Trials in the Library

Despite Hikigaya's low expectations on the first day of school, he found that Class D exceeded his worst fears.

Each class started with 100,000 points. Assuming a 100-point deduction per disciplinary violation—though nowadays, 100 yen couldn't even buy a can of MAX Coffee—the penalties seemed ineffective.

A 1000-point deduction would be more appropriate, meaning if you broke the rules a hundred times, you'd lose all 100,000 points.

With forty students in the class, and fewer than ten attending classes properly, Hikigaya feared they might deplete the points in a week.

"As expected…" Hikigaya lamented.

He didn't care about the others in the class; it was their own fault.

But he had been diligent, even staying awake during math class, which was his least favorite subject.

Of course, he wasn't afraid of Haruno!

Haruno had quickly become the star of the grade due to her outstanding appearance, communication skills, and her subtle status as an "intern female college student."

In Class D, most boys were infatuated with her, and many girls admired her as an older sister.

Unfortunately, Hikigaya was aware of her true nature. Behind that charming facade, she eagerly awaited the day when Class D would face the harsh reality of the S-system next month.

What a nasty woman.

Though, Hikigaya had to admit, he was somewhat curious about it too.

"No choice. I'll spend some time in the library today."

To save money for the future, Hikigaya was frugal, even when buying books.

Fortunately, the library boasted a rich collection. Though it lacked comics and light novels, the literary books were to his liking. The quiet environment was far preferable to the noisy classroom.

Thus, Hikigaya spent his lunch breaks and after-school hours in the library, studying or reading in peace.

The library was practically a sanctuary for those who preferred solitude.

However, frugality couldn't last forever, and Hikigaya needed to increase his income—namely, earn more points.

He had a few ideas on how to do this but decided to wait until next month to implement them, as starting now might attract unwanted attention.

As Hikigaya settled into a quiet corner of the library with his math textbook.

He had originally planned to completely abandon mathematics after entering high school. He intended to focus on liberal arts when the classes were divided and apply to a prestigious private university. Unfortunately, this school did not differentiate between liberal arts and science.

"There's no other way. No matter how uninterested I am in math, I have to study hard."

"Excuse me, can I sit here?"

Suddenly, an elegant voice broke the silence.

Hikigaya looked up to see a petite girl with silver hair wearing a beret. Judging by the crutch she carried, she either appeared exhausted or had weak legs.

The library was a public space, so there was no reason to refuse her request. However…

He glanced around and noticed empty seats everywhere. He didn't understand why she would choose to sit directly opposite him.

It wasn't exactly a special seat.

Moreover, the girl gave him an odd feeling. How to describe her? Smart? Beautiful? None of these terms quite fit. She was simply… unfathomable, evoking a similar feeling to when he first met Haruno.

…Damn it! Haruno 2.0?!

Hikigaya's mind raced, and he made a swift decision.

"Please, I'm just finishing up here, so I'll be leaving now."

As he began to pack up, the girl, seemingly amused by his reaction, laughed and gently grabbed his wrist.

"Hehe… don't be so hasty. Since we've finally met here, let's take a moment to get to know each other, shall we?"

No, no, no, this was definitely not a chance encounter!

Hikigaya's mind was in turmoil. Despite her small stature, she had an imposing presence.

This kind of demeanor was not something ordinary people possessed.

"Well, pardon me then."

She straightened slightly and gave a slight salute with her cane.

"I'm Arisu Sakayanagi from Class 1-A. As you can see, I'm using a cane due to a congenital condition. However, it doesn't affect my performance in any of the classes except physical education, so please don't worry. I look forward to your guidance."

It was a typical self-introduction. Since she had shared her name, it was only polite to respond in kind.

"1-C, Hayato Hayama. It's fine if you don't strain yourself to remember it."

Hikigaya had a foreboding sense of unease. He was unsure what this girl's intentions were, but he had to use a pseudonym here—even if it meant borrowing the name of someone he despised.

By the way, isn't Sakayanagi's last name the same as the chairman's?

It wasn't surprising if she were the chairman's daughter or a relative, given her graceful demeanor.

"Hehe, don't be so wary," Sakayanagi said with a smile. "I was just kidding. Actually, I came here to thank you for helping my friend Masumi."

"…Who?"

Hikigaya didn't recall ever helping anyone. This wasn't something he typically did.

"Kamuro. Kamuro Masumi."

"…Sorry, I'm not very good with names," Hikigaya admitted, scratching his head.

Sakayanagi seemed unbothered and patiently clarified, "She's the girl with the side ponytail you helped at the convenience store on the first day of school."

"Oh, the one who gave me fried chicken."

The fried chicken bento had made a stronger impression on Hikigaya than the theft incident on his first day. Now, he felt queasy just thinking about fried chicken.

"…Wait, you were there that day too?" Hikigaya suddenly realized.

If Kamuro had mentioned it to Sakayanagi voluntarily, it was unlikely. Given Kamuro's personality, she would never have become friends with someone like Sakayanagi, so it was probable that Sakayanagi had witnessed the incident.

"Hehe, I overheard part of your conversation."

Sakayanagi's cheerful smile reminded Hikigaya of Haruno's unsettling demeanor.

"By the way, I'd like to ask you something."

She inquired suddenly, "Do you think Masumi-san is mature?"