Hachiman’s Classroom of Strength’s Supremacy

Chapter 135: You Smell Like Kushida

The four homeroom teachers of the classes were all students from the school.

The school had adopted a meritocratic approach to cultivate students, specifically setting up various special exams where students could grow through competition.

However…

The school’s exams weren’t endless, so there would be instances of overlapping exams.

For example, the island exam for this year’s students was exactly the same as the exam the four homeroom teachers had faced when they were students.

The task was to occupy strongholds, live together, manage initial points, and then guess the team leaders in the final phase.

Because they were familiar with the content, and had the authority of teachers, they easily learned the total number of strongholds on this small island.

Additionally, they were able to pinpoint areas they hadn’t managed well in the past.

Now, Hoshinomiya had mentioned the administrator’s cabin, which was marked as stronghold number 25 on the island map.

This stronghold was quite special.

It was located at the edge of the White Tower, but no student had found it yet.

In response, Mr. Sakagami from Class D said, “I remember that place— isn’t it the residence of the hired staff?”

“This location is very concealed,” said Mr. Mashima from Class A. “Occupying it requires insight beyond that of an ordinary student. It also has a card reader installed. While it doesn’t have the advantages of a regular stronghold,”

Mashima then flipped through the exam rules and answers, which only teachers could access.

“However, occupying it grants an additional 50-point reward. Discovering it means you’ve considered the situation on this island, understood that it’s an artificial island, and naturally, someone must be taking care of it. It’s almost like an extra bonus question.”

So, discovering it grants an extra 50-point bonus for the stronghold.

“Could it be Class C again?” Sakagami looked at the situation with a sour expression.

Out of the 25 strongholds on the island, in past exams, no class had found all of them, and it was rare for even 20 strongholds to be discovered. But this time, 23 strongholds had already been found.

Moreover…

Class C had occupied 20 strongholds in just 2 hours, which was already astonishing. Now, they had even discovered this ultra-hidden spot.

Their points and insight were terrifying.

As Class D’s homeroom teacher, Sakagami knew about Ryuen’s plan. Ryuen was smart, excellent at finding loopholes in exams, but now, it seemed like Class C might be a bit too strong for him.

Trying to catch up would be incredibly difficult now.

His class was already at the bottom, and Ryuen was always strategizing for a comeback, but now, Sakagami felt like they might not be able to beat Class C.

So, was the only option now to go after Class B?

________________________________________

Two and a Half Hours Later

To be exact, it was two and a half hours later.

Hachiman was sitting on a wooden bench outside the cabin, waiting for someone.

The reason was that Kushida, after venting her emotions, insisted on taking a bath here.

Since it was a residence, basic living supplies were provided, such as a water heater, a television with an antenna, and a washing machine.

“Actually, you could have just gone back to the campsite to wash, instead of having to change clothes here,” Hachiman remarked.

“That won’t do,” Kushida quickly replied from inside the cabin. “If I go back looking like I just exercised and covered in sweat, everyone will think I did something. That would affect my reputation.”

“So, I have to handle it,” she added.

Hachiman chuckled. She was aware that she had exerted quite a bit of effort.

By the way, with how much you kick, could I count on you for sports-related activities?

After hearing that they might be seen together and rumors might start, Kushida seemed concerned that her reputation could suffer.

With that in mind, Hachiman had already come up with a plan for sports-related events. He would make sure to utilize Kushida fully.

With that thought, Hachiman continued sitting outside the small cabin, listening to the rustling sounds of Kushida changing inside.

A moment later, he heard a “snap,” probably the sound of her putting on socks.

I just don’t know whether it’s the left sock or the right sock.

Thinking this, the girl with golden short hair, Kushida, opened the door and appeared in front of Hikigaya.

Probably because she had just taken a bath, there was a faint mist of water on her neck. Combined with her slightly damp hair, it gave off a somewhat sensual feeling.

But.

“Give me your jacket,” Kushida said. “My hair’s still not dry enough.”

What a troublesome person.

