Hachiman understood better than anyone what kind of person he wanted to become.
However, he still tried to reconcile the relationship between these two siblings.
"Since you know about your sister's situation, why don't you tell her?" Hachiman said.
"It's meaningless," Horikita Manabu refused, "People in this world don't change that easily. There are actually very few people who succeed in correcting their flaws after knowing them."
"And I also thought that she might only change when she finally hit a wall."
"But yesterday," Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, "she changed."
"She chose to no longer chase my back," he said. "And that's because of you, Hikigaya, isn't it?"
Is that so?
Hachiman didn't reply, but waited for Horikita Manabu's attitude.
Was it a reprimand or a reward?
And as he thought this, Horikita Manabu continued.
"Suzune always looks down on others, so she is always alone. But I believe that no matter how excellent one person is, there is an upper limit. However, two or three people, or many people, working hard together with others, might break through the upper limit they couldn't reach alone. That's what I believe, and it's also what I hope she can understand.
She was placed in Class D. I think her not understanding this point is the reason she was placed in Class D.
At the same time, I also know that she alone definitely cannot ascend to Class A. So, once she can do that, it means she has used the strength of others, and once she has used it, it means she understands this principle."
Is that so?
So, it turns out that their argument by the vending machine, and even Horikita Manabu making a gesture to hit Horikita Suzune, and even giving his sister commands to pay attention to him, were all for this purpose.
To make his sister understand the need for others' strength.
In other words, you actually hoped your sister would seek his strength.
Horikita Manabu, you wanted him to become Horikita Suzune's strength.
Hey, hey, hey.
Are you also someone who likes to treat people as tools?
It's just that, since you wish and hope your sister gets better, and even pave the way for her, why don't you just tell her directly?
Instead, you make your sister think you hate her. You make her feel like she's a nuisance.
Hachiman thought Horikita Manabu was actually a tsundere.
"Yesterday, I indeed pointed out that no matter how much she chases, she can't be like you, because you are different people," Hachiman said. "Rather, I asked her what kind of person she wanted to become."
"She was very confused about that."
"And going to you to declare that she would no longer chase your back, perhaps she found herself," Hachiman said.
"Then, Horikita and I agreed to ascend to Class A together and show you what we're made of."
"Is that so, show me what you're made of—" However, Horikita Manabu suddenly stared at him, "Isn't that your goal?"
"…"
Hmm.
So, Hachiman didn't like dealing with smart people.
Although Hachiman's words were all praise or using Horikita as an excuse to distance himself, he was still discovered by Horikita Manabu.
The one who truly wanted to ascend to Class A was him.
All that talk about perfecting Horikita Suzune's weaknesses was false.
Because, although Horikita Suzune had said to him that she hoped he would help her, and ascend to Class A together, words that were akin to treating him as a tool, in reality, Horikita Suzune was being used by him as a tool for Class promotion.
It was he who wanted to ascend to Class A.
…
Hachiman wanted to use Horikita, and Horikita also wanted to use him, while the Student Council President also hoped he could help his sister grow.
So, overall, all three were using each other.
There was nothing more to say about that.
However, Horikita Manabu didn't flare up, indicating that his mood was still okay.
So perhaps he could glean some information from him.
Thinking this, Hikigaya said, "Speaking of which, can upperclassmen disclose exam information to lowerclassmen?" Hikigaya said.
"You're talking about some exam content, right?" Horikita Manabu said. "For the first and second months after new students enroll, disclosing information is not allowed."
"But if those two months pass, it's permissible to drop hints."
I see.
Hachiman felt like he understood a bit now.
The first month was for the students to discover the uniqueness of this School themselves, and then participate in the assessment of behavioral norms.
The old exam papers from the second month were to prevent the students' thinking from becoming too rigid.
So, once the old questions were found and it was understood that flexibility was allowed, then it was not out of the question to seek information from the Third Year.
"So, for the special exam each month..." Hachiman said.
