COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

"Ugh, it's so hot... I'm melting."

If there's anything more grueling than enduring the sweltering heat, it's enduring it while having to wear a long-sleeved school uniform. Surely even the worst of companies wouldn't be so unreasonable.

"Seriously, can this wretched school stop organizing unnecessary activities?"

Having just finished his duties in the student council, Hikigaya had been hit with a staggering piece of news from Senior Tachibana.

Starting tomorrow, for the next three days, the school would be opening up its special facilities, normally reserved for the swimming club, to all students. It was meant to be a gift for a memorable summer vacation.

While the idea itself wasn't a big deal—Hikigaya had no intention of joining the fun—the real issue was that the student council members were assigned to oversee the facility.

The president, Horikita, had already gone on-site for an inspection, which was why he was absent from the office today.

Although each member was only required to serve one day, that was still precious time for Hikigaya.

What bothered him the most was the thought of having to guard those who would be enjoying the swimming pool. It was an infuriating prospect.

In fact, he almost wished those carefree, youthful students would just blow up!

As he silently cursed in his mind, Hikigaya stepped out of the school gate and briskly walked along the tree-lined path towards the dormitories.

Even a second of relief would be welcome right now. He was eager to get back to his room and enjoy some air conditioning.

The streets were almost deserted, which was to be expected. After all, on a scorching day nearing thirty-eight degrees, anyone with a shred of sanity would avoid this place.

...Wait a minute. Was he including himself in that?

Hikigaya sensed something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. At the very least, the Hikigaya of the previous two years would never have been so dedicated to coming to school every day.

"Damn it, it's all Iroha's fault. She awakened the corporate drone within me."

Without a doubt, if it weren't for Iroha constantly coming up with excuses to drag him into work, he wouldn't have developed such a wretched habit.

He began to wonder if he was becoming a masochist. Seriously... He wondered how that sly junior was faring now.

As Hikigaya pondered this, he suddenly spotted a few vending machines not far ahead.

There was a rest area nearby, a place where students would often gather to chat and enjoy the view when the weather was cool. It was an ideal spot to relax.

But now, in this heat, no one would come here, right?

Hikigaya decided to grab a drink and cool off with something cold.

However, as he approached, he was taken aback to find two unexpected individuals there.

Ayanokouji and Karuizawa... Wait, why were these two here at a time like this?

Hikigaya was thoroughly baffled. It wasn't that he was against the idea of a girl with a boyfriend meeting up with other guys; after all, there might be something important to discuss. However, if there was something to talk about, it should at least be in a more neutral setting, like a café or the lobby of a dormitory.

The two people in front of him seemed just as surprised by the unexpected encounter. Karuizawa's face betrayed an unmistakable sense of unease.

Could it be... a Minotaur?

Ugh, this situation feels so complicated.

Hikigaya could tell that Karuizawa and Hirata were probably pretending to be a couple, yet publicly they still presented themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend. If word got out about this situation... it could cause trouble for both Ayanokoji and Karuizawa. There would undoubtedly be a large number of people rallying to Hirata's defense.

...Never mind, it's none of my business.

Without hesitation, Hikigaya decided to act as though he hadn't seen anything. It was probably for the best for everyone involved.

He nonchalantly walked over to the vending machine and bought a can of Key Coffee.

But unexpectedly, the other party approached him first.

"Hi, hi, Hikigaya-kun! What a coincidence to see you here. What brings you to this place?"

"...Why are you talking to me?"

Hikigaya's response immediately killed the conversation, but Karuizawa was undeterred.

"Uh, I just happened to see you. It's like how I ran into Ayanokoji-kun here by chance. He looked so lonely with no friends around, so I just encouraged him a bit."

She must have known how flimsy her excuse sounded, like a housewife caught in the act of infidelity by a neighbor.

"I normally wouldn't interact with gloomy guys like him. After all, I prefer cheerful and outgoing guys like Hirata-kun."

"Hey, that's a bit harsh."

Ayanokoji interjected with a timely remark, clearly trying to smooth things over.

