Chapter 133: Class C's Traitor
"What?! Horikita, you're saying I'm paired with Hikigaya?!"
In the classroom, Yamauchi Haruki's disdain for Hikigaya was obvious.
Horikita: "It's the best arrangement to ensure you don't get expelled with your grades. You're not satisfied?"
Hikigaya stayed silent. He was just assigned, with no say in Horikita's decisions.
But…
Yamauchi: "Of course I'm not! Pairing two bad students, what's that about? You want us both expelled? Haven't I contributed to this class? And last sports festival, I put up with you sticking me in dead-last events."
"Oh, I get it. You're using this to get rid of classmates you don't like. You know our grades suck, and we lost points in the festival. That's your plan, right?"
The classroom's mood plummeted, with only Yamauchi's outburst echoing loudly.
Hirata stood. "Enough. This list was decided by Horikita and me. It's not what you're saying, Yamauchi-kun."
Kushida, cold-faced, glared at Yamauchi. "You think Hikigaya's a bad student? Check his last scores. Honestly, pairing him with you feels like a waste."
Yamauchi sneered. "Hirata, since you two made the list, you've put yourselves in safe spots, huh? No worries for you."
"And Kushida, I used to like your old self, but now you're disgusting. You say Hikigaya's scores were good? That was one time. How do you know he'll be stable this time? Or has the class already planned to expel me?"
Yamauchi's malice swept the room, finally landing on Hikigaya. "I don't know what you did, but since we're on the same boat, you know we can't be tied together. We'll both get expelled."
"No objections here."
"You're fine with them expelling us?"
"If we get expelled, it just means I wasn't good enough."
Yamauchi stared incredulously, then sat down, feigning calm, silent.
Sakura mustered courage to speak but was stopped by Hikigaya's look.
In this situation, words were pointless. Better to let the exam pass quietly.
Chabashira Sae smirked. "Looks like you've got a long road ahead."
After class, Yamauchi left alone, with no one stopping him.
Karuizawa and Kushida, as if in sync, approached Hikigaya's desk. Sakura, ignoring student council duties, checked on him worriedly.
Hikigaya: "Hey, stop staring like I'm a zoo animal. Is this a petting zoo?"
His lame joke was familiar, signaling he wasn't too affected by Yamauchi.
Sakura: "Hachiman, Yamauchi was way out of line. You're so smart… If he knew you could easily carry him through, he wouldn't have said that."
Hikigaya smiled gently. "Airi, spare me. I'm not Koenji, acing every subject with 100. If he knew, he'd stop studying altogether."
Hearing his refusal to explain, Kushida and Karuizawa sighed helplessly.
Kushida: "Your kindness will cost you. You'll end up hurt."
Karuizawa: "Exactly! If I had your skills, I'd want the whole class to know, like Koenji."
Hikigaya: "I don't want that attention. My grades aren't amazing, just a bit above average."
Kushida: "You're wrong. If your grades are just above average, mine don't even hit average. And I know my scores are decent in this class."
Hikigaya shook his head. Whatever he said, they'd take his side, so he dropped it.
Karuizawa crossed her arms, puzzled, looking at his desk mate, Horikita. "Why pair Hikigaya with Yamauchi? There were other options."
Horikita was blunt. "Class C's academics are terrible, worse than our sports. People like you, Karuizawa, with grades like that, we've got plenty. No offense."
Karuizawa felt stifled. Horikita was right, but it still felt like an insult.
Sakura, embarrassed: "If my grades were better, that'd help."
Horikita: "Your progress is obvious. You and Sudo have improved the most, so don't blame yourself."
Kushida turned, her face cold. "I want to know who Koenji, Yukimura, Hirata, you, and Wang Mei-Yu are paired with."
She named Class C's top five academic performers.
Horikita answered quickly, "Ike, Sotomura, Shinohara, Sato, Karuizawa…"
Hearing her name, Karuizawa was embarrassed.
Noticing, Horikita added, "The pairings account for the sports festival's low rankings and deductions, which affected the lineup."
Karuizawa grew more embarrassed. Wasn't this saying she was bad at both academics and sports?
Horikita quickly pulled out the class's pairing chart, covered in dense notes. After various calculations, pairing Yamauchi Haruki with Hikigaya Hachiman was indeed the safest option for him, though he himself was unaware of it.
The class shook their heads helplessly. Class C's overall academic ability was lower than they'd imagined.
…
Outside the school building, Yamauchi, unusually, went to the track, venting his frustration through a long run.
