The Mob

With the midterm exams looming just two weeks away, the library has become a hive of activity. Fear of failure and expulsion drive students from all grades to huddle over their books.

The once-quiet sanctuary now buzzes with the murmur of anxious studying.

Hikigaya, who prefers to avoid crowds, finds himself here despite his discomfort.

The library, while packed, remains an excellent place to gather information. Despite the rule requiring silence, one can speak in hushed tones, giving the impression of discretion to those whispering about matters.

Hikigaya's ability to blend into the background proves invaluable.

His knack for remaining unnoticed allows him to overhear valuable snippets of conversation, adding to his ever-growing repository of knowledge.

— Truly, I'd make a fantastic ninja!

As Hikigaya ponders this trivial thought, Horikita, Sudo, and their peers arrive at the library.

Since the last clash involving the Horikita siblings, there has been a subtle shift in Horikita Suzune. She has put aside her usual pride and made an effort to mend bridges, even persuading the three troublemakers to rejoin the study group.

The shift is evident.

Sudo and his friends have stopped their habitual slacking and are now earnestly studying, though how long this diligence will last remains uncertain. Hikigaya suspects that once the midterms are over, their enthusiasm will wane.

Kikyo Kushida's bubbly and cheerful voice echoes, "Alright, let's start."

Her call to action prompts the three troublemakers to immediately pull out their textbooks.

As before, Kushida has insisted on joining this study group, alongside Horikita and Ayanokouji. Given the nature of the three troublemakers, Kushida's influence is likely the primary reason for their compliance.

However, Hikigaya suspects Kushida's true motives might be more self-serving, perhaps driven by a desire to outrank Horikita rather than a genuine intent to assist.

The underlying hatred between Kushida and Horikita remains puzzling to Hikigaya. It's clear that Kushida harbors a deep-seated dislike for Horikita, but Hikigaya doubts it's merely due to Horikita's character or Kushida's jealousy of her abilities.

There's undoubtedly a deeper reason at play.

"Hey, keep it down; it's too noisy," a boy from a nearby table complains, clearly irritated by the chatter of Sudo and his friends.

"Sorry, sorry," Ike responds with a sheepish grin. "I got carried away because I answered a question correctly." Francis Bacon was the one who came up with the method of induction. You should jot that down; it might be useful for the exam."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" The student looked confused, surveying Ike and his friends with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

"…Are you from Class D?" the student asked, clearly unimpressed.

"What about it?" Sudou retorted, his voice tinged with annoyance. "So what if we are? Do you have a problem with that?"

"No. I don't have any problems. I'm Yamawaki Nawaki from Class C. Nice to meet you," Yamawaki said with a smirk, clearly ready to provoke.

This was a golden opportunity for Hikigaya. The Class C idiots had come right to him!

He immediately stood up and walked over.

"You know, it's great that this school sorts classes based on ability," Yamawaki said with a sneer. "I'd hate to be in the same class as you bottom-tier students."

"What did you say?" Sudou's temper flared, and he stood up, ready to throw a punch.

But he was stopped by an unexpected figure.

"Hey, can we keep it down in the library? And, seriously, why are you guys from Class C always here to cause trouble?"

Hikigaya played the role of the mediator, pretending to be exhausted. Yamawaki seemed to recognize him and shot a defiant look his way.

"Ah, you're Hikigaya, right? Don't think that joining the student council gives you the right to meddle. You're still from Class D, which is at the bottom of the rankings!" Yamawaki replied with contempt.

The surrounding crowd watched with interest, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Don't assume that I'm unaware of your activities, Class C students. Your underhanded tactics might work against A and B classes, causing mutual harm. But with no points left to deduct from us, your so-called 'King of Class C' should have warned you to steer clear of us. I'm eager to see how he'll handle you," Hikigaya said coolly.

"Uh…" Yamawaki was stunned by the barrage of insults, his face reddening with rage.

"You're the underhanded one! Class D is at the bottom, but you still dare." Yamawaki stuttered, his anger boiling over.

"At the bottom? Are you serious?"

Hikigaya cut him off dismissively.