Unfortunately, Hikigaya had no interest in their drama and took a sip of his iced coffee.

"Oh, well, be careful not to get heatstroke. I'm leaving now."

"Uh..." If Hikigaya had directly confronted them, Ayanokoji might have been able to use some verbal trickery to deflect. But Hikigaya wasn't playing by the usual rules.

Of course, this didn't mean everything was resolved.

Hikigaya was likely keeping his suspicions to himself. Given Ayanokoji's understanding of him, things might develop into a mess later on.

It was like being on a deserted island...

In any case, they needed to dispel his doubts now.

"Hikigaya," Ayanokoji spoke up, "Am I to understand that you won't tell Hirata about what happened today?"

Karuizawa's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him.

Wasn't this just a blatant confession?

But Ayanokoji's demeanor was unwavering; he had intended to be forthright.

"...What does it matter to me?"

As expected, Hikigaya's face showed a hint of complexity.

"Even if I did tell him, he'd probably just laugh it off and say, 'Oh, I see. I didn't expect Karuizawa and Ayanokoji-kun to be getting along so well. I'm happy for them.' He'd react like that."

"Wow, you're putting on a show..."

Karuizawa looked dumbfounded but couldn't come up with a counterargument.

"Yes, just as you said, Hirata fully trusts Karuizawa." Ayanokoji nodded, "So, the reason I hope you don't spread this around isn't because we did anything wrong, but because it's for your good."

Without giving Hikigaya a chance to respond, Ayanokoji continued, "You know, Karuizawa and I are in the same group for the preferential treatment exam. We were just discussing the results of Rooster Group and Dragon Group. It's quite intriguing."

This was a veiled warning. Ayanokoji, with his sharp mind, surely knew what the results implied.

Though there was no solid evidence yet, he was likely already suspecting Hikigaya and Kushida.

If it were anyone else, being pointed out in this way might make them panic.

But Hikigaya was an exception. He didn't care about being seen as a traitor, or perhaps he already was one.

"So, are you and Karuizawa discussing things out of your own volition?" Hikigaya asked bluntly, "Or is it yet another order from Horikita to risk heatstroke talking about the preferential treatment exam with Karuizawa?"

"No, it was just a whim on my part. Though Horikita does have similar concerns."

"Is that so? Then go ahead and continue."

With that, Hikigaya walked away.

Once he had completely left, Karuizawa couldn't help but complain, "What are we going to do now? It's all your fault for dragging me out here. If it gets out that we had contact, it could seriously damage my standing and reputation!"

"...Since when did I become untouchable?" Ayanokoji responded with a look of exasperation.

He added, "And don't worry too much. Hikigaya won't spread this around. He doesn't think much of you."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"It means he probably already figured out that you're only dating Hirata to boost your status in the class."

At this point, Ayanokoji examined Karuizawa thoughtfully.

"W-What's with that disgusting look?" Karuizawa felt uneasy under his gaze.

"I was just thinking that you should take the opportunity to tell Hikigaya about the bullying you endured in the past," Ayanokoji suggested unexpectedly. "He's a soft-hearted guy. If you can gain his help, it would make your school life much easier."

—And for me as well, Ayanokoji silently added.

"Are you kidding? I refuse!"

Karuizawa showed her disgust clearly, glaring at him fiercely. Ayanokoji met her gaze steadily.

"Why? Since you're willing to disclose this to Hirata for status, having Hikigaya on your side wouldn't hurt, would it? Don't tell me you still think Hikigaya is just an insignificant student."

"I've known that for a long time..."

Karuizawa, usually strong and assertive in class, seemed particularly vulnerable when dealing with Hikigaya.

Of course, their lack of interaction meant that most students wouldn't notice.

But Ayanokoji had keenly observed this detail. It was likely that Karuizawa had sensed Hikigaya's true nature during their first conflict.

This was something only someone who had been consistently bullied, like Karuizawa, could understand.

Simply put, Hikigaya was someone who ignored the prevailing atmosphere, whereas Karuizawa's strength stemmed from her control over it. Hikigaya was precisely the type of person who could unsettle her. To ensure her safety and status, she would instinctively avoid him.

