Despite unexpectedly exchanging contact information with a senior he had just met and receiving a promise of free assistance, Hachiman had no intention of taking advantage of it.
After all, nothing is more expensive than something free.
Moreover, when it came to that peculiar senior, Kiryuin, Hachiman had an uneasy feeling. It wasn't that she lacked ability or had ulterior motives; it was simply that she was utterly unpredictable.
It reminded him of the time on the uninhabited island when he had hired Koenji as a guide. Everything had been going smoothly until that guy, in a completely inexplicable move, decided to inform the class about their strategy. And this was someone who usually couldn't be bothered to talk to anyone!
These sorts of erratic actions, with no discernible motive, were the most frustrating to deal with.
In any case, Hachiman wanted to avoid further involvement with Kiryuin. She was far too noticeable, and he preferred to keep his distance.
Back in his dorm room, just as he was about to turn on the air conditioning, his phone suddenly rang.
"Ugh, I'm busier than ever," Hachiman muttered to himself. Since enrolling in this school, he had been swept up in all sorts of situations, with hardly a moment of peace.
Back in middle school, his phone might not ring even once a month, and when it did, it was either his family or a scam call.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he saw that it was a call from Haruno.
Hmm... this can't be good.
Even so, not answering would only cause more trouble, so he resigned himself to his fate.
"Hey, Hachiman-kun," Haruno's cheerful voice came through the line. "It's been two weeks. Have you missed your big sister?"
"No."
"Aw, such a cold response. That won't score you any points with me, you know."
"Ugh..." Hachiman groaned internally. Why was she trying to sound like someone else's little sister? How annoying... and yet, it made him feel a bit nostalgic.
With a hint of irritation in his voice, he asked, "What do you want, Haruno-san?"
"Hehe, don't be so impatient," Haruno teased, clearly enjoying herself. "I hear you're going on an outing with the tennis club this summer, right?"
"...Yeah."
Just thinking about it gave Hachiman a headache. Why did his rare summer vacation have to be wasted on something like this?
"Do you know which school you'll be visiting?" Haruno asked, her tone playful.
"...Where?" Hachiman felt a sudden jolt of anxiety.
He had been so caught up in the aftermath of his meeting with Nagumo that he'd forgotten to ask about the location. It couldn't be Sobu High, could it? If that were the case, he absolutely wouldn't go. He'd quit the student council if he had to. In fact, he was already looking for an excuse to do so.
Thankfully, Haruno provided a reassuring answer.
"It's Kaibin High."
"...Oh, that place."
Kaibin High was a school in Chiba, not far from Sobu High, though its academic standing wasn't quite as high. Wait... Chiba?
Hachiman suddenly froze. "Haruno-san, you don't mean...?!"
"Ahaha, as sharp as ever, Hachiman-kun," Haruno laughed. "Mention your sister, and you get all quick-witted. Yes, you guessed it—I've already told Komachi-chan about it."
Although Komachi wasn't a student at Kaibin High, she could easily come to watch the matches.
In other words... they could meet!
Haruno continued, "I wanted it to be a surprise, but you know how strict the rules are during school outings. Normally, you're not even allowed to talk to anyone outside your school."
Indeed, even off-campus, Koudo Ikusei's policy of secrecy was enforced rigorously. They checked bags before departure, confiscated phones, and even restricted bathroom use to designated areas. Forget about wandering around freely.
But there were always exceptions, especially in a school that encouraged students to find loopholes.
"I understand, Haruno-san. Thanks for the heads-up." Hachiman immediately grasped her implication.
She had called to hint at the possibility of using personal points. As long as it didn't violate school rules, points could buy almost anything, but it would also come at a steep price.
Even with the advantage of working with the student council, securing the freedom to talk to outsiders would still cost at least a million points.
On a typical day, preparing for an outing was costly, and when it came to an entire day trip, the expenses skyrocketed to a staggering five million points—an astronomical sum by any standard.
