Chapter 76 What Are You Planning?

Keyaki Shopping Mall, outside the convenience store.

Hikigaya found a free bench and settled down, ostensibly conducting "market research." Of course, it wasn't anything that serious—he was just sitting there, staring blankly into space. The school had around 480 students. There might have been some dropouts in the senior classes, but Hikigaya wasn't sure. Either way, the total number shouldn't deviate too much from that estimate. Then there were the school's staff members to consider.

Um… He didn't have a solid grasp of their numbers either. Still, the logistics behind running such a massive facility intrigued him. The cost of food, utilities, maintenance, and other operational expenses must be staggering. Surely, Advanced Nurturing High School operated at a loss. Every purchase must be meticulously planned, Hikigaya thought.

The school probably aimed to keep monthly consumption within a tightly controlled range. Bulk purchases, energy efficiency, waste reduction—things like that. He didn't fully understand the intricacies, but he assumed running such a large institution required strict oversight.

Otherwise… It would amount to wasting taxpayer money. And Hikigaya couldn't help but think, half-jokingly, that he ought to report the school to the Ministry of Education for such extravagance.

The streets felt quieter than usual. Perhaps it was due to the upcoming sports festival. Most students were likely still on campus, training or preparing. Everyone's so hardworking, Hikigaya mused, letting out a faint sigh. Finally, he stood up and headed into the convenience store.

At the counter, he asked, "Has the latest volume of Sword Art Online arrived?"

"You mean Volume 18? It's here—on the bookshelf over there," the cashier replied.

"Thanks." Hikigaya walked over and picked up the book.

Like MAX Coffee, most products at the school were purchased in bulk once a month. This kept costs down but meant new releases were often delayed. The latest volume of light novels, for instance, usually arrived at the school about two weeks to a month after their release in the outside world. Still, it's not a big deal, he thought as he carried the book back to the counter.

"How much?"

"Five hundred personal points."

Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Is this book only available at this convenience store?"

"That's correct. Is there a problem?"

"Not really." Hikigaya glanced around. Being in a closed campus environment, the convenience store functioned almost like a part-time bookstore. That made sense, given the logistics. Even in the outside world, convenience stores often stocked light novels and manga.

"By the way, how many copies of this light novel do you stock?" he asked suddenly.

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

"How many copies were ordered?"

The cashier looked perplexed but answered cautiously, "Uh… we stocked 350 copies this time. Is there a good reason you're asking?"

Interesting. Hikigaya's mind began whirring. Light novels weren't exactly popular among adults, and girls tended to show less interest in them. Most buyers would be boys, meaning the audience was limited. The convenience store's stock of 350 copies probably accounted for the bulk of demand. Any remaining unsold copies would likely be donated to the library for free reading after three months.

But here was the thing: For those who found a series captivating, the anticipation of turning the next page could be all-consuming—sometimes even enough to disrupt their sleep. And yet, few students would willingly part with 500 personal points for a book. Hikigaya smiled faintly, intrigued by the balance of supply, demand, and personal choice. People are strange creatures, he thought. And this school is stranger still.

In other words, He realized there was a unique opportunity here. If I use my personal points wisely, I could monopolize a small but popular commodity. Of course, the price had to be reasonable. Overpricing would kill demand, but the idea seemed feasible.

"I'll take all 350 copies."

The cashier blinked in surprise, then hesitantly asked, "Excuse me? Could you repeat that?"

"I'll take all the copies of Sword Art Online, Volume 18," Hikigaya replied with a calm smile. "But since there are so many, I'll need a few days to move them. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Uh… no, I suppose not…" the cashier stammered, visibly confused. "But… what do you need so many for?"

"Don't worry about it." Hikigaya pulled out his phone and confidently added, "It's 180,000 personal points, correct? I can pay a 50,000-point deposit right now."

"It's… 175,000, actually…"

"Even better." Hikigaya grinned. "Let's do it."

The cashier nodded reluctantly. It wasn't their job to question a student's decisions, after all. As long as the payment was made, everything was above board. He quickly paid the deposit and began moving the books to the counter. Being in this enclosed campus environment, trust wasn't an issue. Both sides knew there was no point in breaching agreements.

"Can you hold the books here for me until tomorrow?" Hikigaya asked.

"Sure."

Satisfied, Hikigaya left the store, already hatching a plan.

He had done his research. With Sword Art Online's popularity, the books should sell quickly. Even if he faced a slight loss, it wouldn't be catastrophic.

That night, Hikigaya prepared for his new venture. He bought a uniform similar to the cashier's, complete with a work badge he could attach to his chest. It's probably convincing enough… probably. Starting tomorrow, Hikigaya will launch his monopoly. Advanced Nurturing Academy, prepare to meet your new merchant king!

The next day—Class 1-B

After math class, the bell rang, signaling the transition to physical education. Students began heading toward the locker rooms.

