Chapter 091: It was supposed to be an open-book exam, but now the answers have been given directly!
The afternoon was much more relaxed than imagined. When Hoshinomiya-sensei announced that "there are no scheduled classes for the afternoon," a cheer erupted on the playground—although those cheering were quickly reminded by the people next to them that "this is only the first day," but at least the sense of relaxation in that moment was real.
The cafeteria is free. This fact let many students in Class D breathe a sigh of relief.
The boys were taken to the second cafeteria. It was a wooden building smaller than the main cafeteria, with a wooden sign hanging at the entrance that read "Cooking Pavilion." After pushing the door open, one could see several rows of long tables and benches inside, and at the end was an open kitchen, with stoves, cutting boards, and cookware all available.
"Huh? This cafeteria looks a bit different." Someone observed the surroundings. Then someone opened their materials and let out a scream.
"What? We have to cook breakfast ourselves?!"
"Why do we have to cook ourselves?"
The materials clearly stated that the boys are responsible for the boys' morning meals, and the girls are responsible for the girls' morning meals. However, because there are many groups, each group only needs to take a turn for one day.
"We only have to do it once, which isn't too bad..." Kanzaki glanced at the rotation schedule. "Our Group 2 is scheduled for the fourth day."
"The fourth day... that's fine," Ishizaki muttered. "As long as it's not tomorrow. I can't even fry an egg." Albert stood quietly to the side without expressing an opinion.
Dinner was curry. Simple and plain, but the portion was very sufficient. The rice was piping hot, and one could see large chunks of carrots and potatoes in the curry sauce; although there wasn't much meat, the flavor was well-seasoned. The students sat on the long benches holding their trays, eating with their heads down. Occasionally someone would look up to say a few words, then lower their heads to continue eating.
Hachiman sat by the window, slowly finished a serving of curry rice, and returned the tray to the collection point.
"Going to take a bath?" Kanzaki asked.
"Yeah."
The bathhouse was next to the main building and was a Japanese-style large public bath. It was a wooden structure; upon pushing the door open, one could see the bamboo baskets and towel racks in the changing area. Steam permeated from the pool area inside, carrying a warm, slightly mineral scent.
There were many people. When Hachiman took off his clothes and walked into the bathhouse, several people were already soaking in the pool. Some were leaning against the edge of the pool with their eyes closed, some had towels covering their faces, and some were chatting in low voices in the water. The steam was hazy, and the voices were also hazy.
Hachiman found a spot near the edge, rinsed his body, and then submerged himself in the hot water. The water temperature was just right. His skin went from slightly cool to warm, and his muscles slowly relaxed in the hot water. He tilted his head back, leaned against the edge of the pool, watched the water droplets condensed on the ceiling, and soaked quietly for a while.
The heat wrapped around his whole body, and in his ears were the sounds of the water undulating and the occasional whispers of others. He closed his eyes, but he didn't fall asleep. His mind was still going over that information—grouping, the exam, Tsukishiro, the "future." After soaking for about fifteen minutes, he stood up, rinsed his body clean, and put on clean clothes.
When he walked out of the bathhouse, the sky had already darkened. Evening in the mountains comes earlier than in the city; the sky was still a deep blue, but the outlines of the trees were already blurred. Streetlights began to turn on, casting clusters of warm yellow light onto the concrete road.
Hachiman did not walk in the direction of the dormitory. He turned toward the playground. The playground at night was very quiet. Streetlights shone from the four corners, casting interlaced light and shadows on the grass. In the distance, one could see the lit windows of the main building, with figures occasionally walking past. The mountain breeze blew over, carrying the scent of grass and damp earth.
Hachiman stood by the track with his hands in his pockets, waiting. Not long after, a figure came jogging over from the direction of the playground entrance. Ichinose Honami. She was wearing her school uniform, but the buttons of her jacket were not fastened, and the wind brought about by her running made her coat hem lift slightly. She was breathing a little heavily when she stopped in front of Hachiman, and her cheeks were a little flushed from the jog.
