COTE : There is Something Wrong With Hikigaya-Chapter 41 - : Who’s the Fisherman?

"The snipe and the clam fight, and the fisherman takes the prize."

That was Hikigaya's take on Class A's internal conflict. Having different factions within a class wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If handled well, it could actually strengthen unity and push the group forward.

Conflict was what drove progress.

Wherever there were people, there would be competition. But fighting wasn't the goal—it was just a means to an end.

As long as you were part of society, there was no escaping it.

In fact, competition was an art.

But for high school students, knowing when to fight, how much to push, and how to get results was much harder to control.

If Sakayanagi and Katsuragi settled things within three months, it wouldn't be too big of a problem. But if the conflict dragged on, it would turn into a huge waste of energy. It wouldn't just slow Class A down—it would give the other classes a chance to catch up, or worse, an opening to take them down.

Before dealing with external threats, internal stability had to come first. More often than not, a dynasty's downfall wasn't caused by outside pressure but by internal collapse.

"Yeah, sometimes a little conflict is actually a good thing."

Haruno agreed with Hikigaya completely. She had the exact same thoughts. But she also knew her position in Class A. Choosing a side would throw off the balance, so she had remained neutral since the beginning, never favoring either faction.

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"Or is it just me, or was there a hidden message in what you just said?" Haruno suddenly poked Hikigaya's side with her finger, giving him a suspicious look.

"I-It's just your imagination!"

Hikigaya's body stiffened instantly. Seeing his reaction, Haruno burst into laughter.

"So, who do you think has the upper hand? Give me a little insight."

Haruno seemed genuinely curious about Hikigaya's opinion. Or maybe she was more interested in hearing his evaluation of Sakayanagi and Katsuragi. No matter how much he tried to dodge the question, she kept pressing him, unwilling to give up.

Honestly, most girls would have already backed off out of politeness, worrying about things like "girls should be reserved," "maintaining social distance," or "not bothering others."

But Haruno didn't seem to care about any of that. She was straightforward, bold, and didn't mind how others saw her. She always acted cheerful and energetic, with a personality that was both outgoing and approachable.

Some people—especially other girls—might see this as a flaw, but it actually made her come across as completely genuine.

Haruno's way of doing things had a way of breaking awkward situations and making people trust her more easily. In short, she was a true social menace. That was Yukinoshita Haruno.

In the end, Hikigaya sighed and said, "I don't know them well enough, but based on my first impression, I'd lean towards Katsuragi."

"Huh? I thought you'd pick little Sakayanagi! I mean, don't guys usually prefer small, cute, princess-type girls who make them want to protect them?"

Haruno wasn't wrong. In general, society seemed to favor "cute" girls over other types.

Between being called "beautiful" and "cute," many girls would actually prefer the latter. Over time, it had become a habit—whenever people saw something or someone they liked, they would automatically say, "Kawaii."

Hikigaya found this kind of "group mindset" really strange.

"I might sound a bit old-fashioned saying this, but when it comes to choosing people for important positions, most people still tend to trust men over women." Hikigaya sighed. "And when picking a class leader, Katsuragi's serious and steady first impression is more convincing than Sakayanagi's. His image fits what 'everyone' subconsciously expects from a leader."

"So... in the end, it's all about 'image' rather than actual ability?" Haruno said in surprise.

"Well, image is something you can see with your own eyes. It matters, but not really. If it weren't about choosing a leader, I believe Sakayanagi would completely outmatch Katsuragi."

Hikigaya shrugged helplessly. "That's why I said people judge based on 'first impressions.' Katsuragi clearly fits the image that 'everyone' has in their minds. Of course, I know this is a biased way of looking at things, but the reality is that ability often takes a back seat. I guess this is just another common issue in society."

"And just as you predicted, Katsuragi now has more supporters in Class A. If he manages to get into the student council, his influence within the class will rise even further."

At this, Haruno suddenly sighed, her tone full of regret. "Honestly, it's such a waste that you're stuck in Class D, Hikigaya-kun."

...

After parting ways with Haruno at the café, Hikigaya let out a long breath. As expected of the "final boss"—even her casual words were filled with hidden tests and traps.

Right now, Class A was locked in a battle between Sakayanagi and Katsuragi, a true fight for dominance.

Both of them saw themselves as exceptional, full of pride and confidence in their talents, unwilling to bow to anyone else. But... wasn't there someone else just like that?

Based on what Hikigaya knew about that certain someone, things might turn into a three-way power struggle. A case of "when two tigers fight, the third one reaps the reward"—or perhaps "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it."

It was unclear whether Sakayanagi and Katsuragi had realized it yet, but outside of their battle, a third player was already watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Man, Class A's situation seems like a total mess."

Hikigaya couldn't help but comment. But then, thinking about it again, wasn't Class D even worse? The thought immediately filled him with frustration.

When it came to the problem students in Class D, Hikigaya had gone from annoyed to completely numb. Rather than dwelling on these headaches, he might as well enjoy the weekend.

Speaking of weekends, Hikigaya always thought of tokusatsu. And when it came to tokusatsu, he thought of Toei's "big three." But these days, tokusatsu had become more and more "commercial and plastic," which really turned him off.

Back when she was younger, Komachi used to love watching *Pretty Cure* every weekend. But as she got older, especially after entering middle school, she gradually stopped watching. She said it would be "too embarrassing if her classmates found out"—which was pretty much the same reason why a lot of teenage boys didn't want anyone knowing they still watched *Ultraman*.

At first, Hikigaya only watched *Pretty Cure* because Komachi wanted to. But over time, he unexpectedly got into this "close-combat magical girl" series.

So yeah, everyone, let's go watch magical girls throw punches!

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