Chapter 70 Ichinose Blame Herself

Class Point Results After the Examination

Class A: -200 class points; zero personal points.

Class B: -100 class points; gain 500,000 personal points.

Class C: 300 class points; gain 4.5 million personal points.

Class D: -50 class points; gain 1 million personal points.

After the results were tallied, the class standings became:

Class A: 924 points

Class B: 866 points

Class C: 792 points

Class D: 259 points

Class B trailed Class A by only about 60 points, but Class C surged ahead, putting them within 70 points of catching up to Class B. Although Class B correctly guessed the Dragon Team's VIP, they were otherwise swept, while Class C achieved a dominant victory.

The possibility of someone betraying their own class becomes more plausible. If a class had traitors, Hikigaya reasoned, the most likely candidate was still Class D. However, the results for Class D puzzled him. With a -50-point outcome, the math didn't add up.

If all three of Class D's VIPs were guessed correctly, the result should've been -150 points. If Class D also won the first day of the Ape Group, the result should've been -100 points. The only explanation was that Class D had successfully hidden one group's VIP.

"This is going to be troublesome…" Watanabe muttered, shaking his head. "I didn't think Class C would catch up so fast."

"Don't worry," Shibata said, trying to reassure him. "We're only a step behind Class A."

"That's true…" Watanabe sighed, then added, "But how did Ryuuen pull this off?"

"There's only one explanation," Kanzaki interjected calmly. "Someone in Class A or Class D betrayed their class for personal points."

"Class A? Impossible," Shibata said firmly. "They're Class A for a reason. As long as they hold their position, there's no need for personal-point betrayal."

"That's true…" Kanzaki admitted after some thought. "But Sakayanagi is a wild card. She's dangerous—capable of satisfying her own selfish desires even if it hurts the class."

"No way," Watanabe said, visibly confused. "Would the class even support someone like that?"

"Unlikely," Kanzaki agreed. "A blatant betrayal of class. That person would treated as an outcast in their own class. For someone to access VIP data, they'd need the trust of their class. Even if there are exceptions, it's impossible for an entire class to willingly risk their standings this much."

Hikigaya, listening from his bed, couldn't help but chime in.

"Why not consider the possibility of a traitor in Class B?"

The room went silent for a moment.

"How could that be?" Shibata finally responded, shaking his head. "There's no way we'd have a traitor in Class B."

"And why not?" Hikigaya pressed.

Shibata scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Because we have good relationships here. I don't think anyone in Class B feels dissatisfied."

"And," Watanabe added, "we're close to catching up to Class A. No one would betray the class now."

Hikigaya rolled his eyes. "Those aren't reasons. Ryuuen and Katsuragi are strong enough that even if they reach Class A, they could fall back down again. If someone's aiming for 20 million personal points, betraying the class to ensure their survival isn't entirely out of the question."

Though Hikigaya's argument was cynical, it wasn't entirely without a point. He couldn't help but feel these guys were overly optimistic. Because everyone has a good relationship, no one would betray the class. What kind of naive logic is that? Bad people don't come pre-packaged with a label. They're often just ordinary folks, sometimes even good people until a critical moment flips the switch. That's what makes betrayal so frightening.

"You do have a point. However," Kanzaki said, turning to him. "You are the only one in Class B who hasn't entrusted your personal points to Ichinose for safekeeping. So let me ask you, Hikigaya—are you a traitor?"

"Of course not," Hikigaya replied with a twitch of his lips.

It made sense. Since nearly everyone had given their points to Ichinose, except for him. Kanzaki was right to be suspicious.

Even if he found their blind trust in the class troubling—especially since some didn't even take the exam seriously—it was hard to argue with their reasoning. Handing over personal points was a decisive gesture of unity, leaving little room for betrayal. If anyone were the most likely candidate for a traitor, it would be Hikigaya himself. Fine. If that's what they wanted to believe, so be it.

"Exactly," Kanzaki said with a faint smile. "Hikigaya, I understand your concerns, but I've always believed Class B is the best class, and Ichinose is the most outstanding leader. Let's keep working together."

"Fine." Hikigaya sprawled back on his bed, indifferent.

The world was full of smart people. He wasn't the only one burdened with doubts, but at least Ichinose was doing a commendable job. Class D's unexpected betrayal was just a minor hiccup—they were only a step away from overtaking Class A. For now, everything seemed fine.

The Next Day

The exam was over, and the cruise ship was on its way back to the port. Hikigaya, embracing his usual laid-back attitude, stepped onto the deck and made his way to the rooftop café. There, a lone figure by the stern caught his attention.

Ichinose stood by the rail, gazing out at the sea. It was rare to see her alone. Normally, she was surrounded by friends, radiating energy. But today, the faint sadness on her face was hard to ignore.

"What are you doing?" Hikigaya asked, stepping closer.

