COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

With just an offhand remark from Kushida, the once-murky intentions of Nagumo had now begun to take shape.

No wonder there's a saying that even ordinary people when three gather together, can possess the wisdom of Manjushri.

And right now, there were four of them.

If Hikigaya hadn't spoken to them about this today, they wouldn't have realized the crucial detail that the forest school trip was segregated by gender. That kind of ignorance could have left them in a completely passive position.

Even so, the current situation was far from optimistic.

Even if they had seen through Nagumo's intent, any concrete action would still require the cooperation of the girls.

Depending on how things unfolded, Hikigaya might not even be able to act at all.

After all, Nagumo's plan was likely designed to neutralize Horikita Manabu from the start, and the other boys would probably face restrictions as well.

But… if he were to involve these three, there was no ruling out the possibility that Nagumo would set his sights on them, too.

On both a personal and a strategic level, Hikigaya wanted to avoid that outcome.

He owed Horikita-senpai a favor, which was why he intended to repay it. There was no reason to drag unrelated people into the mess.

The lone wolf's code of life dictated that one must never cause trouble for others. A debt owed must be repaid, but in doing so, one must also avoid accruing a new debt—otherwise, the cycle would never end.

Hikigaya could proudly claim that he could overcome at least 80-90% of obstacles on his own.

However, this situation might just fall into that remaining percentage…

"Hachiman, what are you brooding over this time?"

At that moment, Kushida suddenly called his name.

For some reason, though, she sounded a little annoyed… Also, what did she mean by "brooding"?

He was thinking about very serious matters here.

"If it's Hachiman-kun, then it's the same as always." Matsushita wore a knowing expression. "He says he won't help Horikita-senpai, but that's just to fool us. He's planning to handle everything on his own… just like back in the Service Club."

Wow—Matsushita had him figured out.

…Tch. Having a middle school classmate around was troublesome.

When Hikigaya came to Advanced Nurturing High, he thought he could completely cut ties with his past, but then Matsushita suddenly appeared—and she was even in the same class as Yukinoshita.

Speaking of which, she didn't need to mention that name.

"The Service Club? What a terrible-sounding name," Kushida asked in confusion.

"It was a volunteer-based club that solved students' problems. Hachiman-kun was quite active in it, you know?"

"Eh?! No way!"

No wonder Kushida reacted like that—even Hikigaya himself still found it hard to believe.

Why had he been so concerned with the Service Club back then?

He couldn't remember anymore.

"In any case, Hachiman just doesn't want to get us involved, which is why he's keeping everything to himself."

Kushida concluded on her own, ignoring Matsushita's "At least say 'us,' not just 'me'" in protest.

"I don't mind, you know? What's important is how Hachiman feels about it." Kushida stared directly into Hikigaya's eyes. "I already thought about this last time we met—Horikita and her brother are both serious, honor-bound elite types. So, just like how Ryuuen tried to trap Horikita, there's no way you'd be able to sit back and do nothing, right?"

"No, I—"

"Be honest!"

Hikigaya instinctively tried to deny it, but Kushida cut him off immediately.

"At this point, there's no need to hide things between us, right? No matter what you decide, I'll fully support you. And if I run into trouble, I know you'll help me, too. Isn't that right?"

"A-Ah. Yeah." Hikigaya stiffly nodded.

Strange… why could she say something like that so boldly, without blushing at all?

Meanwhile, the one listening to it wanted to crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment!

"Great. Then let's hear what you think." Kushida smiled. "At this rate, Horikita's brother is going to fall into a trap, and the former student council president's reputation will be ruined. Do you want to let Nagumo have his way? I can tell—you hate that guy."

"…Yeah."

After a moment of hesitation, Hikigaya nodded.

"If Nagumo were to openly challenge Horikita-senpai in a fair fight, that would be none of my business. But if he's using Horikita-senpai's trust while secretly targeting others… I don't like that. I have to stop him."

"Ahaha, still as awkward as ever."

Matsushita chuckled wryly and lightly kicked Horikita's leg.

"Horikita-san, Hachiman-kun is being honest now. What about you?"

"Hey, Horikita." Kushida's gaze turned cold. "You damn brother-con, hurry up and be honest with yourself. We're discussing your brother's situation here. Don't just sit back and rely on Hachiman because you're too much of a coward to step up."

"I-I'm not thinking that!"

Horikita protested, then suddenly realized something, her expression one of disbelief.

"Wait… Kushida-san, were you just… encouraging me?"

