COTE: A Man On A Mission II Love is War?

Hirata is a kind-natured person, very reliable, and this girl, Kushida is also a person with strong communication skills.
　
The reason is that the class group that Hirata brought together, some of the classmates were constantly brought in by this Kushida.
　
Being able to do this, firstly, means that she has obtained the identity of the administrator of the class group, and secondly, it means that she has obtained everyone's contact information.

That's why she can bring people in.
　　
Therefore. This Kushida is also a current candidate.

For a dark character like Hachiman, these people were difficult to deal with, but surprisingly, he found that getting along with them... was no problem.
　
But.... this Kushida was now looking at him pitifully with watery eyes. The other person's affinity seems to be at full capacity.　

It's hard to say no, "Speaking of which, is Kushida planning to go to the shopping street?" Hachiman decided to not waste anymore time of this person.

"Yeah, everyone went there and found that the points can be spent directly as money." Kushida nodded her head, politely.
　　
"And I also went back to the dormitory to take a look. Although the beds and quilts were prepared, there were still some daily necessities that needed to be bought" Even told some information that she knew.

There is no way to deny this. A person living outside needs all kinds of complicated items.

It ranges from clothes, tables and chairs to toothpicks and napkins. If you plan to cook by yourself, you will need even more items.
　
And Kushida is going to the shopping district.

That's it. It means they will be separated soon. Hachiman was also planning to go to the shopping street to buy some items.
　　
But suddenly there was a sense of crisis, and he decided to get some information from the upperclassmen first.

Someone like Chabashira-sensei was given a gag order, but as long as everyone is boarding in the school in a closed manner, there will definitely be some things or phenomena that can allow people to obtain new intel.
　
Although he thinks so, "Then, Kushida, can you give me...a copy of the contact information of our classmates?" Hachiman asked such a request that made Kushida dumbfounded.

"Eh?" She winked cutely. It seems to be asking him what did you want again?!　
　　
"I'm a loner, and I hope I can make some friends here," Hachiman said, with a pitiful look. In fact, this was a straight lie thrown at Kushida's face, he just wanted to do Chabashira's mission.

The deal between them.... Hachiman is responsible for investigating his classmates secretly, and she will pay up to 200,000 yen for each student.

And also give him the authority to directly convert points into cash!
　　
Let's not talk about whether to investigate all 39 students one by one. Simply investigating one or two files is also a good reward.

Hachiman wanted to do it. To do this task, he first needed to know information about the students in the class, such as their communication skills...

If people like that really exist, then Komachi doesn't need to worry.
　
So if Hachiman can start from Hirata or Kushida, who has the best communication skills. It would be much easier to handle.

Because both of them...seem to be very approachable.

However, he only knows Hirata now, and to him, Hachiman is just a random classmate, whose intro got cancelled by Chabashira-sensei.

This can be seen from the fact that, he was busy replying to his classmates on the way to the dormitory with Hachiman.

He cares about everyone. The reason why he said this, because Hirata was still paying attention to him, worried that Hachiman will be lost in the crowd.

So, he doesn't really want to trouble students like Hirata.
　
But Kushida makes him feel more accessible. Of course, there will be some fluctuations.

Because she is very cute, and probably no one hates being around cute girls.

So is this request... okay?

"You want to make friends..." Kushida tilted her head, as if she didn't believe this statement. It seems like a scam!
　　
"Yeah, so what about it?" Hachiman also knew that it was quite disturbing to make such a request rashly.

"It's not impossible....but I'm just a little surprised, because this was originally my goal." Kushida said, even though she left like this boy's cheating on her. She has to make a good impression.

"I hope to become friends with everyone and leave good memories in this school!" She also said this in her self-introduction to the class.

　　[My name is Kushida Kikyo. My goal is to become friends with everyone here. I want to create many memories. Please come to play with me often. ]

Then Hachiman saw she has already obtained the contact of so many classmates.

She working hard to achieve this goal. But still some classmates may not give each other their phone number.

“Hikigaya-kun, is there anyone you want to confirm as a friend?" Kushida decided to ask some questions from this weird boy. He looks like a delinquent, so she was deliberately raising her guard.

"Well... not yet." Hachiman shook his head,  "I just want to know their number, so that I can contact the person I want to be friends with, in the future." Indeed, he hadn't chosen his target yet.

But in Kushida's vision, this argument is not very tenable, because if you want to make friends, you don't need to get so many people's contact information.
　
"I see..." She seemed to pause, didn't know what to know for a moment. 'Should I give him or not? It's obviously my hard work, right?!'

