Hachiman Hikigaya, who returned from his studies after completing his training.

He turned to Sudo Yamanouchi with a resentful expression, looking as if he wanted to stand up and hit someone, but then he was kicked by Hachiman before he calmed down.

"Taking photos without permission is a crime, and if this continues, it won't just be a matter of dropping out of school."

With a single sentence, Hikigaya shattered Yamauchi and Ike's hopes of getting away with it. He then left the rest of the matter to Horikita and Tachibana, and now, feeling sleepy, he just wanted to go back to sleep.

The arrangements for the outcast have already been discussed with Horikita Manabu. The surveillance cameras placed in the changing room in advance did not capture the outcast's participation. For now, he will not expel him but will keep him as a sacrifice for the special exam at the end of the first year.

Dragging his tired body back to the dormitory, Hikigaya texted Ichinose and Shiina to tell them he was going to take a long nap, then silenced his phone and lay down on the bed.

No one should disturb his sleep.

...............

Under the setting sun, in the dormitory, Hachiman, having slept well, gradually woke up from his dream.

Hmm? Something's not right.

Hikigaya felt his left hand being gripped tightly by someone's fingers. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the person he was thinking of—Ichinose Honami.

Her long pink hair cascaded over her arm, and Ichinose fell asleep with her head resting on his arm, looking in his direction. Her serene and beautiful sleeping face had her eyelashes fluttering gently, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Not wanting to wake Ichinose, Hikigaya tiptoed over and used his other free hand to open his phone. There were several unread contacts and one unanswered call.

It is Hachiman's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.

It's impossible not to inform the homeroom teacher about a student's withdrawal. Hachiman, who is probably in a very bad mood right now, decided to ignore the call. A mere Chabashira is only fit to sit at the children's table at a banquet.

After replying to several classmates, Hikigaya opened the message that Horikita had sent him.

The information indicates that Ike and Yamauchi have left the school, but the charge in the announcement to be posted on Monday can only be voyeurism, not voyeurism. This is a requirement of the school, and Horikita Manabu cannot disobey it.

Hachiman completely understands this. Peeping is at most a civil offense, but taking photos without permission is a criminal offense, so the school definitely won't make a big fuss about it.

However, after agreeing, Horikita Manabu also helped Hikigaya get a hint from the school.

This suggests that Hachiman's bug-exploiting plan for next week's final exams will not be hindered by the school.

After sending a bunch of cheesy words of thanks, Hachiman replied to Horikita Manabu with the words "Loyalty! Sincerity!"

Having connections makes things much easier. Now, Hikigaya doesn't have to worry about his final exam plans going wrong. Horikita Manabu has been incredibly kind to him, and tomorrow he'll give his younger sister, Horikita Suzune, a bunch of practice tests to really help her improve.

"Good morning, Hachiman."

After putting down his phone, Hikigaya met Ichinose's wide-open eyes. "It's getting late, isn't it? You're so free today, don't you have to tutor the other students in Class B?"

It's only five o'clock now, and judging from the way Ichinose was sleeping, Hikigaya thinks she probably arrived at his room a long time ago.

"The students who were sick have all recovered, so I'm not as busy now, and I'm also very worried about Hachiman."

Ichinose got up from the floor and sat on the headboard of his bed. Seeing this, Hikigaya also sat up and leaned against the headboard. He tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't.

"What are you worried about? What do I have to worry about? It's just staying up all night."

Hikigaya hasn't told Ichinose and Shiina about personally expelling two students from Class D. Right now, the only ones who know are the people involved this morning. Among the four girls who were driven away by Tachibana Akane, only Kushida knows what he's going to do.

"Tachibana-senpai told me everything. Two students in Class D were expelled for peeping, and Hachiman seems very angry."

...Women are just so talkative. When the student council saw Akane Tachibana again, Hikigaya decided to give her a good tug on her bun, but he didn't say it was to secretly take pictures of Akane Tachibana, which was quite reasonable of him.

“What could have happened to me? I was the one who reported them for dropping out of school, and I’m not angry anymore after they dropped out.”

"Hachiman reported it?!" Ichinose stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

With a slight effort, Hikigaya broke free from Ichinose's hand. "Yes, they wouldn't have dropped out of school without me."

He wasn't the kind of good person Ichinose imagined. He wouldn't feel sad about Yamauchi and Ike dropping out of school as she expected; he didn't even feel angry at their lack of ambition. To him, Yamauchi and Ike dropping out was like losing an outdated weekly magazine.

I felt no regret or pity whatsoever.

"Why didn't you give them even a chance?" Ichinose looked devastated, hugging her knees and curling up into a ball. "Why use the excuse of taking all the blame?"

"Because I want you to understand that we are incompatible," Hikigaya sighed inwardly.

