Chapter 75 Hikigaya Made A Girl Cry

The Second Class Meeting

The school held a morning assembly in Gymnasium No. 1. The keynote speaker was Fujimaki-senpai, a third-year Class A student whose speech was so tedious that Hikigaya found himself nodding off halfway through.

When the speech finally ended, Ryuuen and his Class C entourage marched in, exuding their usual overconfidence. Kanzaki, Shibata, and the others instinctively gathered behind Ichinose, forming a united front.

What idiots, Hikigaya thought. Why do these people love moving in packs? Are they planning a group brawl or something? With so many people around, the idea of a fight wasn't even possible. Hikigaya, standing off to the side, looked thoroughly uninterested and made no effort to join the cheering squad for Ichinose.

"Yo, Ichinose." Ryuuen strolled up to her with his trademark smugness and declared, "Classes that can't trust each other will just hold us back. So there's no point in cooperating. This sports festival will be no different. You get it, don't you?" Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and started walking away, his classmates following suit. It was clear he didn't care about Ichinose's input at all.

"In other words, you're not even open to discussion?" Ichinose asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Class B and Class C were both part of the White Team and were allies. Against the Red Team, composed of third-year Class A and second-year Class A, their chances of victory were already slim. If they couldn't cooperate, those chances would only shrink further.

"I'm just saving you the trouble." Ryuuen sneered over his shoulder. "Even if I suggested teaming up, you wouldn't trust me, would you? At the end of the day, we'd just waste time second-guessing each other."

Hikigaya, observing from the sidelines, felt a twinge of annoyance. This guy really thinks he's some kind of mastermind.

Given Ichinose's trusting nature, Hikigaya figured she might try to work with Ryuuen anyway. But Ryuuen was clearly the type to dismiss others' opinions, relying solely on his own judgment. It wasn't arrogance—it was confidence born of ability. Still, anyone who had endured life on an uninhabited island with Ryuuen's level of ambition undoubtedly had a plan.

"I see. You're looking out for us and saving us the hassle. Got it." Ichinose smiled diplomatically.

"That's right. You should be thanking me." Ryuuen's response was dripping with mockery,

but Ichinose didn't give up. "Hey, Ryuuen-san, are you saying you're confident you can win this competition without cooperating?"

"Hah, who knows?" Ryuuen chuckled, then led Class C away without another word.

Class B was left in disarray. "Well, that's that," Shibata said with a shrug. "If Ryuuen isn't interested, I guess we'll just have to do our best on our own."

"Not necessarily," Ichinose replied, shaking her head thoughtfully. "I'm sure Ryuuen has a strategy. It's just one that doesn't involve us. He could even be using this to throw Class A or Class D off balance."

Hikigaya followed her gaze toward Class A and Class D, who were holding their own discussions. At the center of Class A's camp, Katsuragi and Hirata seemed to be glancing occasionally toward someone seated apart from the others.

Curious, Hikigaya turned his head and spotted a petite girl sitting alone on a folding chair.

"Wow..." His initial reaction was visceral. The girl was undoubtedly Sakayanagi Arisu, leader of Class A. She was undeniably cute, with a disarming smile that seemed tailor-made for a café waitress—but something about her was unsettling. Her expression wasn't genuine. It was a calculated facade, as though she didn't care who noticed that her smile was entirely fake.

It's like she sees everyone around her as toys, Hikigaya thought, a chill running down his spine. She wouldn't hesitate to betray her class for her own amusement. Just imagining what Katsuragi must endure working with her made Hikigaya feel a deep sense of respect. He quickly averted his eyes, wanting no part in whatever mind games Sakayanagi might be playing.

"That does make sense," Kanzaki said calmly, breaking the silence. "Ryuuen's competitive nature doesn't match with someone who'd simply give up. He must already have a plan to secure victory."

Hikigaya, still uneasy, sighed internally. This festival is going to be a nightmare.

"But we don't have to worry too much," Ichinose said with a warm, reassuring smile. "This time, we're working together with Class C," she continued. "Let's just focus on enjoying the sports festival."

"Yes!" Shibata thumped his chest with confidence. "I'll take first place in the individual competition!"

"Shibata-kun, you're so reliable," one of the girls chimed in, her voice full of admiration.

The other girls immediately nodded in agreement. After all, Shibata was the total package—handsome, athletic, smart, cheerful, and kind. He exuded an effortless charm that made him the center of attention.

Ugh, disgusting riajuu, Hikigaya thought sourly.

"Well then, Shibata-kun, we'll leave it to you," Ichinose said with a gentle laugh, clearly relieved.

Just as Hikigaya was getting ready to leave, Ichinose approached his desk with her ever-present smile.

"Hikigaya-kun, we've decided to train on the school grounds after class. Don't leave just yet, okay?"

"Eh? Why?" Hikigaya frowned in confusion. "Wouldn't practice during gym class be enough?" These people are taking this way too seriously, he thought. The school had even added extra physical education classes this month specifically to avoid encroaching on students' personal time. Couldn't anyone appreciate the school's considerate efforts?

