Near noon, Hikigaya sat by the boiler. Anyway, he spent most of his time just sitting here, occasionally delivering water to the girls while just throwing it to the boys. Like a worker on an assembly line, as long as he emptied his mind, it wasn't too hard, even if it was tiring.
Meanwhile, "Horikita-san, Ayanokouji-san." Ichinose walked up to the two of them with some pleasant surprise. "Welcome."
The commander? Hikigaya was stunned and looked back. So that's it. It's the arrogant girl and the fish-eye psycho? Are they here to scout for information again? Then, Hikigaya finally reacted. Holy crap. It really is the arrogant girl and the fish-eye psycho? One is the person he indirectly offended by deleting her contact info, and the other is the psycho who doesn't like MAX Coffee. So the psycho's name is Ayanokouji.
It's better to avoid contact. Hikigaya turned back and began to work seriously, pretending nothing was happening. But what's with the "welcome"? Speaking of which, Class B and Class D seemed to have a cooperative relationship. Class B also had a corresponding investigation team; Kanzaki and others had gone out to scout for information before, so this must be a reciprocal visit.
"Yeah." Horikita Suzune rubbed her arm, looked around, and nodded. "We wanted to check on the situation, if that's okay?"
"Of course, look as much as you want!" Ichinose nodded and took the two of them on a tour of the camp. Class B had a clear division of labor. Boys fished and transported ingredients, girls processed ingredients and cooked, and there was also the investigation team outside. The group soon reached the cliff, and Ichinose led them down.
Seeing this, Hikigaya was somewhat speechless. It wasn't strange for Class B to cooperate with Class D. Class B's goal was to rise to Class A, while Class D's temporary goal was to climb as high as possible; they shared a basis for cooperation. Although it was indeed a cooperative relationship, wasn't this a bit too defenseless? What if they got backstabbed? Thinking back, Hikigaya occasionally recalled experiences of being set up. Ichinose and the others were really broad-minded; is this the so-called "caliber of a leader"? Whatever. Anyway, this was something he could never do.
"As expected of Class B." On the rocky reef, Horikita Suzune looked at the Class B students at work and said with a slight hint of unwillingness, "Ichinose-san is unexpectedly excellent. I didn't expect you to find a wooden hut like this; you've even saved on tents, toilets, and showers. I believe you'll rise to Class A soon."
"Not really." Ichinose scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's thanks to everyone in the class that things went so smoothly. This wooden hut was also found by Hikigaya; I'm just responsible for coordinating everyone's opinions."
For a while, Horikita Suzune didn't respond, just looking at the scenery with some frustration. After a long time, she said, "That's also a result that can only be achieved because Ichinose has enough leadership charm." Ayanokouji flicked his eyelids, knowing she wasn't in top form today and completely missed what she should have noticed.
"Hikigaya?" Ayanokouji's tone carried a hint of doubt.
"Oh," Ichinose explained nonchalantly, "he's also a member of our class. You haven't met him yet, have you?"
"Could you introduce us?" Horikita Suzune finally reacted. Although the two classes were currently in a cooperative relationship, this cooperation definitely wouldn't last forever. Someone with such insight was undoubtedly someone to watch out for.
"Sure thing~" Ichinose agreed easily and happily. They'd inevitably get to know each other later anyway; meeting now or later was the same.
"Hey." Hikigaya looked at the three of them, somewhat speechless. I'm clearly just a cook. Why do these people all like to run over here? Just be sensible and leave quickly. However, Ichinose, Horikita, and Ayanokouji— he knew all three of them; it seemed there was no escaping.
Resigned, Hikigaya nodded. Ayanokouji followed with a expressionless nod. He hadn't expected it to be this pervert; his guard was instantly raised to the max.
"I didn't expect it to be you." Horikita Suzune's tone was flat. People always like to think of the better side of things. Although she still didn't dare to meet Horikita Manabu, she was more willing to believe the possibility Hikigaya mentioned. Horikita Manabu must be watching her! She had to perform better too.
"Eh?" Ichinose, standing by, asked with some confusion, "Hikigaya, do you two know each other?"
"Well, sort of..." Hikigaya nodded; there was nothing to hide. Although he had sold the school's rules to Horikita Suzune at the start of the semester, the result was already set—Class D still had zero points—so he had nothing to fear.
Class B. He could tell from Horikita Suzune's response whether her personality was the type to keep secrets for him.
"I suppose so." Horikita Suzune hid nothing, though she seemed slightly dissatisfied. "Thanks to him selling school info to me for 30,000 points at the start of the term, Class D was able to know the school rules in advance."
"However, those incompetent lowlifes in Class D still ended up letting the class drop to the lowest level." Horikita Suzune's tone was clearly blaming. Even after being told the rules, those guys still held onto luck and didn't believe them; it was simply the height of stupidity. Precisely because of that, Class D's points were cleared in the first month.
Hikigaya, however, frowned. Although it was also blame, Horikita Suzune's blame seemed more like a blame toward herself. She was deeply dissatisfied with the fact that she was in Class D. Still as arrogant as ever. It felt like Horikita Manabu was worried about his sister for nothing; she likely won't change unless she suffers a few more blows.
However, Horikita Suzune's frank attitude changed his view of her; she wouldn't lie to herself and didn't expect to rely on him to undermine Class B. There was no concealment. This proved that Horikita Suzune never had such thoughts from the beginning. And to the side, Ayanokouji couldn't help but take another look. So Horikita Suzune's source of information was here; the one who saw through the school rules was actually this pervert. Actually,
Many people in Classes A and B could see it. At the very least, they could understand the fact that "there is no such thing as a free lunch." Those like Class D, who squandered everything presumptuously, were probably the minority.
"Horikita-san," Ichinose shook her head with a wry smile. "Class D also has excellent talents like Hirata, Kushida, and Ayanokouji, don't they? I think you could rely on them a bit more."
As expected of Ichinose. Hikigaya nodded inwardly. Even if she had doubts, she wouldn't let others see any flaws; clearly, Ichinose was no "sweet summer child." Although Ichinose didn't know about him selling the rules, it was clearly inappropriate to ask here. But he'd likely feel the heat soon.
Hikigaya suddenly felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, like a corporate drone about to be called into the manager's office for a lecture. What he did shouldn't have much of an impact, right? Anyway, Class D's class points were zeroed out right from the start. It should be fine, right? Right? Ichinose is so gentle, she probably won't hit him. Hikigaya instantly felt like running away.