There is something wrong with Hikigaya’s classroom of the Elite, as expected

Chapter 8: Similar

“Miss Haruno is leaving Chiba too? Does that mean she won’t be attending Sobu High School as she would have in the original timeline?”

“Although she’s the youthful version of a big boss, she’s still the same at her core!”

“With Miss Haruno’s abilities, she should… No, she will absolutely discover the truth hidden in this school very quickly!”

This was a very subtle instinct, something even Hikigaya couldn’t quite explain.

Compared to discovering the truth about the school, the impact of meeting Haruno again was much greater. Hikigaya had already decided not to touch on the past people and events. In fact, after learning about going to school in Tokyo, Hikigaya thought that this relationship, which never should have existed, had finally come to an end.

Fate had played a trick on him once more.

When he reunited with her at this school, Hikigaya finally understood that deep down, he had always wanted to “meet” Yukinoshita Haruno again.

“Heh, what a coward,” Hikigaya mocked himself.

That night, Hikigaya had a dream.

It was as if he was back on that snowy night on the bridge. Suddenly, he heard an inexplicable shout from behind. When he turned around, he found himself standing on a railroad track, with a roaring train speeding toward him. The steel beast crushed his body, taking the soul of a boy back to the past.

….

The next morning, Hikigaya arrived very early at the classroom door, a sharp contrast to his tardiness the previous day.

“It’s all because of that strange dream,” Hikigaya muttered to himself.

The classroom in the early morning always felt particularly empty. Sitting alone, looking at the vacant seats, there was always an inexplicable sense of loneliness mixed with a secret delight and a feeling of superiority—thinking, “So, I really am special.”

However, when he entered the classroom, he was taken aback to find that someone had already claimed this secret delight.

His deskmate, the iceberg girl.

She glanced up at Hikigaya, but when he sat down, she didn’t say “Good morning” or make any attempt at a greeting.

A quiet classroom, with a deskmate less than a meter away, and the silence between the boy and girl—it would be awkward for anyone else, but for Hikigaya, who was used to being alone, or for Horikita, there was no discomfort… or so it seemed!

Both of them weren’t concerned with others’ gazes or evaluations. But this was only relative. For a “similar” person, Hikigaya couldn’t help but feel curious, his gaze inevitably scanning his deskmate’s state.

As for how to reduce the influence of the outside world, Hikigaya thought that reading was one of the best ways. Immersing himself in a world woven with books and thoughts, it was clear that Iceberg Girl had the same habit.

Crime and Punishment?

Horikita was holding Fyodor Dostoevsky’s most famous work, a very well-known novel. If Tolstoy represented the breadth of Russian literature, then Dostoevsky represented its depth.

His books were full of complexity and contradictions, and it was hard to describe them as “interesting,” so for most ordinary people, his books were hard to understand. Hikigaya wasn’t an exception when he first read them.

For most people, works by literary giants were either decoration on bookshelves or a tool used in social interactions, “accidentally” showcased during conversation.

But could Iceberg Girl understand this book?

It seemed she noticed Hikigaya’s gaze, as the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees. Her cold eyes locked onto him: “Is there something wrong?”

Hikigaya was slightly surprised, and just as he was about to speak, Horikita beat him to it: “You think I’m trying to act profound.”

“…”

Wait, why is that a statement, not a question?

“Your disgusting eyes betrayed you.”

Such cold words… Hikigaya felt a sense of déjà vu. Was this familiar?

Ah, now he understood!

No, wait! How did you know what I was thinking? Can you read minds?

“I can’t read minds,” Horikita replied, sounding as if it were obvious. “In today’s modern society, although violent crime is decreasing year by year, crimes against women have been increasing. So, in potentially dangerous environments, any normal woman would raise her awareness.”

“…”

“Don’t mind me, I’m just stating an objective fact. Also… I’ve practiced martial arts.”

Wait… was it necessary to add that last part?

Iceberg Girl, what are you hinting at?!

Hikigaya understood how Sudo felt when facing Horikita the day before. In just a few seconds, he felt his blood pressure rise. At the same time, he vaguely saw the shadow of someone in Horikita. What a strong sense of déjà vu.

Suddenly, Hikigaya noticed a change in Horikita’s gaze—first a flash of doubt, then something strange, and finally, she looked at him with clear disdain.

“Uh…”

Hikigaya lowered his head. He, too, was holding a book, but compared to the world-renowned work Horikita had, his looked somewhat inferior, almost laughable. The cute girl on the cover was especially eye-catching.

