Ascending to Class A Alone

When Horikita called out to me, I had a bad feeling, so I quickened my pace and tried to ignore her.

I noticed Ayanokoji speeding up too. Apparently, we were thinking the same thing.

"Were those scores really just a coincidence? And how exactly are you earning points?"

Horikita fell into step beside us as she spoke.

Clearly, she had no intention of letting us go. Sure enough, it was the same topic again.

But I had no plans to tell her. If I taught Horikita how to make money through the Chess Club, my cut would shrink.

"I'm not taking on students. If I teach you how to make money, I'll get a smaller share."

Besides, there weren't many people in Class D who could imitate me anyway.

They'd all overspent and run out of points, so now they were busy borrowing from everyone they could.

But walls had ears, and honestly, the last thing I wanted was for the other classes to find out about betting on chess.

"...That's a pretty selfish way to think."

"It's a method I came up with. I'm free to decide what to do with that information. Besides, if we're talking about selfishness, most of the class is way more selfish than I am, right?"

After all, those idiots made a racket in class without giving a thought to anyone else. Compared to them, I was pretty decent—I'd never caused my classmates any trouble.

"Done? Then I'm leaving. If you're seriously thinking about reaching Class A, I suggest you give up sooner rather than later."

"You're pretty sure of yourself. Have you already surrendered just because you've seen the point gap?"

"No. That's part of it, but Class A and Class D are miles apart in student quality, motivation, and leadership."

Given how this school worked, the classes were bound to face off against one another in team battles eventually.

And in a group battle, the most important factors were the number and quality of your forces, cohesion, morale, and the ability of your leaders.

Every class had the same number of students, but the difference in their quality was enormous.

Class D was full of idiots who were still playing with their phones and chatting during class, even though they were already high schoolers.

As for cohesion, even with Hirata and Kushida trying to whip everyone into shape, the likes of Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi kept disrupting the peace.

Of course, Class A wasn't exactly united either, with the Sakanayanagi Faction and Katsuragi Faction at odds.

The other class had the advantage in morale, too.

After all, only Class A would receive the school's support with further education and employment, so they'd fight tooth and nail to hold on to their position.

At least the Sakanayanagi and Katsuragi factions agreed on that.

Meanwhile, Class D had pretty much given up as a group. They had no fighting spirit at all.

Finally, there was leadership.

Class A had two leaders. I didn't know Katsuragi well, but Sakanayanagi was an absolute monster.

Class D would probably choose Hirata or Kushida, since they were popular, but compared to Sakanayanagi, they were in a completely different league.

All in all, Class D had almost no chance of beating Class A.

I thought my analysis was pretty objective.

"...So you're not going to help the class at all?"

Horikita glared at me, displeased, but I nodded without batting an eye.

"Of course, I'll help with activities that need the whole class to work together... But don't count on me to help certain people avoid failing."

I barely interacted with my classmates as it was, so there wasn't much I could do. Besides, they'd probably just resent me for trying to tutor them.

"...If that's all, I'm leaving. From the way you acted in the guidance office, I can tell you're unusually obsessed with Class A, but I don't care. Don't drag me into it."

"You're fine with being treated like a defective product? You don't want to move up to Class A?"

"I'm not interested. I came to this school to get away from my parents. If you want help, ask Ayanokoji over there."

"Huh? Wait..."

Ayanokoji tried to grab me, but I shook him off and hurried away.

When I glanced back, Horikita had already caught him.

Sorry, Ayanokoji. Handle things for me, will you?

Just as I was about to contact Shiina and the others, a message came through on my phone.

Shiina said they were killing time in the library.

After reading the message, I changed my shoes and headed to the library.

When I went inside, I found Shiina reading at the seat closest to the entrance, while Sakanayanagi was playing on her phone.

"Sorry, you two. I'm late."

At the sound of my voice, they both stood up.

"We just got here, too. But why did you suddenly ask us to come?"

Shiina asked out of the blue.

Meanwhile, Sakanayanagi rose from her chair with the help of her cane, wearing a chillingly delighted smile.

"Let's head to the café first and talk. By the way, what are you grinning about, Sakanayanagi?"

"Nothing. I just realized something—I never expected Hikigaya-kun to be making moves on Ichinose, too, on top of going after Shiina and me."

As she spoke, Sakanayanagi held out her phone. The screen showed a photo of Ichinose throwing herself into my arms.

Cold sweat instantly trickled down my back.

I'd expected this to come out eventually, but I hadn't thought I'd be caught red-handed with photographic evidence so soon.

Shiina studied the phone with interest, nodding repeatedly, while Sakanayanagi's smile grew even brighter.

"Wait! It was an accident. I ran into Ichinose in the hallway!"

"Of course~ There's no way someone like Hikigaya-kun, who hates attracting attention, would do something like that on purpose."

"Then don't say things that make it sound like I did!"

She was definitely teasing me on purpose.

But after so many clashes, my ability to take it had grown pretty robust.

"I'm terribly sorry. Shall we head to the café?"

