I've been working so hard, learning how to do makeup and how to dress up, all so that I could have a colorful life in college. But why does everyone keep treating me like an idiot?"
If she were drunk, she could certainly express her various grievances over the past period in a bold and unrestrained manner. However, she was very clear-headed now, so clear-headed that she knew that if she did not restrain her emotions, she would trouble others again, and she did not want that.
"Looking like that, you're sure to be laughed at by others."
Kohei looked at her face, which even her own mother might not recognize as her daughter, and was completely puzzled as to why she was so oblivious.
"I know, I don't have the talent for this, but I've tried my best. But they just treat me as a laughing stock. What do you mean by using a negative tactic to elevate someone? What do you mean by saying we've laughed enough and don't need you anymore? You're all a bunch of scum!"
Her words were filled with resentment and even a sense of self-abandonment.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have changed it in the first place. The result would have been the same anyway!"
It was a familiar scene. Hachiman tapped his head, and his calm words fell like pearls.
"The outcome may be unchangeable, but the process of striving will not deceive yourself. The world is vast, and humans are insignificant. The difference between the two is too great, so there is no need to pay special attention to the conclusion of the result, because one failure does not mean anything."
Iori, standing nearby with a serious expression, said, "Besides, who in this world laughs at others without being laughed at themselves?"
"What you need now is to muster up your courage again, stand up, and watch tonight's men's competition. We'll give you a great show tonight, we guarantee it will be very interesting!"
Iori smiled and bumped fists with the two people beside her, saying...
"Looks like you've got a good idea." Hachiman smiled helplessly at his confident demeanor.
It looks like something incredible is going to happen in tonight's men's competition.
Chapter 43 Reunion with an Old Friend (Part 2, 5500 words)
As the clear day fades into dusk, the sky turns a rosy red, a sign of impending night.
Around the outdoor stage, people who came to watch the final show found suitable seats and, after listening to the host's opening remarks, enthusiastically applauded to welcome the first contestant.
She became somewhat interested in this activity she had never heard of before. The Mr. Club competition was something she never expected. She was surprised that the guy would participate. He had always been a lazy kid, but after entering university, he suddenly became motivated. However, she was still somewhat unhappy about his decision to abandon literature for science.
What annoyed her even more was that, even though it was Yukino's family's business, why did that guy Haruno have to ask her for help?
She's really busy! Ever since she went back to her hometown, her parents have been arranging blind dates for her every few days, which has almost made her depressed. She can only hide at school every day to avoid it, but as a result, she has taken on several unnecessary jobs. Although this has increased her salary, she is not short of money, but she is too embarrassed to refuse those elderly men who are about the same age as her father.
Because she worked tirelessly and never complained, putting in her work like a beast of burden (actually, she just couldn't get used to the food in the cafeteria), she will be promoted next month, officially becoming the school director from a substitute homeroom teacher!
Keep in mind, she's only been in this position for a year! What does that mean? It's like starting a new game and reaching the highest rank in just one month – that's incredibly difficult!
This is all thanks to her past experience; it has absolutely nothing to do with her father being a former PhD and now a real estate tycoon who generously donated a teaching building to the school.
Is this competition really a male beauty pageant?
Sitting next to her, Komachi Hikigaya shakily raised her hand and pointed to the stage with a bewildered look. She looked up and saw a muscular man wearing only a pair of shorts frantically changing poses to show off his muscles.
"Wow! Great! Huge! Awesome!"
Men have always had an inexplicable obsession with getting bigger, which is why the Ultraman theme has remained popular for so long.
She covered the other person's eyes: "Strong muscles are also a great feature of male charm, but you are too young. You will understand when you grow up."
No, she felt she shouldn't appreciate it.
Komachi Hikigaya tried photoshopping her older brother's head onto the muscular man from before. Within three seconds, a chill ran down her spine. It was just too incongruous. A penguin's head combined with a bear's body was a complete anomaly!