“My sister can’t be this cute ”

It was just a light novel!

It was just a light novel about a sister!

Besides, Hikigaya had bought it with his personal points at a convenience store yesterday, so what does that mean? It means even the leaders like sisters!

It’s classy and popular, you know?

Hikigaya had endured such gazes countless times and didn’t feel any intention of “repenting.”

Even if you regret it, nothing substantial would change. So, forcing oneself to become what others consider “normal” is a meaningless act, and will only make one feel more abnormal.

In a way, Hikigaya and Horikita were quite similar.

The two of them remained silent, each doing their own thing, which oddly enough created a peaceful atmosphere. However, this harmony didn’t last long, as students began to trickle into the classroom.

“Good morning, Horikita. You’re here so early,” a lively girl named Kushida Kikyo naturally greeted Horikita, her cheerful voice and bright smile a perfect and undeniable greeting that no one could refuse.

Horikita simply replied with a faint “Good morning” and returned her focus to the book. Even Hikigaya could feel the awkwardness, as if Kushida’s smile was met with a cold shoulder, but Kushida seemed unaffected, her smile growing brighter. She even complimented Horikita, saying, “Horikita, you really love studying.”

Hoping to become good friends with everyone, Kikyo naturally didn’t miss greeting Hikigaya, greeting him with a lively and cute tone: “Good morning, you are… Hiki, Hiki…”

She stopped halfway through. Hikigaya’s expression stiffened, and at the same time, he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he saw the corner of someone’s mouth twitch upwards for a moment?

Forgetting someone’s name while trying to greet them is considered very rude and awkward in social situations. Unlike the previous encounter with the iceberg girl, Kikyo slowly approached Hikigaya, lowered her head, pursed her lips, and then slowly lifted her head. Her big, innocent eyes looked at him, her tone sincere but carrying a slight hint of apology, along with just the right amount of awkwardness.

It was an atmosphere that anyone who saw it would hesitate to reprimand.

Then, one after another, students started arriving in the classroom. In just one day, the sunshine boy named Hirata Yousuke had already entered the classroom laughing and chatting with girls like Karuizawa Kei and Shinohara Satsuki. He exuded a very “popular” vibe!

Trailing behind them were the idiot duo, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki. Both wore looks of frustration, not hiding their envy and jealousy, practically with ‘why aren’t there any girls walking with me’ written all over their faces!

Then they spotted Kikyo, and their eyes lit up. They swarmed toward her like male dogs in heat. Kikyo’s face still carried a cute smile, and it seemed that no negative or unhappy emotions were ever visible on her face.

Kikyo’s gentleness and thoughtfulness were never meant to be exclusive to one person, but the fool duo seemed to think that her kindness was only for them.

Having once been in their shoes, Hikigaya shook his head, involuntarily recalling an unpleasant memory. It was so painful!

Just like the popular guy Hirata, in just a single day, the energetic girl Kushida Kikyo had already become friends with most of the class. Whether it was the girls’ group or the boys, you could see her interacting with everyone.

Hikigaya watched her from behind, and it still felt very out of place!

Without comparison, there is no difference. Everyone wears a mask, pretending to be something they’re not. Compared to the polished and refined Haruno, Kushida was undoubtedly inferior in some aspects. At least Hikigaya could notice a lot of deliberate actions in her behavior.

At the same time, Hikigaya couldn’t help but recall an anomaly he noticed earlier: Kushida seemed a little off when facing Horikita?

It was probably just his imagination.

The classroom, which had been quiet just a few minutes ago, was now lively. In just a single day, the class had already formed several small groups. In this unfamiliar environment, with new relationships, no one knew anyone’s past, and everyone was trying to integrate into the ‘group’ and become a part of it.

It seemed that Hirata and Kushida were undoubtedly the most popular characters. Similarly, the strong-willed blonde girl Karuizawa Kei had also gathered quite a few girls around her, subtly becoming the ‘leader’ of the female group.

Everyone appeared to be getting along so harmoniously.

Hikigaya knew this was a false illusion. Once the groups formed, the real beginning would come.

Those who remained on the outskirts of the group, who were poor with words and not good at socializing, would become the ‘sacrifices,’ the ones at the bottom of the food chain.

Unfortunately… Hikigaya was one of them.

Oh, and Horikita, who was standing nearby, was the same.

Ah, so it turns out they were all the same kind of people.