Hikigaya Hachiman is still in the dark

"Not bad. I can see that you are really serious about preparing for the joint activities. The preparations are very sufficient. Maybe our school can't even compare to yours. I emphasized before that we should learn from you!"

Of course, this was just polite talk. What if Ben Chugui was asked to learn from the people at Seaside High School? Two proud swans would never bow to each other.

Both of them are very proud and capable, but Motoki is more outspoken, while Niwa is more reserved. But in essence, they are like all people with leadership qualities in this world who will not easily admit defeat unless they really cannot change the situation. But this time, the two of them are in a cooperative relationship, so neither of them will admit that the other is better than themselves.

If I said I wanted to learn from Niwa, I wonder how Motoki would react now. Maybe he would punch me...

Thinking of this, I suddenly couldn’t laugh at all.

"Is that so? Our school's preparations are far from what you, Mr. Hikigaya, have done. We should be the ones who should learn."

As always, he is very good at speaking polite words, but I still benefit from it.

"Then I'll go back first." I pretended to leave.

"Wait..." Niwa's voice called me again. I turned around and found that Niwa also had a puzzled look on his face. Maybe he couldn't help but say it to me just now, and it was not the result of his thinking.

"Well, that..." Facing my gaze again, Niwa became completely panicked this time, completely losing his previous composure.

"Um, Mr. Hikigaya, is this all you have to say?"

He became completely flustered, and even the words he spoke became very unpleasant. This kind of tone is usually heard when a boss reprimands a subordinate, or a judge interrogates a prisoner.

"Sorry, Mr. Hikigaya, that's not what I meant." Realizing his own gaffe, Niwa quickly bowed to me and explained, "I'm just in a hurry. Um, I really want to know if Mr. Hikigaya has any advice on our work?"

"That's pretty good." I nodded. To receive such an evaluation can be said to be very perfect, but for Niwa now, he must feel very bad because I did not answer what he wanted to know at all.

"So, besides inspections, did Mr. Hikigaya do anything else? For example, sightseeing? Can you tell me what you think of the people and scenery at our school? I will think carefully about your opinions and make improvements."

What a perfect statement. They wanted to know my general itinerary by wanting to know my opinion on schools, and at the same time put their feelings about people first. Was they trying to trick me into talking about studying in the United States?

Niwa is surprisingly capable. He knows the traps of language and can also properly induce the other party to get the information he wants. He is really capable. However, I am more experienced than you in dealing with people. Moreover, we have the insurmountable identity of teacher and student. No matter what, I am more advantageous. To be honest, Niwa, you have no chance of winning.

"It's a good study. I don't have any guidance. By the way, the number of people in your student union seems to be wrong. Is there any special reason?"

I spoke slowly with a smile.

Extra: Tsurumi Rumi's high school life

"Hello everyone, nice to meet you. My name is Tsurumi Rumi. I hope to get along well with you in the days to come." I stood on the podium and introduced myself to the new students.

Some people in the audience were exchanging emails with each other, while some were sitting in their seats, talking to people nearby. Of course, most eyes were still focused on me, especially those of the boys, which made me feel a little uncomfortable, or rather, a little nauseous.

"Okay, thank you Tsurumi for your self-introduction. Who is the next student?" The teacher signaled that I could return to my seat, so I walked down the podium.

At this time, the boy behind me stood up quickly, and while shouting, "It's me, it's me," he ran to the podium. Because he was too anxious, he accidentally messed up my clothes when he passed by me, but he didn't seem to realize this problem, and walked to the podium without apologizing.

Could it be that this person was so happy that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings? Never mind, I didn't really care anyway.

I walked to my seat and sat down, I straightened my clothes slightly and focused my eyes on the stage. The boy seemed to be called Niwa Feng. Unlike the others, this person was not nervous on the stage. Instead, he introduced himself enthusiastically. Such a person would probably accumulate considerable popularity from the beginning.

