COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

Though Hikigaya found it unlikely that this senior, Kiriyama, would prove useful in the future, he couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility just yet.

At the very least, Kiriyama might still have some information to offer.

"Kiriyama-senpai," Hikigaya asked, "you mentioned that everyone in the class has yielded to Nagumo. How many people has Nagumo managed to gather under his influence, aside from Class 2-B?"

"...Nearly all second-year students are under Nagumo's sway," Kiriyama replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Although there are those who resent the situation, no one dares to openly oppose him."

The bitterness in Kiriyama's voice hinted at a deep-seated frustration, perhaps born from his inability to alter the present circumstances.

Hikigaya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, you're saying that stopping Nagumo-senpai from becoming the next student council president is almost impossible?"

"Exactly... It's beyond my capabilities. It's embarrassing, really," Kiriyama admitted with a heavy sigh, the weight of his admission palpable.

"Sometimes, I wonder if I've gone too far, trying to shoulder a responsibility that wasn't mine to bear," he continued, his voice tinged with self-doubt.

Hikigaya nodded in agreement. "That's true. Kiriyama-senpai, you must be quite talented. I'm sure Nagumo-senpai tried to win you over."

This wasn't mere flattery. After hearing about Nagumo's reform plans from Horikita, Hikigaya concluded that any resistance was nearly futile. Nagumo's grand vision was simply too enticing.

Even in the lower-ranking classes, there were a few standout students. If Nagumo could manage to recruit them, the rest would be of little concern. His reforms were an effective strategy to attract such talent.

Those who believed they were capable of making it to Class A would inevitably be drawn to Nagumo's camp.

"He did try, but I turned him down," Kiriyama said, turning to Hikigaya with a scrutinizing gaze. "To be honest, I don't remember much about you. If Horikita hadn't vouched for you, I wouldn't have said this much. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I get it," Hikigaya replied, outwardly agreeable but inwardly rolling his eyes.

He then ventured cautiously, "But Kiriyama-senpai, aren't you tempted at all? According to you, if it weren't for your classmates holding you back, you'd still be in Class A, right? So why not join Nagumo-senpai? It's your best chance to get back to Class A, rather than opposing the future student council president."

"No, I can't do that." Kiriyama shook his head slightly. "I don't believe Nagumo would share such benefits with every student. And even if he went back on his word, no one could do anything about it."

Ah, so that's the real reason Kiriyama opposes Nagumo.

"Besides, I don't want the younger students to go through the same hell. That's the truth," Kiriyama added, his voice softening.

"...I see."

After hearing this, Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh internally.

What kind of honesty is that?

A guy who blames his classmates for losing the class competition couldn't possibly care about underclassmen he doesn't even know.

If Kiriyama had been upfront about wanting to beat Nagumo to reclaim his spot in Class A, Hikigaya would have respected him more.

Sure, it's normal to hide your true motives and pretend to be a good guy, but when dealing with potential allies in a battle against Nagumo, a bit of honesty is essential for cooperation.

Kiriyama wasn't genuinely looking for allies to defeat Nagumo; he was just hoping to get lucky.

Whatever... I wasn't counting on him anyway.

"Hey, Kiriyama."

Suddenly, a voice cut through their conversation.

Hikigaya turned towards the source—a striking girl with silver hair cascading down her shoulders. She stood over 170 centimeters tall, her toned physique hinting at serious physical training.

There was something oddly familiar about her... But what was it?

"Kiriyama, didn't you hear me?" she called out again, her voice louder this time.

Despite being addressed by name, Kiriyama didn't react, his expression one of thinly veiled annoyance.

Ah, this seems like trouble.

Sensing the tension, Hikigaya decided it was time to make his exit. "Kiriyama-senpai, I have something to take care of. I'll be going now."

But as he turned to leave, the girl stepped forward, blocking his path.

Their eyes met, and Hikigaya was struck by the unwavering determination in her violet eyes. This was someone who exuded absolute confidence.

She planted one hand on her hip and smiled with a mix of amusement and scrutiny, clearly sizing him up.

Ugh... this type is the worst.

Hikigaya's internal alarms blared. He had no desire to get tangled up with someone like her. Without hesitation, he spun around, intent on retreating in the opposite direction.

But before he could escape, the girl lunged forward and grabbed his collar from behind, nearly choking him.

"Heh, such arrogance from a junior. Did you think you could leave without so much as a word?" she mocked, her tone laced with amusement.

"Kiryuuin, stop causing trouble," Kiriyama snapped, clearly irritated.

"Oh, so you're finally responding? Well, this doesn't concern you anymore. You can go now," the girl—Kiryuuin—replied, her tone making it clear she was dismissing him.

Hikigaya couldn't shake the increasing sense of déjà vu.

"You're still as unreasonable as ever," Kiriyama muttered, his frustration evident. "Stop bothering Hikigaya, and let him go."

"Heh, I just wanted to have a little chat with this interesting junior," Kiryuuin said, turning her attention back to Hikigaya.

"So, your name is Hikigaya? Interesting, just like you."

"...Kiryuuin-senpai, you're interesting too," Hikigaya replied, though inwardly he felt a twinge of envy.