So, Hachiman took off his jacket.

Ten minutes later.

As they waited for Kushida to return to her “angelic” state, the two began to leave the cabin.

However.

“Look at the situation yourself. If you still want to vent your emotions, then come back tomorrow afternoon.”

“But…”

Hachiman said, “Before you head back, go over to Ichinose’s group and borrow 1 initial point from them. Ask them to exchange it for two pairs of underwear.”

“Kei’s underwear was stolen. Although it was Ibuki who did it, even if the underwear is retrieved, she won’t be able to use it due to the psychological trauma.”

“So, you exchange two pairs, give one to her, and keep one for yourself.”

“You’re so considerate,” Kushida looked at him in surprise.

Because.

Hikigaya’s way of thinking was indeed something that no one had paid attention to… the underwear incident was set aside, but Kei’s spare underwear had been stolen.

So now she was in a state without any spare underwear.

And Hachiman’s class had spent all their 300 initial points on the first day.

They had exchanged a large amount of supplies, but some of those supplies were useless, and no one had thought to exchange for something like underwear.

In fact, no one would have thought… that someone’s underwear would be stolen, leaving them without any.

But.

What Kushida didn’t understand was why two pairs of underwear had to be exchanged. After all, Kei only lost one pair. So, just replenishing her with one pair would be enough.

And he still wanted to leave one for her.

Wait.

Did he think that she was coming to the cabin to vent and take a bath, but hadn’t prepared any clean clothes, so she was wearing dirty ones? Was he being considerate and preparing a clean pair of underwear for her to change into after her bath?

“……” Kushida.

Although she found Hikigaya’s insight disgusting, she couldn’t deny that this guy was quite a gentleman.

……

Thus.

“These two students have finally moved,”

The homeroom teacher of Class D, Sakagami, adjusted his glasses, then shifted his gaze from the computer screen and said.

The wristbands given to the students had a positioning function that displayed their locations on the island’s map.

This was to prevent students from having accidents and to allow for timely rescue.

At the same time.

It also allowed for observation of the students.

Tracking their movements and performing big data analysis on them.

These were materials the school wanted to gather.

However, because it was only a wristband and didn’t confirm identities, it could only identify which class the student belonged to.

Then.

It was found that two students from the Chabashira class had gone to the No. 25 outpost.

This outpost gave extra points.

It was enviable.

But.

It was also quite strange.

Because.

Although these two students had reached the No. 25 outpost, according to the wristband positioning, they stayed there for a whole two and a half hours.

During these two and a half hours, they neither swiped their cards nor showed any signs of movement.

The reason for not swiping their cards could be because neither of them was the team leader.

But they didn’t have anyone return to the camp first to report, nor did they have their class leader come over to swipe the card.

This made things seem quite suspicious.

Until now, these two students had finally left the camp.

Then.

“Chabashira, these two students from your class, they won’t be…” Sakagami said. “Were they having a secret meeting at the No. 25 outpost?”

“Sakagami, don’t casually guess about students,” but Teacher Mashima coughed and stopped Sakagami’s speculation. “This is a rigorous exam period.”

But he couldn’t deny it.

Because.

Would a small cabin really need to be explored for such a long time? Or was it… really just a couple spending time together?

Then the next day.

The duty teachers found that the two students from Class C had once again arrived at the No. 25 outpost.

But.

After waiting for a long time, they still didn’t swipe their cards or bring a third person to swipe the card.

Instead, after two and a half hours, they left together again.

Then on the third day.

It was still the two of them arriving and leaving.

And they stayed for quite a while.

It was the same pattern.

“……”

“……”

It was confirmed that this class indeed had a couple.

.

.

And the time goes back to the second day after arriving on the island.

Hachiman and Kushida walked again from the metal stairs to the lawn, heading to an area that ordinary students might visit.

Since they had already been out exploring today, and because Hachiman still needed to accompany Koenji to swipe cards and continue acting for Ibuki’s sake, he returned to the outpost and immediately went to find Kei.

