Yesterday ended with an agreement with Hirata: he would guide the class if I provided the students with motivation.
Nothing about Hirata's behavior changed the next day. That's natural. An agreement is still an agreement—I have to take responsibility and keep my promises.
The school day ended, and nothing had changed in the class. In short: chaos everywhere. But today, I'll take the next step.
After classes ended, I watched Chabashira-sensei as she left the classroom. I wonder if she was heading to the teachers' room.
I remember seeing her near the student council room.
I need to move before she gets too far. I grabbed my bag and headed toward the front door. I'll leave before the rest of the students today—good.
I glanced at Yukinoshita. She was organizing her things and getting ready to leave.
She doesn't know about my agreement with Hirata, but I already told her about today's deal.
So there's no need to talk now.
I stepped into the hallway quickly and saw the teacher turning the corner. I picked up my pace to catch up with her. I ran up the stairs to reach the corridor leading to the teachers' room.
She hadn't entered yet. It seems she heard my footsteps.
The sound of her heels stopped in the hallway, and she turned to look at me.
"Hikigaya? Is something wrong?" She looked confused.
I'm sure no student from our class has ever talked to her outside class hours.
"Sensei… I want to talk to you about something." It's better not to waste time.
Not because I find it scary to talk to a teacher.
"…Alright. Speak." She held her usual black file in front of her chest and gave me a stern look.
That makes this worse.
"…Can we move somewhere else? It's not good to talk in the hallway." My words only made her more confused.
Well, she'll find out soon.
I just want to get away from the hallway—it's uncomfortable talking here.
"…Fine. Follow me to the office." She entered first,
while I stayed standing outside.
I have bad memories of the teachers' room. Being called there always meant I'd get punched.
Seems like that trauma is still with me.
"Hikigaya, what are you doing?" she called out from inside.
No time to waste.
"S-sorry."
The office was completely ordinary. Nothing stood out—just separate desks, air conditioners, and papers. Normal.
There was no one else in the room.
It seems Chabashira was the first to arrive.
"So, what do you want?"
I cleared my throat first.
"…I'm here to buy a service."
If the rule she mentioned on the first day is true, she should accept this without a problem. But her expression showed shock.
Her gaze changed from stern to wide-eyed.
"What? Is that not allowed?" My words snapped her out of her thoughts.
She cleared her throat and seemed to regain her composure.
"No, it's allowed. I just didn't expect you to notice it."
Ah… is her evaluation of me really that low?
"So, what exactly do you want?"
"…I'll give you some envelopes. I want you to distribute them to our class."
Her confusion only deepened.
"Sorry, but the school prohibits us from interfering in students' matters or providing information."
Didn't she understand?
"Sensei, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I'm not asking you to provide any information. All you'll do is distribute sealed envelopes without looking at their contents, and in return, I'll give you points. Is that forbidden?"
The deal doesn't involve any information from her side—just a service without revealing anything about the system.
"I've never heard of something like this before, so I don't know how the administration would respond…" Her concern started to show—like any employee, she's worried about her superiors' reaction.
"No problem. If there's any issue, I'm ready to explain everything to your superiors."
Her shock grew with every word I said.
Is what I'm saying that strange?
Am I that weird?
"…Alright then. 30,000 points."
Damn, why is it so expensive?
If I asked for actual information at that price, I'd need a loan.
"How about 15,000?" Let's try to minimize the damage.
"…Hey, kid, do you negotiate with your teacher like that?" For the first time, Chabashira-sensei looked like she was enjoying this.
"Well, negotiation is a basic part of any deal." Even if you're a teacher, I'll negotiate.
She clicked her tongue, a faint amused smile appearing on her face.
"Final price: 20,000."
Damn.
"…Fine." I said, giving in.
It hurts my budget, but it'll pay off in the long run.
"So… what exactly do I do?"
I took out 40 envelopes from my bag. I had prepared them yesterday. They contain some information that will serve as motivation.
I didn't explain the whole system—just the parts that would sound appealing.
"You'll distribute these to the students tomorrow after classes and say something like… 'This might be useful.'"
"That last line will make it 25,000."
Damn, that's a scam.
…Fine, fine.
"…Alright." I forced a stiff smile.
What a greedy teacher.
Chabashira-sensei took out her phone, and I transferred 25,000 points to her.
It's done.
I handed over all the envelopes.
"Thank you, Sensei." I bowed slightly, then left.
Even here, prices are rising… how annoying.
×××
(Narrator – Night in the teachers' office)
Chabashira Sae remained alone at her desk in the teachers' office.
She ran her finger over the stack of envelopes on her desk.
She still couldn't understand why a student like Hikigaya would do this.
She had never heard of such a deal at the beginning of a school year.
Bad timing, and a deal the administration might consider suspicious.
But that doesn't matter right now. If Hikigaya's actions succeed in changing the class, that will be enough.
Although she had lost hope of reaching Class A, her conversation with him this evening changed her mood… and her opinion.
Everything he says sounds both complicated and trivial at the same time.
She opened the drawer behind her and sifted through the student files until she pulled out one labeled Hikigaya Hachiman.
The first thing she saw was his photo—a boy with lifeless eyes… truly unpleasant.
The report contained a summary of his academic record:
Average academic and athletic ability. Nothing remarkable, except that he was admitted through a recommendation from the Yukinoshita family.
Her eyes moved to the final section.
The reason he was placed in Class D:
Someone of his level would normally be classified as B or C,
but the trouble he caused for the administration, the student council, and even the parents' association—along with the financial damage and numerous complaints—
led the school to label him as a reckless troublemaker.
Even the reason for placing him in Class D seemed as trivial as he is.
Chabashira closed the file and returned it to its place.
Then she stood up to leave the room.
As she walked through the hallway, a strange thought crossed her mind:
This might actually be interesting this time.