COTE : There is Something Wrong With Hikigaya-Chapter 152: Class D Takes the Fall

After leaving the courtyard, Hikigaya didn't dwell on what had just happened between Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro. Instead, what caught his attention were the words Shiranami Chihiro had just said.

"Looks like Kushida acted pretty fast."

Hikigaya muttered to himself.

When he returned to the classroom, the atmosphere had clearly changed. The students of Class D looked visibly gloomy and uneasy, and there was a heavy, unspoken tension in the air.

"It's all Ayanokouji's fault, along with those idiots Ike and Yamauchi! Now the students from Class B are all against us because of what happened to Ichinose yesterday!"

One of the girls couldn't hold back her frustration as she complained about what had just happened in the cafeteria.

They had been harassed by students from Class B!

Soon, other girls and even the boys started speaking up, sharing similar experiences.

The incident that took place in the special teaching building yesterday had spread throughout Class B. Nobody really cared about the details of the violation itself—the only thing that mattered to Class B was that Ichinose had been deceived and used by students from Class D. Worse yet, she had almost been suspended because of it!

Because of this, the students of Class B were furious.

After all, Class B had always been kind enough to help Class D without asking for anything in return. Ichinose, in particular, had done everything she could to support them. And this was how Class D repaid them?

Lying, taking advantage of Ichinose's kindness, and nearly getting her suspended?

How could they be so ungrateful?!

Class D was disgusting, despicable!

And the ones to blame were Ayanokouji, Ike, and Yamauchi. At this moment, the students of Class B were truly enraged.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the hallway.

A group of Class B students—both boys and girls—stormed into Class D's room, demanding answers. The students of Class D exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond. After all, they were clearly in the wrong this time. Not only did they lack any excuse, but the whole situation was just downright embarrassing. None of them could even lift their heads.

Because of this, they had been ridiculed and criticized everywhere they went. Even just walking around campus, they could feel the stares and whispers behind their backs.

"This is all Ayanokouji and Yamauchi's fault! Why do we have to suffer because of them?!"

Shinohara was the first to voice her frustration among the girls.

Soon, Yukimura and some of the other boys joined in, expressing their anger as well.

"And don't forget about Sudou! Last month, we finally managed to save up some class points, only for half of them to be deducted because of him. And now Ayanokouji and that idiot Yamauchi are suspended for breaking the surveillance rules. No doubt this month's remaining points will be wiped out too. Damn it! Why do we always have to be dragged down by these troublemakers?!"

More and more students in Class D began to vent their frustrations—not just at Sudou, but especially at Ayanokouji and Yamauchi. They made no effort to hide their resentment and criticism.

As for Horikita, the general feeling toward her was actually sympathy. She had tried to protect the class points, only to be completely screwed over by her so-called teammates.

Fortunately, Hirata and Kushida rushed back after receiving word of the situation. They quickly worked to calm everyone down inside the classroom while also apologizing to the angry students from Class B.

Thanks to their good reputations, neither of them faced any direct hostility from Class B. In fact, even Ichinose arrived shortly after, hurrying over to de-escalate the situation. Eventually, after her intervention, the students from Class B left—though not without lingering resentment.

However, it didn't take long for the news to spread across the entire first-year student body.

As one of the most popular girls in school, Ichinose's mistreatment immediately sparked widespread disapproval toward Class D, especially toward Ayanokouji, Yamauchi, and the others responsible.

The good news?

Since Ayanokouji and Yamauchi were suspended, the students from Class B didn't get the chance to personally confront them.

The bad news?

The rest of Class D was taking the fall.

Because of this incident, the students of Class D couldn't even walk around campus without being humiliated. They had to endure constant sneers and harsh comments. Even though it was Ayanokouji and Yamauchi's fault, the entire class was paying the price for their actions.

Naturally, the resentment toward them within Class D only grew stronger.

...

"Happy now?"

As the evening rolled in, Hikigaya sat in the school cafeteria with a plate of pork cutlet rice in front of him.

Just as he found a quiet corner to sit in, Kushida arrived with a plate of eel rice and sat down across from him.

Hikigaya glanced around the room before finally looking at Kushida, as if asking, "You sure it's okay to eat with me?"

Kushida rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Thanks to you, no one wants to eat with Class D students right now."

Hikigaya could hear the sarcasm in her voice but didn't really care. After dealing with Kushida multiple times, he had come to understand her true nature—someone who only responded to toughness, never softness, and was incredibly stubborn.

"This whole thing will blow over in a few days, and besides, it hardly affects you or Hirata."

Hikigaya glanced at Kushida's expensive eel rice and then looked back at his cheap pork cutlet. Suddenly, he lost his appetite.

Kushida, of course, noticed his gaze and the envy in his eyes, which made her feel unusually satisfied. Spending someone else's money really was the best.

But the moment she remembered what had happened yesterday—something Hikigaya had orchestrated—she couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine.

From the clues she had pieced together and the way he had used her, Kushida had managed to reconstruct Hikigaya's entire scheme. The deeper she thought about it, the more shocked and scared she became.

In this whole surveillance scandal, Hikigaya had clearly been targeting Ayanokouji. But aside from Ayanokouji himself, no one else seemed to realize it. Everyone just assumed Hikigaya had no choice but to throw Ayanokouji under the bus in order to save Horikita.

Hikigaya had openly pinned the blame on Ayanokouji, yet somehow, instead of questioning it, people saw it as the only solution.

If she hadn't known a crucial part of the plan, she might have been fooled too.

Hirata's gratitude toward Hikigaya afterward made it clear—Hirata wasn't upset that Ayanokouji took the fall. Instead, he was grateful that Hikigaya had "saved" everyone. Even though the outcome wasn't great, it was still better than someone getting expelled.

And... when Kushida thought back to Hirata's words and actions during yesterday's meeting, something felt off. It was almost as if he and Hikigaya had rehearsed everything beforehand.

Their coordination was way too perfect.

Which meant... Hirata was working with Hikigaya too.

And if that was the case, who else could be on Hikigaya's side?

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