Hachiman’s Classroom of Strength’s Supremacy

Chapter 190: Sakayanagi, it’s not nice to steal people!

Hachiman’s phone received a call.

His contacts weren’t many, and this caller was on his contact list.

It was Kushida Kikyo.

Hachiman took his earphones out of his pocket, plugged them into his phone, and answered the call.

“Ah, it seems you really care about whether your secrets are exposed, don’t you?”

The voice on the other end wasn’t Kushida’s, but rather a slightly unclear yet elegant voice—it was Sakayanagi Arisu.

So, Kushida was with Sakayanagi.

The reason Kushida stood him up was because of Sakayanagi.

In fact, that was probably the only reason.

Hachiman was one of the few people who knew Kushida’s true nature, and he was probably also one of the few people whom Kushida hadn’t yet recruited into her “Kushida Empire,” so she was eager to build up his affection.

It was strange that she had directly rejected his invitation.

When it came to discussing matters that could help her shine, like collaborating with Hirata to create exam papers, she would avoid participating, which indicated something was off.

And now, this matter was unfolding here.

Kushida had been caught by Sakayanagi Arisu.

“Everyone has one or two secrets, isn’t that normal?” Kushida said.

“No, no.” Sakayanagi Arisu responded, “I’m not talking about that kind of secret.”

“It’s already the fourth month of the school year,” she continued. “I think you must have already figured out the essence of this school.”

“First, the quality of students in classes A, B, C, and D differs fundamentally—Class A is the strongest, and Class D is the weakest.”

“I speculate that students were selected using the same set of evaluation standards,” Sakayanagi Arisu said.

“That doesn’t really concern me. Everyone uses that standard,” Kushida responded.

“Of course it does,” Sakayanagi Arisu insisted. “Because Kushida-san, your academic ability, athletic ability, and social skills are all quite outstanding.”

“If it were just a normal evaluation standard, you should have been placed in Class A… or at least Class B. So why were you placed in Class D?” Sakayanagi Arisu said seriously. “It means there must be some major issue that was recorded in your file and known by the school administration, right?”

“…” Kushida seemed to fall silent for several seconds after being questioned like that.

However, she quickly responded.

“Sakayanagi-san, your deduction is interesting. But don’t Koenji and Hirata also seem quite capable? They were placed in Class D too,” she said.

“That’s because they have certain flaws. Koenji’s arrogant attitude might have annoyed the interviewers, and as for Hirata…”

“He’s quite good academically and athletically, with great coordination, but there’s something else,” Sakayanagi Arisu continued. “He’s a bit too focused on his classmates, and I don’t believe there are any absolute saints in this world.”

“So, he must have gone through some really unpleasant incidents in his past,” Sakayanagi Arisu added.

“…” Kushida.

It seemed that Kushida fell silent again.

Because according to Sakayanagi’s reasoning, it was odd for someone as outstanding as Kushida to be placed in Class D.

For example, maybe there was some “black history” recorded that made the school greatly lower its evaluation of her.

Once that connection was made, Kushida was in danger.

However.

This wasn’t an unsolvable issue.

One could argue that since the school was about class competition and the goal was to provoke competition, even if the matchups weren’t fair, they should at least assign a few strong leaders to the lower-ranked classes.

Otherwise, there would be no competition at all.

From this perspective, one could make a counterargument.

Hachiman thought to himself.

But.

“Well then.” Kushida quickly gave in. “What do you want me to do?”

“Well—”

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to not expect Kushida to surrender so quickly, so she paused for a few seconds.

Hachiman’s phone vibrated again.

Another student was calling, but this time it was a familiar name—Kamuro Masumi.

However, Hachiman didn’t answer the call.

Instead, he continued to listen.

Soon enough.

Sakayanagi’s voice came through again. “For now, break the unity in your class.”

“First, attack one person in your class and make them lose their fighting ability.” Sakayanagi Arisu said. “For example, attack Horikita Suzune.”

“Why do you want me to do that?”

“It’s simple,” Sakayanagi Arisu explained. “Right now, I’m a student in Class C, but I was originally a student in Class A.”

“And for this special exam, your class’s Hachiman doesn’t seem to have any intention of responding, so the leadership probably falls to Horikita Suzune.”

‘I see’ Hachiman thought.

So, Sakayanagi was simply considering the situation from the perspective of the class representative, and this time, Class C’s opponent was Class A.

As a rival class, they had to put in some effort.

“…”

It seemed the call was about to end here.

