COTE: Broadcast of Hikigaya Hachiman

Chapter 20:

　　At the same time, Kushida also arrived late with Yamauchi and Ike.

　　They had drinks in their hands, probably because they had just gone to a convenience store. However, even at such a tight time, they were able to add extra expenses, which really showed that these two guys were worthy of their reputation.

　　Kushida's body suddenly trembled, and then he said in a crying voice:

　　"Oops, I forgot to buy it for you... I'll go back and buy it for you right now."

　　Although it is not known whether it was intentional or unintentional, Hikigaya still discovered that Kushida wanted to leave Horikita here alone so that the situation would get out of control.

　　After confirming that the other party had the same idea, Hikigaya realized that the two people in front of him were definitely not as simple as he thought.

　　Maybe... there are deeper conflicts between them, but they are not aware of it.

　　Horikita waved her hand and said calmly:

　　"No, we're just here to learn, that's all."

　　With the comfort from Ike and Yamauchi, Kushida also slowly sat down.

　　Because he had just discussed with Sudo and was not well prepared today, Horikita did not plan to give them the test papers he had just given them. Instead, he took out a second set of relatively simple papers.

　　"This is a research paper. It's not difficult. It's mainly to observe your foundation. You can give it a try first."

　　Horikita is still the same Horikita. After Kushida's arrival, it's as if nothing happened just now, and she becomes the iron-faced and impartial person again.

　　The difficulty of this paper is indeed not that great, but Horikita still underestimated the brain capacity of Sudo and the others. Even this ridiculously simple investigation paper is only barely passable for Sudo.

　　And Hikigaya wasn't much better.

　　Once again, I felt Horikita's murderous gaze.

　　"Hey, calm down..."

　　Although he said this in his heart, Horikita seemed to be completely angry and was about to blurt out hurtful words.

　　But...something unexpected happened for the second time. The girl took a deep breath again and began to explain the wrong answer.

　　If you want to improve your grades in a short period of time, science is the fastest way, especially for people like Sudo.

　　The first day of the study session went smoothly. Yamauchi and Ike left with a smile on their faces, saying on the way: "Horikita isn't as difficult as he looks. I really misunderstood him."

　　There is no doubt that this finally put Hikigaya's mind at ease. On the other side, Sudo and Horikita were still discussing the questions. Although Sudo still had only a vague understanding of them, he seemed to be studying very seriously.

　　Kushida also left after the study session. Although she still had that smile on her face, it was obvious that she didn't see what she wanted to see.

　　If things continue to develop in this way, it will be very smooth, but...whether I can get a passing grade before the midterm exam becomes a big problem.

　　Wait...pass?

　　Who determines passing?

　　What score is required to pass?

　　According to common sense, there must be a score line, but now, this school must have a different way of judging...

　　The seeds of doubt were slowly planted in Hikigaya's mind.

　　He looked at Kamishiro who was still staring at him, and the moment their eyes met, Kamishiro quickly turned his head away.

　　"Perhaps... Sakayanagi might know."

　　After finishing a day's trip, Hikigaya quickly returned to his dormitory.

　　Today's doubts still exist in Hikigaya's mind. Ever since the last points crisis, he understood that this school cannot be treated with ordinary thinking. Although it is necessary to study hard, if he doesn't figure it out, he will never be able to understand the rules of this school and will always be in a passive state.

**

　　[ike: "Actually, it actually worked... It's incredible!"]

　　[Yamauchi: "He really changed the original development again. How could this happen... He didn't seem to have done anything."]

　　[Horikita: "I am getting more and more curious about what he is going to do."]

　　[Ayanokouji stared at the boy closely. It was almost impossible to say that he was the killer in the white room, but... he had indeed replaced himself.]

　　['This situation can only be explained by supernatural events, but... you also make me curious about what kind of changes will happen in your world.']

　　[Sudou: "That's amazing, really amazing, I really am learning, it's incredible, okay!"]

　　 Koenji put his hands on the back of his head, closed his eyes and said: "Don't smile so happily before you drop out of school. After all, even if you study hard, no one can say that you won't be expelled, red-haired boy."]

　　After finishing a day's tracking mission, Kamuro began to report his schedule for the day to Sakayanagi who was sitting at the chess table.

　　Sakayanagi: "So? You were discovered by him?"

　　Kamuro: "Maybe… yeah…"

　　Sakayanagi just smiled faintly, then picked up a pawn chess piece and placed it in a more marginal position.

　　Here, there is no target for attack, and no target can attack her. She is just like a well-protected princess.

　　Sakayanagi: "In fact, you have been discovered a long time ago."

　　Kamuro: "Ah? When?"

　　Sakayanagi: "Who knows? It was probably the first day I sent you to follow him."

　　Kamuro: "But... I never felt that he saw me, except today..."

　　Sakayanagi: "That's because he thinks you can do him no harm, so he pretends not to notice you."

　　Kamuro: "How could it be..."

　　Sakayanagi: "Because he mentioned it to me the last time I went to see him... but he didn't care."

　　Thinking of how silly he was today, avoiding his gaze even though he had been discovered a long time ago, he must have looked like a fool in his eyes. At this moment, Kamuro's cheeks couldn't help but turn red.

　　Sakayanagi: "In any case, even if we are discovered, we must continue to follow him and report our progress."

　　Kamuro: "Why?! It doesn't make any sense anymore. Since he discovered me, everything we monitored was what he wanted us to see."

