So, here I am, assigned to Class 1-D the so-called bottom tier, the "inferior" class. To most people, that probably sounds like social suicide, a total failure badge. But for me? It's pure perfection. Class 1-D isn't just some convenient hiding spot it's the ultimate testing ground. I get to watch, manipulate, and do everything the Black Room drilled into me, all while blending in like a chameleon.
And, I thought with a smirk as I wandered down the hallway, lucky me, the "perfect product" from the White Room is in my class too. Talk about fate.
Advanced Nurturing High School somehow ended up with two anomalies in the same room one trained to erase emotions, and the other to weaponize them. I haven't fully decided if I want to mess with Ayanokouji, the White Room's golden boy, but damn, the temptation is strong. It's going to be a fun challenge.
But first, I need to pick a mask a persona that lets me slip under everyone's radar. Let's see… a comedic, self-deprecating idiot. Easy enough to play, and more importantly, no one would ever suspect a thing. Playing the fool gives me the perfect cover to stir up chaos, plant seeds of doubt and tension without anyone catching on.
I push open the door and step into Class 1-D. The room is buzzing with chatter, students staking out their social turf and sizing each other up. My gaze lazily drifts over the room, my posture slouched and casual, like I couldn't care less. But in reality, my mind's running at machine-like precision, analyzing every face, every gesture.
INITIATING SOCIAL SCAN…
TARGET ACQUISITION PRIMARY ANALYSIS BASED ON BODY LANGUAGE…
First, there's this guy in the middle of the room, talking loudly and practically bouncing in his seat. His excitement is all over his face, and he keeps eyeing anyone who looks even a bit assertive. Perfect target someone I can steer with a few well-placed words.
A few rows over, another student sits surrounded by classmates, all drawn to him. He radiates this aura of calm confidence that makes others seem relaxed around him. The popular type, I note. Someone like him could be useful, but I'd need to be subtle, nudging him into the "right" choices without making it obvious.
In the back corner, there's a girl leaning against her desk, flipping through her phone with an air of practiced indifference. She's paying attention to her classmates but hides it well, projecting aloofness. Social queen wannabe, I muse. I'd play the fool around her act charmingly dense and let her think she's got me wrapped around her finger.
On the side, another student sits slouched, shoulders tense and arms crossed, glaring at anyone who dares glance his way. His aggression is palpable, his jaw set like he's daring someone to challenge him. I almost laugh this guy is like a bull in a china shop. Useful, if I can harness his aggression. He could be the blunt instrument I need to cause trouble when necessary.
Then there's another girl moving from group to group, a bright smile plastered on her face as she showers compliments like confetti. She's overly friendly almost suspiciously so. People are drawn to her, happily soaking up her words, but something feels rehearsed. Her friendliness is too practiced, too polished. I don't trust it. I file her away as a "potential threat" and decide she needs to be watched.
Finally, I spot a boy sitting quietly at the back, almost blending into the background. The kid has the presence of a ghost. My eyes narrow slightly this is the one, the White Room's prodigy. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Honestly, his calm indifference isn't a bad act. But I know better than to take it at face value. Gotta tread carefully with this one.
But for now, I slap on my best lazy grin and make my way to the seat in front of Ayanokouji, swiveling around with an exaggerated wave and a dopey smile.
"Yo, new best friend!" I greet, throwing in a casual chuckle. "Guess we're stuck in this room of misfits together, huh?"
Ayanokouji blinks, seemingly surprised by the sudden attention, but nods politely. "Uh, yeah… I guess so."
Perfect, I think, suppressing a smirk. He's accepted the mask at face value, seeing me as nothing more than a harmless slacker with a sense of humor. I lean back, turning to the front of the room and keeping up my slacker facade. The key to manipulation is setting the groundwork early.
SOCIAL MASK SUCCESSFULLY INITIATED. CONTINUE OBSERVATION AND MAINTAIN LOW-THREAT PROFILE.
As I relax, the classroom door swings open, and our homeroom teacher walks in. She looks as tired as I feel though for her, it's probably from years of dealing with clueless kids rather than Black Room conditioning. Her gaze sweeps over the class with a permanent scowl as she introduces herself.
