44 Chapter 43

The next morning after receiving the explanation about the exam, I got out of bed, changed into my uniform, and left the room to go get breakfast.

However, the buffet is crowded, so I'm going to eat breakfast at the cafe on the deck.

And as I was walking down the hallway...

"Ah...Good morning Hachiman."

"Ah, ah. Good morning."

I meet Masumi at the corner. When Masumi notices me, her face turns red, but I'm sure mine turns red too.

After all, we kissed on the observation deck last night.

"Hachiman, are you going to have breakfast now?"

"Well."

"Then why don't you go with me?"

"...I don't mind."

"...thank you"

After saying that, Masumi grabs my hand. This girl is usually cool, but sometimes she's super cute.

That's what I was thinking as I headed to the cafe. Music flows from Masumi and I's pockets.

We took our phones out of our pockets and checked the contents.

"As a result of strict adjustments, you were not selected as a preferential recipient. Please act with self-awareness as one member of the group and take the test.

The exam will start from 1pm today. This exam will be held for 3 days starting today.

If you are in the snake group, please gather in the snake room on the second floor.''

I guess I wasn't a privileged person after all.

"Masumi isn't a privileged person, is she?"

"Yeah. Hachiman too."

"Oh. I'm sorry, but I'll call you in a bit."

While I was saying this, I selected Hiyori's number from the phone book and called her, and she answered in one call.

"Good morning, Hachiman-kun. Are you talking about the exam by calling at this time? "

"Ah. To put it bluntly, you're a preferential person, aren't you?"

"Well, that's right. If you guessed me, did you realize the law of preferential treatment? "

Okay. If Hiyori is a preferential recipient, my opinion is correct.

"Maybe. For now, during the first discussion, I'll lightly attack the person I consider to be a preferential user, and depending on the reaction, I'll send an email."

"Is that so. If you are lucky, please contact us. Also, did Hachiman-kun have breakfast?"

"Not yet. I'm going to eat with Masumi at the cafe on the deck."

"...Then can I come with you?"

Why was the response delayed? I feel like she's in a bad mood, just a little bit.

Did I step on a landmine somewhere?

"I don't mind."

"Thank you. I'll head to the deck now, so let's meet up there.''

After saying that, Hiyori hangs up, so I talk to Masumi.

"I'm sorry for calling her all of a sudden. And then Hiyori and I ended up having dinner together... so please stop staring at me."

Masumi looks at me with a blank stare, but I feel like a new world will open up if she looks at me like that, so please stop.

"(...this woman is shaking)"

Masumi muttered something in a low voice, then opened the hand she was holding and intertwined her own fingers with mine. Forehead? What the hell are you doing?

"M-Masumi?"

"...I'm going. Aren't you going to meet up with Shiina soon?"

Masumi blushed and turned away, but then she started walking quickly, so I, who had intertwined my fingers with Masumi, was inevitably pulled to follow her.

As soon as they arrived on the deck, we spotted Hiyori, who also noticed us and came with a smile on her face.

"Good morning, Hachiman-kun... hmm."

After Hiyori greets me, she gives me her usual good morning kiss on my forehead every morning.

"Good morning Hiyori"

"Ah..."

While saying this, I kissed Hiyori's forehead and she gasped slightly. That gesture is also adorable.

Then, my clothes were being pulled, so I looked to the side to see Masumi staring at me.

"I forgot. Do it for me too."

"Yes, yes"

While saying this, I gently kissed Masumi's forehead as well, and Masumi kissed my forehead as well.

Same goes for Arisu, but you girls like good morning kisses and good night kisses too much, don't you?

While thinking that, I headed to the cafe...

"Yo Hikigaya. He's not only with Hiyori, but also with Sakayanagi's minions, so he's still a stallion."

Ryuen was there with Ibuki, who was acting as a spy on a deserted island.

Horikita and Ayakoji are nearby, but Ryuen is probably involved.