Shaking my head, I put aside the unimportant things and took out the paperback book from my schoolbag. I put the book on the table and turned to the page I read yesterday. Surprisingly, when I opened the book, I found that I had no interest in reading at the moment, so I had to close the book and put it on a corner of the table. Then, my thoughts drifted away like clouds in the sky.

Humans are very hypocritical creatures.

Because of the fear of isolation, we pretend to be enthusiastic and generous; because of the fear of being despised, we pretend to love learning; because of the fear of losing, we always use false things to cover up the superficial peace.

Therefore, there is no real happiness in this world. In happiness, there must be someone's sadness, someone's sacrifice, and someone's...buried true heart.

Just like light and shadow, there is always a shadow behind the sunshine, and behind the dazzling person there must be an unknown person.

People are fragile and stubborn, and the world is the real thing disguised by the fake.

Therefore, lonely people are in pain, constantly searching for their true selves, like fireflies constantly looking for light in the dark.

Probably, in the eyes of most people, Niwa on the stage now is an object of admiration, a weathervane of high school life, and the light of high school life. If I remember correctly, I seem to have met such a dazzling person when I was in elementary school. It should be a senior named Hayama.

I have forgotten most of the things in elementary school, but the only thing I still remember is the training camp at the Forest School. Maybe it was because it was the first time that my own value was affirmed...

The man with a pair of dead fish eyes that made people stay away and who walked in a strange posture, affirmed my world view, my loneliness, and the values ​​I possessed for the first time there.

At that time, I understood that I was not a loner or a bystander in this world. Like everyone else, I was seeking understanding, recognition, and light; like everyone else, I was a firefly seeking light in the darkness, but my light could not illuminate others. I could only lead the way alone, and then watch the light emitted by the distant fireflies gathered together.

Perhaps at the beginning, what we are looking for are things that are similar but different.

At the beginning, our eyes were fixed on such different things. So from the beginning, our paths were destined to be different.

Flying in the same direction, but with different trajectories.

It seemed that all the students had introduced themselves, and the teacher began to elect class leaders.

"Um, does anyone want to be the class monitor?"

"Teacher, I am willing to be one!" The boy behind me immediately raised his hands: "Although my ability is not enough, I work hard and carefully, and hope to serve you."

Very careful? If so, why didn't he apologize after bumping into me? This person...

"If there is no one else." The teacher paused and looked at everyone. Everyone remained silent. After all, it was the first time. Since someone had already taken the initiative to stand up, no one else would stand up to run for election.

"Then, Niwa, I will entrust you to be the class monitor. Thank you for your hard work." After the teacher said this, the students applauded appropriately. Niwa bowed to all sides very seriously, saying something like he would work hard, and then he sat down.

"You're lying." When Niwa sat down, my soft voice, as if talking to myself, also floated out. Perhaps surprised by what I said, Niwa showed a puzzled expression, and then he gradually showed a hearty smile.

"Tsurumi-san, please give me your guidance as well."

I didn't answer him and just looked at the blackboard quietly. Niwa probably felt a little embarrassed and didn't talk to me anymore.

"Then who will be the deputy monitor?"

"Teacher, Tsurumi said she wanted to be the teacher but was too embarrassed to raise her hand." Niwa raised his hands again and said loudly. I turned around and looked at him in surprise. He was looking at me with a smile as if he had succeeded in a prank. This bastard, although I knew he was a hypocritical person, I didn't expect that he would be so shameless.

"Hey, Tsurumi-san, is this true?"

"Oh, no, I didn't." My panicked voice gradually became inaudible. The gazes of the people in the class made me nervous and uneasy, and my tone unconsciously became much softer.

"Tsurumi-san is shy, so she said yes, teacher."

"Is that so? Then I'll leave it to you, Tsurumi-san." The teacher nodded as if in agreement.

I glared at Niwa angrily, but he held out his hand to me as if nothing had happened.

"Please give me your guidance, Vice-Class Leader Tsurumi."

