AN: Hiii!!!! I'm back for the latest update for this week~.
The next chapters will show how Hachiman's plan went on.
So this chapter and the next chapters will be like a combination of the present, then flashback, then back to the present.
I gave the first-hand notice just in case you guys might have thought what was happening or felt that there might be a missing chapter.
Enjoy Reading~.
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Deserted Island, Hachiman's Home Planet…
Ichinose Honami is worried. Ever since this morning, she hadn't seen her beloved Hikigaya Hachiman. Even their homeroom teacher, Hoshimiya Chie, didn't seem surprised and had said nothing during roll call about why Hachiman was nowhere to be found.
The last time she saw him was last night, after Hachiman made his usual late‑night run to renew their spots. After wishing him well with a hug and a kiss, Honami had bid him good night as he left… but the way Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou—who had also gone out last night—had been acting since morning made it clear that something must have happened.
When she asked Kanzaki about it and if he knew where Hachiman was, he simply replied that it was nothing and that Hachiman was fine. Still, she noticed how evasive he sounded. Even Shibata looked distracted, repeatedly glancing toward the cruise ship waiting at a distance.
'Hachiman must have done something… and asked those two to help him carry it out.' Honami thought, narrowing her eyes.
It was now noon, officially marking the end of the week‑long survival exam. The entire Class B—minus Hachiman—stood together in line, whispering anxiously among themselves after not seeing their class "father" since morning.
"Where is Hikigaya anyway?"
"He went out last night, right? Did something happen?"
"Did he even come back last night?"
"I asked Kanzaki-kun earlier, but he just told me not to worry… which makes me worry even more."
"Seriously… if something happened to him, Honami-chan is going to explode."
The other classes were lined up beside them as well. On their right was Class A, led by Katsuragi. Honami didn't understand why, but the green‑haired boy beside him kept smirking toward Class B and throwing them a strange look.
She also noticed Kamuro Masumi, one of Hachiman's acquaintances, standing stiffly among them. A few girls from Class A were glancing in Honami's direction with something that looked like sympathy.
Then she turned her eyes to the left, where Class C should be standing. Just as Hachiman had predicted, Ryuen Kakeru was there alone with a proud grin. The gangster wannabe—as Hachiman liked to call him—looked lightly beaten up, yet he was strangely in a good mood. He kept flashing Class B and Class D a predatory, mocking smile.
Lastly, Class D was at the far left, openly glaring at Ryuen. But what caught Honami's attention the most wasn't just about the absence of Horikita Suzune but Kushida Kikyo.
Her expression was completely blank.
She wasn't smiling like she usually did. Instead, she gave off an aura that pushed people away. Aside from the short girl with twin‑tail hair beside her, no one else seemed able to approach Kikyo.
'Something must have happened… and whatever it was, it must have been drastic enough to affect this entire exam,' Honami concluded.
Honami had no idea what exactly had happened. But since it involved her beloved, she was certain of one thing.
Hachiman must have done something big.
And knowing his usual tricks, the results of this exam would probably flip the current status quo.
After a while, the four teachers of their grade—Mashima Tomonari of Class A, Hoshimiya Chie of Class B, Sakagami Kazuma of Class C, and Chabashira Sae of Class D—lined up at the front to announce the results of the exam. Mashima-sensei stepped forward.
"First of all, congratulations on finishing this exam. There might have been a few hiccups along the way, but you all did well," he said in his usual strict tone. "Now, it is time to announce the results of this exam."
Silence fell over the students as every class waited for the announcement. No one wanted to miss even a single word.
"Last place… Class C, zero points!" Mashima-sensei announced.
"WHAAT?!" Ryuen immediately shouted in disbelief.
This wasn't supposed to happen. According to his calculations, Class C should have received 150 points for correctly identifying the leaders of the other classes, while the rest would get nothing. This result was completely outside his expectations.
"How is this possib—Hikigaya!!!"
Ryuen's eyes suddenly widened.
"Now… my part here… is done."
"Heh… It's my… win… Ryuen."
