Morning at the Café
The next morning, Hikigaya sat in his usual spot at the café on the top floor, enjoying his breakfast while waiting for emails from the school.
"Why are you here?"
A familiar voice interrupted his peace. Horikita Suzune stood before him, her eyebrows furrowed.
Hikigaya looked up, slightly surprised. "I'm here almost every day. The real question is—what are you doing here? This isn't exactly a popular spot for ladies, is it?"
Horikita ignored his remark. "What have you been doing here all this time? Do you not have anywhere else to go?"
Hikigaya smirked. "The wandering aloof soul needs no place to be bound."
Horikita wasn't impressed. She sat opposite him and got straight to the point.
"I have a meeting here. Can you move to another seat?"
Hikigaya blinked. So, with the exam in progress, this once-empty spot had suddenly become valuable real estate. A perfect meeting place.
"How arrogant can you be?" he muttered. "I was here first. Shouldn't you be the one to find another place?"
Horikita nodded slightly. "Logically, yes. But I can't find another suitable place right now, so I'm asking you to move. I'll cover your breakfast. Deal?"
"Deal."
Hikigaya stood up immediately. Free breakfast was worth the minor inconvenience.
As he was about to leave, he noticed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka walking toward them.
So this is who Horikita is meeting?
Hikigaya was slightly surprised. Given the timing, this discussion was likely about the preferential treatment exam. Horikita was the leader of Class D, so it would've made sense for her to talk with Hirata or even Kushida. Instead, she was meeting him.
"Something wrong?" Horikita asked.
"Nope." Hikigaya shook his head. "I just didn't expect you to be meeting Ayanokouji. I figured it'd be Hirata or Kushida."
"That's none of your business."
Horikita remained calm. "Leave your plate and receipt. I'll take care of them."
"Yeah, yeah…"
As Hikigaya turned to leave, Ayanokouji sighed. "Do you think she has good relationships with people? I got dragged here against my will."
"I see."
Hikigaya didn't overthink it and walked away. Horikita wasn't exactly easy to get along with. In fact, it was hard to imagine her being close to anyone.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, had clearly caught her attention. That alone was interesting.
Horikita and Ayanokouji
Ayanokouji sat across from Horikita, glancing at Hikigaya's departing figure.
"That guy is sharper than I expected," he murmured.
Horikita nodded. "You and Hikigaya seem to get along."
"No."
Ayanokouji's expression remained blank. "We've only run into each other a few times. I gave him a MAX coffee once, so he probably thinks we're close."
"I see."
Horikita thought for a moment before asking, "I heard he spends most of his time in this café and doesn't interact much with others."
"Are we here to talk about Hikigaya or the exam?" Ayanokouji asked, clearly uninterested.
"Who knows?" Horikita studied him carefully. "He avoids people even more than you do. What do you think?"
Ayanokouji shrugged. "Unlike me, he doesn't even seem interested in making friends."
Horikita took note of his words.
An Unwelcome Encounter
After leaving the café, Hikigaya debated where to go next. With nothing urgent to do, he considered heading back to his dorm.
However, just as he stepped out, he spotted a group of students walking toward him. Leading them was Ryuuen Sho, his sharp eyes locked onto him.
Behind Ryuuen stood Kaneda and a girl with short blue hair and an intense expression—Ibuki Mio.
I don't know them. I don't know them. I don't know them.
Hikigaya tried to walk past them unnoticed.
Unfortunately, Kaneda pointed at him and spoke aggressively.
"That's him—Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Hikigaya sighed.
Great. Just what I needed.
"Oh?"
Ryuuen stopped in front of him, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Ibuki, didn't you say you saw Horikita go into this café?"
"Yeah," Ibuki confirmed.
Ryuuen nodded, then placed a hand on Hikigaya's shoulder.
"Hikigaya, right? Let's have a little chat."
"No."
Hikigaya refused immediately.
He had already received points for leaving the café. Why would he come back?
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow. "How about ten thousand points?"
"Deal."
Hikigaya agreed instantly.
This guy is loaded.
A simple conversation for ten thousand points? That was practically free money.
Hikigaya handed over his contact information, and the group returned to the café.
Ibuki and Kaneda flanked him, making sure he didn't run.
Hikigaya sighed. "You know, I'm not going to run."
"No need to be nervous," Ryuuen smirked. "As long as you behave, they won't touch you."
Hikigaya glanced at Ibuki.
She looked furious.
Why does she look angrier than Ryuuen?
She was way scarier than him.
Back at the Café
Horikita was clearly annoyed when Ryuuen and his group returned.
"The weather's great, isn't it, Suzune?" Ryuuen smirked, addressing her informally.
"I've told you before—don't call me by my first name without permission, Ryuuen-san."
Horikita's eyes flickered toward Hikigaya.
"Why are you with them? Didn't I tell you to leave?"
Hikigaya didn't hesitate.
"He paid me another ten thousand points to come back."
The implication was clear—if she wanted him to leave, she should offer more.
Horikita gave him a look of pure disdain.
Meanwhile, Ryuuen chuckled. "Interesting."
He sat across from Horikita, smirking.
"Anyway, the emails should have gone out. Have you been chosen as a preferential recipient?"
Hikigaya checked his phone, which had vibrated earlier.
[You have not been selected as a preferential recipient. Please act as a group and challenge the exam. The exam will start at 10 PM today and last for three days. Students in the Dragon Group, please gather in the Dragon Room on the second floor.]
As expected.
Hikigaya didn't particularly want to be a preferential recipient. Staying in the shadows was much more comfortable.
Horikita, meanwhile, remained unfazed by Ryuuen's question.
"Do you think I'd tell you?"
"If you're willing, sure," Ryuuen replied lazily.
"Then tell me yours first."
Ryuuen smirked but didn't answer. Instead, his gaze darkened.
"But let's talk about something more interesting. How did Class D pull off that stunt on the uninhabited island?"
Horikita remained silent for a moment, then casually gestured toward Hikigaya.
"He's the one who told me how to change the leader."
Hikigaya nearly spat out his coffee.
Really?!
Horikita had zero hesitation selling him out.
Ryuuen's sharp gaze turned to Hikigaya.
"I see…"
His eyes gleamed with interest.
So this was the person behind Class D's unexpected move.
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