Human behavior is fundamentally based on imitation. The moment someone sees another person do something, the thought arises: Why don't I do this too? or I could do this.
This was how things became in Class D. As soon as a group of "self-indulgent kids" entered the classroom, they started acting however they wanted.
Another group followed, one that respected the minimum rules, like staying silent during class.
The girls' behavior was limited to discussions about fashion or the dramas they followed, which could be considered the worst behavior, as most of them were just on their phones.
I think chatter is even worse, as it can affect concentration.
What's remarkable is that all the teachers didn't seem bothered by all this chaos, as if they were trained only to deliver lessons.
The biggest problem was the trio behind me. They didn't just talk—they yelled during class and laughed loudly.
Their names seemed to be Yamauchi, Iiki, and Sudo.
No matter how I think about it, this trio seems like the most intractable and difficult to deal with.
If their behavior improves, would the rest of the students improve too? I believe their actions play a significant role in disrupting the class atmosphere.
Classes ended, and it was lunchtime. The chaos escalated during this time, as eating in groups amplified the noise due to discussions.
Do they consider this kind of noise a trait of youth? It really is a nuisance.
No, now it's just embarrassing.
I had no desire to eat, and it seemed that Yukinoshita had decided to save money and make a bento.
I would prepare one for myself too. I'm not a cook like her; her competitive spirit makes her a first-class cook, but I can make something enough to satisfy my hunger.
I felt extremely tired; listening to Iiki and Yamauchi had drained me. All they said were perverted jokes or bragged about things that were obviously lies.
The only one worthy of praise was Sudo, as he slept through class—but here he was, now shouting and bragging about his club.
Does he really play basketball? I thought he was just a thug.
Well, sports are good, like… tennis?
I stretched on my desk. Should I take a nap or go out?
A bit of cold air would restore my focus.
Alright, I've made my decision.
I lifted my head from the desk, feeling a mild headache. Max Coffee would be enough. A cure for everything—why don't they sell it in pharmacies?
Hmm… what's this? It seems the entire class… has gone silent?
Why? Did they finally decide to behave and stay quiet?
I glanced at the students around me. Their eyes were focused on the front door. I wondered what was going on.
I lifted my head slightly and saw a girl with short purple hair, two small strands slightly raised, giving her a distinct and cute appearance.
She was standing at the door, holding a red file against her chest.
She might be looking for someone.
I didn't care; I would use the back door.
I rose from my seat easily, and as soon as I stood, my body was bumped forcefully from the side.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
Ah, it was Yamauchi running toward the girl.
Alright, I'll let it slide since he apologized, even though he didn't even look at my face.
He takes any chance to talk to girls—I understand. This is a problem for unpopular kids; they exploit even the slightest opportunity.
"Hi, I'm Yamauchi. Are you looking for something?" he asked with a twisted smile.
Man, the tension is obvious. Didn't you boast in front of your friends about the number of girls who confessed to you? And now you can't even talk to a girl?
"Ah, I'm looking for the student Hikigaya Hachiman. Is he here?"
"Hikigaya? There's no one by that name, right?"
"Yamauchi-kun, Hikigaya-kun sits in the seat in front of you. Don't you know him?" Hirata intervened to stop Yamauchi before he bothered the girl further.
But why is this girl looking for me? Does she know me?
After Yamauchi bumped into me, I didn't move, standing in front of my seat.
And now Hirata was looking at me, with pairs of eyes from the entire class on me.
I could only say this situation was extremely embarrassing.
I adjusted my posture to stand straighter and lifted my hand slightly.
"I'm here."
Why would she come to class looking for me?
Whatever the matter she wants to discuss, there are other opportunities outside class, but it would be hard to determine my location outside.
The girl looked into my violet eyes, seemingly trying to assess my appearance.
"Come with me. The student council president wants to see you."
"President?"
As soon as I heard her words, my eyes quickly darted to the front rows. Yukinoshita was staring at me with her blue eyes, suspiciously.
What would the student council president want from me?
It's better to leave the classroom first; all this attention is annoying.
"Alright."
I moved toward the front door; the girl went ahead into the hallway.
"Student council? Did you cause any trouble?" Yamauchi shouted, watching me from the side as I exited.
Finally, I was away from their gazes.
When the principal or student council summons you, the first thought that comes to mind is that you caused some trouble.
But from my experience with Ishikki, I learned that getting involved with the student council means hard work.
Is it the same here? No, impossible.
There's no point in thinking about it; I'll know once I arrive.
The girl walked ahead of me, deliberately leaving a large distance between us. Walking next to her could embarrass her, silence would be awkward, and walking right behind her would make me look like a stalker.
Am I not doing the same thing now?
Anyway, it seems it will be a short walk; the student council room is in the same school building.
I followed her up the stairs, and after a short walk through the corridors, we stood in front of a large wooden door.
"Wait a moment, please."
I nodded, she opened the door, I entered, and she closed it behind me.
It seems she will inform the president of my arrival; I suppose she's his assistant.
Due to nervousness, the moment felt longer than a few seconds. It's always natural to be tense around the unknown.
The wooden door opened again, and the girl appeared.
"Please, come in."
I stepped inside. The room was much larger than the Soubou student council room, with air conditioning and long tables like those used for meetings.