Hachiman's final words from the previous night resurfaced in his mind—words that would haunt him forever.
Cold sweat ran down his temples as the realization struck him.
He had walked straight into Hikigaya Hachiman's trap.
"I've been played… To think that dead-fish-eyes trapped me instead…"
His face turned grim and pale as the truth settled in.
He didn't even notice the cold, contemptuous looks being directed at him by Kikyo, Kanzaki, and Shibata.
"Third place… Class A, zero points!" Mashima-sensei continued.
"What?!"
"H-how is that possible?!"
"That can't be right!"
"Katsuragi! What the hell is this?!"
"Katsuragi, you bastard, this isn't what you said!!!"
Even the usually composed Class A students began raising their voices. Confusion spread through them as several students turned toward Katsuragi with accusing looks.
Katsuragi himself was stunned.
"…Impossible," he muttered.
Everything had gone according to plan. They had confirmed the leaders. They had secured their positions. There was no way their class should have received zero points.
Then suddenly—
A thought crossed his mind.
His expression slowly darkened.
Hearing that even Class A had received zero points, Ryuen suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Another possibility appeared in his mind.
"…Don't tell me…"
His eyes widened.
"…that bastard even used me against Class A?"
For the first time, Ryuen Kakeru felt fear.
Hikigaya Hachiman had predicted his movements… Used them to his advantage. Not only to strike down Class C—but to drag Class A down with them.
'Just what kind of monster did I awaken…!'
"Second place… Class D, 225 points!" Mashima-sensei added.
For a moment, the entire Class D remained frozen.
Then the realization hit them all at once.
"W-what?"
"N-no way!!"
"D-did we win?!"
"HELL YEAH!!!!!!"
"We did it, Kikyo-chan!!!"
"Hmm…Yes, Mii-chan. It's all thanks to him."
Their loud cheers spread across the beach as several students pumped their fists into the air.
But not everyone joined the celebration.
Standing silently among the cheering students, one boy remained completely still, his brows furrowed as he processed the announcement.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
While the others celebrated, his eyes glanced toward Class B.
'225 points…'
He silently ran the numbers in his head. The points matched the outcome he had calculated for his class, as planned. But… a small doubt crept into his mind.
If Class D had gained 225 points and both Class C and Class A had scored zero… then only one outcome remained.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
'So that's how it is.'
"Hikigaya Hachiman…"
The name left his lips in a whisper that no one around him heard.
"He used Ryuen and Class A against each other—No… it wasn't just them." He slowly shook his head, his eyes widening as the realization sank in. "He even factored my movements into his plan to attack those two classes."
Everything suddenly began to fall into place.
Ryuen's confidence.
Class A's strange movements.
The unnatural tension surrounding the exam's final night.
'That would mean our class will receive a gift from him… as thanks for helping him achieve his goal.'
All of it pointed to a single conclusion.
"…Interesting."
Ayanokoji glanced once more toward the silent Class B. Barely even noticing how his heart beat faster with excitement, a grin slowly crept onto his lips.
"To manipulate three classes at once… You really are interesting."
Then, after taking a heavy breath, Mashima‑sensei finally announced the winner of the exam. "And the first place… Class B, 5…520 points!"
The moment the number was spoken, every class turned toward them in shock. Gasps escaped from Class A, and even Class D stopped their cheering the instant they heard the announcement. Because now… the positions of the classes had completely flipped, leaving the former Class A with no grounds to complain.
Yet Class B remained silent.
There was no cheering. No excitement.
Because they had already realized it… the reason they obtained that many points was because of someone who wasn't standing among them right now. And because of that, none of them could bring themselves to celebrate.
Honami's expression flattened, her hands curling into fists as she turned toward Kanzaki, who let out a sigh, and Shibata, who looked away with a grimace.
"There are some more matters to address," Mashima-sensei said. "Class C's Ryuen Kakeru, for intentionally injuring another student and engaging in a fight, has seriously violated the rules of the school and the exam. You are hereby penalized by forfeiting all of your private points and a deduction of 100 class points."
"Wha…?"
