Chapter 91 Growing Suspicion

The sports festival had come to an end. As the closing ceremony commenced, the school announced the final results. Unsurprisingly, the red group—comprising Class A and Class D from all grades—claimed victory came the highly anticipated annual rankings:

First place: Class B (First Year)

Second place: Class C (First Year)

Third place: Class A (First Year)

Fourth place: Class D (First Year)

"We won..." Amakura muttered, then glanced at her classmates with a faint smile. "But why does it feel something wrong?" The atmosphere among Class B was a mix of relief and awkwardness. Despite their first-place finish in the grade rankings, the deductions from the red group's defeat stung everyone:

Class A lost 50 class points, placing third.

Class C, despite ranking second, was penalized 100 class points, ending in the negative.

Class D, as the last-place team, bore the harshest punishment—a deduction of 100 class points.

Even Class B, though victorious in their grade, lost 100 class points, receiving only a net of -5 points.

In summary, the entire first year saw a collective decline in class points. "It's hard to call this a victory," Hikigaya thought, glancing at the final standings:

Class A: 874 points

Class B: 816 points

Class C: 692 points

Class D: 109 points

Still, Ichinose reassured her classmates with a warm smile, "We've widened the gap between us and Class C, and we're keeping close to Class A. That's worth celebrating!" Her optimism spread through the group, lightening the mood. Even Chihiro joined in with a cheerful nod.

Hikigaya, standing at the back, couldn't help but agree. If everyone regresses equally, it's like no one regresses at all.

"And now, for the announcement of the best players in each grade!" the teacher declared.

The winners were revealed:

Horikita Manabu (Class A, Third Year)

Nagumo Miyabi (Class A, Second Year)

So Shibata (Class B, First Year)

Each was awarded a whopping 100,000 personal points. The announcement sent Class B into a frenzy of celebration.

"Shibata-kun! Congratulations!"

"As expected of you, Shibata!"

Surrounded by excited classmates, Shibata scratched his head sheepishly, his bright smile revealing his embarrassment. Hikigaya, observing from a distance, muttered to himself, If Sudou hadn't been mentally shaken by Ryuuen, Shibata wouldn't have had it so easy.

Still, he decided not to voice his thoughts aloud. It's not like I'm close with Shibata, anyway.

Turning his attention to the big screen, He scanned for his name. Second place twice, third place three times... mostly fourth or fifth otherwise. It wasn't stellar, but at least he hadn't fallen to the bottom. His total rewards came to 9,000 personal points, which wasn't bad. But after a moment's reflection, Hikigaya decided he'd rather exchange it for improvements in his written test scores. Personal points are nice, but boosting my test results is better insurance, he reasoned. Especially since math's been getting tougher lately.

Just then, Shibata approached Ichinose with an uncharacteristic nervousness. "Ichinose," he began, scratching his hair awkwardly, "would it be okay if I called you by your first name from now on?"

Hikigaya perked up immediately. Whoa, this is almost like a confession. Although Shibata seemed like the perfect guy—kind, athletic, and charismatic—Hikigaya had a feeling Ichinose would disagree, nor would she outright refuse.

"Sure," Ichinose said with her usual bright smile. "It's a bit strange to keep using last names after all this time. Actually, I'd love it if everyone started calling me Honami-chan!"

Ouch. He stifled a chuckle, sensing Shibata's subtle deflation. Ichinose's response, while cheerful, was essentially a polite rejection. To her, everyone in Class B was equally important—a precious member of her team. There was no favoritism, no hierarchy in her eyes. His thoughts turned contemplative. I wonder... what kind of guy could ever become Ichinose's boyfriend? Probably someone extraordinary.

"Yeah, thank you, thank you." Shibata scratched his head with a sheepish smile, his cheeks slightly flushed. For him, this exchange seemed to be enough—at least for now.

He was an easy-to-understand, innocent young man. But even so, Ichinose had made her feelings clear in a way that could only be interpreted as a gentle rejection. Pure-hearted Shibata is still too naïve, Hikigaya thought, shaking his head as he picked up his folding chair and prepared to leave. His next "mission" involved following another troublesome girl. Carrying a folding chair while tailing someone felt undeniably odd, but there wasn't much he could do about it. After all, no one else can help me with this, and I don't want to trouble anyone.

