Chapter348: Dating and White Valentine's Day
"It's my loss..."
Kaneda Satoru took off his sweat-fogged glasses, his face filled with a sense of helplessness.
"The winner is Miyamoto Kanji."
Mashima Tomonari calmly announced the conclusion of the [Go] duel. His gaze swept over the densely packed board, a flicker of astonishment flashing in his eyes. He was an amateur player himself and could read the game; therefore, he knew exactly how formidable the person manipulating the black stones from behind the scenes was!
"I lost too..."
Miyamoto Kanji scratched his head in embarrassment. During the first half of the match, he had been completely suppressed by Kaneda. Just as he was about to lose entirely, the Commander-in-Chief delivered the next set of instructions. Thus, the latter half of the match quietly transformed into a remote clash between Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Kaneda Satoru.
In the end, Ayanokouji won the exam without further incident.
Hachiman was extremely curious—what kind of hellscape was this "White Room" that it could cultivate every possible skill? Could they teach him how to become a respected stay-at-home husband?
Out of seven exams, it was four wins and three losses. Class D won the duel against Class C by a narrow margin. On the other side, the duel between Class A and Class B had also reached a verdict. Class A won with a score of five wins and two losses, leading by a large margin.
Logically speaking, though Class B's comprehensive strength was inferior to Class A's, they shouldn't have lost that miserably. Therefore, Hachiman speculated that Class B likely lost due to unconventional means. For instance, if their actual projects were leaked before the exam, allowing Class A to conduct targeted training and personnel deployment. When your strength is inferior and your trump cards are seen through, a crushing defeat is easy to understand.
With this, the final special exam for the first-year students officially came to a close. The class points settlement results were quickly posted on the bulletin board:
Class A: 1322 Class B: 1032 Class C: 540 Class D: 488
Class A widened the gap with Class B. Class D closed the distance with Class C. One could only say that the scores of the four classes perfectly aligned with the underlying logic of the S-System. Hachiman had seen through this cruel truth shortly after enrollment.
In name, the four classes competed equally; in reality, only Class A and Class B were qualified to fight for the ultimate reward: the opportunity to be recommended to prestigious universities. After all, as a collaborative teaching experiment project between the government and corporations, Advanced Nurturing High School couldn't actually send students they viewed as "defective products" from Class C and D to top-tier universities. It made sense—if punks like Ryuen and Ishizaki who caused trouble all day, or the academic and athletic "double-failures" like Okitani and Hondo from Class D, were to walk through the gates of Tokyo University, public opinion would explode, and the school's reputation would plummet.
Hachiman used to despise this school, believing the so-called "class competition" and "fair play" were all lies! However, his mindset had changed. As long as he set aside the class competition aspect and focused on studying for the normal college entrance exams, this place wasn't much different from an ordinary high school on the outside.
Crucially, the Private Point system was simply too good!
Hachiman quietly felt the point card in his pocket, a faint, imperceptible smile flashing in his eyes. His current savings had reached 21 million. This was only what he had saved in his first year. If he factored in the points from the next two years, even if there was a discount when converting to cash after graduation, he could conservatively estimate cashing out 30 to 40 million yen.
Returning to Chiba to buy a house... buying in the downtown Mihama district might be difficult, but buying a small detached house in the suburban Hanamigawa district was very doable! Then he could bring his little sister to live with him and marry the wife of his dreams—a total winner in life!
As for who that wife would be... that question was currently a bit beyond Hachiman's scope. He was only a 16-year-old high school student; why think so far ahead?
"Yahallo! Hachiman, Hachiman~ does this outfit look good on me?"
In the women's clothing section of the shopping mall, Kushida Kikyo tried on a bright yellow floral skirt; she looked quite youthful and energetic.
"It looks good."
Hachiman nodded honestly, his gaze unable to help but linger for several seconds on her well-endowed figure. It had to be said that whether in terms of looks or physique, Kushida Kikyo was top-tier among girls her age.
"Heading straight for the shopping mall the moment the exam ends—you certainly have a lot of energy."
Horikita Suzune's voice came from the side. She was seriously picking up a simple white dress and holding it up against herself in the mirror. Her face bore no extra expression, yet it still couldn't hide her refined aura.