But Hachiman had already understood Kushida’s intentions.

She had been caught by Sakayanagi, so she revealed this to him to seek help.

However, since Hachiman’s goal had already been achieved, there was no need to maintain Kushida as a “bomb.”

Hachiman sent a message to Kamuro.

He also took a photo of the cinema’s big screen and sent it.

[Was watching a movie just now, didn’t pick up your call.] – Hachiman Hikigaya

[…Sakayanagi is looking for you.] – Kamuro Masumi

[No need.] Hachiman quickly declined. [Probably busy today. I have plans with someone else.]

[Suit yourself.] Kamuro responded directly.

Then, there was no response for several minutes.

However, soon, Hachiman found that he had received another call.

Sitting not far away, Ibuki, who had originally considered watching the movie as just a task to complete, looked over.

She suddenly realized that this person, Hachiman Hikigaya, seemed to have good relationships with a lot of people.

So many people were calling him.

In fact, the only people who could contact Hachiman were those in his contact list.

Hachiman continued to put his earphones in.

This time, it was a call from Horikita Suzune.

However.

Unfortunately.

The voice that came from the phone was not Horikita’s, but rather the sweet voice of Kushida Kikyo.

It seemed that Horikita Suzune and Kushida had done exactly the same thing.

“Ah, Horikita-san, to be honest, I’m very happy that you contacted me,” said Kushida’s voice.

And soon, Horikita’s voice was heard. “I completely don’t understand, Kushida-san. What do you mean by saying you have my secret?”

“Horikita-san, although we are currently in Class A, it’s a pity, you should know this too. You were initially assigned to Class D,” Kushida said.

“If it’s the same set of evaluation standards, being assigned to Class D means there must be some negative record in your file, which caused your score to be heavily deducted,” Kushida continued. “And if you want to maintain your position in this class, you need to be careful, or people will attack you.”

“If that happens, you’ll end up harming Class A,” Kushida said, sounding somewhat persuasive. “So I suggest you reveal your secret.”

However.

“Regarding that,” Horikita seemed to frown. “Kushida-san, maybe it’s you who should pay attention.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Horikita said calmly, “There’s no student in this school who comes from a single school by themselves. In other words, every school must have at least two people who graduate from the same school. Kushida, you came from the same school as me, right?”

“…”

There was silence on the other end of the phone, and Kushida seemed to have gone silent.

Horikita Suzune continued.

“I remember now. Kushida, you were in Class D, right? When you were in the third year of middle school, there was an incident in Class D where all the students from the class didn’t show up for class. Although I don’t know exactly what happened, even if I tell you this, I’m sure you won’t believe me, Kushida.”

“And this incident definitely has something to do with you. I think it’s you who needs to be careful,” Horikita added.

Hachiman’s expression was a bit strange upon hearing this.

Kushida had actively sought out Horikita because Kushida was being blackmailed by Sakayanagi and was following Sakayanagi’s orders to target Horikita.

Although Kushida wasn’t the smartest person, she wasn’t completely foolish either.

At least when Sakayanagi had caught her, she still managed to call him.

And she was so obedient to Sakayanagi because she probably thought that since he had already received the information, he would help her deal with the problem.

After all, they had previously agreed that if she kept her true nature a secret, he would help her get promoted to a higher class.

It was a mutually beneficial relationship.

So she probably thought that even if Sakayanagi had her by the neck, Hachiman would take care of it.

However.

Kushida also had some ambition.

That is, by using Sakayanagi’s influence, she really went after Horikita. Her goal was clear: she wanted to find out Horikita’s secret.

But it was quite unfortunate.

She was countered before she even got started.

Horikita Suzune had also grown and realized something was off with Kushida. Even though she met Kushida alone, she still left the possibility open for gathering information.

…

“Looks like Horikita-san, you really know something,”

The voice of Kushida sounded again, calm and no longer as sweet as before.

“Yes, I came from the same middle school as you, although I never interacted with you, and I don’t know how much you know, but now it seems, Horikita, you know quite a lot, don’t you?” Kushida said.

“And now, I’ve changed my mind.”

“Either help me keep my secret and defeat those who want to attack me.”

“Or…” Kushida paused for a moment and then said firmly, “Or you can withdraw from school.”

Hachiman, listening to Kushida’s firm words, felt that it was time to update his assessment of her.

Because she wasn’t completely stupid after all.

The fact that she quickly surrendered to Sakayanagi was probably because of this.

Hachiman had told her not to target Horikita.

