Hachiman’s Classroom of Strength’s Supremacy

Chapter 128: The One Who Stole the Panties Must Be a Pervert, Ibuki, Don’t You Think So Too?

Hachiman’s class is a very mixed group of students.

It is made up of the bottom 40 students, selected based on the school’s standardized criteria, which resulted in the worst students being grouped together.

However.

Even though it seemed like they had drawn a bad hand, there were still some problematic students with potential.

These problem children with potential were like bombs.

Then there were the truly troublesome students. This group was a potential hindrance or, bluntly speaking, just a hindrance.

But now.

Hachiman suddenly realized that some of the troublesome students might actually be useful for taking the blame.

Though it was still unclear who had stolen the panties, once Yamauchi was pointed out, most people would believe it.

So, they could make Yamauchi take the fall for this incident.

This would be the quickest way to handle the current division in the class.

The force that could unite a group is a common enemy.

First, find someone to take the blame, then, after Ibuki’s role is completed, push everything onto her, and the class could return to unity.

Of course.

It was also possible that Ibuki was the one who did it.

Because she had a solid reason.

She was here in Class C as a spy to gather information on the class leader. It would be difficult to gather information just through observation, especially since some of the Class C students seemed to be wary of her.

So.

If she caused some chaos in Class C, it would be possible to fish in troubled waters.

Therefore, Ibuki’s motive was also strong.

If that was the case, then it would really be despicable.

Ibuki-san.

And if it really was Ibuki, it meant that she was honestly carrying out Ryuen’s task, which Hachiman had planned for. However, if it was indeed Ibuki, she had chosen the wrong target to steal from.

How could she choose to steal from Karuizawa-san?

Even if she had stolen from Kushida-san, it wouldn’t have been as troublesome.

“The boys can’t be trusted at all. I can’t stay in the same place as someone who steals panties.”

At this moment, Karuizawa had come out of the tent, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried.

Along with her were Kushida and Sato, who also walked out of the tent.

And, with a furrowed brow, Horikita was also present.

Horikita probably hadn’t been directly involved in this situation, but she likely felt disgusted by the whole thing.

That’s why she kept frowning.

And Hachiman glanced at Ibuki.

Ibuki was sitting in the corner, not saying a word, occasionally glancing toward them.

“You’re right, I can’t stay in the same place as a pervert who steals panties.” As soon as Karuizawa came out, Shinohara Satsuki immediately added.

“Something like this absolutely can’t happen.”

“The boys’ tents need to be moved out! There must be a clear divide!” At this moment, Hasebe also spoke up.

This Hasebe had always taken sick leave during swimming lessons.

But it was clear that she wasn’t taking leave due to health reasons—she probably just didn’t want to wear the school’s swimsuit.

Because she was ranked high on the ‘Breast’ leaderboard that Yamauchi organized at the start of the year.

Although the boys liked big ones, some of the girls might find them more of a burden.

So, maybe she didn’t like the boys looking at her.

And now, with the opportunity to avoid staying with the boys, she naturally spoke up.

However, if this continued, it would lead to a division between the boys and girls, and the class would deteriorate. Although it might benefit Ibuki in getting information about the leader, it wouldn’t help the class’s unity.

Hachiman knew his class was fragile.

Its cohesion largely depended on Hirata and Kushida.

But there were many contradictions between them.

So, if this wasn’t handled well, it could have serious consequences, even leading to situations where people wouldn’t follow orders.

Then, what was the point of the special exam?

“Indeed, one of our classmates made a mistake.”

At this point, Hachiman stepped forward. “But, is it really fair to deny all the boys because of that? Or do you think we can’t trust Hirata either?”

Hirata was everyone’s angel.

Both the boys and girls trusted him a lot.

So, when Hasebe spoke just now, she instantly wavered.

“I-I certainly didn’t mean to deny Hirata,” she quickly said. “Rather, I think Hirata would never do such a perverted thing.”

Though she said that, Hasebe immediately fell silent.

She wasn’t stupid—she quickly realized that Hachiman was now targeting her.

So, she took two steps back.

