Hachiman Hikigaya's Elite Game

Advanced Nurturing High School: tuition-free, provides living expenses, and boasts a 100% employment and university admission rate.

It was very eye-catching.

However, in this advertisement, only the tuition-free part was true.

Living expenses required students to earn them based on their performance, and as for the employment and university admission rates… enmm~

Hachiman had already assumed this had nothing to do with Class D.

After all, in the School building, among the four Classes, Class C and Class D were separated by science labs, so the School probably only had expectations for the students in Class A and Class B.

It was just like that saying, achieving common happiness was certainly impossible.

If some people were brilliant, then there must also be people in the mud.

So, Class D was probably the one currently stuck in the mud.

But what did that matter?

"Then you should work hard."

"I can't guarantee whether you'll meet a rich woman who supports you in the future. But you can make yourself rich during your three years at this School."

Chabashira-sensei said it well.

So, being able to attend School for free and also earn money during School hours was already a pretty good life.

Thus,

Even if there was no one willing to support him in the future, he could support himself.

Because he earned his living expenses, Hachiman didn't shortchange himself.

Dinner was a luxurious set meal from the cafeteria, costing 1500 points.

However,

"I'm too full."

After returning to the dorm, he walked around the room a few times but still felt overly full.

His stomach showed no signs of digestion.

Indeed, the dorm was too small.

So, Hachiman left the dorm.

He remembered that yesterday, when he met Chabashira-sensei… he passed a vending machine.

At that time, he only caught a quick glimpse and didn't remember the types of drinks stocked inside.

But coffee, there should be some, right?

Drinking coffee long-term wasn't good, while it could refresh, it could also stimulate gastric acid secretion and even harm the stomach.

But for his current overstuffed state, it might have some effect.

However, this was just a hypothesis, a perfectly planned one, but reality offered no such opportunity.

Because,

When Hachiman passed through the shade and saw the vending machine, he also saw people there.

It was a man and a woman.

But before he saw them, their voices carried to his ears on the wind.

"Suzune, I didn't expect you to chase me all the way here." This was a male voice.

It had a special magnetism.

There was no anger in his tone, only a chilling coldness.

But Hachiman found the voice somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere recently.

"I came here to follow in Oni-chan's footsteps."

Next came a girl's voice.

And Hachiman recognized that voice.

Because it was the voice of Horikita Suzune, who had spoken to him this afternoon.

So, Hachiman looked over.

It was a very beautiful girl, with a delicate face that looked slightly tense, her small hands tightly clasped, revealing her uneasy mood.

Her long, straight black hair, like a waterfall, carried a hint of lily fragrance, refreshing and pleasant.

Of course, at this distance, he certainly couldn't smell it.

Confirmed.

Horikita Suzune was indeed there.

Horikita Suzune stubbornly looked up at her Oni-chan, her usually indifferent tone becoming agitated, anxiously explaining, "I'm no longer the useless person Oni-chan once knew!"

Oh, wow.

To make Horikita Suzune, who acted so aloof in Class, say something like she was useless, it seemed she truly admired her Oni-chan, and her Oni-chan put a considerable amount of pressure on her.

But even so, she still wanted to follow in her brother's footsteps.

Hachiman once again witnessed Horikita Suzune's stubbornness.

This might be something to add to her exclusive profile.

"To follow me…?"

But Horikita Manabu, with his back to Horikita Suzune, scoffed, gently pushed up the glasses on his nose, and said coldly, "Have you still not noticed your shortcomings? Choosing this School was your failure."

"You probably still don't know that this School is merit-based. Do you know what kind of rotten Class you were assigned to?"

Her Oni-chan said.

And Hachiman recalled then that he had heard this boy's voice, especially when he emphasized the words [merit-based].

This arrogant and stern tone.

It was the Student Council President who organized the freshmen's entrance ceremony, and at that time, his self-introduction was—I am the Student Council President of this School, Horikita Manabu.

Horikita.

I see.

He was Horikita Suzune's brother.

"The students in the Class seem loose, even foolish, but to say they're completely rotten…" Horikita Suzune frowned.

"Heh heh…"

But Student Council President Horikita Manabu seemed to laugh.

"Withdraw, Suzune." His tone suddenly turned cold.

"Wh-why? I came to this School to follow in Oni-chan's footsteps."

"You don't understand anything." Horikita Manabu said.

"Class D is the worst Class, and you being assigned to Class D makes me, as the Student Council President, lose face."

"How… how can this be…" Horikita-san probably couldn't immediately process her Oni-chan's words.

"This information is not something you can know right now, and by disclosing it like this, I also have to pay a price of 1 million." Horikita Manabu said.

"So, my sister, as soon as you entered School, I spent 1 million. That's equivalent to the living expenses you'd get from the School for 10 enrollments."

Well, you're really something.

Student Council President.

Spent 1 million for his sister in one minute.

That was equivalent to over 600 of his luxurious set meals today.

However, also being an Oni-chan, Hachiman's scope of thought was broader, so he seemed to understand why Horikita Manabu voluntarily deducted money from himself.

Because..

This sister completely didn't understand people's hearts.

