I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

"Well... it is true, as you said. There are many people in this world who don't achieve anything even if they try their best, and some who try too hard and end up losing all their results. However, most of those people just don't have better options."

"But... I should have it, right?"

"That's a question you should consider."

"Yes, that's what I believed... And thank you."

"Let's go back."

"Hey, where are Yuigahama and Hikigaya?"

"They should have their own things to do, I'm not wrong about that. If there's a problem, we can apologize tomorrow."

Chapter 256 Hat-Stealing, [Soubu High School] Christmas Event

Finally, Christmas was drawing near. On the morning of a routine class meeting, batches of standard hats were distributed. The hats were heart-shaped, but the original pointed bottom had been replaced with a base that fit snugly on the head. They were hollow inside and came in two colors, pink and blue. Every student received one, and each hat had their full name sewn onto it with gold thread. The hats were distributed to each student according to their name; girls received pink hats, and boys received blue ones. As for the activity...

"Ahem, this is the broadcasting room. We are about to broadcast an emergency announcement... Please pay attention, students."

After these words were repeated twice, the students recognized Himekoji's voice, who often spoke in public. At the same time, they couldn't help but think of the Christmas event that was kept extremely secret, which led to all sorts of rumors circulating. They all perked up their ears to listen.

"I, Himekoji Haruto, in the name of the student council president of Soubu High School, am issuing a notice in conjunction with the chairman's office. This year's special Christmas event is closely related to this hat. The event requires all students to bring the hat you have been given to school on December 23. Of course, you don't need to wear it on the way, but there will be strict temporary checks by the disciplinary committee members when you enter the school gate. All educational activities will be suspended on the 23rd. Students should not take off their hats while at school. Unless there are special circumstances, no leave or unexcused absences will be allowed on the 23rd. As for the specific details of the event, they will be announced through the broadcast after everyone has arrived on the day."

After the announcement was made, the whole school was in an uproar. Damn it, handing out hats at this hour clearly means that the Christmas event is related to this hat, so this announcement is basically meaningless! The most important thing is that the details of the event are still kept secret, which made these hormone-fueled high school students even more depressed.

As for the student council members of the two schools who were the instigators, they were in a state of supreme pleasure, thinking, "I know a huge secret, but I'm not telling you."

On the 23rd, which is the day after tomorrow, everyone is more looking forward to this secret event that suddenly appeared this year than to the dispensable joint event. Moreover, the fact that classes will be suspended for a day and there will be no make-up classes in order to hold this event is already great news for students, not to mention the interesting activities.

Even if the activity is boring, it doesn't matter, since we don't have to go to class. But since it's something that President Himekoji came up with, it's unlikely to be boring.

"Honestly, President Himekoji is wicked. Even the other student council members are the same, not revealing a single word. I originally thought that former member Kasumigaoka-senpai would know some inside information, but she still knows nothing and is just as looking forward to the events he organizes."

Yuihama pouted and grumbled angrily in the Service Club about Himekoji, who was keeping quiet about the matter. She threw the hat embroidered with her name high into the air and caught it again, repeating this over and over.

“I can tell from the fact that ‘no leave or unexcused absence is allowed unless there are special circumstances’ that he must have no good intentions.”

Yukinoshita calmly flipped through the paperback edition of "The Collected Works of Mark Twain," already quite used to Himekoji's chaotic behavior. "Seriously," she thought, "could it be that you like his books because Mark Twain was also a cat lover?"

Her hat was on the table next to her. The embroidery of her name was very delicate, and the hat was by no means a cheap or poorly made thing. Apart from the fact that it was so embarrassing to wear outside of her activities, it was pretty good.

"What kind of event is this, really..." Yuihama tossed her hat up again, but probably because she was lost in thought, she didn't catch it. Instead, in her haste, she bumped into something and the hat hit Yukinoshita on the head.

Yukinoshita's head was knocked to the side. She rubbed her temples in pain and stared at Yuihama with a look that seemed to say she was looking at someone mentally challenged. "Yuihama-san, if you can't catch it, please don't throw it around, okay?"

"Oh, sorry, Yukino, did it hurt?"

"How could something so soft possibly hurt if you hit it..."

"Let me rub it for you, hehe~"

"No...no need."

Don't be shy!

"Ah, peace is so good..." Hachiman, who was idly reading a book at the far end, glanced at his blue hat. Although he could make some guesses based on the two different colored hats, it was still just a guess. No one would believe it until it was confirmed, and besides—no one asked him about his guess.

