There is something wrong with Hikigaya’s classroom of the Elite, as expected

Chapter 5: Explode, Youth

As noon approached, the entrance ceremony finally ended.

The Advanced Nurturing High School, despite having special rules and a unique approach to student management, still retained some commonalities with other schools.

For example, the entrance ceremony was nearly identical to those in other schools—the same old speeches, repeated year after year, words so well-rehearsed they might as well have been memorized generations ago.

After the ceremony was dismissed, many students chose to return to their dorms. It was said that each student had their own private dorm, complete with household appliances—truly luxurious.

Others went in groups to the Keyaki Shopping Center, while some new students opted for cafés and restaurants.

Even within a single morning, it was evident that students from different backgrounds had already begun forming various cliques.

Meanwhile, Hachiman Hikigaya went to a convenience store to buy some daily necessities—along with a can of MAX Coffee to restore his mental energy.

“They don’t have it?”

Despite the availability of oddities like natto-flavored milk, eel soda, and curry juice, the sacred MAX Coffee—the soul of Chiba natives—was nowhere to be found?

I was practically raised on MAX Coffee!

As Hikigaya brooded over this injustice, his eyes caught an unusual sign in the corner of the store.

“Free Supplies?”

He looked at the cart filled with “free products”—basic necessities, accompanied by a rule stating: “Limited to three items per month.”

“Is this some kind of financial aid to prevent students from overspending?”

Hikigaya frowned. With the initial 100,000-point allowance, how could anyone be so broke that they’d need to use these free supplies? Yet, from the way some of the items were stacked, it was clear that some students—possibly upperclassmen—had already taken advantage of this offer.

Strange…

Would someone really waste all their personal points and resort to school-provided welfare? Just how much of a failure would one have to be?

A faint sense of unease crept over Hikigaya. The contradiction between the generous 100,000-point allowance and the existence of free supplies—why did both coexist? There had to be a reason.

As he was pondering this, he suddenly felt a chill and instinctively turned his head—meeting the gaze of a certain individual.

The Ice Queen?!

“Tch.”

Suzune Horikita furrowed her brows and ignored Hikigaya, shifting her attention to the free supplies corner, wearing the same look of doubt and confusion.

Hey! You totally just clicked your tongue!

And really, was it necessary to hold a grudge over something so minor?!

As if she had read his mind, Horikita once again shot a cold glare at him. Hikigaya returned her deadpan stare before quickly walking away.

“You’re just as much of a loner as I am.” He muttered.

During the entrance ceremony, groups had already started to form in the class. Unsurprisingly, Hikigaya had become a “Lone Ranger.” Similarly, Horikita—the long-haired Ice Queen—was also alone.

So in the end, we were both just outcasts abandoned by the collective.

Even though it was petty and mean-spirited, Hikigaya couldn’t help but smirk—a tiny bit of schadenfreude should be fine, right?

…Then, he got caught. Horikita returned his smirk with a glare colder than ice, staring him down relentlessly until the ceremony ended.

What is she, a vengeful ghost?!

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As Hikigaya left the convenience store, he suddenly heard an argument behind him.

It was Sudo Ken, the red-haired delinquent from his class, clashing with some upperclassmen.

During the class introductions, Sudo had already gotten into verbal conflicts, establishing himself as the class hothead.

“Hey, first-year! This is OUR turf!”

“Hah? What an eyesore. I was here first! If anyone should leave, it’s YOU!”

Sudo and the upperclassmen were arguing over the best seating area near the convenience store. Normally, freshmen would back down in front of seniors. But clearly, they had underestimated Sudo’s temper—he wasn’t one to give in.

The upperclassmen, surprised by his defiance, sneered.

“Hahaha, did I hear that right? This cocky little first-year actually told us to get lost? That’s hilarious!”

Sudo, already a short fuse, was especially sensitive to mockery. With a loud “BAM,” he slammed his instant noodles onto the ground, springing to his feet with a fiery glare—ready to brawl.

Hikigaya shook his head slightly.

This guy’s explosion threshold is WAY too low.

Where’d this walking time bomb come from? Just go ahead and blow up already.

Hikigaya had no intention of getting involved—until he heard one of the upperclassmen’s remarks.

“So disrespectful to your seniors! Let me guess—you’re in D-Class, aren’t you?”

“Hah! Look at that smug face—definitely a D-Class loser. How pitiful! Acting all high and mighty when you’re actually at the bottom of the barrel!”

Sudo was completely enraged, about to charge at them—when someone stopped him.

The Poker-Faced Guy.

And, of course, the Ice Queen watching coldly from the sidelines.

“So what if I’m from D-Class? You bastards better not run!”

The upperclassmen exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Instead of engaging further, they left with a cryptic warning:

“Soon enough, you’ll see what real hell looks like.”

As Hikigaya watched them leave, he fell into deep thought.

Was there some kind of hierarchical divide between classes?

This school is seriously messed up.

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Hikigaya finally reached the cafeteria. It was surprisingly luxurious but not as crowded as he expected—probably because new students were too busy exploring the mall and restaurants.

“People with money won’t eat in the cafeteria, obviously.”

As he browsed the meal ticket vending machines, he noticed something peculiar.

A separate, inconspicuous vending machine.

“Heh. Just as I thought.”

Unlike the others, this machine offered only one option.

A Green Vegetable Set Meal.

Price: Free.

Hikigaya wasn’t even surprised. When he saw the free supplies earlier, he had already suspected the school might also provide free food.

Out of curiosity, he bought the cheapest curry set and sat down at a table that gave him a good view of the vending machines.

As someone who had mastered the art of solitude, Hikigaya had developed several skills:

• [Human Observation: A]
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• [Presence Concealment: B]
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Simply put, years of being a loner had sharpened his ability to read people while simultaneously making him practically invisible.

Whether in his past life or this new one, Hikigaya always existed in contradiction.

Always alone, yet oddly noticeable.

Because he didn’t interact with anyone, he stood out.

Yet, at the same time, he was so detached that people ignored him entirely.

Thus, he became the ultimate outsider.