Chapter 7: Beat the Phoenix and Imprison the Dragon
"That's too exaggerated. I think Ayanokouji just looks a bit gloomy and expressionless."
"No, maybe not as extreme as Hikigaya said, but I also think Ayanokouji Kiyotaka isn't an ordinary student."
As someone who sat next to Ayanokouji and interacted with him quite a bit, Horikita Suzune had felt that strange sense about him too. She once thought she was simply overanalyzing, but with Hikigaya's confirmation, she chose to trust her own instincts.
Hikigaya was merely giving them a heads-up. Whether their opinion of Ayanokouji changed or not didn't really concern him. He believed that by saying it, they would understand. This was a kind of arrogance—self-satisfaction in expressing oneself.
"Let's not talk too much about Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. The main topic today is the information deal." Hikigaya handed a sheet of white paper with information on it to the two of them. "Goods first, payment later. I trust you guys."
The information sold to Class D was different from what he gave to other classes. It included the item about transferring classes for 20 million private points. Upon receiving it, Hirata and Horikita immediately read it together.
"...."
After reading, Hirata closed his eyes and tilted his head back, appearing relatively calm. In contrast, Horikita Suzune's state was visibly shaken.
"Impossible... Absolutely impossible. With my abilities, I couldn't possibly be assigned to Class D."
If the goal was merely to cultivate academically strong students, the government wouldn't pour so much money into the school. Advanced Nurturing High School was meant to foster elite talent with leadership potential. Horikita's withdrawn personality had no alignment with what defined a leader.
"That's just your personal judgment. The school's evaluation of you is simply as shown here." Hikigaya placed his hand on Kushida's shoulder. "Personally, I think Kushida is more capable than you."
Class D had gathered a group of students each with their own personality issues. From the flurry of irritated texts he received earlier, Hikigaya judged that Kushida had been bottling up a lot of stress recently. He needed to let her vent using Horikita, whom she disliked. If Kushida went back to venting in secret like before and got caught, Hikigaya would have a huge headache.
"I think I have a clue why Kushida dislikes me." Horikita Suzune looked up and stared at Hikigaya with a scrutinizing gaze. "You... don't like me either, do you?"
"I've always wanted to be friends with Horikita-san."
"I'll make my own judgment."
Kushida's attempt to refute was mercilessly shut down by Horikita. She was now acting exactly as Hikigaya had once hoped—sticking to her principles, refusing to rely on others, and honestly expressing her true thoughts.
"Not now... maybe someday."
That was all Hikigaya could say. She still wasn't the "evolved" Horikita Suzune who had forced Sakura Airi to drop out during the second-year special exam—who shattered his illusions. But occasionally, he would superimpose the two Horikitas in his mind, unconsciously making inappropriate moves.
Just like earlier. Just like the incident with Yamauchi in the morning. If it had been any other student, Hikigaya would've stopped Yamauchi. But at that time, he had simply observed. Even though he knew Yamauchi would fail, that was no excuse.
He knew he had made another mistake.
"Let's leave it at that for today. We'll talk about the private points tomorrow." Right now, Hikigaya felt like he had a weight pressing on his chest.
"Okay. I also have many things I need to verify."
After Hirata and Kushida said their goodbyes, Hikigaya stood alone in the room. Even though winter had already passed, he still felt a bit cold.
.
.
.
After school, Hikigaya declined Hirata's invitation to the class meeting, using his obligation to report to the student council as an excuse. With two heavy dark circles under his eyes, he dragged himself to the fourth floor student council office. Realizing his recent behavior had gone a bit off-track, Hikigaya had spent a long time last night reflecting.
"Wow, those eyes look like a dead man's."
At the entrance to the student council room, Hikigaya ran into the other student council secretary and the president. The petite girl with her hair in a bun still held a grudge from the other day.
"Horikita-senpai, I want to report a student slandering a student council secretary. That's no ordinary student. I recommend hitting her with full force."
"You..." Tachibana Akane's eyes flared with anger.
"Please use proper titles during work, and show a little respect to your senpai."
Horikita Manabu took out a key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and walked in. The dim classroom instantly lit up.
In the center of the office stood a long wooden table, surrounded on three sides by office chairs. At the far end of the room sat a single chair—it was obvious whose seat that was.
"For the next couple of days, Tachibana will show you the ropes. Sit next to her."
"Understood, President."
Once the two of them sat down, Hikigaya also took his seat beside the pouting senpai. Although annoyed, Tachibana earnestly explained the student council duties, as it was Horikita Manabu's instruction.
Listening to Tachibana's clear and pure voice, Hikigaya soon saw other student council members gradually arriving. One blond-haired guy kept eyeing him with amusement.
That blond was Nagumo Miyabi, the vice president, leader of 2nd-year Class A. At the end of 1st year, he had once tried to eliminate Tachibana during a special exam, but Horikita Manabu had used 20 million private points to save her.
Explode, damn normie.
Though Hikigaya used to be a loner, Nagumo was too famous at the school. He had heard many rumors—multiple girlfriends, controlling the entire grade, always challenging Horikita Manabu, and so on.
"Now that everyone's here, Horikita-senpai, aren't you going to introduce this new secretary? I'm very curious about this Hikigaya-kun you specially appointed."
'Sorry, but my sexual orientation is normal.' For some reason, Hikigaya found himself really disliking this blond guy, even though he had a handsome face.
"Hello, senpais. My name is Hikigaya Hachiman. I like girls and hate work. Please take care of me."
After greeting them, Hikigaya quickly sat back down beside Tachibana. But Nagumo Miyabi wasn't done with him yet.
"Hating work isn't a good look. With great power comes great responsibility. Didn't Secretary Hikigaya just earn six million private points today through his own ability?"
"The student council can view students' private point balances?"
Hikigaya had thought only the school could do that. He hadn't expected the student council could too.
"The president can. The vice president cannot," Horikita Manabu said, pausing his paperwork. "We can also view students' test scores and the school's records of a student growth. Outstanding students receive special attention."
"How many private points does Vice President Nagumo have?"
"A lot more than you."
"Got it."
After the introduction the members of the student council went back to work.
While listening to Tachibana-senpai explain the job, Hachiman thought about the vice president and what he knew about him.
Since Nagumo had taken an interest in him, Hikigaya figured he might as well fleece him. He had no qualms about delivering a heavy blow to this blondie.
After finishing his paperwork and after most member of the student council left, Hikigaya approached Nagumo.
"Vice President, why don't we do a bet between us?
Six million private points. Let's bet on which of us understands Horikita-senpai better."
Using the student council printer, he printed the bet terms and conditions. After signing it, Hikigaya slammed it down in front of Nagumo.
This bet was bait, a trap specifically aimed at Nagumo. It was his move to "capture the phoenix and cage the dragon."