The name Kiryuuin had an undeniably cool ring to it—like something straight out of a story filled with grandiose delusions.

"What do you want? If it's nothing important, could you leave us alone?" Kiriyama's disdain for Kiryuuin was evident. She was probably the uncooperative classmate he'd mentioned earlier.

Wait... uncooperative?

Hikigaya felt like he was onto something significant, but before he could figure it out, Kiryuuin spoke again.

"Kiriyama, can you leave now? I need to discuss something important with this junior."

"What could be important if you're involved?" Kiriyama retorted, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Hikigaya, I advise you not to pay her any mind. She's also from Class B, and if you compare her to any of your first-year classmates, she's very similar to Kouenji. Both in speech and actions, dealing with her is a waste of time."

"...Ah."

Suddenly, everything clicked for Hikigaya.

No wonder she seemed so familiar—her self-assured, domineering attitude was just like Kouenji's!

Even the second-years knew Kouenji's name by now, but that wasn't surprising given how often he dated upperclassmen. It would be hard for him to go unnoticed.

"In the two years she's been here, she's done nothing for the class except maintain her grades. She always acts independently, never contributing to the class. She's practically an outcast."

Kiriyama looked at Hikigaya, clearly seeking agreement.

"You're in the same class as Kouenji, right? You must hate dealing with someone like that."

—Wow, they are alike.

Hikigaya couldn't help but marvel at the resemblance. Kouenji was the same, speaking his mind without regard for others' feelings.

Were they... siblings? No, maybe cousins?

But Hikigaya didn't particularly dislike Kouenji—he just found him hard to deal with.

Even from a class perspective, despite Kouenji's 30-point deduction for withdrawing on the uninhabited island, he had earned 50 points during the special exam, offsetting the loss and then some. That was better than most people had done.

Though, Kouenji himself probably didn't care about that...

"I don't mind Kouenji all that much," Hikigaya admitted, scratching his head. "His family's rich, so he doesn't care about getting into Class A. Naturally, he has no reason to contribute to the class."

"Huh? Does someone need a reason to help their class? We're all in this together," Kiriyama said, clearly baffled by Hikigaya's response. He just couldn't comprehend why someone would refuse to rely on the strong.

"Heh, Kiriyama, this junior of yours is more insightful than you," Kiryuuin chuckled.

"Tch, it's because B Class has people like you in it..." Kiriyama muttered, visibly annoyed.

"Don't praise me too much; I might get shy," Kiryuuin said with a fearless smile, though it was clear she didn't mean it.

Kiriyama's frustration boiled over, and without another word, he stormed off, leaving without so much as a goodbye.

Really... is he just venting his anger?

Hikigaya figured Kiriyama must've lost to Nagumo in the class competition and couldn't bear to admit his inferiority, so he blamed his classmates for the failure.

But that was none of his business. It was time to slip away.

"Well then, Kiryuuin-senpai, I have some important things to take care of, so I'll be going too."

It wasn't a lie—Hikigaya had spent two weeks at sea and was eager to return to the dorms to catch up on his anime. He had no time to waste on a troublesome upperclassman.

"Oh? You don't want to chat with your cute senpai?"

Hachiman didn't want to lie, so he opted for a straightforward rejection. "I'm just too busy."

Seriously? She just called herself cute? Why not go all the way and call herself beautiful? Then she'd be perfectly in sync with a certain someone else.

"I see," Kiryuin responded, her tone nonchalant. "It's a bit awkward to stand and talk. Let's sit over there."

Without waiting for his agreement, Kiryuin grabbed Hachiman by the collar and led him to a bench shaded by trees in the courtyard. The sunlight might have been blocked, but sitting outside in the middle of summer was still unbearably hot. Wait—no, that wasn't the issue here!

Hachiman was bewildered. What exactly had this senpai understood? Hadn't he already declined? Damn it, is she not related to Koenji somehow?

Under Kiryuin's assertive insistence, Hachiman had no choice but to reluctantly sit on the bench... and immediately noticed how hot it was beneath him.

Kiryuin, however, seemed completely unbothered. She crossed one leg over the other, stretched out her arms, and leaned back against the bench, instantly relaxing as if they were lounging in a luxurious resort.

...Is there something wrong with her brain?

"Senpai, what exactly do you want to talk about?" Hachiman wiped the sweat from his forehead. ANHS's uniforms didn't change with the seasons; the same long-sleeved blazers were worn year-round. Though it was fine indoors with the central air conditioning, stepping outside felt like walking into an inferno.

[T/N: I think the uniforms do change with different seasons.]

Kiryuin, eyes closed, spoke with a tone of serene confidence. "I always make it a point to talk to people who catch my attention. Whether it's Horikita Manabu or Nagumo, I've done the same. You should be proud."

Proud? No, not!

Honestly, Hachiman couldn't fathom what there was to be proud of. But if this was just a one-time thing, he could probably play along and get it over with.

"Why would someone like me catch your attention, Senpai? Is it because I got recruited into the student council?"

If that were the case, he could just recycle the same excuse he used to brush off Nagumo.