"Well, Niwa Feng, I think I really need you to give me a suitable reason to explain why I suddenly became the vice-class monitor. If you don't have a good reason to convince me, your reputation will be drastically reduced soon because of my sabotage..." I looked at Niwa Feng in front of me seriously and solemnly. The time for self-introduction has passed, but inexplicably, I became the vice-class monitor of the class. As someone who has always boasted of keeping oneself clean, I feel very reluctant to be in such a controversial position. Rather, I hate the current situation very much. Although the class monitor in high school should have fewer things to be responsible for, the weird psychology of high school students will definitely bring me a lot of trouble, and I don't want to encounter such a situation at all.

I looked carefully at Niwa Feng in front of me. He had a stunningly handsome appearance, coupled with that distinctive purple hair. So, it was natural to expect that someone like him would become a very popular person in high school. Judging from his self-introduction and that refreshing and bright smile, he must be someone who is very good at livening up the atmosphere.

As expected, I don't want to have anything to do with him at all.

My goal in high school is just to quietly make a few ordinary friends. I have no intention of dating, so it’s better for me not to mess with the gossipy girls in class.

After I figured it out, my eyes became even more stern. Now, I guess I am as stern as a mother who finds that her child has made a mistake.

"Tsurumi-san, you look pretty good when you're angry. Is it because you're pretty?" However, Niwa Furu seemed to ignore my stern gaze and looked quite happy as she smiled at me.

It's a very hearty smile. If it were other girls, they would probably feel overwhelmed by such a smile, or even blush. However, I think such behavior is very slick. Or rather, I feel very disgusted. I always stay away from such boys.

"If you're bored, please go find someone else to play with." Disgusted by his behavior, my tone became even colder than before, even containing a strong questioning tone.

"No matter what, you shouldn't say this to me when we're meeting for the first time with such an expression." Niwa shrank back as if he was afraid and spoke in a low voice with guilt.

"Although it's the first time we met, someone inexplicably elected me for the position of vice-class monitor. This kind of thing should not be done by people who just met for the first time." I didn't soften my tone. On the contrary, my eyes became more severe.

Instead of shrinking his body like before, he straightened his back and looked willing to talk to me seriously.

"Isn't this good? To contribute to the class? Your favorability and reputation will be greatly improved."

What a naive idea. I naively thought that becoming a class leader would improve my reputation.

Often, the definition of class leaders among classmates is just as simple as the teacher's assistant. Since they are class leaders, they will definitely affect the classmates' affairs. Unfinished homework? Secretly talking in class? Such things must be taken care of. If you think about it realistically, once such things happen, conflicts with classmates are inevitable.

If things continue to develop like this, your reputation will soon decline, and people will probably say behind your back, "He's just a class leader, but he acts so great." Of course, if you can handle the atmosphere well, you should be able to get positive reviews, but unfortunately, I have no such experience at all. Now, I have already anticipated my future. Even if someone says that they can understand it, once it involves themselves, the same rumors will spread.

Human beings are like this. Double standards will always exist between ourselves and others.

Even so, there's no need for me to explain it in such detail to Niwa. At this point, I should be able to get away with it with a very normal excuse.

"I'm not good at this kind of thing, and I didn't go to high school for the sake of reputation."

It was a very normal reason, a completely worrying answer from a high school student. Without responding to me, Niwa just looked at me calmly. His quiet eyes made me very uncomfortable. I felt like he had discovered my lie, which made me a little anxious, because Niwa Feng's behavior was like everything about me was within his expectations.

What's going on? This is unfolding like a light novel?

Silence fuels my irritability like a devil.

"You're lying." Just as I was about to break the silence with a sharp remark, Niwa Feng said something based on what I had just said in a voice that only he and I could hear.

His expression was the same as mine just now, as if he was talking to himself, but I knew that what he said at that time was what I wanted to say to Niwa: just like what he said now was definitely what he said to me.

Same sentences, same timing, even the expressions on his face were the same.

For some reason, I didn't want to continue this conversation. I felt like everything I wanted to say, everything I wanted to express, seemed to have been anticipated by him from the very beginning.

