COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

Deceiving Nagumo wasn't difficult—just feigning ignorance and pretending not to notice anything would suffice.

But doing so would mean missing out on valuable information.

It was just like an RPG side quest—choose the wrong dialogue option, and the quest closes off permanently. Well, something like that, anyway.

However, if Hikigaya were to claim that he had completely seen through Nagumo's scheme, that would be just as bad.

After all, he had no intention of becoming Nagumo's next target, like Ayanokoji.

The key was balance—Nagumo shouldn't see him as a fool with no skill, but he also shouldn't perceive him as too capable.

…How troublesome.

"What's wrong, Hikigaya? Is this question difficult to answer?"

"No, I was just considering which aspect to answer first."

Meeting Nagumo's probing gaze, Hikigaya decided to give a response that would pique his interest.

Sure enough, Nagumo immediately followed up with confusion. "What do you mean by which aspect? I was simply asking about your match with Senior Horikita—there's nothing else to it."

"Really?" Hikigaya countered. "Judging from the measures you've taken so far, it doesn't seem like you genuinely want a fair match."

"Oh? And why do you say that?"

"Simple. Your group consists mostly of Class C and Class D students. Even as flattery, it's hard to call that a strong team. More importantly, if you truly wanted victory, you wouldn't have given the first-years control over group formation."

As he voiced his speculation, Hikigaya observed Nagumo's reaction.

To be honest, he felt a little disappointed.

Nagumo's methods were far too crude. Even if the direct confrontation was just a facade, he should have at least put in the effort to maintain appearances—otherwise, his intentions would be exposed too quickly.

Horikita-senpai, due to their past two years of acquaintance, still held some trust in him, believing that he would honor their agreement.

"Heh, so you think I'll break my agreement with Senior Horikita?"

A playful smile crept across Nagumo's face.

"Even if that were the case—what do you think I would do?"

"Isn't the answer obvious?" Hikigaya replied indifferently. "It's just a contest to see who can force more students to drop out… That's been your goal from the start, hasn't it, President Nagumo?"

"Hahaha, impressive, impressive."

Rather than denying it, Nagumo laughed in satisfaction.

"Hikigaya, I never expected you to understand me even better than Senior Horikita. You really are the strongest among the first-years."

"Not at all. I'm far behind Ayanokoji."

"No need to be so modest. Ayanokoji is strong, yes, but you have qualities that surpass him in some areas."

Being praised didn't make Hikigaya happy in the slightest.

If he wasn't careful here, it would definitely lead to trouble.

Nagumo continued. "Let's test you again—who do you think I'll target among Senior Horikita's group?"

Here it comes! I knew he'd ask this!

Hikigaya answered without hesitation. "Isn't it Ayanokoji? You already mentioned it back at the karaoke."

"…Heh, that's true."

Nagumo's grin deepened.

But this time, it was because Hikigaya had guessed wrong.

Nagumo's true target was likely among the girls. He would need to ask Kushida and the others during dinner for more details.

"Senior Horikita's group is practically flawless. He's not even the designated leader, so there's no opening to attack him directly… But the one he favors—Ayanokoji—is a different story."

Saying this, Nagumo turned to look in the direction of Ayanokoji's group.

"Hikigaya, do you think that group was formed by coincidence?"

"Hmm, I haven't looked into it yet."

Wait… now that he mentioned it, the members of that group were indeed interesting.

Aside from Ayanokoji, there were Tokito, Ishizaki, and Albert from Class C.

On the surface, all three had reasons to be hostile toward Ayanokoji. But Ishizaki and Albert were likely following Ryuuen's orders to join, mainly to keep an eye on Tokito.

Class B had two members—Yahiko and Hashimoto.

Come to think of it, Hikigaya had received reports that Nagumo had visited the tennis club during winter break. And Hashimoto was a member there.

Given Hashimoto's tendency to switch allegiances, it wouldn't be surprising if he had secretly aligned himself with the student council president.

Lastly, there were three students from Class A.

One of them had a name that caught Hikigaya's attention—Tokito Katsuya. Not Tokito Hiroya from Class C.

It wasn't certain, but the surname "Tokito" was rare, meaning they were likely related.

In other words, he might also be a collaborator in this Masterpiece Encirclement.

Looking at it now, the number of people involved was quite substantial.

Seeing Hikigaya's contemplative expression, Nagumo knew he had caught onto something and smirked.

"Do you know who the leader of that group is?"

"Who? Isn't it Tokito?"

"Heh, I only said I'd send a representative." Nagumo's expression was one of absolute confidence. "They probably haven't decided yet, so I should go remind them."

Saying this, he walked toward Ayanokoji's group and called out to them.

By the rules, the leader didn't need to be chosen immediately—there was still time.

However, since Nagumo was pushing for it, he likely intended to use his senior status to pressure them into submission.

Hikigaya cursed the guy's shamelessness internally while quietly watching from a distance.

"Excuse me, but may I have a word with your leader?"

At Nagumo's inquiry, the group exchanged glances, but no one stepped forward.