The boys' and girls' hats are different colors, and each hat has its own name on it. I guess they'll be playing a game similar to tag the hat the day after tomorrow, with the person who catches the hat doing this and that. But ultimately, this is still a game for social butterflies. Only guys who think about love all the time and whose minds are full of the opposite sex would be enthusiastic about these kinds of activities. So, social butterflies, explode!

Since the announcement was released on the morning of the 21st, the entire school has been gripped by a severe "Friday syndrome." Everyone is eagerly anticipating Friday's activities, to the point that they can't concentrate on classes at all. Various bold speculations have spread and become increasingly outlandish, including sensational rumors such as a girl sleeping with a student council member in exchange for reliable information. However, even those who guessed correctly only got part of the story right.

Finally, the 23rd arrived. Most of the students from Zongwu High School came to school carrying a tote bag. Some, not caring, simply brought their hats. At the gate, they were watched by the disciplinary committee members, all wearing the same hats, to put them on properly before being allowed to pass. Not having to attend classes meant not having to go to the classroom. Everyone chatted about Christmas preparations in small groups based on their social circles. After sending a few late students inside, Zongwu High School closed its gates.

"Sound check, sound check, good morning everyone. I'm student council president Himekoji Haruto. Well then, without further ado, I'm announcing today's event theme as Cupid's Day. The rules are: find someone you like, then snatch their hat and put it on your own. The target is the opposite sex. Anyone who completes this event will be forced to be a couple for the entire day. Please refrain from multiple people forcing girls to take their hats, and violence is strictly prohibited. Alright, let's begin—!"

Chapter 257 It's clear now, the enemy is in the administration building.

To avoid being stuck in the broadcasting room, Himekoji moved the broadcasting equipment to a secluded corner. Hayama and Shinomiya Kyoya accompanied him, as they knew their fate well—it wouldn't be much better than Himekoji's.

"Damn it, this guy's recklessness has gone way too far!"

Yukinoshita, who was quietly reading in the Service Club, was stunned when she heard the rules of the event. She was a formidable person with the self-awareness that "after all, I am cute," and she knew very well that someone like her would definitely be a target in this situation. Moreover, she was a winner in the Soubu High School beauty pageant not long ago. It could be said that as soon as the announcement was made, the whole school was swept up in an unstoppable frenzy.

If Yukino were to leave the Service Club, she would be an easy target. She lacks stamina and isn't good at handling crowds. In this situation, it would be better for her to stay in the clubroom and pray that no one comes looking for her—or she could hide in the women's restroom. After all, the activity requires that the target be "opposite sex." Although it's uncertain whether any girls will have ulterior motives towards her, even if they do, it wouldn't be allowed under the rules.

At the same time, several huge and dazzling fireworks soared into the sky, adding another splash of color to this event that fully embodies youth.

Not long after Himekoji posted the notice, she received email after email. Besides asking where everyone was, Kazusa's email was particularly interesting. She said, "I knew you were going to cause some trouble, so I hid in the second music room from the beginning, hehe—" followed by a funny face emoji. There were only three keys to the second music room. Besides Himekoji and Kazusa, the last key was hidden in a locker in the student council room. No matter how much they messed around, they couldn't possibly break down the door, right?

Moreover, the second music classroom had already been warned many times, so no one would dare to provoke that bad luck.

"Chance!"

Yui's group of girls immediately sprang into action. Miura, extremely anxious, ordered Yui and Ebina, "You...you all need to keep your eyes peeled! Make sure to drive away those girls trying to steal Hayato's hat..."

When Miura finished speaking, blushing, and turned around, Yui had already slipped away. Only Ebina remained by Miura's side, relying on her queen-like aura to fend off the boys who were constantly eyeing the hat on her head.

"Oh, right, to make this event even more fun, here's an additional rule: anyone who takes off the hat of Student Council Vice President Kidou Mariya and places it on the last table by the window in my second-year J class will receive a kiss from any member of the Student Council. If it's a club or department, teamwork will increase their club dues by three months—a full doubling!!"

"Hey, president, is it really okay to say something like this?"

Shinomiya nervously tugged at Himekoji's sleeve, while Hayama's face also turned somewhat red. After all, they were both student council members, and Himekoji's promised kiss naturally entangled them as well. Himekoji and Hayama's popularity goes without saying, and even Shinomiya Kyoya had a fan club composed of several beautiful girls who were constantly watching his lips.

