Chapter 275 Conspiracy and Calculation, Fighting for the Man!
Dinner ended, and the crowd dispersed.
"Hachiman-kun, I wonder if you're free now?"
Ichinose Honami extended an invitation: "I'd like to take a walk with you on the sports field~"
Before Hikigaya could speak, Kushida Kikyo, standing nearby, beat him to the punch: "I'm so sorry, Ichinose-san. Hachiman-kun and I have a prior engagement to discuss class matters."
Discussing class matters?
'How come I didn't know about this?'
However, Hikigaya didn't expose Kushida Kikyo's lie.
"I see... Then I won't disturb you tonight."
The smile on Ichinose Honami's face didn't fade; waving goodbye, she added one more thing: "See you tomorrow then, Hachiman-kun."
Gazing at the departing figure, Kushida Kikyo's face changed instantly as she questioned him: "Hachiman! What is going on between you and Ichinose?"
"What do you mean 'what's going on'? I don't even understand what you're talking about."
Hikigaya's eyes flickered, his expression inevitably showing a bit of a guilty conscience.
"Don't try to play dumb! Something definitely happened between you two!"
Kushida Kikyo glared at him with eyes wide open: "The way Ichinose looked at you—it was like she wanted to eat you alive!!"
"Uh, why do I feel like the way you're looking at me right now is the one that wants to eat me alive..."
Hikigaya suddenly felt a cold sweat.
"Hmph! Don't give me that!"
Kushida Kikyo intentionally puffed out her chest in front of him, her face showing a mocking expression: "I'm putting myself out there—do you dare to take the plunge?"
"That's hard to say."
A flicker of heat flashed in the depths of Hikigaya's eyes.
If it were before, he could have confidently guaranteed his self-control.
But ever since experiencing that intimate physical contact with Ichinose Honami last night, his moral baseline had dropped several levels. If he encountered something similar again, Hikigaya didn't think he could hold out.
"Ah?"
Kushida Kikyo's heart jumped, and she instinctively took a few steps back, her expression shifting between light and shadow: "Does this mean... you won't take the initiative, won't refuse, and won't make promises?"
"Uh, it's not exactly like that.
How should I put it? I can only say, I am also a physically and mentally healthy ordinary boy."
Hikigaya spoke the truth with a straight face: "Facing a beautiful girl like Kikyo taking the initiative to get close, it's really hard to refuse."
"Che! Do you think I'll be happy just because you say a few nice words?"
Kushida Kikyo desperately held back the corners of her mouth from turning upward.
But she only lasted three seconds.
In an instant, Kushida Kikyo reverted to her gentle face, leaning forward with watery eyes as she gazed at him: "Hey~ Hachiman-kun, if you want to, I, I..."
"That's enough from both of you!"
Horikita Suzune forcibly intervened, reaching out to separate the two.
"Horikita, why are you still here!"
Kushida Kikyo stomped her feet in frustration.
The atmosphere was finally right, and it was all ruined by this bitch!
"I've been here the whole time.
Tugging and pulling in public—where is your sense of decorum?"
Horikita Suzune reprimanded coldly: "Hachiman, and to think you are the Student Council's Public Morals Chairman. Are you trying to take the lead in breaking the rules?"
"Uh."
Hikigaya was speechless.
"How high and mighty!
I think you're the one who wants to break public morals!"
Kushida Kikyo snapped back with a look of displeasure.
"Ridiculous. Have you forgotten it was me who helped you just now?"
Horikita Suzune countered coldly.
"Bah! Was that to help me?"
Kushida Kikyo wasn't stupid and quickly figured out the reason: "You clearly just wanted to use me to drive Ichinose away!"
"...I, I just couldn't stand Ichinose breaking public morals."
Horikita Suzune averted her gaze, her expression unnatural.
"Do you even believe that yourself?"
Kushida Kikyo shook her head, her eyes rolling so far back they nearly hit her forehead!
"Why are you two arguing again?"
Hikigaya couldn't help but complain: "I thought your relationship had improved."
"Impossible!
Horikita and I will be enemies for life!"
Kushida Kikyo spoke through gritted teeth.
"Just as well. To be honest, I quite dislike you too."
Horikita Suzune's face was equally frosty.
"To be fair, I wouldn't even dare to dream that you two would become good friends."
Hikigaya shook his head with a bitter smile.
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The next day.
Classes started and ended.