"Oh!" Just as Hikigaya stood up, Ichinose called out, "Hikigaya, leave the chair here. I'll take it back for you later. And don't forget about the celebration party tomorrow!"

"Uh... well..." Feeling the curious stares of those around him, Hikigaya hunched his shoulders and hesitated. He wanted to refuse but realized it would be inconvenient to carry the chair. "Thanks," he muttered, setting the folding chair aside. His voice was so soft it barely reached Ichinose. With a small nod, he turned and quickly left the camp. Stop staring, people! Hikigaya thought, feeling the weight of Shibata's slumped posture in his peripheral vision. This is so awkward. He briskly walked away, his back to the group. Sure, I don't interact with the class much, but why is everyone so interested in me just putting away a chair?

A short while later, Hikigaya spotted Horikita Suzune walking back toward the school building with her usual composed demeanor. Keeping a safe distance, he activated his "stealth mode" and began tailing her. His tracking method was simple but effective—following quietly from a distance while remaining out of sight. In close quarters, he'd have to be cautious, as Horikita Suzune was sharp enough to notice even subtle movements. Today, however, something felt off. She seemed distracted, her focus elsewhere. Definitely not her usual self. Something's going on.

Hikigaya trailed her all the way to Class D's classroom. Once she entered, he quickly diverted to the stairs and climbed up to the second floor. There, he leaned over the railing, watching the main staircase below like a hawk.

From this vantage point, anyone leaving the classroom would be within his line of sight, and very few people would think to look up. As time passed, students from Class D began trickling out. Kushida, Hirata, Sudou, Ayanokouji, and even the adorable Airi-chan passed through the corridor below. Familiar figures came and went, but still no sign of her. Fewer and fewer people remained.

"Hmm?" His brows furrowed as he spotted something unusual—Kushida Kikyo was heading back to Class D. Moments later, she re-emerged with Horikita Suzune. The two left together.

What's going on here? Curiosity piqued, and Hikigaya silently followed them. Before long, they arrived at the infirmary corridor, where another figure was waiting—Ryuuen.

He quickly ducked behind a corner, keeping out of sight. From this distance, he couldn't catch what they were saying, but that wasn't the point. His main goal was to keep an eye on Horikita Suzune, ensure her safety, and report to Horikita Manabu if necessary. Still... Kushida and Ryuuen together?

His mind raced. They look like they're siding against Horikita Suzune. Could Kushida Kikyo be the traitor in Class D? But then, what about Ayanokouji? He was already suspicious in his own right. Are there two traitors in Class D? It didn't add up. Hikigaya sighed, shaking his head. Forget it. If I can't figure it out, I'll stop overthinking. For now, I'll just keep my distance and stay vigilant.

Hikigaya was ready to give up. The affairs of Class C and Class D were none of his concern. He had no intention of entangling himself further with these troublesome individuals. His job was simple: observe, record, and report. Nothing more, nothing less. Taking out his phone,

He switched to camera mode, preparing to document the scene in front of him as evidence of completing his task. Not long after, Horikita Suzune bent slightly forward, her posture suggesting she was about to kneel. Watching through his phone's screen, He frowned. In Japan, kneeling—especially Dogeza—might be considered extreme.

He wasn't a stranger to groveling himself when necessary. He had no self-esteem to protect, after all. But Horikita Suzune? She was a proud, defiant woman. The sight of her lowering herself like this was unthinkable. She's being forced, he thought. For a moment, He hesitated. But he ultimately decided to stay put. It's just kneeling. It won't physically harm her. This is something Horikita Manabu should handle, not me. Still, he couldn't deny a certain satisfaction creeping in. Seeing such a proud figure brought down a peg wasn't without its twisted appeal. Maybe a reality check would do her some good.

But then... Just as Horikita Suzune's knees were about to touch the ground, she abruptly stood back up, her expression unreadable.

Ryuuen, meanwhile, wore a deep scowl, glancing at his phone in frustration. Kushida Kikyo, standing nearby, looked equally displeased. What's going on? Hikigaya wondered, baffled. The three exchanged a few words he couldn't hear before walking off together. So Ryuuen's threat didn't work, after all, He surmised. But Kushida's behavior practically confirms she's the traitor in Class D.

