Chapter 79: To Change or Not to Change—What Is Right?
"Hikigaya, I heard you went to the pool with Class B's leader, Ichinose Honami, and even had dinner together afterward."
The moment Hikigaya sat down, Horikita dove straight into the topic, unleashing a verbal barrage on him.
Hikigaya was momentarily caught off guard.
If someone saw him going to the pool with others, that was fine, but… how did she even know about the dinner?
Was Horikita some kind of mind-reading worm? How did she know everything?
"How did you find out?"
"So you're not denying it?"
"I think it's all a misunderstanding. Besides, I didn't go to the new pool alone with her. Sudō was there too, you know."
Horikita's skeptical gaze shifted to Sudō. Unaware of what was happening, Sudō gave a trusting smile and nodded from afar.
Was this the bond of brotherhood?
"I don't believe you…"
"Kushida was there, Ike was there, Yamauchi was there, Sakura was there, and Class B students were there too. They can all vouch for it."
Horikita's heart was already starting to feel uneasy. Even if someone had invited her, she might not have gone, but she hadn't even been informed.
"So that's your excuse for not inviting me?"
Horikita resumed her haughty expression, leaving Hikigaya momentarily at a loss for words.
"Well, Horikita, you'd definitely be at home studying, right? With finals coming up, you wouldn't waste time in a boring place like that."
"Fine, Hikigaya, you win. Alright, alright, I'll reluctantly accept that excuse."
She doesn't look like she's accepted it at all…
Horikita was clearly fuming. If he kept arguing with her now, Hikigaya couldn't even imagine the consequences.
"Even if you went to the pool with others, I'll let that slide. But please, try to explain what this photo means."
Horikita pulled out her phone, and there it was—a blurry but unmistakable picture of Hikigaya and Ichinose eating alone together, displayed right on her screen.
"How did you get that photo?"
"It's not just me. It's probably spreading like wildfire across the whole school by now."
Hearing Horikita's words, Hikigaya finally noticed that the way his classmates were looking at him was completely different from usual. If he paid close attention, he could sense a mix of emotions.
Jealousy, envy, indifference, disdain…
All these emotions converged in the gazes directed at him, and only now did Hikigaya realize it.
Maybe because he was too exhausted from yesterday, he'd let his guard down.
"Actually, that photo isn't what you think."
Horikita had completely lost her composure, her usual sharp thinking dulled, far from the Horikita she normally was.
If it were the usual Horikita, she'd have judged based on Sakura's reaction, knowing that Sakura and Hikigaya had a pretty good relationship.
Right now, Sakura was visibly worried, but Horikita Suzune didn't notice her at all.
"You're colluding with another class? Are you planning to transfer?!"
"No…"
"Of course, I get it. Class B's leader is beautiful, sweet-voiced, kind, and has a great figure. If you went to Class B, your prospects would be way better than in Class D. It's just too perfect."
"Hey, hey, enough with the assumptions. Just listen to me first, alright?"
After her heated outburst, it seemed the entire class's attention was now focused on the two of them.
Horikita's puffed-up cheeks seemed to tremble with her breathing. With her arms crossed, she said coldly: "Go ahead. Speak."
So scary… But I'd better take this chance to explain quickly.
With the entire class's eyes on him, it was indeed time to address this issue.
"Actually, after the students from Classes B and D left, I talked with Ichinose for a bit about the class alliance."
Sakura quickly added: "I can vouch for that. Hachiman's telling the truth."
Hirata: "An alliance?"
Miyake Akito: "You mean an alliance between Classes B and D? Was that mentioned before?"
Everyone's reactions were pretty much the same, a mix of disbelief.
But if an alliance could be formed, it would definitely have a significant impact on the other two classes.
Yukimura: "Quiet down and listen to him carefully."
Hikigaya took a deep breath: "Actually, this weekend, Class B had planned to go to the new amusement park to build ties, and we in Class D found out partway through. But due to Class A's interference, the alliance between B and D didn't go through smoothly."
