Volume 1 Chapter 4: Chapter An Irritating Teenager
Hoshinomiya explained the rules at an extremely fast pace.
So fast that there was still no sign of anyone in the school building.
Soon enough, Hikigaya Hachiman noticed the figure of Hoshinomiya Chie and quickly jogged up to her.
“Oh, Hikigaya-kun?”
Hoshinomiya Chie stopped in her tracks, teasingly saying, “What brings you to me? Could it be that you have fallen in love with sensei at first sight? Well, sensei should consider it carefully.”
“The latter sentence is unnecessary.”
Hikigaya Hachiman was somewhat speechless.
For some reason, even though getting too close to girls would make him nervous to the point of sweaty palms, he felt no awkwardness when dealing with women of other age groups. Perhaps, it’s because of having a little sister that he’s rather skilled at handling younger girls. As for Hoshinomiya, she felt no different from dealing with a little girl.
“I have something I want to ask sensei.”
Hachiman spoke frankly.
“Hmm?”
Hoshinomiya raised her eyebrows imperceptibly, but Hachiman keenly noticed it. Why did she suddenly seem a bit angry?
“Why didn’t you ask in the classroom just now?”
“Well…”
Hachiman felt a bit awkward. “Anyway, there are many reasons.”
“Such as?”
Hoshinomiya wouldn’t let it go.
Although it was just the beginning of the school year, and they were both members of Class B, he came out alone to ask questions. She seriously doubted whether Hachiman considered himself a member of Class B.
“Such as…”
Hachiman’s eyes darted around as he said, “Uh, because I wanted to ask some more personal questions.”
“Hmm…”
Hoshinomiya gave him a scrutinizing look, instantly making Hachiman feel as if he were being seen through.
What kind of school is this?
The people in this school are just too scary. Maybe Hoshinomiya is pretending to be cute but is actually a demonic teacher.
“Ask away.”
After a while, Hoshinomiya put her hands on her hips, looking satisfied, “However, whether I answer depends on my mood, okay?”
“Can one apply for voluntary withdrawal from the school?”
Hachiman’s expression was serious.
Although he doesn’t know how he got admitted, can’t he voluntarily withdraw from the school?
Without Komachi in the school, it’s meaningless, even if it’s luxurious.
Moreover, just ten minutes ago, his youth had already come to an end.
“Hmm?”
Hoshinomiya was stunned.
Advanced Nurturing High School is the top-notch educational institution in Sakurajima. Being admitted is equivalent to a smooth future, at least in the eyes of freshmen. But after teaching for so many years, it was the first time she encountered someone who wanted to withdraw from school right after the start.
“Why do you ask like this?”
Hoshinomiya visibly furrowed her brows.
“Well, anyway— there are many reasons.”
Hachiman played it off casually.
This time, Hoshinomiya didn’t inquire further. For someone without ambition, staying in this school would be a waste.
“Okay.”
Hoshinomiya said straightforwardly, “The school will notify parents if a student can’t adapt to the school.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Hachiman awkwardly chuckled and explained, “I mean, can you not notify my parents? Or say I lack the ability to keep up with studies, and just kick me out?”
Lack of ability!
This way, parents wouldn’t be able to say anything. As for understanding parents, give him a break. He believed that his old man and the others were celebrating getting rid of him. Understanding? Bullshit.
Old man, please find me a job!
“Hmm?”
Hoshinomiya blinked, finally understanding his meaning.
Clearly, he wasn’t really asking to withdraw from school but was looking for an excuse to convince his parents that there’s something outside of school he’s attached to.
There’s still hope!
Although the school has some peculiarities.
As the Class B homeroom teacher, she cares about every student, and that’s why she could remember the names of each student before the school year started.
Hoshinomiya Chie focused her attention and promised herself to do her best to save this lost lamb.
“Sure.”
Hoshinomiya nodded, smiling, “If your abilities are lacking, you’ll be expelled sooner or later. But if you deliberately hide your abilities and try to withdraw, I will truthfully inform your parents, as it is the school’s duty.”
Damn it.
Does this mean that originally he could have pretended to be mediocre and withdrawn from school, but now he has blocked this path himself?
If his old man knew he deliberately gave up such a good opportunity, he would definitely kick him out of the house.
That won’t do.
He loves his parents deeply and sincerely wishes them a long and healthy life.
He hopes his parents can evolve from corporate slaves to ultimate corporate slaves, working diligently to support him until they’re a hundred years old.
Being kicked out of the house is absolutely unacceptable.
Moreover, he doesn’t have any abilities to hide.
Originally just an ordinary person aiming to be a stay-at-home dad, unable to make friends, at most just a reserve member for the future army of corporate slaves.
Hikigaya Hachiman is aware of this reality.
Even the just mentioned Kanzaki, Shibata, and Ichinose are obviously much more outstanding than him, not to mention students from other classes.
“I understand, please don’t do that.”
Hachiman conceded, bowing his head.
This cute teacher in front of him is like a devil who can see through people’s hearts, instantly seeing through his disguise.
“However, Hoshinomiya-sensei, what did you mean by ‘expelled sooner or later’? Is it common for students to be expelled from this school?”
Hachiman was curious.
“It’s quite common. Any other questions?”
Hoshinomiya nodded without hiding anything.