Satisfied with his observations, he pocketed his phone and prepared to report to Horikita Manabu. But just as he turned, a calm voice came from behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"Eh?!" Hikigaya flinched, spinning around to find

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka standing there, his expression as inscrutable as ever.

"When did you—don't sneak up on people like that! I almost had a heart attack thinking it was a ghost!" Hikigaya exhaled sharply, trying to calm himself.

Ayanokouji tilted his head slightly, his tone mild. "Sorry about that. I'm just curious—what are you up to here?" His gaze flicked briefly to Hikigaya's phone, then to Horikita and the others in the distance. "Sneaking photos, huh?" As expected of him, Hikigaya thought. Even when he's just guessing, he lands right on the mark.

"No!" Hikigaya denied it immediately, though he could tell Ayanokouji wasn't buying it. Still, nothing was incriminating here. He wasn't doing anything wrong, after all. "It's work," He said with a shrug, his tone resigned. "Gotta earn my keep somehow."

"Work?" Ayanokouji repeated, his tone neutral but his gaze sharp, as if piecing together a puzzle.

Hikigaya knew Ayanokouji was analyzing the situation. The three people he had been watching—Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo, and Ryuuen Kakeru—were all tied to potential class conflicts.

Ayanokouji's voice broke the silence. "It's hard to imagine Ichinose hiring someone to spy like this, especially since Class B and Class D are supposed to be allies. So... are you working for Sakayanagi?" The girl who knew about his past crossed his mind, prompting him to wonder if Sakayanagi had already started planting seeds in various classes.

He was probing, testing the waters. Hikigaya sighed inwardly. This guy doesn't miss a thing. But then, a sudden question derailed his thoughts: Why is Sakayanagi's name even coming up? He frowned. Apart from Sakayanagi, he didn't even know the names of other Class A students. How could Ayanokouji think he had any connection to her? "What does Sakanayagi gotta do with this?"

Ayanokouji, observing Hikigaya's visible confusion, seemed to piece things together. He deduced that Hikigaya's objective was likely Horikita Suzune. Since Hikigaya mentioned it was "work," it probably had something to do with his classmate. It seemed harmless enough. "I suppose I can tell you," He said flatly. "During the uninhabited island test, Class A used personal points to bribe students from other classes. For a moment, I thought you might be working for them. It seems I was mistaken." His tone remained neutral, but his sharp gaze lingered. "Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Hikigaya if you get in my way I`ll have to deal with you too.

Hikigaya nodded, feigning indifference. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Ayanokouji exuded an unnerving sense of control. As the other guy walked away, he couldn't help but reflect on the dynamics between Class B and Class D. Despite their supposed partnership, Class D seemed to benefit only. Ichinose's unrelenting support for Class D baffled him. Even during exams, when it was in their best interest to collaborate, Class D always seemed suspicious of Class B's intentions.

Rationally, Hikigaya understood the necessity of such caution. But still, Ichinose's eagerness felt misplaced. Why does she insist on helping them? he wondered. Class D doesn't deserve this level of trust.

With lingering doubts, Hikigaya left the school and called Horikita Manabu to report his findings. "Commander Horikita, the job is done," he said after the call connected.

There was a brief silence before Horikita Manabu's calm voice came through. "Any issues?"

"It depends on how you look at it," Hikigaya admitted. "Your sister was threatened—Ryuuen almost forced her to kneel. But for some reason, his threat failed in the end. I recorded a video of the incident. Let me know if you need it."

"What do you plan to do, Commander?" He asked, his tone tinged with mischievous curiosity. Part of him hoped Horikita Manabu would use the video to take down Ryuuen Sho entirely.

"Nothing."

Hikigaya blinked.

Horikita Manabu's voice remained composed. "This is the path she chose. She must overcome it herself. My role is

merely to observe from the sidelines."

"Hah…" Hikigaya chuckled dryly. "That's it, then. Nothing else to report." He hung up the phone, shaking his head. What an incompetent brother, he mused. Or maybe the Horikita siblings are just hopelessly stubborn.

Perhaps this was the attribute of an elite upbringing—aloofness and independence.

Hikigaya sighed. His plan to provoke a clash between Horikita Manabu and Ryuuen had failed. Oh well, he thought. The job's done, and the rest isn't my problem. With that, He decided it was time to treat himself to a well-earned celebration.