COTE: Hikigaya's Classroom of the Supreme Being

As Hikigaya had anticipated, Class D showed little reaction to the upcoming midterm exams.

Their response consisted of slightly increasing their attentiveness in class and reducing their distractions, but overall, their behavior stayed largely unchanged.

Despite the looming threat of expulsion, some students, like Sudo, were still blissfully unaware of the gravity of their situation.

It wasn't until a week later that Hirata, the class's unofficial hero, decided to take action. He organized a study session to address the midterm exam crisis.

"Excuse me, everyone. Could I have your attention for a moment?"

Hirata began, his tone earnest and determined.

"As you all know, failing the midterm exams means immediate expulsion. To avoid that, I'm setting up a study group right here in the classroom after school. It will only take two hours a day."

His announcement received enthusiastic approval. While many students had already failed, others on the brink of passing needed help.

"None of you should have to drop out because of this exam. Additionally, there's a chance that our scores could improve," Hirata continued, casting a supportive glance toward Sudo.

"Several students who are already performing well are preparing for the exam, so I hope those who are worried will join us. Everyone is welcome."

Hirata addressed Sudo with his invitation, and his sincerity was evident. However, Hikigaya thought Hirata's approach was overly idealistic and a bit misplaced.

Sudo was the kind of person who would rather suffer in silence than admit he needed help. Such an open invitation would likely hurt his pride, potentially leading to more rebellious behavior.

Similarly, Ike and Yamauchi, though less stubborn than Sudo, would probably avoid the study session out of jealousy or disdain for Hirata.

Hikigaya mused that if Hirata wanted to encourage Sudo and the others, he should have sent Kushida. Her charm and kindness would have made them more likely to participate.

Yet, these matters were irrelevant to Hikigaya. If Sudo and the others failed, it was their problem.

Unexpectedly, Hirata approached Hikigaya.

"Hikigaya-kun, you're doing extremely well academically, so I was hoping you could help us with this exam. Please."

Although Hikigaya's grades were good, he suspected that Hirata's real motivation was to smooth over his relationship with Karuizawa. It was typical of Hirata's naive desire for harmony among everyone.

Hikigaya had often called Hirata "Hayama II" for his idealistic tendencies, much like Hayama's own pursuit of universal friendliness. But in a class of forty, some conflicts were inevitable. Hikigaya struggled to understand Hirata's idealism.

"Sorry, I have other commitments," Hikigaya declined politely.

"Oh, I understand," Hirata responded with a smile. "The student council must keep you very busy. After all, you're the only first-year student chosen."

"Wait, how did you know that?" Hikigaya inquired, astonished.

Hirata's smile remained. "Isn't it common knowledge?"

Hikigaya was stunned and looked towards Matsushita, who had been eavesdropping nearby.

Matsushita nodded in confirmation. "Yes, it's been rumored that Hikigaya-kun defeated Katsuragi-kun from Class A and Ichinose-san from Class B to become the only first-year student on the student council. You're quite impressive."

Hikigaya was taken aback. "No, it's not an election, and I'm just a clerk. It's not as grand as you make it sound."

He realized there was no point in trying to clarify matters to Hirata and Matsushita. The dissemination of such rumors was an invasion of privacy.

Hikigaya was fuming internally.

He detested being the center of attention, and now it seemed the entire grade knew about his role on the student council. This explained the peculiar looks he had been receiving lately.

The realization that the president was the source of this information compounded his frustration. He had hoped to work alongside Katsuragi and Ichinose but recently learned from Horikita Manabu that both had been eliminated, leaving him to carry the burden alone.

Hikigaya had suspected that Horikita Manabu might be taking out personal grievances on him, but now he wondered if there was another motive.

Katsuragi and Ichinose were capable students; their elimination was puzzling.

The widespread rumor was that both Katsuragi and Ichinose had been eliminated from the student council election, sparking considerable gossip.

Students from Classes A and B, knowing that Hikigaya was a student council member, began to spread strange rumors.

Yet, the results spoke for themselves, even if the truth was less dramatic.

Feeling dejected, Hikigaya waited for school to end and headed to the library, a place he frequented regularly. Though he hadn't seen Shiina recently, his routine remained unchanged.

Consistent study was essential, and maintaining a daily two- or three-hour study habit, along with attending classes diligently, was a manageable strategy for academic success.

The benefit of not having a social life became apparent. With his past training, Hikigaya efficiently handled student council tasks during lunch breaks, leaving him ample time for uninterrupted study.

However, he found his usual seat at the library already occupied, disrupting his routine. As the library was a public space, reserving seats wasn't acceptable.

Just as he was about to return to the dormitory, something interrupted him.

"Hey, why are you pretending not to see me?"

Hikigaya turned and welcomed Kamuro. "What a coincidence; you're here too. I didn't even notice you."

Kamuro called him out. "Don't act like you didn't see me. We just made eye contact."

"Well, making eye contact doesn't mean we have to engage," Hikigaya replied.

"Enough with the nonsense. Sit down."

"Alright, alright."

At Kamuro's insistence, Hikigaya sat down across from her.

"Strange, are you alone?" Hikigaya inquired, looking around for Sakayanagi, who appeared to be absent.

Kamuro frowned. "What's weird about it? I don't follow Sakayanagi around 24/7. He's just one person, not paralyzed."

Hikigaya almost laughed at Kamuro's comment. It seemed she still held a grudge against Sakayanagi.

"Then why are you here?" he asked.

"Obviously, I'm here to study," Kamuro replied, though her textbooks appeared untouched.

Hikigaya sensed there was more to her visit than studying and whispered, "Are you on a mission? I saw Katsuragi and his group earlier. Did Sakayanagi send you to follow them? Your dedication is impressive."