Two-timer Hiki Makes a Move on Ichinose of Class B

Thud!

"Wah!"

"Eek--!"

Following the soft sound of impact, I stumbled.

The girl I collided with let out a cute exclamation as she tipped backward.

Seeing her head about to strike the floor, I instinctively grabbed her hand and pulled her back to a standing position with all my might.

"Tha..." The girl was about to thank me, but her feet suddenly slipped, and she lunged forward again.

I caught a glimpse of a reflective water stain on the floor—it seemed someone had spilled water, causing her to slip.

The moment I understood the situation, a soft, fragrant body crashed into my arms.

I quickly braced my stance, forcing myself to support the weight of both of us.

Although I wobbled a few times, I managed to stay upright. Just as I let out a sigh of relief, a sense of awkwardness suddenly welled up in my heart.

Because of our current position... in her panic, she had actually wrapped her arms around my back.

In other words, I was being gently held in a girl's embrace.

Even worse, an incredibly soft sensation pressed against my chest—this scale was definitely several orders of magnitude larger than Sakanayanagi or Shiina!

(Form is emptiness, emptiness is form!)

"A-are you alright?"

I asked, forcing myself to remain calm.

Hearing this, she finally snapped out of it and looked up.

One look was enough to make me forget how to breathe.

Beneath her long, cherry-blossom-pink hair was a face that combined both glamour and sweetness.

Different from the high-and-mighty beauty of Sakanayanagi, and distinct from the pure cuteness of Shiina, the girl before me perfectly balanced both charms.

Realizing I was being held by such a beautiful girl, my sense of shame exploded instantly.

"Ah, um... I'm so sorry for falling suddenly. Are you hurt?"

"N-no, I'm fine. It was my fault for rushing and not looking where I was going..."

The irritation of being summoned to the office by the teacher had indeed distracted me; there was no denying that.

Just as we maintained our delicate posture—

"Hey, look! Isn't that Hikigaya from Class D and Ichinose from Class B?!"

"They're actually hugging?!"

"Is he cheating on three people at once?!"

"That bastard... after Sakanayanagi from Class A and Shiina from Class C, he's not even letting Ichinose from Class B go?!"

"He's trying to collect all the beauties in the grade..."

"He's basically the reincarnation of Makoto!"

"Damn it... are all the flowers of the first year going to be picked by him?!"

Before I knew it, the area was swarming with students, and a barrage of gazes—shocked, disdainful, and excited—shot toward us like arrows.

(Why did people have to show up right now! There was hardly anyone here a moment ago!)

I wailed internally.

Although I wanted to retort, the more pressing issue was that the girl in my arms was still pressed tightly against me.

Ichinose, as she was called, seemed to finally realize the situation and stepped back half a pace with a bitter smile.

"Um... it ended up like this because I almost fell, sorry about that~"

"I'm the one who should apologize, causing you to be the subject of strange rumors..."

"It's fine~ By the way, you're the rumored Hikigaya-kun? You're completely different from what I imagined~"

She probably thought I was a playboy, especially since people were calling me a "cheater."

"Anyway, I'm sorry about the rumors."

"I told you it was an accident~ I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B, nice to meet you~"

"Hikigaya Hachiman. Since you don't mind... I still have to hurry to the teacher's office."

Chabashira-sensei is not someone you want to mess with when she's angry.

"Ah, I'm going to the office too, shall we go together?"

"...Are you serious?"

Walking together right after a scandal had broken out would definitely trigger even more rumors.

Although I had long since stopped caring about my reputation, but she...

"It's fine~ I know it's just a rumor anyway~ And besides..."

She gave a sly smile, "I'm actually quite interested in Hikigaya-kun, who manages to get along so well with Sakayanagi-san~"

I see.

If she's the type who doesn't care at all about surrounding gossip, she would indeed just ask to walk together.

And her true goal is likely to use me as a medium to obtain information on Sakayanagi.

After all, Class B is the closest existence to Class A.

To promote to Class A, information on Sakayanagi, the core figure of Class A, is a necessity.

Even getting a little bit of information is better than nothing.

However, I don't have the right to refuse.

Or rather, since I was summoned by a teacher, I must get to the staff room as soon as possible.

"...Suit yourself."

After saying that, I resumed walking toward the office, and Ichinose naturally walked side-by-side with me.

At this moment, the whispers coming from all directions were impossible to ignore.

Ah, I'm definitely going to be mocked by Sakayanagi for this... That girl seems to enjoy the rumors about us dating.

But Ichinose continued walking without a care in the world.

She's unexpectedly thick-skinned.

"So? I understand the reason you're following me, but getting information about Sakayanagi from me will likely be difficult."

"Is that so? Aren't you two together quite often?"

"That's a problematic way of putting it. I do possess some information on Sakayanagi, but I don't have any information useful for defeating Class A. Every time she meets with me and Shiina, she acts as 'Sakayanagi the ordinary friend'."

During lunch break today, Sakayanagi said: "Right now, I am not interacting as 'Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A', but as 'Sakayanagi Arisu, friend of Hikigaya Hachiman and Shiina Hiyori'."

I expect that in the future, we will only play chess and visit cafes.

Although we did indeed make plans to go to a cafe today, we likely won't discuss anything involving Class A intelligence.

"I see. Still, Sakayanagi-san gives off a very cold and aloof impression."