As for the boys, they became even more motivated. Everyone was basically focused on Mariya and Jasmine when it came to a kiss between student council members. As for Kato Megumi, well, who is that? What everyone found extremely regrettable was that the most popular beauty, Kasumigaoka Utaha, had already stepped down from the student council. Even though she managed to snatch Mariya's hat, she couldn't ask for a kiss from her anymore.

"It's alright, it's alright. At most, Juye might complain a little, but I can handle it."

Himekoji patted Shinomiya on the shoulder to reassure him, while Hayama muttered under his breath, "Um, President, I don't think Shinomiya-kun meant that..." Himekoji pretended not to hear and even gave Hayama a "good luck" look, saying, "If I stay with you, we'll both be too conspicuous and it'll be dangerous. I'm outta here, bye!"

So he turned off the broadcasting equipment, slipped away immediately, and disappeared in a flash.

"Damn Himekoji, I curse your ancestors for eight generations! You are despicable and shameless! Your vile character is like that of a protagonist in a Greek drama, and your infamy is known to everyone from Ireland to the Khitan!"

While running around the campus with Jasmine's help, Mariya felt like vomiting blood upon hearing the broadcast. This wasn't what they had agreed on, damn it! She did want to swap hats with Jasmine, but since she was now a "girl" and Jasmine was a girl, Mariya could only curse Himekoji and run away as fast as she could, under the premise of "limiting targets to the opposite sex".

"Youth is wonderful..." Standing in the corridor, smoking and watching the boisterous students below, Hiratsuka Shizuka wore a serene expression. But then she clenched her fists, gritting her teeth and muttering, "Why aren't teachers allowed to participate this time... Damn it..."

It seems the last beauty pageant spurred her on; I wonder what strange attribute she awakened.

As for where Ji Xiaolu planned to go, it's simple: the chairman's office! That's a place the students definitely won't go today. He did want to go to the second music classroom, but he'd probably be attacked and have his hat removed before he even got to the main teaching building. So the chairman's office was a good place. With that in mind, Ji Xiaolu pulled out his small motorcycle, which he had hidden there, from the bushes, got on, and started it up immediately.

Although some girls spotted Himekoji immediately, their mobility was insufficient, and they could only retreat breathlessly after running a few steps. However, the girls quickly contacted each other on Twitter and Line, and Himekoji's escape route was known in an instant.

"The enemy is in the administration building—!!"

Someone posted this message, and the number of likes and replies immediately exceeded fifty, and it continued to rise. A group of girls flocked to the administration building, which students usually did not come to, and it became a safe haven for Himekoji. He abandoned his motorcycle and helmet and quickly ran inside. Outside the automatic door, he could see the girls gathering, as if they were going to surround the administration building and search each room.

"Student council president inside, Himekoji Haruto, you're surrounded! We're giving you five minutes. If you don't come out in five minutes, we're going to storm in!"

A girl that Ji Xiaolu didn't know at all was shouting outside with a megaphone. Ji Xiaolu shrank back. Luckily, she had set up a secret passage in the chairman's office, otherwise she would have really dug her own grave and been caught like a turtle in a jar.

Chapter 258 Unexpectedly, [someone] had already beaten him to it.

However, for slightly different reasons, many people hid in the chairman's office from the beginning. Since all the activities today had been arranged, students could enter any room except the confidential room. Of course, places like the restrooms were exceptions to some extent.

Therefore, those who understood the student council's reason for organizing this event guessed most of it. Thus, when Himekoji thought, "I'm going to slip away," and ran to the chairman's office...

"Phew—, we're finally safe."

Himekoji unlocked the door and went inside, but to his utter surprise, just as his head and feet passed over the wooden door, a pair of slender hands had already taken his hat off from above. He stared in disbelief in that direction and saw Kasumigaoka, who was perched on top of the cabinet, shake off her own hat and put Himekoji's hat on her head.

"Clang clang!"

Kasumigaoka winked mischievously at Himekoji, then snapped her fingers with her right hand. Himekoji immediately sensed something was wrong and instinctively touched the top of her head. Sure enough, it wasn't an illusion; her head was completely bald except for her hair.

As for the chairman himself, he sat calmly behind his desk a little further away, drinking tea and reading the newspaper. Anyway, there was nothing to deal with today. His secretary also pretended not to see anything, calmly pushed up his glasses, and stood to the side with his legs straight.

"Speaking of which... Haruto-kun, could you please stop spacing out? I'm having trouble getting down right now."

