Hirata is like a good-natured person, quite reliable, and Kushida is also very good at socializing.
The reason is that a portion of the students in the class group Hirata created were continuously pulled in by Kushida.
Being able to do this, first, shows that she obtained administrator status for the class group, and second, it shows that she has already acquired everyone's contactinformation.
That's how she could add people.
Therefore.
Kushida is also a candidate for a normie.
For someone like Hachiman, who prefers the shadows, these people are hard to handle, but surprisingly, he found that getting along...wasn't a problem.
Perhaps it was...because Kushida was looking at him with watery, pitiful eyes.
Her charisma seemed to be fully activated.
Making it hard to refuse.
"By the way, Kushida, are you planning to go to the Shopping Area?" Hachiman asked.
"Mm-hmm, everyone went to the Shopping Area and found that points can be used directly as money," Kushida nodded.
"And I also went back to my dorm to check, and although the bedding and such were provided, there are still some daily necessities that need to be replenished."
This cannot be denied.
Living alone requires a variety of complex items.
From large items like clothes, tables, and chairs, to small items like toothpicks and paper napkins, and if one plans to cook for themselves, even more items are needed.
And Kushida wanted to go to the Shopping Area.
I see.
That means they would separate soon.
Hachiman had originally planned to buy some items at the Shopping Area as well.
But suddenly, a sense of crisis arose, and he decided to first obtain some information from the upperclassmen.
Like Chabashira, the teachers seemed to be under a gag order, but as long as everyone was living in closed-off dorms at the school, there would definitely be some things or phenomena that would allow people to obtain information.
Even as he thought this.
"Then, Kushida, could you give me...a copy of the students' contact information?" Hachiman asked.
"Eh?"
Kushida blinked cutely.
She seemed to be asking what he wanted to do.
"I'm a very reclusive person, and I hope to make friends here," Hachiman said.
Actually, he was lying.
Hachiman wanted to do Chabashira's task.
Chabashira's deal with him was that he would investigate the files of the students in the class, and for each student, she would pay him 200,000 as compensation.
She would also give him the authority to directly convert points into cash.
Regardless of whether he had to investigate all 39 students one by one, simply investigating one or two files would be a decent reward.
Hachiman wanted to do it.
And to do this task, you first need to know the information of the students in the class, like his social skills.
If he really has them, then Komachi wouldn't need to worry.
So, if he could start with Hirata or Kushida, who have maximum social ability, it would be much easier.
Because both Hirata and Kushida… seemed very approachable.
However, he only knew Hirata right now, and to Hirata, he was just one of 39 classmates.
This could be seen from how Hirata kept replying to his classmates on the way to the dorms with Hachiman.
He cared about everyone.
The reason he paid attention to Hachiman was also out of concern that he might be isolated.
He was being worried about by the other party.
So Hachiman actually didn't want to trouble a student like Hirata.
And Kushida gave him a feeling of being easier to approach.
Of course, he was also somewhat swayed.
Because Kushida is very cute, and probably no one dislikes being around cute girls.
So, could this request...be granted?
"You want to make friends, huh..." Kushida tilted her head.
"It's not possible, after all?"
Hachiman also knew that making such a request so suddenly was quite troublesome.
"It's not that it's impossible, it's just a bit surprising, because that was originally my ideal," Kushida said.
"I hope to become friends with everyone and make wonderful memories at this school."
She had already mentioned this in her self-introduction in class.
[My name is Kushida Kikyo, and my goal is to become friends with everyone here. I want to create many memories, so please feel free to come find me often.]
And then she obtained so many classmates' contact information.
Kushida was indeed working towards this goal.
But even classmates might not give their contact information to others.
So Kushida was already quite popular.
"And Hikigaya, have you confirmed anyone you want to be friends with?" Kushida continued.
"Uh… not yet," Hachiman replied. "I just thought I'd get the contact information first, so if I find someone I want to be friends with later, I can contact them."
This excuse didn't quite hold up, because if he wanted to make friends, he wouldn't need to get so many people's contact information.