He had a fleeting thought—was she about to jump overboard?

"Ah, Hikigaya?" Ichinose snapped out of her thoughts, scratching her head awkwardly. "Did you need something?"

"No," Hikigaya said after a brief pause. "You just looked... disappointed. I came to ask if something was wrong. Am I intruding?"

"Eh? Not at all!" Ichinose waved her hand quickly. "Actually, I'm kind of happy you came to talk to me. It's just that…"

She hesitated, turning back to the sea with a faint bitterness on her lips. "After hearing your reasoning, I figured out who the Rabbit Group's VIP was. I was certain of it. But in the end, I didn't submit the answer to the school."

"Very Ichinose of you," Hikigaya said with a nod. Given Class B's cooperative relationship with Class D, Ichinose wouldn't betray Class D, even if she knew the answer.

"But…" Ichinose bit her lip. "When I saw the results, I regretted it. If I had submitted the answer, would Class B have lost fifty class points? Maybe we'd already be in Class A now."

Looking at her disappointed expression, Hikigaya realized he'd overestimated her. Ichinose wasn't as unshakable as she appeared. She carried her share of self-blame and doubt, much like anyone else. But from Hikigaya's perspective, the situation wasn't her fault. It was the result of many factors—Ryuuen's cunning, the unexpected betrayal. Ichinose had no reason to bear that guilt alone.

However, her strong sense of responsibility was undeniable.

And that, Hikigaya thought, was an essential quality of a leader. Someone unwilling to take responsibility for their group wouldn't earn anyone's loyalty.

"Well…" Hikigaya began, unsure how to phrase his thoughts. He carefully considered his words before speaking. "Didn't you say everything would be fine as long as everyone worked together? If we lose this time, we'll win next time."

Ichinose seemed to perk up at his words, a bright smile returning to her face. "Yes, that's true. Thank you, Hikigaya. It's great to hear you say that." Then, tilting her head slightly, she asked, "By the way, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing much," Hikigaya replied. "I was just on my way to the café."

"Ah, I see. Well then, I won't keep you any longer. Thanks again, Hikigaya-kun." She grinned at him, she was back to her usual cheerful self.

With a wave, Ichinose turned and walked away. Watching her retreating figure, Hikigaya sighed softly. He wasn't great at comforting people. If he were, he'd probably be the most popular guy in the class. It was obvious Ichinose was just putting on a brave face, not wanting him to see her vulnerable side. Still, with her strong sense of determination, Hikigaya figured she'd be fine.

Back at School

Class B was dismissed upon their return. Despite Class C closing the gap, Class B was still only one step away from Class A. This setback seemed to ignite a renewed sense of determination among the students. Everyone vowed to work harder, and while Hikigaya had his doubts about their promises, he let it be. He returned to his dormitory to rest.

With more than half a month left before the end of summer vacation, Hikigaya found himself alone. Komachi wasn't around, and though he didn't have high standards for material comforts, he decided to indulge a little now that he had plenty of personal points.

The Next Day Hikigaya left his dorm and headed to Keyaki Mall, ready to enjoy his day. The mall looked different from when the school started. Several areas were blocked off with plastic sheets for renovations. Seeing the changes and hearing the chatter around him, Hikigaya felt a tinge of excitement. The school might have taken his suggestions to heart—creating hidden stores in the mall to improve student happiness and the teachers' quality of life.

If he was right, one of those stores might just be a ramen shop. He looked around, wondering which brands the school would allow. Judging by the pace of renovations, though, it seemed it would take at least another month or two before anything opened. "The work efficiency here is as slow as the Japanese government," he muttered, slightly dissatisfied, as he headed toward the cinema.

At the Cinema Hikigaya's hobbies were simple: watching movies, borrowing books from the library, or reading in quiet club spaces. Approaching the counter, he chose a B-movie—low-budget films like these weren't very popular, but occasionally, they held hidden gems. Scanning for a seat, he frowned. The lower-right corner had someone seated. The lower-left corner too. In fact, every corner was taken.

"Why do people in Tokyo love corner seats so much?" he grumbled.

Hikigaya imagined if "Corner Seat" merchandise existed, it'd probably sell out instantly. Perhaps because the exam had just ended, the cinema was unusually crowded. This particular B-movie seemed to have drawn an unexpected audience. Reluctantly, he chose a seat three rows from the back in the lower-right section, leaving a gap between himself and the person already seated there. With a can of MAX coffee in hand, he entered the screening room and found his spot.

Settling in, he glanced at the person seated nearby—a girl with short hair. Even in the dim light, her fierce gaze was unmistakable. "Ugh…" Hikigaya groaned under his breath.

It was Ibuki Mio from Class C. He remembered her all too well—sharp-eyed, aggressive, and definitely not someone he wanted to run into