Because.

Next year, among the new students, there would definitely be someone from her middle school who might know her dark past.

Looking at it this way, even if Hachiman and Horikita kept her secrets, she was still extremely dangerous.

And now, it seemed that Kushida was quite smart, didn’t she?

She used the excuse of working for Sakayanagi to directly approach Horikita.

She wanted to uncover Horikita’s secret, and if she couldn’t do that, she would try to get Horikita to protect her.

“Why should I withdraw from school?” Horikita Suzune replied. “Also, I have no obligation to protect your secret. I don’t even have any secrets. So your threat doesn’t work.”

“Are you sure?” Kushida said. “Although our class has been promoted to Class A, if someone causes trouble, the class could quickly fall, right?”

“Have you said the same to Hikigaya Hachiman?” Horikita asked.

“Uh…” Kushida seemed to be stumped.

But she quickly responded.

“This is the conflict between you and me,” Kushida said. “Although our class has been promoted to Class A, if it can’t even maintain that for one or two months, your evaluation as part of this class will be very low, won’t it?”

“What do you mean?” Horikita Suzune finally looked seriously at Kushida.

This could be considered Kushida’s unconscious strike at Horikita.

Hachiman thought to himself.

Because Horikita wanted her brother’s approval.

Raising the class from D to A was a notable achievement.

But if it immediately dropped back down, it would be embarrassing.

So Kushida’s words were indeed a targeted weapon against Horikita.

Though Kushida didn’t understand how Horikita had so quickly responded, she quickly added:

“As I just said, let’s make a deal. Let’s base it on the upcoming final exam.”

At the same time, Kushida’s tone was firm. “We’ll use our individual total scores in the exam as the stakes. If my score exceeds yours, then I win, and if I lose, I will leave.”

“…”

Horikita Suzune seemed somewhat surprised, clearly not expecting Kushida to say such a thing.

She felt that Kushida was acting strangely today.

However.

Kushida now seemed to be aiming to cause trouble for the class.

Horikita had worked with Hachiman to bring the class to Class A. Even though Hachiman was no longer involved, if they fell back down so quickly, it would lower her brother’s evaluation of her.

Though she also thought the class would soon fall back down.

But if someone caused trouble, it would fall even faster.

Now, the conditions that Kushida proposed didn’t seem difficult for her.

Because Horikita was a bookworm.

She spent all her time studying except for eating and sleeping.

So her grades were very high.

Kushida, although not academically weak, didn’t spend most of her time studying but instead made friends. So her academic performance wasn’t on the same level as Horikita’s.

In a normal competition, Kushida would lose.

That is to say.

“You want to withdraw from school?” Horikita said.

“…” Kushida.

Hmm.

For Horikita Suzune, the study fanatic, she thought Kushida was certain to lose.

Hmph.

“My secret has been discovered,” Kushida said. “If no one helps me, I will eventually be forced to withdraw from school.”

Oh.

So that’s it.

Horikita Suzune now understood that Kushida was going all in.

“Anyway,” Kushida said. “These are my conditions.”

“Horikita, you should cherish your current position in Class A.”

“So, if you don’t want such a good thing to be destroyed instantly, then agree to this bet. You know my relationships are very good, right? And I have already learned many secrets of the students in this class.”

“And once these secrets are exposed, those involved will probably be forced to withdraw from school immediately,” Kushida said.

“…”

Horikita.

Although Horikita had a very average relationship with the girls in her class, some of whom she hadn’t even spoken to, she knew about Kushida’s relationships with others.

Perhaps Kushida really did know these secrets.

And if many students withdrew, the situation in the class would indeed become very bad.

Her brother’s evaluation of her would also decrease.

Though they had moved up to a higher class, if she couldn’t even manage a single classmate, she probably hadn’t grown much either.

“I can agree to this bet,” Horikita said after thinking for a while. “But who can guarantee that you’ll honor your promise once the result is out?”

“Heh…”

Kushida chuckled.

“You’re worried about me, but I’m worried that you won’t keep your word if you lose,” Kushida said.

“Just like you don’t trust me, I can’t trust you. So, we just need to find someone we both trust to be the witness, right?”

“Who?” Horikita asked. “Is it Hachiman?”

“…”

Kushida. “Is Hachiman the only one you trust?”

“Hachiman would probably be more on your side,” Kushida said. “So he wouldn’t be impartial.”

“And I’ve chosen someone who all the students in the school would believe.”

“Who?” Horikita asked, confused.

