Chabashira-sensei's Office Guidance

"So, our class is currently in a state of complete and utter despair."

"Indeed. After all, anyone would be depressed if they received a zero."

"The students who actually paid attention in class are truly pitiful."

It was the lunch break in early May, and as usual, I was eating lunch and chatting about the morning's events with Sakanayanagi and Shiina.

Since both Sakanayanagi and Shiina had plenty of private points on hand, the atmosphere wasn't exactly heavy.

"But Hikigaya-kun, are you really going to be okay? No matter how much you scrimp and save, it must be hard to get by with zero points, right? If you're in trouble, I can lend you some."

Sakanayanagi said this with a smile.

Come to think of it, this girl still doesn't know that I've been earning points by playing chess.

"That would be embarrassing, let me borrow a hundred thousand first..."

"Ah, Hikigaya-kun!"

Just then, a senior from the Chess Club suddenly interrupted.

Sakanayanagi and Shiina both looked surprised; is it really that rare for me to be talking to someone?

"Let's play again once the May points are deposited. I'm going to win back what I lost yesterday with interest."

"...Are you sure about that? Challenging me right at the start of the month?"

Playing for points two days in a row is a bit much...

"It's fine, it's fine. As a third-year, if I don't use my points, they'll just go to waste, and I don't really have any other hobbies. I'll be heading off now, I'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready."

After the senior finished speaking, he returned to his friends.

Since the person himself is looking forward to it so much, I might as well go ahead and earn those points without hesitation.

Suddenly, someone poked my shoulder lightly. I turned around to see Sakanayanagi staring at me with great interest.

"Judging by the conversation, Hikigaya-kun, you've been earning points by playing chess, haven't you?"

Well, hearing that conversation, she would have figured it out eventually.

"I suppose so. Yesterday, to earn some living expenses and improve my skills at the same time, I tried my hand at the Chess Club."

"I see. Though, I'm also happy to see Hikigaya-kun's skills growing. By the way, how much have you earned?"

Knowing that Sakanayanagi isn't the type to go around spreading rumors, I showed her my phone screen.

Even she was surprised by the amount, her eyes widening in a rare display of shock.

"That is a staggering sum. I thought you had earned at most two or three hundred thousand."

"The second half of the matches involved bets of one or two hundred thousand. So, I'm perfectly fine when it comes to points."

"That's good to hear. It would be miserable to be stuck in Class D without a source of income."

"Yeah. I heard there's going to be a strategy meeting after school to discuss how to earn points."

"Will you be attending, Hikigaya-kun?"

Shiina asked, but honestly, there's no need for me to go.

I never chat, play on my phone, or doze off during class, and now that I have over eight hundred thousand points, going to the Chess Club again today will be enough to last me for over a year.

However...

"I'll see how many people show up."

If a lot of people go, I'll show my face.

Otherwise, it'll be troublesome if I'm labeled as someone who doesn't fit in.

But I doubt they'll come up with any real results.

After all, the culprits behind the zero scores—Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi—have absolutely no intention of reflecting on their actions.

Although the class representative Hirata and the others are trying to figure out how to avoid the threat of expulsion, it doesn't really matter to me.

If Shiina or Sakanayanagi were at risk of expulsion, I might help, but one is in Class A and the other is in Class C. I have no connection to the other students, and certainly no obligation to help those annoying guys.

"Even though you're already a celebrity in this grade, you still hate being the center of attention, don't you?"

"Don't say it like that, Sakanayanagi. When it comes down to it, isn't this all your fault?"

It's all because this girl loves to tease people; now everyone thinks I'm a scumbag playing both sides.

Though, at this point, I can't even be bothered to get angry.

"By the way, is it really okay for the three of us to be hanging out like this?"

After today's point announcement, there will definitely be cracks forming between the classes as they fight for the position of Class A, and there will be conflict among the students as well.

As for what the two of them are thinking...

"I don't have any obsession with maintaining the position of Class A. Of course, I will cooperate with class activities when necessary, but I won't participate proactively."

"The faction led by Katsuragi-kun and the others is quite troublesome, though. Just before coming to the cafeteria, I was warned by Katsuragi-kun 'not to associate with Hikigaya-kun and Shiina-kun'."

Both of their reactions were within my expectations.

Shiina is only interested in reading, and as the core of Class A, Arisu Sakayanagi is naturally restricted from interacting with other classes.