"I see…" But Kushida seemed to pause for a moment.
"Alright."
She said, "I can tell you the contact information of the students in the class."
"However, before that, could you agree to one condition?"
"That is, can you become friends with me?" Kushida said.
As she said this, she looked at him with sparkling eyes.
From her setting a condition, it showed that she was very smart.
She had indeed seen through his lie about wanting to get the classmates' contact information for the purpose of making friends.
But...even though she saw through it, she was still willing to give out the contact information.
And the reason was...she wanted to secure his friend slot.
Kushida wanted to be friends with him.
And the price was a bit steep.
It's not a normal thing to want to obtain the contact information of classmates.
It could be used for other purposes.
Thinking like that, it becomes quite terrifying.
So, if anything were to happen, Kushida, as the one who leaked it, might have to take the blame.
In other words, even if she felt she had to bear the risk, Kushida still wanted to be friends with him?
Hey, hey, hey.
Realizing this, Hachiman was somewhat surprised.
Because.
If he were a normal boy, he would now misunderstand that Kushida had a very high opinion of him.
And this kind of thing.
Be strong, Hachiman.
It's just making friends, not dating. Don't easily trust a girl's kindness.
Absolutely no misunderstandings.
"Although I really want to be friends with Kushida," Hachiman said, "I have some strict requirements for friends. They're the lifelong type, helping each other, confiding in each other, and valuing friends very highly. The kind who will rush to help without hesitation when the other party asks for it."
"Ahahaha..."
Kushida's expression, however, did not change.
"Hikigaya needs that kind of intense friendship, huh..."
"Then it'll be difficult," Kushida said with a cute expression.
Yes.
It's not that easy to find true friends.
Just eating and chatting together, or even going to the restroom together, that's just socializing.
It can't be called friendship.
Hachiman knew his way of thinking was different from his peers.
Rather, he was not interested in their normie lives.
He didn't think that kind of youth was true youth.
However, he couldn't tell from Kushida's expression whether she had just mocked his definition of a true friend.
But in reality, the conversation suddenly cooled down.
The two had already exited the elevator and the Floor lobby, and arrived outside the dorms.
Kushida continued walking towards the Shopping Area, while Hachiman was preparing to head towards the school building.
"Hikigaya, did you forget something in the classroom?" Kushida asked.
"No, not that," Hachiman nodded.
"I want to explore the campus a bit. The school suddenly giving us this kind of treatment, the expenses are too great. I just feel it's unreasonable."
"I asked Teacher Chabashira earlier, but the teachers seem to be under a gag order."
"So I thought I'd try my luck with the upperclassmen."
Oh.
I see.
Kushida nodded.
She had originally planned to go shopping at the Shopping Area, but suddenly turned around and grabbed Hachiman's sleeve.
"Then, can I come with you?"
Kushida is cute and has a sweet voice.
"Can you take me with you?"
She looked at him with pitiful eyes
If he looked closely, he would see his reflection in her pupils.
Then, probably realizing he wasn't moving, she went from just holding his sleeve to cupping his left hand with both hands.
After enveloping his hand, she gently lifted it.
And this was a surprising action.
It was the first time in his life he had been touched so intimately by a girl.
Even my younger sister, Komachi, has never had this.
Is this the warmth of a girl?
But.
Hachiman nodded.
"If you want to come," Hachiman said.
He didn't think Kushida had feelings for him beyond friendship.
In fact, they weren't even friends yet, so he didn't believe Kushida had that level of intimate affection for him.
So, her making such a gesture might have been because of what he just said about investigating the school and the teachers being given a gag order.
In other words.
She wanted to obtain information through him.
Kushida... you're a bit utilitarian.
Although he thought that.
"Can you please put my hand down?" Hachiman said.
"..." Kushida.
"Hmm."
Kushida's expression seemed to freeze for a moment, then she gently touched the ends of her not-very-long hair.
She seemed a bit embarrassed, but as Hachiman started to move, she quickly followed.
