Chapter 130: Ryuen: Hikigaya, This Time I Helped You
Time rewinds to ten minutes ago.
Ryuen Kakeru leaned against a window in the ship's cabin corridor. His phone screen was lit up, displaying a message from Shiho Manabe.
[Ryuen, I deleted that guy.]
He stared at the words for two seconds, a mocking smirk curling his lips.
Deleted? Of course she had to. But simply deleting a contact wasn't enough to quell the fire in his heart.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
The guy who cost his Class C 316 points during the deserted island exam, and the bastard who just yesterday tried to plant a spy in his class.
A "honey trap"? Using Manabe to bully Karuizawa just to play the hero and save the girl? And then trying to reel Manabe in too? He certainly had high hopes.
Ryuen pocketed his phone and turned toward the stairs. His gaze became incredibly sharp.
Because if someone dares to reach out their hand, they must be prepared to have it chopped off.
He had long ago arranged for people to monitor Ayanokouji's movements on the ship. He had just received word that the guy was on the deck, alone, leisurely sipping a drink.
Alone.
Hmph.
Very good.
.
.
.
At that moment, on the deck, despite it being early morning, the sea breeze was quite strong; one could feel their clothes fluttering as soon as they stepped out.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka sat leaning back at a small white round table, an iced coffee in hand, his gaze fixed on the distant sea. The sunlight spilled over him, and his expressionless face looked as calm as ever.
The "Show."
A few students were scattered around—some reading, some chatting, others leaning against the railing to take photos. No one noticed anything special about this Class D boy.
Until Ryuen appeared.
"Ayanokouji."
The voice came from behind, laced with undisguised hostility.
Ayanokouji turned his head, but before he could speak, his collar was snatched. He was lifted right out of his chair, feet leaving the ground, suspended in mid-air.
"You—"
Ryuen's face was inches away, his eyes burning with rage.
"It's you, isn't it!" Ryuen gritted out every word, his voice low yet clear enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Messing with the students in my class."
The surrounding students froze instantly.
Someone dropped their book, some gasped, and others instinctively stepped back—not to flee, but to create space so they could get a better view of the spectacle. After all, Ryuen wasn't attacking them.
The Class A students even hoped Ryuen would start a fight so they could record it and report him later.
"Holy crap, what's going on?"
"That's Ryuen from Class C... is the guy he's holding from Class D?"
"I think his name is Ayanokouji?"
Whispers erupted in waves, but no one dared approach. Ryuen's reputation throughout the grade was far too loud; no one wanted to court trouble.
Despite being held aloft, Ayanokouji showed no sign of panic. He simply looked at Ryuen quietly—no anger, no fear, just an inscrutable calm in his eyes.
"Ryuen-kun," his voice remained flat. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Don't understand?" Ryuen sneered, his grip tightening. "Quit fucking playing dumb. The love letter, 10:15 PM last night, the top deck area. Do I need to keep going?"
Ayanokouji's brow twitched slightly.
The love letter, the top deck... Ryuen knew everything.
Meaning, Manabe deleting him wasn't an accident; it was on Ryuen's orders. His plan had been exposed from the very start.
But Ayanokouji neither admitted nor denied it. His expression didn't shift. He acted like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water.
Seeing this look, the fire in Ryuen's heart burned even brighter. However, Ryuen's goal was to let everyone know exactly what kind of person Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was. By destroying Ayanokouji's reputation, he would block any methods Ayanokouji could implement.
That was his true purpose.
So, he deliberately raised his voice, ensuring the onlookers could hear every word.
"Listen up, everyone!" Ryuen held Ayanokouji with one hand and pointed at him with the other, his voice echoing across the deck. "This guy, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class D, used a 'honey trap' to seduce a girl in my class! Writing love letters, setting up meetings, acting like he liked her—and the result? He wanted to use my student to bully another girl from Class D so he could play the 'hero' and save her himself!"
'Whoosh—'
The crowd erupted.
"For real?"
"Ayanokouji? That guy who looks so honest?"
"Using Class C girls to do his dirty work... damn, that's a filthy tactic."
