So, Her Plan is to...

So much for a quiet, uneventful break, I wasn't even sure if I had successfully avoided more trouble, or if I had walked in circles long enough to trick myself into thinking I was productive. Either way, I was ready to disappear until I heard that voice.

"Hikki, there you are!"

Yuigahama's voice cut through the noise like a wet towel snap to the back of the neck. I could practically feel the sting.

Turning around, I saw her approaching with an angry expression, arms crossed in a way that suggested I had somehow wronged her by existing.

"How long were you gonna make us look for you?" she demanded, tone perched somewhere between genuine concern and exaggerated outrage.

"I didn't ask to be found," I replied flatly.

"Seriously, though!" she leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "You could've at least told someone where you were going."

"I could have," I admitted, "but I didn't."

Her eyes twitched slightly.

Yuigahama's frustration simmered, but before she could continue her shenanigans too long, another voice chimed in from behind her—calm, sharp, and laced with an all-too-familiar condescension.

"It's impressive, in its own way," Yukinoshita added as she approached, her arms folded elegantly across her chest. I could already feel the subtle jab forming on her tongue. "To think you wandered off and got lost like a child at the mall. Perhaps the crowd overwhelmed you." She tilted her head slightly, hiding with her hand the faintest smirk that surfaced. "I suppose someone unaccustomed to regular socialization could easily misplace themselves."

I met her gaze with a deadpan stare.

"Lost? I wasn't the one who disappeared. I've been looking for you this whole time."

I tried to look as unimpressed as possible. It didn't help much.

Yukinoshita's expression remained the same, but I caught the subtle flicker of amusement behind her icy blue eyes. She was enjoying this far more than necessary.

"That would certainly explain why you accomplished nothing during your search," she replied smoothly, her tone so even it was impossible to tell if she was complimenting or insulting me.

Before I could counter, Yuigahama leaned forward, resting her hands on her hips as she sulked.

"Y'know… if you'd just given me your number, we wouldn't have had to run around looking for you," she said, puffing out her cheeks. "You really make things harder for yourself, Hikki."

"Oh? You say that like you haven't been parading around with Ichinose the whole time, calling her 'Honami-chan' like you're childhood friends or something."

Yuigahama's face flushed slightly, and she fumbled with her words.

"Wha—! We just got along, okay? Honami-chan's really easy to talk to!" She puffed out her chest defensively. "I don't need forever to get close to people. Unlike you."

"Yeah," I deadpanned. "That's the part that concerns me."

"Hey!" She stomped her foot, glaring. "You're just jealous because you never talk to anyone!"

Who are you then!?

"I talk plenty."

"Oh, sure. To your sister, maybe."

"You don't even let me hold your phone. What, do you think I'm gonna break it or something?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. If I let you hold it, I'd be phone-less in five seconds. You'd drop it, no question."

Her jaw dropped.

"Consider it a compliment," I shrugged. "Not everyone can exude such gravitational force that electronics instinctively plummet to their doom."

She puffed up again, clearly ready to protest, but after a second, she huffed and crossed her arms.

"Well, whatever! Your loss." She leaned back, pouting. "You missed your chance to have a cute girl in your contacts list."

I exhaled slowly, giving her a sideways glance.

"I'd sooner add my own than to make the list look more depressing."

"Hikki! You're seriously the worst!"

"Only when necessary."

Yukinoshita, who had been watching the entire exchange with the faintest look of disapproval, finally stepped in with a sigh.

"Enough wasting time," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a deliberate elegance. "If you two are finished bickering, we should head to the club. Some of us still value productivity."

"Define productivity," I muttered, but they had already started walking ahead.

Yuigahama grumbled under her breath but followed along, sticking close to Yukinoshita's side. I trailed behind, watching the two of them as they lightly bickered ahead.

As we made our way down the hall, the weight of our usual banter faded, giving way to the hum of approaching clubroom silence. The closer we got, the clearer it became that our usual peace was short-lived. Yukinoshita's calm, calculating gaze flickered toward me the moment I slid open the clubroom door.

I barely had time to sit before she spoke, arms crossed in a way that suggested no pointless chatter would be tolerated.

"Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita began, her voice level but sharp enough to keep me from getting too comfortable, "How is the situation in Class D?"

I leaned back slightly in my chair, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Honestly?" I shrugged, turning toward the window as if the answer could be found somewhere outside. "It'd be easier if you just saw it for yourself. But to save you the trip, it's about as tragic as you'd expect. No one takes the Special Exam seriously. Half the class is either ignoring it completely or talking with Sobu students about things that have nothing to do with the test."