Perhaps she was surprised by his straightforward actions.
After all, she was so cute, yet he acted so stone-hearted.
And this point was certain.
After all, Hachiman didn't believe in absolute goodwill, nor did he believe in the affection of the opposite sex.
Girls are creatures that easily cause misunderstandings.
When they show gentleness, it's easy for people to misunderstand that her gentleness is directed only at him.
Then, once one becomes complacent and carried away, it quickly leads to an unpleasant parting, with both sides getting hurt.
And he detested this.
Because...the source of this realization...was him.
So, the two walked together towards the teaching building.
Kushida walked quite close to him, the distance between their shoulders was probably only about 20 centimeters.
"Has Hikigaya ever been hurt by a girl before?" But Kushida suddenly asked.
"Eh?"
However, this sentence caused immense damage.
Hachiman stopped walking.
"I just feel like Hikigaya doesn't seem to want people to enter his heart," Kushida said.
But were you trying to enter his heart?
"I've had a bit of a dark past," Hachiman said.
"It was probably in middle school, when a girl in my class was exchanging numbers with students using her phone, and at that time, she exchanged with me, and I misunderstood."
Misunderstood, huh.
In other words, he had a dark past involving liking someone of the opposite sex, so he was very distrustful of contact with the opposite sex?
"I see."
Kushida seemed to accept this answer, and she nodded gently.
"But I think Hikigaya's way of thinking seems different from other students."
"And this way of thinking seems more mature."
"I think girls would really like it. At least, I really like it."
Is that so?
Hachiman was just used to being alone, then immersing himself in the world, and then complaining.
He didn't think this was anything mature.
Wait a moment.
Hachiman reacted.
Because.
You wouldn't be trying to win him over, would you?
Hachiman noticed that when Kushida had just spoken to him, the 20-centimeter distance between their shoulders had become 10 centimeters.
A faint scent belonging to a girl wafted over.
And when he turned to look at her, she gently raised her head and showed a cute expression again.
"..." Hachiman.
Don't waver, Hachiman, Kushida definitely doesn't have feelings for you beyond a classmate.
She's just doing it to achieve her goal of becoming friends with everyone.
And she just wants to understand this strange school and wants to use your power.
So...don't, don't waver.
"Our teaching building is just ahead," Kushida said.
Ugh.
Hachiman quickly calmed down.
And now they were already on the Floor of the Grade 1 teaching building.
In the morning, everyone was busy with enrollment, attending the opening ceremony, and then gathering in the classroom, so they didn't observe that much.
But now, the two of them stood on the Floor and found that the setup here was a bulletin board.
Just like the school's promotional brochure received before enrollment, the school's facilities were very advanced, even the bulletin board was an LCD screen.
Then, a small blackboard hung next to the bulletin board.
But the small blackboard was blank.
And the bulletin board only had the Student Council's message welcoming new students, asking them to go to the Gymnasium at 10 AM for the opening ceremony.
Hachiman didn't stop, he walked forward.
They arrived at the Third Year teaching building.
Today was the weekend, and the upperclassmen didn't seem to have classes.
And here on the Floor, they also saw a bulletin board and a small blackboard with the same setup.
The content on the bulletin board was the same as that for the First Year, both welcoming new students.
However, Hachiman noticed that the small blackboard for the Third Year had content.
It had several intriguing numbers written on it.
A 2530
B 1300
C 300
D 20
Hachiman took out his phone and took a picture.
Kushida didn't find anything strange about this small blackboard.
Instead, she continued to speak.
"Should we go up to the teaching building?"
"No need, right. Today is the weekend, I don't know if the upperclassmen's classrooms are locked or not."
"Besides, if no one's there and we show up, it'll be troublesome if anything goes missing," Hachiman said.
"Mhm, mhm." Kushida nodded.
So, the two went to the Grade 2 teaching building.
Just as he had paused at the Third Year teaching building, Hachiman also looked for a different arrangement from the First Year teaching building at the Grade 2 teaching building.
The bulletin boards were all the same, but.
