COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

As long as you don't treat the problem as a problem, it's not a problem at all.

At this moment, Katsuragi seemed to have grasped this concept. He understood that the school would never condone something as blatantly illegal as sending a package. So, rather than fight the system, he decided to find a way around it. His solution? Bribing Hikigaya in the hope that he could convince the student council president to handle the issue privately, bypassing the school's official channels.

It's much like how things work in society—many tasks that seem insurmountable can be easily managed if you know the right people.

...Perhaps the school's true intention is to let students experience the ugliness of society ahead of time.

Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh as he waited for Katsuragi to hand over the goods. But Katsuragi was strangely hesitant.

"Uh..." Katsuragi stood there, arms crossed tightly over his chest, looking uncomfortable. His head hung low, and he remained silent.

"What's wrong with you?" Hikigaya asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

"I'm just wondering why you're willing to go to such lengths," Katsuragi finally replied, his voice laced with suspicion. "If it were just a matter of saying a few nice words to the student council president, I could understand that. But you seem intent on handling everything yourself. I don't see why you'd take such a big risk for just 100,000 points."

How can you say that 100,000 points is nothing...

Sure, Hikigaya had signed some lucrative contracts and had accumulated three million points by now, so 100,000 might not seem like much. But Katsuragi was seriously mistaken if he thought everyone was rolling in wealth.

Don't just assume people are rich!

Hikigaya himself often hesitated to spend even 1,000 yen without carefully weighing the pros and cons.

But he could understand Katsuragi's concerns. After all, on the surface, they were rivals, and the possibility of a trap couldn't be ignored.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to charge you," Hikigaya assured him.

"What do you mean by that?"

Katsuragi frowned, clearly struggling to comprehend the situation.

"It's simple," Hikigaya explained. "You're worried that our transaction will leave a trace, and I might report it to the school, right?"

"Exactly."

"You're really honest."

Ordinarily, when someone hears something like that—especially when they're in a position to ask for a favor—they'd at least offer some polite words in response. But Katsuragi admitted his concern without hesitation.

Maybe that's one of his strengths... right?

Hikigaya wasn't one to get overly emotional about trivial matters. At most, he'd internally gripe about the absurdity of a situation before moving on.

"Why even bother if you're so concerned? Just give me the details of the gift and the shipping address. If it gets discovered, I'll take full responsibility."

"You're right." Katsuragi nodded but then looked puzzled. "But how will I pay you then?"

"…I meant for free."

Hikigaya sighed, uncertain if Katsuragi was genuinely dense or merely putting on an act. But judging by Katsuragi's bewildered expression, it seemed he wasn't pretending.

"I don't get why you'd do something so utterly pointless."

He added, "And no offense, but you don't strike me as the type who does favors."

"I'm not denying that." Hikigaya raised the gift-wrapped hairpin in his hand. "Think of it as a coincidence. I'm doing something similar myself, so just consider it as me empathizing with your situation. After all, the rules at this school are pretty harsh. Three years of no contact with the outside world is tough."

"Yes, although we've received numerous perks, including no tuition fees, this one restriction is truly regrettable."

Katsuragi's demeanor softened, showing a rare glimpse of vulnerability.

"Actually, I wanted to send this to my twin sister. She's been frail since childhood, and now that our parents and grandparents have passed away, she's under the care of relatives. I thought, as her older brother, I should at least help her celebrate her birthday."

"I see… You've got it tough."

Hikigaya wasn't one to offer comforting words, so he kept it brief.

"I looked into the school rules before enrolling. I didn't expect that I wouldn't even be able to send a package. That was my oversight, but even so, I wanted to get her a birthday gift."

No wonder Katsuragi was so determined, willing to risk breaking the rules.

And it wasn't a ploy for sympathy—otherwise, he would have mentioned it right from the start.

"Sorry for dragging you into such a heavy conversation." Katsuragi apologized quietly.

"It's fine… So, have you decided to trust me?"

"Well, we've come this far; it would be tactless of me to doubt you now."

