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

Chapter 160: The Mark of a Mature Man

Hikigaya and Katsuragi did not have any significant conflicts; in fact, they hardly had any interactions.

However, sometimes conflicts exist from the very beginning due to differences in stance.

Adding to that, Hikigaya, a student from Class D, had managed to enter the student council. Although Katsuragi had never explicitly expressed his dissatisfaction, for someone who had also applied for the student council, this was the first “blemish” on his record since entering the school.

To say he didn’t care would be a lie, but Katsuragi hid it well. However, no matter how well he concealed it, he was still just a high school student. Totsuka, who had been following him closely, naturally noticed this.

Under this influence, Totsuka became particularly hostile toward lower-ranked classes, especially Class D.

One could say that Totsuka’s actions were his own, but wasn’t this also Katsuragi subconsciously allowing such behavior?

Thus, the conflict between Hikigaya and Katsuragi was destined to be irreconcilable.

At that moment, Hirata suddenly appeared out of nowhere and managed to defuse the situation. However, everyone understood that this was only temporary. As long as they remained in this school, conflicts and tensions between classes and students would never cease—something the school itself was happy to see.

After Katsuragi and Totsuka left, Hirata turned to Hikigaya with a wry smile and sighed apologetically:

“Hikigaya-kun, do you think having someone like me—who only tries to mediate—as a leader of Class D is frustrating?”

It was clear that Hirata was aware that his intervention had prevented a possible conflict but had also left many dissatisfied. After all, he was a Class D student. Even if he was mediating, he shouldn’t appear so subservient. His actions not only made him look weak but also embarrassed his own class.

People often joked about Hirata being a “nice guy,” but behind his back, Yamauchi, Ike, and the others would mockingly call him a “pushover.”

Of course, their resentment and frustration played a part in this, but it also showed that, even if they didn’t say it outright, many were displeased with Hirata’s “people-pleasing” approach.

A leader must be soft when dealing with their own people, but they must also be strong when facing external threats. Unfortunately, Hirata only had the “soft” side, and no trace of the “hard” side.

Hikigaya understood Hirata, but that didn’t mean he agreed with him.

“Honestly, yeah—sometimes your actions are really hard to understand and even frustrating.”

Hikigaya didn’t offer any comforting words. Instead, he continued bluntly, “Sometimes, excessive kindness is just another form of poison. I understand your mindset. At our age, most people are hot-blooded, competitive, and prideful. Few can be as ‘humble’ as you.”

Hearing this, Hirata’s expression dimmed slightly.

“But what I want to say is, Hirata—you are one of the most mature guys in Class D, and probably one of the most mature guys I’ve met so far.”

“M-Mature? Me?”

Hirata had expected more criticism, so he was surprised to hear Hikigaya describe him as “mature.”

“Yeah, you still have some flaws, but there’s no denying it—you are a mature man.”

Hikigaya patted him on the shoulder and said,

“A sign of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause. A sign of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

Seeing Hirata’s puzzled expression, Hikigaya chuckled.

“This is a quote from Wilhelm Stacker. Well, he’s a fictional character from The Catcher in the Rye.”

“Thank you. I’ll definitely take the time to read that book.”

Hirata’s mood seemed to improve.

At the same time, he kept replaying Hikigaya’s words in his mind, feeling an unexpected sting of emotion in his eyes. He instinctively wiped at them.

After Hirata left, Sakura—who had been standing quietly like a bystander—finally gathered the courage to speak. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Hikigaya in admiration.

“Hikigaya-kun, what you just said was so… amazing!”

But Hikigaya didn’t look pleased. Watching Hirata’s retreating figure, he sighed slightly.

What he hadn’t said was this—

Hirata was indeed a mature man.

But was the “cause” he was devoted to really worth sacrificing himself for?

Was it even worth living humbly for?

Hikigaya had no answer.

Only Hirata could answer that for himself.

At the same time, a sudden announcement echoed throughout the cruise ship.

【Good morning, first-year students. Please be informed that if you have the time, we kindly request you to gather on the deck. We are about to reach our destination island, and we believe you will witness a very significant and meaningful sight.】

The announcement was then repeated twice.

At first glance, it seemed like the school was merely introducing the island to the students. However, those with prior experience or keen observation skills would immediately sense something unusual—this school never did anything without purpose. Whether it was the speeches given by homeroom teachers at the beginning of the school year or various other events, there was always an underlying reason behind them.

If the school deemed something important enough to announce to all students, there was a high chance that the message contained some deliberately embedded information.

As a result, a growing number of students began appearing on the deck. However, the majority were simply excited and curious about their island vacation, completely unaware of the hidden implications within the announcement.

Hikigaya, on the other hand, recalled Nagumo’s previous “hint” and Sakayanagi’s words from the day before. As expected, this island trip was not just an ordinary vacation—something special was waiting for them.

The only logical explanation was some kind of exam.

After all, in this school, where strength determined everything, competition had so far been limited to academic ability. However, other aspects of their abilities had yet to be tested. Perhaps this trip would reveal just the tip of the iceberg.

As the island came into clearer view, something unexpected happened—the cruise ship did not dock at the island’s pier. Instead, it continued speeding around the island’s perimeter, as if deliberately allowing the students to take in the island’s full landscape.

“Something’s definitely up.”

Hikigaya, taking the announcement into consideration, quickly deduced the school’s intention—were they trying to make the students pay attention to something in particular?

The island itself was a small landmass of only 0.5 square kilometers, slightly larger than Vatican City. However, its true size couldn’t be measured by area alone—the dense forests covering the island had to be taken into account as well. Still, for over a hundred students, the island certainly wasn’t too small.

Narrowing his eyes, Hikigaya carefully studied the entire island. At the same time, he noticed that Katsuragi from Class A was also intensely observing the island, his focus unwavering.

Standing beside him, Totsuka, like a loyal bodyguard, kept close watch, ensuring that no one disturbed his master.