Because who else could be trusted by all the students in the school?

“Of course…”

Kushida suddenly looked towards a corner hidden in the shadows and said, “Student Council President, could you come out now?”

Upon hearing this, Horikita instantly looked over.

It wasn’t until this moment that she realized there was actually another person standing opposite them!

This person had remained completely still the entire time, standing there from the very beginning.

Yet, she hadn’t noticed at all.

Horikita Suzune’s expression immediately became tense.

Because what Kushida said was true. Now, with his stern face and glasses, he looked just like a wise sage.

Could it be the Student Council President?

“Don’t worry.”

As the person at the very top of the power hierarchy in the school, Horikita Manabu glanced at the two of them and said “I will keep the secret. This is my duty as Student Council President. Similarly, I will also ensure the fairness of the bet between the two of you. Regardless of who breaks the agreement, I will punish them accordingly. Of course, the premise is that the bet is valid.”

Horikita Manabu said this, then looked deeply at Horikita Suzune.

“I…”

Horikita Suzune opened her mouth, seemingly in a bit of a timid state.

Kushida watched her expression.

Hmm.

Very good.

Horikita Manabu was the Student Council President, and from what the upperclassmen had told her, he was someone who was reliable and just. He had a strong sense of fairness and credibility.

And Horikita Suzune, you should just accept the bet now.

Kushida thought to herself.

Then, she heard Horikita Suzune timidly call out.

“Brother—”

Eh?

Kushida’s expression turned puzzled.

She was confused as to why Horikita Suzune would call the Student Council President “Brother.”

“Suzune, right now I’m just here as a witness. You don’t need to be so nervous,” Horikita Manabu said.

“And Kushida.” Horikita Manabu spoke to Kushida, “You don’t need to worry about my relationship with Suzune. Also, rest assured, I won’t target you. In fact, I’d like to have you help train my useless little sister. Although you’ve been enrolled for some time now, I still want to tell you that this school is not as simple as you think.”

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Horikita Suzune defeated first-year students and managed to climb to Class A.

These achievements weren’t entirely due to her own efforts.

Horikita Manabu knew this very well.

Furthermore, Horikita’s future battles wouldn’t just be with first-year students.

He would soon step down, and the next Student Council President, most likely Sakayanagi, would not be an easy opponent.

So.

One wrong step, and it’s very easy to fall into a pit from which you cannot escape.

“So, Kushida, you can completely trust me.”

Horikita Manabu said sincerely, not hiding his thoughts, “This is your bet, not mine, so I won’t get involved. After all, if my sister ruins my reputation and image because of this, it would be very troublesome for me.”

Yes, as Student Council President, Horikita Manabu had accumulated quite a bit of influence in this school.

Many big figures had already taken notice of his talents.

It was certain that his future would be limitless.

As for Suzune, even if she failed a few times, it didn’t matter.

Those experiences would only serve as lessons on her path of growth.

As for Kushida, although she was shocked by the sibling relationship between Horikita, she had invited Horikita Manabu as a witness. And now, the witness was fulfilling his duty.

So, there was no reason for her to refuse.

“I trust you,” Kushida said. “However, I’d like to modify the terms of the bet. Let’s base it on the math scores from this upcoming final exam instead of the total score for all subjects. The winner will be determined by the math score. And if the scores are the same…”

Kushida paused, looking at Horikita with some expectation.

She wanted Horikita to say something like, “If the scores are the same, it counts as my loss.”

But Horikita didn’t seem to have any intention of speaking. Kushida, gritting her teeth, continued, “Then, the bet will be void. But I won’t give up. If there’s a tie, we’ll continue with the next exam.”

“Alright.”

Horikita nodded lightly, “Then, do you need any written evidence or anything?”

“No need, I trust you both,” Kushida shook her head, smiling sincerely.

Actually, she wasn’t quite calm yet.

Because.

Now, Kushida understood—Horikita Suzune was the Student Council President Horikita Manabu’s sister.

Horikita Manabu, Horikita Suzune.

How had she not realized this?

And she had invited the Student Council President as a witness to make sure she could bully his innocent little sister.

Damn.

“……” Kushida.

So, when Hachiman was in the cinema, meeting with the arriving Shiina Hiyori, his phone suddenly received a bunch of spam messages.

They were something like:

[I’m done, I’ve angered the Student Council President’s sister.]

[What should I do, what should I do, what should I do?]

[Will the Student Council President take revenge on me?]

And so on.

These were the spam messages from Kushida.