With that, Katsuragi solemnly handed the gift to Hikigaya.

"I'll leave everything to you."

"Don't worry."

Now that everything was settled, Katsuragi no longer needed to go to the Student Council, but Hikigaya still had to. Since he was already there, he figured he might as well apply for some free time for the day and handle all the necessary formalities to avoid any unforeseen issues.

Luckily, the procedures weren't too complex… though they were still a bit of a hassle.

First, Hikigaya had to sign a contract that primarily stated that the true nature of the "S system" couldn't be disclosed to anyone. He also had to wear a school-issued watch with GPS and recording functions, meaning he'd be under surveillance 24/7.

Of course, if someone wanted to leak information, they could use the internet. However, given that Gaoyu High School had government backing, it would be easy to trace the culprit. Any student caught would be expelled.

What deterred most students, though, was the 5,000,000 point requirement.

But for Hikigaya, that was the easiest part.

After completing the paperwork, he exited the Student Council office and found Katsuragi waiting nearby.

"That was quicker than I expected. Are you heading back now?"

"…Yeah."

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure."

Hikigaya initially thought Katsuragi had waited on purpose, perhaps to discuss something important, but he was caught off guard when Katsuragi spoke up.

"I saw you bought a pretty hairpin earlier. Is it for your girlfriend outside of school?"

Despite his serious appearance, Katsuragi seemed surprisingly interested in gossip.

"No way." Hikigaya shook his head. "It's for Komachi, my sister. She's in junior high now and is the cutest sister in the world."

Katsuragi's earlier mention of his sister must have triggered Hikigaya's competitive streak.

Of course, the comparison was pointless.

After all, Komachi was the best sister in the world—something society should universally accept!

Katsuragi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see… Just to be sure, is she your biological sister? Not a stepsister or a sister from a remarriage?"

"This isn't a light novel! Where do you get these convenient settings from?"

Hikigaya couldn't help but grumble.

If that were the case, he would marry Komachi in a heartbeat.

Seriously, what's up with this guy Katsuragi?

This was getting way too indecent!

"Really? That's good."

Katsuragi seemed genuinely relieved, though Hikigaya found it puzzling.

"You are my benefactor, after all. I wouldn't want to see you end up getting stabbed."

"Benefactor is a bit much… Huh? Stabbed?"

Hikigaya suddenly realized something was off.

"Never mind, forget I said anything."

It was Katsuragi who had said something incredibly worrying, yet now he was asking Hikigaya to forget it.

…Better not to dwell on it. It seemed like it would be a hassle.

"By the way, aren't you curious about what I'm going to do?" Hikigaya decided to change the subject. "Given your cautious nature, I thought you'd ask for the details."

"If it were anyone else, I would, but I've seen your capabilities. I don't think it's necessary. Besides, it might be inconvenient for you to answer."

It wouldn't be inconvenient at all, but fewer people knowing was better.

"Yeah, after all, this involves the Student Council… By the way, are you planning to try again?"

"You mean… the Student Council? I don't have any plans for that right now."

Katsuragi didn't catch on at first, but he quickly understood what Hikigaya meant.

"To be honest, I was a bit upset when my application was rejected." Katsuragi smiled wryly. "I've been the Student Council president since elementary school. I thought I had more experience and ability in this area than anyone else. But when I took the exam, I realized how laughably arrogant I was."

He lowered his eyes, looking somewhat dejected.

Hmm… I can relate to that.

In a regular school, Katsuragi, Ichinose, or even Horikita would be top students. Despite their flaws, their classmates and teachers would overlook them.

But common sense doesn't apply here.

"Katsuragi, you're just fixated on the results, right? You should know the president rejected you before the special exam. No matter how capable he is, he can't predict exam results."

Hikigaya added, "And don't forget about Ichinose. She was rejected too."

"This is…"

This example was so compelling that Katsuragi didn't know how to respond.

"When you figure out why you were rejected, maybe that'll be the time for your comeback."

That said, Hikigaya believed it wasn't entirely Katsuragi or Ichinose's fault they were rejected.