"Eh?" Yuigahama tilted her head. "Nothing to do with the test?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Stuff like where to hang out after school or what's the best dessert at the cafeteria. Real groundbreaking topics, as you can imagine."

"And the rest?" Yukinoshita prompted, focused on my words.

I exhaled through my nose, resisting the urge to laugh.

"The rest look like extras in some low-budget zombie flick. I wouldn't be surprised if they started groaning and dragging their feet around the room." I paused, rubbing the back of my neck. "Frankly, I don't see any way they'll pull ahead in this exam. They've already accepted failure like it's a new club activity."

Yukinoshita listened quietly, her expression cool as always, though her gaze lowered slightly in thought.

Yuigahama, on the other hand, leaned forward abruptly, slamming her hands on the table with more force than necessary.

"Wha—wait! Isn't that bad?! If they don't take it seriously, won't they get expelled? I mean, that's how it works, right? If you fail the Special Exam, you're done!"

Her sudden outburst echoed briefly in the room before fading into silence.

I glanced at her, then at Yukinoshita, who met my gaze with a cool, assessing look.

"That is the general idea," I replied, letting the words hang in the air like a heavy cloud.

"Then why aren't they worried!?" Yuigahama's eyes widened, almost panicked on their behalf.

"Because, Yuigahama," I said with a sigh, "you're assuming they care enough to be afraid."

I glanced at Yuigahama, already sensing the answer before I even asked.

"You did read the instructions for the Special Exam, right?" I asked but kept my tone neutral. I wasn't setting her up for immediate embarrassment.

There was a slight twitch in her posture, her shoulders rising awkwardly as if she could physically shield herself from the question. She shifted in place, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her blazer.

"O-of course I did!" she replied, far too quickly to be convincing. Her eyes darted to the side, locking onto some invisible point on the far wall, as if staring hard enough could manifest a believable excuse.

A textbook example of the guilty fidget. I didn't need to press further because the truth was written all over her face.

"Right," I muttered, leaning back and folding my arms. "Glad to hear you're keeping up."

Yukinoshita's gaze shifted to me, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if she'd picked up on the same thing.

"It seems," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear with practiced ease, "that Hikigaya-kun shares the same concerns I do."

"Eh? Concerns?" Yuigahama blinked, her head tilting like a confused puppy.

I exchanged a glance with Yukinoshita, and in that brief second, there was an unspoken understanding.

There was no malice behind it, just the quiet agreement that Yuigahama's… let's call it "optimism"… often left her two steps behind in these situations.

Yukinoshita let out a small sigh and turned toward Yuigahama, her tone shifting into that cool, instructional mode that made you feel like a child about to receive a lecture.

"The rules are simple," Yukinoshita began. "Only the person partnered with the Sobu student who has the lowest average score in Class D will be expelled. Not the whole class but the one with the weakest average of all tests."

Yuigahama's eyes widened, realization slowly dawning like a delayed software update.

"Wait, so… why would anyone in Class D want that?" she asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

"That's precisely the problem," Yukinoshita replied calmly, crossing one leg over the other. "Class D currently holds zero of these 'Class Points'. Even if they lose the Special Exam, their standing will remain the same."

I watched the gears in Yuigahama's head turn, though it was less of a smooth rotation and more of a rusty creak.

"No Class Points… so failing doesn't really… matter?"

"Yeah," I said, resting my chin in my hand. "For them, there's no difference between winning and losing. They're already at rock bottom. When you're that low, the only thing left to do is push someone else off the cliff just to see what happens."

Yuigahama frowned. "That's… kinda dark, Hikki."

"Welcome to this Special Exam," I replied dryly.

I gathered my thoughts for Yuigahama. It seems I need to explain my point.

"Basically," I began, eyes fixed on the ceiling like the answer might be engraved there, "there's no real 'goal' for Class D to chase right now. Winning isn't on their radar because they aren't even united as a class. They're more like… a bunch of strays scavenging for whatever scraps they can find. Everyone's just trying to survive on their own. If someone's grades drop, it's not their problem. If anything, it's convenient. One less person to compete with for survival."

Yuigahama's face paled, her hands gripping the edge of the table as if the weight of the situation had physically settled on her shoulders.

"That's… awful," she murmured, her voice almost trembling. "How can they think like that? Isn't that just… cruel?"