Ichinose is undoubtedly a kind and sensitive girl, who rejoices when others are happy and grieves when others are sad. Hakiya, on the other hand, feels that he is more rational and can do things without any burden that Ichinose would find painful.

Recently, Ichinose has become increasingly close to him, and Hikigaya feels that he cannot fall into Ichinose's gentle trap. He has no intention of changing himself to accommodate Ichinose, nor does he intend to make Ichinose change herself.

It's fine if the two of them are friends, but it's also fine if they don't.

"This is the difference between our ways of thinking. In the upcoming final exams, I will expel another traitor from the class. That's just how ruthless I am."

"...Is it because of my past experience of stealing that you can't accept me?" Ichinose sensed Hikigaya's resistance towards her.

This time, Hachiman remained silent, but he didn't try to avoid the question.

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have even forgotten about it. All I know is the you as you are now, a kind, gentle girl who loves all her classmates.” Hachiman paused.

"But I won't actively approach such a gentle girl, because I don't think such a gentle person would understand me, just like now."

“…”

Hikigaya couldn't see the expression on Ichinose's face, who was curled up in a ball. After waiting for no answer, Hikigaya stood up, walked past Ichinose, jumped off the bed, and went into the kitchen. He was starving because he hadn't eaten lunch.

After serving two spoonfuls of rice, remembering that Ichinose was still outside, Hikigaya finally decided to serve her portion as well.

If no one eats it, he can make himself some fried rice for a late-night snack.

Chapter 58 Violent Hikigaya

As if nothing had happened, Ichinose resumed eating with Shiina after she arrived, and he left with her when Shiina left as well, just like on Sunday.

The final exams are held on Monday morning.

A new white sheet of paper with the student council's red seal was posted on the bulletin board on the first floor of the teaching building. The paper stated in black ink that two students from Class 1-D named Haruki Yamauchi and Kanji Ike were expelled for peeping at girls changing clothes by members of the student council.

The student council members in charge of handling this matter were Horikita Manabu from Class 3-A and Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-D.

"Hachiman is way more interesting than Hirata, don't you think, Ayanokouji?"

Among the students watching, Ryuen Sho stood at the front of the crowd with a satisfied smile on his face. In addition to his two followers, Yamada and Ishizaki, there was now another one, the expressionless Ayanokouji.

"My suggestion is that it's better to maintain a cooperative relationship with him for now, since Class A is stronger right now." Ayanokouji didn't want Class C to become enemies with Hachiman right now, as that wouldn't benefit Class C.

"Well, there's still plenty of time, no rush."

Long Yuan felt no remorse for betraying his allies, but since the benefits were minimal, he had no reason to back down.

“Class D is Class D, Katsuragi-san doesn’t need to take them to heart.” Totsuka said to Katsuragi beside him after seeing the announcement, but Katsuragi did not agree with him.

"No, this reminds me to pay more attention to Class D."

Politely asking the student blocking his way to move aside, Katsuragi walked towards Class A.

Meanwhile, in Class B, Ryuji Kanzaki stared intently at Hikigaya's name on the notice board with a cold expression. He couldn't understand why Ichinose would like someone like that.

The actions of Hikigaya's classmates who dropped out of school are not at all like those of Class B.

............

Compared to the bustling activity outside the bulletin board, Class D, where the person in question was located, fell into an eerie silence, as if a serious teacher were standing on the podium, and the students in the classroom spoke very softly.

"Are you alright, Hirata-kun?" Wang Meiyu asked Kushida with some concern, looking at the distraught Hirata.

Sitting near Hirata, the second most handsome boy in the first grade, Wang Meiyu was unconsciously attracted by Hirata's gentle and kind personality, but she never dared to say it openly.

"It's alright, Miu. Hikigaya-kun will heal him." Kushida had a strange smile on his face.

As if on cue, Kushida had barely finished speaking when Hikigaya, with a calm expression, walked into the classroom and went straight to the podium from the front door.

Koenji leisurely combs his hair while looking in the mirror; Hirata is distraught; Sato is terrified; and the seats of Yamauchi and Ike Kanji are empty.

After surveying the classroom until no one spoke again, Hachiman looked at Hirata and said, "Before class starts, I'm the one who got Yamauchi and Ike expelled. Anyone want to stand up for them?"

"Why? Why won't you give them a chance, Hachiman?" Hirata slowly stood up from his seat and walked towards Hachiman.

“I told them not to cause trouble, but they wouldn’t listen. Fine, they won’t listen, but they’re still incompetent trash. Since they’re disobedient trash, they should be thrown out of my territory.”

Hikigaya went straight into Hirata's minefield and started dancing. This time, he wasn't going to give in to the opinions of Hirata's group of good students.

With only 38 students remaining, Class D will lose two more students this week, leaving only 36 students who will be at a disadvantage in future special exams. He must use an iron-fisted approach to rule Class D and strengthen its power.

