Chapter 60: The Reason to Act
Horikita Manabu placed both hands on the desk, propped up his chin, and looked at him gravely: "Abandon the weak. How about it? That's the choice of the strong."
Hikigaya gave a cold laugh and replied: "No, even if you say that, I'm just a weakling myself. Sooner or later, I'll be the one abandoned."
Horikita Manabu: "So, you're going to sink into the abyss with him? With your abilities, you could easily make it to Class A on your own. Dragging along a bunch of deadweight might just turn you into one of them."
Hikigaya: "You're overestimating me. Even now, I'm just a failure. If things got worse… I doubt it'd make much difference."
Horikita Manabu: "Looks like you've made up your mind."
Hikigaya: "I haven't decided yet. But from the moment I entered this school, I didn't have a choice. Since I was assigned to Class D as a defective product, I can only accept that I'm the same as everyone else in Class D."
Hearing the boy's intriguing response, Horikita Manabu finally dropped his serious expression.
"Honestly, I really want to pull you into the student council, especially with the current situation… We need someone like you."
Seeing the president suddenly change his demeanor, Hikigaya realized his earlier words were just a test. He didn't actually disapprove of helping the weak.
"I don't think I'd be much help."
As if ignoring Hikigaya's words, Horikita Manabu glanced at Tachibana beside him.
"The secretary position is still open, right?"
"Yes, President."
"Hikigaya Hachiman, if you're willing to join the student council, the secretary position is yours."
'Becoming a corporate slave so soon? That's terrifying.'
Tachibana: "Is that really okay, President…?"
Horikita Manabu: "I have my judgment. And I wasn't wrong in what I said earlier… Tachibana, you know it too, don't you? The second-years are already out of control."
Tachibana seemed to recall something, trembling suddenly, then nodded in agreement.
Horikita Manabu: "So, what do you say, Hikigaya?"
Hikigaya shook his head, declining.
He didn't know what trouble Horikita Manabu was referring to, but he already had enough problems. Honestly, adding more was the last thing he wanted.
Horikita Manabu: "Are you sure? The student council might have the answers you're looking for… like a reason to act."
Hearing Horikita Manabu's words, the boy paused briefly but still shook his head.
Horikita Manabu lifted his hands from propping up his chin, looking at Hikigaya with a mix of helplessness and regret.
"If that's the case, I won't force you…"
"But I hope you'll join the student council before I step down. Otherwise… I'm afraid not just the second-years, but even the current first-years will fall completely under Nagumo Miyabi's control. That's a scene I absolutely don't want to see."
'Nagumo Miyabi.'
Hikigaya noted the name but didn't dwell on it.
Having learned what he came for, he left the student council.
The problem was clear, but where was the answer?
Now, he needed to focus on something more immediate.
All this time, whether it was the Service Club, Komachi, Yukinoshita, or himself, he'd always given himself excuses, reasons.
But that was just standing still.
Countless times, he'd said he was doing it for himself, but in reality… he was always helping others.
It was still hypocritical, full of lies, nauseating, but Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't let go.
What he yearned for was something more genuine, without a trace of lies, pure and untainted.
Was it Sudo? Horikita? Or this class?
No, none of them.
No one could truly be called his friend. At least, deep down, Hikigaya couldn't accept this relationship or himself like this.
He needed to find his own answer, to act for his own reasons.
Why? Why didn't he want Sudo to be expelled, or the class to fall behind in ignorance?
He'd gone so far as to find excuses from others to act, but in reality…
The answer was already there…
Just like in the Service Club…
The reason had to be found along the way.
And he had something he wanted.
He also wanted to help others…
Not for reward, not for reciprocation, just purely to lend a hand and fill the void in his heart.
It was for others, and for himself.
That alone wasn't enough, but…
Perhaps one day, he'd find it.
( End of this chapter)