"Cruel?" I shrugged. "Maybe. But it's practical. If you're sinking, it's easier to grab someone else's ankle than to swim on your own."

Her gaze darted between me and Yukinoshita, searching for some form of reassurance.

"But… if that's how it is, why even bother staying in this school? I mean, at this rate, they'll never graduate, right?"

Her words hung in the air, the silence that followed carrying an uncomfortable weight.

For once, I didn't feel the need to respond. Thankfully, Yukinoshita stepped in, her voice smooth but firm.

"It's not that simple, Yuigahama-san," she said, crossing her arms with a small sigh. "For students already desperate enough to remain in ANHS, simply walking away isn't an option. Leaving school almost halfway through the semester isn't a clean break. It's like stepping out onto a tightrope without a safety net. You don't land gracefully—you just fall and create more problems for yourself."

Yuigahama blinked, lips slightly parted as if struggling to process the thought.

"So… they're stuck?"

"More or less," I added, resting my chin in my palm. "Even if they wanted to quit, the thought of starting over somewhere else isn't exactly appealing. Imagine explaining why you left halfway through the year. It's like showing up to your next school with a giant sign that says 'I couldn't handle it.' for them. Our education system isn't that forgiving."

Yuigahama winced, clearly picturing it.

"That sounds… terrifying," she admitted, now sinking into her seat.

"Precisely," Yukinoshita said, her tone slightly softening, "For these students, it's not about succeeding. It's about persisting. Even if it means sacrificing others along the way. I dislike this as much as I dislike this Special Exam."

I'm surprised Yukinoshita can admit that so easily.

Yuigahama sat quietly for a moment, fiddling with the ends of her hair. The weight of the conversation seemed to settle in, dimming her usual brightness.

I watched her in silence, half-expecting her to blurt out some naïve solution. But to my surprise, she didn't. Maybe even she realized that some things didn't have an easy answer.

Yukinoshita shifted her gaze toward me, her eyes narrowing slightly in that familiar, assessing way she always used when I was about to be voluntold into something.

"Hikigaya-kun, I assume you've been handling the request on your own up until now," she said, her tone carrying a trace of displeasure.

I shrugged, already sensing the incoming lecture.

"Not like I had a choice. I doubt Class D is the type to send neatly written reports tied with ribbons," I replied, tapping lightly on the desk. "Besides, I figured you'd be more annoyed if I dragged you and Yuigahama into that mess when you were busy."

Yukinoshita let out a small sigh, brushing her hair behind her ear again, a habit that usually accompanied irritation she tried to suppress.

"I'm not displeased because you handled it," she corrected, pausing for a moment as if weighing her words carefully. "But because you seem perfectly content to shoulder everything alone. That's inefficient."

I glanced at Yuigahama who gave me an apologetic look as if she felt bad for not noticing sooner.

"Well, you know how it is. It's not like you can just waltz into Class D's classroom. People might start asking questions," I said, leaning back. "I'm pretty sure it'd be suspicious if the two of you suddenly started snooping around. Your partners' class might wonder why you're fraternizing with the enemy."

Yuigahama pouted, crossing her arms.

"Hey, I could totally blend in! I'm great at making friends," she said with a huff. "Besides, I wouldn't be snooping—just… making small talk!"

"Small talk usually doesn't involve asking why half the class looks dead inside," I replied flatly.

Yukinoshita, clearly done with the side chatter, continued.

"Regardless, there are still ways to gather information without drawing unnecessary attention," she said, fixing her gaze on me. "Was there anyone in Class D who seemed… reliable enough to approach?"

I paused, mulling it over. A few faces from Class D came to mind, but most were the type who either looked half-asleep during lectures or avoided eye contact like I was holding a clipboard and asking for donations.

Still… there was one person who stood out.

"Yeah," I said after a beat. "There's someone who might fit the bill."

Yukinoshita nodded as if she had already expected that answer at least.

"Good. Ask them to visit the Service Club during the next break," she instructed, her tone leaving little room for negotiation. "It's better if we gather whatever information we can now. The school day will end soon, and after that, things will become far more difficult to manage."

"Right," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

As much as I hated running errands, she had a point. Time wasn't exactly on our side, and if Class D was as chaotic as it seemed, waiting too long would only make things worse.

"Got it. I'll see if I can get them to swing by."

"Thank you for your hard work," Yukinoshita said, before turning her attention to the Special Exam instructions spread across the desk.

