Chapter 3: First-Year Class C, Hachiman Hikigaya Arrives
Milk tea shops, cafés, gyms, game stores—there's even a movie theater!
Is this really a school?
It's practically a small town!
As he walked and observed the surroundings, Hikigaya Hachiman was utterly stunned.
At the same time, doubts began to surface.
Was he really worthy of attending a school in such an incredible environment?
This wasn't self-deprecation—it was self-awareness.
First of all, his grades weren't that great.
Second, his personality was antisocial and awkward.
He had never achieved anything remarkable. And he had no special talents.
So why was he chosen by this school? Especially since he had submitted a blank exam paper and stayed silent during the interview.
Beyond that, something even more unsettling to him was the overwhelming number of surveillance cameras.
As a naturally aloof lone wolf, Hachiman was very sensitive to being watched.
He felt as though he were constantly under the gaze of a dozen pairs of eyes.
It gave him goosebumps. Instinctively, he hunched his body to protect himself.
A bad feeling about this school began to take root in his heart.
There was definitely something off about it...
Because he had been delayed by questioning from the police, there weren't many students on the streets. Perhaps they had already gathered in the gymnasium.
Hachiman checked his phone—"9:45"—then glanced at the street signs and quickened his pace.
As he rounded a corner, he saw a girl in a beret up ahead.
Just from her back, Hachiman could tell she was beautiful.
Her skin was pale and radiant. She had a petite, delicate figure and short, silver-white hair that looked exceptionally soft.
Her legs looked plump and smooth.
Even though she wore pure white thigh-high stockings, there was something faintly suggestive about her appearance.
Perhaps due to poor health, she held a cane in her right hand.
Of course, she was also wearing the uniform of Advanced Nurturing High School.
Judging by the direction she was heading, she was probably a new student too...
As he got closer, Hachiman noticed that while the girl walked slowly, her posture was graceful and well-balanced.
It didn't seem like she had a physical disability.
It was likely a congenital condition that affected her stamina—perhaps a heart condition or something similar...
Thinking this, Hachiman's gaze toward her carried a trace of sympathy...
"It's quite rude to stare at a lady so openly, you know."
The girl with the cane turned her head slightly and said, "So, classmate who's been staring at me like some pervy freak—what are your thoughts?"
"Eh!?"
So awkward! So embarrassing! Did she have eyes in the back of her head!?
Caught red-handed, Hachiman wished he could disappear, especially since the one he was caught staring at was an adorable girl.
Right now, he really wanted to crawl into a hole...
"As you can see, I'm just a very cute and lovely girl. No, I don't have eyes in the back of my head," the girl said with a breezy smile.
"And if you're looking to dig a hole, there's a park on campus with softer soil."
"Of course, if you're caught on camera doing that, you'll be punished."
Ugh—terrifying! Can she read minds!?
"It's not mind reading," the girl explained upon seeing Hachiman's shocked expression. "I've just read a few books on microexpression analysis."
Mind reading! It's definitely mind reading!!
Is this the beginning of the next-gen human update in Earth Online!?
But... should I say something now?
After racking his brain, Hachiman responded uncertainly, "...Thanks!?"
That was his limit! Truly his social limit!
From elementary school onward, Hachiman's awkward and weird personality meant he had probably spoken with girls less than ten times a year.
And never for more than five sentences.
So Hachiman simply thought the girl was just explaining things to him.
Unintentionally, he killed the conversation.
"...Heh." The cane girl had considered countless possible responses from him and prepared follow-ups for each.
But she hadn't expected that answer!
Still, she had learned something.
For instance, he was terrible at conversation—most likely an otaku.
Or, perhaps, this boy had seen through her probing and gave that vague answer on purpose.
Considering he had been admitted into this elite school...
She leaned toward the second possibility.
So, in return, she gave Hachiman an equally ambiguous reply.
Then, turning her head gracefully, she chose not to continue the conversation.
Hachiman: "..."
What was that? A conversation collapse?
Well, it made sense—he wasn't good at talking to people anyway.
In fact, the fact that this girl managed to have more than five exchanges with him was impressive.
Usually, anyone who could converse with him beyond three lines was a rare talent.
Truly worthy of being part of Advanced Nurturing High School's elite...
Hachiman quietly mocked himself and continued walking behind the girl.
Of course, he wasn't being creepy or anything—it was just that she looked so fragile with that cane that his big-brother complex kicked in and made him worry a little.
Still, not wanting to ruin the girl's reputation by following too closely, Hachiman kept a respectful distance of over ten meters.
Naturally, the girl noticed this.
Although she didn't show it on the surface...
Inside, she felt something.
Because of her health, she had never been able to attend school like a normal person. From childhood, private tutors had always taught her at home.
So coming to this school was, nominally, her first time attending school officially.
She had high hopes because it was her first experience.
But things rarely go as expected.
On the first day, due to excitement, she slept late and woke up late. As a result, she missed the A-Class bus.
This forced her to change her original plan of "arrive, undergo a checkup at the infirmary, then join A-Class" to Plan B: "go straight to the gym after the checkup."
Then, seeing other students passing her by, though she kept telling herself not to feel envious—how could she not feel anything?
Especially the way they looked at her as they passed by—it irritated her proud, sensitive heart.
Once the crowd dispersed and she was left alone again, the atmosphere around her became steeped in a sense of melancholy.
Honestly, she was a little disappointed. School wasn't turning out to be fun at all...
Until she encountered a weird, but seemingly decent classmate. If he ended up in A-Class too, that'd be great—he'd make for a toy just two ranks below her "greatest masterpiece"!
(Hachiman: ???)
When she arrived at the gymnasium doors, the girl—now in a good mood—paused and turned around, looking playfully at Hachiman behind her.
Huh!?
Hachiman, who had been watching her all the way, was surprised to see her stop and look at him.
No way... was she waiting for him?
And perhaps it was his imagination, but as the distance closed...
Hachiman felt something dangerous about the girl—like he was being stalked by a fierce tiger.
Must be a hallucination...
Sweat trickled down his back, and instinct warned him to stay away.
But with the time almost at 10 o'clock, taking a side entrance would definitely make him late. Being late on the first day wasn't a good look either.
So, forcing himself to stay calm and with a blank stare, he walked toward the gym, pretending to be composed.
But then—
"First-Year Class A," the girl said.
"What?"
Although he was pretending not to look, Hachiman's peripheral vision had been locked on her the whole time—ready to react if she attacked.
He didn't expect her to say that.
"Hmph! Do I seem that scary to you?" Sakayanagi Arisu laughed at Hachiman's reaction, then said in a cutesy tone, "First-Year Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu."
"Mm, oh!" Hachiman nodded, and after a moment, responded hesitantly, "First-Year Class C, Hikigaya Hachiman."