all, Koenji was the one who found this spot. Besides, he was already injured when he came back from scouting. He had to withdraw."
Thanks to Hikigaya's "little story," Koenji's withdrawal didn't cause much resentment; some were even worried about his health.
After a long day, everyone was exhausted. Ten people squeezed into one tent and fell asleep instantly. Hikigaya entered a new dream.
" Hachiman~"
"!!!"
Looking at the beautiful blonde girl with a high ponytail in front of him, Hikigaya was stunned.
"Karu... Karuizawa Kei?!"
"It's Hikigaya Kei now!" the blonde girl corrected him, placing a finger on his lips.
Shock. Surprise. Then, finally, calm. For Hikigaya, he was getting used to these dreams. He just didn't expect that Karuizawa Kei, whom he'd barely spoken to in reality, would become his dream wife!
'Am I too repressed? Why do I keep dreaming about every pretty girl I meet and making them my wife...'
" Hachiman, what's wrong with you today?" Kei held his face with a look of concern.
Too close! Even though this was standard for a married couple setting, Hikigaya found it hard to accept.
"...I'm fine." He quietly brushed her warm hands away. "Um, I suddenly feel a bit sleepy... I'm going to sleep for a bit. Please don't disturb me."
He made up an excuse and lay back on the bed.
"Don't sleep! Did you forget we have something important today?" Kei stood by the bed, urging him.
"Whatever it is, can't it wait until tomorrow?" Hikigaya decided that even if things got "steamy," he couldn't go all the way with a stranger—even in a dream.
"But, Komachi is coming to visit us."
"What kind of important thing is th—... NANI?!" Hikigaya shot up from the bed like a rocket.
"Heh~ are you finally awake?" Kei gave him a massive eye-roll.
" Komachi is coming!" Hikigaya danced with joy. Seeing Komachi was the dream within a dream!
" Kei!" Hikigaya excitedly grabbed her shoulders, his face full of gratitude. "It's so great that I married a dream wife like you!"
"Wh-why are you suddenly saying such sappy things? And why did you add 'dream' before 'wife'?" Kei blinked, confused. "Anyway, look at the time. Komachi will be here any minute. Let's change our clothes."
With that, Kei took off her pink-blue pajamas right there.
'Wait, don't be so sudden!' Hikigaya reflexively looked away, but in his peripheral vision, he saw a long scar on her smooth stomach.
" Kei, that..." Hikigaya's pupils shrank. A scar that deep wasn't caused by common roughhousing; it could be called a fatal wound!
"Ah~ that's all from a long time ago. Thanks to Hachiman's kind guidance, I've completely stepped out from that shadow." She beamed at him, her face full of happiness.
"Is that so..." Hikigaya had no real sense of it, since he lacked the memories. But a question arose: 'Does the real Karuizawa Kei actually have that terrible scar? What on earth did she go through...'
Ding-dong~
The doorbell pulled Hikigaya back from his complex thoughts. He took a deep breath and opened the door with high expectations.
There stood a beautiful woman with waist-length hair, a clear and lovely face, and a vibrant, youthful energy! Compared to the sister in his memories, she was less "green" and had more of the charm of a mature woman!
" Komachi!"
'My world's most adorable little sister! Come into Brother's arms!!' Hikigaya opened his arms wide.
" Kei-oneesan~~" Komachi lunged past him into Kei's arms, affectionately nuzzling her. "Wooo~ this familiar scent. Kei-oneesan is so comforting."
Hikigaya was petrified on the spot. "W-wait a minute?! Komachi? Hikigaya Komachi? Big Brother is over here..."
Komachi turned her head and looked at him strangely. "I know. What are you doing? You weren't waiting for Komachi to jump into your arms, were you? Please, I'm already a twenty-year-old woman. Clinging to my brother... how would that look?"
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