see."
Ichinose thought for a moment and then nodded: "It really doesn't have any impact."
No matter how you look at it.
The two sides are in a cooperative relationship.
The transaction between Hikigaya and Horikita Suzune wouldn't cause any impact on Class B.
"So what does Ichinose plan to do?"
Hikigaya turned to look at her pretty face: "As long as you change the leader at the last moment, you can 100% avoid being guessed by other classes."
"But..."
Ichinose glanced back at Kaneda; at this distance, he certainly couldn't hear.
She shook her head helplessly: "Our class leader has already been decided, and there are no sick people in our class."
"Huh?"
Hikigaya said with surprise: "At a time like this, you just need to have her pretend to be sick, right?"
Even though they couldn't be heard.
They still remained cautious, and both he and Ichinose tacitly used "her" to replace Shirami Chihiro.
Pretending to be sick was a piece of cake.
"That won't do."
Ichinose's face turned serious: "While I don't object to using special means like lying in an exam, this is deceiving the school. It would definitely leave a bad impression on Class B."
"And as long as we face the exam upright, there's no problem. There's no need to waste points for nothing, right?"
Well.
(Note: The text contains random symbols/group ads here).
There was no way.
Class B was full of excellent students who wouldn't think of deceiving the teachers.
"Okay."
These people are so excellent, Hikigaya said with some helplessness: "Was Ichinose also the type to have zero absences and zero tardies before?"
"It's not... I..."
Ichinose's expression froze, her face turned pale instantly, but she quickly adjusted: "Alright, work. Let's go deliver water to them together."
"Ah, oh."
Hikigaya nodded.
It seemed Ichinose had some hidden troubles.
But just as Ichinose wouldn't ask about his past, he wouldn't intentionally ask either.
In the afternoon.
Ichinose was dripping with sweat, still staying by the boiler to help.
From time to time, she poured cooled drinking water into plastic bottles or added wood to the fire. Her pink-gold long hair was already soaked with sweat.
Hikigaya was also working peacefully beside her.
However.
Ichinose is the leader of Class B; there should be many things she needs to coordinate. Is it really okay for her to stay here?
"Sorry."
After filling a bottle with cold water, Ichinose said in a low voice: "I originally thought Hikigaya chose to boil water because he wanted an easy job. I didn't expect it to be so hard."
"Uh..."
Hikigaya was choked up.
He really did want to slack off; it seemed he couldn't refute that.
But boiling water.
At first glance, it indeed sounds like a very easy job.
He was also tricked by those two words.
But in reality.
In the heat of summer, facing 40-degree temperatures, one had to stay by the fire at all times, waking up early and sleeping late. The workload was not to be underestimated.
It was comparable to hellish torture.
It was actually normal for Class D to need three people to rotate boiling water; the main reason was probably just that they couldn't sit still.
However.
Since it was the job he picked himself, Hikigaya had no choice.
Anyway.
He definitely wouldn't fall for this trick next time. It was natural for Ichinose to feel it was hard.
"Go and rest."
Hikigaya suggested: "I can do it alone."
"No."
Ichinose shook her head firmly: "I've experienced it now; this is clearly not a one-person workload. Although I can't stay here all the time, I'll find a helper for you later."
Hearing this.
Hikigaya was slightly stunned.
After all that.
"Without experience, one has no right to speak." Ichinose only helped here to experience it, fearing he was pushing himself too hard.
What a girl.
Hikigaya was almost moved to tears. He indeed didn't dislike Ichinose's style of doing things through personal experience.
But.
"It's really not necessary."
Hikigaya hesitated: "I'm more used to being alone. This workload isn't unbearable for me."
Making him cooperate with someone.
He'd rather do it alone. He couldn't guarantee he could cooperate well with others.
The reason he allowed Ichinose to be here.
Was because he was certain Ichinose couldn't stay for long.
The more important reason was.
It was troublesome.
The work assignments were already finished. If they pulled someone from another group now, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among others and cause trouble.
This was something Hikigaya absolutely could not accept.
If they wanted to help, they should have assigned more people to him from the start!
