AN: Tadada!! J is here!
Here is the last chapter for this week!
Writing this is actually really tricky.
The confrontation here is really hard. I almost burned my brain here.
I really hope I gave these two monsters justice when I made this scene....
...Also, the last part is a bit well... just make sure to read it alone? (I gave the warning, alright! Don't tell me I said nothing!"
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter and do let me know what you think!
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Deserted Island, Hachiman's Home Planet…
"Tadaa! Welcome to our Class D camp!"
Kikyo presented their campsite to Hachiman and Honami with theatrical flair, spreading her arms wide with a bright smile.
Class D had set up their base near the river. Four large tents were lined up neatly—two for the boys and two for the girls. At the center were the remains of a bonfire they had used for cooking, while one corner of the camp was reserved for the food they had gathered.
"Whooaa!!!" Honami exclaimed in genuine amazement as she looked around the camp.
"It's surprisingly… neat," Hachiman remarked with a blink of mild surprise.
Some of the students were down by the river trying to catch fish, while others were busy with various tasks—gathering firewood, boiling water, or sorting the food their classmates had collected. Hachiman noticed a few familiar faces. Sakura Airi and Hasebe Haruka were near one of the tents, cooling boiled water before transferring it into containers for drinking.
The gal trio was helping the others sort the resources the class had gathered.
But what surprised Hachiman the most was the sight of Ike Kanji talking to a group of boys while demonstrating something to them. Considering all the complaints Kikyo had made about him and Yamauchi—and the rather questionable behavior he had seen from them before—Hachiman hadn't expected Ike to be the one leading something useful.
"It's great that we have Ike‑kun, who actually has experience with camping. Otherwise, our class might have been completely lost on how to survive this whole week," Kikyo explained, as if sensing Hachiman's surprise.
'If I didn't know better, I'd think she's praising Ike,' Hachiman's cheek twitched. 'I can practically hear your inner voice saying: that perverted guy finally did something useful!'
"Hmm?" Perhaps sensing his thoughts, Kikyo turned to him with her signature idol smile.
Hachiman quickly looked away and pretended to keep observing the other students.
"Wow! Really? To think that aside from Hachiman, someone else has camping experience. Looks like our year has quite a few hidden talents," Honami said with interest.
"Ehh? Hikigaya‑kun has camping experience?" Kikyo reacted with genuine surprise, clearly not expecting that. She looked at him as if he were full of unexpected discoveries.
"Right?! I didn't even know about it until the start of the exam three days ago!" Honami puffed her cheeks slightly. "Hachiman keeps hiding his skills!"
"It's nothing major," Hachiman said with a small shrug. "Back in my second year of junior high, the club I belonged to participated in a camping program together with some elementary students in Chiba Village."
'And well… the knowledge and experience I gained from traveling with the crew helped the most,' he added in his thoughts.
Noticing the noise from their conversation, the rest of the students of Class D turned to look in their direction.
When they saw him, Hachiman's acquaintances—Sakura Airi, Hasebe Haruka, Matsushita Chiaki, Satou Maya, and Karuizawa Kei—showed brief surprise before flashing him bright smiles. Hachiman returned the gesture with a small nod.
"Ichinose‑san! Hikigaya‑kun! What a surprise!"
Hirata Yosuke, the handsome boy who served as Class D's representative, immediately walked toward them with a welcoming smile.
"Welcome to our camp!"
He offered his hand to Hachiman and Honami, which they accepted with a firm shake.
"Sorry, I didn't notice you two right away. I was too focused on working with Ike‑kun on figuring out how to fish in the river."
"It's fine, Hirata. We're the ones intruding while you guys are busy," Hachiman replied.
If this were the old him, he would definitely have brushed off the ever‑sunny Hirata and kept his distance. He might even have shouted 'Normies explode!' in his mind out of pure spite.
Seeing someone like Hirata Yosuke reminded Hachiman of everything he once believed he could never be—popular, handsome, the center of attention, trusted and liked by everyone, and most of all… accepted by all.
But after confronting his own shadow—his darkness, his weaknesses, his jealousy toward people like Hirata, and even his own hypocrisy—he had faced them all. The experience had nearly broken him.