Hachiman saw, Kushida closing her eyes for a moment, thinking about this request, “Okay," she agreed. "...I can tell you the contact information of my classmates. But...

"Before that, you have to agree with one condition? That is, can you become friends with me?" Kushida decided to bargain, if this boy want to know what's she cooking, then he must pay something in return!

Let this boy join my Empire! As she said this, she looked at him with eyes full of sunshine, even though the sun didn't even come today.

Judging from the conditions proposed, it shows that Kushida is very smart, and she has really seen through the lie that he just spouted out of nowhere.

'You want to make friends? it's obviously a lie. Don't try to trick me!' Kushida really thought, that she was being underestimated, with the amount of motivation this guy has, it's obvious that he has other intentions.

But...after seeing through this, she was still willing to hand over their phone number.

And the reason is... Kushida wants him to join her...em- ano. She wants to make friends with him.
　　
This price.... is a bit high.

You must know that XX wants to obtain your contact information, and this XX had already conquered around 25 people in the class.

This is not an ordinary thing and may be used for other purposes. It's scary to think about it this way.
　
So if something happens, Kushida, as the leaker, may have to take the blame!

'In other words, do I want to be friends with Kushida, if there are such heavy risks?'

Hey Hey hey!

Hachiman was a little surprised to realize this. Because, if he were an ordinary boy, he would probably misunderstand that Kushida is very fond of him.
　　
And this kind of thing. Stay strong, Hachiman! It's just making friends, not dating!

Don't trust a girl's kindness easily. There must be no misunderstanding! Hachiman was reminding himself of such dangers.
　　
"I really want to be friends with Kushida," So, he just started lying with such a straight mouth, and then mixed it with some truths, “But I have some very strict requirements -

• They are the kind of people who help each other, talk to each other, and regard them as very important.

• When the other party asks for help, they will never look back."
　　
"Ahaha... " Kushida's expression did not change, but she did let out a small chuckle in response. 'In other words,  this bastard wants everything for free? Do you think I'm an idiot?!

　
"Hikigaya-kun, is looking for a friend like that..."
　　
"That's very difficult,” She showed a pitiful expression, and even tried to break his already fragile hopes by passing a comment like that. 'It's not that easy to find true friends'

Ordinary things like eating and chatting together, or even going to the bathroom together, are just social interactions and cannot be called friends.

And Hachiman already knows that his thinking is different from his peers.
　　
Rather, he was... not interested in their current life, and does not consider such things to be youth.

It's just that it's not clear from Kushida's expression whether she just mocked the boundaries of his true friends.

But in fact, the topic suddenly cooled down, and the two of them had already walked out of the elevator and arrived outside the dormitory.

And Kushida continued to walk towards the shopping street, while Hachiman was preparing to head towards the teaching building.

"Hikigaya-kun, did you forget something in the classroom?" Kushida  was confused, by his strange movements. 'Where do you think you're going?'

"That's not true." Hachiman denied, he didn't have shit to bring back, so how could he forget something, "I want to go and check out the campus..... The school suddenly gave us such treatment, these expenses are too high....I always feel it is poisonous”

"So, I asked Chabashira-sensei before, but it seems that the teachers have been given a hush order. That's why I want to try my luck with the senior class."
　　
'This.....now that he'd mentioned it, 100,000 yen? It is unreasonable. And I don't think I deserve that many points either' So, in this way, Kushida nodded her head at this statement. She was about to go shopping, but suddenly turned around and grabbed Hachiman's sleeve.

"Then, can you take me with you?"
She looked at him with pitiful eyes.

If you look carefully, you will find that her pupils are now reflecting Hachiman's figure.

Then she probably realized that he didn't move. So, what was originally just pulling his sleeve turned into holding his left hand?
　　
Wrapping his hand, Kushida gently raised it.

And this is a surprising move. 'It was the first time in Hachiman's life that he was so intimately touched by a girl'

'Not even with my sister Komachi. And is this a girl's body temperature?'

"....If you want to come," Hachiman can only reply like this, facing this unexpected situation.

He doesn't think Kushida treats him as anything more than a friend.

Rather, the two of them are not even friends yet, so he doesn't think Kushida has such close affection for him.
　　
'So, she probably acted like this,  because I had just said that I wanted to investigate the school and the teacher's mouth was sealed by a duct tape'
　　
That is to say, other party wanted to obtain information through him.
　　
'Kushida...you are a bit cunning' Although Hachiman thought so, "Can you put down my hand?" he said with a serious look. It doesn't sound like he's joking either.