"Yamachi and the others are your classmates, not incompetent trash!"

As Hikigaya had hoped, Hirata, whose sore spot had been touched, did not hesitate to raise his fist at him, attempting to use violence to undermine his rule.

Amidst the hopeful gazes of most of the students in Class D, Hirata, like a hero, successfully landed a punch on Hachiman Hikigaya's chest. However, Hachiman Hikigaya did not fall down; instead, he smiled at the hero Hirata.

"That's it?"

As soon as Hikigaya the Great Demon King finished speaking, a right hook was quickly thrown at the hero Hirata's chin. Then, as expected, their hero Hirata blocked the attack with his forearm.

However, this did not work.

Hikigaya's heavy right punch easily struck Hirata's chin along with Hirata's forearm, making the hero dizzy and disoriented before Hikigaya slammed him against the blackboard.

A hand grabbed Hirata by the collar, lifted him high, and slammed him against the blackboard. Hikigaya turned to look at the students with wide, incredulous eyes. "Starting today, the rules for collecting individual points in Class D are being revised."

"Students in the bottom half of the class exam rankings will submit 75% of their points, while those in the top half will remain unchanged. I will also provide a monthly subsidy of 20,000 points from the class funds to students participating in sports clubs."

"The custodian of the individual points collected by the class will be changed to Rihe. My Class D refuses to be complacent and lazy. Anyone who objects can stand up."

"I...object..."

Intermittently, Hirata tried his best to say what the students with poor grades wanted to hear.

"You can choose not to pay the points, but since you're a talented person, I won't expel you." After putting Hirata down, Hikigaya patted his face like a villain. "As punishment for you, I will make two more students in this class disappear before the end of this semester."

Upon hearing Hikigaya's words, those who had originally intended to come out and support Hirata vanished instantly.

"No! No! Hikigaya-kun, please don't! I was wrong, I'll be good." Hirata broke down as if he himself was the one being expelled.

“You have to be punished for your mistakes. Be careful next time.” Hikigaya considerately put Hirata back in his seat. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. If you can surpass me in strength or academic ability, I will give up the leadership position.”

Hikigaya didn't dislike Hirata, a student who cared for his classmates; it was just that Hikigaya was in his way.

This class doesn't need two suns.

Hachiman returned to the podium. "Now, who still has objections?"

"You little rascal, if I surpass you in academics or martial arts, can I become a leader too?" Koenji casually remarked from below the stage, putting down his hand mirror.

“Sure, if you want to take over the leadership role, I can accept your challenge right now.”

The implication is that Koenji is willing to put in the effort to become a responsible leader, and Hikigaya welcomes him to take on the challenge; someone like Sakayanagi who only cares about having fun is not acceptable.

"Then forget it. I have no interest in leading this group of flawed products." Using the analogy of flawed tea pillars, Koenji raised the hand mirror again, looking at his flawless self in the mirror.

Abandoning Japan, Sanling privately gathers loose silk, exclaiming, "I'm so beautiful!"

Chapter Fifty-Nine Final Exams

A karaoke room after school the day before the final exams.

The incandescent lights on the ceiling were always on, and the private room, which should have been filled with youthful songs, was only filled with the sound of students doing their homework.

Inside the private room, buried in their work, were Ninomiya Yui from Class B, and Yukimura, Horikita, and Wang Meiyu from Class D.

Hikigaya and Shiina Ichinose, who had already completed the test papers, were responsible for tutoring the students who encountered questions they couldn't answer.

Although some things have changed from the history before his rebirth, the teachers who set the final exam questions this time should still be the same ones, so this exam paper that Hachiman made based on his memories is very practical.

"Could it really be a final exam question?" Horikita rubbed her sore hands after finishing a test paper.

"I'm not sure, but I can say it will probably be somewhat similar to the exam questions."

Hikigaya picked up Horikita's exam paper to check if he had made any mistakes. Not only did a top-five spot represent two million points, but this was also the first exam he had organized since taking office, and the more top-five spots the better.

After everyone finished the test and knew all the answers, Hachiman took back the test papers and dismissed everyone, saying that the test papers were not meant to be seen in the light and that Hachiman would destroy them in a while.

After everyone else left, Hachiman took the exam papers to the sink in the karaoke room's private toilet, soaked them one by one in water, and then shredded them and threw them into the trash can.

"squeak--"

As the door to the private room opened, Hachiman looked at the girl who walked in.

It was Horikita Suzune who suddenly returned.

"Forgot something?"

"No, I just have something I want to ask you."

"About the exam papers?" If it was about the exam papers, Hikigaya could only make up an excuse.

"Do we really need to arrange for someone to drop out tomorrow? I think too many people dropping out of Class D will be very detrimental to the special exams later."