"Partner up with , Hikigaya."
The unexpected proposal ca from Ryuuen.
His words echoed clearly through the silent classroom.
"...Partner up? You and ?"
There was no mistaking it—he was talking about the uninhabited island exam.
Was this a joke? No, Ryuuen wasn't the type to joke about sothing like this.
Ever since the uninhabited island exam was announced, I had been thinking about who to team up with.
But Ryuuen was never part of that consideration.
Deep down, I knew it was impossible.
That's why I kept my usual stance.
"Funny joke."
I decided to probe first.
I needed to confirm Ryuuen's true intentions—why he would make such an offer.
"Keh. A joke. Yeah, guess you could call it that. Even I think it's a damn funny one."
He smirked slightly, narrowing his eyes just a fraction.
"Knowing you, you're probably itching to figure out why I'd say sothing this weird, huh?"
"...Yeah. I'll admit I'm surprised. Never thought you'd suggest teaming up."
Caught, I answered honestly.
I couldn't see where Ryuuen was going with this. Was it just my imagination, or did he seem to be enjoying this mont?
"You're the type who'd hate the idea of working with , though."
Hearing my natural response, Ryuuen's smirk vanished, replaced by an expression full of disgust.
"Course I would. The thought of teaming up with you makes wanna puke."
"Then why? Ryuuen, why are you trying to partner with ?"
I had no clue. This was completely unexpected—sothing I never saw coming.
"Keh. Fine. I'll give you a week."
Ryuuen laughed, jabbing a finger at .
"?...What do you an?"
"Decide whether you'll team up with within a week. Once you've made up your mind, I'll tell you."
In other words, if I agreed, Ryuuen would explain his reasoning.
A while ago, I might not have hesitated to team up with Ryuuen, but things were different now. Once exam groups were decided, there was no changing them.
Ryuuen's "within a week" was probably his way of giving the bare minimum of ti to think.
"I see. So you're that desperate to team up with ? Starting to doubt your own strength?"
A deliberate provocation.
But instead of getting angry, Ryuuen bared his teeth in a fierce grin, closing the distance between us until we were face-to-face. His eyes burned with more intensity than usual.
"My goal has always been to crush you. Proposing we team up for this exam is just another step toward that."
So Ryuuen hadn't changed at all.
This aggressive attitude was so like him.
"I don't have ti to sit around if I'm gonna destroy you. I'll use whatever I can."
And that "whatever" included teaming up with , huh?
"Fine. I'll think about your proposal. I'll give you an answer within the week."
"Still acting all high and mighty, huh? I'd love to punch that smug look off your face right now, but I'll let it slide for today."
Ryuuen pulled back, and whether he sensed the tension in the classroom or just felt like leaving, he walked out.
With Ryuuen gone, the oppressive atmosphere faded, but the classroom remained eerily silent. The confrontation had left a strong impact.
"O-o-o—"
In the silence, Ishizaki let out a series of small, strange noises. His eyes were filled with shock and sothing like awe, as if he'd witnessed a miracle.
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH"
The scream soon erupted into a deafening roar that reverberated throughout the classroom, loud enough to make you want to cover your ears. After finishing his outburst, Ishizaki, panting heavily, ca running up to .
"W-w-w-wait, for real?! R-Ryuuen-san and Hikigaya teaming up?!"
He was shaking my shoulders so violently in his excitent that I thought my head might fly off.
"Calm down, Ishizaki. We haven't decided anything yet."
"H-how am I supposed to calm down?! Ryuuen-san and Hikigaya together?! It's basically a guaranteed win!!"
"I said calm down."
Ishizaki's excitent quickly spread through the classroom, gradually infecting the other students who had been stunned into silence.
'W-well, if those two work together...'
'We could totally win, right...?'
'Monsterboy & Dragonboy...'
"That's right, you guys!!! If Ryuuen-san and Hikigaya team up, victory is the only option!! The birth of our class's ultimate tag team!!"
"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Ishizaki's agitation spread like wildfire, making the situation spiral out of control.
Stuck at the center of the commotion, I sohow managed to slip away and retreat to my seat at the edge of the classroom.
"One week, huh..."
A week to decide whether to team up with Ryuuen.
I'd have to make my choice before then.
......
After school, the excitent about teaming up with Ryuuen still hadn't died down. Mainly because Ishizaki and the others were still hyped up—it didn't look like things would settle anyti soon.
Since I couldn't give them a clear answer about Ryuuen's proposal anyway, I quickly left the classroom. Noticing this, Hiyori followed after .