He didn't know where to begin, so he could only explain the situation as simply and clearly as possible.
"And after leaving the amusement park, I talked with Class B's leader, Ichinose, for a while, and we concluded that forming an alliance was indeed impossible."
Hearing this outcome, the class began buzzing with discussion.
Yamauchi: "It didn't work out? Why? We were getting along so well. Did you, Hikigaya, make some tough demands that put Ichinose in a tough spot?"
Ike: "Yeah, exactly. Class B didn't seem guarded around us at all. How could it not work out? It's your fault, isn't it, Hikigaya?"
Kushida remained silent, and Horikita, realizing she had misunderstood Hikigaya, also stopped talking.
Sakura: "Hachiman definitely had his reasons…"
Sakura's voice was soft but just loud enough for the whole class to hear.
Ike: "Sakura, you're way too biased toward him. You trust him that much?"
Rebuked by Ike, Sakura quickly lowered her head, saying nothing more, only looking at Hikigaya with concern.
Hasebe, seeing her friend like this, got upset and said: "Hey, you don't even know the whole story. How can you pin it all on him?"
"…"
The arguing would only lead to endless bickering if it continued like this, and that wasn't the outcome Hikigaya wanted.
Hikigaya took another deep breath and said calmly: "Ike, you're right. It was indeed my fault."
"I rejected their alliance offer, and the reason is simple…"
"First, the gap between us and Class C isn't that big. If things go quickly, we could surpass Class C in this final exam, and then we'd become enemies with Class B. An alliance wouldn't mean much."
"Second, in a school where ability determines status, relying on others or other classes even once will only make Class D keep falling, unable to grow. It's meaningless."
"But that doesn't mean we should become hostile with Class B. At the very least, I've agreed with her that when it doesn't affect our own class's interests, we'll help each other out when one of us is in trouble."
"In this school, ability is important, but so are allies."
Hikigaya's words left everyone frozen, unable to argue back.
Kōenji, still waving his comb and glancing at his beautiful reflection, was the first to break the silence.
"While I don't care what you monkeys do, I'm still part of Class D. For this one, I think you did the right thing, Hikiku."
'Hey, you're deliberately mispronouncing my name to pick a fight, aren't you?'
Horikita seemed to have recovered from her earlier lapse and said: "I also think you did the right thing. To keep climbing, having this kind of mindset is correct."
Hirata: "Plus, alliances come with risks. We've already nearly caught up to Class C this semester, and our progress has been significant. So, this time, I agree with Hikigaya."
After Hirata voiced his opinion, others began to agree that Hikigaya hadn't done anything wrong.
Perhaps this was the charm of the class's backbone, always able to stabilize the class at times like this.
Seeing that Hikigaya was in the clear, Sakura finally sat down, relieved.
Though she really wanted to rush up to Hachiman and demand, "What's with that photo?!"… for now, she'd let him rest.
Horikita also whispered to Hikigaya: "The misunderstanding in our class is cleared, but that doesn't mean the other classes' misunderstandings are. Even if Ichinose explains things for Class B, Classes A and C, plus Ichinose's admirers from other grades, aren't few. Especially Nagumo Miyabi from second year—he's said to value Ichinose highly. You've really stirred up trouble this time."
Horikita was still pouting, not fully calmed down. The fact that she wasn't invited to the pool and that he went to eat alone with a girl left an odd feeling in her heart.
"You don't need to tell me that. I already know… Eating alone with someone like her was bound to cause this kind of thing sooner or later. But rumors are just rumors. As long as no one deliberately spreads them, they'll die down in time."
Hikigaya thought about Ichinose's side, wondering how she'd handle this mess. For a girl like her, hearing these rumors would probably be an even bigger headache and something she'd want to deal with quickly.
So, he confidently left the matter to Ichinose Honami.
But all this was just Hikigaya's own assumptions. In reality, Ichinose… (Guess who is the real uploader of the photo.)
