Hikigaya endured over an hour of verbal abuse from Kushida and wasn't released until nearly nine o'clock. Even though her clothes were soaked, she didn't seem to care at all.
Her sole focus was venting her hatred for Horikita. Just how deep does this grudge run?
Luckily, it was already June, and the weather was warm enough to avoid catching a cold.
Thanks to her, Hikigaya missed out on the bowl of ramen he had been craving and had to settle for convenience store rice balls instead.
Not that it mattered—his appetite had vanished anyway.
Kushida's situation turned out to be more complicated than he had anticipated.
In Hikigaya's mind, Kushida and Hayama shared some similarities. Both were central figures in their class, deeply trusted by their peers but also burdened with tremendous psychological pressure.
Whenever their classmates had problems, they would often turn to Kushida or Hayama, treating them as emotional dumping grounds.
Over time, that pressure would accumulate.
However, there was a crucial difference between Kushida and Hayama.
Hayama was genuinely exceptional. He ranked among the top three academically, was the captain of the soccer club, and was admired and respected by many. This widespread admiration allowed "everyone's Hayama Hayato" to maintain his position.
Kushida, on the other hand, was excellent—but not exceptional.
As a result, while people around her might trust her, she would never be truly admired or relied upon like Katsuragi or Ichinose.
Simply put, the "recognition" she received wasn't pure enough.
For someone like Kushida, who craved recognition, this was unbearable.
Yet, with no way to further improve her abilities, she settled for the next best thing: increasing the quantity of recognition, even if it meant sacrificing quality. Hikigaya realized that his role should be to help Kushida elevate her status within the class and improve the quality of recognition she received.
However, that was a long-term goal. First, her psychological pressure needed to be relieved.
Just as Kushida's friends offloaded their emotional burdens onto her, Hikigaya was now meant to serve as her outlet.
However, Kushida was not one to open up easily.
Her extreme methods suggested deep-seated insecurities. Even if she resorted to using her body as a weapon, she would never risk exposing her vulnerabilities.
So, Hikigaya made a decision.
He would act darker and more twisted than Kushida, making her feel that her problems were trivial by comparison.
When people are faced with someone superior, they tend to hide their flaws to avoid embarrassment. But when confronted with someone they perceive as inferior, they are more willing to reveal their own ugliness.
This was why Kushida could so easily spew her venom at Hikigaya.
Ding!
A message notification interrupted his thoughts.
Hikigaya opened it and saw it was from Kushida.
Not more cursing...
Kushida: [You said you want to suppress Shinohara and the others. How do you plan to do that?]
Kushida: [Yamauchi and the others are easy to handle, but Shinohara has Karuizawa's protection. She won't be as simple.]
Kushida: [And you understand, right?]
Kushida: [Whatever you plan, you must make sure no one suspects me!]
Her words reminded Hikigaya of the situation.
It seemed she had a point…
But in reality, when he suggested it earlier, Hikigaya had just been playing the villain, responding impulsively to their provocation during the day. To be honest, he didn't care what happened to Yamauchi and the others.
Hikigaya initially thought that if he didn't bring it up again, Kushida would simply let it slide and delay the matter indefinitely.
But to his surprise, she was more proactive than he had anticipated. Was she that concerned about the recording?
After some thought, Hikigaya sent a reply.
Hikigaya: [Let's have a study session.]
Kushida: [What?]
Hikigaya: [The midterm exams just ended. Let's take a break and start again in three days.]
Kushida: [Wait! Explain first!]
Kushida: [That doesn't make any sense!]
Hikigaya: [I'll explain when the time comes.]
Hikigaya: [For now, you handle gathering the members, and I'll provide the review materials and funds.]
Although he had mentioned lowering Yamauchi and the others' status in the class, Hikigaya didn't intend to use underhanded tactics.
To be precise, what he had in mind wasn't suppression.
The Idiot Trio and the Karuizawa Group might seem to have different standings, but they shared one thing in common:
They were a bunch of uneducated fools who only knew how to waste time.
They were the seven students who had failed the class.
Meanwhile, the other students in Class D were aware they needed to study. However, without parental supervision and with the class's lax atmosphere, they had grown complacent.
If this continued, they would inevitably fall behind and become truly poor students.
---
Hikigaya Hachiman decided to leverage Kushida Kikyou's influence to establish regular study sessions within each group, aiming to improve the overall learning atmosphere of Class D.
The typical student's motivation to learn is often shaped by their environment. If the people around them are indifferent to studying, even those with the potential to excel might become complacent.
Conversely, if the environment is focused on academic success, students are more likely to strive for better grades.
Hikigaya recalled his time in junior high at Sobu, where the exam results and rankings were never publicized. With no competitive spirit in the classroom, the distinction between the top students and the struggling ones blurred.
But in cram schools, where high achievers held a prestigious status and could earn generous scholarships, the difference was stark. He reasoned that if the learning atmosphere in Class D improved, and the students began focusing on their grades, those who consistently underperformed—like Yamauchi—would naturally be marginalized.
Their words would carry little weight, and they would be less inclined to study unless an exam loomed.
This tactic could be seen as a form of suppression.
On the other hand, if the students in Class D genuinely improved their grades, they would likely be grateful to Kushida for her initiative, fostering sincere friendships rather than superficial ones. This would ultimately satisfy Kushida's desire for recognition, rendering Hikigaya unnecessary as a confidant.
Of course, this was a long-term plan. Fortunately, Kushida possessed the perseverance and determination to see it through. Hikigaya also harbored a personal motive. Even if there was only a slim chance, Class D might one day rise to Class A.
Since Hikigaya had decided to abandon his ambition, he felt obligated to at least encourage his classmates to study hard, ensuring they could attend a good university in three years. This wasn't an act of compensation, but rather a form of selfish self-satisfaction.
Just as Hikigaya was lost in thought, his phone beeped.
He assumed it was another message from Kushida, but this time, it was from Sakayanagi Arisu.
Sakayanagi: [Hikigaya-kun, it's been a while since I last greeted you. I'm sorry to bother you so late.]
Sakayanagi: [I've been busy with midterms in my class recently, and I feel lonely without the chance to meet you.]
Hikigaya stared at his phone, bewildered.
"Lonely? You're just bored without your usual toys!"
He was about to retort when another message from Sakayanagi arrived.
Sakayanagi: [This is a rare opportunity. Let's have lunch together tomorrow in the cafeteria. Of course, I'll treat you.]
Sakayanagi: [By the way, I also want to discuss our bet.]
Sakayanagi: [P.S.: I will personally come to Class D to greet you.]
Hikigaya's eyes widened.
What does she want now? he wondered, exasperated.
Sakayanagi's character seemed to be getting more mischievous, as she immediately resorted to extreme measures. He hadn't even agreed to her invitation yet, and already she was making plans.
No matter how many messages he sent, Sakayanagi would read them but never reply.
That conniving, flat-chested, white-haired pseudo-lolita!
Hikigaya grumbled inwardly. He had just dealt with one troublesome girl, and now another had appeared.
Why were all the girls he knew so complicated?