A few years ago, someone like Hachiman Hikigaya would have found it impossible to gather such a fortune, no matter how hard he tried. It was like living in a country where the law forbade the sale of land, rendering wealth and influence useless. But, with enough power, one could rewrite those laws, making the once-impossible possible.
Yukino Yukinoshita's older sister, Haruno, had done something remarkably similar. During her tenure as the student council president, she spent millions of points to alter the school regulations. She had orchestrated a change that allowed students to purchase the privilege of leaving campus—a privilege that had previously been unattainable.
However, for most students, amassing such an enormous number of points before graduation was impossible, rendering this new loophole a luxury few could afford.
Yet, for Haruno, there was only one reason for going to such lengths: her deep, almost obsessive, love for her younger sister, Yukino.
"Are you thinking something inappropriate, Hachiman?" Haruno's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.
"Can you read minds over the phone?" Hachiman responded, trying to hide his unease.
Haruno's laugh was light, but something was unnerving about it. "Just joking, but I'm impressed, Hachiman. You've managed to gather quite several points. Could it be that you've found a girl willing to support you?"
Hachiman couldn't help but roll his eyes at the absurd suggestion. "Haruno-san, please stop with the nonsense. You, of all people, should know where my points came from. And even if I did find someone willing to support me, where would she get that many points?"
Haruno's response was almost playful. "Well, maybe if you found several girls, they could pool their points together."
"Enough. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
But before Hachiman could disconnect, Haruno interrupted him with a sudden seriousness. "Wait, I have something important to ask you. Earlier, when I mentioned the seaside complex, you seemed relieved. Why is that?"
Hachiman felt a twinge of annoyance. "No, I wasn't."
"Liar," Haruno teased, her tone sharp and knowing. "Are you that afraid of seeing Yukino? I could have sworn you missed her. Don't you want to see her, Hachiman?"
Hachiman was baffled by the sudden turn of the conversation. "Why would I miss Yukinoshita? And why would I want to see her?"
Haruno's laughter was soft, but it lingered in the air, making Hachiman uneasy. As he considered hanging up, Haruno spoke again.
"Isn't it obvious? You've been projecting your feelings for Yukino onto Suzune Horikita, haven't you?"
Hachiman bristled at the suggestion, his voice firm. "Of course not. Why would I do that? At most, I helped her out a bit because of the council's interests."
Haruno sighed deeply on the other end of the line. "You haven't changed a bit since middle school. Always willing to do anything for Yukino, under the guise of serving the Service Club. Fortunately, Suzune is just a girl chasing after her brother's shadow. You might see a bit of Yukino in her, but if she were more like Yukino, I'd be worried you'd make the same mistakes all over again."
Hachiman's discomfort grew, and he tried to deflect. "Why are you comparing the two of them? They're in completely different situations."
Haruno's tone softened. "True. If Suzune were at Soubu High, she'd be just as much of an untouchable beauty as Yukino."
"Uh…" Hachiman wasn't sure how to respond.
"You've gone through two special exams now, Hachiman. Surely, you understand why I was so adamant about keeping Yukino away from Advanced Nurturing High School. She's still a bit angry at me for it, you know."
Haruno's words made Hachiman pause. He couldn't help but wonder how Yukino would have fared in the same situations. Would she have been able to unite a fractured class on the deserted island, hiding their leader while outmaneuvering spies from other classes? Could she have maintained her belief in her absolute correctness after the preferential treatment exam, even in the face of Ryuuen's provocations and her own defeat?
The truth was, there was no way to know. Hypotheticals were meaningless, and Hachiman was simply glad that Yukino hadn't come to this school.
"Oh, speaking of Yukino…" Haruno's voice suddenly took on a cheerful tone, startling Hachiman. The speed at which she shifted moods was unnerving.
"I'm at home right now, and Yukino's in the room next to mine. How about I hand her the phone so you two can chat?"
"No thanks! I just remembered something urgent!" Hachiman's voice rose in panic as he hastily hung up the phone.