There was also a small blackboard at the Grade 2 teaching building.
There were also numbers on the small blackboard.
Class A 2000
Class B 600
Class C 400
Class D 200
Unlike the numbers on the small blackboard in the Third Year, the numbers here looked much better, as if they had been organized.
Hachiman took out his phone, ready to take a picture.
"You're First Year, right? Why are you here in the upperclassmen's area?"
However, at this moment, a voice came.
And this voice was somewhat authoritative.
And somewhat familiar.
Hachiman and Kushida quickly looked over and found it was the Student Council President and a girl with a bun hairstyle from the opening ceremony.
The Student Council President stood still, but the girl with the purple bun hairstyle jogged towards them.
"That bun-haired senior, her name seems to be Akane Tachibana. She introduced herself at the opening ceremony,"
Hachiman said. "She's the Student Council Secretary."
"Hikigaya has a really good memory," Kushida said, then looked over with a slightly admiring gaze.
"..."
Hachiman.
Please don't do this anymore, Kushida.
Hachiman already wanted to surrender.
However, facing the senior walking towards them.
"We just arrived at this school and are getting familiar with the environment,"
Hachiman said. "We've already passed the Grade 1 area, the Third Year area, and now we've come to the Grade 2 area, but we haven't gone upstairs."
"I see," the bun-haired senior said.
Perhaps the act of new students exploring around wasn't new, so this senior didn't make things difficult for them.
Instead, she returned to the Student Council President.
She reported to the Student Council President.
"It seems they're just ordinary new students touring the school."
"Outside, this is quite normal, coming to a new place and getting familiar with the environment," this senior reported to the Student Council President.
"That may not be the case," but the Student Council President pushed up his glasses, "You didn't see it just now, that boy just took a picture with his phone, and what he photographed was that small blackboard."
"In other words, he's discovered some things about this school," the Student Council President said.
"And that boy and girl, they are students from Class D of Grade 1."
"Eh?"
"Alright, we should go intervene at the Chess Club," the Student Council President said.
Yes.
They had discovered that a First Year from Class A had appeared on the forum, widely issuing Chess challenges, being very arrogant.
However, the opponent's Chess skills were very formidable.
By playing Chess, she had already harvested nearly a million points.
Moreover, upon investigation, the opponent was not alone but had nearly half of her class involved.
In other words, after they arrived at the school and received preferential treatment, they didn't choose to go shopping or explore the school, but instead came to extract points from the upperclassmen.
They understood the principle of [ou can buy anything with points] [so collect as many points as possible to buy the information you need to know].
In other words, this year's Class A of Grade 1 is very formidable.
Watching the Student Council President leave, the Student Council Secretary quickly followed him.
But she looked back at Hikigaya and Kushida with some surprise.
Because.
The Class A students of Grade 1 this year were really boisterous.
But those were Class A students after all.
However, are the Class D students of Grade 1 so impressive now?
Just one move directly impacted the Class evaluation points, which were extremely important to all students.
...
As for Hikigaya.
Because he encountered the Student Council executive, the investigation came to an end.
And Hikigaya felt as if he had obtained some information.
Only.
"Beep! Beep!"
At this moment, he received an email.
But the sender was an unfamiliar number.
There was only one message on it.
[Congratulations, Hikigaya Hachiman. Your application for early cash redemption of points has been approved. The Board of Directors has voted to grant you this permission.
You may go to the Chairman's office at any time to apply for the service of converting points into cash.
The exchange rate is 1000 personal points for 800 Yen. We will also handle deposits or mail the cash to your designated address.
However, please note. The minimum cash redemption amount is 1 million. Therefore, you need to accumulate 1 million points before you can officially redeem them.
At the same time, you cannot collect points through fundraising to help others redeem, nor can you profit from it as a middleman.
Above, we look forward to your development.
Advanced Nurturing High School Board of Directors.]
Although it was not a familiar number, he felt it was from the School.
And immediately after.
Hikigaya found that Chabashira Sae, his Sensei, called him.