[Class 1-D…]
[Hirata covered his face, his expression seemingly full of pain.]
["We've really become enemies…"]
[Noticing Hirata's pained expression, the class atmosphere started buzzing with discussion. Yukimura, however, said calmly: "There's nothing wrong with that, is there? Sooner or later, we'd all become enemies anyway."]
[Kushida chimed in with a bright smile: "Yes, yes, Yukimura-kun's right. Seeing what would happen if we didn't form an alliance in the video is an interesting hypothetical, isn't it?"]
[Since it was just something in the video, Hirata quickly recovered from his disappointment and slowly adjusted his expression.]
[Miyake Akito: "Since we haven't become allies, does that mean we'd end up as enemies in the deserted island exam?"]
[Ike: "That's obvious, isn't it? They wouldn't hold back for us."]
[Yamauchi: "If that's the case, the outcome would change too. Maybe the Class D led by Horikita wouldn't have come in first in the deserted island exam."]
[Karuizawa quickly said: "It's just a possibility. Since we managed to take first in the deserted island exam, it means we have some strength. Even if you don't trust us, you should trust Horikita-san."]
[Everyone nodded in agreement, clearly not yet realizing the gravity of the situation.]
[Meanwhile, in the Service Club, Yukinoshita was rubbing her temples with a headache.]
["Hikigaya-kun, you've caused trouble again. Ichinose, who was photographed with you, must be so confused…"]
[Hikigaya was already used to her verbal attacks, even starting to become immune.]
["Hey, Yukinoshita-san, verbal attacks can hurt my fragile little heart, you know. Besides, I'm a victim here too…"]
[Yukinoshita deliberately put on an "I see" expression, as if she'd had a grand revelation: "Oh, right, Hikigaya-kun's a victim too. I instinctively thought you were the bad guy."]
[Yukinoshita pouted, her expression completely unreadable.]
[That intriguing look was something Hikigaya had never seen on Yukinoshita Yukino's face before.]
[Miura: "Hey, Hikigaya, don't get too full of yourself. You say you hate normies, but your dating frequency is already catching up to one."]
[Hikigaya: "Miura, don't talk nonsense. I was handling serious business. How can you call that a date?"]
[Miura, seeing she couldn't get through to him, gave Hikigaya a side-eye but didn't say more. Though she didn't like his behavior, seeing Yukinoshita annoyed made her feel pretty good.]
[Yuihama laughed along, then suddenly turned serious: "Hikki, I think Yumiko's right. Being too much of a flirt isn't good."]
[Hikigaya was speechless, looking at them like they were idiots: "Are you guys idiots? Didn't you see the whole thing? Don't just jump to conclusions…"]
[After exchanging glances, they let out a light laugh and stopped teasing Hikigaya.]
[But… only Yukinoshita Yukino kept quietly reassuring herself.]
[Her expression didn't look like she was joking at all…]
[After all, Hikigaya could feel the girl's murderous gaze constantly directed at him.]
…
Since the day at the pool amusement park ended, time seemed to pass even faster.
Hikigaya barely felt the flow of time, and before he knew it, the day of the final exams was right in front of him.
Though the rules were the same as the midterm exams—those who failed would be expelled—compared to last time, the class had gained experience and was far less panicked.
Sudō's progress was undoubtedly the most significant. Once at the bottom, he handled this exam with noticeable ease, no longer causing a ruckus. Many classmates felt he seemed different now.
Not just Sudō—Sakura Airi, who had also been near the bottom before, seemed to have taken some kind of booster, improving her grades dramatically in a short time.
Yamauchi and Ike's grades had improved too, though their progress was noticeably slower. Even so, they wouldn't score in the low 20s anymore.
Of course, none of this would've been possible without Horikita Suzune's help. Though she no longer held study sessions, she still diligently collected practice questions and tailored improvements based on each person's strengths and weaknesses.
Tomorrow was the final exam, and the class atmosphere wasn't heavy—a good sign, perhaps.