"Huh?"
Kushida furrowed her brows, glaring at Horikita with annoyance. With her hands on her hips, she spoke with a hint of anger: "You followed us here too, didn't you? Interjecting yourself into someone else's sweet date—you're really a 'KY' girl who can't read the room!"
"Please do not fabricate facts, Kushida-san."
Horikita put down the dress and stared back with displeasure. "When did Hachiman-kun agree to go on a date with you? I just happened to come here to buy new clothes and ran into you by chance."
"You two... please stop fighting, okay?
You're going to cause trouble for the shop assistant."
Hachiman tried to persuade them in a low voice.
"It's fine, keep talking~" The shop assistant leaned against a shelf, a sparkling smile on her face and a "gossip-seeking" look in her eyes. She even quietly pulled her phone from her pocket, her finger already tapping the record button as she said suggestively, "I don't mind at all. In fact, I think it's quite lively!"
Hachiman's face immediately darkened as he snapped back unceremoniously: "Old woman! Spending all day staring at high school gossip—no wonder you don't have a boyfriend."
"You brat! What did you say?!"
The shop assistant instantly broke down.
"I said 'old woman,' didn't you hear me?
If you didn't hear it, I'll keep saying it until you do!"
Hachiman didn't back down an inch. He then slapped the phone out of her hand. "In Japan, taking photos or videos of others without permission is a criminal act!"
"...!"
The shop assistant's face turned pale and then green with rage.
"What? 'You' what?
Say one more word and I'll report you to the school in the name of the Student Council for secretly filming students!"
As Hachiman spoke, he pulled a disciplinary committee armband from his pocket and waved it in front of her. The shop assistant immediately behaved, deleted the recording on the spot, and bowed, saying, "Hontou ni moushiwake arimasen."(I'm really sorry)
After that incident, Horikita and Kushida lost their mood for shopping.
"I really didn't expect Hachiman-kun to have such a forceful side."
Horikita looked at him with surprise.
"Hmph! That gossipy old woman deserved it!"
Kushida cursed unceremoniously. "How dare she secretly film my Hachiman! Who knows if she'd use Hachiman as 'side-dish' for her 'self-pleasure' at night!"
"Hey! Don't say such disgusting things..."
Hachiman looked speechless, his mouth twitching.
"One must always be wary of others."
This time, Horikita actually agreed with Kushida. She nodded and said seriously, "In that situation, she indeed needed a lesson. Otherwise, by tomorrow, who knows what would have happened."
At this point, Hachiman was completely tired of commenting. He could only roll his eyes helplessly, letting the two girls—who were usually at each other's throats—form a strange united front.
After wandering around for a long time, the three of them were tired and sat down at a milk tea shop near the mall.
"Hachiman-kun!"
"So this is where you were!"
They ran into Karuizawa's group of three, who had just come for milk tea.
"I was wondering why you hadn't returned to class long after the exam ended."
"So you were being held hostage by Horikita and Kushida!"
Karuizawa Kei stared at the two girls with an unfriendly gaze.
"What do you mean 'hostage'?
Hachiman-kun came on a date with me voluntarily!"
Kushida immediately retorted, straightening her back and arguing her point with conviction.
"Is that so, Horikita-san?"
Matsushita Chiaki tilted her head, looking at Horikita with a suspicious, testing gaze.
Horikita was about to open her mouth to deny it, but her gaze swept across the faces of Karuizawa's trio and saw the provocation in their eyes. She decisively changed her tune and responded firmly, "Yes. We are on a date with Hachiman-kun!"
"Huh? 'We'?"
Sato Maya's eyes widened. It was common knowledge that Horikita and Kushida were arch-enemies. To see them standing on the same side now was truly bizarre.
"Tch!"
Karuizawa scoffed, acting arrogant and full of confidence. "Even if you two join forces, you are no match for us three sisters!"
"No match for you?"
Kushida narrowed her eyes, a provocative smile curling on her lips. She then deliberately puffed out her chest and said suggestively, "Ara~ I wonder what Karuizawa-san is referring to?"
The meaning was self-evident.
