COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

Kamuro sighed in annoyance and poked her pencil at a textbook.

"You're annoyingly perceptive. We've mostly been discussing strategies for dealing with Class C."

"Interesting," Hikigaya said.

"But you're not here just to study, are you?"

Kamuro shrugged.

"Well, I guess I owe you for helping me earlier this year. I don't mind sharing a bit of what I know."

Hikigaya appreciated the gesture but found Kamuro's disinterest in the textbooks curious.

Class C's antics had been a headache lately, and while other classes were striving to avoid point deductions, Class C's disruptive behavior persisted.

Their tactics included petty provocations, like fighting over library seats or spilling food intentionally. Class C skillfully designed their actions to irritate without crossing the line into overtly punishable offenses.

The problem was that retaliating would result in point deductions for both parties, which is exactly what Class C seemed to want.

They exploited the fact that teachers had limited authority over their actions, with their homeroom teacher, Mr. Sakagami, being particularly lenient.

Hikigaya had once considered using similar tactics for Class D but found it morally unacceptable. Despite the strategic advantage, he couldn't bring himself to employ such underhanded methods.

Kamuro, meanwhile, seemed to take a perverse pleasure in Hikigaya's predicament.

"The student council work must be tough. I hope you can defeat Sakayanagi someday. I'll cheer for you."

Hikigaya responded, somewhat disheartened, "Don't jest. I'm no match for Sakayanagi."

Kamuro, despite her apparent lack of friends, seemed to know a lot.

Hikigaya wondered why he was only learning about these things now.

Just then, Horikita and Ayanokouji entered the library with the three class troublemakers in tow. Hikigaya was surprised that these two could persuade the three troublemakers to join them.

He knew Ayanokouji had a rapport with them, but it seemed more like a strained alliance than a genuine friendship.

The three troublemakers viewed Ayanokouji as more of a subordinate than a peer. Hikigaya couldn't fathom why Ayanokouji endured such treatment, or why he even bothered with them.

Hikigaya often finds himself pondering the same thoughts, which gives him some insight into Ayanokouji's way of thinking.

"I'm sorry we're late," Kushida said apologetically as she arrived, accompanied by a somewhat charming boy named Okitani.

Hikigaya barely registered Okitani's presence. To him, the epitome of cuteness would always be someone else entirely—not just cute, but an archangel!

[T/N: Can you guess who he is talking about? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

"What are you thinking? Disgusting?"

Out of nowhere, Kamuro's harsh reprimand broke his reverie.

On the other hand, Horikita's displeasure was evident upon seeing Kushida. The plan hadn't included Kushida's presence at the study session.

Yet Kushida's social prowess was unmatched, effortlessly overpowering Horikita's objections with just a few well-crafted excuses.

As the group settled down to study, Hikigaya realized he could no longer delay and promptly retrieved his textbook from his bag.

"By the way, Kamuro, how are your grades? If you need help with anything other than math, feel free to ask."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Kamuro retorted, "I admit you're quite smart, but I'm in Class A. Shouldn't you be asking me for help?"

Hikigaya shrugged it off. "Alright, then I'll ask for your advice."

Fifteen minutes later—

When answering Japanese language questions, concentrate first on the questions themselves, such as 'What did so-and-so think of this scene?', rather than reading the article repeatedly, which will eat up your time. Hey, Kamuro, are you listening?"

"No, let me take a break for a moment."

Kamuro, covering her head with one hand and weakly shaking it with the other, looked thoroughly overwhelmed.

"You're giving me a headache with all this information."

"Oh."

Despite Kamuro's seemingly sharp intellect, her grades were average, barely scraping by, with a possibility of ending up at the bottom of Class A.

"How about letting Sakayanagi tutor you? Consider it a reward for her efforts," Hikigaya suggested.

Kamuro grimaced in distaste. "I'd rather not risk my life. I just want to pass the exam."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Before Hikigaya could say more, a commotion drew his attention. It seemed there was a clash within Horikita's study group.

"You're a foul-mouthed woman. I've put up with you long enough! Our business is none of your concern."

Sudo roared, directing his ire at Horikita, who wore a perpetually sour expression.

This was hardly surprising. Not everyone could tolerate Horikita's sharp tongue as Ayanokouji did, especially not someone with Sudo's fiery temper.

"It doesn't concern me," Horikita replied coldly.

"You are responsible for your studies." "I will not be affected by your decision to withdraw from school; it will only cause me to feel melancholy." Your failure thus far is a result of your evasion of hardship."

"How dare you say that! Studying will never benefit you in the future!"

"Is studying useless for the future?" That's laughable. Even elementary school students understand that studying hard can make life easier."

Horikita completely disagreed with Sudo's belief that studying was useless, but her arguments were ineffective.

"From your expression, it's clear you're also a slacker in basketball." You avoid what requires real effort, just like with studying," Horikita said with a mocking smirk.

"Your reckless nature is the worst. If I were your advisor, I'd never let you become a regular player."

"Ah!"

Sudo suddenly stood up, grabbing Horikita by the collar.

"Sudou-kun!"

Kushida was the first to act, swiftly intervening and grabbing Sudo's arm, as if anticipating the conflict. Despite the confrontation, Horikita remained unflinching, continuing to taunt Sudo with cold eyes.

With Kushida intervening, it seemed a physical altercation was unlikely to occur.

"Hey, it's just a squabble. What's so intriguing about it?"

Kamuro, noticing Hikigaya's focused attention on Horikita and the others, complained, "Aren't those your classmates? As a student council member, shouldn't you try to mediate?"

"Quiet, we're about to reach the exciting part," Hikigaya responded without looking away.

At that moment, one of the boys from the Katsuragi faction stood up, casting a disdainful look at Horikita's group.

"Who the hell are you?" Sudo snapped in anger.

"Humph, I can tell you're from Class D," the boy said with contempt.

"The library is for studying, not your kind of trash. If you had ever studied seriously, you wouldn't be scoring zero points."

"You bastard!"

Sudo lost patience and lunged at the boy, only to have a nearby bald man intercept him.

"Yahiko, even if you're speaking the truth, don't adopt such a provocative attitude. As a Class A student, you should be aware of your position."

"S-Sorry, Katsuragi-san."

The mediator was Katsuragi Kohei, one of Class A's leaders. Tall and mature, he resembled a teacher more than a high school student.

"As for you. If you have any sense of etiquette, you'd understand that, despite being the worst class, you should avoid causing disturbances, especially in a library where silence is paramount. Reflect on that," Katsuragi said sternly.

"Damn..."

Whether it was Katsuragi's justified reprimand or Class D's inferiority complex, Sudo's response was rare for its lack of defiance. He lowered his head, and the rest remained silent.

"Yahiko, let's go."

"Yes!"

The Katsuragi faction quickly gathered their things and left without another glance at Sudo and his group.