"Hachiman, are you really going to work with Ryuuen-kun?"
She fell into step beside , matching my pace.
"Nothing's decided yet. I don't even know what Ryuuen's angle is."
"I see. So you're still unsure about forming a group, then?"
"Yeah. Ryuuen gave a week to think it over. I'll take my ti deciding."
Hearing this, Hiyori paused for a mont as we turned a corner.
"In that case... would you consider teaming up with instead? Of course, I won't force you."
"With you? I don't mind, but wouldn't it be better to pair up with soone of the sa gender?"
Judging from the earlier classroom discussions, most students seed to be forming sa-sex groups. Two weeks together was a long ti—it'd probably be more comfortable that way.
"Hmph. So you don't want to be with , Hachiman?"
She puffed out her cheeks slightly, turning her face away in an obvious pout.
"That's not it. I'd be fine teaming up with you, but two weeks is a long ti. I figured you wouldn't want to spend that much ti stuck with a guy."
I thought I was being reasonable, but this ti, Hiyori's cheeks puffed out even more. She was clearly displeased.
"Well... I might not like being with a boy for two weeks."
She paused mid-sentence, then suddenly leaned forward and hugged tightly.
"But if it's you, Hachiman, I'd be happy. Honestly, two weeks might even feel too short. Being with soone I like that long... it'd be really wonderful."
She looked up at with a sweet, affectionate smile, her eyes brimming with warmth.
"Your face is bright red."
"...Don't say that."
The embarrassnt of her own words seed to catch up with her, and Hiyori's cheeks flushed even deeper. Then, her previously evasive gaze locked onto mine.
"U-um... should we... pick up where we left off last ti?"
Where we left off—given the mood, she was definitely referring to that mont we had to cut short before.
"...Here?"
"Last ti, Ayanokouji-kun interrupted us, so..."
I doubt Ayanokouji ant to get in the way. And even if this spot was out of sight, if soone happened to walk by...
But Hiyori was already determined, her lips slightly pursed as she rose onto her tiptoes, closing the distance between us.
Her expectant eyes held captive. Succumbing to the temptation, I slowly leaned in as well.
And then—
──────
──────
Bzzzzt.
The sudden vibration of my phone shattered the silence of the empty hallway.
Once again, the mood was ruined by an interruption, and without thinking, Hiyori and I pulled apart.
"......Who. Is. It. This. Ti?"
The situation was eerily similar to last ti, but Hiyori's voice was several degrees colder. An overwhelming pressure—no, murderous intent—radiated from her, all directed at my phone.
Sorry, phone. You didn't do anything wrong.
"Hachiman—who is it?"
"W-wait, just hold on a sec...!"
The sheer force of her glare made reflexively switch to polite speech.
Trying to calm the demonic smile on Hiyori's face, I checked my still-vibrating phone—only to freeze.
"...It's Ayanokouji."
You again?! Just how much did you want to piss Hiyori off? Were you doing this on purpose?
"I see."
Oh no
I didn't know why, but my instincts scread danger.
"So... Ayanokouji-kun... again?"
She was smiling, but for so reason, I couldn't bring myself to look directly at her.
"W-well, it can't be helped. It's not like Ayanokouji ant to interrupt."
I hurriedly jumped to his defense.
"...Right. Ayanokouji-kun wouldn't do it on purpose, would he?"
Finally, Hiyori's deanor returned to normal.
Having that kind of mont interrupted twice—and by the sa person—it was only natural she'd be upset. But if Ayanokouji sohow got in the way again... what would happen then?
...No, I was overthinking it. Hiyori was kind-hearted—it'd be rude to even entertain the thought.
...
Now that classes were over and I could freely use my phone, it seed that students with high academic or physical abilities were receiving group requests via email.
Surprisingly, I had so too—probably because I scored full marks in math. Though the number was small at just 8 emails, it was a pleasant miscalculation to have potential group options.
As I fiddled with my phone, considering how to reply, I spotted familiar golden hair approaching from straight ahead. Hard to see from a distance, but it was probably Nanase.
"Haaah... haaah... H-Hikigaya-senpai. Do you have a mont?"
She must have rushed over—Nanase stopped , panting heavily.
"First, calm down. If you have sothing to say, you can talk after catching your breath."
"Y-yes."
After a few deep breaths, she wiped the sweat from her brow and finally steadied herself.
"So, what's up? You seem in a hurry."
"Actually, I was looking for you, senpai. Do you have ti to talk now?"
"...Sure."