I stood up and looked at Niwa with emotionless eyes.

"It's so boring." I walked towards the classroom door, ready to find the teacher to explain what had just happened. Although it was a bit difficult, I still hoped that the teacher could revoke the decision to make me the deputy monitor.

When I was about to pass Niwa, he sighed softly, and quickly suppressed the loneliness that he showed at that moment. He said with his unique smile that seemed like sunshine.

"Today, we'll call it a draw."

Chapter 184: Not giving up, Hikigaya Hachiman continues to test

I spoke softly, and after hearing what I said, Niwa's face froze. He probably didn't expect that I would ask this question on my own initiative.

Niwa knew that I knew Rumi, so it was normal for me to ask why she wasn't here. Rather, if I didn't ask, it would make people suspicious, but if I asked, it would mean that I knew nothing. I went to your school yesterday just to inspect your work, and that was the subtext.

"Ah, she sounded sick."

The statement was vague, and it seemed that this guy was really on guard.

"Oh, I see. The weather has been very cold recently. You'd better pay more attention to your health." When I said this, my tone became very cold, because Liumei caught a cold because her scarf and hat were taken away by other people.

Noticing the change in my tone, Niwa looked puzzled, but he quickly returned to his usual standard social smile.

"Okay, I'll remind them to keep warm later. It's been a bit cold lately."

"Well, although the work is hard, as long as we work hard and cooperate, we will definitely be able to solve these problems. Isn't that the meaning of joint activities? In addition to training your abilities, it is also to improve your team awareness and interpersonal skills."

Originally I just wanted to remind Niwa to pay attention to unity and know that your student union is continuing school bullying, but I don’t know why it became such an official statement, and I unconsciously put on the posture of an educator.

"Okay, I understand what Mr. Hikigaya means." Niwa nodded to me.

Do you really understand what I mean? I want you to stay away from Liumei, or to control your student union members so that they don't bully Liumei anymore.

Without speaking to Niwa again, I turned around and returned to my seat.

As a result, during the first meeting, I kept avoiding the language traps set by Niwa. Although I avoided them perfectly, I didn't get the information I wanted to know.

It's fine to leave it like this for now. If we push him too far, Niwa will probably become suspicious given his intelligence.

But in the end, how should I test it? I still have no idea.

Pretending to casually talk to Niwa about school violence? But if he was so sensitive, Niwa would have noticed something.

It's really helpless. After all, the difficulty of the test will vary depending on the object and content. If the object of the test is a smart person like Niwa, then the difficulty will probably be at the level of a big boss.

This is a very unhappy situation.

Here, if I make saving Liumei my primary goal, then I also have a way to ensure that Liumei withdraws from the student union and will no longer be isolated because of Niwa; but if I also want to prevent Liumei from continuing to be lonely in school without hurting myself, then it will be much more difficult.

Paper cutting is very simple, but if the shape is specified and it is also specified that only blades can be used and not scissors, then simple paper cutting will become very complicated. After adding restrictions, no matter what the task is, it will become complicated.

I took out my notebook, but my eyes were always looking at Seaside High School. The four people at Seaside High School were working hard. Origusa noticed my gaze, looked at me, and then lowered her head to continue working.

I'd better chat with Origina later and exchange information.

The working time was almost halfway through. I quietly made a gesture to Origami, then stood up and said, "I'm going to go buy some drinks. Do you guys want anything to drink?"

"Just like last time."

"Me too."

"Mine, too, please."

The busy student council members all looked up and told me what they wanted to drink, but Ben Chugui ignored me. So, is it because what he wanted to drink was the same as last time, so there was no need to ask for it specifically? He really knows how to save his energy!

"Well, I'll go too." Over at Seaside High School, Orikusa also stood up.

"please."

This voice came from Seaside High School, and then Origina came towards me. Since the others didn't know that we knew each other, I just nodded to Origina, and Origina just bowed to me politely.

"How is Tsurumi-san?" Orikusa asked me after we left the student council room.