Yet at that exact moment, a small spark had ignited inside him.
A spark that made him want to rebel against this unfair world.
If the world insisted on denying him his share of happiness and recognition…
Then he would simply steal it back.
He would no longer accept the future it had written for him.
He would find his own happiness.
Not the shallow smiles people wore just to keep the peace.
Not the fragile harmony built on lies.
But something real.
Something genuine.
Something worth protecting.
That was the moment Hikigaya Hachiman began searching for the Real Thing.
"No, no! I actually welcome friendly visits. After all, we're all in the same boat on this island. It would be great if everyone could get along," Hirata said with his usual warm smile.
'As expected of Hirata Yosuke… you really are the same type as Mr. Nice Guy—Hayama Hayato,' Hachiman thought with a wry smile. 'People like you two would probably be called heroes if you were summoned to another world.'
"Hehehe, that's something we can definitely agree on, Hirata-kun!"
Leave it to Honami to spread good vibes. She wholeheartedly agreed with Hirata's wish for everyone to get along.
"So, how's the situation at your camp? Do you guys have enough food resources?" Hachiman asked carefully.
"Yes. Luckily, Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san managed to find a corn field not far from here."
At the mention of Ayanokoji's name, Hachiman's expression twisted slightly—something both Honami and Kikyo immediately noticed.
"Oh? Seems like we have some unexpected visitors."
The voice came from behind them.
Sharp, cold, and confident. Exactly as Hachiman remembered. But he felt that she sounded a bit weak at the moment.
'…I just hope I'm imagining it.'
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice just in time to see Horikita Suzune stepping out from between the trees, carrying a bag filled with fruits and other supplies.
'Same aloof beauty as always, Horikita-san,' Hachiman thought. 'If not for that well‑endowed figure of yours, I would've thought I was looking at Yukinoshita instead.'
Perhaps sensing his inappropriate thoughts, both Horikita Suzune—and somewhere far away at Sobu, Yukinoshita Yukino in spirit—seemed to glare in his direction.
Behind her, another figure came out from the trees.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Like Suzune, he was carrying something wrapped in cloth.
"Unexpected, yes. But definitely not surprising," he said in the same flat tone as always.
His face remained expressionless, but the way his eyes were already observing both Hachiman and Honami didn't escape Hachiman's notice.
'This guy screams trouble as always.'
"Oh! Horikita-san! Ayanokoji-kun! Yahallo!" Honami greeted them brightly.
"Hello to you as well, Ichinose-san," Suzune replied politely. "What brings you two to our camp?"
"Hehehe, nothing much! Hachiman and I were just exploring the island and wanted to see how the other classes are doing in this exam," Honami answered with a warm smile.
"I hope I didn't do anything unnecessary? After all, I'm the one who invited both Ichinose-san and Hikigaya-kun to our camp," Kikyo smoothly interjected.
"Hmm, it's fine. After all, we also visited Class B's camp," Suzune said with a small shrug before raising the bag she was holding. "Thanks to that, they gave us some 'souvenirs.'"
"Eh?!"
"W‑what?!"
Both Kikyo's and Hirata's eyes widened at her words.
"They practically forced it into my hands," Suzune added with a sigh, shaking her head in disbelief.
She opened the bag slightly, revealing several coconuts, corn, bananas, and many other neatly packed supplies inside.
Ayanokoji also unfolded the cloth he was holding, revealing several freshly caught fish.
"Class B… really gave you this much?" Hirata let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Even Kikyo stared between Honami and the bag of food Suzune and Ayanokoji had brought back, disbelief written all over her face.
Suzune nodded, still feeling strange about how generous the class led by Hachiman and Honami had been.
Honami puffed her cheeks playfully. "Hey now, we're not that stingy!"
"…You probably should be. Especially in this type of exam," Suzune replied with a sigh. "From a strategic standpoint, giving away resources like this is inefficient."
Hirata rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Still, we appreciate the gesture. Food is valuable out here."
Honami simply laughed softly and waved her hand.
"It's not a big deal. Thanks to Hachiman, our class found plenty of food sources. It would feel strange not to share at least a little."