"Hah! Yeah, I was encouraging you, you useless little sister." Kushida let out a dismissive snort.

"Your attitude is way too arrogant…!"

"Am I wrong, though?"

Kushida crossed her arms and looked down at Horikita.

"Without my help, do you think you can support your brother? You can't even handle the girls in your class, let alone the upperclassmen. Those women are a hundred times harder to deal with."

"Guh…!"

Faced with Kushida's sharp words, Horikita found herself unable to refute them and bit her lip in frustration.

It had been a long time since Hikigaya had seen that expression from her.

"As much as I hate to admit it… you're right. On my own, I wouldn't be able to do anything."

Horikita sighed softly before suddenly stepping forward.

Then, she bowed deeply to them all.

"Hikigaya-kun, Kushida-san, Matsushita-san… please lend me your strength. I want to… I want to help my brother!"

"No problem!" Kushida grinned. "As long as you sincerely kneel and beg me, I might just help you out."

Horikita shot her head up, fuming. "Why do you always say things like that?!"

"What, you don't even have that level of resolve?"

"But you treat me and Hikigaya-kun so differently!"

"Duh, what makes you think you're on the same level as Hachiman?"

…Yeah, their relationship was just as "friendly" as ever.

Hikigaya still had his concerns, but somehow, he felt a strange sense of relief—like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Was this… what having allies felt like?

It still felt a bit weird.

"By the way, Hachiman-kun, shouldn't you go and give Horikita-senpai a heads-up in advance?"

At that moment, Matsushita made a suggestion.

"Hmm... In your eyes, what kind of person do you think Nagumo is?"

Instead of answering, Hikigaya threw out a seemingly unrelated question.

However, all three of them knew he wouldn't ask something pointless, so they took it seriously and thought about it carefully.

After a brief moment, they each gave their responses.

"Just a disgusting blond guy who looks cheerful on the surface but has already laid hands on quite a few women."

"I heard that seventeen second-year students have been expelled, and more than half of them were related to Nagumo. It's just a rumor, but looking at it now, it seems pretty credible."

"My brother's successor... Seems pretty capable, and also cunning."

Hikigaya wasn't particularly surprised by their responses—though the last one was way too perfunctory.

As expected, Horikita was the weakest when it came to gathering information.

Hikigaya nodded and said, "There's a common premise in what you all just said—you've strengthened your impression of Nagumo based on my opinions of him."

"You mean... bias?" Horikita was the first to react.

Her brain worked fast.

"That's right. The same logic applies to Horikita-senpai," Hikigaya explained in detail. "Horikita-senpai also has his own biases about Nagumo. In his eyes, Nagumo is ruthless towards those who dare to oppose him, but at the same time, he's someone who keeps his promises. Up until now, he hasn't broken a single one. So even if I go warn him, as long as Nagumo openly issues a challenge, Horikita-senpai will still believe him."

"So basically, Horikita's brother doesn't trust you? Then why even bother helping?!" Kushida immediately shouted.

"That's not it—it's just human nature."

Seeing that Kushida was about to get angry, Hikigaya quickly stepped in to stop her.

"After all, Horikita-senpai has worked alongside Nagumo in the student council for over two years, whereas he's only known me for a little over six months. It's perfectly normal for him to trust what he's seen with his own eyes more."

In this regard, it wouldn't be fair to say Horikita was in the wrong.

Honestly, if Hikigaya hadn't overheard Nagumo's secret plot with Sakayanagi, he wouldn't have wanted to assume the worst about him either.

Even now, there was still a possibility that he was overthinking things—that guy might not be planning anything underhanded at all.

—In the end, Nagumo might simply want to defeat Horikita-senpai fair and square.

Similar thoughts had crossed Hikigaya's mind as well.

Unfortunately, all the current evidence pointed to Nagumo being utterly untrustworthy—the chances of being mistaken were less than one in a thousand.

So, it was necessary to make arrangements in advance.

"Kushida, Matsushita, I have a favor to ask." Hikigaya said seriously. "I need you to gather some information on the third-year girls. See who's been getting close to Nagumo over this winter break, especially in Class 3-B."

"The third-years, huh… Got it." Kushida nodded.

The mixed-group assignments at the forest camp were limited to the same grade level. If Nagumo intended to use the girls to attack Horikita academically, then regardless of whether the target was Tachibana Akane or someone else, his primary focus would undoubtedly be Class 3-B.

Right now, the point difference between Class 3-A and Class 3-B is just a little over 300.

If Nagumo extended an olive branch at this point, even at some risk, there would be people in Class B who would be tempted.

