Soon.
Time arrived at the first weekend.
Due to the Sports Festival, even on the weekend, many people were still training.
Of course.
There were certainly lazy fellows, but such people probably don't need to be guarded against.
School.
Playground No. 1.
Hikigaya, Ichinose, Kanzaki, and Shibata stood at the edge of the playground, observing the people of Class A.
At a glance, no fewer than fifty people were training; the figures of Ando Sayo and others could also be seen.
A few strong contestants from Class B were training for group projects with people from Class A.
Noticing their figures, Katsuragi walked over to them.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Katsuragi."
Hikigaya and the others greeted him respectively.
Different from before.
At this time, Katsuragi was high-spirited.
Even though he seemed to have made arrangements, many people were still wary of this side; Kamuro Masumi also glanced over from time to time. If Sakayanagi hadn't told her to listen to Katsuragi's arrangements, she probably would have run over directly.
"Ichinose."
Looking at the group of four before him, Katsuragi was slightly puzzled: "Do you have some business?"
"Intelligence reconnaissance."
Hikigaya nodded, without any intention of hiding it.
"At this time?"
Katsuragi was instantly dumbfounded.
After all, even if there is cooperation now, they will certainly become competitors in the future.
Reconnaissance.
Katsuragi could naturally understand.
But it has been nearly two years; they are only coming for reconnaissance now?
"Suppose so."
Hikigaya nodded: "Don't worry, we won't disturb you. There should be no problem, right?"
In any case, the playground doesn't belong to Class A; even if Katsuragi didn't agree, they could still watch.
"No problem."
Katsuragi's voice became steady: "I might even be able to offer you some different views."
"Hmm? What does that mean?"
Ichinose asked in confusion: "You shouldn't have a reason to help us, right?"
Katsuragi said calmly: "Aside from the cooperative relationship, I hope you can answer a few questions. As for whether to listen to my opinion, that's up to you, how about it?"
Ichinose and the others looked at each other; Hikigaya nodded.
"No problem, as long as it's not a particularly difficult question to answer."
"That's fine. Who do you want to observe?"
"Well..."
Hearing Katsuragi's question, Hikigaya turned his head to look at the playground.
Although all were training.
People were running, high-jumping, and frog-jumping; it was truly difficult to see the gap based on this.
"Who do you guys think are the most noteworthy people to be wary of?"
Hikigaya looked at Ichinose and the others and asked.
"It's definitely Katsuragi, right."
"If it's me, it's Kitou-kun."
"For me, it's Hashimoto-kun."
Ichinose and the three others gave different views; Katsuragi, who was nearby, didn't mind.
Hikigaya quickly took out his phone and opened the OAA.
Katsuragi aside, he had almost no impression of the other two.
Gazing at the ghost-like photo on the OAA, Hikigaya finally realized it was him.
"I see, Shibata is concerned about his strength?"
OAA.
Kitou's academic ability and judgment are only at the C+ level, but his physical ability has an A evaluation, while Shibata only has B+.
As the poster boy of Class B.
It's not strange for Shibata to care about these things.
It's just that.
Hikigaya didn't care much; physical ability cannot fully represent exam results.
"Then how exactly is it?"
"In terms of foot speed, I have a lot of confidence."
Shibata's expression was a bit solemn: "But in terms of physique, I'm afraid I'm not his match. I think Kitou is a competitor worth being wary of. On the girls' side, it's Kamuro-san."
Hearing his words.
Ichinose and the others didn't say much; Kamuro Masumi is indeed at the top level among the second-year girls.
However.
Although being strong individually is impressive, it isn't necessarily worthy of admiration.
Hikigaya didn't pay much attention and turned to look at Kanzaki.
Compared to Kitou.
The Hashimoto Masayoshi that Kanzaki was wary of was instead a bit difficult to understand.
This blonde named Hashimoto, Hikigaya remembered him too; last time he went to find Sakayanagi, he remembered he had helped.
Whether it's academic ability or physical ability.
Hashimoto Masayoshi is not weak, but he can't be called top-tier; at most, he can be considered upper-middle.
He shouldn't be enough for Kanzaki to list as the number one object of vigilance.
Feeling Kanzaki's gaze, Katsuragi understood and said in a flat voice:
"Don't worry, I know Hashimoto has had contact with Ryuuen, and perhaps also with you guys."
"???"
Hikigaya and the three others were instantly stunned.
They hadn't heard of this matter at all.
Until hearing Katsuragi's words, Kanzaki said heavily:
"Hashimoto indeed contacted me. He seems to act only for the sake of graduating from Class A, even at the cost of betraying the class..."
"It's just that I couldn't judge whether he was being truthful or not, so I didn't tell you guys."
"It's better not to believe this kind of thing."
Hikigaya nodded in agreement.
Even if Hashimoto Masayoshi really would betray the class to graduate from Class A, they couldn't easily believe it.
This kind of uncertain intelligence will only interfere with one's own judgment.
On the other hand.
Listening to Katsuragi's meaning, he was aware that Hashimoto had contact with Ryuuen.
For Class B.
He contacted Kanzaki, seemingly looking down on Ichinose a bit.
"I just didn't expect that you, Katsuragi, would be aware of this."
"Incredible, isn't it."
Katsuragi looked at Hashimoto Masayoshi's figure on the playground and said heavily:
"He took the initiative to tell me this himself, and he didn't hide the possibility of him betraying the class at all..."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this.
Hikigaya and Ichinose were both somewhat shocked.
However.
On second thought.
This might be Hashimoto Masayoshi's cleverness.
In other words.
As long as Katsuragi or Sakayanagi can maintain Class A's position, it's impossible for Hashimoto Masayoshi to betray them.
Moreover.
To be tolerated by both Sakayanagi and Katsuragi until now, Hashimoto Masayoshi's strength is obviously not weak and has its own merits.
Last time he persuaded his companions to help Hikigaya, he probably also wanted to hedge his bets.
It's just that.
Hikigaya himself didn't act, and Class B was still thinking about cooperating with Class A.
Seeing no hope, Hashimoto Masayoshi naturally gave up.
"In addition, there's Kitou whom you're concerned about."
Katsuragi provided his own perspective without hiding anything:
"His strength is indeed not weak; he can be considered the person with the strongest athletic ability in our Class A. But don't look at his appearance; Kitou is actually a person with a very strong sense of justice. Even now, he is still a member of the Sakayanagi faction."
"Sense of justice..."
Hikigaya pinched his chin in thought.
Katsuragi's words revealed several pieces of information at once.
Hashimoto Masayoshi confessed his matters to Katsuragi, clearly having surrendered to Katsuragi already.
Yet Kitou is still a member of the Sakayanagi faction.
After all, Sakayanagi has difficulty with her legs; Kitou, who has a strong sense of justice, wouldn't leave her be, at least in Katsuragi's eyes it was like this.
Sakayanagi still controls several classmates, and Katsuragi still remains wary of her.
It's just that.
Hikigaya couldn't understand why Katsuragi would tell them this.
"Alright, if you don't have any other questions, next it's my turn to ask."