"Oh, is that so? Then just drop out."
That single sentence hit Sudou like a bucket of cold water, snapping him back to reality. The whole room fell into silence.
"I... I can't... No... I..."
Sudou panicked. He was completely lost, like a drowning man desperately searching for something to grab onto, only to realize there was nothing.
"Even now, you're still hoping for a perfect outcome?"
Hikigaya looked at Sudou's panicked face and couldn't help but feel speechless. Some people truly had no idea just how ignorant they were.
"So, it's either drop out or give up basketball and stay in school. Pick one."
Hikigaya's cold words sent a chill down Sudou's spine.
No one else spoke. Even Hirata remained silent. He had already discussed other possibilities with Horikita and Kushida earlier and understood that the chances of getting Sudou completely off the hook were slim to none. The best they could do was what Hikigaya suggested—reduce the severity of the suspension.
Right now, the solution Hikigaya suggested was probably the best option. After all, staying in school was more important than basketball.
Sudou looked around at the silent faces and felt a wave of cold disappointment wash over him. He could already tell that Hirata, Kushida, and the others agreed with Hikigaya's plan.
Sudou quickly turned to Horikita as if grasping at his last hope, but her expression remained cold. "This is the result of your own actions. If there were no consequences for anything, people would never learn. Even if you lose your chance to be on the official team this time, as long as you stay in this school, you'll have more opportunities in the future."
"Yeah, Sudou, avoiding expulsion is more important than basketball right now."
Hirata spoke up, quickly followed by Kushida.
As Sudou listened to everyone trying to persuade him, he felt nothing but bitterness.
Hikigaya watched Sudou's expression closely. There was no sense of satisfaction in his heart—just pity. Right now, Sudou looked like a stray dog wagging its tail, desperately hoping for sympathy. At the same time, Hikigaya couldn't help but admire the person who had orchestrated all of this. Their methods were so subtle that hardly anyone noticed what was really happening.
Compared to that, Ryuen's tactics against him felt clumsy.
"Hikigaya, can I ask... is there really no other way? What about the photos on that SD card? If there are photos, that means there was a witness. With both a witness and evidence, shouldn't that be enough to prove Sudou's innocence?"
Ayanokouji, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, suddenly spoke.
Sudou's eyes lit up as if he had just been given a clue. "That's right! If we have the photos and a witness, we can prove that those guys from C-Class started it! That way, I won't have to be suspended, and I won't have to give up my spot on the team!"
Hikigaya glanced at Ayanokouji, then inserted the SD card into the computer in Ayanokouji's room.
"Look. Do you think these photos are convincing? The only somewhat useful one is this one..."
Although Sakura had taken some photos, most of them weren't helpful. The only one that might have mattered showed Sudou fighting, but it looked more like the aftermath—right after he had thrown a punch. The sunset in the background also revealed the time of day.
"So these photos aren't decisive evidence. They're barely convincing and don't prove who started the fight."
Hikigaya's face remained blank. "At best, these photos might make the guys from C-Class nervous. As for the witness..."
He turned to look at Ayanokouji, who was equally expressionless. "Why would anyone risk being targeted by C-Class just to testify? And another thing—you guys take it for granted that someone should help you. But let's be honest, with Sudou's reputation in this class and even the whole year, with all the fights and intimidation... do you really think someone would step up and risk being seen as defending a 'troublemaker'?"
Sudou was left speechless. But Ayanokouji seemed to notice something off and asked, "Then where did these photos come from?"
Hikigaya seemed to have expected this question. He gave Sudou and Ayanokouji a deep look. "Not everyone is cold and selfish. Some people are genuinely kind. But that kindness is often seen as something that can be used. The only thing I can do is protect it. These photos... were the only thing that person could do. What happens next is no longer their concern."
Hikigaya understood that since Sakura had already been exposed, hiding the truth wouldn't help. Instead, taking the initiative was the better choice. This way, he could protect Sakura while also discouraging anyone else from taking advantage of her. At least for now, it seemed like his decision had been the right one.
"I think Hikigaya is right."
Hirata suddenly spoke up. "Even if we don't have a witness, these photos are enough to make C-Class uneasy. If we offer to 'trade' something, I think they'll accept."
"Yeah, I know giving up your spot on the basketball team is tough, Sudou. But Komiya and Kondo probably aren't good enough to make the team anyway. So why insist on fighting this? The priority right now is avoiding expulsion. If you get expelled, then everything is over."
Kushida tried to persuade him as well.
"I... I..."
Sudou looked lost, as if his mind had gone blank. His eyes instinctively searched for Horikita, but she only stared at him coldly and said, "Stop dreaming. This is the result of your own actions. You have no one to blame but yourself. Think carefully."
Listening to Horikita, Hirata, Kushida, and the others, Sudou, who had been struggling to resist, slowly fell silent. His eyes seemed to lose their usual fire.
A deep sadness filled his heart. He knew that what Hirata and the others were saying was right. This was the only way to avoid expulsion. But still... something about it felt wrong.
Yes, he had saved himself. But at the same time, he had lost something important.
"Stay in school, or choose basketball and leave with it. It's up to you."
Hikigaya's expression didn't change.
It was a choice between two options, but in reality, there was only one choice.
Sudou's throat felt dry. His voice, when he finally spoke, was hoarse.
"I... I agree."
As soon as he said it, his body collapsed to the ground, as if all the strength had been drained from him.
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