"My name is Sae Chabashira. I'll be your homeroom teacher," she says in a voice so dry it could've wilted flowers. Without any preamble, she hands out a stack of papers, barely looking at us as we pass them down.
I pick up my sheet, scanning the information out of habit. Rules, policies standard stuff. But as she continues speaking, my interest piques.
"Points can be used to buy anything on campus groceries, clothes, supplies whatever you need. Think of it as your monthly allowance, and you can spend it however you like. But remember, this isn't just free money."
There's a collective gasp from the class, followed by whispers of excitement. I keep my expression neutral, letting out a low whistle for show.
"100,000 points?" I mutter to no one in particular, feigning wide-eyed wonder. "Guess I can buy myself a whole new personality with that kind of cash." I chuckle, putting just enough awkwardness in my voice to seem genuine. My classmates laugh, a few nodding in agreement, already convinced I'm just another harmless joker.
But as Chabashira continues her speech, my mind shifts gears.
ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION…
OBSERVATION POINT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED TO CONTROL STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND PRIORITIZE MERITOCRACY. INITIAL 100,000 POINT ALLOCATION IS LIKELY TEMPORARY AND TIED TO PERFORMANCE METRICS.
I lean back slightly, allowing a smirk to form, hidden beneath my casual facade. This is what sets me apart. The White Room may have focused on physical and mental perfection, but the Black Room's specialty is the mind specifically, the art of manipulation. My training was all about understanding people down to their core, analyzing human behavior, social dynamics, and using empathy as a weapon. The Black Room's ultimate aim wasn't to erase human flaws but to exploit them, turning them into tools for control. That's why I can see through the facade of this school's 'freedom.' Everything here is a game of influence, and unlike others, I've spent years perfecting my mind in the Black Room.
Chabashira drones on, describing the school's "freedom" and "privileges," words loaded with unspoken threats and consequences. I almost laugh Advanced Nurturing High School is no different from any other elite institution. The rules are always hidden, buried under pretty promises. Freedom here is just an illusion, a carrot dangling over a chasm.
I just lean further into my seat. As we get ready to enjoy break time, I notice a few familiar faces, planning to learn more names as I interact with them.
The teacher finally leaves, giving us an hour of free time . I decide now is the perfect time to establish myself in the social structure. It's time to introduce myself in a natural, easy way just enough to blend in but also to set up for future control.
I push myself off my seat and make my way to the center of the room, where the most energetic guy is still talking loudly, his enthusiasm undiminished. I've mentally nicknamed him 'The Enthusiast.' Perfectly malleable and easy to influence.
With a relaxed grin, I slide into the conversation, letting out a chuckle. "Man, you sure have some energy! I'm Hachiman Hikigaya, by the way," I say, casually extending my hand. "Looks like we've all got a hundred thousand points to burn, huh? Any ideas on how we can spend it?"
The Enthusiast Sudo, as I learn grins back, immediately including me in the conversation. The introduction is seamless. I play along with their excitement, nodding at suggestions while throwing in self-deprecating remarks to earn a few laughs. It's all about establishing my image as a non-threatening, funny guy.
I notice 'The Popular One' a few seats away, a student with a calm and confident air. I decide to approach him next. "Hey, mind if I join in?" I ask, positioning myself on the edge of the group. Popular types like to feel inclusive, and I make sure to play the role of the laid-back, sociable new guy.
The Popular One, whose name turns out to be Hirata, welcomes me easily, smiling as I join their conversation. I make sure to stay on the periphery of attention, never dominating but always present. I throw in a few lines here and there some light jokes, some innocent-sounding questions about the school facilities. Hirata and the others warm up to me, exactly as I expected.
Then there's 'The Social Queen,' the girl who seems aloof but pays close attention to everything. I give her a small wave as I pass, my grin still lazy. "Hey, cool phone case," I say casually, catching her attention. The Social Queen, whose name is revealed as Kei, looks at me with mild curiosity before smirking, seemingly deciding that I'm not a threat. She lets out a nonchalant "Thanks," and I leave it at that, giving her just enough attention to be noted, but not enough to imply any interest.
Finally, I decide it's time for Ayanokouji. I approach his desk, wearing the same lazy grin. I turn my head to the rest of the class, loudly announcing, "Hey, everyone, I almost forgot to introduce my new best friend here!" I give Ayanokouji a pat on the shoulder, "This is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, or as I'm going to call him Koji!"