"..." Kushida. "Yeah." Her expression seemed to stiffen for a moment, and then she gently touched the end of her hair, which was not very long.

She seemed a little embarrassed, but quickly followed Hachiman after he started taking action.
　
Maybe she was a little surprised by his straight behavior.
　　
After all, Kushida was obviously so cute, but he acted so cold-hearted.
　　
But, Hachiman doesn't believe in absolute goodwill, nor does he believe in the favor of the opposite sex.
　
'Girls are creatures that are easily misunderstood' This was Hachiman's motto. When the other person shows tenderness, it is easy for people to misunderstand that her tenderness is for him alone.
　
Then once you get complacent and get carried away, it will soon break up and both parties will be hurt.
　
And he hated it.
　　
Because...the source of this realization...is him.
　　
So, the two of them walked towards the teaching building together.
　
Kushida walked closer to him, and the distance between their shoulders was only about 20 centimeters.

"Have Hikigaya-kun been hurt by a girl before?" But Kushida suddenly asked this question, with a question mark on her face.

"Eh?" However, the lethality of this sentence is huge.
　　
Hachiman stopped his footsteps, and looking at her, with eyes full of shock. It seemed to asking, 'How did you know?!

"I always feel like Hikigaya-kun doesn't want people to enter his heart," She said with a gentle look on her face, as if she didn't want him to be scared of her.

'But why do you want to enter my heart?'  “There is a bit of a dark history." Hachiman didn't hesitate to explain, "It was probably in junior high school....At that time, a girl in the class exchanged numbers with all the students in the class. But, when she did it with me.....at that time I misunderstood."
　　
'In other words, you have a dark history of liking the opposite sex, so you don't trust girls very much?' This was what Kushida understood by his surprising remarks.
　　
That's right. She seemed to be able to accept this answer, and nodded gently. "But I feel that Hikigaya-kun's way of thinking is different from other students....And this kind of thing, makes you look more mature."

Then she looked at Hachiman as if scanning his face, “I think girls'll like you very much..... at least I like Hikigaya-kun" and ended her dialogue with such a cute smile, that seemed very experienced in killing people's hearts.
　　
Do you? Hachiman just gets used to being alone, immersing himself in his own little world, and then started complaining.

He didn't think it was mature. Wait a damn moment! Hachiman paused, thinking, 'Is this girl trying to attack me?!'
　　
He noticed that when Kushida was talking to him, the 20 centimeters of distance between their shoulders had become 10 centimeters....
　　
The faint fragrance of a girl wafted over.
　　
And when he turned to look at her, Kushida slightly raised her head and showed a cute expression.

"..." Hachiman.

'Don't waver, Hachiman, Kushida definitely don't like you more than your classmates'
　　
She just wants to finish her goal of becoming friends with everyone.
　　
Moreover, she also wants to understand this weird school and wants to use your power.

So... don't, don't waver' Hachiman started reciting his mantras. "In front is our teaching building." A sweet voice reached his ears.
　　
So, Hachiman quickly calmed down
because, they are already on the first floor of the 1st-grade teaching building.

In the morning, he was busy enrolling, attending the opening ceremony, and then concentrated in the classroom, so he didn't observe that much.
　　
But now, the two of them were standing here on the first floor and found that the configuration here was a bulletin board.

As shown in the school's brochure that he got before enrolling, this school's equipment is very advanced, and even the bulletin board has an LCD screen.
　
Then there is a small blackboard hanging next to the bulletin. But it was blank.
　
On the bulletin board, there is only a message issued by the student council to welcome new students.

Please go to the gymnasium to attend the opening ceremony at 10 am.
　　
Hachiman didn't stop and walked forward. Came to the third grade teaching building.
　　
Today is the weekend, and it seems that the senior students are not in class.
　　
On the first floor, they also saw the same bulletin and blackboard.
　　
The content is the same as that on the first-year side, welcoming new students.
　　
However, Hachiman discovered that there was something on the small one here for the third grader.
　　
There are some interesting numbers written on it.

　　Class A 2530
　　Class B 1300
　　Class C 300
　　Class D 20

Hachiman took out his mobile phone and took a photo.
　　
But Kushida didn't think there was anything strange about this small blackboard, but continued.

"Do you want to check out the classroom?"