At this moment, Hachiman walked up to Shinohara.

“So, Shinohara, are you going to deny Koenji?” Hachiman then asked Shinohara Satsuki. “Do you think Koenji can’t be trusted?”

Uh.

Koenji was a key figure in this uninhabited island exam, having secured a lot of strongholds. If nothing went wrong, they would get a guaranteed 300 points for the class evaluation. Also, everyone could get an additional 20,000 yen in living expenses due to the 100 points Koenji contributed.

So, no one wants to offend Koenji-san at this moment.

“I… I didn’t say that…” Shinohara’s tone was no longer as assertive as it was at the start.

“We’re all classmates here, how bad would it be to trust each other a little?” Hachiman said. “If someone truly didn’t deserve to be trusted, wouldn’t that have already been apparent by now with some perverted behavior happening in school?”

“So,” Hachiman turned to Yamauchi. “Yamauchi, just confess. Don’t let your actions drag the whole class down.”

“I suggest we isolate Yamauchi now. Give him some supplies and let him head to another stronghold to get through the uninhabited island exam.”

At that moment, almost everyone turned to look at Yamauchi.

“Eh?”

Yamauchi suddenly realized that he had become the bona fide panty thief.

“No, I didn’t steal anything!”

“I didn’t do this!” Yamauchi hurriedly protested.

But his words seemed to lack much credibility.

“If we just jump to the conclusion that Yamauchi is the criminal…” Hirata thought Hachiman’s actions were too hasty.

But Hachiman walked over to Hirata, pulled him aside to a corner not far from Ibuki, and lowered his voice.

“If we don’t find someone to take the fall now, the girls will definitely demand to search the boys’ belongings. If panties are found in the boys’ stuff, the girls will inevitably turn against the boys.”

“And the consequences of that are something neither of us wants to see.”

“As for Yamauchi, we isolate him for now. In a couple of days, we’ll have Karuizawa contact him. She’ll say the panties are missing again, or perhaps ask Kushida to help. She can say her panties were stolen too, but since Yamauchi is isolated, it couldn’t have been him. That would clear his name.”

“During this time, we can quickly investigate and try to find the real culprit. If we don’t find them, we can always pin it on someone from another class.” Hachiman explained.

After hearing this, Hirata fell silent.

Because this was indeed the best course of action. And while Yamauchi might be innocent, he didn’t want to see the class split like this either.

Moreover, it wasn’t entirely slandering Yamauchi. If the real culprit was found, Yamauchi would be proven innocent.

If it really was Yamauchi who did it… isolating him would also protect the classmates.

A win-win situation.

“…” Ibuki.

However, Ibuki in the corner looked at them speechlessly.

Because you’re plotting right in front of me? Although their voices were low, her training in physical conditioning was excellent, so she was able to hear Hachiman and Hirata’s conversation.

…

At this point, Hirata and Hachiman turned around.

“It seems like we have no choice,” Hirata said. “Yamauchi.”

“Hey, Hirata, you believe I didn’t steal the panties, right?” Yamauchi asked.

“I believe you, but Yamauchi, later you’ll pack your things, and I’ll give you a sleeping bag. Then, go to another stronghold. For the next few days, stay there. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you food and supplies.” Hirata said.

“Eh?”

Yamauchi realized what was happening.

This was effectively labeling him as the panty thief.

And even Hirata was saying this!

“It can’t be me! If anyone, isn’t it more likely to be Ike?” Yamauchi quickly tried to defend himself.

Because this was absurd! Why did everyone think it was him?

“…” Ike.

Last night, by the campfire, when Hachiman mentioned that if they had to expel someone, they’d have to sacrifice Yamauchi, Ike had gotten nervous and tried to warn Yamauchi.

But the warning he got wasn’t “Ike, you’re just jealous of me.”

And now it was:

“If it’s Ike, isn’t he even more likely?”

Ike was stunned.

…

To prevent the girls from demanding to search the boys’ belongings and potentially finding panties, causing a conflict between the sexes, Hirata immediately took action.

“Sudo, Sotomura, could I ask you for a favor?”