Even though he understood this, he couldn’t think of anything else.
‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.’
Hachiman felt a bit speechless.
If he were labeled as expelled in Sakurajima, his life would probably be over.
This school is really ridiculous.
However, it seems unrelated to him, who aims to attend a private university and become a stay-at-home dad.
As long as I act mediocre enough, no one can target me.
“Also, about liberal arts and science…”
Hachiman said seriously, this school is about to shatter his life plan.
“This school doesn’t separate students into liberal arts and science streams.”
Before he could finish, Hoshinomiya interrupted, “You should study both liberal arts and science well.”
“As expected…”
Hachiman sighed once again at this garbage school.
Originally, he planned to give up science after graduating from junior high and focus on liberal arts. Then, using his old man’s money, he would enroll in a private university.
After all, he really dislikes mathematics.
He just wants to study useful things.
Effort may not necessarily lead to success, and failure is the result for most people. It’s better to take it easy.
Now, he can’t even give up science.
Hoshinomiya pinched her chin, scrutinizing the boy in front of her, “Is there something bothering you?”
“Haha…”
Hachiman awkwardly averted his gaze and laughed a couple of times to evade the question.
Since you know that, be sensible and don’t let me enroll, seriously.
“Oh well.”
Hoshinomiya, hands on her hips, said triumphantly, “If you have any troubles in your studies, you can find little Honami. She was the first in the entrance exam. Don’t come to me.”
“Normally, this should be a moment to showcase your lovely side and say, ‘Leave it all to sensei,’ right?”
Hey hey, Is it really okay for a teacher who dislikes work so much?
Hachiman felt a bit speechless.
However, on the other hand, looking at it, Ichinose is truly outstanding, and there seem to be many outstanding people in this class.
“Hmm?”
Hoshinomiya squinted her eyes, smiling slyly, “Does sensei seem like the kind of person who deliberately acts cute to show off?”
“Exactly.”
You are that kind of person!
Honest Hachiman wouldn’t lie.
“Hmm?”
Hoshinomiya clenched her fist and shook it, not hiding the threatening tone.
It’s confirmed.
This is a kid who makes people angry.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Hachiman broke into a cold sweat, instantly taking half a step back in surrender, “Even if sensei doesn’t do anything, she’s still very cute.”
“Are you implying that sensei is slacking off?”
“No, no, I absolutely didn’t mean that.”
“Oh well.”
Hoshinomiya patted his shoulder with a smile, indicating not to be nervous, “Is there anything else?”
“Hoo.”
Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief; the teachers at this school are really terrifying.
“Also, is it true that you can use the opportunity to freely choose your career after graduation? Are there any conditions?”
Looking at Hachiman’s dead fish eyes, Hoshinomiya felt as if he had already seen through everything, as if he didn’t care about the answer.
In fact, that’s true.
The only important things are dropping out and the division into liberal arts and science. Everything else is just plain unbelief.
Free tuition, freedom to choose a career.
There’s no way such a good thing exists in the world, and even if it does, it won’t happen to him.
“Hachiman is really sharp.”
Hoshinomiya praised with a somewhat admiring tone.
“Hahaha.”
Hachiman dryly laughed twice, “Ordinary people know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, right? Is there some kind of trap?”
“How could there be such a thing? Hachiman-kun’s delusions are too severe.”
Hoshinomiya tapped his head with the book bag, puffed up her cute face, and said, “Choosing a career is true, but there are indeed conditions!”
“What conditions?”
“Pu pu.”
Hoshinomiya made a cross in front of her chest with her white and tender arms, “It’s a secret!”
“So you can’t say it…”
Hachiman felt a bit speechless.
This school seems to have some big secrets, making students guess everything.
However, It’s quite easy to guess.
Choosing a career does have conditions. Only those who pass the school’s test can have the opportunity to choose their career freely.
But. If it’s a test from the school to the students, there’s no need to conceal it at all. Just telling the truth directly is not a problem.
After all, students have no power to resist.
The remaining answer is only one.
Competition between students.
It’s just a simple process of elimination. I believe outstanding students like Yui have already noticed.
“Competition between students.”
Hachiman lowered his head, pondering and muttering, “Moreover, only a minority of people have the right to choose their careers freely.”
The conditions could be:
Academic performance? Athletic performance? Special talents?
Or comprehensive evaluation?
Or maybe it’s the lone wolves, as they are the smallest group, which means he might already have the opportunity to choose his career freely.
That would be fantastic.
Hachiman happily thought.
On the other side, Hoshinomiya’s pupils slightly contracted, looking at the boy in front of her for the first time.
Having been a class advisor for so many years, she has seen countless intelligent students, but their thinking usually stops at the level of ‘the school’s test on the students.’ After all, whether in elementary school or junior high school, the school is always the absolute authority, and it’s hard for people to transcend such ingrained beliefs.
It was only a month later that she realized it was a competition between students.
And the man in front of her, with just a few questions, had already considered this step, which was terrifying.
She originally thought that having outstanding talents like Ichinose Honami in Class B was already like finding a treasure. She didn’t expect to have such a talent, but he seemed a bit self-deprecating and not good at communicating with others.
However, she still didn’t know.
Hikigaya Hachiman’s contemplation was far from over.