While he could also try to buy off students from Class 3-C or 3-D, considering cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and his level of determination, Class B remained the most likely option.

"I say, Hachiman-kun, if this works out, what reward will you give me?" Matsushita asked with a cheerful smile.

"Don't worry, I won't skimp on your points."

Hikigaya considered himself rather generous in these matters—after all, he couldn't just take advantage of someone else's labor for free.

Besides, if someone was working for him, it was only right to prepare the appropriate compensation. That was just basic social common sense!

"That's not it." Matsushita waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not short on points right now. And most of my class is pretty broke—I can't exactly splurge while everyone else is struggling, can I? Even if I had money, I wouldn't be able to use it freely."

That made sense. Someone like Hikigaya, who moved independently, wouldn't care about such things—he could eat whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

But Matsushita had her social circle. She couldn't just ignore the financial situations of the people around her and spend recklessly.

She couldn't exactly be the only one ordering the most expensive special meal while everyone else stuck to the free wild vegetable set, right?

That would only create unnecessary trouble and disrupt group unity.

"Then what do you want?"

"I want… Hehe, I'll tell you later."

Matsushita playfully winked, which gave Hikigaya a very bad feeling.

"I'll tell you later" was always the most troublesome kind of request. But he couldn't go back on his word now—not that he even had the option to.

"Hachiman, I want a reward too!" Kushida raised her hand.

"…Are you also going to tell me later?"

"No, I want it now."

For some reason, Kushida suddenly flashed a triumphant smile at Matsushita and Horikita, as if she had already won something.

"From now on, just call me by my name."

"…Hah?"

Hikigaya froze at the request.

Why did she always bring up this kind of thing?

Calling each other by name… was that so important?

In Hikigaya's entire life, the only people he referred to by name were Komachi and Haruno. The former because she was his sister, and the latter because calling both Yukinoshita sisters "Yukinoshita" was confusing.

Back then, he had originally addressed Haruno as "Yukinoshita-san"... When did that change?

"What's wrong? Can't do it?" Kushida looked at him with a slightly uneasy expression.

"No, I was just thinking… What's your name again?"

"…Huh?"

In that instant, Kushida's voice dropped to an ominous low, her expression turning terrifying—like some vengeful spirit that had crawled out of hell.

Hikigaya nearly jumped, hastily shaking his head. "No, no! Just kidding! It's Kikyo, right? Your name is Kikyo!"

"Mm! Hachiman!"

Kushida's face instantly lit up with a smile, and she even called Hikigaya's name in response.

…Her mood swings were way too unstable.

"Heh, Kushida-san, that's nice." Matsushita looked at her, unimpressed.

"Hmph, what's it to you?" Kushida hummed happily. "And I'm warning you—don't copy me."

"Don't worry, I'm not as easily satisfied as you."

Hearing that, Hikigaya suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

Just what the hell did Matsushita want?

As he was worrying about that, Horikita hesitantly spoke up. "Um, Hikigaya-kun… What should I do?"

"You… just organize the intel they gather."

"…Oh."

Horikita responded sullenly. She probably understood that she wasn't of much use in this situation, but she still found it hard to accept.

It couldn't be helped.

"Oh, right. Let's just make a group chat. That way, it'll be easier to stay in touch."

Saying that Matsushita pulled out her phone and quickly tapped away at the screen.

"Hachiman-kun, hurry up and accept—I've already invited you."

"Oh, alright."

Hikigaya didn't think much of it and accepted Matsushita's invitation.

The group had only four members—him, Matsushita, Horik—wait a second?

Something felt off. Why were they already in the group?

And what the hell was with the group name… Outer Defense Alliance?

Was that supposed to mean defending against enemies outside of Class D?

"Hey, did you guys make this group beforehand? Am I the last one to join?" Hikigaya couldn't help but ask.

"Eh?! A-Ahaha, well…"

Strangely, Matsushita looked hesitant to answer.

Horikita and Kushida also averted their eyes, avoiding Hikigaya's gaze.

Huh? What was so hard to explain about this?

Even if they had been in contact privately, it wasn't like that had anything to do with—wait, when did they start talking to each other?

Just as Hikigaya was about to connect the dots, Kushida suddenly stood up.

"Alright! It's getting late, we should head back!"

"Yeah, well then, Hachiman-kun, see you."

"…Let's go."

Before he could react, the three of them filed out the door and disappeared in an instant.

With a loud bang, the room fell silent, leaving Hikigaya alone.

But he still didn't understand…

When the hell did those three start working together?!