"Hikigaya-kun... have you been waiting long?"
"No. Just arrived," Hachiman said.
Ichinose took two breaths, then took a small notebook out of her pocket and opened it. "The grouping arrangements for the girls' side are already done," she said. "According to the approach you mentioned earlier, I tried my best to spread the classes out."
"How exactly is it divided?"
Ichinose's finger pointed at a line of words in the notebook. "On my side—5 people from Class A, plus 5 people from Ibuki's side in Class B, plus 2 people from Sakayanagi's side in Class C,
specifically Kamuro-san and another girl, and then 3 people from Class D, including Horikita-san, Kushida-san, and Karuizawa-san. A total of 15 people." Hachiman listened and nodded.
"Balanced."
"Yeah... at least every class has representation," Ichinose closed the notebook. "However—I haven't fully grasped the situation of the other groups. Because the time for forming teams was tight, everyone scattered after grouping themselves, and I didn't have time to collect the lists of all the groups."
"Then—do you know the situation for Group 20 on the girls' side?" Ichinose was stunned for a moment.
"Group 20?"
"Yes," Hachiman said. "Help me check which group Shiina Hiyori is in and what the composition of the members of that group is."
Ichinose's expression changed slightly. She looked at Hachiman, and there was an undefinable layer in her amber eyes.
"...Shiina-san?"
"Yeah." Ichinose was silent for two seconds. Then she tilted her head slightly and asked in a very soft, somewhat probing tone, "Hikigaya-kun... are you very concerned about Shiina-san?"
Hachiman looked at her without speaking. Ichinose's gaze did not dodge, but her fingers subconsciously pinched the corner of the notebook.
"I don't mean anything else," she added. "It's just—you specifically mentioned her, so I'm a little curious."
Hachiman was silent for a beat, then said, "The information I received is that the last place in this exam will be the large group that Shiina Hiyori is in."
Ichinose's eyes widened slightly. "...Last place?"
"Yes."
She didn't pursue the question further, just nodded forcefully. "I understand. I will check it. By noon tomorrow—or tomorrow night, if there is a chance, I will try my best to collect the information."
"Sorry for the trouble." Ichinose put away her notebook, looked at Hachiman again, then turned and jogged away.
Hachiman watched her back disappear at the entrance of the playground, then turned his gaze back to the front. He did not leave. After a while, another person walked over from the playground entrance. The pace was slower than Ichinose's, but steadier, each step carrying a trained correctness.
Horikita Suzune. She walked to Hachiman, stood still, and looked up at him slightly. The light from the streetlight fell on her profile, making her outline clear and distinct.
"Hikigaya."
"Horikita."
"I'll speak directly," Horikita's tone was very crisp. "On the girls' side, Ichinose's way of grouping—that was instigated by you, right?"
Hachiman did not deny it. "Yes."
"I thought so," Horikita said. "Her style of 'everyone must have a share' is not something she would choose to do on her own. She is more inclined to group up with acquaintances."
"You observe very carefully."
"Having been at this school for a semester, one should learn something," Horikita said. "I am the leader of that group."
"I know."
"Actually, no one wants to be the leader," Horikita's voice carried a hint of self-mockery. "The people in Class D don't want to bear the risk of dropping out. The people in Class A and Class B don't want to do it either. In the end, I took the initiative to take it on."
Hachiman looked at her. "You certainly have self-awareness."
"Because I believe in your arrangement," Horikita said, without any hesitation in her tone. "Ichinose's way of grouping shows that you are controlling the rhythm behind the scenes. And from what I know about you, you won't push the people of Class D into a fire pit. You need to keep Class D, which is the class that is dragging everyone down, so I feel at ease being this leader."
Hachiman was quiet for two seconds, then said, "Do me a favor."
"What?"
"Take care of Sakayanagi more."
