COTE:016

Chapter 16

　　"This is too serious..."

　　ikei: "Only one hundred points..."

　　Yamauchi: "But it's better than nothing, and...if we can get these 100 points, we will close the gap with Class C."

　　Hikigaya remained completely unmoved as he listened to the conversation between the two.

　　He didn't think that with just the personnel configuration of their Class D, they could beat Class C in an exam, and...even if they won by chance, it would be impossible for them to get a full 100 class points.

　　Overestimating oneself is a common human problem... Hikigaya is well aware of this.

　　Yes, just as Yamauchi and Ike finished their words, Chabashira slowly took out a huge piece of white paper and pasted it on the blackboard.

　　"This is the result of the last quiz. Only losers can get this score."

　　Because this school does not differentiate between science and liberal arts, all scores are combined and counted together. This is a headache even for Hikigaya. Although he can get almost full marks in liberal arts, his science... is terrible.

　　Even if he tried his best, he could only linger in the middle of the class. It should be said... such a result can still linger in the middle, it really deserves to be Class D.

　　Teacher Chabashira's words did not give the student in front of her any face at all. She turned around and said with a little indifference:

　　"From the next exam onwards, anyone who fails the midterm or final exam will be expelled immediately."

　　After hearing this, Sanfei, whose grades were already at the bottom, became even more panicked. But to be honest, this also scared Hikigaya himself. After all, if these guys dropped out of school, it wouldn't be long before... he would be the next one.

　　'Damn science!'

　　No matter what, they cannot be allowed to drop out of school.

　　Although Hikigaya's fighting spirit was aroused, he had no idea how to do it.

　　After all, in this kind of situation, even he himself doesn't know how to improve his grades, let alone help others.

　　After briefly explaining some school rules, the class meeting finally came to an end.

　　To be honest, although I had expected it, class meetings are really scary.

　　Just as Hikigaya was thinking this, Sudo, one of the three wastes, came to him again.

　　"Hey, Hikigaya, what are you going to do? I remember your grades were average."

　　"Rather than caring about me, I think you should care about yourself. Even if I drop out of school, it will be after you drop out."

　　After hearing what Hikigaya said, Sudo scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

　　After spending this period of time together, he had become accustomed to Hikigaya's blows. After being hit to varying degrees every day, he gradually became immune to them.

　　However, this time it's no joke.

　　This school really wants to kill them.

　　While thinking this, Sudo said something unintentionally:

　　"It would be nice if sports could be added to the usual scores."

　　"Hey, you're dreaming too much. It's better to study hard than to do this."

　　"I can't learn anything at all, you know that..."

　　"Although I can't refute it, how come I'm as bad as you said..."

　　As the two were talking, Horikita Suzune said:

　　"Instead of wasting time here discussing these useless practices, why not come and join my study session."

　　Horikita Suzune had already seen the people at the bottom of the rankings through the white paper, and those people naturally included Sudo Yamauchi and Ike. Although Hikigaya was not in any danger for the time being, but... if everyone's grades improved, it would be hard to say.

　　So, she didn't mind having an invisible person in her studies.

　　Sudo's body trembled. Although he was very strong and tall, he was still startled by the sudden voice.

　　He leaned close to Hikigaya's ear and whispered:

　　"Hey Hikigaya, isn't this girl a robot? I think this is the first time I've heard her speak..."

　　Hikigaya was speechless for a moment. What kind of brain could regard a taciturn person as a robot?

　　If that's the case...I wouldn't be robot number two.

　　"Discussing other people without permission is a sign of lack of education."

　　Hearing the girl's frank words, Sudo rolled up his sleeves and went to her desk to ask for an explanation.

　　Well, this guy's nature hasn't changed.

　　His loud shout immediately attracted the attention of the entire class, and Hikigaya immediately turned his head away with an expression that said, "I don't know him."

　　Sudo: "Hey, what are you talking about, Hikigaya?"

　　Hikigaya: "…"

　　"People who don't know how to observe the situation are scary..."

　　After a short break, their next class was a rare swimming lesson.

　　Although it is a swimming class, most of the time is free time, and the small circles in the class are fully revealed at this time.

　　It seems... I haven't made any friends yet. But then again, no one would want to get close to someone who has done such a terrible thing.

　　However, it was really nice to just watch the teenage girl without being noticed.

　　After all, Sobu High School doesn't have this course at all. By the way, swimming lessons are really great.

　　Just as Hikigaya was thinking this, Horikita sat down next to him.

　　"Let me make it clear in advance that I am not your first target. Even if you are holding a study session, you should focus on Sudo and the others first."

　　Hikigaya told him his idea first. Although he was not opposed to participating in study sessions, it was obvious that if he wanted to be promoted to Class A, Horikita Suzune had to help Sudo and his group first.

　　There is already a huge point gap between Classes ABC and Class D. If the number of students is decreasing, the points allocated each month will only get bigger and bigger.

