Chapter 147: The Girls: "This is a Scam, Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Night finally arrived. 8:50 PM.
The second-floor corridor of the ship was quiet, bathed in dim, yellow light. Hikigaya Hachiman walked toward the Dragon Group's discussion room with Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji, their footsteps echoing softly in the empty hallway.
The mont he pushed the door open, Hikigaya froze slightly. All mbers of the Dragon Group had arrived.
People were already seated around the round table, but the atmosphere was entirely different from usual.
In the Class C area, Ryuen Kakeru leaned back in his chair, propping his chin on one hand, a rare trace of contemplation on his usually defiant face. Kaneda Satoru sat beside him, holding a phone—likely receiving a ssage from soone.
Shiina Hiyori sat by the window, her silver hair shimring softly under the lights. She hadn't brought a book or her small notebook today; she simply sat there silently, gazing out the window as if lost in thought. However, her usually gentle face, which typically carried a faint smile, now showed an indescribable sense of exhaustion.
In the Class D area, Hirata Yosuke still wore his gentle smile, but it was tinged with weariness. Kushida Kikyo sat next to him. Seeing Hikigaya and Ichinose enter, her burgundy eyes brightened slightly, and she waved at them. Kushida looked sweet and cute as always, though Hikigaya noticed her smile felt a bit less "performative" than usual. Seeing Kushida's gesture, Ichinose quickly raised her hand and waved back. The two exchanged a silent greeting across the round table.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka leaned back in his chair, expressionless, his golden eyes betraying no emotion.
Hikigaya turned his gaze to the Class A area.
Katsuragi Kohei sat further in, his bald head glinting under the lights. His expression remained steady, but his slightly furrowed brow suggested he was restless. Hashimoto Masayoshi sat beside him. Sensing Hikigaya's gaze, Hashimoto instinctively looked away, pretending to examine sothing on the table, though his stiff shoulders betrayed his nervousness.
Then, Hikigaya saw Sakayanagi Arisu.
She sat on the other side of the window. Today, she wasn't wearing her black beret, nor did she have her black tea or thermos. Her hands rested quietly on her knees, her chest rising and falling slightly as if she were steadying her breath. Her face held no extra expression, but her violet-blue eyes contained an indescribable, complex emotion. It wasn't anger or resentnt, but a kind of... resigned calm.
Notably, the three seats to her right were empty—reserved for Class B.
Hikigaya withdrew his gaze and whispered sothing to Ichinose. She nodded, then walked straight to Sakayanagi's side and took the first seat to her right. Hikigaya sat down next to Ichinose, leaving one empty seat between himself and Sakayanagi.
They did not sit directly next to each other.
Seeing this, Hashimoto's heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously looked at Sakayanagi, then at Hikigaya, feeling an invisible pressure wash over him. Even though the group discussion hadn't started, the current atmosphere already made him feel restless.
His intuition was correct.
After sitting down, Hikigaya looked directly at Class A's Katsuragi.
"Katsuragi-kun, congratulations."
Being suddenly called out and congratulated made Katsuragi blink in confusion. "Congratulations for what?"
"Class A no longer has internal factional infighting," Hikigaya said. "Congratulations to you."
Katsuragi froze. He instinctively looked at Sakayanagi, then at the bewildered Hashimoto, and slowly realized Hikigaya's aning. With Sakayanagi giving up her leadership, Class A's factional struggle had indeed ended. In other words, Class A... was unified!
However... Katsuragi rubbed his head. He felt like his victory as the "champion of the palace intrigue" was strangely nonsensical.
"While Sakayanagi made mistakes in this exam," Katsuragi spoke in a steady tone, "I personally acknowledge her strength." He paused, seemingly weighing his words. "I will not underestimate her."
Sakayanagi had left quickly that morning, but Katsuragi had figured it out afterward—if there was no pattern to the "VIPs," then Class A would suffer massive point deductions. That was Sakayanagi's failure. By giving up her leadership, she was taking responsibility for this exam.
