45 - Hikigaya Discovers the Truth
"Alright, the gambling game continues—"
"..."
"First round, fourth match, Jabami-san versus Suzui-san, eliminated."
"..."
"Second round, first match, Saotome-san versus Aiura-san, eliminated!"
The gambling game was progressing quickly.
Hikigaya Hachiman narrowed his eyes. Everything was unfolding just as he had expected.
In the gambling game he participated in, even if he played his worst subject, he could easily defeat his opponents.
His hand was bad, but his opponents' hands were even worse. It was obvious that they were blatantly pushing him toward the championship.
But why?
As long as he won the last match, the fifty thousand yen would be his—Hikigaya Hachiman's prize.
And his next opponent was—
"Aiura Kokoro."
"Congratulations on making it to the finals, Hikigaya-san."
Aiura Kokoro's skirt swirled, revealing her smooth, full thighs, exuding the youthful energy of a vibrant girl. However, after seeing so much of Jabami's teasing, Hikigaya had become immune to Aiura's little pre-game charms.
"You look in good condition. So, how confident are you about winning the final round?"
"It's nothing, just lucky to get this far," Hikigaya replied coolly.
"Oh, you don't need to be so modest. After all, it's Hikigaya-san~ I've seen your will to survive when you're gambling, you know~"
"When you were gambling against Saotome, and your eyes when you were playing with Sumeragi—those really almost scared me," she teased.
"So, this time, Hikigaya-san must really want to win, right?"
"Yeah, I really want to win," Hikigaya replied, following her words, sensing vaguely what her purpose might be.
"After all, it's about 300,000 yen. You must win, Hikigaya-san! You've worked so hard to get here, it hasn't been easy, right?"
Aiura Kokoro's expression gradually became more arrogant, her eyebrows raised, her mouth widening like a catfish.
Her eyes showed no restraint in their sharpness and bitterness. She spoke words that showed no respect for their relationship as classmates: "You poor guy!"
"You've worked so hard to get here. You must be so tired for 300,000 yen. Wow, it's really not easy."
"Right, everyone thinks the same, right?"
As if declaring war, Aiura Kokoro blew the trumpet for an all-out assault on Hikigaya Hachiman.
Her words became sharp blades, mercilessly attacking Hikigaya. The higher Hikigaya had stood before, the harder he would fall after losing his momentum.
Hikigaya knew this all too well—it was the human tendency to idolize the strong. When two powerful people collided, most people would side with the stronger one, regardless of right or wrong, to avoid becoming the next target of the strong.
If Hikigaya had not participated in Jabami's gambling game, he would not have been implicated in her defeat, and thus indirectly lost to the student council. If he had not offended Mibuomi Aoi and chosen to reconcile with his past self, if he had agreed to Aiura Kokoro's conditions and participated in the bullying of Saotome... then he would not be facing the situation he was now.
It was precisely these choices that constructed the image of Hikigaya Hachiman as not being so strong.
Since you are not strong enough, don't blame us for stepping on you.
"Yeah, for just 300,000 yen, struggling so hard to win and even volunteering to be class president."
"Exactly, if it were me, I'd never want to be class president. Oda, you think the same, right?"
"Right, having poor people in class really helped me a lot."
"Hehe, he must be so proud of himself, winning against Saotome and Sumeragi, right after transferring. After all, he's poor!"
"Isn't it strange? Didn't he win two million yen from Saotome and Sumeragi before? Why is he now working so hard for just 300,000 yen?"
The voice was sharp and grating, but it made the noisy class quiet down for a moment. They all turned their disgusted gazes toward Jabami, who wore a cat tag.
"Isn't it obvious? He must be supporting Jabami, paying her debts to the student council."
"After all, this stray cat has a nice body, a pretty face. A poor guy like Hikigaya-san would probably treat her like a goddess and spend everything on her."
The boys who overheard this looked excited, shouting exaggeratedly, "Hey, is that really the case? Does that mean we also have a chance?"
They looked at Jabami with mocking smiles. "Is it all about paying money? Will she do anything for money?"
The girls who had been causing trouble before spoke up: "Hikigaya-san, I'll give you fifty thousand yen. If you lick my shoes in front of Jabami, I'll give it to you! That way, you can pay her debt, right?"
"Hahaha!"
The air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Saotome Mary clenched her fists, her face full of anger. No matter how bad these people's words were, it was still too much.
She spoke up to defend Hikigaya and Jabami, but her voice was quickly drowned out by the collective momentum, turning into a sharp sword aimed at Hikigaya and Jabami. Suzui Ryota didn't dare to say anything, hiding in a corner, silently watching. His eyes would occasionally glance at Jabami, clenching his fists in frustration, only to release them weakly. Eventually, he could only turn his head away, sighing quietly.
Shimotsukiuri Ouri still looked like the quiet, literary girl, holding a book in front of her stomach with both hands. Her cold eyes looked at Hikigaya Hachiman through her bangs. The vulgar words around her made her feel both mentally and physically uncomfortable. These people were utterly filthy, but Hikigaya, who had insulted Mibuomi-senpai, undoubtedly deserved everything coming to him.
Now, the chessboard had been set, and Hikigaya Hachiman had entered the game.
No matter how this gambling exam match turned out, Hikigaya Hachiman was already dead in the eyes of the first-year class, this small society.
'Your reputation, your innocence, will be in stark contrast to Mibuomi-senpai's.'
'Standing in opposition to the embodiment of justice, Mibuomi-senpai, this is your well-deserved retribution!'
'Welcome to hell, Hikigaya!'
.
.
,
Hikigaya sat back in his chair, slowly getting up, his gaze still lazy like a drowned fish.
His heart was completely calm, but his eyes briefly flicked toward Jabami. The only thing he was slightly concerned about was how Jabami felt. Indeed, those words were pretty filthy, and any ordinary girl might not be able to bear them.
What greeted him was Jabami's bright and dazzling smile, and his only concern disappeared.
'Nice attack, I underestimated Aiura Kokoro.'
Hikigaya had to admit Aiura Kokoro's methods were clever. Although the cheating was boring, the ultimate goal of the gambling game was something Hikigaya had not anticipated. It could be considered a bright move, something unconventional.
'The final match of the gambling exam is to make me, Hikigaya Hachiman, the laughingstock of the first-year class, to mock me as much as they want.'