"How should I put it…? It's a very Hikigaya‑kun and Ichinose‑san kind of style," Kikyo said, blinking several times as she looked between Honami and the bag of food.
While the others chatted and got along, Hachiman and Ayanokoji were watching each other, neither one breaking eye contact as they studied the other.
Hachiman's eyes narrowed slightly.
'This guy again.'
Same blank expression.
Same lazy posture.
But Hachiman's instincts were screaming to him, something about Ayanokoji was definitely off.
Like someone deliberately pretending to be ordinary.
'Troublesome.'
Of course, Ayanokoji was also observing him.
Silently. Carefully.
'Hikigaya Hachiman.'
He had heard that name several times already.
Mostly from Suzune and Kikyo.
And occasionally from Sakura, Hasebe, Matsushita, Satou, or Karuizawa.
'His posture looks relaxed, but his eyes aren't.'
They were sharp.
Too sharp for someone who claimed to hate attention.
Most people would avoid eye contact in a situation like this.
But Hikigaya didn't. He was studying him. Evaluating him.
Almost the same way Ayanokoji himself observed others.
'Interesting.'
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Ayanokoji broke the silence.
"You seem to be doing well, Hikigaya-kun."
Hachiman shrugged.
"Depends on your definition of 'well.' I haven't starved yet, so I'll call that progress."
Ayanokoji glanced briefly at the others talking before returning his gaze to Hachiman.
"So what do you think about our class situation?"
"Why ask me that kind of question?"
Ayanokoji tilted his head slightly.
"Because you don't look like someone who spends their time wandering into another class's camp."
Hachiman snorted lightly.
"Most people also panic on the first day of this exam."
"That's… true."
Ayanokoji's tone remained flat.
"But wandering around without a clear objective is inefficient."
Hachiman smirked.
"Who says I can't have one?"
Ayanokoji studied him.
"You came here for a reason."
"Maybe I just enjoy sightseeing."
"On a survival exam?"
"New hobbies."
Ayanokoji tilted his head, clearly not believing Hachiman's words.
"…You've been observing this camp since you arrived."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Hachiman shoved his hands into his pockets.
"That's a strong accusation."
"The moment you walked in, you observed the camp layout, counted the number of tents, checked what everyone was doing, and looked at the food supply before greeting anyone."
Ayanokoji spoke calmly, as if he were listing facts from a textbook.
"That's not something people do during a casual visit."
His expression remained neutral.
"Most people also wouldn't check the water containers, the firewood stack, and the cooking schedule within the first ten seconds."
"…You noticed all that?"
Hachiman stared at him.
"And you've been observing me observing."
Silence followed between them.
Hachiman clicked his tongue.
"You're pretty attentive for someone who looks half asleep all the time."
"…It's useful."
Hachiman looks at him again.
Same relaxed posture. Same blank expression.
But the guy in front of him had tracked half of his movements without missing a beat.
'Definitely troublesome.'
"Let me guess," Hachiman said. "You're the type who prefers watching things unfold from the background."
Ayanokoji didn't deny it.
"Figures. People who stay in the background usually see the most."
Ayanokoji's eyes sharpened slightly.
"You... truly are Interesting."
Hachiman groaned.
"Please don't say that."
"Why?" Ayanokoji blinked, confused at his words.
"That word usually means someone is about to cause problems for me."
Ayanokoji thought about it for a moment.
"…It might."
And strangely enough—
Neither of them looked surprised.
"Well then, we shouldn't disturb you any longer," Honami said cheerfully. "Good luck with the rest of the exam!"
Hirata smiled. "You too. Stay safe out there."
Kikyo waved lightly. "Feel free to visit again, okay?"
Suzune only nodded once. "Try not to get lost."
Hachiman gave a lazy salute.
"No promises."
With that, he and Honami began walking toward the forest path leading away from the camp.
As they were about to leave, Hachiman passed by Kikyo and whispered to her.
"Meet me at the lighthouse in the center of the island at two. Let's do the usual thing."
Her eyes briefly lit up as she understood what he meant, but she only gave him a subtle nod.
'Ah… finally, my special time has come~.'
Her smile never changed, and Hachiman continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Honami followed beside him, humming lightly as they disappeared into the trees.