Discussions broke out everywhere.
The way everyone looked at Ayanokouji changed. There was surprise, disdain, and the excitement of watching a drama unfold. Some even filled in the blanks with elaborate backstories. Everyone had been bored lately, and with hormones running high, many were looking for romance, making them prone to such fantasies.
Ayanokouji remained expressionless, but he understood Ryuen's intent.
This guy was here to assassinate his character.
After this scene, who would dare interact with him? Which girl from Class C would ever accept a letter from him? Which Class D classmate wanting to cooperate would ever trust him?
The "honey trap" route was completely blocked off.
But Ryuen wasn't finished.
"And there's more!" he continued to expose. "This guy didn't just want to use my student; he wanted her to commit a crime! Bullying a classmate, recording videos, using them for blackmail—is this even something a human does?"
The chatter grew louder.
Some people took out their phones to record; others crowded closer for a better look. More and more people gathered on the deck, soon forming a large circle.
Ayanokouji knew there was no point in playing innocent anymore. Ryuen had cornered him; any denial would just look like a pathetic excuse to these people. And judging by Ryuen's stance, violence was next.
Sure enough.
Ryuen set him down but kept a grip on his collar, his other hand already balled into a fist.
"Today, I'll show you what happens when you touch someone from my Class C."
The moment the words left his mouth, a fist swung toward him.
Ayanokouji tilted his head and dodged.
Ryuen blinked in surprise and threw another punch.
Ayanokouji dodged again.
Ryuen's gaze turned dangerous. He threw several punches in succession, each fast and ruthless, but Ayanokouji seemed to predict them in advance, narrowly avoiding every single one.
The onlookers were dumbstruck.
"That guy... is dodging Ryuen's punches?"
"No way, isn't Ryuen supposed to be a beast at fighting?"
Ryuen himself realized something was wrong. He had been in countless fights and had absolute confidence in his skills. But now, facing this seemingly harmless Ayanokouji, his fists felt like they were hitting air.
He couldn't land a single blow.
While dodging, Ayanokouji's mind was racing with calculations.
Ryuen's goal was exposure and character assassination; he had already succeeded there. Now, Ryuen wanted to beat him up to solidify the "villain" image. If Ryuen used that reasoning to hit him, even if students recorded or reported it, it would be seen as "justifiable." Conversely, Ayanokouji would be the one under investigation.
If he kept dodging, Ryuen would only get more enraged, and the situation would escalate further.
Better to... turn this into a mutual scuffle and end the farce.
Consequently, Ayanokouji took two solid hits.
One punch landed on his shoulder, and another hit his abdomen. They weren't heavy, but they were enough for the audience to see him "getting beaten."
Ryuen paused, seemingly caught off guard that Ayanokouji had suddenly stopped dodging.
But in the next second, Ayanokouji moved.
His movements were a blur. In an instant, the situation reversed completely. Ryuen's arm was pinned behind him, and he was forced into a deep bend, unable to move.
Then, Ayanokouji grabbed his sleeve and hoisted him up.
Just as Ryuen had done to him moments ago.
Dead silence fell over the deck.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing.
The tyrant of Class C, the man who ruled through his fists, Ryuen Kakeru, was currently being held in the air by a single hand by a seemingly harmless Class D boy.
"..."
Someone let out a low gasp.
Ayanokouji looked at Ryuen in his grip, his face still devoid of emotion. His voice was cold, carrying an undeniable pressure.
"There won't be a next time."
With that, he let go and shoved Ryuen away.
Ryuen stumbled back several steps, nearly falling. As he steadied himself, his expression was a complex mix of anger, shock, and disbelief.
He had just realized that when Ayanokouji was dodging his punches earlier, he hadn't been using his full strength at all.
This guy... was even stronger than he had imagined.
But Ryuen was never one to admit defeat easily.
His eyes scanned the surroundings and suddenly landed on a student holding a coffee nearby. That student was watching with an open mouth, forgetting to even put the cup down.
Ryuen snatched the coffee and hurled it violently at Ayanokouji.
The cup arched through the air, coffee splashing everywhere.