Because if the Third Year could reveal information, did that mean the exam questions would be leaked?
"There's no need to worry about that," Horikita Manabu said. "Because the exam questions are different every nine years."
"So, the current students will not be tested on the same questions as the previous generation of students."
I see.
The School had also considered the possibility of leaked questions, so the exam questions were all revised.
However.
What you said is incorrect.
Because.
If the exam questions are different every nine years, and Chabashira sensei was a student nine years ago, then would there be any exams that overlap with her generation?
So, perhaps some exam information could be obtained from Chabashira sensei.
However, this kind of thing has a hint of cheating, so Hikigaya temporarily put it aside.
After all, he had already tricked Sakayanagi into running for the Student Council, and then going to Chabashira sensei for exam questions would make him seem shameless.
"However, you new students will soon have a two-week vacation," Horikita Manabu continued, unaware that Hikigaya was contemplating cheating. "This has been a tradition since the School's founding."
"After you have undergone the baptism of this School's exams, you will naturally be given preferential treatment," Horikita Manabu said.
"So, is this vacation an exam?" Hikigaya quickly asked.
"Hehe..."
Horikita Manabu seemed to chuckle, but he pushed up his glasses and said sternly, "As the Student Council President, I would not casually reveal information."
"Moreover, if you want to be promoted to Class A, shouldn't you think for yourselves?"
After speaking, he turned and left the sauna.
But the information had already been left behind.
It requires thinking.
That is to say, although the exam questions are different from the previous two batches, the core of the questions is the same.
The School cultivates students according to a template.
And the core of the upcoming exam questions is thinking.
Need to think, think, think!
Although Horikita Manabu had already left, since he had paid, Hikigaya honestly enjoyed the sauna.
"I really can't take it anymore."
When his head started to feel dizzy, Hachiman also left.
Then he headed to Horikita Suzune's dorm.
...
"Why do you look so weak?"
At the entrance of the girls' dorm, after ringing the doorbell twice and waiting for about ten seconds, Horikita Suzune opened the door.
And the moment she saw him, she gave this assessment.
Hmm.
Horikita, perhaps you don't have friends not because you don't need them, but because sometimes you scare them away.
Can you please not casually tell a boy that he looks weak?
However, Hachiman also noticed Horikita's gaze.
As she looked at him, her gaze seemed to shift.
She probably wanted to know what her brother had told him.
But now, Horikita Suzune was not the only one in the room.
There was also a short-haired, blonde Little Angel.
She sat on the edge of the table, and when she saw Hikigaya arrive, she showed a Little Angel-like smile.
It made people feel encouraged just by looking at it.
Although he knew Kushida was two-faced and not a pure white lotus, it was undeniable that the appearance she put on was indeed very cute.
"So," Hachiman suppressed the stirring in his heart and looked at Kushida. "What information have you gathered, Kushida?"
"Next month, we will have a two-week vacation on a luxury cruise ship," Kushida said. "The Grade 2 students in the past did this, and the Third Year students also did this."
"But it's not just for fun; there will be a special exam."
The information revealed by the senior students indicated that one assessment location is on the cruise ship, and another requires collective living on an Uninhabited Island.
And the Third Year senior students' generation had an exam where they trekked on the Uninhabited Island to a designated location to check in.
"But it might not be like that for our generation," Kushida said.
Hmm.
Hachiman nodded.
This was consistent with what the Student Council President had said; even if some information was leaked to you, the exam questions could not be exactly the same.
But it was still possible to prepare for a rainy day.
Because.
Since they needed to live collectively on an Uninhabited Island, experiences like camping would need to be acquired.
So, he might need to visit the Library recently to borrow relevant books.
However.
Since Horikita Manabu could reveal some information, it also meant that perhaps, besides the students of Class B, the smart and information-gathering students of Class A and Class C also knew.
...
Thus.
The next day.
Hachiman and the others went to the Library and began to borrow relevant books.
After all, ordinary students like them didn't have much camping experience, and Hachiman's experience was probably from a nature Class in Chiba Village during junior high.