"You guys treat the men's competition like a bodybuilding contest every year."
On the lawn not far away, Shinji Tokita admired the physiques of the rugby club members and teased the bald, muscular guy next to him in a joking tone.
"A strong physique is the best way to attract new members."
The bald, muscular man took a sip of beer and said cheerfully.
"Besides, you have no right to say that. Didn't you strip naked and jump up a few years ago? People who didn't know better would think you were from the shot put club."
"Oh, it was that time when I was drunk and smashed the can and threw it away, right?" Kotobuki Ryujiro recalled.
"Heh heh, this year is different from usual. We've recruited three very bright new students, so I guarantee there will be some fun things to do."
Shinji Tokita was very confident. After hearing about Iori's plan, he knew that this year's men's competition prize money would definitely be theirs.
"Really? Iori and the others are planning something big?"
"It's guaranteed to be bigger than you think."
"Then we'll wait and see."
"Outdoor stage"
"Now let's welcome the next contestant!"
Having prepared for a long time, Kudo walked onto the stage with a smile under the lights, speaking clearly and fluently.
"Hello everyone, I am Kudo, the president of the tennis club [Tinker Bell]."
His handsome appearance and elegant demeanor caused a group of girls in the audience to scream, and many of them shouted to cheer him on.
"Go for it, Kudo-kun!"
"You're the best!"
"We'll definitely be champions this year too!"
He's really popular. She looked at the bronze-skinned boy on the stage without much thought. After all, there were many students among her with stronger personal charisma than him, not to mention the ultimate boss.
Simply making girls cheer isn't enough; that's too superficial.
"Kudo-kun, do your best..."
A whisper of encouragement reached her ears. She turned around and saw a girl with braided hair standing on the outermost edge of the crowd, her back slightly bent, gazing longingly at the boy on the stage.
Thank you everyone!
Standing on the stage, Kudo responded to everyone's encouragement. He was already well aware of the cheers and jubilation before him; there was no way around it, he was just that popular.
It seems I'll be the champion again this year. It's really not challenging. My opponents are all low-class people or idiots who only have muscles in their heads. Standing on the same field with them makes me feel like my status is being lowered.
He smugly gloated to himself as he walked to the waiting area. All he had to do now was wait to receive his award. As for talent, that was completely unnecessary; his face alone was enough.
"Now let's welcome the next contestant."
As the host finished speaking and the sound of footsteps rang out, Shinji Tokita looked at Kohei Imamura, who had stepped out of the shadows and into the light, radiating brilliance, and laughed heartily.
"Here it comes! This is what we've been waiting for!"
When Kohei appeared in his DK uniform, the girls in the audience widened their eyes. They had never seen this handsome boy before, and he seemed to be just as good-looking as Kudo-kun.
"So, this new student, please introduce yourself..."
Kohei Imamura put two fingers to his lips, interrupting the host, then turned around and snapped his fingers.
As the shadows fell, another set of footsteps sounded, slow yet firm.
Looking at the other boy who walked out, even she was shocked.
"Is it Onii-chan?"
Komachi Hikigaya whispered uncertainly. The ahoge (cowlick) on her head was reminding her that the person in front of her was her blood brother. But who could tell her what was going on with this cool and handsome guy with all his hair swept back, revealing his forehead?
As Hachiman stepped onto the stage, facing the gazes of the audience, he slightly uncomfortable pushed up his black-rimmed glasses. This seemingly innocuous gesture, however, seemed to the girls, like an aphrodisiac, stirring their emotions.
"I've never seen this one before! It's the cool type!"
"She seems like the type who's always cold and aloof, but is actually very caring!"
"This guy is so handsome!"
"Which club are they? Please tell me, I want to join!"
Seeing that the atmosphere had been heated up, Kohei began to introduce himself.
"We are members of the diving club [peek a boo], and my name is Kohei Imamura."
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
The two bowed deeply and said, "Please take care of us."
