Chapter 163 – Kawasaki Saki's Helplessness
"Of course it's not me. My strength hasn't reached that level yet…" After saying that, Hikigaya Hachiman gave a self-deprecating smile.
Wiping out nearly all the evil spirits in the city in an instant—something like that would be impossible even if he advanced to the level of Emperor.
"If it wasn't you, then that means…" Hiratsuka Shizuka rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
She believed that Hikigaya Hachiman wouldn't lie to her about something like this.
If it wasn't him, then that meant an exorcist had passed through Chiba the night before last!
"Maybe he's still in Chiba." Lifting her head, Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Hikigaya meaningfully.
But Hikigaya only shook his head. "If that exorcist really wanted to meet me, he would've shown himself already. But he hasn't, which means he currently has no intention of meeting me."
"Is that so? But why…" As fellow exorcists, wouldn't just greeting each other be natural?
Since he had already come to Chiba, why would that exorcist not want to meet Hikigaya?
"Even if you dwell on this, it's not going to help, Hiratsuka-sensei." Seeing how much more concerned she was than he was, Hikigaya couldn't help but remind her.
"Tch, I'm only worrying about you!" Hearing his words, Hiratsuka gave him a sharp glare, exasperated.
If Hikigaya weren't her student, she wouldn't care about his life or death.
After finishing with the topic of the exorcist, Hiratsuka brought up another matter.
"Though it may be too late to say this, I still need to remind you. You've already been noticed by certain government departments."
"Mm, I know." Hikigaya nodded, showing he understood.
In fact, ever since he met Isayama Yomi, he knew he had already caught the attention of the authorities.
"But you don't need to worry too much. Right now, your file is only within the government's special division that handles evil spirits. The officer in charge doesn't seem to have any intention of reporting your information upward."
"Why?" At first, Hikigaya was surprised at the range of information Hiratsuka could access. But soon his focus shifted to the key detail in her words.
Honestly, once he realized he had been noticed by the authorities, he had already begun preparing countermeasures.
Logically, given his strength—which far surpassed Tsuchimiya Kagura and Isayama Yomi—his information should already have been delivered to high-ranking officials. Those big shots would certainly be drafting containment strategies and trying to recruit him.
As laughable as that idea was, it was absolutely something they would try.
But now, Hiratsuka told him that those big shots didn't even know he existed! The special division that Kagura and Yomi belonged to hadn't reported his existence at all!
"Well, who knows? Maybe that officer has his own plans." After all, that was a classic move in Japanese bureaucracy.
.
.
.
Back in Class F, Yuigahama Yui immediately came over.
"Hikki, are you okay?"
"…" Hikigaya fell silent as he looked at Yuigahama.
"What is it? Why are you staring at me like that…" Yuigahama lowered her head and checked herself in confusion.
When she noticed the button at her collar was undone, she quickly turned aside to fasten it, then glared at Hikigaya with a bright red face.
"Hikki, perv!"
"…" I wasn't even looking at that, okay?!
Watching Yuigahama misunderstand him as peeking at her chest, Hikigaya's face was filled with helplessness.
What bothered him even more was why Yuigahama had gone back to calling him "Hikki" again!
Sure, "Hachi" wasn't exactly what he wanted to be called either, but it was still better than "Hikki."
"Ah, right—Hiratsuka-sensei didn't give you a hard time, did she?" After glaring at him for a while, Yuigahama suddenly remembered why she had come, hurriedly asking about what had happened.
"What do you think?" If Hiratsuka had really wanted to punish him, would he be standing here lively and unscathed?
Looking at Yuigahama's concerned but foolish question, Hikigaya thought for a moment, then asked how her English exam had gone that afternoon.
"English…?" At the mention, Yuigahama's face immediately darkened.
He didn't even need to hear more—Hikigaya already knew she was as hopeless at English as he was.
"Do you think you passed?" Skipping the small talk, Hikigaya went straight to the point.
After all, if Yuigahama failed even one subject, the whole Service Club would have to retake exams with her.
"I should've passed… probably?" Yuigahama's eyes shifted nervously as she answered uncertainly.
The moment she spoke, Hikigaya tapped her lightly on the head with his textbook.
"How the hell would I know the answer to that?"
"Uuuh… fine, I think I just barely passed…" Though it didn't hurt at all, Yuigahama rubbed her head with a pitiful expression, as if he had hit her hard.
"Yui!" Before Hikigaya could ask about her preparations for tomorrow's exam, Miura Yumiko's voice called from the back of the classroom.
With no choice, Yuigahama apologized quickly and ran off to the back to join her friends.
The moment Yuigahama left, as Hikigaya lowered his head to organize his desk, someone else appeared in front of it.
"Kawasaki-san. How did you do on the exam?" Noticing the presence, Hikigaya looked up and greeted Kawasaki Saki.
"Not bad." Kawasaki gave a curt nod. Then, after glancing at Yuigahama chatting with Miura in the back, she turned her eyes back to Hikigaya.
"How about you? How did you do?"
"A complete mess." Hikigaya smiled bitterly.
Though he had managed to catch up in the sciences after recent tutoring, he hadn't put much effort into English. Naturally, just passing would already be a miracle.
"Mm." Kawasaki nodded again in understanding.
Just when Hikigaya thought the conversation was over, he noticed Kawasaki still standing in front of his desk, not moving away.
"Is there something you need?" Hikigaya asked curiously.
"…Sigh." Letting out a faint sigh, Kawasaki lifted her eyes, filled with helplessness, and looked at Hikigaya.
"Keika wants to see you…"
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