Chapter 37: An Eye for an Eye
"Hikigaya-kun, what's your deal?"
"Which part are you talking about? If it's getting those guys to join your study group, I've already overdelivered."
Horikita shook her head helplessly. Just earlier, Yamauchi had approached her, and she'd learned that Kushida Kikyō was joining their study group too.
But in the end, it wasn't Hikigaya's fault—she hadn't said others couldn't join.
"Anyway, I'll teach you all, and that's the most efficient way."
"So, Kushida can come, but leave everything on-site to me."
Hikigaya grew increasingly curious. Why did this girl hate Kushida Kikyō so much? Did something really happen between them?
No… it didn't seem like they knew each other before. If it was just disliking her fake demeanor, Hikigaya felt the same, but… to be this resistant? Was that normal?
Hikigaya thought it over and shook his head.
"If you say so, there's nothing I can do."
"What do you mean, nothing you can do?"
"Since even the person hosting the study group thinks it won't work, then us bad students can only do our part."
"You… aren't afraid of getting expelled?"
Hikigaya turned his gaze to the window, speaking with a hint of disdain: "Don't forget, I can join other classes. You didn't know? The leaders of Classes A and C can protect me. Even if what they say is fake, with my current grades, I won't be expelled anytime soon."
Honestly, Hikigaya didn't fully trust the words of the Class A and C leaders. But the one truth was that he wouldn't be expelled in the short term.
And now, that fact became a powerful weapon to strike back at Horikita.
Horikita retorted, somewhat unwillingly: "I don't care what happens to you. Honestly, I don't think you alone can change all of Class D. To put it simply, I don't care whether you low-scoring students get expelled or not."
"Really? You don't care?"
Hikigaya saw through Horikita Suzune's lie in an instant.
"What if there's a rule that says a class with expelled students can never rise to Class A?"
Hikigaya's words made Horikita's body tremble slightly.
Though there was no solid evidence for this, for Horikita, it was the greatest blow. If she couldn't reach Class A, her reason for coming to this school would be meaningless.
Unable to catch up to her brother, unable to become his pride—she would have wasted three years.
And now, she wasn't certain what kind of rules this school might have. From the past month alone, it was clear this school couldn't be judged by normal standards.
"You're… threatening me?"
"Just giving you a taste of your own medicine."
Being threatened wasn't pleasant, and for someone like Hikigaya, who had no desires or ambitions, it didn't matter what happened to the class or himself.
Horikita Suzune, on the other hand, was bound by far too many constraints.
Without fully understanding the school's hidden rules, she didn't dare gamble with her three-year goal.
She took a deep breath, as if giving up on something.
"You win."
"I'll agree to let Kushida join the study group's teaching. But… I'll still have full control. Even she has to listen to me. That's my minimum requirement."
Hikigaya knew the girl in front of him wouldn't yield further. There was no need to push her to a breaking point. Since she'd agreed, all he needed was a quick talk with Kushida.
Seeing Hikigaya walk toward Kushida, a thought emerged in Horikita Suzune's mind.
'It seems… I really can't underestimate you…'
'Perhaps Chabashira-sensei was right, you're this class's greatest double-edged sword, you're even more important than Kōenji.'
Kōenji was always at the top of the class, nearly perfect academically, but he didn't care about the class's fate. He was an extreme egoist and an absolute double-edged sword. To reach Class A, they needed to unite these key people. At the very least, they couldn't keep fighting separately like scattered sand. Horikita understood this well.
It was easier said than done, although she was fully aware of how difficult it would be.
Whether it was Hikigaya, Kōenji, or Kushida, none of them were under her control right now.
[Ayanokōji watched the scene. This was a world where he didn't exist, but… in such a world, Horikita was growing faster and earlier.]
[Even Ayanokōji hadn't expected this, and it was all thanks to that guy.]
[Horikita also felt that the version of herself in the video wasn't quite herself. She was supposed to rely more on her own strength, but now… she was choosing to depend on others.]
[Horikita Manabu took it all in as well. Though it was just a first step, he undeniably acknowledged this version of Suzune a bit more.]
[In his view, if someone didn't understand the strength of their comrades, they would never reach Class A. In his memory, his sister's arrogance and domineering nature always made her become alone, she was destined to not go far.]
[But now things are different… Horikita Manabu's gaze fell on Hikigaya, filled with approval.]
['This guy can change so many people without even realizing it…']
Hikigaya walked up to Kushida. Fortunately, there weren't many people in the classroom, so they didn't become the center of attention.
"Horikita agreed, but… she wants full control of the study group. You…"
"Mm-hmm!"
Just hearing that Horikita agreed, Kushida's face lit up with joy and excitement.
"As long as Horikita agrees, I'm fine with anything she says."
'She's really persistent.'
"In that case, see you at the study group."
After saying a few brief words, Hikigaya turned to leave, but as he did, Kushida grabbed his shoulder.
Hikigaya turned back, puzzled, and saw the girl shyly handing him a note, still fidgeting.
Hikigaya took the note and returned to his seat.
He wasn't unfamiliar with receiving notes, but in the past, he'd always been the middleman—the note's inevitable stopover.
This was the first time he'd received a note with something like a "secret message."
( End of this chapter)