Horikita frowned slightly. "Sakayanagi? What's wrong with her?"
"She is in poor health," Hachiman said. "And also—I have obtained some information about the future. For me to stay here, or rather, for me to continue living in this world, Sakayanagi has contributed."
Horikita's expression shifted slightly. Her gaze lingered on Hachiman's face for a moment, and then she nodded. "...I understand." She was silent for a moment, then added, "Are you grateful to her?"
"It's gratitude," Hachiman said. "For now, only gratitude."
Horikita did not pursue the question. She turned to leave, took two steps, stopped, and turned her head. "By the way, you are still waiting for someone, right?"
Hachiman did not answer.
Horikita glanced around the playground, whispered "Then I'll leave first," and walked away.
Hachiman still stood in the same place. The night wind was cooler than before. He was the only one left on the playground. In the distant dormitory building, warm yellow lights were on, and figures were moving by the windows. Then he saw a figure walking slowly from the direction of the dormitory building. Karuizawa Kei. She was wearing a thin jacket with her hands in her pockets, her pace was not fast, but her direction was clear—she was walking straight toward Hachiman.
"Hachiman," she stopped two steps away from him and called out in a low voice.
"Kei."
"..."
"I know what you are going to ask," Karuizawa said. "I have collected some of the lists for each group on the girls' side."
Hachiman looked at her. "You're quite proactive."
"Because I know you need it," Karuizawa's tone was natural. "I'm at least someone who is well-informed in the class. And—" She paused. "You mentioned Shiina Hiyori before, so I specifically went to check on the group she is in."
"What is the situation with her group?"
Karuizawa took a folded piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Hachiman. "Group 20. 10 girls from Class B, 5 girls from Class D. Shiina Hiyori is the core on Class B's side, but she is not the leader. The leader is a girl from Class D."
Hachiman took the note, unfolded it and looked at it, then folded it and put it into his pocket. "Group 20, all people from Class B and Class D?"
"Yes," Karuizawa said. "No one from Class A or Class C entered. Because the grouping mode of that group is two classes directly combined, without pulling in other classes."
Hachiman was silent for a while. All Class B and Class D—no Class A, no Class C. If this group is in last place, the only ones affected will be Class B and Class D. And Shiina Hiyori of Class B happens to be an important figure in the class. But if Hiyori is not the person in charge, then according to her behavior of not making enemies, she shouldn't have a dropout crisis.
So, it really is like this, Hiyori dreamed of the same future, so she started to avoid it.
"..."
"Huh?"
"You are still very capable," Hachiman said. "Knowing that I need this information."
Karuizawa tilted her head slightly, the light of the streetlight falling on the tips of her hair, reflecting a soft luster. "After all—" she said, "If I don't help you, I won't feel at ease either."
Hachiman looked at her, then whispered, "If there are no accidents, the large group Shiina Hiyori is in will be the last place."
Karuizawa's eyes widened for an instant. "Last place? Then—wouldn't that mean dropping out?"
"The person in charge drops out, and then a bundled nomination."
"Then Shiina she—"
"But she didn't drop out," Hachiman said. Karuizawa was stunned for a beat, then quickly understood something.
"You—will you help her?"
Hachiman nodded. Karuizawa watched his expression, and it took a few seconds before she spoke, her voice lower than before.
"Then am I... safe on my side?"
"Because there is a last place, you are naturally safe on your side," Hachiman said. "Don't worry too much about this exam, just take it normally."
Karuizawa exhaled gently. She didn't ask any more questions, just nodded. "Then I'll go back first. Be careful yourself—the night in the mountains is still quite cold."
After she finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the dormitory building. Hachiman watched her back disappear into the darkness where the streetlights could not reach, then turned back to look at the direction of the playground entrance.
The night wind blew again. He stood under the streetlight, his shadow drawn very long. He waited for a while longer. No one else came. "It seems that's all for tonight," he whispered to himself and turned to leave.