Ayanokouji blinks, clearly caught off guard by the sudden attention. I note the slight tension in his shoulders subtle, but there. He's trying to maintain his act of staying unnoticed, but I've just made that a bit more difficult. The rest of the class gives polite greetings, some waving at Ayanokouji, who responds with a polite nod.
"Don't be shy, Koji! We're all friends here!" I continue with a carefree tone, keeping up the appearance of the happy-go-lucky class clown. The attention shifts to Ayanokouji, and I take a step back, enjoying the moment. Ayanokouji, with his calm indifference, is forced into the spotlight if only for a brief moment. It's not a direct challenge, but it's a test.
I lean back, satisfied. I've planted the seeds, set my mask firmly in place, and started to pull Ayanokouji just slightly out of the shadows. For now, I'll continue watching, acting the fool, and subtly guiding the dynamics of Class 1-D. This is only the beginning, and I'm just getting started
Hachiman nudged Ayanokoji in his typical lazy way, barely lifting his hand as he yawned. "Yo, Koji-kun, let's grab some lunch. I'm starving."
Ayanokoji looked up from his book, his expression as blank as ever. "Wait a minute," he replied, voice almost devoid of emotion, "there's someone I want to bring along."
Hachiman raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. When he saw who Ayanokoji had invited, he couldn't help but smirk. Walking beside Ayanokoji was a girl with long black hair and an unmistakably cold demeanor. He had seen her before in class, sitting away from everyone, exuding an air of 'don't talk to me unless it's life or death.'
"Wow, Koji-kun, didn't expect you to get a girlfriend this fast," Hachiman said, his voice dripping with fake admiration.
Ayanokoji gave him a deadpan look. "It's not like that," he responded, the monotone making his words sound almost comically flat. Horikita's eyes narrowed, her cheeks turning a faint shade of red.
"We're not together. You have the wrong idea," she said curtly, her voice edged with irritation. Hachiman, of course, wasn't done yet.
"Always this uptight, huh? I thought being around your boyfriend would lighten you up," Hachiman said with a chuckle, watching Horikita's expression twist into one of annoyance.
"I'm not uptight," she snapped back, a bit too quickly. Ayanokoji stayed quiet, but the slight twitch at the corner of his lips hinted at some kind of internal amusement.
Hachiman grinned, enjoying her reaction. "Relax, I'm just kidding. Name's Hikigaya Hachiman. Nice to meet you, Horikita-san."
Horikita just gave him a suspicious glance before nodding curtly. The trio began making their way toward the cafeteria, with Hachiman feeling somewhat amused by their dynamic. He'd only just met her, and already he could tell she had zero tolerance for nonsense something that, naturally, made him want to push her buttons even more.
As they approached the cafeteria, Hachiman noticed Kushida at one of the tables, surrounded by a group of girls. She was smiling, laughing, and chatting in a way that looked completely effortless. Internally, Hachiman took note of it. Kushida-san... She's one of the social anchors of this class, along with Hirata. If I want to maneuver through all these social dynamics without putting myself on the line, I'll need 'pawns' people who can do the dirty work while I stay in the background.
He mentally categorized her alongside Hirata as an ideal connection. If he could get close to Kushida, it would be a shortcut to social maneuvering without all the effort of actually making friends. Before he could let himself think any further, he was interrupted by Horikita.
"Are you going to sit down or stand there staring like an idiot?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
"Geez, chill, Horikita-san. I'm just admiring the social butterfly," Hachiman said sarcastically before following Ayanokoji and Horikita to a nearby table.
Once they settled down with their food, Ayanokoji brought up something that caught Hachiman's attention. "The point system, doesn't it seem a bit strange to you guys?" he asked, his eyes giving away nothing, as usual.
Hachiman rolled his eyes, a scoff escaping his lips. "What are you talking about, Koji-kun? This is a prestigious school. This kind of generosity is to be expected. You're overthinking it."
Horikita gave Hachiman a withering look, the type of look you reserve for someone who's clearly missing something important. Hachiman caught it, and internally, he thought, Ah, I guess in her eyes, I'm just another idiot. He was almost impressed at how well his 'clueless loner' mask was working. Even Ayanokoji and Horikita hadn't seen through it yet.