"If that's the case…" But Horikita Suzune quickly began to explain, "I'll be promoted to Class A right away, then…"

However, this explanation was nothing like her aloof self from earlier in the day.

Instead, there was a sense of powerlessness, like a frightened little rabbit, explaining weakly, her face pale.

She was different from others. Since her enrollment yesterday, she had also been carefully observing this School, but she still knew too little.

But if she were expelled just like this…

She couldn't accept it.

"Impossible, it doesn't exist."

But Horikita Manabu coldly interrupted her, without turning his head, "You can't do it."

"I will definitely do it!"

Horikita Suzune lowered her head, somewhat dejected, but still stubbornly said.

"What an disobedient sister."

Horikita Manabu slowly turned his head, his gaze cold as he looked at her.

And Hachiman finally clearly saw Horikita Manabu's appearance: wearing glasses, a high nose bridge, a stern yet handsome face, and a firm yet magnetic voice.

Undoubtedly, it was indeed the Student Council President who presided over the entrance ceremony.

Although they were siblings, their personalities were completely different.

Horikita Manabu's sternness was innate, a quality he naturally possessed.

But Horikita Suzune, though very aloof in Class, now appeared quite fragile.

She showed dejection, inferiority, and even subservience in front of Horikita Manabu.

While on one hand she wanted to prove herself, on the other she couldn't even utter a word of rebuttal.

Plus, [I came here to follow in Oni-chan's footsteps].

So...

Horikita Suzune, are you imitating your Oni-chan?

That's nice.

Hachiman also wished Komachi would look up to him as an idol.

But Komachi—

"Huh? Oni-chan always makes Komachi worry about whether Oni-chan will find a job in the future."

"Komachi is under a lot of pressure, because if Oni-chan becomes a shut-in in the future, won't the burden of supporting Oni-chan fall on Komachi?"

"Oni-chan, hurry up and go to work, seriously."

"…"

Instead, he would be worried about by Komachi.

Hachiman reflected for a moment.

However,

His stomach was so full now, so uncomfortable.

So, he walked towards the vending machine.

Meanwhile, the Horikita siblings were still talking, but it had reached a heated point.

"What an disobedient sister!"

Horikita Manabu had given up on talking to his sister.

Instead, he prepared to take action.

He directly raised his right hand.

It seemed he was about to slap his disobedient sister.

And Horikita Suzune also sensed what her Oni-chan intended to do, but she was leaning against the wall, looking timid.

And Hachiman walked towards the vending machine.

Footsteps make noise, especially with the school-provided student leather shoes, so the sound of footsteps was not small.

Enough to catch the attention of the Horikita siblings.

"Hikigaya…" Horikita-san, who had been waiting to be punished by her brother, noticed the figure of the student walking towards them.

Rather, Hikigaya was very easy to recognize.

His dead-fish eyes and his general disinterest in most things made her remember him.

Yes.

Although she appeared weak, Horikita Suzune was also putting in her own efforts.

After being informed yesterday about the three-year boarding system and that each student's student ID card received 100,000 point, she went shopping, collected items, practiced point shopping, and looked into pricing issues.

She also discovered that the school would provide daily necessities to students without point.

She always felt that this school was strange.

So, she was also collecting information.

And in the evening, she had even spoken to Hikigaya.

And now… he had seen her… in a timid state.

Horikita seemed a bit ashamed.

Hachiman glanced at her, then walked directly behind Horikita Manabu.

"…" Horikita Manabu's movement seemed to stop.

He changed his raised hand midway to push up his glasses instead.

His posture looked quite elegant.

"Do you have any thoughts?" But Horikita Manabu said, "Or have you already taken photos or recorded anything?"

"If you took a photo, there would be a flash, and there was no flash just now, but I can't be sure if you paid point to the Teacher to disable the flash function."

"So, what's the price you want for hush money?" Horikita Manabu said.

Yes.

To him, he was an excellent Student Council president and a student of Third Year A Class, while his sister was assigned to the worst Class D.

Information about his sister alone could become a tool to attack him or his Class.

So, he needed the other party to keep quiet.

Horikita Manabu felt a bit miscalculated.

He originally thought no one would come to this place, but now… it wasn't at all secluded.

"Hmm?" But Hachiman looked at him with some surprise.

"Heh heh…" Horikita Manabu chuckled.

"Or perhaps your ambitions are not small. Indeed, to have noticed the school's rules on the first day of enrollment, your appetite surely won't be small."

"But 500,000, that's the maximum hush money I can give you." Horikita Manabu said.

"Don't forget my identity, I am the Student Council president."

"Are you sure you want to go against the Student Council president?"

"- o -"

Hachiman's expression probably looked like this.

"Student Council president, do you think I just recorded or took a photo, and now I'm specifically here to threaten you?" Hachiman said.

"Isn't that so? You deliberately stood aside for a while, waiting for me to raise my hand before coming over, didn't you?"

Of course not.

Hachiman wasn't that devious.

But.

I see, it can be this shameless.

If he had recorded it just now, it would be worth 500,000!

Because of the Student Council president's personal demonstration, Hachiman felt the school's tolerance level.