Then his footsteps stopped. At the entrance of the playground, a figure was standing there. Not walking over—but having stood there for a while, as if she had been looking in his direction for a long time. Shiina Hiyori.
She was wearing a light-colored long-sleeved jacket, her hair draped over her shoulders, the warm light of the streetlight falling from above, plating a soft halo on her hair. She stood there, about ten steps away from Hachiman, her expression quiet, unable to tell when she arrived or how much she saw.
"...Hiyori." Hachiman spoke first.
"Hikigaya-kun." Her voice was very soft. "Did I disturb you?"
"No. I was just about to go back." Hiyori stepped forward and stopped two steps away from him.
She tilted her head slightly, as if observing him, or as if confirming something.
"That dream," she said, "you had it too, didn't you."
Hachiman looked at her. "..."
"I wasn't quite sure at first," Hiyori's voice was still very light, "but when I saw you talking to Karuizawa just now, I was thinking—you probably know too."
"Know what?"
"Know that my group... will be the last place."
Hachiman did not deny it. "Yes."
Hiyori lowered her gaze and looked at the ground by her feet. The light of the streetlight pulled her shadow very short, shrinking it at the soles of her feet.
"...I didn't become the leader of the small group," she said. "Because I knew about that dream, so I took the initiative to decline the position of person in charge when forming teams."
"Smart."
"But—" she raised her eyes to look at Hachiman, "the feeling is a little subtle."
"Subtle?"
"Yes," Hiyori said. "I know the result, but I don't know the process. What kind of scene would make the large group I am in end up in last place? What kind of exam content, what kind of strategy, what kind of accident—would put me in a dropout crisis?"
Hachiman looked at her without answering immediately.
"I only know the result now," Hiyori continued, "but I don't know why it became that result. So..." She paused. "—I have no way to truly change it," she then said with some helplessness.
Hachiman was silent for a while.
Then he said, "Once you know the member composition of all the large groups—you can understand."
Hiyori's eyelashes moved slightly. "...Are you planning to take action?"
"Yes," Hachiman said. "Once you know the member composition of all the large groups, you can see where the pieces are buried and who will be pushed into which position. Then—you can counter it."
Hiyori looked at him, quiet for two seconds, and then gently curved the corners of her mouth. "..."
"I will be responsible for the boys' side," Hachiman said.
"I know," Hiyori nodded. "Then I just need to take care of my own side, right?"
"Right."
"But—" Hiyori tilted her head slightly, "Are you not worried about the grouping on the boys' side?"
"Not worried." Hachiman answered quickly.
Hiyori blinked and showed a slightly surprised expression. "...Why?"
"Although the results may be surprising, this can be considered an open-book exam," Hachiman said. "And—when forming teams, Acting Chairman Tsukishiro didn't go to the girls' side to announce that 'points will be deducted if you go over the time limit for forming teams', did he?"
Hiyori recalled it and shook her head. "No. On our side, it was announced by the homeroom teacher of the third year; Acting Director Tsukishiro did not appear."
"In other words, his interference only appeared on the boys' side." Hiyori took a slight breath.
"Do you think he is only laying out plans on the boys' side?"
"At least for now, yes," Hachiman said. "So, some things can be deduced."
"Deduce what?"
Hachiman looked into her eyes, his voice steady and clear. "The essence of this exam is harvesting. Tsukishiro is someone who supports Ayanokouji—at least their goal direction is consistent. But empty checks aren't useful, so he needs actual room for operation." Hiyori listened quietly.
"How to operate? First, tighten the environment and reduce variables. Why take away everyone's mobile phones? Because communication is cut off, transactions and negotiations across classes and grades become more difficult. Everyone has no way to contact allies anytime, anywhere.
Second," Hachiman continued, "create transaction needs. After communication is cut off, those who have no choice are the most easily manipulated. The exchange of point cards, private transactions—all need to be completed face-to-face. And face-to-face—means it can be observed, recorded, and utilized."
