Are These Primitive People Who Have Never Been to School?

The news from Sae Chabashira was a huge shock for every student in the class.

While Hikigaya felt a deep sense of dread from the teacher's words, most of the other students were filled with excitement about the upcoming school life.

After all, most of the students in Class D came from ordinary families, with many coming from very poor backgrounds. The prospect of receiving 100,000 yen every month, with the freedom to spend it as they wished, seemed like a dream come true.

For them, this school's approach felt like paradise.

"This school seems a lot less strict than I imagined," said Suzune Horikita, her voice cutting through the students' excited chatter from behind Hikigaya.

Hikigaya, lost in thought about the bleak future without Komachi and contemplating whether to attempt an escape, was jolted out of his reverie by the sharp poke of a pen.

"Ow, ow, ow... What's the matter?!"

He turned around, ready to lash out, only to see Horikita gazing at him with clear eyes. It dawned on him that she had been speaking to him.

"What's going on with you?" he wondered aloud.

He hadn't even made friends with Horikita yet.

Not sure how to interpret Horikita's attitude, Hikigaya hesitated before replying, "Yes, receiving 100,000 yen every month is indeed incredible, something I could never have imagined."

From Hikigaya's understanding, this school, funded by the Japanese government, provided everything for its students and had an almost flawless reputation. The school's biggest draw was its nearly 100% graduation and employment rates. At least, that's what Hikigaya had heard—no graduate was supposed to end up with a bleak future… though he wasn't sure how they achieved that.

Maybe they expelled all the hopeless students?

Haha, surely it's not that extreme.

"Yes, it is indeed a good thing, almost to the point of being frightening," Horikita said, surprising Hikigaya with her perceptiveness. He hadn't expected her to be so clear-headed about it.

He had assumed she would be as enthusiastic as the other students.

"Are you underestimating me?" Horikita asked, sensing Hikigaya's scrutiny. "You don't think you're the only one who noticed something off, do you?"

"Not really. That guy over there probably noticed too," Hikigaya said, pointing toward the brown-haired boy who had exuded a menacing aura earlier.

Since they were of similar ilk, Hikigaya was keen to avoid having the dangerous presence linger in the class, so he had deliberately tried to irritate the boy.

"That guy?" Horikita followed Hikigaya's finger to the brown-haired youth a bit farther away. After a brief assessment, she remarked, "An intriguing person. He doesn't seem as straightforward as he looks."

[T/N: I have read so many fanfics with braindead Horikita Suzune that I genuinely forgot that she is a smart person.]

Hikigaya was surprised. So she can see through people, he thought. I thought someone who looked that good would have a rather average perspective. Seems like she's not just a pretty face after all.

While Hikigaya was mulling this over, Horikita suddenly said, "I want to talk to that student later. You should come along."

"Huh?"

"Are you planning to challenge the big boss right away? What's this about?" Hikigaya was taken aback.

Noticing Hikigaya's confusion, Horikita coldly added, "I just think it would be more comfortable to talk to someone with a similar vibe than to chat with those clueless fools in the class."

"So, you're saying you don't think I'm one of those clueless fools?" Hikigaya asked.

"Yes, although your appearance is rather unfortunate, like Quasimodo, your mind is clear…"

"Hey, are you implying that you're Esmeralda? That's a bit too self-flattering!"

Horikita was momentarily taken aback by Hikigaya's retort. "You can actually follow up on that? It seems your literary skills are quite good."

"Of course. I ranked third in the whole grade for Japanese!"

"Just knowing about 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' doesn't make you smart."

"Better than attacking someone's appearance right off the bat."

"Facts can be quite hurtful."

"Damn it…"

Hikigaya was left speechless by Horikita's words, even though he had some confidence in his looks. After all, even Komachi admitted, "If only you didn't have those dead fish eyes and that awful mouth, you'd be perfect."

My sister really has an eye for detail.

As for Horikita and others who criticize his appearance, they simply don't have eyes as bright and sparkling as Komachi's!

While Hikigaya and Horikita were exchanging barbs and 'enthusiastically' interacting, the rest of the class had already started discussing their plans for after the opening ceremony, excitedly looking forward to the fun.

"Everyone, can you listen to me for a moment?"

At that moment, the cheerful boy whom Hikigaya had considered the king stood up.

He looked like a leader, addressing the group, "From today on, we'll be living in the same class together. So, I think we should start with some self-introductions. It'd be great if we could become friends quickly… There's still time before the opening ceremony, what do you think?"

Wow! It's like sunlight breaking through the gloomy corners, lighting up even the worms wriggling in the dark!

Hikigaya mused internally while the kingly boy continued with his self-introduction: "My name is Yosuke Hirata. In junior high, everyone just called me Yosuke…"

Thus began the enthusiastic round of self-introductions.

Hikigaya couldn't help but recall his own self-introduction in junior high—a tragic black mark in his personal history that he wished he could erase with a deep blue pen in his life journal.

"Don't you want to go to the opening ceremony early?" As the self-introductions continued, Horikita suddenly spoke up. "Do you find wasting time here with these people enjoyable?"

"Well…"

Although Hikigaya also genuinely didn't want to waste time, wasn't it a bit too disruptive for unity to openly cause division?

Young comrades really shouldn't speak in ways that undermine cohesion…

"If you don't want to, I'll just go alone."

It seemed Horikita was merely asking Hikigaya's opinion, as she wasn't going to change her decision based on anyone else.

"Aren't you planning to talk to that guy?" Hikigaya pointed to the brown-haired boy again. "His turn for self-introduction is coming up."

"…"

Hikigaya's comment briefly caused Horikita to waver.

She clearly disliked being swayed by others' suggestions, but after a moment's thought, she seemed to agree with Hikigaya's point. She slowly returned to her seat.

Soon, it was indeed the turn of the brown-haired boy to introduce himself.

His expression seemed somewhat uncertain, as if he were questioning whether he should proceed with this task.

After a short hesitation, he made up his mind and stood up with a seemingly energetic attitude, addressing the room:

"Uh… Well… I'm Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. Um… I don't have any particular talents, but I'll do my best to get along with everyone. Um… So, please take care of me."

If there were grades for failure, Hikigaya would have given the boy's self-introduction a perfect score.

Is this guy some kind of primitive who's never been to school?