Back at the camp, Hirata stretched his arms slightly.
"Well… that was an interesting visit."
"They're certainly relaxed for people taking this exam," Kikyo said pleasantly, her mood clearly improving after meeting Hachiman again.
The two left and went back to their camp, leaving Suzune and Ayanokoji.
Suzune's eyes followed the direction Hachiman and Honami had gone.
"You two know each other?" She asked, glancing at Ayanokoji, who was still watching the path where the two had disappeared.
"Unfortunately, no." Ayanokoji shook his head.
Suzune frowned slightly. She noticed the faint hint of disappointment in his flat tone.
"…Then why are you looking at him like that? Why do you seem so interested in him?"
Although Suzune would never admit it openly, she did see Hachiman as someone close to her—someone she could call a friend… or might be more.
After all, he was someone her brother had acknowledged and encouraged her to get close to. Surprisingly, she didn't find it repulsive or hesitant, since she herself found Hachiman interesting.
Her interest in him started when Hachiman confronted her brother to protect her from his slap, and also the one who had helped her stand up again after she learned the truth about this school.
Ayanokoji thought about it for a moment before answering.
"Because I feel like Hikigaya-kun is someone I can not underestimate."
For the briefest moment, Ayanokoji's eyes sharpened.
Suzune noticed it.
Very few people ever earned that kind of attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"Hmmp. Good luck with that," she snorted before turning and walking back toward their camp. "Just make sure you don't trip. After all, Hikigaya-kun's real strength lies in how he brings out the best in the people around him."
"... Is that the reason why you are softer and more cooperative lately?"
Ayanokoji asked her, even though Hachiman's figure was already gone, his eyes still linger at the direction he and Honami had gone.
Ayanokoji asked casually. Even though Hachiman's figure had already disappeared into the forest with Honami, his eyes remained in the direction they had gone.
Suzune stopped walking.
For a moment, she didn't turn around.
Then she let out a small sigh.
"…You make it sound like I was unreasonable before."
"You were," Ayanokoji replied plainly.
Suzune shot him an irritated glance over her shoulder.
"…I didn't ask for your evaluation."
"You didn't need to."
Suzune clicked her tongue.
After a brief pause, she finally answered.
"…Hikigaya-kun simply pointed something out to me."
"Oh?"
Suzune crossed her arms slightly.
"That trying to force everything alone isn't a strength. It's just arrogance."
Ayanokoji remained silent.
Suzune continued walking toward the camp.
"…And that relying on others doesn't necessarily mean a weakness."
She paused for a moment before adding.
"He said that if someone can bring out the best in people, then refusing to do so would be a waste."
Ayanokoji observed her.
"…So you're applying his philosophy."
"Don't misunderstand." Suzune scoffed. "I'm simply using whatever tools are available to achieve victory."
Ayanokoji nodded lightly.
"Of course."
But the faintest trace of amusement crossed his face.
Suzune noticed.
"…What?"
"Nothing."
Suzune turned away again.
"…Hmph."
She resumed walking.
"But you should take your own advice as well," she added without looking back.
"Underestimating Hikigaya-kun would be a fatal mistake."
Ayanokoji watched her for a moment.
"I know that..."
Then his gaze returned to the forest path.
"… More than anyone."
And that was exactly why he was interested.
—---
After some time, when the hour of her appointment with Hachiman was getting close, Kikyo left Class D's camp under the excuse of wanting a change of scenery. She might not have noticed it herself, but her steps were faster than usual.
Her heart was beating loudly, her excitement reaching its peak. Finally, after so long, she—Kushida Kikyo—could have her special time with Hachiman.
In just a few minutes, she reached the lighthouse. Without much hesitation, she quickly climbed the stairs leading up to the lighthouse guard room.
By the time she reached the top, she paused for a moment, placing a hand lightly over her chest as she took a few slow breaths to calm herself.
'Calm down…'
She quickly checked her reflection in the small glass pane of the door, smoothing her hair and adjusting her PE tracksuit so she would look more presentable.
Even for something like this, appearances still mattered.
Once she was satisfied, Kikyo gently opened the door to the lighthouse guard room.