"Unfortunately, I'm a virgin. Are you the one who's going to sleep with your sex friend who infiltrated D-class as a spy?"

"Huh? Stop joking. I haven't allowed my body to someone like this, and I don't want to!"

Then, Ibuki glares at me as if I'm being rude.

"Besides, I don't like small breasts."

"You!"

Ryuen said this while laughing, and Ibuki turned to Ryuen with an angry look.

It seems like she can't stand being treated as having small breasts.

"Well, it doesn't matter. So? Are you a preferential worker?"

"No, I'm not a preferential person, but I have discovered the law of preferential treatment."

"Damn! You're the one who can see right through the discussion before it even starts, right? Besides Sakayanagi, you're the most dangerous one!"

Ryuen laughs even more happily. I can see that you have no doubts that I have discovered the Law of the Favorite Person.

"Well, don't worry. I won't cooperate for the sake of the class, so if you want to find the law of preferential treatment, I'll make a lot of money."

"Thank you for that." He said while grinning.

"Would you please stop having silly conversations near me?!"

While talking with Ryuen, Horikita interrupts. What is this?

"Did you find a preferential person? There's no way you could do that if you haven't had any important discussions during the exam, right? Even your nonsense sounds pathetic when you go this far!"

"What a rude woman. Hikigaya. Please take the time to tell me who the preferential recipient is, I'm in the same group as Suzune."

"Then show me the list."

When I say that, Ryuen shows me a list.

Dragon group

A Class - Kohei Katsuragi, Ryoko Nishikawa, Shinji Matoba, Koharu Yano

B Class - Sayo Ando, Ryuji Kanzaki Hitomi Tsube

C Class - Takumi Oda, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Masashi Sonoda, Kakeru Ryuen

D Class - Kikyo Kushida, Yosuke Hirata Suzune Horikita

Woah! This group is full of class leaders.

Well, anyway, if I apply my thoughts...

① Sayo Ando ② Takumi Oda ③ Kohei Katsuragi ④ Ryuji Kanzaki ⑤ Kikyo Kushida ⑥ Hidetoshi Suzuki ⑦ Masashi Sonoda ⑧ Hitomi Tsube ⑨ Ryoko Nishikawa ⑩ Yosuke Hirata ⑪ Suzune Horikita ⑫ Shinji Matoba ⑬ Koharu Yano ⑭ Sho Ryuen

So, since the Dragon is the fifth in the zodiac... Kikyo Kushida.

"What do you think? Do you understand?"

"Ah. I understand clearly."

"Stop spouting such lame nonsense. It's unpleasant to listen to!"

Annoying...

This girl is getting irritated even though she isn't doing much. It's said that Horikita played an active role on the deserted island, but I'm sure that Horikita didn't intend for that to happen, and I'm sure Ryūen would agree with me.

Kushida was hesitant to talk because she was a D-class, but I decided to talk.

I prepare my voice recorder and talk to Horikita.

"Then, Horikita, even if I tell him who the preferential person is and it turns out to be true, don't complain, okay?"

"Good. It's just nonsense, right? I'm not childish enough to complain about nonsense."

"Then, before you take my word for it…Ryuuen, would you like to make a deal with me?"

"Transaction?"

I nod as I say this, holding out my voice recorder.

"I'll tell you who will receive the preferential treatment now, and you'll email it to me. If you win, you'll have to send me the entire bonus of 500,000 private points. If I don't, I'll pay you 500,000 private points as compensation."

"Alright, it's a deal"

Ryuen immediately answers. Ibuki was surprised, Horikita looked at Ryuen as if he were an idiot, and Ayanokoji looked at us with a blank expression.

"Wait, Ryuen?! Are you serious?!"

"Ah. Hikigaya can be trusted when private points are involved. Right, Hiyori?"

"Yes. I feel confident from Hachiman-kun's words."

"That's why there's no problem. Let's talk."

Ryuen laughs and takes out his cell phone, so I open my mouth.