However, to Katsuragi, when Sakayanagi prepared to attack the Rooster and Snake groups that morning, she had his permission and support. Therefore, he felt she shouldn't bear the full responsibility. Ultimately, it was because this guy Hikigaya was too cunning.
Thinking this, Katsuragi looked at Hikigaya with a complex expression.
At that mont, Class C's Ryuen Kakeru suddenly spoke up.
"So... Class A's pattern was wrong?" Ryuen's voice carried a hint of uncertainty and caution. He stared at Katsuragi and Sakayanagi, a dangerous light flickering in his eyes.
Ryuen belatedly realized that if Class A's pattern was wrong, what about Class C's? Shiina Hiyori was not herself today—she hadn't spoken since they arrived and was just staring into space. This gave Ryuen a faint sense of unease.
Hikigaya looked at Ryuen and spoke slowly. "If the exam question was 'Thinking' instead of 'Manage,' then I too would think there was a pattern to the VIPs."
Hikigaya paused. "However, I personally still confirm that the VIPs have a pattern."
After saying this, Hikigaya pointedly glanced at Sakayanagi and Shiina Hiyori. But Sakayanagi didn't look at him. Neither did Shiina. Neither the violet-blue eyes nor the clear silver eyes turned toward him. This deliberate avoidance spoke louder than any words.
Hikigaya sighed inwardly. It seed Sakayanagi and Shiina no longer believed a word he said. Understandable. They had been scamd so badly.
Currently, Class A had been docked 350 points. Class C had gained 100 points—and that was only because Shiina's pattern happened to be right once by sheer luck. If they had guessed wrong for the Pig Group, Class C would currently be at negative 50 points. So, how could they possibly trust him?
"What is the pattern?" Sakayanagi suddenly asked.
Her voice still had its sweet tone, but there was no emotion in it. She finally turned her head, her violet-blue eyes falling on Hikigaya, but she looked at him as if he were a stranger.
Hikigaya t her gaze and said calmly, "The distribution of the VIPs."
Sakayanagi said nothing, just watched him silently.
Just then, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka joined the conversation, quickly raising a doubt: "So, the VIP of the Sheep Group wasn't Matsushita Chiaki?"
The room instantly fell silent. Every eye turned toward Hikigaya. Shiina Hiyori's body stiffened slightly. She had long considered this possibility, but hearing Ayanokouji say it aloud still brought a wave of inexplicable, complex emotion. She lowered her head, her silver hair falling to hide her expression.
Hikigaya looked at Ayanokouji and said slowly:
"The VIP of the Sheep Group was indeed not Matsushita Chiaki. When you switch phones and remove the SIM card, the ssages already received on the old phone do not disappear. After receiving the school's ssage on the first day confirming whether or not one is a VIP, inserting soone else's SIM card won't change the email content. You should all know this."
Dead silence filled the room. Everyone finally understood.
Matsushita Chiaki wasn't the Sheep Group's VIP. She was a decoy set up by Hikigaya Hachiman.
The reason Totsuka Yahiko of Class A and Tokito of Class C saw the VIP ssage on Matsushita's phone—and why her phone rang when they dialed her number—was simple: Matsushita had obtained a VIP's phone and inserted her own SIM card.
Hikigaya continued, "For Matsushita Chiaki, faking it wasn't difficult. If it caused other classes to lose points, it would benefit Class D. So, she was simply working hard for the class competition."
No one spoke. In fact, no one believed his last sentence. Everyone knew that Matsushita Chiaki wasn't fighting for Class D; she had beco your pawn.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka closed his eyes. A flicker of complex emotion passed over his expressionless face.
He felt Class D was riddled with holes, having been so thoroughly penetrated by Class B. Even though he was the one in Class D, his control over his own class wasn't as good as Hikigaya's from Class B. Even Class D students were being used as tools by Hikigaya.
He began to ponder the difference between them.
anwhile, Katsuragi Kohei looked at Hikigaya, then at Sakayanagi, finally understanding her despair from that morning. Indeed. If even the information that "Matsushita Chiaki is the VIP" was a decoy set up by Hikigaya... then using that as a sample to derive a pattern was practically suicide.