The study exchange meeting began.
Hikigaya and the others arrived at Class A's classroom on time as agreed.
But this time, not long after they started, a group of uninvited guests arrived.
"Tsk. Elite members of the prestigious Class A, yet you're being tutored by people from Class D. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Ryuen Kakeru led several underlings, swaggering into the Class A classroom.
Then, he spotted Hikigaya sitting with Ichinose and couldn't help but curse: "I say, you dead-eyed bastard, I haven't seen you for a few days—how have you changed women again?"
"Ryuen, your mouth is as foul as ever."
Hikigaya looked disgusted.
"Ryuen-kun, please do not disturb our studies!
We aren't opponents in this special exam, are we?"
Ichinose Honami frowned, trying to reason with him.
"Heh~ My goal is Class A. Facing off against you is only a matter of time."
Ryuen Kakeru sneered.
"In that case, you came here today specifically to cause trouble?"
Himeno Yuki stood up, glaring directly at him.
She still held a grudge over Class C framing her before.
"Don't speak so aggressively.
Isn't your Class A famous for being hospitable?
How about hosting us too?"
Ryuen Kakeru acted arrogantly, plopping down on the desk of a boy in the front row.
The latter appeared to be an introverted, skinny boy who immediately started trembling in fear, not daring to make a sound.
"Ryuen!!"
Everyone in Class A was filled with righteous indignation.
The hot-headed Shibata Souta rolled up his sleeves, ready to square off with Ryuen Kakeru.
"Wait a moment, Shibata-kun!"
Ichinose Honami called out to him, pointing at the surveillance camera overhead: "Don't fall for it. They are trying to deliberately provoke us into starting a fight."
"But they're clearly the ones picking a fight first..."
Shibata Souta looked indignant.
"You can't just talk nonsense.
I just came over to audit your study session. Does that violate school rules?"
Ryuen Kakeru crossed his legs, looking like a total rogue.
"Since Ryuen-kun is here to study, we naturally welcome you."
Ichinose Honami stabilized the emotions of the Class A students.
"Honami, do you need help?"
Hikigaya took the initiative to speak.
"No! This is a matter between Class A and Class C. There's no need for Hachiman-kun to get involved."
Ichinose Honami shook her head, her attitude firm.
"Did you hear that, dead-eyes?"
Ryuen Kakeru provoked: "Don't you hate class conflicts the most?
I hate you even more!
Instead of studying properly, you spend all day causing trouble everywhere."
Hikigaya gave a cold glance, which contained a hidden warning.
"Tsk! Mind-your-own-business fellow!"
Ryuen looked displeased but didn't dare do too much.
"Everyone, ignore them. Let's continue studying."
Ichinose Honami led everyone back into a study state.
The people Ryuen brought didn't take any physical interfering actions, but the group just standing by the window, staring maliciously at the Class A students inside, was enough to affect the latter's mood, causing the study efficiency to drop significantly.
"You bunch of uneducated scum!"
Yukimura Teruhiko couldn't help but explode on the spot. Usually introverted, he rarely communicated with others and had no friends from elementary school, middle school, or even now.
After coming to Class A, he greatly enjoyed the good learning atmosphere.
"You four-eyed brat who only knows how to study dead books, what are you shouting for?
If you have the guts, come out and fight one-on-one!"
Ishizaki Daichi taunted.
"Don't insult studying, you bastard!"
Anger went to Yukimura Teruhiko's head. He grabbed a thick math exercise book and rushed out of the classroom.
"Wait, Yukimura-kun..."
The nearby Horikita Suzune and Wang Mei-Yu tried to stop him, but Yukimura Teruhiko was already blinded by rage, ignoring everything to go fight the other party.
"Bring it on, four-eyes!"
Ishizaki Daichi rubbed his hands together.
"Baka-yarou!"
Yukimura Teruhiko used the rolled-up math exercise book to hit him.
Smack!
"Ow... You actually dared to hit me?"
Ishizaki's arm took a hit that was more painful than expected. He immediately flared up and grabbed the other's collar.
There was a world of difference between their physical builds; Yukimura Teruhiko was naturally handled easily.
"Yukimura-kun!"
Shibata Souta had received math tutoring from Yukimura and couldn't just stand by and watch him get bullied. He immediately rushed forward, throwing a punch at Ishizaki's cheek.