“Let’s take Yamauchi away together.”

“Seems like there’s no other choice.” Sudo said.

Sudo usually hung out with Yamauchi and Ike, but now Yamauchi had become the target of everyone’s accusations.

Yamauchi had a bad reputation in class, and he liked to brag. Now, even Hirata was suggesting that Yamauchi might be the culprit.

Sudo couldn’t speak up for him.

Because Yamauchi could very well have done something like this.

…

After taking Yamauchi away, the atmosphere became slightly heavy as the second day of the first-year Class C uninhabited island exam arrived.

Because of the unpleasant situation, everyone’s enthusiasm for the camping life had significantly decreased.

Even the breakfast preparation had no interest from anyone.

They ate bread and mineral water, which had been exchanged with points.

After that, most students gathered by the campfire. Although Yamauchi had been taken away, the divide between the boys and girls was slightly noticeable. It seemed like there was an invisible line between them, separating the two groups.

Karuizawa, for instance, had returned to the tent.

Hachiman immediately followed her.

The tent where Karuizawa was staying had only a few people in it, and it was clear that Sakura, Karuizawa, Shinohara, Kushida, and Horikita were inside.

“Can I come in?” Hachiman said at the entrance of the tent.

“No one’s stopping you,” Horikita glanced at him and said.

However…

“So, the panties were really stolen?”

The moment Hachiman entered the girls’ tent, he immediately asked, making everyone want to kick him out.

“Huh?” Shinohara, who had been criticized by Hachiman earlier, seemed a little intimidated. But now, her upright and sharp personality resurfaced.

“Of course, they were stolen,” Kushida, who was good at reading the atmosphere, quickly replied. She noticed that Karuizawa seemed like she was about to cry again.

“However, is Yamauchi really the culprit?” Suddenly, Horikita spoke up.

“Isn’t Yamauchi the culprit?” Shinohara immediately responded.

“I think it could be him, or maybe not,” Hachiman said.

“Eh?”

This statement made the girls in the tent freeze for a moment. It seemed like Sagara looked over in surprise.

Because Yamauchi had already been expelled and sent to another stronghold.

Could it be that Yamauchi was innocent?

“Don’t look at me like that,” Hachiman said. “I want to be promoted to Class A, and since it’s done by class units, if there’s division within the class, it’s almost impossible to earn any points. So, I must prevent any confrontation between the girls and the boys.”

“You’re really pragmatic.”

Hachiman had mentioned wanting to be promoted to Class A more than once, and now he was being very practical, which didn’t strike the girls as strange.

Hachiman continued, “So, let’s settle this with Yamauchi first.”

“And,” Hachiman added, “I don’t recommend that you continue investigating this matter.”

“Why?” Shinohara didn’t agree. “If you let us search the belongings, maybe we could find the culprit.”

In other words, if Yamauchi hadn’t been expelled as a scapegoat, Hachiman would have initiated a search of their belongings, fully exposing the conflict between the sexes.

Hachiman felt like he had narrowly avoided a crisis.

He then said, “If the culprit is really one of the boys from our class, then you won’t find the panties.”

“Because if there really was a pervert in our class, he wouldn’t be that stupid, right?”

While gesturing, Hachiman explained, “After all, the girls would definitely demand to search the boys’ bags the next day once something went missing. Whether it’s hidden in their backpacks or tents, it wouldn’t be safe.”

“Well… I suppose that makes sense…”

This statement made the girls look at each other, hesitant.

“Could it have been kept on the person?”

Shinohara Satsuki asked, then made a disgusted expression.

It would be bad enough to steal a girl’s panties, but to carry them around?

That’s just disgusting.

“It’s possible,” Hachiman nodded, then added, “But if it really is a pervert, simply carrying the panties around wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him. The most likely scenario is that he’s wearing them.”

“Wearing… wearing them?” Even Sakura, who usually kept a low profile, spoke up.

Because this suggestion was beyond her comprehension.

“How disgusting…”

“Hachiman-kun, please stop talking.”

Even Horikita had a look of revulsion on her face.

They realized they had probably underestimated what a pervert might do.