More importantly, he thought there was something off about Horikita Manabu's reasoning.

It's simple logic. Even though Horikita intended to prevent Ichinose and Katsuragi from being influenced by Nagumo, he didn't consider what would happen after he retired.

Once Nagumo became president, he could still win them over, and the first years would still be affected.

By then, Horikita's words as the former president would carry even less weight.

Though Horikita Manabu was generally regarded as a perfect superman and the strongest Student Council president in history, Hikigaya never saw him that way.

Like his sister, Horikita Suzune, Horikita Manabu believed he could handle everything on his own.

The only difference was that he was much more capable, but even he had his limits.

Especially when it came to choosing a successor—it was a complete disaster.

"No, I hadn't thought about it that way…"

"It doesn't matter if you have or haven't." Hikigaya interrupted. "But joining the Student Council has its perks. At least it'll bring you closer to your dream."

"That wasn't my intention when I applied," Katsuragi said seriously.

"But what's wrong with seeking benefits for yourself? If you were that much of a stickler for the rules, you wouldn't have come to me for help, right?"

"…Yes, you're right."

Katsuragi was silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh in response to Hikigaya's question.

"Thanks, I'll think it over when I get back."

"Good. I look forward to working with you."

If Katsuragi could grow to the point where he wasn't influenced by Nagumo, he'd be qualified to compete with Sakayanagi.

Although that seemed impossible now, who knew what the future held?

But that wasn't Hikigaya's main concern.

If Katsuragi joined the Student Council, his serious nature would mean he'd take on most of the work.

That would leave Hikigaya free to slack off as much as he wanted!

---

Time flew by, and before Hikigaya knew it, the day for the tennis club's trip had finally arrived. He had been looking forward to this moment, and now it was here.

Everyone gathered at the school gate as the staff took roll calls and checked everyone's luggage. This outing wasn't a first for most of the group, made up of second and third-year students, so there was no over-the-top excitement. Instead, they carried quiet anticipation, their thoughts already on the match they would be playing the next day.

Hikigaya, being the only first-year student present, stood out a bit. He knew the outcome of the competition didn't matter, but still, he found himself silently wishing everyone good luck.

The luggage check was a quick affair. The staff briefly searched everyone's bags and confiscated their phones. However, Hikigaya's experience was slightly different. He handed over his phone as expected, but the staff didn't bother to search his bag. They took one look at the watch on his wrist and understood everything.

"Ah, the perks of having a little privilege!" Hikigaya thought with a small, satisfied smile. He knew that while personal points weren't everything in this school, not having any was a disadvantage. This was the moment he fully grasped the importance of those points.

After a long bus ride, they finally arrived at Seaside Comprehensive High School in Chiba. The bus pulled up to the school gate, and as Hikigaya stepped off, a familiar figure caught his eye in the distance.

It was Komachi!

Hikigaya's heart skipped a beat. He fought the urge to shout her name, instead keeping his composure as he greeted the staff and the tennis club captain. Normally, members of the student council would be responsible for assisting with management duties on such trips.

However, Hikigaya had taken care of everything in advance, using a small amount of his points to smooth things over with the club. Now, no one would pay much attention to him, allowing him to avoid any unnecessary interference.

"Ah! Brother!"

At that moment, Komachi spotted him. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately ran towards him, her excitement evident in every step.

Hikigaya's plan to surprise her was completely ruined, but he didn't mind. He dashed towards her with equal enthusiasm.

"Komachi!"

"Brother!"

Komachi threw herself into Hikigaya's arms, hugging him tightly as if she never wanted to let go. The warmth of the embrace was so familiar that it almost brought tears to his eyes.

"Brother! You came! At first, I thought Haruno-san was joking, but I didn't expect you to come!"

"Of course, brother never lets Komachi down, right?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Hikigaya couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at reuniting with his sister after so long. But as much as he cherished this moment, he found himself slightly unnerved by the warm gazes from people around them.