"Haven't decided yet?" Nagumo frowned. "It's best to hurry. While there's no rule stating you must decide now, it's important to understand your responsibilities early. Delaying will only create unease within the group."

Technically, they could ignore this demand, but few first-years dared to defy an upperclassman to his face.

Even Ayanokoji, despite his strength, remained silent in the background.

And that's precisely why he fell into Nagumo's trap.

"Just decide already, by any means necessary."

With the student council president personally giving orders, resistance was futile.

Yet, no one was willing to take on the responsibility.

In the end, they agreed to settle it with rock-paper-scissors.

However, one person refused to participate.

Naturally, that person was Koenji.

Standing near the window, he gazed outside as if the entire situation was beneath him.

"Hey, blondie, hurry up!"

A second-year named Kiriyama snapped impatiently, but Koenji paid him no mind.

Only when he was called a second time did he turn around, as if just realizing someone was speaking to him.

"Hohoho, my magnificent golden locks do stand out, don't they?"

"…What?"

Kiriyama was baffled by the nonsensical response.

And then, a familiar sense of irritation surged within him.

This… this behavior seemed familiar.

"Enough nonsense! Just come over here."

"And why should I? I have no interest in rock-paper-scissors."

"You—! Are you looking down on your seniors?"

Unfortunately, even with upperclassmen glaring at him, Koenji remained utterly unfazed.

"Looking down? Oh, no, not at all. Rest assured, I have never had the slightest interest in any of you, to begin with."

His words weren't meant to be provocative.

But there was no way anyone wouldn't be pissed off by them.

At this moment, it seemed that Tokito had finally run out of patience with all the dawdling and started closing in on him.

"Stop talking nonsense and just play rock-paper-scissors already."

"I won't be participating because I have no interest in being the so-called leader," Kouenji stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "The rules say that each group must have someone take on the role, right? In that case, as long as it's not me, anyone else can do it. Doesn't that work?"

Everyone was stunned by his sheer audacity.

"Hey, quit joking around! This isn't your house—no one's going to indulge you!"

"Heh heh heh, then why don't you all just go ahead and appoint me as the leader?"

Kouenji swept his bangs back and made an unexpected statement.

However, what he said next left everyone speechless.

"If I decide to do something, I will see it through to the end. But if I decide not to do something, I absolutely won't do it. So even if you make me the leader, I won't take on any responsibilities. I might even refuse to take the exam at all. And if my score ends up below the average, I'll drag someone down with me. That works for you, yes?"

"Y-You're bluffing!" Tokito shouted, his neck stiff with frustration. "If you did that, you'd get expelled too! I don't believe you'd go that far."

"Whether you believe it or not is your problem. I simply act according to my own will."

Kouenji's attitude was as if he had no fear of expulsion.

Faced with this unexpected situation, everyone froze in place, unsure of what to do.

No one knew whether he was bluffing, but regardless, that strange and distinct aura made everyone keenly aware of it.

At that moment, someone forcefully intervened.

"I've heard a little about you, Kouenji."

"I know you too. You're the new student council president, right?"

Nagumo normally had little interaction with Kouenji, but he had previously mentioned to Hikigaya that he intended to put him in his place.

And now, the timing couldn't be better... if he could pull it off.

"It's your freedom to take such a frivolous attitude, but do you really think expulsion is no big deal?"

Facing Kouenji, who was impervious to reason, Nagumo immediately launched into a sharp interrogation.

"This school has all kinds of troublesome rules, yet despite that, you've stayed here with such a carefree attitude. Your goal is to graduate from here, isn't it? But now you're acting as if getting expelled doesn't matter? That's all fake, isn't it? You just don't want to put in the effort to reach Class A. You never intended to drop out in the first place."

"Hahaha, what an interesting statement. And what makes you so sure that I'm lying?"

Even though Kouenji's demeanor didn't waver in the slightest, Hikigaya had a feeling that Nagumo wasn't just making baseless claims.

He must have had solid confidence to say such things.

"Because it's written all over your face."

But Nagumo seemed unwilling to explain further, choosing instead to mock Kouenji with his vague remark.

In response, Kouenji smiled joyfully.

"Bravo! Bravo!"

He clapped his hands enthusiastically and then admitted his deception without hesitation.

"I don't want to be the leader, so I lied. Let me correct myself—I don't intend to strive for Class A, but I also don't intend to drop out. In other words, being able to enjoy my days leisurely like this is ideal for me."

For Kouenji, it was rare to make such an admission, as if he were confessing to a crime.

However, Nagumo wasn't satisfied with this answer.

"You're not interested in Class A? That's another lie, isn't it?"

"Oh my, am I already branded as a habitual liar?"

"No matter how well you put on an act, it's useless. Haven't you already figured out a way to graduate from Class A?"

As the crowd exchanged incredulous looks, Nagumo continued his speech with confidence.

"Spending 20 million points to enter Class A—everyone has considered this option, haven't they? In reality, it's not easy to accumulate that many points, but it's not impossible either. You started inquiring about how senior students' points are handled upon graduation not long after entering this school, didn't you?"