Hiyori frowned slightly. "You mean... Tsukishiro prepared point cards?"
"Very likely," Hachiman said. "And I guess—he prepared a considerable amount."
"Used to bribe students?"
"Yes. Let some people abstain, throw games, or deliberately drag things down during the exam," Hachiman said. "Once someone gets a zero score in any assessment, the average score of the entire large group will be pulled down significantly. In this way—Tsukishiro can push a specific large group to the last place position."
Hiyori's eyes brightened slightly. "And the easiest target to bribe—"
"Third-year students," Hachiman said. "Especially students in Class C and Class D of the third year. They are about to graduate, and points are most significant to them. They are likely willing to cooperate. And the students in Class B of the third year are also struggling, so if they can trick Class A of the third year, they will definitely support Tsukishiro."
Hiyori's breathing paused slightly. She looked at Hachiman, and it was a long time before she spoke.
"...Hikigaya-kun, you are very smart."
"Just seen too many routines."
Hiyori did not refute this sentence. She lowered her head slightly, as if thinking about something.
Then she raised her head again, looked at Hachiman, with a soft smile on her lips. "Then I'll go back first. There is an exam tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Hiyori turned to walk away, stopped again, and turned her head. "Hikigaya-kun."
"Yeah?"
"No matter what the result is—thank you." Hachiman looked at her without speaking. Hiyori smiled, then turned and walked away. Hachiman stood in place, watching her figure blend into the night, then slowly exhaled.
He turned and walked toward the dormitory building.
When he returned to the dormitory, there were already quite a few people in the room. Some were sitting on the beds flipping through materials, some were organizing clothes for tomorrow, and some were chatting in low voices in the corner.
Hashimoto Masayoshi happened to walk out from the direction of the restroom. Seeing Hachiman enter the door, he wrinkled his nose slightly.
"Hikigaya, on your body—"
Hachiman paused. "What?"
"There's a fragrance," Hashimoto said. "That kind of perfume smell that girls have. What body wash do you use?"
Hachiman was silent for a beat. "...Body wash?"
"Ah," Hashimoto tilted his head, "is it not?"
"Yeah." Hachiman spoke calmly. "I went to the playground to meet some girls."
Hashimoto's expression froze. He opened his mouth and looked at Hachiman, as if he had been choked by something.
"Go... go to the playground to meet girls?"
"Yeah." Hashimoto was stunned for several seconds, then muttered in a low voice, "To think it's not exchanging intelligence during lunch, to think it can be like this..." He did not pursue the question, just looked at Hachiman with a complicated gaze, then turned and walked away.
Hachiman didn't care. He walked to his bed, sat down, took off his jacket, folded it, and placed it by his pillow.
Kanzaki Ryuji, who slept near him, glanced at him. "Back?"
"Yeah."
"Classes officially start tomorrow."
"I know."
"Get some rest early."
Hachiman lay down. The moonlight outside the window shone in, spreading a patch of silver-white light on the tatami mat. He closed his eyes for a while, then turned over and pulled the blanket up. The room became quiet. Someone was snoring, someone turned over, making a faint sound of the bedboard rubbing. Hachiman's breathing gradually became even.
When the sunlight the next morning shone in through the window, the people in the dormitory had already woken up one after another. Breakfast was made by the third-year seniors. Porridge, pickles, and boiled eggs. Although simple, it was piping hot, and after entering the mouth, warmth slid into the stomach along the esophagus. "The third-year seniors' cooking skills are pretty good," Ishizaki muttered while shoveling porridge into his mouth. Ryuen sat across from him, peeling the eggshell methodically, without responding.
After breakfast, everyone was taken to the auditorium in the main building. Today's class is Zen (meditation). The floor of the auditorium was covered with thick cushions, and all the students were arranged in neat square arrays according to their groups. In front was a small incense burner, with smoke rising in spirals, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood. "Keep your breathing steady. Don't move around. Don't open your eyes," the teacher led from the front, their voice neither high nor low. Hachiman sat cross-legged on the cushion, with his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes.