"No way" Ichinose's expression turned serious. "Our class hasn't been performing well in sports. While our overall teamwork is solid, we're lagging behind the other classes in individual skills. That's why we need extra practice."

"Is that so?" Hikigaya blinked. He hadn't noticed at all. Thinking about Sudou from Class D, though, even Shibata might struggle to compete, and Class A was on a whole different level. If Ichinose says so, then fine, he concluded internally.

"But…" Hikigaya started, trying to come up with an excuse. "I have club activities."

"The Harvest Club isn't exactly known for its packed schedule," Kanzaki chimed in from his seat at the front, immediately dismantling the excuse. "Unless, of course, you're planning something as the club president that I, a mere club member, don't know about?"

"Well…" Hikigaya forced an awkward smile. "I have something to take care of this week. I'll join the training next week."

"Hmm?" Ichinose tilted her head in confusion. "Do you need any help?"

"No, no, it's fine!" Hikigaya waved his hands defensively.

At that moment, a boy walked into the classroom, looking slightly surprised. "Hikigaya, there's a girl outside looking for you."

"Eh?" Kanzaki and Ichinose exchanged curious glances, their eyes tinged with suspicion, while Hikigaya was equally baffled.

A girl? Why? I don't remember arranging to meet anyone, he thought.

"Oh, I'll head out now," he said, rising from his seat.

In the hallway stood a girl with an eye-catching figure. Her long pink hair was tied into twin tails, and a pair of glasses rested delicately on her face. She seemed nervous, her small shoulders hunched as her gaze flitted anxiously around the corridor. She must be introverted or shy, Hikigaya guessed, observing her awkward demeanor.

The commotion drew a group of boys to peek out from the classroom, eager to see who had come looking for Hikigaya.

"Who are you?" Hikigaya asked, his confusion evident. I don't remember knowing someone like her—especially not a girl.

"Eeeeeee!?" The girl stiffened as if struck by lightning, her sapphire-blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Oh, wait! I remember now!" Hikigaya exclaimed, panic setting in at her reaction. Frantically searching his mind, he tried to recall if he had ever met someone like her.

Pointing a finger with mock confidence, he declared, "Airi-chan? You're Airi-chan, right?" Do not worry. Airi-chan, Onii-chan will never forget you! The girl in front of him—could it really be Sakura Airi? Probably.

"U-uuuuuuu…" Sakura Airi let out a whimper, her fair skin flushing a deep red that spread from her neck to her cheeks. Her delicate body swayed unsteadily, as if on the verge of collapse. Before long, she stammered, "E-excuse me," and gave a small bow. Clutching her pink fists tightly to her chest, she turned and fled down the hallway.

"Uh… what just happened?" Watanabe and a few other classmates stepped out into the corridor, watching the girl's retreating figure with baffled expressions. "Hikigaya, did you… did you make a girl cry?"

"No!" Hikigaya said defensively, though his tone lacked conviction. "How would I know? She must've mistaken me for someone else." Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that the situation had spiraled out of control. "Well then, I'll head out," Hikigaya muttered, brushing off the encounter.

"Hikigaya, I'll finalize the entry list for the sports festival," Ichinose called after him.

"Sure." Hikigaya raised a hand lazily in acknowledgment, barely registering her words. It's all just a formality anyway. Doesn't matter which event I end up in.

Back at his club's room, Hikigaya sat at the table, absentmindedly tapping the tip of his pen against a piece of paper. Setting up the Harvest Club was easy enough, he mused. All it took was three official members, and frankly, anyone would do. But maintaining the club? That was another story entirely.

Commander Manabu had already warned him: this wasn't a long-term solution. Clubs are evaluated annually by the school. Athletic clubs were judged based on their performance in external competitions, while non-athletic clubs had their own assessments. But the Harvest Club? It was essentially a joke—an abandoned idea that had miraculously passed the application process. With no actual activities or results, its survival was almost impossible.

Hikigaya felt no particular attachment to the club, but the 15,000-points monthly funding it received was hard to ignore. It would be a shame to lose that, he thought.

There were still seven months left before the one-year deadline, so there was no immediate need to present results. However, the upcoming student council election loomed large. Commander Manabu would likely step down next month, with Nagumo Miyabi poised to take over.

Not that Nagumo would specifically target me, Hikigaya thought. But…

Under Horikita's leadership, proposals had a better chance of passing. Hikigaya had even lent a hand teaching Suzune Horikita—a fellow student with an arrogant streak—a lesson or two. Surely, that should count for something. Hikigaya pulled out his phone and checked his personal page. Personal Points: 855,623.

Of that, 500,000 came from the reward for the VIP exam, 52,000 was a payment from Ryuuen, and 30,000 came from Suzune Horikita at the start of the school year. The rest had been saved throughout the semester.

"So little…" Hikigaya sighed, staring at the total. Twenty million personal points still feel like a distant dream.

He knew he had to keep the Harvest Club alive as long as possible. If it doesn't work out? Well, there was no shame in letting it fade into obscurity. For now, he would just do whatever he wanted.