Ryuen staggered in disbelief. For a moment, he even forgot to breathe. His body trembled uncontrollably.
If earlier he had only felt fear… now he felt absolute despair.
And the worst part was the confiscation of his private points.
Because of his policy, the entire Class C was obligated to hand over all of their Private Points to him. He only allowed them to keep a small amount for daily expenses. As a result, almost all of Class C's points were stored in his personal account.
Which meant that when the school took them back… he would lose everything.
Class C would have no points left for the rest of the month.
His prestige as the leader of Class C. His iron control over the class.
All of it would disappear after this exam.
Simply put, just as Hachiman had said… Ryuen Kakeru's dignity was gone. Everything he had been clinging to had been stripped away.
Now he was left with nothing but his life… and this crushing failure.
Meanwhile, the students of Class B looked at Ryuen with cold, murderous expressions after hearing the announcement.
Now they finally understood how their 'father' had secured their victory.
Even Honami, who usually carried a gentle smile, looked at Ryuen as if he were something unworthy of her attention.
Her eyes were cold.
And within them burned a silent fury.
"Additionally, Class A's Totsuka Yahiko will be penalized for stealing another class's item. A deduction of 50 Class Points and 50,000 Private Points." Mashima‑sensei concluded.
"W-what?" Totsuka Yahiko stared in disbelief. "M‑Mashima‑sensei, this has to be a mistake!!! I never stole anything!!"
Mashima looked at him coldly. "Didn't you admit to me last night that you took the medical kit from the seaside cabin?"
"That's right! But at that time, no one was occupying the cabin! So I didn't steal it!" Totsuka Yahiko protested desperately.
Mashima shook his head with a tired sigh. "...Unfortunately, that medical kit was an item brought by Class B using their S‑points. If that doesn't count as stealing, then what does?"
"...W‑what? How could that be…?"
Totsuka Yahiko collapsed to his knees in disbelief.
Beside him, even Katsuragi turned pale, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
They had been trapped… from the very beginning of the exam.
The moment they took that medical kit, they had already lost because of one rule written in the exam guidelines.
[Violence, theft, or destruction of property against another class will result in immediate failure for the class to which the offending student belongs and the forfeiture of all that student's private points.]
"No… perhaps even before we stepped off the ship, our only path was to lose," Katsuragi muttered.
The rest of the Class A was still stunned. Their minds still couldn't process what was happening. Masumi, watching her classmates struggle to accept reality, couldn't help but sigh and shake her head.
"...This is happening because you all angered someone you shouldn't have."
Then she glanced at Ryuen, who was standing blankly in his spot.
"But at least… he still left you your dignity as a person, unlike that guy over there."
Hearing Masumi's words, those who helped her save Hachiman last night, Morishita Ai, Yamamura Miki, Shiraishi Asuka, and Nishikawa Ryōko, all couldn't help but let out a sigh of helplessness and regret.
"... We lost." Shiraishi Asuka murmured. "We all lost against him."
Morishita Ai, Yamamura Miki, and Nishikawa Ryōko all nodded at her words.
"Hikigaya Hachiman. I can now see why Sayanagi-san found him fascinating." Morishita Ai said.
Mashima looked at the clamoring students before speaking once more.
"Now we will announce the class standings after this exam."
Class A: 1004 Class Points - 50 Class Points = 954 Class Points
Class B: 963 Class Points + 520 Class Points = 1483 Class Points
Class C: 492 Class Points - 100 Class Points = 392 Class Points
Class D: 187 Class Points + 225 Class Points = 412 Class Points
"Congratulations to Class B and Class D for promoting to Class A and C, respectively."
Class D—no, the new Class C—wanted to cheer and celebrate, but seeing how Class B—now Class A—remained silent throughout the announcement made it difficult for them as well.
"With that, everything is concluded. You are now dismissed and free to return to the ship." With a heavy sigh, Mashima dismissed everyone.
The Honami–Hachiman Class immediately bolted toward the small boat that would take them back to the ship.