However, surprisingly, Ishizaki stood perfectly still and took Shibata's punch head-on, then tumbled to the ground.
"Aieeeeee~ It hurts so much!"
Ishizaki Daichi let out a howl like a dying pig on the spot.
"Eh?!"
Shibata Souta was stunned.
Did he really have that much strength?
Clap~ Clap~ Clap~
Ryuen Kakeru clapped his hands happily: "You recorded it all, Albert? Students from Class A and Class D teaming up to gang up on Ishizaki from our class."
"What?!"
Seeing the villain sue first, the Class A crowd was furious: "You were clearly the ones who provoked us first!"
"Provocation? Ishizaki just said a couple of things. As the saying goes, a gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists.
The person who moved first was Yukimura. Ishizaki was only acting in passive defense, and as a result, he was ambushed by Shibata."
Ryuen Kakeru gave a sinister sneer.
"You! How can there be someone so despicable and shameless?"
Yukimura Teruhiko and Shibata Souta were both incensed.
"If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for being too stupid!"
Ryuen mocked them unscrupulously.
"Enough, Ryuen-kun!
We're all smart people. What exactly do you want?"
Ichinose Honami's eyes were cold; she was rarely this angry.
"What do I want?
Your people hit my man. What do you think I want to do?"
Ryuen thought he had caught them red-handed.
"Ryuen, you better not be too arrogant!
We can testify that Ishizaki was the one who deliberately provoked first!"
Horikita Suzune spoke up to help.
"Fine then!
Let's report it to the Student Council and see whose trouble is bigger?"
Ryuen's attitude was tough, clearly intending to make a big deal out of it.
"Isn't there one right here, the Public Morals Chairman?"
Ryuen guided everyone's gaze toward Hikigaya.
"Hikigaya, you'll help us, right?"
Yukimura Teruhiko looked at him expectantly.
'This guy really has low EQ.
Even if I'm going to help, you can't say it in front of everyone!'
"Yukimura, stop talking!"
Horikita Suzune glared at him, clearly noticing his blunder.
"Public Morals Chairman, don't even think about covering for them!
If your handling doesn't satisfy me, I will absolutely take this to the Student Council!"
Ryuen Kakeru threatened.
"What's your hurry?
In the event of a physical conflict between students, the active provoker is suspended for three days...
The one who initiates the physical assault is suspended for one week and must write a formal apology...
Additionally, there will be a deduction of class points. The specific value will be decided by the Student Council after discussion."
Hikigaya handled it according to the school rules, fair and just.
"A week's suspension? That's too heavy!"
Yukimura Teruhiko was now filled with regret. How could he have acted so impulsively?
"I'm sorry, I caused the class to lose points."
Shibata Souta looked at his classmates with a face full of guilt.
"Ryuen-kun, I don't think you want a mutual defeat either, right?"
Ichinose Honami keenly grasped the key point.
"What mutual defeat? The ones who used force are you. Your class points will definitely be deducted more!
This loss—I think our Class C can afford it."
Ryuen had already calculated everything clearly.
"Ryuen-kun, what good does it do you to go through all this trouble to frame us?
Looking at the class rankings, Class B should be your primary target to catch up to, right?"
Ichinose Honami attempted to shift the target to change his mind.
"That's none of your business!"
Ryuen refused to answer.
But Hikigaya had already guessed the general idea.
Class C was likely bought out by Class B, or rather, the two classes had formed a secret alliance!
"Just state your conditions.
Reaching a settlement is the optimal solution for all three classes."
Ichinose Honami hit the nail on the head.
"Straightforward!
I have two conditions. As long as you agree, today's incident never happened."
Ryuen held up one finger: "First, your two classes each pool 1 million points as compensation for Ishizaki's injuries."
"What?!"
"1 million? You might as well go rob someone!!"
Yukimura Teruhiko was incredibly agitated.
His personal point account hadn't exceeded five digits for a long time.
His daily life was very strained; he even had to weigh his options for every meal.
The Class A side didn't have much of a protest against the 1 million amount.
"And the second condition?"
Ichinose Honami's brow furrowed, suddenly having an ominous feeling.
"The second condition is: both Class A and Class D must send top students to our Class C for tutoring."
This condition was Ryuen Kakeru's core goal!
It could sabotage the learning of both classes while improving his own class's studies—a guaranteed win!
"Oh, right.
For Class D, I specifically want Hikigaya Hachiman!"
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