Hikigaya Hachiman was still that terrifying man.
Silence fell over the room again. It wasn't a normal quiet, but a suffocating stillness.
Hikigaya turned his head toward Ichinose. She t his gaze and nodded slightly. She feigned a cough to clear her throat. "Ahem."
Everyone turned to her. Ichinose took a deep breath, her face wearing her signature gentle smile. "Everyone," she said softly, "regarding the remaining five groups, I have a proposal—let's go for Outco 1."
Ryuen's brow furrowed imdiately. "Outco 1?" he asked mockingly. "Didn't Hikigaya just say there is a pattern to the VIPs?"
Hikigaya took over, his tone calm.
"Of course there is a pattern. But the pattern is likely just that higher-ranked classes have more VIPs, and lower-ranked classes have fewer. I judge that the school wants everyone to compete on a more level playing field. That's why they arranged it this way. This exam marks the end of the first sester of our first year, but I think from next sester onward, even if the lower classes' scores aren't high, it won't matter. When the school designs exams next sester, they will surely make everyone avoid existing advantages and fight on equal ground again. After all, competition—being as equal as possible—is the only way to make students give their all and grow from the experience."
But Ryuen stared at him, a dangerous light in his eyes. He felt Hikigaya was incredibly black-hearted. Even though Classes C and D were already in such a state as the lower classes,
Hikigaya didn't forget to drag them into a position where Classes A and B would need to remain wary of them.
But Ryuen didn't speak. He knew there was no room left to argue. They had believed the lie that the VIPs had a pattern—and while they had been lucky so far, if their luck ran out, they would pay a price as heavy as Class A's. Now, if the VIPs were random, even if they knew the VIPs of the five remaining groups weren't from their own Class C, they would just be guessing that the VIP was from A or B. The accuracy would improve to one-sixth or one-fifth.
However, Class C currently had positive points. If they guessed wrong, they would be penalized. He didn't want to gamble that much anymore. Plus, he still owed Hikigaya 2 million points from this exam, so he didn't really have a choice.
Katsuragi remained silent for a few seconds, looked at the quiet Sakayanagi, and finally spoke. "Our... class also agrees to go for Outco 1."
His voice was a bit dry, but his tone was firm.
Now was the ti to state their positions. Ryuen looked at Katsuragi, then at Hikigaya, and finally gritted his teeth. "Class C also agrees."
Hikigaya noticed that even when Ryuen spoke, Shiina still didn't look at him. She kept her head down.
Regarding the current declaration phase, Hirata Yosuke was the most relieved. He spoke up quickly, his tone full of heavy weight being lifted. "Class D, of course, supports Outco 1. We have supported it from the very beginning."
Kushida Kikyo nodded, her face still wearing that sweet smile. But her gaze moved between Sakayanagi, Shiina, and Hikigaya. As soone with maximized social intuition, she instinctively sensed that the atmosphere between the three of them was extrely strange.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't speak again. If there were a pattern, he could still maneuver, but if it was random, there was no point.
Ultimately, having lost the "VIP pattern" trump card, all classes preliminarily agreed to the Outco 1 route.
An hour of discussion passed quickly in that subtle atmosphere. At 10:00 PM, the ship's broadcast chid on ti.
"Attention students, the sixth group discussion has ended. Please exit the rooms in an orderly fashion. The seventh discussion will take place tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM. Repeating..."
The broadcast echoed through the room, breaking the suffocating silence.
Sakayanagi Arisu was the first to stand. She picked up her cane and, without looking at anyone, walked straight toward the door. Her silver hair swayed gently with her movents,
shimring under the lights. There was no extra expression on her exquisite profile, but her slightly pursed lips betrayed her inner feelings.
Clearly, anyone could see she was in no mood to talk to anyone today.
The door closed softly behind her with a faint click.
With Sakayanagi leading the way, the others in the room also stood up to leave. Hikigaya leaned back in his chair, in no rush to go. Ichinose Honami stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the door where Sakayanagi had disappeared, a hint of worry in her bright eyes.