"…Your class truly has a strong bond, Hoshimiya." Watching the tight-knit class immediately leave, Mashima said to Hoshimiya Chie beside him.
But she was already gone.
"…Huh?"
"If you're looking for her, she's already there," Sakagami Kazuma said, pointing toward the boat carrying the former Class B. Hoshimiya Chie was already with her students, hurrying them along as they boarded the boat.
"...Looks like she really got a good class this time," Mashima muttered with a wry smile.
Once the entire class boarded the boat and settled into their seats, Hoshimiya Chie quickly ordered them to depart.
The cabin remained silent.
Even though their class had won with an overwhelming lead, none of them could bring themselves to celebrate.
"Kanzaki-kun, Shibata-kun… explain."
Honami's soft voice rang through the cabin.
Kanzaki and Shibata both flinched when their names were called. The moment she spoke, the eyes of the entire class turned toward them.
Even Hoshimiya-sensei was watching them with her usual smile.
But the two boys could clearly see that the smile did not reach her eyes.
"…Which part do you want to know?" Kanzaki asked after a moment of silence.
"Everything," Honami replied flatly. "From the very beginning."
Shibata sighed.
"…I guess I'll start with my part."
—--
Last night…
Shibata Sou, following Hachiman's instructions, was already waiting near the camp of Class D. He stayed hidden in the trees, waiting patiently for a certain person to appear.
A few moments later, that person finally arrived.
Ibuki Mio—who had been staying at the Class D camp—came running through the forest, slightly out of breath while holding a card in her hand.
The leader's card.
"Haa… haa… haa… take that, Horikita Suzune. Your stupid pride will be your downfall." Ibuki muttered with a grin as she stared at the card before shaking her head.
"There's no more time. I need to give this to Ryuen."
'Bingo.'
Shibata muttered in his mind as he watched Ibuki run deeper into the forest.
Using his athletic ability, he followed her while keeping a large distance so she wouldn't notice him. After finding a good spot to hide, he saw Ibuki meet up with two boys.
Ryuen Kakeru.
And Kaneda Satoru.
"...Class D's leader card."
Shibata heard Ibuki say as she handed the card to Ryuen.
"Good work, Ibuki."
Ryuen grinned as he read the name written on the card.
"Hehehe… so it's Suzune who's the leader of Class D, huh? I guess that's about what I expected."
"Sorry, Ryuen‑san. Unfortunately, I couldn't fulfill my mission to infiltrate the Class B camp," Kaneda said regretfully.
'That's the guy Kobashi‑san said she kept seeing while their group was searching for food…'
Shibata narrowed his eyes.
'Tsk. Just as we thought… that guy had bad intentions toward our class.'
If this had been a different Class B where Hachiman didn't exist, they would probably have allowed Kaneda to stay in their camp out of goodwill and fall into this trap. But luckily… this Class B was different.
While their class still inherited Honami's gentle and compassionate heart, they had also adopted Hachiman's protective nature. And after witnessing how Class C tried to harass them during the first semester, none of them had a good impression of Class C.
Of course, they knew that not everyone in Class C was like Ryuen and the others who actively harassed them. But that didn't stop them from being cautious and protective toward one another.
So when Yume saw Kaneda alone in the forest, separated from his classmates, she didn't invite him to their camp. In fact, no one in her group even considered doing that.
Out of simple goodwill, they only gave him a little food before leaving.
"Tsk. That Dead‑Fish‑Eyes sure influenced the naïve Class B to stop trusting everyone so easily, huh?" Ryuen clicked his tongue.
Shibata's eyes twitched at the insult.
Not just because Ryuen called Class B naïve… but because he used that mocking nickname for Hachiman.
'Tsk! Hikigaya's eyes only look tired and lifeless because he has to deal with people like you!' Shibata angrily complained in his mind. 'You've never seen how his eyes light up when he talks to us!'
"What should we do now? How will we report to the Class A who the leader of Class B is?" Kaneda asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about that. I already have a good idea who Class B's leader is. And if I'm right, he should be making his rounds now to renew their class spots." Ryuen said with a smirk. "So tonight, I called someone he cares about to meet me. The moment he notices I lay a hand on her… he'll come running straight into my lap."
