By the river.
Hikigaya followed Horikita Suzune back to the Class D camp. He clearly felt the Class D students looking at him with disdain.
However.
He was already used to these things.
Since it was impossible to have any interaction with these people, there was no need to take it to heart.
"Horikita."
Sudo quickly ran up to the two of them and said: "This guy didn't do anything strange to you, did he?"
Well.
Hikigaya looked up at him.
While it's not impossible to understand "Little Red-hair's" feelings for Horikita Suzune, even if Red-hair-kun defends the girl he loves like this, he won't win her favor.
The evidence for that was himself.
A "simp" (lick-dog) has no good ending, and Horikita Suzune is clearly not interested in him.
"Stupid."
Horikita Suzune said flatly: "Do you think the guy next to me has the ability to do anything to me? And instead of worrying about me, you should worry about your own futures."
Uh.
Hikigaya's face darkened.
It seems Red-hair-kun's taste is problematic. To actually like a girl like this—aside from being beautiful, she has practically no virtues.
"Chabashira-sensei."
Saying that, Horikita Suzune walked up to the homeroom teacher: "Please give me a pack of MAX Coffee."
"Ha?"
Ike and the others were suddenly confused: "Horikita, why do you want to buy that sickeningly sweet drink now? It's the last two days of the exam; you shouldn't need sugar to relieve fatigue, right?"
Heretic.
Hikigaya gave him a sideways glance.
Clearly, Horikita Suzune had previously used the excuse of relieving fatigue to buy MAX Coffee for him.
However.
With the exam almost over if they just held on a bit longer, such a reason was obviously no longer applicable.
"This is for Hikigaya. Don't worry, I'm only buying one pack."
Horikita Suzune explained with a half-helpless expression.
"Ha?"
This time the girls were suddenly dissatisfied: "Isn't he from Class B? Why should we buy it for him? Right, Karuizawa, you say something to her too!"
"I say... Horikita."
A cute girl with a high ponytail said in a sarcastic tone: "I don't know what kind of relationship you have with that guy, but it's not right to use our class's private points to buy him a drink, is it?"
She looks quite cute, but the things she says are no different from those noisy "gyaru" in middle school, and she's particularly mean.
"Hor-Horikita."
Sudo seemed to be instantly provoked, looking nervous: "What is your relationship with that Hikigaya (Hikiku) guy?"
It happened!
How kind!
Finally, someone got his name wrong.
Hikigaya let out a sigh of relief. He thought his "existence erasure," one of his 108 techniques, was about to fail.
However.
Knowing how to use someone else's momentum shows that the girl named Karuizawa has good communication skills and is sharp enough to react so quickly.
No wonder she could become the center of the Class D girls.
Even that guy named "whatever-ta" was just standing silently to the side, looking like he didn't dare to make eye contact with him.
Every time he made eye contact with Kushida.
The other person would uncomfortably pretend not to see him, which made Hikigaya feel a bit guilty and self-reproachful. How could he treat such a pitiable beauty like that? She clearly just wanted to be friends with him.
Are you kidding me?
If he didn't know she was likely a "green tea bitch" (fake), he definitely would have been fooled by Kushida.
"Shut up."
Horikita Suzune said in a cold tone: "If you guys hadn't snatched his camera, we wouldn't need to buy this pack of coffee."
"Eh?"
The primary culprit, Yamauchi, immediately became dissatisfied: "Horikita, what do you mean by that? We just suspected he was a spy; we didn't do anything to him."
"Do you still not understand?"
Horikita Suzune stared coldly: "It seems you still don't realize what a stupid thing you've done."
"Seizing someone else's property without permission can lead to immediate disqualification from the class exam. If that happens, all our efforts over these days will have been completely in vain."
"I hope you have some self-awareness and stop causing trouble for the class. Being able to solve this with a single pack of drinks is already a bargain."
At these words.
The people of Class D were instantly stunned.
Karuizawa and the others looked at Hirata Yousuke in a daze: "Hirata, what exactly is going on with what she said?"
"This..."
Hirata's face also froze as he finally realized there was such a rule. He quickly explained with a smile:
"There is indeed such a rule. Well, our class was indeed in the wrong for this matter. A pack of coffee is no big deal, so let Horikita use the points."
"Alright, if Hirata says so."
Karuizawa and the others looked at each other and nodded indifferently.
After all, one pack of drinks is just a point or so; it has almost no impact.
"I'm not convinced! Why?"
Sudo and the others were so angry their faces turned red: "The camera wasn't even broken. We just took it to have a look. Why should we apologize to him? Besides..."
"...Me."
"Kid..."
Sudo pointed at him and scolded: "If you dare tell the school, don't blame me for being unkind to you..."
"Ha?"
Hikigaya was shocked.
It was bad enough they weren't repentant, but they were actually breaking the law and threatening him in return?