At the head of the table sat the student council president. I remembered him from the opening ceremony, although I hadn't paid attention that day.
The girl closed the door and stood behind the president, truly his assistant.
"Hello, Hikigaya. Sorry to interrupt your lunch." He adjusted his glasses, middle finger, then gestured for me to sit on a chair.
"No, no problem." I accepted the invitation and sat on a chair. It was really ordinary; I thought it would be more comfortable.
"I'm Horiiketa Manabu, student council president, and this is Akane Tachibana, student council secretary."
I was surprised he knew her without an introduction; he seems to understand her well. Well, they say a good manager knows his staff.
"So, why is the president personally requesting to see me?"
Better not waste time and get straight to the point; I don't like dry conversations.
"We received a number of complaints from senior students saying you disturb them," he said, opening a file in front of him. Complaints?
I approached senior students just yesterday, and all I did was ask some questions that were completely rejected. Were they really annoyed enough to involve the student council? Strange.
"I think asking senior students a few questions is normal, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Shouldn't a new student like me seek advice from senior students?" In Japanese society, the relationship between kouhai and senpai is always respected, emphasizing experience differences. It's natural for a kouhai to seek experience from a senpai.
Although I doubted all this, would someone one year older immediately gain experience that makes them better than me? I don't know.
"Following students everywhere and asking about the system is suspicious. It's best to stop."
I didn't follow the students after they refused to answer, deciding to withdraw. Did they add details on their own, or were they testing my reaction?
"Just a curious student, so what?" I said with a sarcastic smile.
"Hmmm, then why don't you ask your homeroom teacher?" He responded to my sarcasm with a voice full of seriousness.
It seems I'll continue my way.
"Alright, I prefer talking with peers my own age; learning from them will be more enjoyable."
"What kind of logic is that?" Tachibana shouted from behind the president.
"Ah…" Why do I feel she's angry and wants to hit me?
"Alright, it seems there's no need to prolong this; just don't disturb senior students again." The president seems to have decided to end the matter.
"Understood."
It seems he's waiting for me to leave, his eyes fixed on me.
Alright, if I came all this way and lost my break, I'll at least try to extract some information.
I adjusted my seat as a sign I wouldn't leave immediately.
"President, did the school ask senior students not to disclose anything about the system?" I put my hand on my chin, observing his slightest reaction.
"What are you talking about?"
Is it because of his glasses, or is he good at hiding reactions? Even after mentioning the system, he showed no change.
I gestured with my hand in front of my face. "Alright, the school system that evaluates us and gives points—I don't know it yet, but I suppose it exists."
"Hikigaya, we don't have time to discuss your ideas and doubts; the student council is busy, so leave."
He seems determined not to give me any information.
I stood and headed for the door.
"President, if the school tries to hide the system and asks senior students not to reveal anything, then avoiding the question is clear proof of my ideas." All students I asked yesterday obviously evaded with "I don't know" or "I have no idea."
If there were no system, the answer would be "Of course, you have a vivid imagination," or something like that.
Even the president's answers weren't different from theirs—ambiguous, as if hiding something.
"Hikigaya, don't jump to conclusions. Rushing is always wrong. Seek the truth carefully, then judge. You may leave now." He adjusted his glasses and shuffled files in front of him, signaling he wouldn't answer any more questions.
I opened the door and left. What was that last speech? Advice or what? Doesn't matter. All I know now is that no senior students complained.
If what he said was correct, they wouldn't be here to confront me or anything like that.
It seems I've regained my appetite after all this, but… only five minutes remain before the next class.
Damn.
×××
Narrator
After Hikigaya left the student council office, the president and his assistant remained shocked by his strange behavior.
"What do you think?" Horiiketa Manabu asked Tachibana about Hikigaya.
"Annoying and stupid."
"That's true."
The reason Hikigaya was summoned wasn't student complaints. In fact, they told the president that a student was asking about the system, so his curiosity was used as an excuse to summon him for evaluation.
He was curious about a student who started researching the system from the first week.
They expected a serious student who seemed intelligent, but after talking with him, they could only leave the impression that he was sarcastic and trying to be clever.
They still thought it was a misunderstanding, as it was obvious he was a loner who couldn't communicate well with others.
"Has he really started to understand the system? If this is true, he's suitable for the student council."
"Yes." President Horiiketa rejected all first-year applications to join the student council.
He was still looking for someone worthy of recruitment. Requirements were simple: smart enough not to be influenced by second-year students.
"I thought we found the right person." Tachibana massaged her temples, still annoyed by the chaos Hikigaya caused.
He spoke to the president with obvious disrespect, even speaking sarcastically and mockingly.
"Even his file seems ordinary." The president held a file in front of him containing Hikigaya's information: full name, some academic details—you could say he was ordinary, with average academic and athletic performance, nothing remarkable, though he mentioned participating in volunteer work.
He seems uncooperative, yet volunteers?
The only remarkable thing in his file is that he didn't pass the entrance exams but got a recommendation from a prominent family in his area.
Did they see something unusual in him?
"Alright, let's consider him just a curious student for now. If he proves himself, I'll personally request him to join."
Horkita Manabu would not hesitate to recruit Hikigaya Hachiman if he proved that the current impression was wrong.