　　If they start thinking from Horikita's perspective, now is definitely not the time for the three of them to drop out of school.

　　Horikita shook her head slightly. She thought Hikigaya was wrong about this. If she wanted Sudo to attend the study session, she had to let him, who had the most contact with Sudo recently, invite him. Otherwise, with his personality, he would not agree no matter what she said.

　　only...

　　Hikigaya: "I can't convince Sudo to attend your study session. Don't expect anything from me."

　　"That guy only thinks about basketball. Isn't it great that he wants to be a professional player?"

　　Hikigaya said this, but was met with a glare from Horikita Suzune.

　　"How scary, Horikita is so scary."

　　Horikita: "It's not a bad thing to want to become a professional player, but if you can't even do the most basic learning, then wanting to become a professional player is simply a pipe dream."

　　Hikigaya: "I don't think Sudo will listen to such words."

　　Horikita: "So, you are important."

　　Once again, the topic turned to Hikigaya.

　　Hikigaya: "No, you shouldn't bring this up with me anyway..."

　　Horikita: "Don't you know it well? If they drop out, you will be in danger next. But I don't care. After all, my grades are always at the top."

　　"Tsk! Damn provocation!"

　　Horikita: "Also, although I don't know you very well, you always seem to lend a helping hand to things that happen around you."

　　Hikigaya: "No, this is all for myself."

　　"Maybe it's because I've been in the service club for too long...I'm a bit nosy now."

　　Horikita: "Then do it for your own sake. And in this case, consider it as I owe you a favor. Since you have no friends in this school, you will always need help sometimes. I won't be your friend, but let me make it clear that as long as you need help, I will help you at any time."

　　"That sounds good. By the way, when did this guy become so easy to talk to? If it were the beginning of the school year, he would definitely think he could handle it all by himself."

　　Hikigaya sighed helplessly. Although it was none of his business, to be honest he didn't want Class D to become a mess. Besides, since Sudo was so good at sports, maybe he would be useful someday.

　　And, Horikita was indeed right, it would be impossible to spend three years in this school that had no connection with the outside world without a little help.

　　Who knows what this school will do next.

　　Hikigaya: "Okay, I'll give it a try."

　　Horikita: "I'm impressed."

　　"They're just using me as a tool. The Servant Club is really harmful."

　　If Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were here at this time, there wouldn't be so many problems.

　　[Inside the service club, listening to the boy's inner voice, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama didn't know whether to laugh or cry for a moment. ]

　　[Ichiro Isamu: "Senior, you actually agreed to someone's request so easily. I find it a little surprising."]

　　[Hikigaya: "Not only you, but I also find it incredible. If this continues, I will become a tool."]

　　[Yuigahama smiled helplessly: "It can't be helped... After all, Hikki science scores are really... terrible."]

　　[Hikigaya: "Hey, you're not much better..."]

　　[Yuigahama: "If Hikki had yukinom grades, he wouldn't have to be threatened like this."]

　　[Yukinoshita just smiled faintly in response, and that smile seemed to say: "Yes, that's the truth."]

　　[hikigaya just smiled helplessly. It was unbelievable that this guy was threatened. But apart from this, I'm afraid this guy would not be threatened at all...]

　　While the two were talking, Kushida Kikyo suddenly called out Horikita Suzune's name with all her might.

　　"Hey, Horikita-san, would you like to come along?"

　　"Need not."

　　Horikita seemed to be very resistant to the girl in front of her. She slowly turned her eyes away, as if she was going to pretend not to see it.

　　"Is Horikita-san a landlubber?"

　　"I can't say I'm good at it, but I can't say I'm not good at it either."

　　"I was a landlubber in junior high school, but later I worked hard and learned how to swim."

　　"Really? Congratulations."

　　Having said that, Horikita stood up expressionlessly and turned away.

　　With this look, he didn't want to say a word to Kushida in front of him.

　　"Why is that? Although the girl in front of me is hypocritical enough, I am still resisting to this extent..."

　　Because he didn't know Horikita well, he didn't know if Horikita was like this to everyone. If not...

　　'That can only mean that these two people had some grudge against each other.'

　　Hikigaya watched Horikita go away without saying a word. From a certain perspective, he was being used by Horikita.

　　Even if he wanted to ask those guys to attend the study session himself, given his current situation, there was no guarantee that they would agree.

　　We have to find a way...

　　"I still want to get along better with her."

　　Kushida Kikyo's words came to Hikigaya's ears like a life-saving straw.

　　"Of course, I also want to get along better with you."

　　Kushida Kikyo suddenly leaned close to Hikigaya's ear, causing him to blush before he could react for a moment.

　　He turned his head away, forcing himself not to look at the turbulent thing.

　　"I have thought of a way to further your relationship with Horikita."

　　"real?"

　　The girl excitedly held Hikigaya's hand, and pressed her chest even closer to Hikigaya's body. At this moment, the heat and the feeling of marshmallow touch instantly surged into his heart.

　　'Something is wrong. Something is very wrong...'