For a variety of reasons, the discussion meeting for the upcoming exam ended before it even began.
Hikigaya didn't mind much; he'd only agreed to it to appease Matsushita. Still, they decided to meet in the hallway outside his room before the afternoon exam for a quick discussion. Both Sudo and Sakura had no objections to this plan.
…Wait, why my room?
This situation was strange. He had never been a leader during his middle school years, and it wasn't a role he relished. It didn't seem like a great job either.
While others might not have pushed him into it, someone with a strong sense of responsibility could easily buckle under the pressure of meeting their peers' expectations. That was why people like Katsuragi, Ichinose, and Hirata often ended up in these roles. They were all similar in this aspect.
On the other hand, Sakayanagi and Ryuuen were the type who thrived on their autonomy.
…Maybe I should be nicer to Hirata next time.
Hikigaya mulled over this thought as the appointed time drew near. He left his room and, after taking just a few steps into the hallway, saw the other three had already gathered.
"Hikigaya, you're so slow!" Sudo's impatience was barely concealed.
"…No, you're just early."
"Early? We agreed to talk things over!" Sudo shot back, frustration is evident. "I was fine at first, but as the exam gets closer, I'm getting nervous!"
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow. "Why are you nervous? Were you chosen as the preferred student?"
"No way!" Sudo shook his head hastily.
"Oh."
Hikigaya then turned to Sakura. "And you, Sakura? Are you the preferred student?"
"N-no!" Sakura also shook her head, looking flustered.
"Seriously, this isn't something you ask in a hallway," Matsushita said, clearly exasperated by Hikigaya's casual approach.
"It's fine; there's no one else around… Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet. Are you the preferred student?"
"…I'm not." Matsushita looked resigned.
"Alright then, no problem." Hikigaya clapped his hands together. "Since none of you are the preferred student, that means our class won't lose any points, so there's no need to be nervous. Just approach the exam with a relaxed attitude."
"N-no, we shouldn't be too relaxed!" Matsushita's comment was quickly ignored by Hikigaya.
"Hey, Hikigaya, that's not fair! You asked us, but you didn't say anything about yourself!" Sudo, unusually sharp for once, noticed the flaw in Hikigaya's logic.
Hikigaya responded with a pitying look. "Sudo, try thinking for a moment. Do you think I need to say anything?"
"Huh? Oh…right."
It was a simple concept: if Hikigaya were the preferred student, he wouldn't have needed to ask them.
Even someone like Sudo could understand that!
So… Matsushita, could you please stop giving me that look?
Ignoring Matsushita's gaze, Hikigaya led the way to the second floor. Along the way, they crossed paths with Ayanokoji and his Rabbit Group, but the atmosphere surrounding them wasn't good.
The main issue seemed to be that Yukimura, a studious type similar to Horikita, aimed for Class A but didn't know how to unite others. His pride was sky-high, too.
But with Ayanokoji around, maybe he'd subtly guide Yukimura to achieve their goals, much like how he handled Horikita. Hikigaya wasn't interested in interfering with Ayanokoji's plans, but it would be useful to see what tactics he might use.
While these thoughts swirled in his mind, the group reached one of the rooms on the second floor.
A doorplate labeled 'Rooster' hung on the door.
As they pushed open the door and entered, they found ten other students already there, sitting in chairs, exchanging uneasy glances.
If possible, Hikigaya wished they could all stay like this until the exam ended. That would make things so much easier. But as he stepped into the room, for some reason, all eyes turned toward him, their gazes filled with a mix of wariness and intensity.
The problem was…
Hikigaya looked left and right, confirming that he didn't recognize a single one of these people.
So, could you all stop staring at me?
If you need to look at someone, why not these two lovely ladies next to me? Or even the red-haired gorilla over there would be fine!
Hikigaya kept these thoughts to himself, maintaining a neutral expression as he casually found an empty chair to sit in.
There were exactly fourteen chairs in the room, arranged in a circle. Each group had instinctively gathered by class, keeping a slight distance from other groups, and Hikigaya could already glean some insights from their seating.
Even though he didn't know these people personally, he could deduce their class based on their names and the number of students. Class A had two girls and one boy, Class B had two boys and two girls, and Class C had two boys and one girl.
Although the name "Ninomiya Yui" from Class A could have been male, it was clear from the scene that wasn't the case. So, Hikigaya could safely conclude who belonged to which class.
From the atmosphere, it seemed that Class A, or rather Ichinose's group, was the most harmonious.
Class B was divided, with three against one. Based on their seating and distance, it was clear one person was isolated. Interestingly, of the four, three were from Katsuragi's faction, and the isolated one was also from Katsuragi's faction.
As Hikigaya suspected, Class B would face significant challenges in this exam.
Class C was even more intriguing. Despite being Ryuuen's subordinates, one boy with slicked-back hair stood out, frequently casting disdainful glances at his classmates.
Of course, if he wanted to look down on his peers, that was none of Hikigaya's concern.
But what puzzled him was that this guy also kept glaring at Hikigaya with a look of pure malice… Wait, could there be some deep-seated hatred here?
…No, that's not right.
Hikigaya suddenly realized that if this guy was from Class C, it was natural for him to harbor resentment.
After all, with the contract Hikigaya had made with Ryuuen, Shiina, and Ibuki, it was only expected that Class C students wouldn't be fond of him.
But the reality was that Ryuuen and the others had maintained their usual demeanor, and most Class C students seemed more fearful of him.
Like the two others in the Rooster Group who didn't even dare meet Hikigaya's gaze.
Huh? In that case, this slicked-back guy is unique.
Could this be the troublesome person Ryuuen mentioned?
I should keep an eye on him.
While Hikigaya was lost in thought, the ship's broadcast suddenly cracked to life.
"And now, we will begin the first round of group discussions."
The announcement was brief, just as the rules had indicated, suggesting that even if they remained silent throughout, no one would intervene.
In this abruptly initiated scenario, no one was eager to speak first. The room quickly fell into a heavy silence, the tension palpable, making it slightly uncomfortable for everyone.
Of course, Hikigaya didn't feel uncomfortable at all; in fact, he wished everyone would stay silent until the exam was over.
Unfortunately, things rarely went his way. Eventually, someone broke the silence.
"Excuse me, everyone. If no one speaks, we won't be able to start the exam. So, let me introduce myself first."
The speaker was a male student from Class A, whose name was likely Watanabe Norihito. It was a solid attempt to break the ice, but an unexpected interruption quickly followed.
"Tch, what are we, elementary schoolers? Who needs introductions?"
The sharp remark came from the slicked-back student in Class C.
"Besides, if anyone's going to take charge here, it sure as hell shouldn't be you."
For some reason, after his outburst, the guy turned his attention back to Hikigaya.
"After all, we've got a first-year celebrity among us, don't we? Isn't that right, Hikigaya Hachiman?"
"Uh…"
—Wait, why am I the target here?!
Hikigaya kept his expression calm, but inside, he was utterly exasperated. Especially now, as the others in the room also turned to look at him, seemingly accepting the claim without question.
Enough already! This isn't some kind of fan meet-and-greet!
Sure, in a Werewolf game, people tend to go after those they know well, but the problem was that Hikigaya didn't know these people at all—they hadn't even spoken a word to each other before this!
This exam was shaping up to be an absolute nightmare.
And to make things worse, Hikigaya was the preferred student, doubling the headache!
…Screw it, maybe I should just reveal everything right now.