[◇●Please be advised, things are about to get a lot more intense from here on... and I mean 'intense' in every sense of the word."😏]
After parting with Horikita Manabu and the others, Hikigaya blissfully enjoyed a Wagyu beef set meal and bought a large watermelon before returning to the dormitory.
Oh no.
He actually dared to buy such a big watermelon.
He felt like he was getting a bit carried away!
Glancing at the big watermelon in his hand, Hikigaya felt even more proud.
Thirty million!
It should be fine to be a little extravagant.
But should he give some to Kobashi Yume and the others?
After all, Kobashi Yume and the others often brought small snacks to the club; in all fairness, he should give something back.
Stepping out of the elevator, Hikigaya saw Ichinose Honami standing outside his door.
"Ichinose?"
"Hikigaya-kun..."
Ichinose quickly turned around, her face slightly red. "I have something I want to talk to you about. Could you spare me some time?"
"Oh... no problem."
Hikigaya was in a good mood. "I just happened to buy a watermelon. Let's go inside and talk."
Ichinose was an angel.
There was no need to be on guard like he was with Arisu Sakayanagi.
Moreover, Ichinose usually looked after him quite a bit; inviting her to eat a few pieces of watermelon was nothing.
The key point: he was rich!
Hikigaya really wanted to find someone to show off to, but he also understood the principle that wealth should not be flaunted. On second thought, he decided against it.
The two walked into the room. Ichinose changed into slippers at the entrance and said with some embarrassment:
"Forget the watermelon. I have something I want to tell you first."
"Eh?"
Hikigaya was a bit surprised.
There were actually people who could resist the deliciousness of watermelon.
As expected of Ichinose.
"Alright, is MAX Coffee okay then?"
"Yes."
A few moments later, Hikigaya came out of the kitchen carrying two cups of MAX Coffee and placed them on the low table. Ichinose sat opposite him with her legs crossed.
Today she was wearing a sleeveless shirt and a skirt that went past her knees, with only her fair calves exposed.
"So, what is it?"
Hikigaya sat cross-legged opposite Ichinose.
Although he couldn't become a leader, if Ichinose had any problems, he would help if he could. Things beyond his ability were another matter.
"Well..."
Ichinose pursed her lips, looking a bit embarrassed.
As a class leader, she never revealed her fragile side in front of the class to avoid affecting morale.
But Hikigaya was different.
Hikigaya was not only stronger than her in ability, but his heart was also tougher. He was also her hero, always providing effective advice.
Hikigaya was undoubtedly an existence above her.
In front of Hikigaya, Ichinose felt she could say a few more things.
"Before we talk about the main matter, could you let me complain a little bit?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya was suddenly a bit dazed.
To tell the truth, although he liked talking bad about people with others and liked to complain himself, he didn't like listening to other people's complaints.
Listening to people complain only made one's own mood worse.
However, for someone with such a cheerful personality like Ichinose to actually complain to someone, it must be something very important. Hikigaya scratched his head and said:
"I guess... if it's not too long."
"Yes."
Ichinose held the disposable paper cup and said somewhat bitterly:
"Just now, Horikita-san came to me to end our cooperative relationship. A year has passed, and our class points haven't grown at all. We are going to drop to Class C in the second year. I often wonder if I'm just not suited to be a leader."
"..."
Hikigaya listened silently without opening his mouth.
Beginning next semester...
Class B will fall to Class C.
Although it is only a gap of about twenty points, the change in class status is a reality.
Next semester.
They will become rivals with Horikita Suzune's Class D.
It wasn't surprising that Horikita Suzune would seek out Ichinose to dissolve the class partnership.
To be honest.
Hachiman actually quite approved of it.
Having to worry about the cooperative relationship during every exam made it difficult to target Class D, and having to specifically look out for them during joint exams was truly a bit depressing.
Now, finally, they no longer have to act as a babysitter for Class D.
It should be considered a good thing.
However, Horikita Suzune's attitude—turning her back and refusing to acknowledge past favors—was indeed a bit upsetting.
Although Class D seemed to help during the rumors about Ichinose.
Most of the time.
It was Class B assisting Class D.
The uninhabited island exam, the pairing exam where they had to consider Class D, and even during the forest training camp, it was said they took in many unpopular girls from Class D.
This resulted in Ichinose being unable to even break into the top three.
She spent all her time helping others.
Of course.
Horikita Suzune naturally didn't know how much Class B had considered them, but it was still a bit irritating.
With Horikita Suzune's personality.
She probably thinks this was something Ichinose did voluntarily; although it indeed was voluntary on Ichinose's part...
At the thought of this.
Hachiman felt a bit of a headache.
As expected, listening to people complain only affects one's mood.
"And..."
Ichinose pursed her lips, her voice filled with self-reproach.
"When I saw Ryuen appearing before me as the commander, my mind went into a total blur. I couldn't think of anything."
"~This is all my responsibility."
"Even though Class B had the advantage in overall strength and everyone worked very hard, I still caused everyone to lose the match."
"If it weren't for the efforts of Hiki and Shibata, we probably would have lost by even more."
"Do I really have the ability to continue serving as the leader of Class B?"
Ichinose's sense of responsibility was too strong.
The situation wasn't as serious as she made it out to be.
In this exam.
The goddess of luck was undoubtedly standing on Ryuen's side.
It was indeed unexpected for Ryuen, who had been ousted by his class, to suddenly become the commander for this exam.
As long as one is human.
They would likely be confused.
Furthermore.
The events Ryuen designed were indeed good; it wasn't shameful to admit the opponent was one step ahead this time.
Defeat was almost a high-probability event.
Hachiman didn't particularly care; if he knew they were likely to lose, he might have just surrendered directly.
But if you were to ask if they could have won?
The answer is definitely yes!
The reason being.
They only needed one more win!
Although they won the match in Class C's primary event, Judo, they lost in their own primary event, the Chemistry Test.
Moreover, the Chemistry Test was the third event.
Even if she was a bit confused seeing Ryuen, Ichinose probably could have adjusted; at least her performance in the subsequent events wasn't bad.
Clearly.
Ichinose has the strength, and she isn't inferior to people like Horikita Suzune.
However.
All sorts of excuses could be found.
Except for the personnel arrangement of the Chemistry Test—that was something Hachiman simply couldn't figure out.
Although he had his suspicions.
Hachiman also felt it was unlikely; after all, the self-reproach and guilt on Ichinose's face before him could not be faked.
If this was acting.
Then Ichinose was truly too incredible.
Hesitating for a moment.
Looking at the girl before him with her pursed lips and face full of bitterness, Hachiman finally asked the doubt in his heart.