"Knock, knock." Shibata approached Hikigaya's desk, tapping lightly.

"Hikigaya, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked in a hushed tone.

Hikigaya raised a brow, giving him a deadpan look.

What is this? Some delinquent asking me to meet in the bathroom? He sighed. Shibata's finally cracked under the pressure and is showing his true colors.

"What do you want?" Hikigaya asked flatly.

"It's nothing serious," Shibata said, glancing toward the girls in class. "I just need a moment of your time. Come on."

"Fine."

The two stepped into the corner of the corridor. Shibata looked around to ensure no one was listening, then started circling Hikigaya with an oddly serious expression.

"What are you doing?" Hikigaya asked, exasperated.

Shibata ignored the question, tapping his chin thoughtfully as he walked. Finally, he stopped and declared, "I looked up online how to get someone I like to notice me."

"What?" Hikigaya froze, staring at Shibata in disbelief. He instinctively backed up, pressing himself against the wall. "You… you… what are you trying to say?" he stammered, voice trembling. "Are you gay?" It turned out that Shibata was that kind of person. Hikigaya shivered at the thought. Recalling how casually Shibata had approached him earlier, he couldn't help but feel a chill creep down his spine.

"No, no, you've got it all wrong!" Shibata exclaimed, halting his pacing as if sensing Hikigaya's discomfort. "I'm not gay! Im straight!"

Relieved but still wary, Hikigaya crossed his arms. "Then what's with all the weird behavior?"

Shibata sighed and explained, "I read online that there are three common ways to attract someone you like: you can act like a cute and arrogant cat, be a fierce and unattainable tiger, or be a pitiful, rain-soaked dog."

"Okay… so?" Hikigaya raised an eyebrow. Was this guy seriously calling him a dog? Insulting, to say the least.

"I was just wondering," Shibata continued with a curious expression, "are you some kind of love master? You always seem to use these advanced tactics I can't figure out."

"Excuse me?" Hikigaya deadpanned. Love master? If he'd had even the slightest grasp of these so-called tactics, he wouldn't have been rejected in junior high or become the subject of ridicule among his peers. "Besides," He added flatly, "the strategies you mentioned sound more like ways women try to attract men. What does that have to do with me?"

"Wait, so… you're saying it's not connected?" Shibata scratched his head, clearly puzzled.

Hikigaya gave him a long, scrutinizing look. This guy is just as clueless as me. Still, it was surprising. Shibata, despite his sociable demeanor, had apparently never had a girlfriend. In a way, it was oddly comforting. Even someone like him had his struggles.

"By the way, Hikigaya, did you figure out your event list yet?"

"My what now?" Hikigaya stared blankly. "Can you be a bit more specific?"

"The event list for the sports festival." Shibata leaned closer, a bit confused. "How was yours decided?"

"Oh, that." Hikigaya shrugged. "I don't care. Whatever they assigned me is fine. It's all just a formality anyway."

"Right…" Shibata scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, next period's P.E., so let's go get changed."

Hikigaya marched stiffly with the rest of Class 1-B to the gymnasium, as they prepared for sports festival practice. The entrance and exit drills felt painfully nostalgic, dredging up unpleasant memories of his junior high sports day. Back then, certain girls had always blamed him for their team's failures, claiming he hadn't practiced hard enough. Absolutely infuriating.

His mood darkened at the thought, though he silently appreciated that Class 1-B didn't seem to have anyone as critical. When the physical education teacher finally announced free activity time, some boys grabbed grip strength testers and started a friendly competition.

Ichinose, as always, joined in enthusiastically. She didn't seem particularly interested in winning—her involvement felt more like teasing the boys by comparing who was stronger.

When it was Hikigaya's turn, he reluctantly stepped up. He gripped the tester with all his might. [48.6 kg] Disappointing. The numbers didn't lie. His strength was just slightly above average—hardly impressive. Attempting to compete seemed pointless. Whatever. The ranking doesn't matter. Just give up.

As the students scattered to train individually, Shibata practiced running laps while Ichinose joined a group of girls to work on pitching. Bored and restless, Hikigaya wandered over to Ichinose.

"Hey, Ichinose," he called out from behind her. "Can I borrow you for a second?"

"Hm? Sure," she replied, tilting her head curiously. "Let's talk over there."

"No, it's nothing private. I just wanted to ask what events I'm signed up for."

It felt strange to ask Ichinose about his own assignments, but she seemed to have a knack for managing such his mediocre athletic performance, it wouldn't have been surprising if his events were the least competitive ones. Ichinose turned to him with her signature bright smile. "Oh, I know. But wouldn't it be nicer if we talked a bit away from everyone else?"

"Uh… I guess?" Ichinose led him toward the edge of the football field, far from the rest of their class. As they walked, Hikigaya couldn't help but wonder: What on earth is she planning now?