Chapter 10 Hoshinomiya Chie

  Karaoke—the most popur form of entertainment among normies.Hikigaya always thought he’d never set foot into such a paradise for normies. But one of the people he needed to secretly meet today was a bit special. Since he couldn't summon her to the dorm for a covert discussion, he had no choice but to accept Kushida’s suggestion: the soundproof booth of a karaoke room.

  "Chie-chan, you’re really troubling Hikigaya-kun now,"Ichinose Honami said helplessly to her homeroom teacher—Hoshinomiya Chie, a woman in that mysterious age range between twenty-five and thirty. She was currently leaning right next to the dead-eyed student, rudely poking his cheek with her finger.

  "I just want to get closer to Hikigaya-kun,"Hoshinomiya said, pressing her voluptuous body against him."After all, Hikigaya said he wanted to become my student, didn’t he?"

  Among the four first-year homeroom teachers, Hoshinomiya was the least teacher-like. The other three were stern and businesslike in suits, while she alone preferred cute, quirky clothing and had an eccentric personality.

  There were four people in the karaoke booth: Ichinose, Hoshinomiya, Hikigaya, and the ever-stern-faced Kanzaki Ryuji, who stepped in to pull Hoshinomiya away and rescue Hikigaya.

  "The condition is that I get decision-making authority over Css B,"Hikigaya said, moving to a seat farther away from Hoshinomiya."Ichinose, you need to support me as the new leader."

  Unlike the fragmented leadership of Css D, Css B had a single, absolute center—Ichinose Honami. Every student admired her for her unparalleled charisma.

  While this unity made Css B strong, it also made them vulnerable. Without Ichinose, they’d be like ants who had lost their queen.

  "I disagree,"Kanzaki, a devoted follower of Ichinose, immediately objected. Like the rest of Css B, he wanted their beloved Ichinose to lead them—not an outsider like Hikigaya who pnned to transfer in.

  "Ichinose-san can’t do it,"Hikigaya said, looking directly at her."This school simutes society more deeply than you think. You’re too kind. Without the resolve to expel students from other csses, there’s no way you’ll reach Css A."

  Unlike Kushida, who faked kindness, Ichinose was truly good-hearted inside and out. Her moral standards were extremely high. She wouldn’t resort to dirty tactics, and had no way to counter those who did.

  "Hoshinomiya-sensei,"Hikigaya continued,"You were a student at this school before. You should understand—special exams aren’t child’s py. They’re life-or-death battles."

  Hikigaya recalled that Css D’s homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, had mentioned she graduated from this school. Since Hoshinomiya was her best friend and cssmate, it stood to reason that she too was a graduate.

  "I don’t know where you heard that..."Hoshinomiya said, then leaned in to hug the now visibly downcast Ichinose, sandwiching her shoulder between her ample breasts.

  "I don’t care much whether my students graduate from Css A or not. As long as Ichinose does what she wants, that’s enough for me."

  A teacher’s worth is tied to their css’s performance. If her css rose to Css A, Hoshinomiya would get promotions and raises. Hikigaya had expected her support. Although she didn’t outright deny him, her response clearly showed she had little hope for Ichinose’s css reaching Css A.

  Since he couldn’t count on Hoshinomiya, Hikigaya decided to reveal an even harsher truth to Ichinose.

  "From my judgment, there are two students in Css D stronger than me, and three just slightly weaker."

  Hikigaya was fully self-aware. He currently held the advantage only because of his foreknowledge. Koenji Rokusuke and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka were well beyond what he could compete with.

  Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune all had their own issues, but in terms of ability, each had their strengths.

  "As for Css A, there’s Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kouhei—not much needs to be said."

  "Css C is the only css you’re likely stronger than overall, but their leader, Ryuen Kakeru, will do anything to win. He’s the worst possible matchup for your css."

  "There are that many students stronger than you in Css D? You must be joking, Hikigaya-kun,"Hoshinomiya said. Her smile remained, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

  "In terms of physical and academic ability, I admit I fall far short. The only thing I might compete in is judgment... and even that’s just a maybe."

  "So Css D has the potential to reach Css A?"

  "Absolutely. If they go all out, reaching Css A would be a walk in the park."

  Even Hikigaya didn’t know how they could possibly lose if Css D went all out. In terms of high-level talent, they were undoubtedly the strongest. Though they had personality fws, their raw strength far exceeded the other three csses.

  In the special exam system dominated by Nagumo Miyabi, individual strength had become more important than ever. In game terms, the "meta" during the term of Nagumo was awful for Css B but ideal for Css D—they were the "meta pick”. Meanwhile during the term of Horikita Manabu the situation is reversed"

  “Heh.”

  Hoshinomiya’s sweet smile disappeared. She casually sat down next to Hikigaya, surprising both Ichinose and Kanzaki.

  "From now on, I’m on Hikigaya’s side, okay?"

  Her sudden change in stance made Hikigaya suspect that she and Chabashira Sae had some kind of unresolved conflict.

  "Even if the teacher agrees, I still object,"Kanzaki insisted. He didn’t trust Hikigaya.

  "No need to decide now. Just tell me your answer after the midterms. I’m not forcing anything,"Hikigaya replied."If you’re considering it, start saving your personal points."

  He pulled out his phone and opened his personal terminal, showing a string of Arabic numerals—he had over 14 million points, a clear testament to his ability.

  "Sorry, Hikigaya-kun. I’ll give you an answer soon,"Ichinose said. With a forced smile, she left with Kanzaki. The teacher’s ck of faith in her and the overwhelming strength of the other csses weighed heavily on her. She now doubted if she could meet her cssmates' expectations.

  Only Hoshinomiya and Hikigaya remained in the booth.

  "Hikigaya, you’re kind of wicked, you know?"

  Hoshinomiya used the room phone to order a dozen drinks for herself and began downing them like water, completely throwing aside any pretense of decorum.

  He could’ve simply told Ichinose that it was impossible for her alone to reach for Css A without leaving some of her cssmates behind.

  That would’ve been enough to make her surrender. But now Hikigaya had made her py the vilin.

  Even though it vioted school rules and professional ethics, she would still go through with it.

  She absolutely could not allow Chabashira Sae’s css to reach Css A. For that goal, she would stop at nothing.

  Her life had been frozen ever since the special exam she and Chabashira had once taken together—an exam that could’ve sent them to Css A. It was Chabashira who ruined that chance.

  She could not allow Chabashira Sae to succeed alone.