However, Ayanokouji merely shifted slightly. The cup zipped past his clothes, smashing into the railing with a sharp crack and shattering into pieces.
Not even his sleeve was touched.
Ryuen's face darkened completely.
'Dammit, the gap is too large.'
Just then, a steady voice came from outside the crowd.
"Make way. Student Council!"
The crowd parted automatically. Katsuragi Kohei walked in, his bald head reflecting the sunlight, his expression serious and composed.
As a secretary of the Student Council, maintaining discipline was his duty. He couldn't ignore a physical altercation.
Katsuragi's gaze swept over the scene—the coffee stains, the broken cup, and the two primary actors.
"Ryuen, Ayanokouji," his voice commanded authority. "Fighting on the ship—do you understand the gravity of this?"
Ryuen snorted and said nothing.
Ayanokouji remained expressionless, silently watching Katsuragi.
The students looked at each other; no one dared to speak.
And that was the scene Hachiman and the others saw when they arrived after hearing the news. One had to admit, Katsuragi-kun's timing was impeccable.
A minute earlier, and he could have prevented the conflict; a minute later, and he would have seen Ryuen continue to lose face. He chose this exact moment—when the matter was over, but not quite settled.
Was it a coincidence?
Or had Katsuragi been there for a while, standing behind the crowd, waiting to watch the show?
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and shook his head slightly.
As expected, no one in Class A was simple. Even the most stable and honest-looking Katsuragi had some hidden schemes.
.
.
.
The matter was resolved quickly.
In his capacity as Student Council Secretary, Katsuragi recorded their information, gave them a verbal warning, and dispersed the crowd. Since it was a mutual fight with no substantial injuries during an exam period, making a big deal out of it wouldn't benefit anyone. Furthermore, Ryuen did have a "just cause," and even if it were reported to the Student Council, there likely wouldn't be heavy punishment.
As the crowd thinned out, the whispers continued.
"Did you hear? Ayanokouji from Class D used a honey trap to trick a Class C girl..."
"For real? He looks like such an honest guy."
"Can't judge a book by its cover. Ryuen said it himself, how could it be fake?"
The fragmented gossip scattered with the sea breeze. Ayanokouji's reputation was thoroughly trashed.
Leaning against the railing, Hachiman watched the scene but thought of something else.
Katsuragi's timing was likely more than a coincidence. Given his personality, if he really wanted to nip the conflict in the bud, he would have appeared much sooner. But he waited until Ayanokouji had taken Ryuen down—this timing was subtly perfect.
He probably heard Ryuen's "exposé" while hiding in the crowd.
"Seducing girls with a honey trap," "inducing crime," "video blackmail"... any man with a sister would be wary of such words.
Katsuragi did have a sister in the original story; though she didn't attend this school, there were plenty of girls in Class A. As a class representative, Katsuragi had to consider the safety of his classmates. If he could make Ayanokouji's reputation worse, it would only benefit Class A.
As Hachiman was thinking, he noticed a gaze on him.
Ryuen was standing not far away, wiping his face with a towel. Albert stood beside him like a wall, holding a water bottle. Seeing Hachiman look over, Ryuen snorted and walked toward him.
"Hey, Hikigaya."
Hachiman watched him approach without speaking.
Ryuen stopped in front of him, the injuries on his face particularly prominent in the sunlight—a split lip and a bruised cheekbone. But what caught Hachiman's attention was the location of the injuries.
All on the face.
When Ryuen attacked Ayanokouji, his punches were aimed at the body; he hadn't thought about the face. But Ayanokouji's counter-moves were all aimed at the face.
That was no coincidence.
Ryuen felt that Ayanokouji was using him to assert dominance, perhaps even to show off his physical and combat prowess. If his reputation was ruined, he would show his strength!
Ryuen's face was grim as he thought this, but he didn't bring it up. He just stared at Hachiman, his tone unfriendly. "Did Shiina go looking for you earlier?"
Hachiman nodded. "Yeah, ran into her at the restaurant."
"Worrying over nothing," Ryuen mocked, wiping his lip again. "What's the point of calling you for a fight? Can you fight for me?"