But at that time, he only had to make ordinary coffee, so it didn't count as camping.
So.
The time came to the first day of the month.
The weather was a bit gloomy, as if it was about to rain; although the students all lived in the School, the teaching building and the dormitories were still some distance apart.
Hachiman therefore brought an umbrella.
On his phone, he received a transfer notification from the School.
[Your private account has received 55,000 private points. Current balance: 279,000 points.]
On the first of every month, the School deposits living expenses into the students' accounts based on their Class evaluation points.
Hachiman's current Class C Class evaluation score was 550 points, so his living expenses were 55,000.
However, because his account still had a relatively ample amount of points, Hachiman didn't pay too much attention to the 55,000 living expenses; rather, what needed attention was that the first of the month was also the day when special exams were announced each month.
However.
"Today's Class meeting will be a self-study session," Chabashira sensei said. "This month's special exam will be announced on another day."
Is that so.
That means there's still some time to relax.
"Then, sensei, will this month's special exam still be a written test?"
And there were also students who wanted to ask questions.
This was Kushida, and as soon as she asked, several classmates immediately looked over nervously.
Clearly.
This was not Kushida asking on her own behalf, but representing these students to ask.
It must be said, this was very Class C.
After all, they had been promoted from Class D, so the poor students were still very worried about written exams, which required actual ability.
But don't worry, the School is well aware of your level, so it won't immediately administer a real written exam.
Otherwise, if a large number of people were eliminated, it would be impossible to simulate society.
Thinking this.
During lunch break, Hachiman was invited by someone.
...
Lunch break, third-floor cafeteria private room.
"You really are a strange person."
When Hachiman arrived, there was only a girl with long purple hair and long, strong legs sitting in the corner; her presence was not very strong, but her offensive power was very strong.
"Sakayanagi invited you several times before and you didn't come, but this time, as soon as she transferred money to you, you came."
"Are you that fond of money?" the other party said.
Hmm.
This was an acquaintance.
After all, the other party had already bought him many meals.
So, this was Kamuro.
However, perhaps because he had previously sold her exam papers at a high price, ever since then, Kamuro always had a stern face when she encountered him.
But for such sarcastic remarks, Kamuro, you are not qualified.
Because aren't you the same type yourself?
You receive points from Sakayanagi Arisu every month, which is why you can buy such expensive computers.
But it must be said, Sakayanagi Arisu is truly rich.
Hachiman took out his phone and looked at the transfer information.
[Your private account has received 100,000 private points. Current balance: 379,000 points. Transferring party A54674]
This transfer information had a note.
[Note: Come for lunch]
Given such an amount, Hikigaya naturally had to come.
"So, what's for lunch today?" Hachiman asked.
Actually, Horikita had also made a bento today, so pushing aside her bento, Hachiman felt a little guilty.
"Nothing prepared," Kamuro said. "Sakayanagi didn't instruct me to."
Is that so.
It seems Kamuro is unhappy.
Of course, she's unhappy.
Because she acted like Sakayanagi Arisu's dog, doing everything for her, she received an additional 100,000-200,000 points from Sakayanagi each month.
The information gathering ability of the Classmates was good.
It had already been found out that the school would buy back the students' points with cash at a certain ratio when the Third Year students graduated.
At the same time, even if one was expelled, personal items purchased with points could still be taken out of the school.
Therefore.
points were not only money within the school but could also be converted into cash outside.
So who would dislike money?
However.
Today, after Sakayanagi transferred money to her, she casually tapped her hand and transferred 100,000 points to Hikigaya as well.
And that was the price for inviting him.
Hey, hey, hey.
What did he do?
You have to spend this money.
So Kamuro felt it was unfair. Naturally, she wouldn't give Hikigaya a good look, and was even a little jealous.
And as she was thinking this.
Click, click, click.
The sound of a cane came from outside the door.
Sakayanagi Arisu had probably arrived.
------------------------------
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