Chapter 246: Lost the Match, Won at Life
"Why must there be glasses?"
Shiina Hiyori's light and indifferent voice possessed a magic that rang out with conviction: "In my eyes, whether it's normally or right now, Hachiman is the [Most Beautiful Person]."
'Stop it, this is too embarrassing, ahhh!'
Hikigaya looked awkward, doing his absolute best to control his facial expressions.
"Is it... actually possible to say it like that?"
Kushida Kikyo's face looked unpleasant. As the first woman to personally put glasses on Hikigaya, she felt like her own perspective was far too narrow at this moment.
"Indeed, Shiina-san's answer is quite moving."
Horikita Suzune spoke the truth.
"Horikita! If you don't speak, no one will take you for a mute!"
Kushida Kikyo shot a displeased glare at her, but suddenly noticed something. Though Horikita Suzune appeared calm and unruffled, her palms were involuntarily clenched tight.
'Oho! So you know how to be anxious too!'
"This round is a total defeat, Kamuro-san."
Sakayanagi Arisu pronounced the verdict without mercy.
"Tch! I don't need you to tell me, I know!"
Kamuro Masumi was full of irritation. Simultaneously, she looked at the gentle and elegant Shiina Hiyori on stage, her eyes filled with deep wariness!
"There's no need to worry overmuch, Kamuro-san."
Sakayanagi Arisu's small hand patted her shoulder gently, as if possessing a massive invisible power, speaking with total confidence: "As long as I am here, we will definitely win."
Kamuro Masumi looked back at her, her mouth stubborn to the last: "Who's 'we' with you?"
Actual inner thought: 'I'll believe you just this once.'
Sakayanagi Arisu gave a faint smile: "Kamuro-san... no, Masumi-san can trust your master completely~~"
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"Is this your answer?"
Mashima-sensei frowned. He seemingly hadn't expected the quiet and intelligent-looking Shiina Hiyori to say something so lacking in "logic." Just as he was brewing a rebuttal, someone in the spectator stands couldn't sit still!
"I object to this claim!
Regarding the scavenger item [Most Beautiful Person], I will not recognize any answer other than the most beautiful me!"
Koenji Rokusuke suddenly stood up, loudly broadcasting his arrogant opinion as if no one else were there. Hikigaya looked at him with a subtle gaze; one could only say this was very much the style of the "Beautiful Boy"!
"Objection sustained."
Mashima-sensei accepted Koenji Rokusuke's objection, while adding a supplementary explanation: "Although I reserve my opinion on Koenji-kun calling himself the [Most Beautiful Person], based on Shiina-san's current statement, it indeed fails to satisfy the criteria to support your viewpoint.
Finally, do you have anything to add?"
Mashima-sensei gave her one last chance to speak.
"I have nothing else."
Shiina Hiyori shook her head: "Everyone has their own [Most Beautiful Person] in their heart. This does not require the recognition of others."
"Mnh, that makes sense!"
Mashima-sensei nodded in deep agreement, and then gave a negative ruling!
In the end, Shiina Hiyori failed the scavenger hunt, and her race results were cancelled! The whole crowd was somewhat stunned by this outcome.
"She lost the match, but won at life?
As expected of Fish-eye Boy's confidante, I admire you!"
Koenji Rokusuke cast an admiring glance and then sat down.
"How regrettable~ I lost the match."
Shiina Hiyori sighed with a face of helplessness.
"But why do I feel like you're smiling, Hiyori-san?"
Hikigaya keenly captured the slight upward curve of her lips.
"Shh~"
Shiina playfully winked at him, while raising a single finger to her lips in a "hush" gesture.
'This is cuteness that's against the rules!'
Hikigaya could not suppress the sudden thumping of his heart.
The scavenger hunt competition ended. The Red Team won the score by a narrow margin.
"Hachiman, would you like to come sit with our class for a bit?"
Shiina Hiyori took the opportunity to issue an invitation.
"No... please allow me to calm down for a moment."
Hikigaya declined politely.
"No need to rush, Hachiman.
Whenever you've thought it through, you can come find me anytime.
I'll be waiting for you~"
Shiina Hiyori flashed a radiant smile.
"Uh... mnh, mnh!"
Hikigaya felt his cheeks burning. This time, he could finally confirm it.
Shiina Hiyori liked him!
This was her conveying the message: 'You have my permission to pursue me.'
To be honest, the idea of him actively chasing a girl was unthinkable in the past! What happened to the aloof Hikigaya Hachiman?
He was clearly becoming a normie!! The kind that's about to explode!!!
With complex emotions, a dazed Hikigaya returned to the Class D spectator area.
"My, my~ You've finally decided to come home, Hachiman-kun~~"
In a familiar high-pitched tone, Kushida Kikyo was staring at him with a smile. However, those eyes narrowed into slits gave him an inexplicable sense of murderous intent!
"I didn't know before that Hachiman-kun was such a helpful 'Nice Guy' who loves assisting others.
My eyes have really been~ wide~ opened~ today!"
By the end, Kushida Kikyo was almost speaking through gritted teeth.
"Ahem~
Kikyo-chan... you know, I was 'borrowed' passively."
Hikigaya tried to make an excuse.
"After all, Hachiman is a charming, strict Great Teacher and the most beautiful person."
Horikita Suzune seriously placed all those embarrassing-sounding titles onto Hikigaya's head.
"What kind of nonsensical joke is this?"
Hikigaya pretended not to understand, then skillfully used his "soothing speech" technique: "Suzune, I still prefer your cold-hearted look."
"You mean you prefer fooling people!"
Horikita Suzune pierced through his intentions with pinpoint accuracy.
"Hachiman! You'd rather soothe Horikita than come and soothe me?"
Kushida Kikyo's eyes widened, her face dark as water. She was already unhappy, and now she was fuming!
Anger value instantly soared to 90%!
"Kikyo, do you think I'll be afraid just because you're angry?"
Hikigaya feigned calm, looking like he was repeatedly jumping back and forth on the edge of seeking death.
Anger value 99%!
"Huh?!"
Kushida instantly transformed into a ferocious Yaksha! She pounced forward with claws bared, grabbing his collar tightly with both hands, and said menacingly: "I'll give you one more chance to rephrase your words!"
Anger value: 99.99%!
"I'm not afraid at all~"
Hikigaya shrugged nonchalantly and continued: "If you don't believe me, look in the mirror yourself."
Anger value: 1000%! Kushida Kikyo was about to explode!!!
Hikigaya reached out and took a makeup mirror from a girl passing by.
"Here~ look. An angry Kikyo is still so cute, isn't she?"
Anger value plummeted.
"You—you think that by just saying some nice words casually...that I'll feel happy?"
Kushida Kikyo's mouth twitched, forcibly maintaining her angry facade.
'This woman is unexpectedly easy to soothe!'
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