He pointed towards a nearby family restaurant and suggested, "It's pretty hot out here. How about we head inside and take our time catching up?"

Komachi blinked in surprise. "Wow, since when did my brother become so thoughtful?"

"It's not that. I just don't want to endure the weird looks from people around us," he replied, trying to play it cool.

"Aw, come on! That's a lame excuse!"

Typical Komachi—calling her brother "lame" after four months of not seeing him. But since she was his adorable sister, Hikigaya decided to let it slide.

Before leaving school, Hikigaya had wisely exchanged 50,000 points for 50,000 yen. Though the contract only allowed for that much, he would have gladly exchanged 500,000 yen if possible. Still, 50,000 yen was more than enough for a little indulgence.

The two of them entered the family restaurant, found a cozy spot, and sat down. After placing their orders, they began to chat.

"Brother, I heard the rules at the ANHS are really strict," Komachi said curiously. "How did you manage to get out? Miss Haruno wouldn't tell me a thing."

"Uh, well..." Hikigaya hesitated. He wasn't sure how much he could reveal, given that he had purchased his way out with personal points—a detail closely tied to the S-system.

"In short, just think of it as a perk of being in the student council," he replied vaguely.

"Wow, that's impressive! You've always been good at finding loopholes, haven't you?"

"Hey, don't insult me with that smile on your face."

No matter how adorable she was, there were limits to what he could tolerate... but today, he decided to be generous.

No matter what Komachi said, Hikigaya vowed not to get angry!

"Hehe, I'm just complimenting you, brother."

"It's hard to believe... I don't feel complimented at all."

"Really? Komachi would never lie to her dear brother! Oh, wait—I almost forgot something important."

With a grin, Komachi held out her hands toward Hikigaya.

"Thanks for the present, brother!"

"I never said I was giving you one..." Hikigaya sighed, smiling wryly as he pulled out a gift from his bag. "Here you go."

"…Huh? Huh??"

"What is it now?" Hikigaya asked, puzzled by the surprised look on Komachi's face.

Was there something wrong with his sister?

"No way! Brother got me a present!" Komachi stared at the gift box in disbelief. "You've grown so much while I was away! You even mastered such advanced social skills!"

"It's just a gift. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

"Of course!"

Komachi nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

This silly sister... What did she think of her brother, anyway?

"But the real test is what's inside," Komachi said as she eagerly opened the box. But then, she froze.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Hikigaya frowned. "I thought it would suit you perfectly, and—"

Before he could finish, Komachi suddenly jumped up.

"Brother!"

"Uh, what?"

"You got a girlfriend!"

"…Huh?"

Hikigaya's heart sank. What had happened to Komachi during the four months they were apart? Why was she suddenly talking nonsense?

"No, why would you think—"

"Don't even try to fool me!" Komachi interrupted, her tone decisive. "With your taste, there's no way you could have picked out such a perfect gift on your own! There has to be a girl helping you. She must be my future sister-in-law!"

"Hey! Stop making things up. How can you be so sure I didn't pick this out myself?"

"Obviously! How long do you think I've been your sister?"

As much as Hikigaya was touched by her words, he wasn't about to admit to something that wasn't true.

"If you're so confident, let's go to the gift shop right now, and I'll prove my taste on the spot."

"Ugh..." Hikigaya groaned inwardly. If this continued, his dignity as a brother would be in shambles.

"Anyway! That's not how it is!"

In the end, Hikigaya could only offer this feeble protest—a classic case of refusing to admit defeat.

"What? It's okay, you can tell Komachi!" Komachi pouted, then grinned mischievously. "But never mind. In two years, Komachi will investigate for herself. Let's see how you can deny it then."

"Just stop... Wait, two years?"

Halfway through his sentence, Hikigaya suddenly realized something was off. His heart skipped a beat.

"Yep."

Komachi beamed at him, completely unaware of his growing concern.

"I'm planning to apply for ANHS too! I've been studying really hard lately, and I'm sure I'll pass!"

"…Huh?"

At that moment, Hikigaya felt as though the world had come to a standstill.