Agreeing, we took a seat on a nearby bench at Nanase's suggestion.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
The girl beside seed hesitant, as if what she had to say wasn't sothing I'd like.
"You've been inford about the uninhabited island exam, right?"
"Yeah. We just got the details today."
"It's about the exam, actually."
Her expression shifted, her gaze turning serious.
Even if it was exam-related, since inter-year groups weren't allowed, this probably wasn't about cooperation.
"During the exam, Hōsen-kun will likely target Ayanokōji-senpai. Do you... know the reason?"
Her eyes were probing. She was testing —trying to gauge how much Ayanokōji and I were connected.
"You an the bounty on and Ayanokōji? That's what you're referring to, right?"
I decided to play along.
"...Exactly. So you've heard about it from Ayanokōji-senpai, then?"
For just a second, Nanase faltered. Seizing the mont, I pressed further.
"Ayanokōji? No. I heard about the bounty from Takahashi."
A bluff—but delivered so casually that it eroded her suspicion.
"Takahashi-kun?"
"We worked together in the last exam. He told about it then."
Situations like this were where Takahashi's reputation ca in handy.
Known for his wide connections, his na carried weight among first-years. From Nanase's reaction, she seed to accept it as plausible.
"What does that have to do with Hōsen targeting Ayanokōji?"
"To keep things brief, I'll be direct—––––––During the exam, please don't join the sa group as Ayanokōji-senpai."
Nanase's words carried unmistakable resolve.
"Why? Give a reason."
"Hōsen-kun intends to force Ayanokōji-senpai's expulsion during the uninhabited island exam. If you're in the sa group, you could get caught in the crossfire."
Though Hōsen's thods were unclear, she seed to be warning that grouping with Ayanokōji would be dangerous.
"So you're suggesting this to protect ?"
"In part, yes."
Her tone remained matter-of-fact.
"I get it. But why help ? To you first-years, Ayanokōji and I have the sa bounty on us. I don't see why you'd single out for advice."
If their goal was to profit from expelling one of us, targeting would be just as viable as targeting Ayanokōji.
And why go out of her way to protect when I'm just as much a target?
"Because Hōsen-kun is solely focused on Ayanokōji-senpai. To put it bluntly, as long as he's the one being targeted, you'll be safe."
"Can't you stop Hōsen?"
"I've tried. But... it seems he has so personal grudge against Ayanokōji-senpai. He won't listen."
Having heard everything, the full picture was coming together.
Nanase's true intentions were unclear, but her desire to keep away from Ayanokōji seed genuine.
"Got it. I can't promise I won't team up with Ayanokōji, but I'll keep your advice in mind. That work for you?"
"!...Yes! Of course!"
Perhaps surprised by how easily I accepted it, Nanase responded with a bright smile.
"I'm sorry for imposing my opinion on you."
"No, I appreciate the warning."
Even if the details were uncertain, just knowing Hōsen and Ayanokōji's situation was valuable.
"Phew... It's a little hot, isn't it?"
As if releasing built-up tension, Nanase slowly removed her neatly worn blazer.
"...!"
"?...Is sothing wrong, senpai?"
Now in just her white dress shirt—
...Nanase had run all the way here. With sumr approaching, the temperature was high. Sweating in these conditions was inevitable.
And because of that sweat, her shirt had beco slightly transparent.
"Nanase. Put your blazer back on. Now."
"Eh? Why? It's hot, so I thought taking it off would—"
Trying to avert my eyes, I pointed it out—but she didn't seem to realize.
"Senpai?"
Instead, she leaned closer. With a figure that defied her first-year status, the blue of her undergarnts beca unmistakably visible.
"Nanase. Listen carefully."
"Y-yes?"
I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face directly so I wouldn't have to look down.
"...Your shirt's see-through from the sweat. Put the blazer back on."
"............!!!?"
Finally understanding, Nanase's face turned beet red—as if steam might shoot out any second—before she quickly put distance between us, wrapping her arms around herself.
"A-ah, um, that is...!"
Her flustered stamring confird she was deeply embarrassed.
"Nanase, I didn't see anything, and I won't rember it. And... you've got a bit of a natural airhead side, so you should be more careful about this stuff."
"~~~~~~!! I-I'm so sorry!!"
Frantically throwing her blazer back on, she sprinted away with an expression of utter humiliation.
What an awkward way to end things.
Nanase really did have a clueless side—hopefully, my warning would make her a little more aware of her own... dangers.
After watching her retreating figure, I started walking away as well.
=================================
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