"It seems Sakayanagi-san is... very bothered by the failure in this exam," she said softly.
Hikigaya nodded. "It seems so." He paused, his gaze landing on the night scenery outside the window. Only scattered starlight remained on the sea, twinkling softly in the darkness. "But perhaps this is a good thing for her," his tone carried a faint sense of reflection. "Don't be easily fooled by bad n."
Ichinose blinked, startled. She turned her head to look at Hikigaya, a hint of a playful smile in her bright eyes. Her strawberry-blonde hair swayed gently, a few strands falling against her cheeks, making her gentle face look even softer.
"Eh?" She tilted her head slightly. "So, is Hikigaya-kun a bad man?"
Hikigaya t her gaze and said without a change in expression, "I am harmless to humans and animals."
Ichinose couldn't help but laugh. It was a light laugh, but it dissipated so of the heavy atmosphere around them. However, she quickly reined in her smile and sighed softly as she looked toward the door. "I hope Sakayanagi-san can pull herself together soon."
While Sakayanagi Arisu, who needed to pull herself together, returned to her room, Kamuro Masumi was already waiting for her.
The mont the door closed, Sakayanagi leaned against the wall and let out a soft breath. She propped her cane to the side, looking much more exhausted than she had during the day. Her silver hair was slightly ssy, strands falling over her face, making her exquisite features look even paler.
Kamuro looked at her, hesitated, then asked, "Sakayanagi, how was the discussion?"
Sakayanagi was silent for a few seconds, then said softly, "Everyone agreed to go for Outco 1." She walked to the window and pushed it open. The salty sea breeze blew in, gently brushing against her hair.
Kamuro nodded and walked to her side, unable to stop herself from asking, "So... is there really no pattern?"
Sakayanagi went silent for two seconds.
"Judging by the exam question, it seems so." Sakayanagi's voice was very soft, tinged with weariness. "If the question were 'Thinking,' then the way to break it would be through logic and deriving patterns. But the question is 'Manage,' which ans it's about restraining and managing the students in one's own class, preventing them from making mistakes or exposing themselves. Our school's exam questions aren't so difficult that they require repeated derivation."
Sakayanagi continued, "So, in reality, we simply made a mistake from the mont we read the prompt."
Kamuro was silent for a few seconds, then couldn't help but say, "Isn't that because Hikigaya's inner voice lied to us?"
However, Sakayanagi shook her head gently. "That was also a strategy for Hikigaya-kun to deal with the exam." She turned to face Kamuro. Moonlight spilled over her, casting a soft glow on her profile, but her violet-blue eyes held complex emotions. "I can only say that I am still too young and easily fooled by n."
Kamuro stared at her, mouth open, wanting to say sothing but not knowing what.
She suddenly realized that while Sakayanagi being tricked was beyond doubt... she had been tricked by Hikigaya as well. And quite miserably at that. If it weren't for Sakayanagi, she would have continued to think Hikigaya's inner voice was reliable intelligence.
But...
"Sakayanagi." Kamuro spoke with a hint of indignation and helplessness. "We were eavesdropping on his inner voice to begin with, trying to use it to benefit our class. So... even if his inner voice was lying, we can only say it was our own fault."
Sakayanagi looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds. Then she let out a soft sigh. The sound was faint, scattered into the night by the sea breeze.
"Yes," her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible. "One can only say that we started with ill intentions as well."
Kamuro hesitated but eventually asked, "So, Sakayanagi, have you really decided to step down from the leadership of Class A? Students from the Sakayanagi faction have contacted , hoping I could talk you out of it," Kamuro added.
Sakayanagi shook her head. "This mistake was too big. There is no other way to take responsibility besides resigning," she said softly. "And... Hikigaya Hachiman is just too powerful."
Kamuro was stunned. Hikigaya Hachiman... was too powerful.
She looked at Sakayanagi's back and suddenly didn't know what to say. Kamuro knew that Sakayanagi viewed Hikigaya as her rival, and now... Sakayanagi was admitting she was a defeated general, or perhaps... that she could no longer fight?
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