Chapter 36: Convincing the Gorilla
Hikigaya sighed helplessly. If he wanted to convince this guy, he might need a little more forceful persuasion.
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At the same time, watching the video in front of him, the other Sudō felt a little stunned.
If Ayanokōji were here, I'd undoubtedly fall in love with Horikita Suzune. But… in that video, I didn't feel anything toward her at all. Did this change the worldline?! Or… have we just not reached that stage yet?
If I had to say when I fell for Horikita, it was definitely when she would go out of her way to help me whenever I got into trouble. Back then, I kept causing problems for myself because of my temper.
Now that he thought about it, Sudō felt a little embarrassed. After all, he had relied on Horikita for so long. So, in this version… would he still fall for her the same way?
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was also watching silently. He memorized all the changes, comparing them before and after. Having emerged from the White Room, he could relive the past in detail—nothing was ever forgotten.
As for the other students, they didn't seem to notice anything special in the video. After all, most of them were probably too busy preparing for exams at the time. The average Class D student was already desperate just to avoid failing midterms or finals and getting expelled.
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Sudō looked at Hikigaya helplessly. This guy had actually decided things for him without permission. That wasn't brotherly behavior at all. And worse… he'd signed him up to attend that study session with the terrifying machine.
To make up for it and restore his "good image" in Sudō's eyes, Hikigaya started spouting nonsense.
"Look, Sudō, you came to this school to become a professional player, right?"
Sudō nodded.
"Well, all the resources are in the upper classes. To get them, you don't necessarily have to study, but Class D must rise up to Class A, B, or higher, right?"
Sudō nodded again.
"And now, since you're at the bottom, the most important thing is staying in this school and gaining those resources step by step with Class D, right?"
Another nod.
"Then it's simple. You can't drop out. If you drop out, you lose everything. At the very least, you need to raise your grades to a level stable enough to pass."
Sudō's eyes gleamed as he nodded.
"Exactly. As long as you don't drop out, and with Horikita aiming for Class A, you'll eventually earn huge points, tons of resources, and become a pro player. And since your academics will improve too, you'll be ahead of other professional athletes. At that point… I don't need to say more."
Sudō grabbed Hikigaya's hands, nodding excitedly.
"What you said makes so much sense. I can't think of a single reason not to attend. If it's for my dream, I'll face that terrifying robot head-on!"
Hikigaya wore a satisfied look. It seemed his nonsense had worked. This guy was way too easy to fool.
Of course, to be fair, it wasn't entirely nonsense. Sudō really did have the physical ability to become a professional player. If his grades improved, his and Horikita's goals could align perfectly. That ideal wasn't impossible.
"By the way, I've never heard your dream, Hikigaya. Why'd you come to this school?"
"I don't have lofty dreams. If I had to say, my goal is to be a househusband. As for why I came here—well, I was forced."
"Oh, I see. Forced by your family, huh? I've never even heard of a 'househusband.'"
"It's scary being uneducated. A househusband embodies the modern man's love for family, responsibility, and dedication. To put it simply, it's the same as a housewife."
"…Sit down."
"Hey, hey, why are you swearing?"
Looking at Hikigaya's serious expression, Sudō burst into laughter, oddly relieved. To be honest, besides basketball, Hikigaya was the only one in this school who made him feel comfortable.
This guy was sharp—Sudō knew that much. But Hikigaya never made him feel pressured, which was why…
He was willing to call him "brother." Hikigaya had shown a strange kind of self-sacrifice, the same way a teammate sacrifices on the court for the team.
Honestly, he wasn't annoying.
"Alright. I'll go to Horikita's study session on one condition: you're coming with me. Your grades aren't exactly great either."
"If I leave this school one day, maybe you'll be next."
Sudō smiled as he said it. If he had to suffer through that, his brother was getting dragged along too.
Hikigaya sighed. Looked like he really couldn't escape this time.
But Sudō was right. He wasn't qualified to just watch from the sidelines. If he wanted to survive here, he'd have to raise his grades to a stable level.
A day passed quickly. Though he had no idea how Kushida got his phone number, the fact that she texted him meant she already had some plan in mind.
With Kushida's help, Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji also agreed to join. But when they heard it was Horikita's study group, they added another condition: Kushida had to participate in the teaching too.
Of course, Hikigaya couldn't guarantee that. Horikita seemed especially unwilling to work with Kushida. Though he didn't know why, the situation gave him a bad feeling.
In that case, he'd have to talk to Horikita directly the next day.
That night, Hikigaya lay in bed, exhausted from the day.
The following morning, he returned to his desk as usual. As always, no one paid attention to him. He was just another invisible classmate.
But… what was with that terrifying look?
Hey, hey—if you look at me like that, I won't be able to talk to you at all.
That's right. From the moment he walked into the classroom, Horikita Suzune was glaring at him with an expression full of despair.