Yuigahama, however, didn't seem as convinced.

"Are you sure that's all we can do?" she asked, glancing between us. "I mean, what if they say no?"

"If they say no, then that just means Class D is staying true to form and there is no way to help them," I replied, standing up. "But hey, at least we have tried."

Yuigahama frowned, but Yukinoshita merely gave a small nod of approval.

"Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes," I said, heading for the door.

As I stepped out, I could hear Yuigahama's voice trailing behind me.

"I still think we could at least try being friendlier with them…"

Friendly or not, dealing with Class D felt more like poking a hornet's nest. And in the end, I was probably going to be the one stung.

ㅤ

ᛚᛟᚾᛖᛚᚤᚲᚤᚾᛁᚲᚨᛚᛋᛟᚢᛚ

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I had barely made it three steps down the hall when it hit me.

Crap.

I forgot to tell Yuigahama something.

A deep sigh escaped me as I rubbed my temples. Damn it. No matter how much progress I thought I'd made, I always managed to leave something hanging. It was like my subconscious was hardwired to sabotage any sense of accomplishment.

Now I had to track her down before the break ended.

The hallway was buzzing with students trying to squeeze in last-minute conversations or dash to the vending machines, but I ignored the noise and kept walking, scanning the crowd for that familiar oblivious girl. I wasn't exactly the 'seek and ye shall find' type, but luck must've been in short supply for everyone else because I spotted her heading toward one of the classrooms almost immediately.

Thank you, cruel gods of social interaction.

"Yuigahama," I called out, a little louder than I intended.

Several heads turned, their gazes briefly flicking toward me with mild curiosity before returning to their own business.

Yeah, raising my voice wasn't exactly something I did often, and the uncomfortable sensation of it left a strange taste in my mouth. It felt too assertive. I made a mental note to avoid doing that for the next year or two.

Yuigahama blinked, startled, before turning toward me with a mix of surprise and confusion. She had that half-open mouth that looked like she'd just been caught eating the last piece of cake at a party.

"Hikki? What are you still doing here?" she asked, tilting her head like a confused puppy.

"Do you trust me?" I asked, keeping my tone flat and cryptic, if only for dramatic effect.

Yuigahama's eyes widened slightly.

"W-What kind of question is that, idiot Hikki? D-Don't just say weird stuff like that out of nowhere!" she stammered, tugging at the ends of her blazer sleeves as they might somehow protect her from the embarrassment.

"Relax. It's not whatever you're thinking."

"Eh? I wasn't thinking anything!"

"Whatever," I said, pushing past her embarrassment that most likely resulted in being seen with me. "Just listen. Don't—under any circumstances—talk to Kushida Kikyou."

Her blinking slowed. It was like watching a buffering video that couldn't quite load the next frame.

"Huh? Kushida-san? Is she—"

"No," I cut her off, my tone sharp enough to slice through her question before it gained traction. "She's not. She's a fraud. If she approaches you, just smile, nod, and say as little as possible. Don't get involved. Got it?"

Yuigahama frowned, looking unconvinced. "That's kinda harsh, Hikki. What makes you say that?"

I glanced down the hall, more out of caution than habit.

"Trust me. I know people like her. The type that acts like everyone's best friend but wouldn't hesitate to throw someone under the bus if it benefited them. She's dangerous."

That wasn't just a guess. I was sure of it. The social climbers, the ones who smiled a little too brightly and agreed a little too easily. They were the worst kind. You never saw the knife coming until it was already between your ribs.

Yuigahama's expression softened into something more thoughtful, though her brow furrowed in quiet doubt.

"Can you do that for me?" I pressed.

She straightened up immediately, puffing out her chest in a display of exaggerated confidence.

"Of course! I mean, pfft, what do you take me for?" she declared, though the slight tremble in her voice betrayed her.

Yeah, that didn't inspire much faith. Still, I decided to put my trust in Yuigahama.

I was about to walk away, but her voice stopped me mid-step.

"Wait—shouldn't you tell Yukinon too?"

"She'll notice it on her own. If anyone in Sobu can see through someone like Kushida, it's Yukinoshita," I replied, already turning away. "If it's you… I'm not so sure."

I could feel the glare burning into the back of my head.

"Hikki! For a second, I thought you stopped being your trash self!"

I raised a hand lazily in acknowledgment, too tired to argue.

Yeah, right.

There was no way I was letting some fake nice girl get anywhere near my clubmates.