"Hikigaya-kun, you're back?"
Hikigaya and Sakura had just returned to the campsite when Hirata, sharp-eyed as ever, eagerly stepped forward to check on them.
This was a base near the river, which had now beco Class D's campsite. What surprised Hikigaya was that this spot was actually discovered by Ike, who claid to have extensive camping experience.
"I heard from Koenji that you got injured. Is it serious?"
Hirata seed unusually concerned about Hikigaya's condition. Only after confirming it was just a minor strain did he finally relax a little.
"It would be a problem if Hikigaya-kun were injured. We were just discussing having you, Horikita, and Kushida represent Class D in negotiations with Class B."
"Negotiations?"
Hikigaya imdiately understood that Hirata had agreed to his plan. He had assud this idea would be shot down or turn into so kind of democratic vote where everyone just talked in circles with no real decision made.
That was exactly the kind of person Hirata was.
"So, you've already convinced everyone?"
Hikigaya was genuinely surprised. It had barely been an hour, yet Hirata had already unified the class's opinion. Was this really the Class D he knew?
Hirata nodded, smiling happily. "Yes. Once everyone heard that they could earn at least 10,000 private points per month, most of them agreed. Of course, there were so objections and doubts, but thanks to Kushida's efforts, we eventually got everyone on board."
It seed like this matter had given Hirata a much-needed boost. Back on the cruise, Hikigaya had already sensed that Hirata was exhausted—not just physically, but ntally as well.
At the start of the school year, Hirata radiated warmth and optimism, like a human central heater. But now, he seed increasingly drained, as if the dust had started to gather inside his system.
The sa could be said for Kushida.
The difference was that Kushida had soone she could go to for 'cleaning' that dust away. Hirata, on the other hand, didn't seem like the kind of person who would share his negative emotions with others. Instead, he just kept accumulating that 'dust,' carrying the burden alone.
In a way, Hirata was lonely too.
"Hirata, I don't rember agreeing to this plan."
A voice suddenly interrupted. At so point, Horikita had walked up to them.
"I still have reservations about it."
Horikita looked at Hikigaya with a complicated expression. "Let make it clear once more—this plan sacrifices the future for short-term gains. If our goal is to move up to Class A, then this is nothing but killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."
Horikita had mixed feelings about Hikigaya's proposal of exchanging class points for private points. On one hand, it could significantly reduce the anxiety about points within the class and improve morale. But on the other hand, it ant giving up the opportunity to gain class points—essentially trading the future for imdiate benefits. To Horikita, this was an incredibly short-sighted move.
And yet, this plan had co from Hikigaya.
She wanted to argue against it, but after being 'interrogated' by him so many tis before, she had held back her opposition until he returned, waiting to voice her doubts directly.
"So what?"
Hikigaya understood what she was getting at and couldn't help but chuckle. "To put it bluntly, do you really think the students in Class D have what it takes to beco Class A students? I can believe in soone like Hirata, sure. But what about guys like Ike or Yamauchi? Do you think they can make it? And don't forget, this is a competition between classes. Your opinion alone won't change anything."
"So we're just supposed to stay in Class D forever? If we give up on ourselves, then we'll never improve. We'll just waste these three years aimlessly."
Horikita couldn't understand why Hikigaya would abandon the opportunity to even try.
To her, this plan might seem like it benefits everyone in Class D, but in reality, it was like a bottle of sweet poison. It would lull them into a false sense of security, only for them to wither away without even realizing it.
Just imagining that outco filled Horikita with a deep sense of sorrow.
Hikigaya stared deeply at Horikita in front of him. The stubbornness in the girl's eyes—or rather, that unyielding quality in her very nature—made him feel a little dazed.
"So, Horikita, have you ever thought about this? You're trying to push others off a cliff. Once you choose this path, there's no turning back. Fine, you've accepted that. But what about the others? The pain that cos with this road won't just fall on you alone. Can you bear the suffering and resentnt of all 39 people?"
Hikigaya understood why Horikita wanted to reach Class A—it was to prove her growth and ability to Horikita Manabu. But getting to Class A wasn't sothing one person could achieve alone. It was a competition between entire classes, not individuals.
After a sester, Hikigaya had co to understand why the school focused on class-based competition instead of individual skills.
Just like in society, no matter how talented a person is, the strength of a team—of a collective—is what truly matters. The school wasn't just training students' personal abilities; it was training their leadership as well.
"I know you want to follow in the student council president's footsteps, but do you really understand what your brother went through at this school?"
Hikigaya's words made Horikita freeze. At the sa ti, just hearing the na Horikita Manabu caused her emotions to fluctuate.
"The president isn't just carrying his own weight—he's carrying all 39 of his classmates as well."
Hikigaya glanced at Horikita, then at Hirata, and said, "If you pay attention, you'll notice that in the second and third years, none of the eight classes still have their full 40 students from the beginning of the year—except for one class."
Before Hikigaya even needed to say it, both Hirata and Horikita had already guessed which class he ant.
"That's right, the current top-ranked Class 3-A, still with a full 40 students."
Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh. "I'm not saying this to praise the president or to claim his class is full of geniuses. I just want you to understand—the number itself represents the determination of 40 people."
Just like Tachibana Akane had once said: even if they fall behind in the end, they have already prepared themselves for it. The results matter, but their personal growth in the process is just as important.
"Horikita, Hirata, do you have that kind of determination? The resolve to carry everything for your class—even if it ans abandoning them?"
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