"Heh, go on."

Even though Nagumo had exposed Kouenji's planned strategy, Kouenji showed no sign of panic. Instead, he smiled even more happily.

"Upon graduation, a third-year student's personal points are converted into cash," Nagumo revealed, shocking the second-year students. "Of course, the exchange rate is reduced, but it's still a special privilege. And you, Kouenji, planned to buy personal points at a higher rate, didn't you?"

When the first-years entered the school, they were told by their homeroom teachers that personal points would be forfeited upon graduation.

In reality, that was merely a tactic by the school to prevent students from hoarding their points. The truth was only revealed to them in their third year.

Hikigaya had already learned about this long ago, but he had no intention of taking money out of the school.

Most of the points he currently held were obtained by squeezing other classes dry. He didn't mind spending them inside the school, but pocketing large sums of cash… somehow, that felt a little unethical.

Hearing Nagumo's explanation, the surrounding students struggled to hide their shock and hesitation.

Kouenji, however, looked extremely pleased. "Exactly. I discovered this as soon as I enrolled. No matter how low one's status may be during school, if one can obtain personal points through this perfectly legal method, graduating from Class A is effortless. Once I realized this overly simplistic strategy, this school suddenly became boring."

This was a strategy only the disgustingly rich could afford.

As graduation approached, students—whether or not they could enter Class A—had to plan for their future. Making a little extra money on the side was not a bad idea.

The only issue was how Kouenji would guarantee his promise.

"Fortunately, before enrolling in this school, I had already made my status as the next president of my family's company public. Moving around a few million yen is an easy task for me. Gaining trust is not difficult at all."

Ah, that made sense.

As long as it was confirmed that Kouenji was the heir to a major corporation, many people would be willing to bet on him.

"Indeed, quite a few second-years are planning to sell their points to you, and there must be many third-years as well," Nagumo smirked. "You told them to keep it quiet, but many second-years trust me deeply. Some of them came to ask whether they could trust your offer. At the time, I approved of your plan… but that ends today."

Saying this, he shifted his gaze towards the second- and third-year students.

"You all saw that, didn't you? Even if Kouenji is a wealthy man, he is completely untrustworthy. It's best not to sell him your points."

Nagumo's move was undeniably brilliant.

People often fall into a cognitive trap—assuming that someone with billions in assets wouldn't bother scamming ordinary people for a few thousand dollars.

But in reality, being rich doesn't equate to being trustworthy.

Without a formal contract, no one could guarantee that Kouenji would honor his promise.

If he were someone like Ichinose or Hirata—a bleeding heart—many people might still be willing to take the risk even without a contract.

But Kouenji had always acted like an arrogant, self-indulgent rich kid. Now, with Nagumo branding him as a fraud, his credibility was completely shattered.

Nagumo added, "Just to be safe, I'll report this to the school. The administration likely wouldn't allow students to purchase personal points before graduation anyway."

"It doesn't matter. I was merely preparing for my ascent to Class A. In reality, I haven't even decided whether I'll use this method yet."

Kouenji didn't seem to be making excuses. As someone obscenely wealthy, he truly didn't care about graduating from Class A.

He probably just found amusement in 'figuring out a strategy for reaching Class A.'

That being said, Nagumo's move was truly impressive. His insight and intelligence were at least passable.

Hikigaya figured he should start taking him a bit more seriously.

"But, Student Council President, now that everything has been exposed, I no longer have any reason to participate in rock-paper-scissors. I won't be taking on the leader role."

"Hah, that's true."

Nagumo seemed to have anticipated Kouenji's response all along.

Ah, so that was his plan from the start—to deliberately expose Kouenji.

The reason wasn't hard to guess. Rich people were often the easiest targets for resentment.

If the group leader were expelled, Kouenji would likely be dragged down with them.

From a practical standpoint, this strategy was quite effective.

The scene fell into a stalemate once more. Everyone understood that even if Kouenji got expelled, it wouldn't affect his future. No one dared to force him into the leader position.

At that moment, Nagumo stepped in again.

"I say, you guys have wasted enough time. We can't keep stalling forever… Let's just do this."

He pointed directly at Ayanokoji.

"In my opinion, Ayanokoji should be the leader. He's smart, athletic, and even good at fighting. I doubt anyone here is more capable than him. Wouldn't he be the perfect choice?"

"Uh…" Ayanokoji neither agreed nor refused—he simply remained silent.

Of course, the other first-years wouldn't speak up for him either. As long as someone took the responsibility, that was enough.

"Hey, are you mute? Say something."

The second-years weren't about to wait indefinitely. A dozen pairs of eyes bore into Ayanokoji, exerting invisible pressure.

However, Ayanokoji wasn't the type to yield to such weak intimidation.

"...I understand."

But he also didn't want to openly defy his seniors… Wait, wasn't that the same thing?

In the end, he had no choice but to accept.

Sigh… Nagumo really played dirty.

Hikigaya shook his head and sighed internally.