The first ten minutes were quite steady. The surroundings were very quiet, with only breathing sounds and the occasional faint sound of clothing rubbing. But at the fifteenth minute, he
heard movement from the left—a dull thud, followed by the sound of gasping. He looked sideways slightly. Ishizaki Daichi was leaning on the floor, one leg stretched straight, his face flushed red, holding his calf with both hands.
"...Leg... leg is numb..." he said, gritting his teeth. Albert, who was sitting next to him, glanced at him without speaking, just silently reaching out to help him sit upright. Ryuen sat in front, maintaining the posture of meditation, but the corners of his mouth moved slightly. Hachiman withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes again. Kanzaki Ryuji, sitting in front of his right, was still sitting straight, without swaying from beginning to end.
After the meditation class ended, Hachiman stood up and moved his wrists and ankles, then turned to Kanzaki and said, "You certainly know how to endure."
"I've had some exercise since I was young," Kanzaki replied very briefly. Hachiman did not pursue the question. But he thought in his heart—given Kanzaki Ryuji's family background, the family upbringing he received growing up was probably quite strict.
The afternoon class was conducted on the hillside.
"Road relay race training—first, familiarize yourselves with the route," the teacher stood at the top of the slope, holding a stopwatch, and waved down below. "Run from the top of the slope to the bottom, then run back. Everyone must complete at least two sets."
The slope was not too steep, but it was long enough to make people sweat. Hachiman stood at the starting line with the others. Beside him was Ishizaki, beside Ishizaki was Albert, and beside that was Ayanokouji.
"On your marks—" The teacher blew a whistle. A dozen people rushed out simultaneously. Hachiman controlled his speed, neither rushing to the front nor falling to the back. His breathing rhythm was very steady, and his stride was even. Halfway through, he noticed a detail.
Ayanokouji was running about five steps in front of him, his speed neither fast nor slow, maintaining a very stable rhythm. But his expression—it was the same as usual, blank, without any waves—even the air brought out by his breathing was very even. It can only be said that this is indeed a physical monster. White Room student, sports student, living up to his reputation. Hachiman didn't look much, withdrew his gaze.
The training lasted for two hours. By the time it ended, the sky had already begun to darken, and the sunset left an orange-red edge on the ridge line. Hachiman jogged back to the top of the slope, stopped, and rested for two breaths with his hands on his knees. Kanzaki walked over and handed him a bottle of water.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Night.
When Hachiman returned to the dormitory after taking a bath, he found that the atmosphere in the room was different from the past two days.
It turned out that Nagumo Miyabi from the second year was standing in the center of the room, holding a deck of playing cards, looking at the people gathered around with a smile.
"Good evening, kouhais—I'm here to visit and foster some relationships."
"...Foster relationships?" Ishizaki sat cross-legged on the bed, looking vigilant.
"Just playing cards," Nagumo shook the cards in his hand. "It's rare to have a cross-grade camping trip, let's relax a bit."
Hashimoto Masayoshi's eyes lit up. "Playing cards? What are the rules?"
"Old Maid, best of five," Nagumo said. "The loser is responsible for the breakfast the other person has to make."
Hashimoto immediately raised his hand. "I'm in!"
"What are you in for?" Ishizaki glared at him. "If you lose, our whole group will have to make breakfast once!"
"I won't lose."
"You say you won't lose, so you won't lose?" Kanzaki Ryuji glanced at Hachiman and whispered, "Hikigaya, you going up?"
Hachiman shook his head. "I'm not good at this."
Nagumo's gaze swept around the room and finally landed on Ayanokouji, who was standing in the corner. "Ayanokouji-kouhai—you come too." Ayanokouji glanced at him. Then he walked over and sat down next to the circle of people, without speaking. "Then best of five," Nagumo shuffled the cards and skillfully divided them into two stacks. "Lucky ones—win. Unlucky ones—cook breakfast tomorrow morning."