Are they still middle schoolers?
But as expected, every school has this kind of person—guys who know nothing but violence.
The teacher is standing right there watching.
Hikigaya looked at Chabashira Sae. She was standing behind everyone with an expressionless face, handing the MAX Coffee to Horikita Suzune.
She's just acting as if nothing happened?
Is she even a teacher?
Or are all the teachers in this school like this—if the victim doesn't speak up, they just turn a blind eye?
"Sudo, calm down."
Hirata, Ayanokoji, and the others quickly blocked Sudo. At least there were some people in the class with brains.
"Uh... Chabashira-sensei?"
Hikigaya pointed at Sudo: "Is this okay?"
"Well, there is indeed a problem."
Chabashira Sae lit a cigarette and said in a slightly mocking tone: "However, the main problem lies in what you decide to do, not me."
"I see."
Hikigaya nodded.
If the victim doesn't speak up, the school will just act as if it didn't happen.
It's really just like the police.
"Then what if I report right now that they not only snatched my camera but also want to hit me? What would happen?"
"Based on the current situation."
Chabashira Sae said in an indifferent tone: "Class D would be immediately disqualified from the exam, and a demerit for Sudo would definitely be unavoidable."
"That's quite strict."
Hikigaya nodded and looked at Horikita Suzune: "This isn't my fault. Two packs of MAX Coffee. However, if you guys feel it's fine for this guy to get a demerit, then forget it."
"You bastard—"
"Sudo, calm down, calm down. Miyake, come over and help out."
"Ah, okay."
Several boys managed to hold Sudo down. To think violence can do whatever it wants—truly an idiot.
"..."
On the other side.
Horikita Suzune's snowy, pretty face darkened further. She knew she had no choice.
Although it wouldn't be expulsion.
A demerit would most likely affect the class points.
"Two packs."
Horikita Suzune reluctantly handed the coffee to Hikigaya.
Although it wasn't expensive, if it weren't for these incompetent low-ability people, why would she waste these points?
"You'd better explain the rules to them properly."
Hikigaya contentedly took the two packs of coffee.
Sweet.
Now he wouldn't have to ration his drinking anymore.
Honestly, by only asking for two packs of MAX Coffee, he was already being very generous—practically a saint.
If he hadn't considered the cooperation between the two classes.
He felt that just based on this point, he could have fleeced a lot of personal points.
"Ridiculous."
Horikita Suzune's face was frosty as she said: "It's their own stupidity. Why should I have to explain the rules to them?"
Hikigaya was momentarily choked up. This person has some issues too.
Whatever.
It's none of his business.
"Then this matter is over."
Hikigaya casually opened a can and put the rest into his backpack. Feeling Horikita Suzune's ice-cold gaze, he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.
It was all an agreed-upon transaction.
What does she mean by constantly staring at him?
"How about I give you a bottle?"
Hikigaya hesitantly held out a bottle of coffee to her. Horikita Suzune still watched with cold eyes.
Does she want to drink it?
It's this bastard who fleeced three packs of coffee from her, even if most of it was caused by that group of Class D idiots.
"Better not."
Hikigaya seemed to remember something: "You seem to still have a fever. Drinking something too sweet isn't good for you."
"Hmm?"
Horikita Suzune was slightly stunned, then immediately emphasized: "How many times do I have to tell you for you to understand? I'm not sick."
"Is that so..."
Hikigaya didn't bother to ask for trouble. He turned and left with a satisfied heart, leaving behind a group of indignant Class D students.
"Let go."
Only then did Hirata and the others release Sudo.
Karuizawa and the others were also extremely dissatisfied: "I'm really over this. I didn't expect Class B to have such a devious guy. I really feel bad for Ichinose."
"Yeah, to actually blackmail us. He's such a petty person."
Ike and the others also quickly chimed in.
Hikigaya, who hadn't walked far, also heard some fragments of their words, but he didn't take them to heart.
It seems there's a reason they were sorted into Class D after all.
He had originally been confused about why he was placed in Class B, always feeling out of place in that class.
But now.
No matter how he thought about it, Hikigaya felt he was much stronger than this group of idiots.
Leaving the Class D camp.
Hikigaya drank the delicious MAX Coffee, put the pull tab in his pocket, and planned to photograph the entire island today.
Along the way.
He occasionally found outpost equipment.
A countdown was displayed on each equipment's screen, clearly already occupied by someone.
Class B seemed to only occupy the wooden cabin outpost.
Of course,
Ichinose and Shiranami-san occasionally went out and might have occupied some other outposts; they just hadn't taken him along.
But with this "whatever happens happens" method of occupation, the points definitely wouldn't be many.
Class C had directly dropped out of the exam, and Class D clearly didn't have the ability to occupy these outposts.
In other words.
Most of these outposts had already been occupied by Class A.
