Bidding farewell to Ibuki Mio and the others.
Hikigaya returned to everyone's side. Ichinose was building a snowman with Sakura Airi and the others, while Himeno Yuki was having a snowball fight with Kamuro Masumi and the others.
Looking at this scene.
Hikigaya couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.
Just as he was about to step forward.
Hirata Yousuke suddenly walked up to him.
"Hikigaya-kun, could I trouble you for a moment?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was a bit surprised.
Though Hirata had a smile on his face, it was hard to hide the trace of loathing in his eyes. It was natural for people in Class D to hate him.
He couldn't exactly drag him out and beat him up, and there was nothing to fear.
"No problem."
The two went to a corner.
Hirata suggested with a smile:
"Hikigaya-kun, could you let us from Class D join the snowball fight too?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at the other side.
Ike Kanji, Sotamura, and others from Class D were sitting together watching the others having the snowball fight, their dejected eyes mixed with a hint of dissatisfaction.
Hirata was also trying hard to change this atmosphere.
Clearly.
Hirata must have also put in a lot of effort in places unseen, though the effect wasn't very ideal.
Hikigaya was just a bit puzzled.
"Why ask me?"
"There's no special reason; I just want everyone to be able to enjoy the fun of playing in the snow with peace of mind."
"Hmm? I see."
Hikigaya's brows furrowed as he nodded.
After all, in Hirata Yousuke's eyes, Class D becoming like this was inseparable from Hikigaya.
The subtext was.
He was worried Hikigaya would take the lead in deliberately targeting Class D.
For Hirata, who wanted to change the atmosphere, it would be counterproductive, so he came over to say something in advance.
"What do you think?"
"I don't have any objections."
Hikigaya said dismissively: "I just advise you it might be better not to participate."
"What do you mean?"
Hirata's eyes twitched, his tone turning a bit cold.
Is this a rejection or an approval?
"Exactly what I said. The result might just be different from what you imagine."
"Do you know what result I want?"
"It should be to change Class D, or rather to change the surrounding atmosphere, right? Or did I misjudge?"
""
Hirata's expression turned somewhat ugly—so this guy actually knew.
This was no different from bullying; Hirata was truly angry.
"Don't you feel ashamed for targeting Class D using such methods?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya frowned.
It looked like Horikita Suzune hadn't told the people in Class D the specific reason.
"Then I'm sorry."
Hikigaya didn't bother to explain: "To rise to Class A, I will use any means necessary. If you can't accept it, then consider it your own lack of ability. This is what's called 'meritocracy'?"
If he said it was because of his previous promise to Horikita Manabu, most people would find it hard to understand and would instead think he was an idiot.
But saying it was for meritocracy and to rise to Class A.
Instead, most people could understand it quite easily.
As for shame?
Although three or four months had passed, Hikigaya didn't particularly care, but as Sakura Airi's friend, he really didn't feel ashamed.
The ones who should be ashamed are those on the other side.
""
Upon hearing this.
Hirata Yousuke's expression was instead a bit complicated.
Meritocracy.
Is this actually right or wrong?
Though he wanted to say some things can be done and others cannot, they also cut off innocent companions.
Wanting to criticize the other party again.
Even Hirata Yousuke felt it was too hypocritical.
Double-B youth have much joy.
The ones most troubled aren't people like Ike Kanji, but rather those like Hirata who have some ability and some kindness.
Being ostracized by the whole school.
He can't even judge whether his actions are right or wrong.
Exhausting himself mentally every day.
Even if he really wanted to point at Hikigaya's nose and curse, Hirata and the others also knew they had done wrong things.
They might even defend Hikigaya in their hearts.
To protect the woman he loved, it was only natural for Hikigaya to strike back.
Hirata Yousuke really didn't know what to do.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave. Although I advise you not to participate, whether you join or not is up to you."
"In short, I won't do anything."
After saying that.
Hikigaya turned and left. Looking at his departing back, Hirata hesitated for a moment but still spoke.
"That, Hikigaya."
"Is there something else?"
"You've already employed Ryuen for three months; the anger you wanted to vent should be gone by now. Besides, a million-point drain every month is of no benefit to you. Class B can't just let you keep abusing these personal points forever, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Can I ask you to stop and no longer employ Ryuen?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya frowned.
Horikita Suzune hadn't told Class D about this either?
Actually, it made sense.
In case he suddenly regretted it and continued to employ Ryuen, it would only have the opposite effect, so it was better to wait and see.
Seeing Hikigaya remain silent, Hirata quickly continued.
"I can give you 90% of my monthly personal points. How about that?"
"Until the third year, I can get 120,000 personal points every month; I can give you 100,000 of them."
"Instead of continuing to waste personal points like this, why not just stop? This should be a good proposal, right?"
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow.
From now until graduation, that was roughly 1.5 million personal points, and based on special exams, it might even be more.
It was a price that couldn't be easily ignored.
Clearly.
Hirata was also working desperately in secret to change the current situation.
He just didn't know why this guy was so desperate.
Sacrificing himself to this extent just to 417 change Class D's current state must be related to Hirata's personal experiences.
Forget it.
It didn't matter.
Though it was indeed an attractive proposal.
He hadn't intended to continue employing Ryuen anyway, so it wouldn't matter if he fooled Hirata into getting these personal points.
But the original purpose of employing Ryuen wasn't just to crush Class D.
If he accepted this deal here.
Hikigaya felt he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"No need."
"What?"
Hirata's face stiffened; it was simply unbelievable.
"Don't get me wrong. I didn't plan to continue employing Ryuen anyway, so there's no need for you to give me personal points. That's the situation."
"Do whatever you want."
After saying that.
Hikigaya turned and left.
Clearly, Hirata, Wang Meiyu, and the others were all very confused.
However.
The classes were different.
Hikigaya had no obligation to enlighten them. Occasionally saying a few words when they met was one thing, but if not, then forget it.
Only.
Hikigaya was not optimistic.
Without the excuse of being employed, what would happen to Class D?
The answer was obvious.
Looking at his departing back, Hirata was instead somewhat unexpectedly relieved. He turned to look at the dejected Ike Kanji and the others.
In any case.
He had to find a way to change this terrible atmosphere.
Otherwise.
It might very well evolve into an irreversible result.