The first game, Nagumo won. His expression management was very good, and there was no extra movement when drawing cards. The second game, Ayanokouji won. His expression did not change from beginning to end, and he didn't even blink when he drew the Joker. The third game, Nagumo won. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. The fourth game, Ayanokouji won. His expression still didn't change. The room was quiet for an instant. Everyone looked at the center of the table.
The final game.
Nagumo's hand reached toward the cards in Ayanokouji's hand, drew one, looked at it, and then his eyebrows moved slightly. He put that card into his hand, and then threw out a pair. Ayanokouji's hand reached slowly toward the cards in Nagumo's hand. He did not hesitate. His fingers fell and he drew one. Looked at it. Then he put that card on the table. There was
only one card left in Nagumo's hand—the Joker. "...I lost," Nagumo smiled, shook his head, and threw the Joker on the table.
"A poker face is indeed a natural cheating device." Ayanokouji didn't speak. Nagumo stood up, patted the dust that didn't exist on his pants, and nodded to the others. "Excuse the interruption. You don't have to make breakfast, I will send someone to make it." He took two second-year senpais out the door, and the door closed behind him.
Kanzaki Ryuji looked at the direction of the door and whispered, "He came here just to play cards?"
"Of course not," Hashimoto Masayoshi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "Do you think Vice President is bored and came to find first-year students to play Old Maid at night?"
"Then he came to—"
"Canvassing for votes," Hashimoto said. "The only connection Nagumo has with the first years is the student council president election next semester."
Kanzaki frowned. "Election?"
"Yes. Hikigaya is also one of the candidates," Hashimoto glanced at Hachiman. "Nagumo's current votes are not absolutely safe. He needs to contact more first-year students—see if he can win some votes."
Hachiman did not take up the topic. He sat by the window, holding a piece of paper, his gaze falling on it, as if he were not listening. Hachiman closed the paper, put it under his pillow, and lay down. "..."
...Ayanokouji glanced at Hachiman's back, silent.
-
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On the third night, Hachiman came to the playground again. This time he didn't wait long. A figure walked over from the direction of the gymnasium, their pace a bit hurried. Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo appeared at the entrance of the playground together.
"Hikigaya," Horikita said directly after walking closer. "Kushida helped you get what you wanted."
Kushida took a neatly folded list out of her pocket and handed it to Hachiman. Her face wore the usual gentle smile, but under that smile was a hint of tension.
"The team composition of all the girls, a total of 6 large groups, each large group contains 3 teams—I tried my best to record the class composition of each large group," Kushida said. "However, not everyone's names are on it—because I don't recognize all those senpais either."
Hachiman took the list and unfolded it to take a few glances. On it, the numbers and class compositions of each group were written in pencil, the handwriting very thin but very neat.
"It's enough," Hachiman folded the list. "Thanks."
"You're welcome—" Kushida smiled. "However, Hikigaya-kun shouldn't be letting me work for nothing, right?"
"After the exam, I will pay the corresponding remuneration."
"..." Kushida's smile froze for an instant. She looked at Hachiman, and it took two seconds before she spoke, her voice lower than before. "I understand."
Horikita stood by, frowning slightly, but said nothing.
Kushida turned and left first. Her pace was faster than when she came, as if she was in a hurry to leave. Hachiman watched her back disappear, then withdrew his gaze and looked down at the list in his hand again.
Horikita stood by, silent for a while before speaking. "Kushida really worked hard today. In order to get those lists, she almost ran through all the girls' dormitories."
"I know," Hachiman said.
"...Then I'll go first," Horikita turned to leave, then stopped. "There is no problem on Sakayanagi's side, because of her physical condition, we will not force her to take classes with us."
"Thanks." Horikita didn't say anything more and walked away quickly.