However, Ayanokoji wasn't planning to have Karuizawa approach Hikigaya directly; that would be too conspicuous.

The intention behind his words was to lead into the next topic.

"Or perhaps, you could use your friend Matsushita to build a good rapport with Hikigaya."

"Matsushita-san?"

"Yes, she seems to have a deep connection with Hikigaya, doesn't she?"

"Well... I've heard that they attended the same middle school."

"I see."

For Ayanokoji, this was an unexpected piece of information.

"Hey, you've said all this just to use me to gather intel on Hikigaya, haven't you?" Karuizawa realized, her displeasure evident. "Isn't having Horikita as a shield enough for you? Why do you enjoy hiding in the background so much?"

"No, they are completely different."

According to Ayanokoji's calculations, if manipulating Horikita was a difficulty level of 10/100, Hikigaya would be 100/100.

That guy was, in a sense, as tricky as Kouenji.

But ultimately, they were different. Hikigaya's weaknesses were also quite apparent.

"In any case, try to arrange a meeting with him. Have Matsushita help us set up a double date."

"...Us?" Karuizawa was puzzled. "Wait! Even if it's a double date, it should be with Hirata-kun and me!"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? Hikigaya already sees through your fake relationship with Hirata."

"But... but... don't you want to stay hidden!"

"There's no choice. Since we've been caught, it's better to be a bit more open about it."

Most importantly, Ayanokoji thought that Hikigaya's observational skills would eventually lead him to notice his relationship with Karuizawa... No, Hikigaya must have already suspected it during the preferential treatment exam.

After all, it was hard to imagine Karuizawa working with him under normal circumstances.

Rather than let Hikigaya's imagination run wild, it was better to be straightforward.

As long as Hikigaya believed that Ayanokoji and Karuizawa were getting along better due to their cooperation in the preferential treatment exam, that would be enough.

Karuizawa sighed, a gesture of resignation painting his features. "Well... I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Ayanokouji offered a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry too much. As long as you don't mistreat Matsushita, Hikigaya won't take any action against you."

Karuizawa's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean, mistreat? I've never bullied Matsushita-san."

Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow. "Really? Didn't you ask her for points that you had no intention of repaying?"

Karuizawa puffed out his chest with a hint of defensiveness. "We're friends. It's not like that."

Ayanokouji's voice took on a dry edge. "Being your friend seems to come at a cost."

[T/N: Bro isn't holding back!]

Caught off guard by the bluntness of Ayanokouji's words, Karuizawa fell silent. The reality of his actions began to settle in.

"I know I went a bit too far," he admitted finally. "But what can I do? I'm not as strong as I pretend to be. I'll be more careful next time."

Ayanokouji nodded in approval. "I'm glad you understand. Besides, you've already leveraged Hirata to solidify your position. If you tread carefully, you shouldn't provoke Hikigaya."

Karuizawa's face showed a flicker of guilt. "Yeah... I suppose I might have crossed a line and become the antagonist."

Seeing Karuizawa's self-awareness, Ayanokouji felt a measure of relief. The thought of a clash with Hikigaya was worrisome and could create complications.

Ayanokouji's tone turned serious. "And remember what I asked of you. You need to be there when it matters. Only you can prevent it from going awry."

Karuizawa nodded. "I know, I know. I can handle things."

Ayanokouji's thoughts darkened as he considered the boys in their class. Their behavior was deplorable, especially their prying into the girls' affairs.

"If it weren't for you," he thought, "I'd have to admit that despite my disdain for your methods, you are different from the rest. At least you don't just follow the crowd."

Karuizawa broke the silence with a thoughtful question. "Why don't you just ask Hikigaya-kun for help? He's part of the student council, isn't he? And he's wearing the school uniform, so he must have just come from school."

Ayanokouji shook his head firmly. "No, involving him would only make things worse."

He was determined to avoid any unnecessary risks that could come from Hikigaya's involvement.

Even Horikita would be a preferable option to Hikigaya.