Hokkaido.
New Chitose Airport.
Everyone lined up in the terminal hall.
From now on.
They would act in groups, taking a bus to the ski resort.
Teacher Mashima was in charge of students in groups 1 to 5.
Hoshinomiya Chie was in charge of groups 6 to 10, Teacher Sakagami for 11 to 15, and Chabashira for 16 to 20.
Hikigaya observed the surroundings curiously.
Judging status in the grade solely by group order was indeed a bit improper, but Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune seemed to have been assigned to Group 17.
Their performance in the Unanimous Special Exam had been exposed.
Seats."
The evaluation of those two in the eyes of most in the school had plummeted.
"Since all group members have arrived, let's decide on the seating. Students, please negotiate your seats among yourselves based on the assigned positions."
Decide for ourselves...
Hearing Teacher Hoshinomiya's words, Hikigaya's expression looked a bit troubled.
The group had nine people in total.
There were ten seats allocated.
It couldn't be helped.
This group was likely the only nine-person group in the whole school; others were 8-person or 6-person groups.
It was only at times like this that one could realize the importance of Ichinose; integrating opinions was the thing Hikigaya was least good at.
01 thing.
Difficult?
Then don't do it!
In the past, he could naturally do nothing and just follow behind the group.
But now.
Strictly speaking.
Now that Hikigaya was at least a class leader, he should be the most likely one to step forward and integrate opinions, right?
But if he rashly proposed an idea and no one responded.
It seemed it would also damage his prestige as a Class B leader, making it even more troublesome to propose ideas in the future.
Furthermore.
There was a difficult existence like Ibuki Mio in the group.
No, no, no, it's just a school trip, it should be fine, right.
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow.
It seemed participating in a normal school trip wouldn't be much of an issue.
It couldn't be helped.
Sitting in this position.
The problems he had to consider had indeed increased.
As for the others in Class B.
There should be absolutely no need to worry.
Class B was a group of kind, good kids; when they encountered problems, most tended to take the lead in compromising, so basically no problems would occur.
In short.
He would just act according to the situation.
While people from other classes hadn't arrived yet, Hikigaya turned back to look at Sakura Airi and Tsube Hitomi.
"That..."
At this time.
Sakura Airi looked at Tsube Hitomi with some hesitation:
She had also discovered during this time.
The people in Class B were very kind and easy to talk to; if there was any problem, someone would be happy to help.
However.
She basically hung out more in the circle of Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro, and hadn't had much contact with Tsube Hitomi.
Furthermore.
Tsube Hitomi was also the inconspicuous type in Class D.
She knew even less about her.
"That... Tsube-san."
"I know already."
Tsube Hitomi smiled nonchalantly: "Airi-chan wants to sit with Hiki-kun, right?"
"Um, um, is it okay?"
"Of course, I don't want to be a third wheel here and get hated."
"Thank you, Tsube-san."
"Wait."
Hikigaya looked at Sakura Airi and said:
"Let's talk about this later, we still need to hear their opinions. It might be better for you two to sit together then."
"Eh!?"
"Really."
Tsube Hitomi smiled and shook her head: "I'll just sit in the extra seat, Hiki-kun doesn't need to care so much."
Although the feeling of being understood and valued was good, she truly didn't mind these things.
Rather.
Being able to solve some troubles for Hikigaya.
Was even more pleasing.
"No."
Hikigaya shook his head, feeling a bit of a headache:
"That empty seat might be more popular than you imagine. Hitomi, it's more convenient for you and Airi to sit together."
"Why?"
Tsube Hitomi and Sakura Airi glanced at each other.
Simultaneously, they furrowed their brows.
In their eyes.
Not being able to sit and chat with friends, and instead sitting lonely in a corner, should be a very miserable thing.
That was why Sakura Airi had hesitated, and why Tsube Hitomi had volunteered to sit in the corner.
However.
In fact.
Hikigaya knew exactly how much that seat was welcomed by loners.
If it were the old days.
Hikigaya would have wished he could sit in the corner himself, not to mention there was a difficult person like Ibuki.
There would definitely be some trouble.
Just then.
"Hikki~💜."
Kamuro Masumi waved her arm and walked over, putting her arm around Hikigaya's neck with some excitement.
"I really didn't expect to be in the same group, it really is a kind of fate."
"Really, aren't you cold wearing that?"
Hikigaya glanced sideways, feeling quite speechless.
Kamuro Masumi had her down jacket open, revealing a thin crew-neck shirt underneath, with casual pants below, giving off a crisp and spirited vibe.
Mainly.
On her snow-white neck, she wore a black collar decoration with a heart-shaped buckle.
It was truly suggestive.
"A little bit, but it'll be fine once I start moving."
Kamuro Masumi said nonchalantly, a trace of eager-to-try smile flashing in her eyes.
Hikigaya instantly understood what this girl was thinking.
He looked helplessly at the other person from Class A.
Machida Koji.
As the number two of Class A, he would likely carry some sort of purpose.
"Machida-kun, right? I probably don't need to introduce myself anymore."
The corners of Machida's mouth curled slightly: "The name of scumbag Hikigaya is very famous in school. Unlike you, it's a bit surprising you can still remember my name."
"..."
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow.
As expected.
The path ahead is difficult.
"Anyway, please take care of me for these five days."
"Are there still two people who haven't come?"
At this time, Tokito Hiroya and Ibuki Mio from Class C walked over with slight dissatisfaction.
"Good morning, Ibuki, Tokito-kun."
Leaving Ibuki Mio aside for a moment, Hikigaya glanced slightly at Tokito Hiroya.
The other's eyes were upturned and his expression was cold; he also seemed to be the type who was very difficult to approach.
Mainly.
The other party seemed completely uninterested in them.
This actually surprised Hikigaya a little bit.
Reasonably speaking.
As members of Class C, Ryuuen would have arranged some tasks for them, right?
However.
If the other party maintained this loner attitude, it would actually be much easier to handle, and Hikigaya would have no complaints.
After speaking.
Ibuki Mio and Tokito Hiroya stood aside with flat expressions, waiting for the last two people.
Within a moment.
Kushida Kikyo and a slightly chubby boy, Sotomura Hideo, walked up to the group.
However.
Neither of them spoke.
Kushida Kikyo, who might have originally led the rhythm, was now playing with her hair with an indifferent and bored expression.
The past had already been exposed.
She was in a state of complete "broken jar" (giving up).
She seemed to have no intention of causing trouble, nor any intention of participating.
Fine.
Being like this could be considered not bad.
As for the other side.
Sotomura Hideo seemed a bit intimidated by such a Kushida.
Startled.
Feeling Sakura Airi's gaze, he quickly looked away. Then he was frightened by the fierce gazes of Ibuki, Tokito Hiroya, and Kamuro Masumi.
Looking at Hikigaya, his gaze was full of disgust, and he didn't know how to approach Tsube Hitomi, who was also from Class B.
At this time.
Sotomura Hideo stood aside timidly.
Stammering, he didn't know what to say.
One was someone he hated, the others were quite scary, and he felt somewhat guilty standing in front of Sakura Airi.
For him.
Such a group was simply a disaster.
The atmosphere was poor to the extreme.
Looking at the scene before him, Hikigaya also sighed that the road ahead was full of hardships.