COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

Hikigaya stared at the letter in his hand, his brow furrowing as he examined it. The handwriting was unmistakably feminine, and the scent of Shiina's perfume was still faintly detectable on the paper.

However, the letter had a glaring flaw—its quality. Shiina, known for her intellectual prowess and impeccable standards, would never produce such a subpar piece of writing.

Moreover, Shiina was not the type to engage in private communication with Hikigaya, especially not under such tense circumstances. Her aversion to conflict and desire for class harmony made it inconceivable that she would contact him in this manner.

It was clear that the letter was a trap.

"Ryuen, you've outdone yourself," Hikigaya muttered through clenched teeth.

The letter brought back painful memories of past grievances, reigniting his old resentments.

"Hikigaya-kun, what are you doing standing there?" Matsushita's voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see her approaching with a concerned look.

"Nothing, just feeling a bit dizzy. I'm heading to the health room to rest," Hikigaya replied, trying to sound casual.

Matsushita came closer, her hand reaching out to touch his forehead. "Do you have a fever? Let me take you to the health room."

Hikigaya, startled by her sudden concern, instinctively took a step back. "No, it's fine. I can manage on my own."

Matsushita's actions, though well-intentioned, risked misunderstanding. Without waiting for a response, Hikigaya hurried away, leaving Matsushita behind. 

He needed to make some preparations, after all.

...

After school, Hikigaya made his way to the special teaching building as instructed in the letter.

In the dimly lit stairwell on the third floor, a girl awaited him. She wasn't Shiina, but a girl with short blue hair, exuding an air of calm and competence.

Hikigaya recognized her—Ibuki Mio, a skilled martial artist and one of the few girls known for her fighting prowess.

"Shiina isn't here," Ibuki said as Hikigaya arrived.

"And what exactly was the point of luring me here?"

Hikigaya asked with irritation.

"If you've got something to say, just say it. I have other things to do and want to leave."

Before Ibuki could answer, two boys emerged from the nearby cleaning cabinet, one coming up the stairs and the other descending, surrounding Hikigaya. Yamawaki, a familiar face, was among them, accompanied by two others Hikigaya didn't recognize.

"Think you can just walk away? You're nothing but a scum!"

Yamawaki spat.

Despite the odds now being four to one, Yamawaki's confidence was palpable.

"You were quite the talker in the library yesterday! It's not too late for you to kneel and apologize now!"

"Apologize?"

Hikigaya retorted with a smirk.

"Am I wrong to call you scum? Take a good look in the mirror if you're questioning it. I won't lie to you."

"Shut up!"

Yamawaki and his companions hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. They pushed and glared at each other, the tension rising. Finally, Ibuki, growing impatient, delivered a fierce kick that sent Hikigaya crashing to the floor, clutching his stomach.

The three boys, initially taken aback, quickly regained their composure and began attacking him. They punched and kicked relentlessly, their voices filled with anger and glee.

"What's this weakling pretending to be?"

"Give him a lesson he won't forget. There are no cameras here!"

"I'll teach him to disrespect Class C!"

As the boys continued their assault, Ibuki watched with a detached demeanor. Hikigaya did not attempt to cry out or beg for mercy; he simply curled up and protected his head as they beat him.

After almost ten minutes, the attackers, perhaps satisfied or simply exhausted, rifled through Hikigaya's bag, discovering the love letter before leaving for downstairs.

"Are you still awake?" Ibuki's voice broke the silence.

"…I suppose so," Hikigaya replied, looking up to see Ibuki still standing nearby.

"Here, use this," Ibuki said, offering a handkerchief.

"I'm sorry. I was instructed to do this," Ibuki said flatly.

"If you're going to blame someone, blame yourself for falling for the trap."

Hikigaya accepted it, wiping the blood from his mouth, though every movement was painful.

"I don't blame you. I fell for this trap myself."

Ibuki's expression remained neutral. "If you're looking for someone to blame, blame yourself for being foolish enough to be manipulated."

"There's no need to justify your actions," Hikigaya said nonchalantly. "You're just like the others—following Ryuuen's orders to advance to Class A. You're just another pawn in this game."

"…Yes, you're right."

Hikigaya expected Ibuki to be angry, but instead, she simply smiled wryly before walking away.

"Is this some kind of pretense?" Hikigaya wondered, a bit surprised by how Ibuki seemed different from the others, but only marginally so.

He took a deep breath, then stood up and approached a nearby cleaning supply cabinet. On tiptoe, he retrieved a small object from the top shelf.

It was a pinhole camera, one he had purposely set up to capture evidence of the attack.

The camera, which had cost him 100,000 points, was equipped with wireless transmission, timing, and infrared features. Hikigaya connected his phone to it, hoping the high-quality footage would prove useful.

"I hope it has been recorded properly," Hikigaya muttered, checking the clear video on his phone screen.

Satisfied, he set up a second camera behind a nearby flower pot, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The clarity of the footage reaffirmed the value of his investment.

This school had become a battleground of sorts, with pinhole cameras and surveillance equipment available at high prices, making Hikigaya's expenditure seem painful but necessary.

With his evidence securely captured, Hikigaya couldn't help but smile, a slight satisfaction evident on his face.

"Haha, Ryuuen, just wait until tomorrow…" he began to say, but was interrupted by a sharp pain as he accidentally pulled at the wound on his mouth. Grimacing, he reinforced his resolve to make Class C pay for their actions.

—The payback for dredging up old wounds was a serious one!

...

Hikigaya considered visiting the infirmary but hesitated due to the presence of Hoshinomiya-sensei, the Class B homeroom teacher.

Unlike Chabashira, Hoshinomiya was known for her diligence, which posed a risk of him revealing Hikigaya's situation.

Avoiding unnecessary contact with him was wise.

Fortunately, Hikigaya's injuries were manageable.

President Horikita had shared useful first-aid tips, allowing him to treat himself upon returning to the dormitory. Yamawaki's attack, though painful, was less severe than the initial kick from Ibuki.

Hikigaya understood Ryuuen's strategy—to escalate the violence gradually, instilling fear until he surrendered. The school's lax approach to bullying, with minimal repercussions unless caught on camera, reinforced Ryuuen's control over Class C.

As Hikigaya contemplated his next move, he encountered Kushida at the dormitory elevator entrance. Her unexpected greeting took him by surprise. Although Kushida was one of the few in Class D who interacted with him, he was aware of her true feelings—she likely saw him as a gloomy, friendless boy.

Kushida's concern was evident as she noticed his injuries.

"What happened to your face?"

"It's nothing. Just a minor accident," Hikigaya said, trying to downplay the situation and avoid further interaction.

Kushida's expression turned sympathetic. "I'll handle it myself. You don't need to worry."

Kushida's insistence was unexpected. "I'll help you with your wounds," she said firmly.

Hikigaya hesitated. "No, really, I can manage."

Kushida's tone became more resolute. "It's troubling to see a classmate hurt. If you refuse my help, I'll tell everyone and have them rally for your justice."

The prospect of drawing attention from the entire class made Hikigaya reconsider. Reluctantly, he agreed. "Fine, I'll accept your help."

"Great. Let's head to my room. I have bandages and other supplies there," Kushida said, her tone cheerful.