Cheers erupted once again from the audience. Kudo, who was standing in the waiting area, watched the two of them. When he saw Imamura Kohei, he narrowed his eyes. This guy looked a bit like the perverted naked man he had seen that morning. As for the other one, he didn't remember him.
It's really strange. Logically speaking, someone of this quality should be quite a topic of conversation among students, but how come he's never heard of them, allowing that group of completely clueless idiots to beat him to it?
Never mind, he'll definitely win, after all, he has the strongest support group.
"Is this a duo competition? Then please begin your performance."
Upon hearing this, Hachiman and Kohei both looked at the "purple-haired woman" sitting silently not far away.
...twenty minutes ago...
So, what is your plan?
Sitting on the classroom floor, Hachiman asked Iori, who had made a bold statement but was now sitting still and looking quite relaxed.
"Wait a little longer."
"Waiting for what?" Kohei asked.
Thump, thump—
"Iori, I brought something with me."
"They're here!"
Iori's eyes lit up, and he quickly got up to greet Kotegawa Nanaka, who had come to the meeting. When he reappeared in front of the two of them, he was holding a purple wig in his hand, and behind him, Kotegawa Nanaka was holding a simple women's makeup case.
"Have you finally decided to cross-dress?"
Kohei looked at the wig in his hand and the makeup props in Nanaka's hand, and thought that Iori had finally let go of the hurdle in his heart and was preparing to embark on the path of faith in Lucifer.
Hachiman was also somewhat puzzled. Even with his wildest imagination, he couldn't figure out what the other man was up to.
"This wig looks just like my hair."
Hamaoka Azusa, who was drinking, noticed Nanaka approaching, so she moved closer to the four of them. Iori's wig, which was the same color as Nanaka's, caught her eye, and after observing it for a while, she spoke up.
Wig, Azusa-senpai, tennis club...
"You're going to impersonate Senior Zi?"
Hachiman, having pieced together the clues, had a strange expression. Could it be what he was thinking, that he was about to pull that stunt?
"Yes, that's right, I plan to impersonate Azusa-senpai, and then..."
"Then seduce that popular guy, trick him into your life, and then dump him ruthlessly, letting him experience the feeling of being abandoned!"
Iori, who had been interrupted, and Hachiman, who had inexplicably heard some disgusting things, turned around at the same time and stared expressionlessly at Kohei, who had made the bold statement.
What exactly are you thinking?
"Kouhei, I think you need to pay me compensation for the emotional distress caused by listening to what you said."
"Huh? Isn't that right?" Kohei exclaimed in surprise.
"...Never mind him, just continue."
Hachiman has given up. Sometimes, when people can't communicate, it's not because they're bad at talking; it might just be that the other person is a bit slow.
You talk about hip joints, and he talks about braised pork knuckle. You say the moon is beautiful tonight, and he says it's because the weather is clear today, so there's no hope, just wait to die.
"I plan to pretend to be Azusa and sit in the audience. When you and Kohei come on stage together, confess your feelings to me. That guy named Kudo will definitely compete with you two. Then I will choose Kudo and reveal my true colors when he's feeling smug, and laugh at him!"
As Iori shared her thoughts, Kohei suddenly understood, while Hachiman's neural pathways had already drifted back to a bamboo forest trip many years ago.
Another fake confession. Is this tactic really that effective?
"I have a question. How can you be so sure that Kudo will definitely step in and compete with us?"
Hachiman raised a question: what if that guy doesn't care?
"Hmph, of course I have a way. All you have to do is say one sentence."
Iori relayed those words to the two of them.
"Shouldn't Kohei handle this alone?" Hachiman still had some doubts. "After all, if you're going to make a difficult choice, at least the answers from both sides should be similar."
"One person's weight might not be enough, let alone Hachiman." Iori placed her hand on his shoulder and looked directly at him. "You have great potential; you just need a few tweaks."
"Revise?"
Nanaka, who had been listening quietly all along, smiled gently.
"I will try my best."
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