"No need. Today is the weekend, so I don't know if their classroom is locked or not."
　　
"And if no one is there, when we arrive.... it will be troublesome if something is lost." Hachiman reminded her about the potential dangers of fooling around casually.

"Yeah." Kushida nodded. So, the two just went to the second grade teaching building.
　　
Just like he stopped in the third grade,
Hachiman also looked for a different layout from the other two.
　　
All the bulletin boards are the same, but there is also a small blackboard here. There are also some numbers on it.

　　Class A 2000
　　Class B 600
　　Class C 400
　　Class D 200
　　

The numbers are different from those in the third grade.

They look much better, as if they were  sorted out by someone. So, Hachiman again took out his phone and prepared to take a picture.
　　
"You are first-year students, right?  Why are you here in the senior class?"
However, at this time, a voice came.
　　
It was majestic and there's something familiar about it.
　　
Hachiman and Kushida quickly looked over and saw that it was the Student council president from the opening ceremony and a girl with a bun.
　　　　
The president stood still, but the girl with a purple bun trotted towards them.
　
"The bun-headed senior seems to be called Akane Tachibana. She introduced herself during the opening ceremony," Hachiman decided to inform, his companion who looked pretty confused, "She's the secretary of the student council."

"Hikigaya-kun has a really good memory." But she looked over with slight admiration instead.

"..." Hachiman. 'Please stop doing this, Kushida-san! He already wanted to surrender.

But the senior sister came over.
　　
"We have just arrived at this school and are unfamiliar with the environment." Hachiman thought, it wasn't polite to stay silent, "We've bypassed the first and third-grade, and now looking around the second one, but didn't go upstairs yet...."

"That's it." said the bun-bun senior.
　　
Probably because freshmen's behavior of wandering around was not new, this senior did not embarrass them, but returned to the student council president.
　　
Report this news. "It seems that they are just ordinary freshmen visiting the school."
　
"This is normal in the outside world. You come to a new place and get familiar with the environment." The senior, reported to the Student council president.

"That's not necessarily the case." But the President pushed up his glasses, and looked at his secretary with slight disappointment, "You didn't see it just now but the boy took a photo of the small blackboard with his mobile phone."
　　
"In other words, he discovered some things in this school." He said, with a serious tone, and then looked over at those first-years, with a calculating gaze, “And that boy and girl... they are students in Class D of the first grade."

"Eh?" Tachibana let out a dumb voice in an obvious surprise.

"Alright, it's time for us to go to the Chess and card club to intervene." But the President didn't care about her stupid reaction, and issued another order.
　　　
They discovered on the forum that a freshman from Class A of the first grade was playing in the Chess arena, and she was very arrogant.
　　
But the opponent's chess skills are very good, and she has gained nearly one million points by defeating so many seniors.
　　
Moreover, upon investigation, it was found that the other party was not alone, but had hijacked nearly half of the students in the class.
　
In other words, after they came to school and received preferential treatment, they did not choose to go shopping or explore the school, but to extract points from the senior class.
　　
I understand the truth of [you can buy anything with points] [then collect as many points as you can to buy information].

In other words, this year's first-grade Class A is amazing.
　　
Watching the president leave, his secretary hurriedly followed him.
　
But she looked back in the direction of Hachiman and Kushida with an expression full of disbelief.
　　
Because. 'This year's first-grade Class A students are really noisy. But that's a student from the top class after all'
　　
Result. 'Are the current first-year Class D, students also so arrogant?'

One snap captures the class evaluation score, which is extremely important to all students.

________

And Hachiman's side.

Because of the encounter with the Student council officers, the investigation came to an end.

And Hachiman already felt as if he had gotten some new insight.

"Didi!" At this time, he received an email.
　　
But the sender is an unknown number. There is only one piece of content above.

　　[Congratulations to you, Hikigaya Hachiman, your application for permission to cash your points into cash in advance has been approved, and the council voted to grant you this permission.

　You can go to the Chairman's Office at any time to apply for the service of converting points into cash.
　　
The exchange rate is 1,000 private points converted into 800 yen. And we are responsible for helping you make deposits or send cash to your designated address.

　　But I hope you'll pay attention. The minimum cash-out amount is 1 million. So you need to accumulate this sum before you can officially cash it out.

　　At the same time, you cannot collect points through fund-raising to cash in for others, nor can you use this to make profits as a middleman.

　　I look forward to your development.

　　Council of Advanced Nurturing High School. ]

　　
Although it is not a familiar number, Hachiman always feel that it is from the school.
　　
And immediately after, he found that his homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, had called.