Chapter 152

"But now you're the only one keeping the appointment."

This is Chabashira-sensei.

Hachiman had made a promise with her to bring the class to Class A.

On the one hand, it was to obtain payment from her, and on the other hand, it was to end her tracing of origins.

Hachiman discovers that Chabashira is mentally ill.

If left unaddressed, problems are likely to arise.

So.

His current actions can be interpreted, to some extent, as a form of therapy for the other person.

So this is a win-win situation.

However, Chabashira-sensei is very enthusiastic about promoting students to Class Advancement, so is he still urging Hachiman to keep climbing even now?

And this kind of thing.

"She wasn't feeling well, so we let her rest," Hachiman said. "After all, it's not a good thing for her to collapse before the exam even starts."

Is that so?

Chabashira didn't notice this.

"But Horikita's body looks perfectly fine," Chabashira said.

That is to say, it's unbelievable that Horikita fell ill as soon as he boarded the ship.

"She studies for 10 hours every day," Hachiman replied.

Oh.

Then everything is fine.

Even an Iron Man couldn't last 10 hours a day.

And this has been going on for a long time.

It is indeed easy to fall ill.

"Actually," Chabashira with some emotion, probably because they were discussing Suzune Horikita. "Looking at Horikita, I feel like I'm seeing my past self."

Is that so?

There are reasons why you failed in the past.

Hachiman knew that Horikita's little sister had a weakness.

The fact that Chabashira-sensei could find a reflection of himself in Horikita suggests that he must have done a lot of things during his student days, only to ultimately fail.

And then... it's even possible that her failure prevented the class from moving up.

So even after all these years, I still have the obsession with not being able to Class Advancement.

"Then," Hachiman said, "When does this month's Special Exam begin? I've been on guard all day."

"I can't comment on that. As a teacher, I have my own principles," said Chabashira-sensei. "If you just want a vacation, I think you can enjoy one more day."

Is that so?

Hachiman recognized the "integrity" of the Chabashira.

Since he knew he still had a day of sailing time, Hachiman decided to enjoy himself.

After all.

His family background was just ordinary, and he rarely had the opportunity to come into contact with luxury cruise ships.

So if you can have contact with them, then enjoy it as much as possible.

Perhaps thinking of his own integrity, Chabashira stopped talking about exams and started talking about ships instead.

"This ship has been in use since the year before last," said Chabashira-sensei. "However, it doesn't belong to the school, but to the family of Chairman Sakayanagi. They provided it free of charge to support the school."

Is that so?

Although he knew that Chabashira might want to point out the chairman's surname, Sakayanagi, and then imply that Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A was related to this Chairman Sakayanagi.

But.

Hachiman, however, was thinking... Classmate Sakayanagi's family is super rich.

They actually own a cruise ship.

If I could marry her, I could indeed become a true stay-at-home husband... no, no, no, I wouldn't even need to cook anything, I wouldn't need to do anything at all.

No, no, no.

Hachiman quickly dismissed his strange thoughts.

Because.

Hachiman doesn't believe he'll win Classmate Sakayanagi's favor, or even marry her.

After all, the kind of person she is is... the type who wouldn't raise a useless person, but rather enjoys tormenting them, or even making them go to work.

That's terrifying.

This is the type that Hachiman finds most difficult to deal with, similar to a natural enemy.

Hmm.

It's all Kushida's fault. If he hadn't had that nightmare about marrying her, he wouldn't have thought so much.

"Isn't constantly looking back at the past incredibly lame?"

Hachiman decides to keep his relationship a secret.

Neither in the past nor now does he believe he has any chance of being in a relationship.

Then.

Having learned that he could enjoy another day on the ship, Hachiman began to enjoy it.

From theater performances to free meals and massages.

Um.

He went for a massage, but unfortunately, although it felt very comfortable during the massage, he immediately found that the massaged areas were sore a few hours later.

"Hachiman."

When Hachiman returned to the ship's library, he encountered the silver-haired girl he had met before.

Shiina First-year Class D.

Hachiman is now a student in Class C.

Hiyori was originally in Class C.

So perhaps her previous probing of him was also out of a desire to serve her class, and also... a slight emotional release about her class's decline.

However, she had silver hair down to her waist, snow-white skin, and clear, bright eyes, making her quite adorable.

She is a quiet, literary young woman.

Only.

"You're at the library again? You seem to really enjoy reading. I happen to have a few books to read these days."

"I think I can share the list of books with you," Shiina said.

Hachiman noticed that she opened a book she was holding, and inside was a bookmark with several book titles on it.

What about [Gone with the Wind], [The Sorrows of Young Werther], [Peter Pan], and the like?

They all appear to be classic literary works that have been passed down through the ages.

"I've seen all of these," Shiina said. "But I don't recommend you see them."

"..." Hachiman.

Is there such a thing as an excuse?

Forehead.

I think so too.

Some books she read were like poison tests, and she didn't want him to die from the poison as well.

So, does this mean Shiina actually harbors no hostility towards him?

"So what kind of books do you think I'm suited to read?" Hachiman asked.

Yamauchi was noisy again, and Kōenji was always working out. It seems that Sudō's feelings for him increased greatly after he was scolded by him for being in Class A at a dinner party, and he even wanted to invite him to go swimming.

For Hachiman, who doesn't particularly enjoy sports, let's spare him.

So he chose to read books.

Using reading as an excuse to avoid social interaction, that's why I came to the library specifically.

But I also plan to read a few books to relax.

"These books are rather obscure," said Shiina, who had already been relegated to Class D. "I can recommend some books of the type I like."

That's what they said.

Shiina flipped the bookmark over, then took out a pen and wrote on it.

She is beautiful in appearance, and her writing is also beautiful.

Hachiman stared at the list of books she had compiled.

[Resurrection]

[Byakuyakou]

David Copperfield

[Woman in white]

[Those who have been insulted and harmed]

They are all relatively obscure books.

Hachiman frowned, but still accepted it.

Since it was recommended by a literary-minded girl, it's probably a pretty good Class A.

After parting Shiina, Hachiman went to borrow books by himself.

However, after starting to read, Hachiman quickly discovered the problem.

Because.

The books recommended by Shiina... are either too cruel to the protagonist or have various unsatisfactory plots that leave you pondering for a long time, and then make you feel empty inside.

If reading can bring you pleasure...

So all the books I'm reading now are making me feel bad.

Um.

So it's clear that Shiina was quite unhappy about her class's decline.

However, they also do not retaliate through formal class competition.

Instead, they recommended toxic books to him.

This attack method... is quite interesting.

Then.

Hachiman recommended these books to his Yamauchi.

On the third day...