"According to the school's ranking system, only Class A matters. Even if Class C is ahead by a thousand points, it's irrelevant if you can't reach Class A. After graduation, it's all about individual performance."

Yamawaki bristled at Hikigaya's comments.

"Class C's average grades are higher than Class D's! I heard that seven students in Class D failed!"

"Average grades?"

Hikigaya spread his hands.

"Let's use your brain for a moment. When you're job hunting or taking college entrance exams, will people look at your class's average grades? We may rank Class D lower, but we have several students in the top 30. What about Class C? Only two or three at best."

Hikigaya's assertion wasn't baseless.

He could list several top-performing students in Class D, including Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, Wang Mei-Yu, Yukimura Teruhiko, Horikita Suzune, Koenji Rokusuke, and himself. There were also strong students, such as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Matsushita Chiaki, who didn't even count towards the official rankings.

"That's impossible! Stop spouting nonsense!"

Yamawaki protested, though his tone lacked conviction.

"Why don't you verify it yourself?"

Hikigaya challenged.

"Your class doesn't measure up, even in sports. I recall Komiya and Kondo from Class C being mediocre in basketball. Sudo, despite his lack of enthusiasm for academics, is a skilled player who might become a regular."

Hikigaya's praise initially angered Sudo, who had little time to respond.

Yamawaki's confidence was eroding visibly.

"How can you know so much?"

Hikigaya smirked.

"I'm on the student council. Why would I lie? You'll see the truth after the midterm exams."

In reality, Hikigaya had little concrete knowledge, but he based his claims on observations from club activities. His confidence in Sudo's basketball skills was well-founded.

"To sum up," Hikigaya delivered the final blow: "Class C's higher grades don't necessarily mean excellence. It reveals more about your mediocrity and compliance. No wonder you submit to Ryuuen's authority."

Hikigaya's derision left Yamawaki and the surrounding students in stunned silence.

Most of the onlookers, especially from Class A and Class B, watched with a mix of amusement and satisfaction, glad to see someone stand up to Class C's arrogance.

"Alright, everyone, let's calm down!"

A girl from the library stepped in to mediate. Hikigaya recognized her as Ichinose Honami from Class B, whom he had briefly met outside the teacher's office.

"Hey, you're Hikigaya-kun, right? I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B," she said with a friendly but firm tone.

"Oh?" Hikigaya responded. "So, are you here to play peacemaker or to back Class C?"

Ichinose shook her head.

"Neither. I just think you might have gone a bit too far. No matter what class someone is from, just like you praised Sudou for his basketball skills, everyone has their strengths."

Ichinose's words surprised Hikigaya. She seemed genuinely concerned, not just trying to win favor. 

"Alright, maybe I did go overboard," Hikigaya said with a slight bow. "And in the library, of all places. I'm sorry for disturbing everyone."

With his point made, Hikigaya saw no reason to continue the argument.

"No, I understand your intention to stand up for your classmates. Just try to be a bit more considerate next time," Ichinose said, misinterpreting Hikigaya's actions.

As Hikigaya left, he couldn't help but feel he had become rather conspicuous. The stares from those around him were piercing.

Not wanting to stay a moment longer, Hikigaya walked away, unable to resist one last dig at Yamawaki.

"Hey, Yamawaki, be sure to thank Ichinose. Even though Class C is responsible for Class B losing nearly a hundred points next month, only Class B's leader stepped up to support you."

"Eh?!"

Ignoring Ichinose's shocked expression, Hikigaya exited the library, now just waiting for Ryuen to make his move.

...

The next day, Hikigaya received an unexpected gift at school.

As he approached his shoe locker, he noticed a delicate pink envelope lying inside.

"Hmm?"

Hikigaya's brow furrowed as he picked up the envelope and opened it. Inside was a note signed by Shiina Hiyori. The letter expressed her deep longing to see him, noting how much she missed him over the past few days. However, due to Ryuen's interference, they couldn't meet openly.

Shiina suggested a secret meeting in a secluded spot after school at the Special Education Building.

After reading the letter, Hikigaya placed it back into the envelope, his face betraying no emotion.