"I see."
Ichinose thought for a moment: "Then I'll have someone come help during the peak morning and evening hours. It's settled then. I'll leave the rest to you for now."
Saying that.
Ichinose turned and left; she had stayed here long enough.
"Thank you..."
Once she was far away, Hikigaya murmured to himself.
Ichinose really is a kind and considerate leader. Working under such a leader doesn't feel bad.
Night fell.
Class B gathered together, eating dinner and chatting. The sound of laughter was constant.
Hikigaya sat honestly by the boiler.
Though it was like an oven, there was no other choice.
It was night, and he couldn't see clearly if he stayed too far from the fire. Other than the boiler, there was nowhere to go. As for joining that group of "normies," forget it.
The atmosphere would definitely get awkward if he went in.
Just then.
"Um..."
A familiar voice sounded: "I'm looking for Hikigaya-kun. Is he here?"
"Ah, over here!"
Hikigaya raised his arm. He could tell with one ear it was that "flying fish head" psycho (Ayanokouji); he must be here to deliver the MAX coffee.
Saying that.
Hikigaya put down his fish soup and walked toward the sound. Seeing Ayanokouji carrying the MAX coffee made him look like an angel; he couldn't help but quicken his pace.
"I chose the chilled ones, should be fine."
Ayanokouji was expressionless as he handed the six-pack of canned coffee to him.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Hikigaya took it happily.
MAX coffee is delicious no matter how you drink it!
"Thank you."
Seeing that the other party intended to leave after handing over the coffee, Ayanokouji suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
Hikigaya was a bit dazed: "What are you suddenly saying?"
Only at this moment did he seriously size up the man in front of him, and he discovered that the other's dead-fish eyes were actually superior to his own.
Simply loathsome.
Even the characteristics of a loner were more prominent than his. How excellent is this school exactly?
"No."
Ayanokouji said expressionlessly: "I am talking about Horikita-san's matter."
"Ah, that..."
Hikigaya scratched his head: "It's no big deal..."
Ayanokouji was a bit stuck.
Although he wanted to test what this guy had told Horikita Suzune.
But this guy didn't know.
Is it easy to make people angry by stopping halfway through a sentence?
"In any case."
Although he had a rough guess, Ayanokouji continued to probe: "I'm very grateful for your help toward Horikita-san."
He didn't know what this guy said.
But since items needed to be delivered, saying words of thanks could never be wrong.
"Don't mention it."
Hikigaya shook his head: "It's just a fair trade."
Even if Horikita Suzune told Class D the method, it wouldn't be surprising. Regardless, he indeed didn't do anything that deserved thanks.
It was just a transaction.
"Even if you feel that way."
Ayanokouji said calmly: "It's a fact that you helped Class D a lot. I'm just curious, aren't you afraid Class D will overtake Class B?"
This habit of always saying half-sentences was truly annoying.
"Aren't we in a cooperative relationship right now?"
Hikigaya said indifferently: "And Class B's leader is Ichinose; that's something she needs to consider. Since she thinks it's no problem, I have no need to care."
"Indeed. Then I'll head back first."
Ayanokouji nodded: "By the way, if possible, please don't tell Class D about the coffee. This was something Horikita-san bought using a trick."
It was related.
"Got it."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently. He didn't know anyone in Class D anyway.
As long as he had the MAX coffee, it was fine. As for the promise, he might forget it in a moment.
"Then I'm leaving."
Ayanokouji turned and left.
This much intelligence was enough. Hikigaya's answer was equivalent to admitting that his transaction with Horikita Suzune was related to raising Class D's class points.
Then, there was only one answer.
It turned out he wasn't the only one who saw through that rule.
Thinking of this.
Ayanokouji looked back at his silhouette.
If that was the case, he probably didn't need to intervene anymore. It was just a question of whether Class B would use a similar strategy.
Thinking of this.
Ayanokouji glanced at Ichinose imperceptibly.
Even if Class B used it, the result wouldn't differ much; it should be enough to prove his own strength.
However.
Hikigaya, huh.
There's one more person to watch out for.