"So you refused?"

"Yes, I said that I am not 'Arisu Sakayanagi of Class A', but 'Arisu Sakayanagi, a friend of Hikigaya Hachiman and Shiina Hiyori'."

This was unexpected.

I never thought Arisu Sakayanagi would say something like that.

"Is there no problem on your end, Hikigaya-kun?"

"For now, no one is saying anything because of the zero-point incident, but I might get hassled once things settle down."

The most troublesome possibility is being asked to act as a spy.

Especially when facing Shiina from Class C, that possibility certainly exists.

However, even if I were asked, I wouldn't agree.

Besides, Shiina has no interest in class struggles, and trying to extract information from Arisu Sakayanagi is even more impossible.

"In any case, I won't act for the sake of the class, nor will I change my current status."

In reality, I have never violated school rules; I just want to maintain my daily life.

I have no interest in the position of Class A, and even if I were to advance, I would prefer to do so as an individual rather than as a class.

"That is exactly what I would expect you to say, Hikigaya-kun. By the way, since the points were just distributed, how about the three of us go to the cafe after school?"

Facing Arisu Sakayanagi's invitation, after the painful lessons of this past month, I already understood that refusing was futile.

After I nodded in agreement, Shiina also consented.

As a result, a shopping trip was added to the itinerary; if my classmates found out, they would probably be furious.

Though that would be entirely displaced anger.

After school...

"That concludes the homeroom session."

Chabashira-sensei finished this sentence indifferently and left the classroom, ignoring the heavy, funeral-like atmosphere in the room.

At the same time, more than ten students, led by Horikita, Sudo, and Koenji, stood up one after another.

Since so many people were leaving first, I naturally didn't need to worry about staying behind; it was the perfect opportunity to go find Arisu Sakayanagi and the others without any burden.

I picked up my school bag and was about to follow, but I was stopped by the class leader, Hirata.

"Hikigaya-kun, you never participate in discussions about increasing class points. You are an honor student in the top five; we need your strength."

It is true that my grades rank in the top five in the class.

Although I am not clear about the situation in other classes, I can be considered excellent in this one.

However--

"Sorry, I already have plans."

Want me to rack my brains for that group of people? Spare me.

Instead of asking me, they should go beg Horikita or Koenji, who have higher potential.

Though they likely wouldn't agree either.

"Tch, isn't it just a date with Shiina and Arisu Sakayanagi?"

Leaning against the window and inviting Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to play games, Yamauchi clicked his tongue and interjected.

I closed the classroom door behind me: "It's not a date, just the three of us going to the cafe and shopping."

"Isn't that just a date!" came the jeering from behind the door, but I firmly denied it—after all, those two shouldn't have any romantic feelings for me.

In the hallway, Shiina from Class C happened to be walking toward me.

"Yo, Shiina, good work."

"Good work to you too, Hikigaya-kun. Let's go pick up Arisu Sakayanagi-san together."

"Sure."

Just as we were walking toward the slightly more distant Class A classroom--

"Student summons: Class 1-D's Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Hikigaya Hachiman, please report to the faculty office immediately. Chabashira-sensei is looking for you."

The broadcast suddenly sounded. Shiina cast a puzzled look: "Summoned? Did you do something?"

I had no clue either.

Inappropriate attitude in class?

I listened to the lectures attentively; if I were to be punished, the whole class should be.

Issues with cross-gender relationships?

That's impossible; if they were going to investigate, they would have done it long ago, and besides, there's no reason for Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to be implicated.

The most suspicious thing might be that chess match... but the advisor was present at the time and didn't stop it, so it shouldn't be that.

Moreover, being summoned at the same time as the enviably low-profile Ayanokoji, I truly couldn't fathom the reason.

"...Anyway, I'll head over first. Please pass the message to Sakanayanagi."

"Understood, see you later."

After saying goodbye to Shiina, I quickened my pace toward the faculty office.

It was incredibly annoying to be summoned just when I was on my way to the cafe for dessert.

What's more, the faculty office always reminded me of the dark history of getting beaten black and blue by that violent teacher obsessed with Alter Ego Warrior—come to think of it, a certain adult film actor I saw recently looked exactly like that violent maniac; could it really be him?

Because just looking at it made me angry, I didn't buy it.

While I was lost in these random thoughts, at the intersection—

Bang!

"Whoa!"

"Ah!"

I collided hard with a girl rushing out from around the corner.