The next morning.
As Hikigaya walked down the street, he felt something was wrong.
Since knowing that the disgusting Ayanokouji probably didn't have any special fetishes, Hikigaya had returned to his plan of timing his arrival exactly for school.
Therefore, there usually aren't many students on the way to school.
The probability of bumping into those excellent classmates from Class B was even more minuscule. Although he didn't know all his classmates, it didn't stop the fact that no one had ever greeted him.
So, he probably hadn't run into them.
Or rather, those classmates just acted like they didn't see him when they did.
Hmm?
Doesn't that make them just like him?
Whatever.
In short, even if there were familiar strangers, they wouldn't stare at him.
And yet, right now...
It was a matter of fact.
He could feel it.
Hikigaya could clearly feel two stinging gazes, and the other party had no intention of hiding it at all.
They were staring straight at him with intense focus.
Hikigaya looked back at the two boys; he really had no impression of them, and for a moment he felt like going up to ask if there was something wrong.
After thinking about it, Hikigaya decided against it.
His middle school years were not without experiences of being ridiculed; in fact, they were too many to count.
If it was just being stared at...
For Hikigaya, this kind of thing was truly child's play—or rather, it could be considered a very gentle method.
Without thinking further, Hikigaya arrived at school.
Class B classroom.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Have you been harassed by anyone from Class A?"
As soon as he walked into the classroom, Ichinose asked with a face full of worry, while Himeno Yuki and others followed behind her.
"I'm just being stared at; I haven't been harassed."
Hikigaya gave a couple of dry laughs.
It seemed those two guys were from Class A; apparently, he wasn't the only one being targeted.
"As expected?"
"I really didn't expect Class A to act so quickly!"
"What should we do now?"
"If they just want to put pressure on us through tailing and staring, then Class A is really looking down on us too much."
"Yeah, as long as everyone works hard together, it'll be fine~"
Ichinose and the others chattered on incessantly, and Hikigaya took the opportunity to return to his seat.
Even though they weren't talking about him.
Hikigaya still felt a sense of shame, as if he had been slapped in the face.
He didn't expect it.
Less than a day after the exam briefing ended, and before the matching classes had even been decided, Sakayanagi's actions had already begun.
Clearly.
The opponent had completely locked onto Class B with an attitude of never letting go, and their aggressiveness was maxed out.
It was truly terrifying.
On the other hand.
Hikigaya felt his cheeks flush slightly.
To think he was lecturing Ichinose yesterday; he didn't expect Ichinose's judgment to be so accurate.
Before the exam even started.
She guessed that with Sakayanagi's personality, she would inevitably attack Class B.
These people who can become class leaders.
They are indeed all very terrifying.
As a bottom-tier corporate drone, he should just behave himself.
After school.
"Hikigaya-kun!"
Ichinose approached Hikigaya once again.
Has this person been a bit too enthusiastic lately? Is her "special care" really this hard to resist?
"Eh, what's the matter?"
Feeling the gazes of everyone, Hikigaya responded awkwardly.
"Before."
Ichinose tilted her head, observing Hikigaya, and said: "You said you were more efficient studying alone, so I didn't say much before."
"But for this past half-year, setting aside other subjects for a moment, your math has not only failed to improve but has actually declined. Are you really okay?"
Inside.
"..."
Hikigaya's face stiffened; he was somewhat speechless.
His liberal arts subjects were naturally still at a top level, and his overall grades in Class B were second only to Ichinose, Kanzaki, and a few others—at least within the top five.
In the sciences, if he worked a bit harder, he could just barely manage.
Except for math.
As high school math became increasingly difficult, Hikigaya found it more and more taxing.
Physics was barely okay; at least it was still speaking human language.
Mathematics didn't speak human language at all.
What was that a and A^2 ghost stuff?
It felt like a buggy trash game; he completely couldn't understand what it meant.
Hikigaya could only guarantee not to lose points on the fundamentals.
As for the large problems at the end.
He had completely chosen to give up, not even looking at them.
Every exam.
He invested all his time into the fundamental questions at the beginning.
But his score still dropped from the original 52 points to hovering around 49 now.
The passing line was basically the class average divided by two.
The passing line for Class B math generally fluctuated between 37-40.
Although he was still within the safe range.
To avoid causing trouble for the class with his grades, he needed to maintain at least 50 points.
Math had already broken through the "Maginot Line" he had preset in his heart.
Hikigaya didn't want it to be like this either.
But he really didn't seem to have much talent for math.
Causing trouble for the class would naturally lead to a warning from Ichinose; it was only logical.
"It's fine."
"Didn't Hoshinomiya-sensei say that points can buy anything?"
"When the time comes, I'll solve it with personal points!"
Hikigaya showed a smile to reassure the other party; it was a good thing he hadn't handed over his personal points!
"Sigh."
Ichinose gave a helpless sigh:
"Hikigaya-kun, I'm not blaming you. It's just that the difficulty will only get higher from now on. Are you really okay? Do you want to try joining a study group?"
"With someone nearby to help clear up doubts, studying will definitely be more efficient!"