"Dragon's group's preferential recipient is... Kikyo Kushida."

"...How?"

"Kikyou Kushida. Got it."

While Horikita is stunned, Ryuen operates his cell phone.

Immediately after Ryuen finished the work, we all received notifications on our phones.

"Dragon Group's exam has ended. Those in the Dragon group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be careful not to disturb other students.''

"Did you really nominate her!?"

"Okay. Please check your answers now."

"...Ayanokouji-kun"

"Ah...Hello, Kushida? Ah, it's me. This is so sudden, but are you a privileged person?...I see. I understand. I'll tell you the details later."

After saying that, Ayanokoji hangs up the phone and talks to Horikita.

"...As Hikigaya said, Kushida is the preferred recipient of the Dragon group."

Horikita, Ibuki, and Masumi look stunned at those words, Hiyori nods in admiration, and Ryuen laughs loudly.

"Ha! You seriously guessed the prize winner! You're the best after all, Hikigaya!...I'll pay you the promised 500,000 yen."

While saying this, Ryuen operated his cell phone and received a notification that 500,000 private points had been transferred to my cell phone.

"I certainly received it. If the results are different on the last day of the exam, you can get your points back, so don't worry."

"I'm not worried about that at all. But you're a piece of trash for betraying your classmates without hesitation."

"No problem. The reason is..."

Beep

"Okay, Horikita. Even if I tell Ryuen who's getting preferential treatment and it turned out to be true, don't complain, okay?"

"Good. Isn't that just a lie? I'm not childish enough to complain about nonsense.''

"It's because Horikita, the leader of Class D, doesn't complain."

"Shit!"

Horikita seems to regret her words. Ryuen, on the other hand, was grinning and taking a picture of Horikita's face with his cell phone.

"That's nice, I really like that face."

"You have a good hobby... Anyway, we're going to eat, so see you later."

"Ah. It was quite fun."

Seeing Ryuen smiling fiercely and glancing at Horikita's frustrated expression, we sat down at a suitable seat and placed our orders.

And while I was waiting for my order, I used my phone to send an email to the school with Chihiro Shiranami written on it.

moment...

"The Snake Group exam has ended. Those in the Snake group do not need to participate in the exam from now on. Please be careful not to disturb other students.''

______________

"Dragon Group's exam has ended.

Those in the Dragon group no longer need to participate in the exam. Please be careful not to disturb other students.''

"The Snake Group exam has ended.

Those in the Snake group do not need to participate in the exam from now on. Please be careful not to disturb other students.''

Classes were in a state of disarray when they received two emails informing them that the exam was over, before an important discussion could take place.

"Oops. Is my group over? Then it's definitely Hikigaya."

"Hashimoto! What are you talking about?"

"Ah. Hikigaya is comparable to Sakayanagi when the points are on the line and when Sakayanagi and Shiina-chan are insulted. Well, anyway, he got 500,000 points, so I guess it can't be helped."

"I guess the ones who ended up are the Dragon group with Kanzaki-kun and the Snake group with Chihiro-chan. If that's the case, the ones who nominated were Ryuen-kun and Hikigaya-kun?"

"I guess. Katsuragi and Hirata are cautious men, and I don't think Horikita will attack before they even have a discussion."

"Ichinose-san… well, I'm the preferred recipient…"

"I see, the exam is over anyway, so Chihiro-chan, let's calm down for once."

"Who is that? The one who finished the exam before we could discuss it!"

"If they were in my class...what would you do if our class points decreased!"

While the whole ship was screaming, Hikigaya Hachiman, the man responsible for this chaos.....

"Hachiman-kun. Ah, that's it."

"Ah... these pancakes are delicious. Masumi should try them too."

"That seems a bit too sweet, so I'll refrain from doing that... Hachiman."

"What?"

"Ah, uh…"

"Hey, hey... (There's a gap between such cute behavior and it's dangerous. Well, I'll eat it.) Yes, ah."