And he also felt that the Student Council president's 500,000 seemed easier to earn than Chabashira's 200,000.

The Student Council president started by saying, "This is not information you can know right now, I must pay 1,000,000."

Then he said, "The maximum hush money I can offer is 500,000."

Is a higher-ranking Class, and the Student Council president, that rich?

But let alone 1,000,000, Hachiman couldn't get 500,000 now.

Because he didn't record anything, nor did he take any photos.

He could, however, try to trick the Student Council president, fake it a bit.

Get the point first.

But.

Hachiman felt there was no need to earn money this way.

Because.

"You probably misunderstood." Hachiman said.

"I just ate too much tonight and felt a bit uncomfortable, so I came out for a walk to aid digestion, and then bought a cup of coffee to speed up my stomach's operation, that's all."

Is that so?

Were you just passing by?

Of course, it was like that.

Because Hachiman walked directly to the vending machine in front of both Horikita siblings, then ordered a Max Coffee.

Then he took out his phone and opened the QR code for his student ID.

"Beep!"

"Thud!"

Accompanied by the sound of point being deducted, followed by the sound of a canned Max Coffee rolling down from the shelf.

Hachiman took the coffee.

He opened the can and took a sip.

It was low in sugar, tasting bitter, but very effective for staying awake.

"…" Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Manabu watched Hachiman's actions, then pushed up his glasses again.

But his sister behind him said, "Hikigaya, did you really record anything detrimental to my brother?"

Then she turned to Horikita Manabu with a serious attitude.

"If my existence brings such a great risk to my brother, then… I… perhaps… should, choose to withdraw from school."

She didn't withdraw even when she was about to be hit before, but now Horikita Suzune could say the words "withdraw from school" so easily.

"…" X2

Horikita Manabu's and Hachiman's expressions seemed to be identical at that moment.

It showed that Horikita-san wanted to protect her brother.

Then you two are really great.

This also showed that the siblings had a good relationship.

Hachiman looked back at the Student Council president, who maintained a cold expression.

But Hachiman felt that his inner self was probably screaming like a groundhog.

Because even though his sister chose to withdraw, could such words be spoken so directly?

Moreover.

She probably didn't understand Horikita Manabu's intention in treating her this way at all.

Horikita-san completely misunderstood her brother's painstaking efforts.

And setting aside whether Horikita withdrew or not, if she withdrew directly, then Hachiman's task of collecting her information to help Chabashira create a file would also be ruined.

Obtainable point: -200,000.

It seemed like a loss.

Moreover, since he knew that this school valued strength above all else, there was naturally no need to offend Horikita Manabu, who was a student of Third Year A Class and also the Student Council president.

Especially during the entrance ceremony, Hachiman had noticed that the Student Council presided over the ceremony, with no Teachers or the principal participating.

So, it was likely that the power of this Student Council was completely unequal to that of a normal high school's Student Council outside the school.

Then there was even less need to offend such a big shot.

And this Horikita brother was probably also very troubled.

Because he had a sister who lacked emotional intelligence.

From this perspective, he, as a brother was very fortunate because Komachi's emotional intelligence was extremely high.

Therefore.

"I didn't record anything just now." Hachiman said, "If news of the Student Council president hitting his sister were to break out, it might bring negative effects to the Student Council president."

"And to prevent such a scandal from being exposed, the Student Council president would naturally ask me to keep quiet."

"Just like just now."

"But I genuinely didn't record anything." Hachiman said.

"Because I don't believe I could record valuable information, nor would I take valuable photos."

"…" Horikita Manabu then pushed up his glasses.

His gaze was cold and sharp, "Do you think I wouldn't have hit her?"

This sentence meant that if a photo of the Student Council president hitting his sister were taken, it could cause a sensation.

But if he hadn't hit her, then it would be a rumor.

He might be dealt with.

Which meant the probability of safely getting the money was very small.

Instead, it would cause a lot of trouble.

So, only by actually capturing the accomplished fact could it become leverage.

Thus.

"Yes, you wouldn't hit her." Hachiman said.

"Since I know you wouldn't hit her, then… why take a photo?"

"…"??

Listening to Hachiman's words, Horikita-san seemed to be moved, because she had just thought she would definitely receive a slap.

It turns out her brother didn't mean to at all?

"You're quite interesting." Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses again.

"Hikigaya Hachiman, Class D of Grade 1, has had various dark histories since childhood, the most prominent of which is being alone. That is to say, he has no friends. He is even suspected of having some autistic tendencies. But one cannot judge everything from the file alone, Hikigaya, you are a very perceptive fellow."

"...?" Hachiman then looked at the Student Council president.

"As the Student Council president, I have more authority than you imagine."

Horikita Manabu said.

"Including the authority to expel students."

Oh.

So, you're very scary.

You can expel anyone you want.

But this also means that not choosing to threaten you just now was the correct decision.

However, the file you mentioned… does it refer to the files that all students have?

And can the Teacher also view this file?

If the Teacher can check, then… why does Chabashira-sensei still want him to investigate the students in the Class?

What does she want to do?

A hint of doubt rose in Hachiman's heart.

Hachiman: I suspect I was tricked by a bad woman!