Hachiman suddenly understood.
Hiyori going to thank him was her own idea, not Ryuen's. That fit her style—gentle on the surface, but deeply thoughtful. She likely felt it was unrealistic for Ryuen to offer thanks himself, so she did it on his behalf.
"So?" Hachiman asked. "Do you want to find a place to chat before the 9:00 AM assembly?"
Ryuen raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by the initiative. But after a brief pause, he nodded in agreement.
The late-arriving Albert handed Ryuen a towel; Ryuen took it, wiped his face, and walked toward the cabin. Hachiman followed. They walked through the corridor and arrived at a quiet corner.
It was near the engine room, where the hum of machinery drowned out other noises—a good place for a conversation.
Ryuen leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and got straight to the point.
"Hikigaya, by moving against Ayanokouji directly this time, I've helped you out once."
Hachiman looked at him and said nothing.
Ryuen continued, "The person that guy wanted to move against was your girl, Karuizawa Kei, right? I've shut that down for you; you owe me something."
Hachiman shook his head. "Ryuen, this was a win-win."
Ryuen frowned.
Hachiman explained, "Ayanokouji's target was Karuizawa, and she is mine, I won't deny that. But look at the method he chose: using Manabe. Manabe is a student in your class. Once she was under his control, what would happen to Class C?"
Ryuen fell silent.
He knew well enough—if Ayanokouji had a video of Manabe bullying Karuizawa, he could blackmail Manabe into doing anything. Then, his class's intel and exam strategies would all leak. Class C's exams would become an open book for the enemy.
"So," Hachiman continued, "stopping him was also protecting your own class. You weren't helping me; you were helping yourself."
Ryuen stared at him for a few seconds and suddenly laughed. It wasn't a warm laugh, but one of annoyance at being seen through.
"Fine, you're a smooth talker," he said, his expression turning serious. "Now, I have a goal. Listen."
Hachiman nodded.
"Lend me two million points," Ryuen said bluntly.
Hachiman's eyebrow moved slightly.
Ryuen's tone became earnest. "I know you have money. You harvested nearly a hundred million from the island exam; two million is nothing to you. But I need these points."
Hachiman didn't answer immediately.
Ryuen continued, "With points, I can buy the VIP list from other classes. You know Class C's situation—450 points, with 350 going toward our debt to you. Only 100 are actually usable. If we don't get points in this exam, it'll be even harder later."
He paused, his eyes turning sharp. "If you don't lend it, you're trying to cut off my path."
Hachiman was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head. "Ryuen, I do want to win."
Ryuen stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Once this exam is over and we return to school, I hope to reach Class A. That's the goal I've set for myself," Hachiman said.
Ryuen said nothing, just watching him.
"However," Hachiman looked back at Ryuen, "there are still things I'm unsure about."
"Unsure?" Ryuen frowned. "Even you have things you're unsure of?"
Hachiman didn't answer that. Instead, he changed the subject.
"But, you did help me this time. Even if it was a win-win, without you, I would have had to work much harder to protect Karuizawa. I acknowledge that."
He pulled a black point card from his pocket and handed it to Ryuen.
"Two million, lent. But on one condition."
Ryuen took the card, flipped it over, then looked up. "What condition?"
"The debt must be cleared immediately after this exam ends."
Ryuen paused, then understood Hachiman's meaning.
Clearing it right after the exam meant Hikigaya Hachiman had his own judgment about this test. If Class C didn't get enough points in the exam, they couldn't pay it back. But if they could...
If they went with Outcome 1, Class C had two VIPs in two groups. Each group had four Class C students (including the VIP), so the income would be 3 * 500,000 + 1,000,000 * 2 = 3,500,000.
Ryuen's mind raced. A debt of two million wouldn't be a problem. But Outcome 1 meant giving up class points. This exam had such high stakes; missing out would make catching Class A even harder.
He wanted to manipulate the exam. He wanted the points.
But he couldn't do it without the private points!
Therefore, Hikigaya was forcing Ryuen to arrange for at least two groups of Class C students to cooperate with Hachiman's Outcome 1 plan. He was being maneuvered.