The room inside was small and simple.
A small bed sat in the corner, its sheets neatly folded. Nearby stood a wooden table and a pair of old chairs that looked like they had been left behind by the caretakers. Shelves lined the wall beside a compact pantry stocked with basic supplies—canned food, bottled water, and a few maintenance tools.
Hachiman was inside, standing near the sink. Shirtless. Wiping the sweat from his neck after finishing his rounds of updating their class's occupied spots.
"Ahh… You're quite early, Kushida," he said, clearly a little surprised.
Kikyo froze for a moment.
Then her eyes slowly drifted downward.
The stunned girl couldn't help but stare at Hachiman's well‑toned body. His muscles were clearly defined—not too bulky, but not thin either. And his abs… oh his abs…
Kikyo quickly wiped the drool forming at the corner of her lips.
'OH, MY GOD! THIS MAN WAS HIDING A VIEW LIKE THIS?!'
"Give me a second," Hachiman continued casually, completely unaware of the storm forming in Kikyo's mind. "I'll just finish changing, then you can let out all that accumulated stress you've been carrying."
Hearing his words, Kikyo's eyes twinkled as a dangerous thought flashed through her mind.
Without saying anything, she turned around and locked the door, making sure it was firmly secured before walking toward Hachiman.
"Actually…" she said with a sweet smile.
"I have a much better idea for how you can help me relieve all the stress I've been building up since this vacation started."
"Hmm? Wha—?!"
Before Hachiman could finish reacting, Kikyo pushed him back toward the bed and jumped on top of him.
"Hehehehe! It's Hachiman! It's Hachiman! Ah!! It's Hachiman's scent all around me!"
"?!"
Hachiman's body stiffened the moment he heard Kikyo's borderline yandere words.
'Crap… has this girl been so frustrated these past few days that some weird switch flipped?!'
"K‑Ku‑Kushida, p‑please wake up! This position is really bad!"
"Noooo~. I won't let you go~."
She pressed herself against Hachiman even more. He could clearly feel the softness of her body and the sweet scent unique to girls.
"This is really bad, Kushida‑san! You seriously have to let go!"
Hachiman said in panic. With his strength, he could easily peel her off, but he was afraid he might hurt her, so he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Kikyo stopped moving for a moment before slowly raising her head to look at him. From his position, Hachiman could see how her cheek rested on his bare chest, which made him gulp.
"…Kikyo."
"…What?"
"I already told you, right? When we're alone, you have to call me Kikyo."
Hachiman fell silent at that.
Perhaps thinking his silence meant rejection, tears slowly began to form in her eyes. Seeing that, he quickly gave in.
"K‑Kikyo…"
"Ahh…! Hachiman!!"
The moment she heard him call her name, Kikyo's face lit up with a bright smile. She happily squirmed on top of him again, clinging even tighter.
"P‑please, Kikyo, c‑can you get off me? This is really dangerous, you know."
He pleaded again.
"…No."
"Eh? Sorry, what?"
"I… don't want to."
"!!!!"
She pouted at him like a spoiled girl. Whatever had gotten into her was clearly testing Hachiman's resilience as a man.
"Hehehe~ come on now, Hachiman. Help me relieve my stress~."
Kikyo pushed herself up slightly and slowly unzipped her tracksuit jacket, revealing her PE shirt under, which did absolutely nothing to hide her generous bust.
Then, without hesitation, she pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it aside, leaving herself in only her underwear.
"K‑Kikyo-san?!"
"Saa, Hachiman~ just like that night… do it the same way~."
"No—!!"
"Mmm…!"
Hachiman tried to shove her away and escape, but in the struggle, his hands landed on her chest instead of her shoulders.
That made Kikyo let out a soft, sweet moan.
"…H‑Hachiman… please… be gentle."
Welp.
That completely broke his reason.
Inside that small room at the top of the lighthouse on a deserted island… a rather passionate scene unfolded.
Thankfully, the lighthouse stood high above the island. Otherwise, those sweet moans and seductive gasps from the room would definitely make anyone nearby feel a little restless.
So let's skip that part and leave them alone for a while.
See you in the next chapter.
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