The cafe on the deck created a sweet atmosphere.

"By the way, Hachiman. What is the law of preferential treatment after all?"

When the two of them are eating, Masumi seems interested and asks...

"I can't talk about that. If you'd like to wait until the exam is over, I'll talk about it."

Horikita was an idiot earlier, so I don't think I can be blamed that much, but it would be a bad idea to teach Class A the rules of preferential treatment.

"I can't tell you the rules for preferential treatment, but if you want to submit the preferential treatment person in your group, I can tell you. If you give me 250,000 private points."

"...Does that mean I should trust Hachiman unconditionally?"

"Of course, it's not forced, like I sai-

"Okay. I believe you, so tell me.'...

"....Seriously?"

I didn't expect an OK response, so I looked at Masumi and gave a small nod.

"If you let me put a condition on that, I can give you the entire amount instead of just 250,000 yen."

Seriously.

If that happens, I'll have the 500,000 yen I received from Ryuen earlier, and the 500,000 yen from the reward I got from guessing who will receive preferential treatment in my group, so I'll have a total of 1.5 million private points.

And I'm sure my thoughts are correct.

I've already identified Hiyori and Kushida as preferential treatment candidates.

"So? What are the conditions?"

When I asked, Masumi blushed and cleared her throat...

"Once the trip is over...if you're okay with me living in Hachiman's room, I'll give you all the money."

You too?!

After Hiyori and Arisu, it's now Masumi-san!

"That's great. I'm having fun every day, but I think it'll be even more fun if Masumi-san joins me."

Hiyori who was listening until now, is enthusiastic about it, but I have  doubts about one boy living with three girls.

Because it looks dangerous from my side, right?

I am already living with two girls, but it's still pretty bad.

Anyway...

"It's impossible. It's too small for just four people."

If we were to live together, Masumi would also have to bring clothes, underwear, bags, study materials, etc., but Hiyori and Arisu's clothes were already in my room, taking up quite a bit of space.

If Masumi's things were added to that, things would get really cramped.

"Then why don't you buy a bigger room? If I don't get known until the end as a preferential user, I can get at least 500,000 points, so it'll be a good addition."

Hiyori says so. Well, it is true that this exam is one where there is a high possibility of getting a large amount of points. If things go well, I'll be able to buy a bigger room.

I've already received 500,000 yen from Ryūen, and I'm not saying my answer is absolute, but it's almost certainly correct, so I'll probably get 500,000 yen.

In addition, there are some points taken from the Katsuragi faction, so that's not bad either.

"Then, if I get a lot of points from this exam, I'll buy a big room and live with the three of you."

I let out a sigh and decided to accept Masumi's request. Hiyori and Arisu are accepted, but Masumi is an outcast.

"...Okay. I'll report to Sakayanagi. Also, I already have close to 300,000 yen, so I'll give that as well. So please tell me who the preferential recipient is."

"Of course...I'd like to say that, but is it okay if you wait until after 9pm or tomorrow morning?"

"I don't mind, but why?"

"It's simple. If we don't discuss it and I tell you who the preferred recipient is and you send it, some people will think that I finished the exam."

"In my class, there's a possibility that Hashimoto and Katsuragi would have noticed."

"If you were to finish the exam now, they would think that Masumi, with Hikigaya's help, was the one who finished the group's exam."

"That's... that's right. But isn't there any problem?"

"Yes. If that happens, some people might think, 'Why did Kamuro finish her exam, but why didn't Shiina from the horse group finish?'"

"...Ah. Shiina is on preferential treatment, so she can't finish the exam on her own."

"That's right. A smart person would think that Hiyori or Class C would be preferential treatment. I'd like to avoid that."

"I see... After the discussion is over, it will be difficult to tell who finished the Pig Group's exam."

Hiyori is right. It's famous that I'm with Hiyori. Some people might think that if you teach Masumi, you should also teach Hiyori.