The very idea of Yukino answering the call was terrifying. He could already imagine her sharp, biting words, pretending not to recognize him and making some cutting remarks about his suspicious behavior from middle school.
"Sigh… So annoying." Hachiman tossed his phone aside and collapsed onto his bed.
He had been so happy at the thought of seeing his sister, Komachi, again. But now, Haruno's mention of Yukino had left him feeling unsettled and conflicted. What was the point of bringing up old memories now?
He decided to focus on happier thoughts instead. And nothing made him happier than Komachi. Hearing her voice on her last birthday had filled him with joy, but this time, he would get to see her. The mere thought of it made him giddy with anticipation.
"Hehe…" Hachiman couldn't help but smile to himself. Thankfully, there was no one around to witness his goofy grin, or they'd surely think he was some kind of weirdo.
But as he thought about it, he realized he needed to buy a gift for Komachi. Something special and meaningful. What would she like?
He pondered for a moment. Komachi did like Häagen-Dazs, but even he knew that ice cream wasn't the most thoughtful gift.
Maybe… a Häagen-Dazs gift card?
No, that was just as silly.
With only three days left before the tennis club's departure, Hachiman knew he had to come up with the perfect gift soon. Determined, he grabbed his phone and turned to his trusty ally: Google.
---
"The internet is so unreliable…" Hachiman muttered the next morning as he walked under the scorching sun toward the basketball club.
He had spent the entire night searching online for gift ideas, but he had come up empty-handed. At this point, he was beginning to think that the Häagen-Dazs gift card might not be so bad after all.
Come to think of it, the last time he'd searched for a birthday gift for Haruno, he'd faced the same problem. The internet had offered no useful suggestions.
Why did he keep doing this to himself?
Perhaps it was true what they said—humans are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over.
"You're late, Hikigaya!"
A stern voice jolted him from his thoughts. It was Kiriyama, already waiting for him at the door of the gym.
"Uh…" Hachiman quickly checked his phone. "Kiriyama-senpai, I'm not late, am I?"
"The rule is to arrive fifteen minutes before the scheduled time. That's basic social etiquette."
"…Sorry, I guess I'm just out of touch with society."
Hachiman sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected to be scolded by a senior so early in the morning. Maybe this was just a preview of his future life as a corporate drone.
But honestly, who talked about common sense at a school like this? No wonder Kiriyama had ended up in Class B.
"Ugh, no wonder you and Ryuuen get along."
"That's not true at all," Hachiman protested, shaking his head vigorously. The last thing he needed was to be associated with someone as troublesome as Ryuuen.
"Whatever, let's go."
Fortunately, Kiriyama wasn't the type to hold a grudge, and his tone softened as they entered the gym.
Inside, the atmosphere was intense. The basketball team was hard at work, with almost every member present.
Athletic clubs sure had it tough, Hachiman thought. Training every day, even during summer vacation? But then he remembered his situation—working through the sweltering heat.
"I guess I'm not in a position to feel sorry for anyone," he muttered to himself.
"Everyone, gather around!"
The basketball coach called out, pausing the practice to assemble the team. Hachiman noticed Sudo among them, his serious expression standing out. Sudo was always the most diligent when it came to basketball, his shirt soaked through with sweat from the rigorous training.
If only he put half as much effort into his studies, Hachiman thought. Then no one would have to worry about him passing his exams.
"Now, I'm going to announce the names of those who will be participating in the upcoming tournament," the coach said, his voice steady and commanding. "Those whose names I call, step forward. Oshima, Takamiya, Saotome—"
The coach's voice cut through the murmuring crowd as he recited the names of the players, one by one.
Each name belonged to a seasoned member from the second and third years. The faces of those left standing betrayed no surprise; they had anticipated this outcome.
This time, only twelve players would be chosen for the competition. The rest would remain behind, excluded from even the possibility of warming the bench.
The initial selections were made swiftly, but the coach's pace slowed as he approached the final name. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration as he scanned the remaining players.