'Her? Just who is he talking about?' Shibata narrowed his eyes.
"Are you really sure about that, Ryuen?" Ibuki crossed her arms. "Wouldn't calling Ichinose be more effective than calling Kushida Kikyo?"
'Kushida-san… I see.' Shibata's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing in understanding. 'You truly are despicable, Ryuen.'
"Of course. With that guy's protective nature, he'll definitely come to rescue her." Ryuen nodded confidently. "That guy is like some hero in a story. Always appearing whenever someone is in trouble. So the moment someone close to him is in danger… he'll show up."
Shibata clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, barely holding himself back from jumping out and punching Ryuen.
"If you say so," Ibuki replied dismissively.
"Then you two should leave now. Exit the exam. Tomorrow will be our class's great victory." Ryuen said as he turned and walked away.
Ibuki and Kaneda glanced at each other before walking toward the shore, where the teachers' camp was located. Shibata followed them until the edge of the forest, wanting to confirm with his own eyes that Ibuki and Kaneda truly exited the exam.
After a while, he saw the two come out of the teachers' tent together with their homeroom teacher, Sakagami, and head toward the boat waiting at the shore. The two boarded and soon left for the ship.
'Phase 1 is done. All I need to do now is confirm whether the medical kit is with Class A and report to the teachers that it's missing.'
Shibata let out a long sigh.
"I wonder how Kanzaki's side is doing… I hope everything is going smoothly."
He shook his head and slapped his cheeks lightly.
"Alright! Now's not the time to worry. I still have a job to do!"
With renewed determination, Shibata ran back into the forest, searching for a chance to witness how the deal between Class C and Class A would end.
—-
"The medical kit? You mean the one Hachiman brought at the very start of the exam? The one he said we should carry since we'd be exploring an unknown forest, just in case someone got injured?" Honami frowned, crossing her arms inside the cabin of the boat.
"Yes," Shibata replied. "Hikigaya intended to use that 'insurance' as a trap. When he found the Seaside Cabin and decided it would make a good base camp for us, he noticed that Katsuragi and Totsuka were secretly watching him at the time. So he left the bait… and just like he predicted, they took it."
"…How should I put this? As expected from someone as tricky as him, I guess?" Amikura Mako said with a mix of amusement and admiration, earning several nods from the rest of the class.
"Still, Yume-chan, your instincts were right not to invite Kaneda-kun to our camp that time!" Shiranami Chihiro said, pouting. "If he had actually come to our camp then… Hikigaya-kun would have…"
"Yaaah… how embarrassing." Yume rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "At that time, when I saw Kaneda-kun, I only thought, 'Oh… how pitiful.' I didn't really think much about it."
Her answer made the others let out a few amused snorts.
"Ahh, so that's why when you appeared at the teachers' camp last night, everything felt so perfectly timed!" Hoshimiya-sensei exclaimed. "So the whole thing was a deliberate trap from the beginning!"
Shibata rubbed the back of his head and gave a wry smile. "Honestly… all I did was follow Hikigaya's plan."
He let out a long sigh.
"But because of that… I ended up letting him…"
Kanzaki gently patted his shoulder, understanding what Shibata was feeling.
"...So what's next?" Honami urged them to continue. "What happened after that?"
Kanzaki looked up at the ceiling of the boat and licked his dry lips before speaking.
"The next part… would be mine to tell."
Hearing that, everyone straightened slightly, eager to hear the rest of Hachiman's plan.
"So, just as Ryuen expected, Kushida‑san arrived at the place where he was waiting. Not long after that, Hikigaya appeared and confronted him… after telling Kushida‑san to wait for him at the lighthouse."
Kanzaki exhaled.
"The two of them fought. And using the camera Hikigaya borrowed from Sakura‑san… I captured the entire fight."
He glanced around at everyone in the cabin.
"After that, I went to meet up with Kushida‑san to begin Phase Two of the plan."
Kanzaki paused.
"And that is…"
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