"You're too relaxed, Hikigaya-kun," Horikita said bluntly. Hachiman just grinned in response.
"And you're too stiff, Horikita-san. Either way, we gotta enjoy life. Ayanokoji, you too, man. Loosen up. Maybe get a girlfriend."
Horikita scoffed at his comment. "Ayanokoji isn't like you, Hikigaya-kun. He's serious about advancing." Before she could continue, Ayanokoji interrupted, his voice as calm as ever. "I just want to relax."
Hachiman smirked, amused by the irony. Ayanokoji, of all people, seemed to have mastered the art of blending in, projecting an image of total relaxation while being anything but relaxed.
Midway through their meal, Hachiman spotted Hirata, carrying a lunch tray and scanning the cafeteria for a place to sit. Hachiman saw an opportunity he waved his hand in the air. "Yo, Hirata-kun! Over here!"
Hirata walked over, his ever-gentle smile brightening his face. He greeted them politely, and Hachiman decided now was the perfect time to set his plan into motion. After the introductions were made Hachiman introducing Horikita as "Ayanokoji's not-girlfriend," which earned him an icy glare from her Hachiman leaned forward, looking at Hirata with a suddenly earnest expression.
"Hirata-kun, I've got a request," Hachiman said, his voice unusually sincere.
Hirata blinked, a bit taken aback. "If it's something I can help with..."
Hachiman leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing as if to emphasize the gravity of his next words. "You seem super popular with the girls. Can you help me get popular too?"
Hirata looked momentarily flustered, his hand coming up to scratch his cheek. "I-I don't know if I'm really popular like that," he stammered, looking genuinely embarrassed. But, being Hirata, he still offered to help. "If there's something I can do... I'd be happy to assist."
Hachiman gave him an exaggerated expression of gratitude. "Oh, Hirata-kun, you're my bro from today onwards. Can I call you aniki?" Hirata's confusion deepened as he scratched his head. "But... we're the same age."
Hachiman dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "It's not about age. It's about aura. And you've got the aura of an older brother, Hirata-kun. From now on, you're my aniki." Hirata laughed awkwardly, unsure of how to respond, while Ayanokoji silently observed, his eyes betraying a hint of amusement.
Honestly, this guy is way too earnest, Hachiman thought to himself, watching as Hirata continued to smile politely. It's almost a miracle that someone like him hasn't been taken advantage of yet. Well, guess that's where I come in... to take advantage of him. Hehe.
Horikita, still looking unamused by Hachiman's antics, sighed. "I didn't realize you were this desperate for friends, Hikigaya-kun."
Hachiman smirked. "I'm not desperate for friends, Horikita-san. I'm desperate for girls. Right, aniki?" He shot a wink in Hirata's direction, and Hirata simply laughed it off, clearly unsure how to react to Hachiman's over-the-top display.
Internally, Hachiman reflected on how smoothly everything was going. Getting Hirata-kun on my side makes everything easier. I don't have to be directly in the spotlight, but through Hirata, I can access every group in this class. It's almost too perfect. He glanced over at Ayanokoji, wondering if the White Room enigma had already figured out his plan. But Ayanokoji's face remained unreadable, seemingly unaware of Hachiman's intent or at least pretending to be.
After finishing their meal, Hachiman ended up leaving the cafeteria with Hirata, while Ayanokoji and Horikita went off in another direction. As they walked towards the dorms, Hachiman decided to test Hirata's influence immediately.
"By the way, Hirata-kun, Kushida-san seems to get along with everyone. She's really impressive," Hachiman said casually, watching Hirata's reaction out of the corner of his eye.
Hirata smiled. "Yeah, Kushida-san is great. She's always willing to help others." Then, as if picking up on Hachiman's underlying intent, he added, "If you'd like, I can introduce you to her properly sometime."
Hachiman couldn't help but grin internally. This is it. Through Hirata, Kushida is within my grasp. I can hide behind his popularity while gaining control of the whole class. Hirata is my golden goose. I only need another pawn which should be a girl. Right now, my focus is on Kushida or maybe Karuizawa Kei. Either way, it's only a matter of time.