His gaze lingered on one particular individual...
"And finally, Sudo, you're in."
"Wha—? Oh, yes!" Sudo stammered, caught off guard by his unexpected inclusion. His initial shock quickly gave way to a burst of enthusiasm.
His reaction was understandable; it's a rare honor for a first-year student to make it to such a high-profile event.
On the other hand, the faces of the second and third-year students who hadn't been chosen darkened noticeably, their disappointment palpable.
---
In the realm of the athletic department, the hierarchy between seniors and juniors was of utmost importance. The sting of defeat was even sharper when a senior lost to a first-year student, especially from the notoriously weak D class. The mood among the upperclassmen was understandably grim.
However, ever since the last altercation, Sudou had significantly tempered his temper. It was clear that, with enough restraint, even a senior couldn't overstep their bounds too egregiously.
Hikigaya mused about this as he helped Kiriyama finish up the remaining tasks. By the time they wrapped everything up, it was approaching noon. Hikigaya had planned to exchange a few words with Toriyama and then head out, but to his surprise, Toriyama left without saying a word.
It seemed Kiriyama was displeased with him... though Hikigaya found he didn't mind.
"Hey, Hikigaya. Working hard for the student council, I see," Sudou called out, approaching with a grin. His training must have wrapped up since it was lunchtime.
"Yeah, you too," Hikigaya replied with a nod. "I'm heading out now, so I'll be on my way."
"Huh? Aren't you staying for lunch?" Sudou asked, looking surprised.
"No, I'm fine. I've got a bento in the fridge."
"What? What's so great about that kind of food?"
Sudou gave a broad grin, his thumb raised in a thumbs-up. "Come on with me! I'll treat you to a feast at the cafeteria!"
"A feast?" Hikigaya tilted his head. "Are you talking about... the vegetable set?"
"No!"
"But isn't the whole point of the cafeteria just the vegetable set? Besides, it's usually packed, and I'd rather avoid the crowd."
"Stop making excuses and just follow me!" Sudou insisted.
Without waiting for a response, Sudou grabbed Hikigaya by the neck and dragged him along.
Resigned, Hikigaya followed him. Fortunately, it was summer vacation, and the usually crowded campus cafeteria was nearly empty. The only ones around were club members who still had training during the break.
"Order whatever you like, Hikigaya. This one's on me!" Sudou declared, pointing at the vending machine with a flourish. He seemed genuinely eager.
When did Sudou get so rich?
Even though Sudou had received a 500,000 points reward from the VIP exam, that points wouldn't be available until September. By all rights, he should still be as broke as ever.
"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up," Sudou urged, "Just pick what you like."
"...Alright," Hikigaya said, finally giving in and pressing a button on the vending machine.
"Wait, why did you choose the vegetable set? I'm treating you!"
"Because I like that flavor."
"You're something else."
They took their food and found a seat. Before they could dig in, Sudou leaned in with a mysterious air.
"Hey, Hikigaya," he said, glancing around furtively before lowering his voice. "About that VIP exam, you're the VIP of our group, right?"
"Yeah," Hikigaya confirmed.
"Seriously? You just tell me like that?"
"Didn't you ask me?"
"But... but yesterday on the boat, Suzune asked you, and you wouldn't say anything!"
"That's because she's an idiot."
Hikigaya took a sip of miso soup and sighed internally. Why was everyone so obsessed with Horikita? Was she the heroine of a light novel or something?
"Suzune is an idiot?" Sudou scratched his cheek in confusion. "I'd expect you to call me an idiot, but Suzune's clever. How can you even call her an idiot?"
"That's a different matter."
"Huh? What's the difference?"
Just as Hikigaya was pondering how to explain, a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Oh? Isn't that Hikigaya? Do you have student council duties today?"
Turning around, Hikigaya found himself face-to-face with Nagumo.
Great, just what he needed—another troublesome superior.
Hikigaya sighed inwardly as he braced himself for whatever came next. Hopefully, it wouldn't lead to more trouble.