"What's this crap? Bad at sports, you get expelled?! Bad grades, you just get bullied?! What kind of garbage rules, garbage school, garbage class!"
"Damn Hikigaya, thinking he's some genius. He probably doesn't even know his own grade level."
"That guy's just vain, too embarrassed to admit he's bad, so he acts like he's fine with it. Hah, thinks he's hot stuff, just pure vanity!"
"No way, I've got to rely on myself. I can't leave this school, I absolutely won't!"
Lost in thought, he mustered his last bit of strength, sprinting to the finish before collapsing on the grass.
"Huff… huff…"
Sprawled out, he tried to steady his breathing, but thinking about what happened fueled his rage.
To him, pairing with Hikigaya meant certain expulsion.
He had to find a way out, rely on himself.
At that moment, a blond, ponytail-wearing guy lay down beside him.
"What's got you so pissed?"
He asked in a teasing, probing tone.
"None of your business."
Yamauchi recognized him instantly, Hashimoto Masayoshi, a core member of Sakayanagi Arisu's faction in Class A.
"Don't be like that. Maybe I can help."
"You're my enemy. Why would you help me?"
"Enemy? Who says I'm your enemy? I'm your class's enemy, not yours. Besides… enemies can become friends sometimes. Like when you move up to Class A."
At some point, Yamauchi's rapid breathing calmed.
"Me? Move to Class A? Then you'd drop down. Friends, my ass."
Hashimoto gave him a look like he was an idiot, but only for a moment, masking it quickly. Exhausted from running, Yamauchi didn't notice.
"Moving to Class A doesn't have to be that way. Haven't you considered an easier way to get there?"
"Easier?"
"Exactly. Easier."
"Like what?"
"Like… transferring classes."
"Transferring?! That costs 20 million points! Impossible!"
Hashimoto gestured for him to calm down.
"Which is harder: scraping together 20 million points or getting your whole class to Class A? Or maybe, by the time they make it, you're long gone from the class, or the school."
Hashimoto guided him step-by-step, exposing Yamauchi's deepest fears.
In Yamauchi's mind, the earlier scene replayed endlessly.
Maybe Hashimoto was right. His class didn't need him and was already planning to expel him.
"Why should I trust you? Just your words?!"
Hashimoto smirked triumphantly, wagging a finger. "You don't have to trust me. But Sakayanagi? That's Sakayanagi. Or, if you don't believe me, here's something juicier: Sakayanagi's father is the school's principal. You think she can't get 20 million points?"
"I don't think Sakayanagi would help me."
"You're wrong there. She won't help you now because you haven't helped her. But once you prove your worth, why wouldn't she?"
Hashimoto's words seeped into Yamauchi's mind like poison, clouding his ability to think.
Since the start of school, Yamauchi had noticed Hikigaya and Sakayanagi's unusual connection. Helping Hikigaya avoid expulsion might please her.
Hikigaya didn't want to join Class A, his loss. Yamauchi wouldn't be that dumb.
"What do I do?!"
"Before that, shouldn't you tell me what's going on with you?"
Hashimoto's words snapped Yamauchi awake. He spilled everything, about the class, the sports festival assignments, and being paired with Hikigaya.
After hearing it all, Hashimoto gave a sly smile. "So that's how it is."
"What do I do?"
"Too easy. You're not wrong. Your fate should be in your hands. As for Hikigaya, he's probably just a pawn."
"That's what I think! One good score, probably luck. Poor guy's being played and doesn't even know it. So vain."
"Here's the deal: steal your class's questions and give them to me. I'll report to Sakayanagi, and she'll give you our answers. How's that?"
"This…"
It was outright betrayal. Yamauchi's heart wavered.
Hashimoto: "You're still thinking of your class? They're ready to ditch you. Survive this exam, and Sakayanagi will notice you. Transfer to Class A, and whether they live or die won't matter to you anymore, right?"
Hashimoto's words eased Yamauchi's guilt. "You're right… but it feels too easy on Hikigaya."
Hashimoto laughed. "Let that fool stay a fool. Maybe his class will abandon him, clueless as ever."
Yamauchi made up his mind. He was determined.
The problem was getting the questions from Horikita.
Hashimoto, reading his hesitation, said, "Easy. Know who your class's question-setter is?"
"Probably Hirata."
"Too simple. Go back, act remorseful, study hard, then ask Hirata to see the Class A questions. Seeing you so serious, he won't refuse. Send me the answers, I'll report to Sakayanagi, and she'll give you ours."