"...!"
Karuizawa's group was momentarily choked up, their faces turning red. Unable to find a rebuttal, they could only glare at Kushida and Horikita.
Horikita didn't say anything; she just straightened her back a bit more. This was why she was supporting Kushida; in certain aspects, the two of them held a common ground.
Hachiman sat in the middle, looking straight ahead and remaining silent, pretending he was invisible. He was internally calculating: Horikita and Kushida are both D-cups. Karuizawa is a C, while Matsushita and Sato are both Bs. In terms of pure "mass," the former two and the latter three were probably about equal.
"Hachiman-kun!"
The Karuizawa trio suddenly locked their dangerous gazes onto Hachiman simultaneously, their voices carrying a hint of a warning: "What kind of rude things are you thinking about?"
"I... I didn't say anything..."
Hachiman pretended to be calm, but cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
"Mm-hmm~"
Kushida looked at the Karuizawa trio with a mix of pride and provocation, her tone boasting slightly: "There's no point in criticizing Hachiman-kun. Men are just these kinds of creatures; they respect the law of universal gravitation. It can't be helped~~"
However, at that moment, Hachiman seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his gaze outside the shop.
"Hachiman-kun!"
"Yahallo, Hikki~ we were just looking for you to hang out~~"
The newcomers were Sakura Airi and Hasabe Haruka.
"What were you talking about?"
"I think I just heard someone mention 'universal gravitation.'"
"There wasn't a physics test among the seven exam projects, was there?"
Both Horikita and Kushida fell silent. The Karuizawa trio was even more hushed, all of them bowing their heads and pretending to adjust their clothes, not daring to make a sound.
There was no helping it; there is always a higher mountain. Facing the "massive" quality of the double F-cups, this was an insurmountable peak!
"Alright, alright."
Seeing that the atmosphere was awkward, Hachiman spoke up at the right time to change the subject. "You arrived just in time. Let me treat you to some milk tea."
"Thank you, Hachiman-kun~"
Airi didn't think much of it and accepted with a smile.
"Oh ho? Treating seven girls to milk tea at the same time? Hikki is quite the capable one~"
Haruka looked at him meaningfully.
"Cough~ Haruka, please don't say things that could cause misunderstandings."
Hachiman tried to correct her.
"What's the misunderstanding?" Haruka asked back with a smile.
Hachiman was momentarily at a loss for words. Fortunately, Airi saw his embarrassment and kindly stepped in to bail him out.
"Hachiman-kun is just being kind. Haruka, stop teasing him."
"See? Look how good Airi is to you." Haruka winked at him, still fanning the flames. "Don't let her down in the future, Hikki~"
"Tsk tsk~ Hasabe-san sure knows how to talk."
Kushida couldn't help but mock her. "You keep talking about giving Sakura-san an assist, but secretly you're the one 'snacking' on the side!"
"Who—who are you calling a snacker...?!"
A flash of panic crossed Haruka's face. "Don't talk nonsense without evidence!!"
However, the suspicious glares from the other girls only grew deeper.
"Drink your tea! I'm begging you..."
Noticing the strange looks from people around the shop, Hachiman felt like crying.
"Hmph~ Hachiman-kun, don't think you can brush us off with just a cup of milk tea!"
Karuizawa bit down on her straw, her eyes fixed sharply on him.
"What... do you mean by that?"
Hachiman was about to ask, only to see the other girls staring at him with the exact same gaze.
"Hachiman, please stop playing dumb."
Matsushita Chiaki quirked an eyebrow, speaking with an unfriendly tone.
"The most important thing... you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"The most important thing?"
Hachiman was bewildered. "The final special exam... didn't that already end?"
Kushida looked extremely displeased.
"Who cares about some exam? That's not important at all, okay?!"
Wait? For a student, exams are the most important thing! Especially since failing an exam here results in expulsion.
"Hachiman, your attitude is a bit too disrespectful."
Horikita's brow furrowed as she stared at him with cold eyes.
"Suzune, even you...?"
A flash of inspiration finally hit Hachiman, and he remembered something.
"Wait? What you guys are talking about... it couldn't be White Day, could it?"
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