Sakanayanagi offered an utterly insincere apology and started walking. I sighed and followed her, with Shiina trailing behind us, still smiling.

"...So Chabashira-sensei wants to use Ayanokoji and me to spur Horikita on."

After we sat down at the café, I explained why we'd been summoned.

"I see. With your personality, Hikigaya-kun, that must be quite a pain."

"Yeah. By the way, Sakanayanagi, do you know Ayanokoji?"

When I brought up the question that had been bothering me, Sakanayanagi smiled.

But it wasn't her usual teasing smile. It was a fake one, like a mask.

"...Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

"You might not have noticed it yourself, but when I said 'Ayanokoji and me' just now, your eyebrow twitched."

"You're still remarkably good at reading people's microexpressions. I'll be honest: I do know Ayanokoji-kun, but only one-sidedly. He probably doesn't know I exist."

As she spoke, Sakanayanagi narrowed her eyes with a nostalgic look.

I'd thought maybe he was an ex-boyfriend or something, but if Ayanokoji didn't know her, there had to be more to it.

"I see. Want me to introduce you?"

"No need. I'll meet him myself. It's too soon for that now."

Sakanayanagi spoke meaningfully.

I didn't really understand, but if that was what she wanted, there was no need for me to pry.

"Okay. Sorry for sticking my nose where it didn't belong."

"Please don't worry about it. But are you planning to challenge Class A, Hikigaya-kun?"

"Challenge it? No chance. Honestly, we don't stand a chance. Even if I moved up to Class A, I'd do it on my own."

At this school, you could buy anything with points—including a place in another class.

It took an outrageous twenty million points, but getting there on my own was more realistic than dragging all of Class D up with me.

"I see. If you really manage it, I'll have twice as much fun~"

"Hey! You're definitely implying something with the way you put that, aren't you?"

I'd noticed how she'd put extra emphasis on the word "fun."

"But if Hikigaya-kun moved up to Class A, wouldn't Sakanayanagi-san tease him even more?" Shiina suddenly chimed in.

"Shiina-san understands me so well~ Teasing Hikigaya-kun is one of the great pleasures of my life." Sakanayanagi beamed.

"Don't say stuff like that with a saintly smile... Honestly."

I complained, but deep down, I wasn't really angry.

Maybe I'd already gotten used to this kind of banter.

Sakanayanagi did the teasing, Shiina occasionally got so absent-minded that she left me at a loss, and I sighed over the things they did—that was how we got along.

Compared to those days of tension in the Service Club, our current routine of trading barbs was strangely comforting.

It wouldn't be so bad if we could keep enjoying this peaceful, uneventful life.

A few days later, on Sunday...

"I'm starving... I should go get something to eat."

My stomach suddenly growled while I was studying in my room, so I decided to go out for a meal.

Since I'd just gotten a hefty sum of money, I might as well treat myself to some okonomiyaki.

Honestly, I'd eaten my fair share of wild-vegetable meals in April to save money.

As I carefully made my way toward the shopping mall, avoiding the eyes of my classmates, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

I took it out and saw an email from Shiina.

"I'm terribly sorry for contacting you so suddenly, but please come to the central fountain at the shopping mall right away."

This wasn't the first time Shiina had summoned me, but in the past, she'd always phrased it politely, like "Could you come over for a moment?"

This time, she'd actually used a command, which was strange even with the apology at the beginning.

After confirming it really was from Shiina and not Sakanayanagi, I wondered if she'd accidentally mistyped as I hurried toward the shopping mall. It was on the way, anyway.

I crossed the bustling crowds of people enjoying their day off, and sure enough, Shiina was waiting by the fountain.

But my gaze immediately fell on the boy standing beside her.

He was about as tall as I was, with long, slightly wavy black hair. Most striking were his aggressive eyes, which held a confidence bordering on combativeness—completely unlike my own lifeless stare.

Before I could say anything, he spoke first. "So you're Hikigaya Hachiman, the guy cozying up to Sakanayanagi and Ichinose? You really do have those rotten fish eyes."

"These DHA-rich eyes make me look smart, don't they?"

I deliberately twisted his insult.

The boy chuckled. "You've got an interesting way of responding."

"Cut the crap. You're the one who told Shiina to call me here, right?"

Shiina hurriedly bowed to apologize, but I waved it off. "It's fine. I was coming to eat anyway. Say what you've got to say—I'm starving."

"Oh? Aren't you going to ask who I am first?"

"You're obviously the big shot in Class C. That's all I need to know. You're not interested in me personally, either, are you?"

After all, there wasn't anyone else in Class C who'd come looking for me.

"Ha ha ha!" He suddenly burst out laughing. "All right, I'll buy you a meal. Care to join me and talk?"

"I want okonomiyaki."

"Trying to shake me down the moment we meet? You've got some nerve."

"Still better than calling someone a rotten fish eye the first time you meet."

"Fair enough." The boy flashed a wolfish grin. "But let's make proper introductions. I'm Ryuen Kakeru, the ruler of Class C."