"Then you'll ace Class C's exam and leave while they regret it. Isn't that perfect?"
Hearing Hashimoto's plan, Yamauchi's heart was fully swayed, no longer thinking, just jumping up excitedly.
"You're right! I'll make those who looked down on me see my worth!"
"I'll show them I'm not some useless loser in this school or class!"
Seeing his success, Hashimoto didn't continue, pulling out his email. "If you pull it off, contact me here. But remember, no one can know about our contact, and delete all our messages."
Yamauchi, fully on board: "Obviously!"
[Chat Room…]
[Sudo Ken, furious: "Yamauchi, you traitor!"]
[Karuizawa Kei: "Yeah, how could you? Everyone's thinking of you, worried about your grades, even with the study sessions. And you betray the class?"]
[Facing their accusations, Yamauchi stood. "Study sessions? You didn't join, Karuizawa. Aren't you a bad student too? Don't act all righteous. You know who you're really doing this for!"]
[Kushida Kikyo: "Forget it. Talking to him is pointless and a waste of breath."]
[Shinohara Satsuki: "I'm done with you."]
[Sato Maya: "You always poke at people's sore spots with no limits. Now you've got another black mark."]
[Ike Kanji stayed silent, but Yukimura Teruhiko said, "Looks like we've got our next expulsion candidate."]
[Sakura Airi, out of place in this scene, didn't join in.]
[But then…]
[Hirata Yosuke: "Enough! Yamauchi hasn't betrayed the class yet. We can't judge him like this."]
[The class fell silent.]
[Hashimoto Masayoshi: "Horikita's class is lively. What are their brains made of to fall for this?"]
[Sakayanagi Arisu, smiling: "But Hashimoto, using me without my permission?"]
[Hashimoto quickly explained: "It's for our class, Princess!"]
[Sakayanagi: "I'll let it slide this time."]
[Kamuro Masumi: "But if this happens, what'll Hikigaya and his class do?"]
[Kito Hayato: "Their class is probably screwed."]
[Ryuen Kakeru, laughing wildly: "Hahaha, didn't expect his class to have a guy like that. Some people's nature is too deep-rooted to change, even for Hikigaya."]
[Ibuki Mio: "He's not a god. Some people can't be changed."]
[Shiina Hiyori: "Ryuen-kun and Ibuki-san are right, but… I feel bad for Hikigaya-kun. He's getting tricked."]
[Ibuki and Ryuen stared at her like she was crazy, as if saying, "You okay? Pity anyone but that guy."]
[Kinoshita Minori: "I'm curious what their class will do now."]
[Kaneda Satoru: "If Hikigaya steps in, they might be fine. If not, they're in trouble."]
[Ichinose Honami: "Hikigaya's class has a traitor…"]
[Kanzaki Ryuji, unfazed: "Not surprising. In this school, profit rules. Some can't resist temptation."]
[Ichinose nodded. Though Hikigaya exposed their flaws, she genuinely worried if he could survive this.]
As expected, back in class, Yamauchi apologized to everyone, asking for supervision to cram for the exam.
His attitude comforted those upset with him, believing he'd grow through this exam.
Yamauchi dove into studying, surprising even Ike Kanji. What had gotten into him?
Days passed. As question-setter, Hikigaya submitted his draft to Hirata and Horikita on the exam's eve.
As expected, their faces changed upon seeing the questions and answers.
Hirata, smiling: "Hikigaya-kun, these questions… they'll spark outrage in Class A."
Hikigaya waved his hands. "No, no, you guys are the setters, not me."
He didn't want to be the villain.
Horikita rubbed her head, exasperated, but smiled.
The questions weren't hard, but for Class A, they'd be torture.
Even with answers, copying them would be agony for Class A. Entrusting this to Hikigaya was indeed the right call.
Horikita: "I'll make some tweaks. This afternoon, I'll give the final draft to you, Hirata, to submit to the sensei."
Hirata knew being the "setter" would draw ire, but his good nature didn't let him refuse.
After Horikita's final edits, Hikigaya confirmed, and the draft was handed to Hirata.
After school, only two remained in the classroom.
Yamauchi approached Hirata with a question sheet, asking puzzledly, "Yosuke, how do I solve this? Can you teach me?"
Hirata, seeing Yamauchi, gave a warm, happy smile. "Of course… I'll teach you anything you don't understand!"
(End of this chapter)