As expected of Class A.
He was a bit impressed.
While adopting a "turtle" (defensive) strategy, they still had this kind of surplus energy...
Class A is indeed more outstanding.
Just then.
"Stop right there."
Again?
Does he look that easy to bully? Why does everyone feel they can tell him to stop? Or are the people in this school just too overbearing?
Hikigaya turned around wordlessly.
What appeared before him were two girls wearing gym uniforms.
On the left was a girl with a good figure and long purple hair reaching her waist. On the right was a girl with shoulder-length hair tied in a single ponytail; her listless blue pupils made him take an extra look.
He felt this person had the potential to evolve into a "dead fish eyes" person.
"Who are you? Which class are you from?"
The purple-haired girl crossed her arms and stepped forward to question him, while the other girl followed listlessly behind her.
"First-year Class B, Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya instinctively answered her. How scary—he felt this woman looked very fierce, although she was indeed "not small."
"Class B, huh."
The purple-haired girl introduced herself: "I'm first-year Class A, Kamuro Masumi."
"Hello."
Hikigaya nodded politely and looked at the one next to her.
Identifying oneself is basic etiquette. Since this person was introducing herself, why didn't she help introduce her classmate?
"Eh?"
Seemingly not expecting him to look this way, the "young dead-fish-eye beast" nodded: "First-year Class A, Yamamura Miki."
"Uh."
Kamuro Masumi's face froze. Her slightly awkward, pretty face quickly became stern:
"Someone from Class B? What are you doing here?"
"Nothing."
Hikigaya explained: "Just wandering around."
"Tsk."
Kamuro Masumi clicked her tongue: "Do you take us for idiots? It's already the second to last day of the exam. Who would be wandering around aimlessly now? Tell me, what is Class B's purpose?"
No.
Even if there were one, I wouldn't tell you. And I don't feel like you're particularly smart either.
Or did I look easy to bully again?
Speaking of which,
Why do I have to receive treatment like an interrogation here?
"Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Hikigaya said a bit wordlessly: "If there's nothing else, I'll head out first."
"Stop."
"Kamuro-san, let's just forget it."
Yamamura Miki spoke flatly: "Seeing as he's holding a camera, he's probably really just wandering around."
"How is that possible?"
Kamuro Masumi glared at him and said: "Isn't Class B taking the exam seriously? It's hard to imagine Ichinose would spend points to buy drinks for the class. This guy must have a very high status in Class B."
Uh...
So that's the basis she's using.
Hikigaya looked at the MAX Coffee in his hand. But this was what he fleeced from Class D. However, it's probably better to avoid revealing the relationship between Class D and Class B.
After thinking about it.
Hikigaya decided not to explain.
Anyway, these guys can't do anything to him. They wouldn't be like those idiots like Sudo and plan to use force on him, right?
"So, what do you guys want to do?"
Hikigaya felt a bit helpless.
It's a rare summer vacation; can't these people just enjoy the holiday?
"Eh, Yamamura, hold him down."
"Wait a minute, what do you guys want to do?"
Hikigaya instantly took a step back in a panic. However, Kamuro Masumi's movements were exceptionally agile, instantly blocking him from behind.
The two of them surrounded him from front and back.
Kamuro Masumi's small hand instantly reached into his pocket to search, while saying: "This isn't a violent act, understand?"
"Uh."
Hikigaya's face turned red, and his body instantly tensed up.
If you say this is a violent act, it probably indeed wouldn't be recognized by the school.
But,
Could you please stop feeling around? It's very awkward.
"What are these papers?"
Kamuro Masumi pulled out a stack of rectangular paper scraps and asked.
"Paper from a notebook."
Hikigaya finally breathed a sigh of relief: "You're snatching my paper."
"Ridiculous."
Kamuro Masumi said disdainfully: "No one here can prove that. And do you think the school would believe someone would snatch paper?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya was choked up. Class A's brains indeed seem quite a bit stronger than Class D's.
"Tell me, what is this paper for?"
"For using the toilet?"
Hikigaya's eyes darted away. There's no way he could tell these people.
"Who are you fooling? Tell the truth."
Kamuro Masumi gave a sharp glare.
How scary.
Are all the girls in Class A this fierce?
"Sigh."
Hikigaya felt helpless: "Don't ask. It's originally of no use, and even if it were really useful, there's no way I would tell you, right?"
"Hmm?"
Kamuro Masumi raised her voice a few notches, her amethyst-like eyes glaring once again.
Damn it.
Stop glaring.
Do I really look that easy to bully?
"What, you guys still want to do something? If you have the guts, hit me."
Hikigaya was getting a bit impatient.
This person was practically treating him like an idiot. Aside from those with no courage, who would be intimidated by this kind of atmosphere?
Today I'll just stand here without moving and let you hit me.
Try moving your hand?