There were times when Hikigaya found himself genuinely relieved that Ryuuen, and not Shiina, was the leader of Class C.
While Ryuuen appeared formidable—ambitious and cunning—his thoughts were surprisingly straightforward, and he often overestimated his cleverness.
Shiina, on the other hand, was a different story entirely. Beneath her innocent exterior lay a complex and calculating mind. She had a natural ability to appear honest, causing others to easily let their guard down around her.
What made her even more intimidating was that her naivety wasn't entirely an act. She was indeed somewhat of a natural airhead, but not completely oblivious. It was an ideal balance that made it difficult to discern her true intentions.
All of this was speculation on Hikigaya's part, but there was one thing he was certain about: Shiina's observational skills surpassed Ryuuen's, and her intelligence was at least on par with his.
If she ever decided to involve herself seriously in the inter-class conflicts, she would pose a significant threat to the other three classes.
Fortunately, for the moment, Shiina showed no such inclination.
Though Hikigaya desired more talented individuals to suppress Class D, he never believed in forcing others to act against their will. Besides, even Shiina's passive contributions were proving invaluable to Class C.
For instance, her assistance in creating study materials.
Class C's academic performance wasn't much better than that of Class D, and Shiina constantly worried that some students might fail the upcoming final exams.
Coincidentally, Hikigaya also struggled with mathematics, providing the perfect opportunity for the two to collaborate.
As they sat together in the library, Shiina flipped through Hikigaya's notes, her eyes shining with admiration.
"I was thinking about this last time," she began.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're good at teaching others how to study. The highlighted points emphasize the key concepts and your annotations are simple and easy to understand."
"It's nothing special," Hikigaya replied modestly.
"Besides, your grades are much better than mine."
"Good grades don't necessarily equate to good teaching skills," Shiina countered with a gentle smile.
She had a point.
It was similar to the dynamic between Horikita and Kushida. Despite Horikita's superior grades, Hikigaya believed Kushida was a far better tutor.
At least she possessed the necessary patience.
He recalled the last time they tutored the trio of idiots in the library. Kushida had been incredibly patient, repeatedly going over the most basic concepts until they finally grasped them all.
Of course, this inevitably added pressure on Kushida, and it wasn't hard to see why.
There's a saying that goes, "When there's no homework, all is well. The moment homework starts, chaos ensues."
If merely doing homework could lead to such turmoil, teaching some perverted losers was bound to be an even greater challenge.
"Hikigaya-kun, have you ever considered becoming a teacher?" Shiina asked suddenly, catching him off guard.
"A teacher?" Hikigaya shook his head, incredulous. "You've got to be kidding me. Students would probably hate me. I'd likely end up being reported to the education board by some angry parent."
"That wouldn't happen. I think everyone would like you, Hikigaya-kun."
"Oh, really?"
Hikigaya responded skeptically, not believing the flattery. He wasn't popular as a student, and he doubted that would change if he became a teacher. He might as well resign himself to a quiet life as a corporate drone.
Thanks to Shiina's help, what would normally take three days to complete was finished in just two.
Now, the only task left was to hand over the materials to Kushida.
Normally, he would just send a message to arrange a meeting spot, but Hikigaya was reluctant to meet Kushida alone. Whenever no one else was around, she'd drop her facade and start bad-mouthing everyone in their grade. Yes, everyone.
It started with insults directed at Horikita, then shifted to other classmates, and now she was ranting about the entire first year. Hikigaya found it astonishing and pitied anyone who considered Kushida a friend.
They had no idea what she was saying behind their backs. The surface-level friendships she maintained were the least of it—she was privy to dark secrets like past bullying, suicide attempts, and even rumors of abortions.
Given the mixed nature of the student body at their school, it wasn't surprising that there were all sorts of people. It also explained why someone like Ryuuen, a known delinquent, could be admitted.
This helped Hikigaya understand the immense pressure Kushida was under. Absorbing so much negativity, it was no wonder she was always on edge. Although Hikigaya didn't want to hear any of it, he had already promised to be her confidant, so he had to find a way to endure it.
Just as Hikigaya was about to reach out, Kushida unexpectedly approached him.
"Hikigaya-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"...What is it?" Hikigaya asked, surprised by her sudden approach at the end of their last class.
Even in the classroom, Kushida maintained her perfect facade, but Hikigaya sensed that something unpleasant was about to happen.
Before he could react, she leaned in close, her voice a whisper in his ear.
"I need to speak with you after school. Can you meet me on the rooftop after the class meeting?"
"...Couldn't you just send a message?"
Hikigaya asked, taken aback by her sudden proximity. He instinctively leaned away from her. Though she smelled nice, the way she bent forward, emphasizing her figure, made him uncomfortable.
The piercing stares from Ike and Yamauchi didn't help either—they looked at him like he was a mortal enemy.
"I need to talk to you in person, so please meet me on the rooftop, okay?"
"But—"
Before Hikigaya could decline, the bell signaling the start of class rang.
"Ah, class is starting. I'll wait for you after school."
With that, Kushida quickly returned to her seat.
...Had she timed that on purpose?
Oh well, I might as well hand over the review materials while I'm there. It's not like I can avoid her forever.
Ignoring the curious glance from Matsushita beside him, Hikigaya focused on the lesson.
---
As soon as the class meeting ended, Hikigaya left the classroom and headed to the designated location.
He had no idea why Kushida had suddenly asked to meet him, but he decided to prepare himself just in case.
Climbing the stairs, he could hear the wind blowing in from the outside. The rooftop was an isolated area, without any surveillance cameras, though the route to it was well-monitored, making it an unwise place for any wrongdoing.
After a short wait, Kushida finally arrived, a bit out of breath.
"Sorry, I had to deal with some friends."
"...So, why did you ask me to come here? And why did you do it in front of everyone?"
Hikigaya asked bluntly, unable to hide his suspicion. Her behavior was definitely out of the ordinary.
Instead of answering, Kushida turned around and firmly shut the rooftop door behind her.
—What is she up to?
Hikigaya's wariness spiked, but before he could think it through, Kushida suddenly burst out with anger.
"Ike and Yamauchi, those bastards! They piss me off so much!"
"...Oh."
Hikigaya could only manage a noncommittal response, not sure what else to say. He had expected something important, but...this?
"Those two idiots have been cozying up to some skanks from Class C, and then they have the nerve to flaunt photos of it in front of me! Do they think I'll get jealous or something?!"
Kushida's voice grew more furious as she spoke, and she began kicking the rooftop railing in frustration.
"Those ugly losers need to look in a mirror! As if I'd ever be interested in them!"
"Right... Wait, Class C?"
Something about what she said suddenly struck Hikigaya as off.
Ike and Yamauchi? And Class C?
How did those two even get involved with them?