Kasumigaoka stretched his hands down, and Himekoji sighed, feeling speechless yet somewhat relieved. He was speechless because his hat had been taken off so quickly, but relieved because it was Utaha who had taken it off. Himekoji hadn't seen Utaha much recently since she stepped down from the student council, and her sudden appearance here today surprised and delighted Himekoji.

"Good good."

Himeko reached out, and thankfully she was tall enough, otherwise it would have been difficult to grab her under the ribs. Kasumigaoka also grabbed Himeko's shoulders. She moved her legs and feet, and just as she was about to jump down, Himeko grabbed her under the armpits and supported her, and she floated down from the cabinet.

"Hey~ Whoosh!" Kasumigaoka, having just climbed down from the cabinet, immediately hugged Himekoji tightly, completely disregarding the two completely unrelated people present. She feigned tears, rubbing against Himekoji's chest and saying, "It's so scary...it's really so scary..."

"So fake... Ouch, that hurts!"

I had just said something that exposed Kasumigaoka's pretense when she bit me on the shoulder. Even though there was clothing between us, it still hurt a lot to bite like that.

"Sometimes a lady's lies can't be exposed, Haruto-kun, how could you not understand that?"

"Let's not talk about that... By the way, how did you know I was coming here, and even get here before me?"

"It's a secret."

Kasumigaoka breathed softly into Himekoji's ear. Although her ribs were still a little sore, she felt very happy.

Although she said it was a secret, Himekoji roughly knew where it had come from—it must have been her mischievous mother! Her mother had previously asked Himekoji what he planned to do about the event, and Himekoji said he was going to the chairman's office. Even if her mother didn't know what the event was, she could still tell Kasumigaoka that he was going to the chairman's office. But Himekoji couldn't keep it from her; if she kept it from her, she would cry, and if she cried, Himekoji would give in to everything...

I just don't know what agreement Kasumigaoka reached with her...

"Yes, yes, it's a secret. Let's go out," Himeko apologized to the chairman and the secretary, then led Kasumigaoka out the door. Because of the rule of "forced to become a couple," she was now completely clinging to Himeko's left arm, showing no intention of letting go, even as the shouts outside continued.

"Oh, right, Haruto-kun, here, put this on you."

Just as they were about to reach the door, Kasumigaoka placed the pink hat embroidered with "Kasumigaoka Utaha" on Himekoji's head. She stretched her hands up, and Himekoji bowed her head slightly in response.

The hat was placed securely on his head, and Kasumigaoka smiled as she prepared to lower her hand. However, just then, she grabbed Himekoji's shoulders with both hands, tiptoed, and swiftly kissed Himekoji's lips.

However, the kiss didn't last long before she couldn't resist her shyness and pushed it away. Although she tried her best to remain calm, her flustered expression and stammering words betrayed her.

"That's how couples should do it! Kissing and stuff is perfectly normal!"

"Tsk..."

Himeko touched her still slightly damp lips. It was the lipstick Kasumigaoka had applied that day, and a little of it had gotten on her lips during the kiss. She licked it slightly and it tasted sweet.

As the girls finally rushed into the administrative building, they saw Kasumigaoka smiling and waving to them. They immediately let out a regretful cry towards the girl who had chased after Himekoji, and watched enviously as Kasumigaoka walked out the door, clinging to Himekoji's side.

Just before leaving, Kasumigaoka deliberately tossed a strand of hair, turned around, and nodded her chin at them provocatively.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha————!!" The girls in the administration building, unable to bear it any longer, all shouted this in unison. She herself ignored them, squeezing Himekoji's arm into her chest, and asked nonchalantly, "Darling, where do we go now? The infirmary? The gym storage room? Or would the rooftop be better?"

"Why do I always feel like going to places like that is really bad? Wouldn't it be better if we just strolled around the school?" Himekoji gave a →_→ look, while Kasumigaoka remained completely unmoved, even pulling Himekoji towards the infirmary, muttering to himself, "After all, time is of the essence, forcing us to be a couple is only for today..."

"Um, Shiyu, are you listening?"

Himekoji's escape to the chairman's office was originally a brilliant move, but now that Kasumigaoka has taken off his hat, he feels a strong sense of crisis. Even if they are forced into being a couple, they are still a couple. He told her before that he was not dating her, so he wouldn't do anything more outrageous, but now... it seems that Kasumigaoka has interpreted his words in the opposite way!