Hachiman stood under the streetlight, looking at the list in his hand again. Then he raised his head and looked toward the direction of the playground entrance. A figure was walking over slowly. Shiina Hiyori. Today she was wearing a dark jacket, and her hair was blown slightly by the night wind.
When she walked in front of Hachiman, she exhaled gently, as if she had walked a long distance.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Hiyori."
"I saw you were still waiting, so I came over," she said. "Is there anything I can do?"
Hachiman looked at her, then handed over the list in his hand.
"This is the composition of your girls' large groups and small groups." Hiyori took the list and looked at it carefully by the light of the streetlight for a while. Then she raised her head, and her expression changed slightly. Because even though they were formed into large groups, they were not taking classes together; they were separated. So. She looked at the composition of the large group her own Group 20 team belonged to. Then she was a bit surprised.
"I didn't expect this."
"The second-year team combined with my large group—mostly people from Class D of the second year. The team from the third year—mostly people from Class C of the third year."
Hachiman's eyelids moved slightly.
"Group 20 + Class B and Class D of the first year, Class D of the second year, Class C of the third year?"
"Yes," Hiyori's breathing quickened slightly. "Almost all are people from Class B, Class D, and Class C of the third year. This combination—almost has no resistance. And, very easy to bribe.
Once the students in this large group are bribed at a low price, the entire large group will naturally fall to the last place."
So, Hiyori had already guessed why her large group was in last place, or even why she might have faced a dropout crisis, but didn't drop out—it was very likely that Hachiman spent 20 million points.
Most likely, it was a set-up for a large group to be in last place to protect another large group that was truly being attacked, ensuring that the huge benefits that the other group might lose were preserved.
The two looked at each other. The night wind passed between them, carrying the scent of grass and the chill from the distant mountains. Hiyori folded the list and returned it to Hachiman.
"What's the plan next?" she said.
Hachiman put the list into his pocket, his gaze landing on the lights of the dormitory building in the distance.
"It was said to be an open-book exam, but now the answers are all out, so what needs to be done is very simple," Hachiman said. Hiyori's mouth curved. "...Then I'll leave it to you."
They stood for a while longer. Then Hiyori turned and walked toward the dormitory building. Hachiman also turned and walked in another direction. When he returned to the dormitory, everyone else was already asleep.
There was only moonlight from the window in the room, spreading a patch of silver-white light on the tatami mat. He walked to his bed lightly, took off his jacket, and lay down.
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After a while, the door was pushed open. Ayanokouji walked in. Hachiman turned his head to look at him. Ayanokouji carried the chill of the night, as if he had just returned from outside.
His expression was still blank, but there seemed to be an extra layer of something in that blankness—Hachiman couldn't tell.
When Ayanokouji passed by his bed, his footsteps paused slightly. The two's gazes intertwined briefly in the air. Then Ayanokouji continued to walk, sat down on his own bed, took off his jacket, and lay down.
Hachiman closed his eyes again. The tip of his nose moved slightly. The scent on Ayanokouji—it wasn't the soap smell of the bathhouse, nor the smell of laundry detergent. It was the breath of the night wind. And a very faint scent—like the one that only exists in a conference room—a mixture of paper and coffee.
Hachiman did not open his eyes. His breathing remained even, as if he had already fallen asleep. And on the bed next to him, Ayanokouji closed his eyes, facing the ceiling, the corners of his mouth seeming to curve for an instant—the amplitude was extremely small, almost invisible in the dark.
What he thought in his heart was,
—Hikigaya doesn't know, the one truly being attacked is the large group of the first team where Katsuragi is.
—Katsuragi Kohei and Horikita Manabu will both suffer huge losses in this exam.
—And Katsuragi might even be expelled.
—When the time comes, Class C will collapse. When that time comes—he can transfer to that class.
He turned over, pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, and closed his eyes. The moonlight outside the window fell quietly on the floor. Neither of the two spoke. But their respective chess games had already been laid out in the dark.
And the time went back to half an hour ago.
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