Chapter 096 Kamuro-san, I Can Order You Around However I Want, Right?
They say Class B is full of honest people, but it seems Class A isn't much smarter.
Katsuragi Kohei remained unmoved on the outside, but a wave of unrest surged within him. "What business do you have with Totsuka?"
"Nothing, just asking casually."
"Isn't Yahiko following you around all day?" Hikigaya said meaningfully.
"That is merely your personal, one-sided misunderstanding. Totsuka has his own duties." Katsuragi remained expressionless.
"I see. That's a shame then." Hikigaya shrugged, turned around, and followed Horikita Suzune as they left.
"What did you mean by that just now?" Horikita asked. "And you said you didn't want to call that person by their surname?" She had noted that detail.
"Yeah, that's why I said I missed Totsuka." A look of reminiscence appeared on Hikigaya's face.
The only cute "boy-paper" who would talk to him back in middle school.
He heard he got into Sobu High. If things had gone normally, he would have gone there too. With a bit of luck, they might have been in the same class and become best friends who shared everything!
'Sigh! It's all the fault of those irresponsible parents for sending me to this troublesome school.'
He was having weird dreams every day, and he was starting to lose track of reality!
"It seems you really like that Totsuka, no wonder you refuse to call the one in Class A by that name."
"There is no Totsuka in Class A. That's Yahiko."
"..." Horikita rolled her eyes at him, left with nothing to say.
"Horikita, you go back first."
"Why?"
"I have something I need to take care of..."
"Fine." Though curious, Horikita was tired after two scouting trips. After all, she hadn't fully recovered from her illness.
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A moment later.
Hikigaya spoke toward a specific direction in the bushes: "Come out."
"When did you find me?"
"Just now."
"You bluffed me!"
The person who stepped out from the bushes was none other than Kamuro Masumi from Class A.
"I only vaguely sensed someone following me; I wasn't certain." While at the Class A base, Hikigaya had noticed someone watching him from the shadows.
"Tch... your observation skills are as sharp as ever. Next time I tail you, I definitely won't let you find me!"
'What do you mean "next time"? That's a weird thing to say,'
Hikigaya thought. He looked at her blankly. "So, Kamuro-san, what do you want with me?"
"Sakayanagi told me to provide you with intelligence." Kamuro looked annoyed, but she still faithfully followed the task Sakayanagi had assigned. "When the base points were refreshed this morning, only Katsuragi and Totsuka went. That means the leader of Class A is one of those two."
This was indeed vital information. It confirmed Hikigaya's suspicions.
"Got it. I know now," Hikigaya replied simply.
"From the sound of it, are you planning to accept the cooperation with Sakayanagi?" Kamuro asked.
"I suppose. No choice—if someone steps on your head, you have to hit back." Originally, Hikigaya didn't want to get involved in the class competition.
"You already knew? About Katsuragi's cooperation with Ryuen?" Kamuro was surprised; she had only just discovered that information.
"That move to set me up didn't seem like Ryuen's style. If it was Katsuragi's order, it makes sense." Hikigaya believed that, for now, Ryuen had no reason to be his enemy.
The smear tactic was too childish—it was likely a request from Katsuragi.
"Stealing a girl's underwear just to frame someone... that's too malicious!" Kamuro said with righteous indignation. She had already heard the rumors this morning about the theft in Class D.
"But then again, what is your relationship with that Karuizawa girl? For her to defend you like that?" Kamuro shifted the topic, staring at him meaningfully.
"No relationship. She's a Gyaru, she doesn't care about that stuff," Hikigaya brushed it off.
"Hah!" Kamuro gave him a "who are you kidding" look. "I already disliked Katsuragi's group, but now it seems letting them lead Class A would be the greatest disaster."
This was her reason for supporting Sakayanagi.
'I feel like Sakayanagi leading Class A wouldn't exactly be a walk in the park either...' Hikigaya thought. But whatever happened to Class A was none of his business.
"Right, Kamuro. I can order you to do anything, right?" Hikigaya asked.
"What do you want?" Kamuro looked at him warily.
Seeing her expression, Hikigaya felt a sudden urge to tease her. "I want you to put on a maid outfit."
"!!!" Kamuro glared at him and refused sternly. "Shut up! Why should I satisfy your weird... fetish?"
'Hey, it was a joke. Why get so worked up?' Hikigaya waved his hands quickly.
"Stop, let's skip this topic."
"Seriously, what goes on in that head of yours? Me in a maid outfit? Dream on!"
'Looking down on me? I'll dream about it tonight and teach you, a disobedient maid, a lesson!' Hikigaya joked to himself.
"Ahem~ I want you to help me search the island in secret. Especially places suitable for hiding someone." Hikigaya became serious.
"That's so vague. How am I supposed to find that?" Kamuro snapped at him.
"You don't necessarily have to find a person. Just any traces will do," Hikigaya added.
"Tch, what a pain." Despite her complaining, Kamuro ultimately accepted the request.
'Honestly, does this girl have a bit of a masochistic streak?'
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Returning to the Class D camp.
"Why is there another argument?" Even from a distance, the noisy bickering of the Class D camp could be heard.
"Shinohara and the others think it's too hot and are clamoring to exchange points for fans." Horikita Suzune looked livid.
"Why doesn't she just ask for an air conditioner?" Hikigaya's lip twitched. "You should just refuse such an absurd request."
"That's true, but she wants to see the resource manual." Horikita looked at him with a complicated expression.
"..." Hikigaya was momentarily speechless.
The manual clearly listed the medical kit he had privately exchanged points for. He could imagine that if Shinohara and the others found out, they would use it as an excuse to attack him relentlessly.
"Actually, you don't have to go out of your way to cover for me. I don't care what they say," Hikigaya said truthfully. He had dealt with slander and insults his whole life; he was used to it.
"I care!" Horikita bit her lip, her eyes gazing at him darkly.
"Hey, Hikigaya... in the future, before you do things, could you consider other people's feelings a bit more?"
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