Unfortunately, Kiryuin wasn't following any script. She continued, entirely on her tangent, "Back in June, I noticed something interesting—the sudden spike in sales of the cafeteria's vegetable set meals."

"...Huh?"

Hachiman was completely at a loss. What did the vegetable set meals have to do with him... wait a second.

Why June?

In May, the S-System had officially launched, and many Class D students had blown through their points, forcing them to rely on the free vegetable set meals to get by.

But Kiryuin had mentioned June.

Could it be that...?

"If it were just the students from Class D, that wouldn't be too surprising," Kiryuin continued her voice calm yet laced with a hint of something more. "But after careful observation, I've realized it's not just the first-year Class D students involved. There are quite a few from Class C as well. Oddly enough, their class points haven't decreased. Do you know why that is?"

"I'm afraid I don't know much about Class C's situation," Hachiman replied, shaking his head. Inwardly, though, he was on high alert. This Kiryuin-senpai wasn't just eccentric like Koenji; she was equally difficult to deal with.

What is this? Have you maxed out your 'people-watching' skills or something?

And judging by what she's saying, could it be that she's memorized the names of all the first-year students?

Kiryuin's lips curled into a slight smile. "No need to apologize. I know you're involved in this somehow."

"No, you're mistaken…"

"Don't bother denying it." Kiryuin cut him off, her tone sharp. "I'm the one making the judgment here, and my intuition tells me that you're not an ordinary student."

With that, she opened her eyes wide, her expression shifting into something predatory, like a hunter closing in on its prey.

What a troublesome person!

Faced with this kind of intuitive player, Hachiman felt a headache coming on. It was just like with Koenji—no matter how groundless their suspicions, they never doubted themselves, fully trusting their instincts. No matter how skilled your acting or clever your arguments, they were almost impervious.

"Kiryuin-senpai, what exactly are you trying to achieve?"

Hachiman decided to drop the pretense. There was no point in pretending anymore, so he might as well get straight to the point.

"I find what you just said quite interesting."

However, it seemed Kiryuin had no intention of following the topic he offered, or perhaps she simply didn't want to relinquish control of the conversation.

"Kirishima complained that I don't contribute to the class. Have you ever wondered why?"

"Is it necessary to ask?" Hachiman retorted, not bothering to hide his irritation.

"I have no interest in participating in this school's competition to reach Class A."

No one had asked, but Kiryuin continued speaking as if on a whim.

God, spare me.

If he could, Hachiman would have knelt and begged for mercy, but he knew even that wouldn't help, so he dismissed the idea.

"The biggest selling point of this school seems to be that graduating from Class A allows you to go anywhere you want for higher education or employment. But I'm confident that, with my abilities, I'll succeed no matter what. Choosing this school was just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Kiryuin spoke with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, praising herself without a hint of humility.

Whatever. Hachiman just wanted this conversation to end.

"I like this school. I've had no complaints about campus life since I enrolled, and I even find the point system convenient… except for one thing."

"What's that?" Hachiman perked up, sensing that she might finally be getting to the point.

"It's that I never have enough personal points," Kiryuin declared, her tone matter-of-fact. "I'm what you'd call a night owl, always running out of money, and the current points I have just aren't enough."

"Then why don't you try to increase your class points?" Hachiman asked after a brief pause, feeling slightly dazed by the mundane nature of her complaint.

So, after all this, that's what it's about?

He hadn't expected the topic to be so... banal. Or rather, realistic.

"Because it's not worth the effort."

"Uh…" Hachiman was left speechless once more.

Okay, sure, her reasoning was solid, but what did that have to do with him?

"Hachiman, let's exchange phone numbers."

As she spoke, Kiryuin extended a single finger toward him.

"In exchange for being such an interesting person, I'll offer you my help for free… just this once."

Hachiman immediately caught on.

First time's free, huh? Meaning she plans to charge after that. This person is just like Koenji. Koenji had never been shy about charging for his labor—whether it was on the deserted island or during the preferential treatment test.

Well, fine…

Hachiman hadn't decided yet, but exchanging numbers didn't seem like a big deal. Besides, refusing might make it even harder to get away.

He was already starting to feel the heat getting to him.

"Here."

Hachiman handed his phone to Kiryuin without hesitation.

The school's S-system was locked anyway, and without fingerprint authentication, she wouldn't be able to see his personal points. The rest of the information on his phone was trivial.

"My, my, making me do the work myself? You're quite the arrogant junior, aren't you?"

Kiryuin caught on to his intention immediately, but she simply smiled and took the phone.

"Oh dear, I assumed you'd be as stiff as Horikita Manabu, considering he recruited you for the student council. But your contact list is almost entirely filled with girls."

"How did you…?" Hachiman started to ask how she knew they were girls, considering he'd only saved surnames, which shouldn't have given anything away.

But then he realized. Kiryuin really had memorized all the first-year students' names… that's kind of creepy.

Suddenly, he could understand why people had teased him back in elementary school.

Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'almost all girls'?

His contact list included Horikita Manabu, Koenji, and even Ryuuen—that made three guys!

This was three times better than it had been in middle school!