This was only at a tenth-grade level.
Later on.
Every exam would certainly become increasingly difficult.
Even if Hikigaya could save money, it was impossible to use personal points to solve it every single time.
"No thanks."
"I will definitely work hard. Next exam, I'll definitely get back above fifty points!"
Hikigaya stammered his guarantee, hurriedly issuing a "military pledge."
Indeed, an individual's power is limited.
He decided that starting today, he would stop being human.
Even if his proud Japanese language scores declined, he had to pull his math above fifty points to avoid causing trouble for the class.
"Eh? Having confidence is a good thing."
Ichinose shook her head helplessly: "But there's no need to be so serious. Just try joining a study group once; if it really doesn't work, we can think of other ways. How about it?"
"I'm not used to having too many people around, so really, no thanks!"
Hikigaya laughed dryly.
Studying was originally a solitary matter; he could guarantee that studying alone was definitely more efficient.
The so-called study groups in middle school.
Were all just various chats under the guise of studying.
If he joined a study group.
Never mind math.
Even other subjects might plummet.
Though he might just bring his ears and study alone without causing any impact, there was no need to force himself into an environment he couldn't adapt to.
It was still more efficient alone.
"Alright."
Hearing his words, Ichinose thought for a moment and nodded.
The last victory banquet had already made her understand that Hikigaya truly disliked those crowded occasions; forcing him to participate in a study group would likely only have the opposite effect.
It had to start with a small number of people!
The next day.
Class A's pressure continued.
While he didn't know how Ichinose and the others were doing, Hikigaya at least truly didn't take them seriously.
Approaching noon.
Hikigaya planned to go to the cafeteria to improve his meals; actually, he really liked the Advanced Nurturing cafeteria.
The taste went without saying.
Most importantly.
In the cafeteria, one could see the most authentic side of human nature.
Despite being members of the same class.
Or friends.
But when seeing an acquaintance with others in the cafeteria, they would choose to pretend not to see them.
In truth, their relationships weren't that great.
Or rather, they didn't really enjoy socializing.
In the cafeteria, one could discover that most people's relationships were just superficial hypocrisies.
In other words.
The loner is the correct one!
Most people are just hindered by the world's evaluation system and have to make appropriate compromises.
It's the world that is wrong!
If everyone could become a loner, the world wouldn't have conflicts; instead, it would be more peaceful.
Conclusion: "Normies" (Riajuu) are the culprits obstructing world peace!
For world peace!
Hikigaya saw Shibata and several other Class B acquaintances and intentionally pretended not to see them, looking for an empty seat.
"Should Sweden give me a Nobel Prize in Literature at some point?"
Hikigaya fantasized about the future, his "dead fish eyes" scanning the cafeteria.
Unfortunately.
There were simply too many people in the cafeteria at noon.
In such a small place like Sakura Island, is it really okay to have so many people?
In other words.
Not being able to get a girlfriend is actually contributing to the country!
Speaking of which.
Should more single-person seats be added to the cafeteria? Maybe he should submit a suggestion form to the Student Council.
Hikigaya, holding his tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) set, observed the room for a long time before his eyes finally settled on a familiar figure.
The number one person on the "Gloomy List"!
The King of Loners!
Class 1-D's Onizuka-daimyojin!
Even though he occupied a four-person table, the area around him seemed to be a vacuum field as he arrogantly enjoyed his mountain vegetable set.
This guy!
He has definitely mastered the "Loner's Domain" unique to solitary practitioners!
It possesses perfect traits like invisibility and spatial cutting, repelling all "normies" and "pseudo-normies" while opening its arms only to fellow loners!
Slide.
What a great saint!
Perhaps because the mountain vegetable set tasted poor, Onizuka finished quickly. Hikigaya sped up his pace to snatch the "Great Saint's" seat the moment he left.
"Itadakimasu!"
Hikigaya folded his hands.
He tried to activate his own Loner's Domain.
He felt he wasn't far from taking that step, but ever since coming to this school, Hikigaya felt his personal strength had declined somewhat.
At least, he hoped he still had the "Spatial Severance" ability.
"Is this seat taken?"
Unfortunately, his strength had indeed declined severely. Before Hikigaya could even speak, a girl with long black hair wearing a burgundy uniform sat down opposite him.
It was Horikita Suzune.
"Um... I haven't said anything yet..." Hikigaya said, somewhat unconvinced.
He hadn't even answered, and she just sat down directly.
She's looking down on people way too much!
"Looking at you, it's impossible for you to have other friends. Or are you waiting for someone? Tell me who."
Horikita Suzune's face was calm as she placed her tray on the table.
True!
Hikigaya wanted to use the classic excuse of "waiting for a friend," but he felt that a serious person like Horikita might actually check later.
That would be incredibly embarrassing.
Better not.
However.
Hikigaya really didn't think his relationship with Horikita was that good.
They had only met a few times.
It certainly wasn't at the level where they could eat together.
Moreover, with Horikita's arrogant personality, she probably wouldn't seek him out actively unless she wanted something.
This girl definitely has an ulterior motive...