"Horikita, is it really okay to just let everyone take the exam based on their own abilities tomorrow?"
Hikigaya glanced at Yamauchi and Ike, clearly still skeptical.
Horikita, arms crossed confidently, said: "Even if you don't trust them, you should trust me. Besides, if we keep coddling them, they'll just get greedier. If we want to surpass Class C, we can't hold back. We've already given them so much time. If they still can't pass, it's not my fault."
Though her words carried a hint of indifference toward the stragglers, only someone who knew the old Horikita Suzune, like Hikigaya, could see how much she'd changed.
Despite her dismissive tone, her actions didn't lie. She'd probably come around, no longer the old Horikita who believed only in herself and the strong.
Now, leading Class D, she was truly on the right track.
Seeing Horikita speak so proudly and confidently, Hikigaya nodded in agreement with her plan.
If anything, this plan would better ignite the class's fighting spirit and make those at the bottom realize something was wrong.
In this school, staying stagnant would lead to elimination sooner or later—a lesson Hikigaya had deeply learned. Everyone said you couldn't feel your own changes, but if the old Hikigaya could talk to the current one, their ideas would surely differ greatly. This, Hikigaya Hachiman knew well.
Horikita's gaze landed on Hikigaya's eyes, interrupting his thoughts.
"Hey, how are your grades now? I remember your science scores weren't that great before, right?"
Horikita Suzune was clearly lying when she asked this, as she had always kept an eye on Hikigaya's grades, making sure he wouldn't fail before suggesting anything like this.
"They're just average, I guess. Definitely not on your level, Horikita."
"Hmph, obviously. After all, I've been studying diligently—while someone was off at the pool, while someone was having a dinner date with a girl from another class."
'Can we move past this already? It's been over half a month.'
Hikigaya didn't know whether to retort or just let it slide, but no matter what he chose, Horikita seemed determined to hold onto this point.
The bell rang, but Hikigaya didn't rush to grab his bag and head to the dorms. If it were the old him, he'd probably be the first one out of the classroom.
But now, he wasn't in a hurry.
Sudō was the first to approach Hikigaya's desk, flashing a broad grin: "Bro, I got a day off from the basketball club today. Exams are tomorrow. I am looking forward to our great results!"
After his bold declaration, he left the classroom, claiming he needed to study at home.
Of course, before leaving, Horikita handed him a study guide, which he politely thanked her for.
After Sudō left, Sakura cautiously looked around Hikigaya Hachiman's surroundings, making sure no one else was approaching before quietly coming to his desk.
She waved lightly, showing a calm smile: "Hachiman, the student council was really busy today, but I'll do my best. Don't worry about my grades either—I'll be fine. I'm heading out now."
Her radiant beauty made her smile even more heartwarming.
Hikigaya raised his hand and gave a slight wave in response.
Almost every day, the two of them would report their plans to Hikigaya before leaving, and over time, he'd come to know them better.
But deep down, he was still puzzled.
Could he really call them friends now?
Of course, besides those two, other classmates would also chat with Hikigaya about light topics during their free time. Though his conversation skills were terrible and he was clueless about small talk, he was good at listening and throwing in the occasional quip.
After the water park outing, he'd clearly grown closer to several classmates—Shinohara, Yamauchi, Ike, Hasebe, Sakura, Horikita, Kushida, and others.
They weren't fixed conversation partners, but they were good enough to pass the time and ward off boredom.
Hikigaya genuinely cherished this, as in his previous middle and high school years, the number of people he could talk to could be counted on one hand.
Maybe maintaining this kind of life wasn't such a bad choice.
Unconsciously, this thought crept into Hikigaya's mind.
But in a school where ability was everything, hoping for things to stay the same was forbidden—it meant elimination.
Hikigaya realized this but didn't want to accept it.
In the upcoming final exams and the deserted island special exam, what choices would Hikigaya make?
Perhaps only at that moment, when he was forced to make a decision, would he confront it, just like before…
(End of this chapter)