Chapter 245: Shiina: Why Must There Be Glasses?
Wearing the gold-rimmed glasses, the same style as the Dean's, Hikigaya's entire aura became majestic without him even trying to be angry. With a single command, the chatter from the entire audience was instantly silenced!
"See? The effect is obvious."
The corner of Kamuro Masumi's mouth curled up, and she raised her chin proudly.
"Pass."
Mashima-sensei gave his judgment of approval.
Just as Hikigaya had guessed earlier, the point of the Scavenger Hunt wasn't the borrowed item itself, but whether the contestant could convince the referee.
"Hikigaya-kun, I wonder if you have any intention of entering the education system in the future?
I feel you are very suitable to be a teacher."
Mashima-sensei gave a sincere suggestion.
That "Silence" just now—not to mention the students in the stands—even as a teacher himself, he felt an instinctive urge to sit up straight, as if he were facing the school leadership!
"No, no, no. My future ideal is to be an excellent stay-at-home husband!"
Hikigaya immediately voiced his refusal.
"Stay-at-home husband...?!"
Mashima-sensei was startled at first, then, after associating it with something unknown, a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.
"I see, I understand now!
Hi—... Hachiman-sama has a grand vision!"
'No, what exactly do you understand?'
Hikigaya was utterly bewildered, completely unable to follow the other man's train of thought.
"Rest easy, Hachiman-sama.
This is the 21st century; society is very open-minded."
Mashima-sensei patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Even being a live-in son-in-law for a wealthy family is nothing to be ashamed of."
In his eyes, Sakayanagi Arisu from his own class was a very suitable candidate.
Since these two were on good terms, if things worked out in the future, maybe Hikigaya would even come back to take over Advanced Nurturing High School. It made perfect sense!
"Um, Mashima-sensei?"
"I feel like you've misunderstood something?"
Hikigaya's face instantly darkened.
"No need to explain, I understand."
Mashima-sensei nodded with a smile.
"Enough!
Hachiman, you can go now!"
Kamuro Masumi suddenly became very displeased. Grabbing Hikigaya by the hand, she pushed and shoved him to leave.
'This girl, her speed of changing faces is way too fast.
Wait a minute, why are you pulling me to Class C?!'
While Hikigaya was spacing out, Kamuro Masumi dragged him to the Class C spectator area.
Over in Class D's direction, Kushida Kikyou and the others were all looking on dumbfounded!
"Hehe~ Kamuro-san is unexpectedly capable, kidnapping the 'Majestic Teacher Hikigaya' and bringing him home."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled slightly. This "loli brat" really spoke in riddles. Hikigaya rolled his eyes hard, not bothering to talk to her.
"Huh? Stop talking to yourself, Sakayanagi."
'Well said, Kamuro—give it to her!'
"If he's going anywhere, it's back to my house. What does it have to do with you!"
'Kamuro, has your 'Godly Thief' skill evolved into stealing people now?'
Hikigaya was covered in black lines.
"It doesn't matter~ In the future, my home will be Kamuro's home. Everything belonging to Kamuro-san is my property."
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke incredibly arrogant words with total nonchalance.
"Tsk! Sakayanagi, that high-and-mighty attitude of yours is really annoying!"
Kamuro Masumi was gritting her teeth, her face full of irritation. However, Hikigaya carefully noticed that although Kamuro's mouth said she hated it, the corners of her eyes were upturned, and there was a faint, inexplicable sense of pleasure.
'This girl... she couldn't be enjoying this, could she?'
"Hehe~ the more Kamuro-san hates it, the more it shows she likes it.
She's so cute I just can't get enough of her~~"
Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes sparkled with an unusual light. Clearly, she had long since noticed Kamuro Masumi's hidden "M" (masochistic) attribute.
'Not good! Suddenly I feel like bullying Kamuro too.'
Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes flickered with a strange light.
"What kind of look is that?
Just as annoying as Sakayanagi's!
Hmph!!"
Looking at the two who were "acting in collusion like wolves and tigers," Kamuro Masumi felt greatly displeased, yet at the same time, an unspeakable thrill arose deep within her.
The Scavenger Hunt finally reached its end. The last one on stage was Shiina Hiyori.
'What did this girl draw?
Why is she looking over here?
No way?
No way?
Why is it me again!!'
Under Hikigaya's incredulous gaze, Shiina Hiyori walked straight toward him.
"My, my~
Another person 'borrowing' him. Hikigaya-kun sure is busy~~"
Sakayanagi Arisu mocked with her usual sarcasm.
"It's all your fault!
Transforming into a glasses-wearing hottie for no reason!"
Kamuro Masumi lashed out coldly.
"Can this be blamed on me?
Clearly, it was someone else who put them on me!"
Hikigaya cried out in protest.
"Someone puts them on you and you just obediently wear them?
If someone tried to put a con—... protection on you.
Ahem! Would you also just submissively accept it?"
By the end, Kamuro Masumi was scolding him with a bit of "shame turned to anger." Hikigaya was instantly speechless.
"My, my~ Hikigaya-kun is just like this. When he encounters a question that's hard to answer, he simply doesn't answer."
Sakayanagi Arisu added a finishing blow.
"Hachiman... huff, huff~"
Shiina Hiyori had run all the way over; possessing poor physical stamina, her breathing was somewhat rapid.
"Hiyori, take it easy."
Looking at Hiyori, whose head was covered in sweat, Hikigaya felt a pang of pity. The words of refusal he intended to say could no longer leave his mouth.
"I-I'm fine...
The Scavenger Hunt... please come with me for a moment, Hachiman. Is that okay?"
Even though she spoke very soft words, they made it impossible to heartlessly disobey.
"!!!"
Kamuro Masumi was instantly dumbfounded.
'Is such a maneuver even allowed?'
"Shiina-san appears to be a formidable rival."
Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of vigilance flashing through them.
"Let's go. Anyway, today I can't escape the fate of being borrowed back and forth."
As if giving up on treatment, Hikigaya followed Shiina Hiyori onto the stage.
Mashima-sensei stared at him with eyes full of astonishment, not saying a word.
'Please, just roast me a little!'
Hikigaya felt like weeping.
"Speak, Shiina-san."
Mashima-sensei looked away with a face full of disdain. Shiina Hiyori opened the paper, which clearly had [The Most Beautiful Person] written on it. Hikigaya instantly leaned back in a defensive tactical stance.
'Who on earth wrote these questions? They're specifically designed for awkwardness, right?'
"In my heart, Hachiman is the most beautiful person."
'Stop, this is practically a public execution!'
Hikigaya couldn't help but palm his forehead.
"Shiina-san, did you also prepare glasses?"
Mashima-sensei looked at her sideways. He really didn't know what to say anymore; this year's students were more playful than the last!
"No. Why must there be glasses?"
Shiina Hiyori's eyes were crystal clear as she gave an unexpected answer.