　　Sakayanagi picked up the general and placed it in front of the soldier. The sound of the chess piece hitting the chessboard instantly filled the entire room.

　　"It seems that you still don't understand that I'm asking you to stay by his side not just to follow and monitor him."

　　"I promised him that I would protect him well."

　　Sakayanagi turned around, still with that terrifying smile on her face, but to Kamuro, she looked more like a devil with angel wings.

　　The pawn in chess is the weakest and most powerful piece, and she had said it long ago.

　　No matter what, he will have a good time in this school for three years.

　　No matter which class, whether they are enemies or allies, Sakayanagi will not make any changes.

　　Just keep him behind you, that's all.

**

　　[Hikigaya looked at her in front of him, but he was very confused. ]

　　['Why would he go to such lengths for himself? In the ten years that he has lived, no one has ever paid such a high price for a marginal figure like him. He has always been a selfish person and has never contributed to others. The only time he did so was probably when he saved Yuigahama's dog, that's all.']

　　['But the girl in front of me is different. I have only met her a few times, but she treats me like this. I am not outstanding. If she wants to use someone, she doesn't need to find someone as weak as me...']

　　[Hikigaya still cannot understand what Sakayanagi is thinking. This silver-haired fairy is like a demon who can see through everything, but he never does anything harmful to himself. ]

　　[It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. The students and teachers in this school are so different from what I know.]

　　[What does this classroom called "Might First" represent? What is the significance of its appearance? ]

　　[Is this really just a simple school? ]

　　[Hikigaya's inner thoughts cannot be expressed.]

**

　　At the same time, Hikigaya had just finished a tiring day and was lying in the dormitory, thinking about the significance of this exam.

　　In an ordinary school, grades mean everything, but not in this school.

　　If the purpose is simply to screen out some students in order to maintain a 100% admission rate...

　　"What a cruel school..."

　　'Who knows, I might fall behind without realizing it and end up getting expelled from school sooner or later.'

　　If students with poor grades don't understand what the passing line is in school, then they will have no goal at all.

　　The teacher has all the information on this one side, and he is not sure enough. At the current speed, he cannot keep up at all, and it is almost impossible to make Sudo pass.

　　Just when Hikigaya's brain was about to explode, he rolled over and fell off the bed.

　　"Forget it... Let's go downstairs and buy a bottle of MAX coffee."

　　The dream is beautiful, but in this school, there is no Max coffee that he likes. Although there are many varieties, he has tried almost all of them, and there is no substitute for Max coffee.

　　For Hikigaya, the days without max coffee are always hard to endure. If he had enough points, the first thing he would do is to ask the school to introduce max coffee, so as to add a little color to his already boring high school life.

　　However, with only tens of thousands of points now, I'm afraid I can't do this.

　　Hikigaya just stood in front of the vending machine, thinking hard about what to buy.

　　Sour, sweet, refreshing...

　　There are too many choices, but none of them are what Hikigaya likes.

　　Finally...he set his sights on a bottle of black tea.

　　'It's been a while since I drank the tea made by that guy...'

　　Just when Hikigaya bought a bottle of black tea and was about to turn back to the dormitory, he heard a familiar voice coming from nearby.

　　"I am no longer the useless me that my brother knew me as."

　　The boy was crawling in front of the automatic purchasing machine. Although it couldn't be said to be eavesdropping, but...well, it was eavesdropping.

　　Horikita: "I came here to catch up with you!"

　　"Is this... Horikita? And who is that person, the student council president? Brother? "

　　"By the way, the student council president is also called Horikita. I've guessed it before, but this is the first time I've seen them walking together."

　　"If Komachi was also in this school, I would definitely walk with her every day!"

　　Just as Hikigaya was thinking, the voice of Horikita Manabu came from the alley.

　　"Catch up with me?"

　　He gently adjusted his glasses and looked carefully at the sister in front of him.

　　Horikita Manabu: "It seems that you have indeed changed a little. How did you do it? You haven't changed in more than ten years, but you have changed in this school. Although it's just a drop in the bucket, it's equivalent to nothing."

　　Horikita Suzune looked at her brother in confusion: "Me? Changed?"

　　Horikita Manabu: "Oh? It seems that someone has changed you without you realizing it... You made the right choice by choosing this school, but if you want to catch up with me, you are still far from what you are now."

　　Horikita Suzune didn't seem to understand what Horikita Manabu meant, and clenched her hands in panic and said:

　　"I will be promoted to Class A soon, and then..."

　　"You can't do it with your current state."

　　"I will definitely do it."

　　Horikita Suzune's voice had begun to tremble unconsciously, and Hikigaya, who had been watching the two of them from a distance, couldn't help but be a little surprised for a moment.

　　Is this guy really Horikita!?

　　"What a disobedient sister..."

　　He turned around, grabbed Horikita Suzune's hand tightly and pressed it against the wall.

　　The strong impact made her moan, but that was all.

　　Horikita Manabu was surprised to see his sister change, but this was just a drop in the bucket and the problem remained unchanged.

　　"You have a sister who was disgraced in Class D. I am the one who is embarrassed. At least until you have enough ability to climb up, you'd better not let others know that I am your brother."

　　"Brother..I..."

　　"In this school, you are just a piece of trash who entered Class D. Recognize this."

　　Having said that, Horikita Manabu raised his hand, ready to strike back.

***