Ryuen looked at the card, then at Hachiman, a trace of complexity in his eyes.
"Are you really going for Outcome 1?" Ryuen asked.
Hachiman didn't answer, just watched him.
Ryuen sneered, took a piece of paper from his pocket, scribbled a note, signed it, and handed it to Hachiman.
"An IOU. Two million, payable at the end of the exam."
Hachiman took it, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket.
As Ryuen pocketed the card and prepared to leave, Hachiman suddenly spoke. "Ryuen."
Ryuen stopped and turned back.
Hachiman added, "For this exam, I suggest you don't get too crazy."
Ryuen's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Hachiman looked at him. "The VIP list for your class is very dangerous."
Ryuen's gaze immediately became guarded. "Is that a threat?"
Hachiman shook his head. "Not a threat, a reminder. Class C's current evaluation score is 450, and 350 of that is debt to me. That means if even one VIP is guessed by another class, you're in trouble. If two are guessed, you'll have to use your own points to fill that 100-point hole. If three are guessed, you'll be even more passive. Though, your class doesn't have three VIPs anyway."
Ryuen fell silent. He knew Hachiman was speaking facts. But coming from Hachiman's mouth, it felt like there was a deeper meaning.
But this Hikigaya Hachiman...
"How do you know how many VIPs my class has?" Ryuen stared at him. "Did Shiina tell you?"
Hachiman didn't answer.
But just then, a soft voice came from the side.
"Ryuen-kun, Hikigaya-kun."
Both turned to see Shiina Hiyori walking from the corner of the corridor. Her silver hair glowed softly in the dim light, a faint smile on her face.
"I've been looking for you for a long time." Hiyori walked up, her gaze moving between the two. "Ryuen-kun, the injury on your face... are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Ryuen waved her off. "How did you find us?"
"I saw Albert standing outside and guessed you were here," Hiyori said, her eyes landing on Hachiman with a hint of inquiry.
She had heard that last sentence.
"Hikigaya-kun," Hiyori asked softly, "you said our class's VIP list is dangerous... why is that?"
Hachiman looked at her, silent for two seconds.
"Just a deduction."
Hiyori blinked, not pressing further. But her mind was spinning.
Deduction?
She remembered yesterday morning.
Hachiman's "inner voice" had said Class B had the most VIPs. If that were true, he held the names of at least four or five VIPs. And if the VIP assignments followed a pattern—as Hiyori suspected—did that mean Hikigaya-kun had already deduced the rule?
If there was a rule, then the two VIPs in Class C were transparent to him. That's why he knew Class C only had two.
So, the exam... was already an "open hand" in his eyes? If so, he really could go for Outcome 1 because he could attack Class A to get points, while forcing other classes to cooperate for a shared profit, benefiting everyone while he still took the lead.
Thinking this, Hiyori felt a slight chill down her spine.
She looked at Hachiman, but his expression was tense, revealing nothing. The more it was so, the more she felt this man was unfathomable.
"Shiina?" Ryuen's voice brought her back to reality.
Hiyori snapped out of it and quickly smiled. "Nothing, just thinking about something." She paused and looked at Hachiman. "Hikigaya-kun, regardless, thank you for the warning."
Hachiman nodded and said no more.
Ryuen glanced at him, then at Hiyori, and finally left without another word.
Hiyori followed him, but after a few steps, she suddenly looked back at Hachiman. Her eyes held a trace of complexity.
Hachiman stood there, watching them disappear at the end of the corridor. Then he let out a soft chuckle.
Shiina Hiyori was sharp, as expected.
However, now wasn't the time. It wasn't yet time to "leak" the "mostly-fake-but-partly-true" news that the VIPs follow a deducible pattern to her via his inner voice.
He had to attack Sakayanagi first; Class C would have to wait in line!
Still, it seemed his acting skills needed more polish; when Hiyori looked back just now, he almost failed to maintain his composure.
Thinking this, he turned and walked in the other direction. After all, he had rushed over the moment he heard Ryuen was fighting; he hadn't even finished his breakfast.
He had to go back.
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