Therefore, if only Masumi finishes the exam before the discussion, Hiyori will be accused of being a preferential treatment, so I can't tell her now.

"That's why I would like to tell you this after we have discussed it at least twice."

"Okay. Well then, please say it then."

"Understood... And. Thank you for the meal. What should we do now?"

Discussions will take place at 1 and 8 p.m. It's past 8am now, so we have nearly 5 hours until the discussion.

"As long as I'm with Hachiman-kun, I don't want anything else."

"I'm not that interested in entertainment facilities either, so why don't we just wander around?"

Both of us don't have many hobbies...well, I can't say anything about other people either.

"Well, that's fine. Let's hang out."

While saying this, we get up from our seats and try to leave the cafe. At that time, Horikita who was still bearby tried to open her mouth...

Beep :

"Well then, Horikita. Even if I tell Ryuen who's getting preferential treatment and it turned out to be true, don't complain, okay?"

"Good. Isn't that just a lie? I'm not childish enough to complain about nonsense.''

"Damn it!"

When I play what I recorded on my voice recorder, she seems frustrated and goes silent.

Breach of contract will never be tolerated.

With that thought in mind, we left the deck and wandered around the ship until before lunch.

"Sakayanagi, are you free?"

"Yeah. It's rare for Masumi-san to call me."

In Hachiman's room in the student dormitory at Advanced Training High School, Arisu Sakayanagi is answering a phone call from Masumi while wearing Hachiman's shirt.

Arisu is suspicious of Masumi's phone call. Basically, Arisu may call Masumi, but the reverse is almost never the case.

"So? What are the requirements?"

"Actually...I also want to live with Hachiman..."

"...What?"

Arisu is unusually speechless at Masumi's request.

(What did Masumi-san just say?! And... Hachiman?!)

"Sakayanagi?"

"Eh, yeah. Excuse me. So you want to live with Hachiman-kun?"

"...Yeah"

Arisu asked while twitching her eyebrows, and Masumi replied in a sad voice.

At the same time, Arisu understood.

(Hachiman-kun… following me and Shiina-san, Masumi-san too…)

"I see. Hachiman-kun is the landlord, so if Hachiman-kun is fine with it, I won't say anything."

From Arisu's point of view, she doesn't want her rival to live with Hachiman anymore, but if Hachiman doesn't object, she has no intention of objecting.

"Hachiman said he would make the room bigger and the four of us would live together.''

"Then I won't object. But Masumi-san, please answer honestly."

"What? "

"Do you like Hachiman-kun?"

"Y-yeah, but…"

Arisu sighs at the clear answer. She had expected it, but she had something to say about it again.

"Then there's one more thing. How much progress have you made while living on this deserted island? Also, as far as Masumi-san knows, please tell me about Shiina-san as well."

That's the problem. Hiyori was already ahead of Arisu before the trip, so it makes sense that she could widen the gap by living on a deserted island.

However, she wanted to avoid being surpassed by Masumi, who had fallen in love with Hachiman after her.

but...

"Me and Shiina both kissed Hachiman.''

Ugh! I hate it!

Masumi's answer caused a blue streak to appear on Arisu's head. The development is more than she expected, and even though she knows it's unreasonable, she's still angry.

"...I see. I'm looking forward to you coming back from the trip."

With that, I hang up the call before I can hear Masumi's reply, put my phone on the bed, and pat the pillow.

"Hachiman-kun's swindling of women...I never thought that Masumi-san would overtake me. Even though I already have a strong opponent like Shiina-san..."

Hiyori is Arisu's best friend, but she also considers her his biggest rival.

Even though it would be troublesome for her to be surpassed by her rival, she never expected that Masumi, who had started liking Hachiman even more than her, would also surpass her.

"Looks like the two of you have already kissed Hachiman-kun... so I just had to do it too..."

Arisu starts making plans for the future while muttering to herself. To win against her two rivals.