He planned to handle her situation and then take a rest.

Although he thought that way.

When Hachiman returned to the camp, he found that only Kei was there, tending the fire.

Although she had cried in the morning, she seemed to have recovered quite a bit now.

Her red sports jacket was unzipped.

“Where is everyone?”

“Some went fishing, others went to pick fruits.”

“Some went exploring,” Kei replied as she squatted by the fire and poked at the burning logs with a stick.

In other words, the students from Class C had already gotten over the underwear incident from the morning and were continuing to enjoy their time on the island.

This class was a little bit carefree.

“As for Horikita, she’s catching up on sleep.”

“She seemed worried that something might happen, so she’s planning to stay up tonight,” Kei said.

How reliable, Horikita.

Hachiman then sat down next to Kei.

However, just as he sat down, he noticed the cute girl with golden single ponytail beside him sniffing.

“Why do you smell like Kushida?” she said. “Did you go somewhere with Kushida?”

“…?”

Hachiman immediately turned around.

Because he had come back alone.

But.

Soon, Hachiman realized she was sniffing the scent of his sports jacket.

Ah.

He had lent his jacket to Kushida, so of course, it would have her scent.

Cough, cough. Hachiman quickly changed the topic. “I didn’t have time to spend with you this morning.”

“But about the underwear incident, you don’t have to worry.”

“I’ll handle it properly,” Hachiman said.

“I told Kushida to go to Ichinose and borrow some initial points. She’s going to exchange for two pairs of underwear.”

“One pair is for you.”

“And the other one is for her.”

Hachiman continued, “To prevent some idiot from coming up with some victim-blaming theory, I thought I’d have Kushida’s underwear ‘stolen’ as well.”

“If only your underwear were stolen, you might get gossiped about or even blamed for it, but if it happens to Kushida as well, it can alleviate the situation,” Hachiman said. “Kushida is everyone’s angel, and I think she’ll be happy to help with this.”

At that moment, Kushida, who had gone to Ichinose for help and exchanged the underwear, returned and was about to talk to Hachiman and Kei when she heard this and immediately froze in shock.

Because.

She had thought that Hikigaya was being considerate and acting like a gentleman.

But instead…

What was this absurd thing?

……

Although it was an excessive act from Hachiman’s side, Kushida had her own troubles.

In order to complete the plan, Hachiman still had to continue acting for Ibuki.

The next day, he accompanied Koenji out to swipe the outposts.

On the third day, he also accompanied to swipe the outposts.

But on the fourth day, early in the morning.

“Hikigaya.”

The occupation of an outpost only lasts for 8 hours. It needs to be swiped again.

So, Koenji was also doing this tedious task.

While occupying the base of his own class, he would arrange 10 students in a line and then include Hachiman, Sudo, and Koenji in the group.

Then, Koenji would swipe the card.

This was to guard against Ibuki.

When going to other areas, Koenji, Sudo, and Hachiman would act together.

It seemed to serve as some cover.

However.

The morning wave wasn’t necessary.

Because at that time, not many people were awake. Now, it was the new day’s early morning card-swiping operation.

This morning, Sudo was still asleep, so only Hachiman and Koenji were active.

When Koenji reminded him, Hachiman knew that Ibuki had probably followed them.

And likely had dug up the camera she had hidden, found a Class C outpost, and was waiting to take photos.

She wanted to take pictures.

Because only the team leader could swipe the card, while others swiping would result in point deductions.

Go ahead, Ibuki.

But.

“Then let’s go swipe the card,” Hachiman whispered to Koenji.

“Heh—” Koenji immediately understood. This was Hikigaya’s plan to drive Ibuki away.

So, he confidently acted as though Hikigaya was keeping watch, then walked over to the card swiper.

He took out the team leader card.

“Beep!”

A sound came from the card reader.

And from a distance, Ibuki remained motionless. Although both Hachiman and Koenji were by the card reader, through the long lens of her camera, she clearly captured a photo of Koenji swiping the card.