"That's just your misconception."

While I bear some responsibility, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that my peaceful life was ruined by her.

Although I'm used to it now, when I first enrolled, I really wanted to punch her several times.

"If I have to give you advice, you must never take a defensive stance when facing Sakayanagi and her Class A. You in Class B are the most likely to clash with Class A; remember that once you go on the defensive, you've already lost."

I know very well that Sakayanagi loves to attack.

I can feel it in her daily words and actions, and it's especially obvious when playing chess. She believes that "offense is the best defense," and once she enters her attacking rhythm, even professional players find it hard to turn the tables.

The system of this school is full of mysteries, but the possibility of conflict between classes is high.

When that time comes, Sakayanagi will surely launch a fierce assault.

"That sounds like you're speaking from personal experience."

"After all, I've been beaten quite badly in every sense of the word."

However, lately, as I've been getting beaten, seeing the cute expressions Sakayanagi occasionally reveals isn't half bad.

Of course, I can never say that out loud, otherwise that girl would definitely get carried away.

While thinking about these things, in the hallway in front of the staff room, I saw Ayanokoji, who had also been summoned, Chabashira-sensei, and Hoshinomiya-sensei, the homeroom teacher of Ichinose's Class B.

The two teachers seemed to be confronting each other, making it a situation one wouldn't want to get involved in.

So I went straight to the point:

"Chabashira-sensei, sorry for being late."

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, could I take a moment of your time? Regarding the student council--"

At the same time, Ichinose also spoke to Hoshinomiya-sensei.

"Hikigaya is here too. You have a visitor, so it's about time to go, isn't it?"

"Eh~ but I wanted to chat with the rumored Two-timer Hiki-kun~"

Hoshinomiya-sensei puffed out her cheeks, but did she just say something incredibly outrageous?

"Um... am I that famous in the staff room?"

After I asked timidly, Hoshinomiya-sensei nodded:

"Of course~ Not to mention the two-timing incident from the start of the school year, what you did yesterday—or to be precise, what you did in the chess club back in May—really made the staff room buzz."

Come to think of it, the faculty advisor was there at the time, so it's no surprise it reached the staff room.

But for even the scandal from when I first enrolled to be common knowledge... I feel cold sweat seeping onto my forehead.

"But you shouldn't have made a move on Ichinose-san, right? Just asking, you didn't really make a move on Sakayanagi or Shiina either, right? Really~?"

Hoshinomiya-sensei spoke in a teasing tone, radiating a dangerous aura similar to Sakanayanagi.

At this moment, Chabashira-sensei interjected:

"That's enough. You have your own visitors to attend to, so hurry along."

"Oka~y, then see you later, Ayanokoji-kun, Hikigaya-kun. Ichinose-san, are you coming to the staff room with me?"

"Yes, see you later, Hikigaya-kun~"

Ichinose waved gently, and after I nodded in acknowledgment, I watched her follow Hoshinomiya-sensei into the office.

"So? What is the reason for summoning me? And why aren't we going into the office?"

"Ah, well... this isn't the place for it. We're going to the guidance room."

She finished speaking and walked away quickly.

Ayanokoji glanced at me, followed Chabashira-sensei silently, and I had no choice but to trail behind.

"So what is this really about? I get calling Hikigaya, but why was I summoned too?"

Ayanokoji hinted nonchalantly that my being summoned was a matter of course; though it was annoying, it was the truth.

"Well, actually, it's..." Chabashira-sensei kept glancing at the circular wall clock as she led us into the kitchenette inside the guidance room.

There was a kettle on the stove. I hadn't expected the guidance room to have a kitchenette; does this school frequently hold long counseling sessions?

"Can I go out to buy something?"

"No. Stay here quietly and do not make a single sound until I say you can. If you violate this..."

"What happens if we violate it?"

"I'll have you expelled."

She didn't wait for our answer before the door was shut.

This development was completely beyond my expectations.

I thought we were going to the guidance room, but we were suddenly locked in a kitchenette...

As I was thinking this, Ayanokoji silently handed me a note:

"Do you have any leads on why we were summoned?"

So, using written notes wouldn't make a sound.

"I could understand being called alone, but I have absolutely no clue why I'm with you."

This was an indisputable fact.

The number of times I've spoken to Ayanokoji can be counted on one hand; in fact, I haven't really interacted with most of the people in my class.

To be honest, I've talked more to Ichinose, whom I just met today, than to my own classmates... Although I don't mind, just how alienated am I from my own class?

As I was thinking this, a knock suddenly came from the door of the kitchenette...

"Please, come in... Hm? What do you need, Horikita?"

--

Name: Hikigaya Hachiman

Class: Year 1, Class D

Birthday: August 8

Ability Assessment

Academic Ability: B+

Intelligence: A

Judgment: A+

Physical Ability: C

Cooperativeness: E

Interviewer Comments

The transcript shows excellent aptitude as a candidate for Class A, but the lack of concern for others displayed during the interview has become a point of concern.

According to supplementary materials, this student possesses exceptional ability in insight into the psychology and essence of others, but due to a special circumstance involving the neglect of emotional factors, he was ultimately assigned to Class D.

Homeroom Teacher's Remarks

Currently observed to have close interactions with students from other classes, but has almost no interaction with classmates from his own class.