Two days after school, the student council room.
"I didn't expect the school would hold such an exam again; it was truly unexpected."
Katsuragi was somewhat emotional, yet the corners of his mouth unknowingly rose.
This exam.
For classes that had always been saving money, it was too simple.
As long as someone was unafraid of risks, or had set a contract in advance that twenty million must be used to save an expelled person, passing it was a very simple matter.
"Well, maybe the school's question bank isn't enough; it's normal for some to repeat."
Hikigaya felt a bit guilty.
After all, this exam was completely designed by himself. Although it maintained fairness on the surface, it was actually more beneficial to Classes A and B.
After he finished speaking.
The student council room fell into a strange silence.
Even Ichinose and Nanase Tsubasa, the two of them awkwardly experienced this unusual atmosphere.
The culprit was naturally Horikita Suzune, who was exuding an air of bewildered pain, making it truly inconvenient for others to speak.
The reason wasn't hard to guess.
The changes in each class's points after this exam.
Class A (Hikigaya): 1725 points.
Class B (Katsuragi): 1458 points.
Class C (Horikita): 1153 points.
Class D (Ryuuen): 598 points.
During this period of time.
Class B could save at least five or six million private points every month.
They easily passed through this exam.
What was surprising was.
Horikita Suzune's class actually successfully passed the exam.
To be honest.
Hikigaya was indeed somewhat puzzled.
This exam could be said to have been specifically designed for Class D.
It belonged to the category of exams that were bound to fail.
Even a fool would know to vote against it; with Class D's living habits, it was impossible to save up private points.
And.
Students at the back like Ike Kanji would very likely point their spears at Horikita Suzune.
After all.
Gentle people like Sakura Airi are not many.
When encountering a problem and choosing to cut off those at the back, how could anyone sincerely view the other person as a leader?
Conflict would inevitably be sparked.
He had already heard Karuizawa and others complaining yesterday.
He never expected.
Class D actually successfully passed the exam.
Actually, while Ayanokouji certainly played an indelible role, Hikigaya still felt that Class D's nature was like this.
He felt Ayanokouji just played a leading role, and Class D itself was probably inclined toward selecting one person to be expelled.
Whether this expelled person was Ayanokouji, Horikita Suzune, or Ike Kanji didn't really matter.
The reason they were called defective products was not because of their strength.
But because they could casually hurt others for profit.
However.
Having been pointedly accused by Ike Kanji and abandoned by the others in the class.
Horikita Suzune seemed somewhat shaken, so Hikigaya didn't have any objection.
The matter Horikita Manabu requested.
He had already handled it in his own way.
He had already done all he could do; whatever happened to Horikita Suzune in the future had nothing to do with him.
...
After school.
The sky was gloomy, and a light rain began to fall.
As the president and vice president, Ichinose and Hikigaya returned to the dormitory building a step later.
a figure caught Hikigaya's attention.
He saw Horikita Suzune standing in front of the dormitory door, her face looking miserable as she looked up at the sky, letting the rain hit her face.
"It seems this exam had a big impact on her."
Looking at the scene before her, Ichinose pursed her lips.
She felt that the current Horikita Suzune was very similar to her former confused self, doubting her own actions.
"It's not surprising..."
Hikigaya gave a sigh, turned to Ichinose and said:
"You go back first, I'll go take a look."
"Understood."
Ichinose nodded.
After all, they lived in the same student council; she was similarly worried about Horikita Suzune's state.
At least with her performance in this exam.
Horikita Suzune wasn't yet beyond saving.
If she had truly performed as cold-bloodedly and heartlessly as Ayanokouji, Hikigaya would probably also have to keep her at a distance.
From Ayanokouji's position, what he did wasn't necessarily wrong.
Just.
Knowing the other person is smarter than yourself and still not doing good things.
Staying with such a person, being tricked is only a matter of time; you might even help the other person count the money.
Sending Ichinose back into the dormitory building, Hikigaya walked up to Horikita Suzune holding an umbrella and placed it over her head.
Her vision was blocked by the umbrella, and Horikita Suzune glanced back at him.
"What are you doing here?"
Hikigaya asked as if it were nothing.
"Nothing, I just feel a bit more comfortable this way."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head and responded in a soft voice.
Actually, she just wanted to find Hikigaya to talk and seek an answer, as this was the necessary path back to the dormitory.
Given Ichinose and Hikigaya's meddlesome personalities.
Stepping forward to start a conversation was inevitable...
"Is that so..."
Hikigaya stared at Horikita Suzune for a moment.
Although he was in the student council with Horikita Suzune, it seemed it had been quite some time since they had a conversation like this.
"Are you okay?"
"..."
Horikita Suzune didn't respond, only pursed her lips in some unwillingness.
"Is it convenient to have a private chat now?"
"No problem."
Hikigaya nodded noncommittally, sizing up the Horikita Suzune before him.
"But do you want to go back and change your clothes first?"
"..."
Horikita Suzune breathed a sigh of relief.
Today's school life was completely different from the past.
Before, the people around only felt she was difficult to get along with and they didn't disturb each other.
But today.
Horikita Suzune could clearly feel.
She was being isolated by the class.
Apart from Ayanokouji, Sudou, and others, anyone else who ran into Horikita Suzune would consciously avoid her.
Undoubtedly.
Class D no longer hid its hatred for her, placing all the fault on Horikita Suzune.
Otherwise.
The one in the wrong would be themselves.
Only by pushing the fault onto a specific person could they continue to maintain that fake friendship.
Horikita Suzune looked down at her soaked school uniform.
"True, then how about my room?"
"No... it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go now, right?"
Hikigaya shook his head.
He clearly felt Horikita Suzune was not in a good state at the moment.
"True."
Horikita Suzune nodded and didn't insist.
"Then in thirty minutes, I'll go to your room, or you say a place."
"..."
Hikigaya looked at the sky; the rain showed signs of getting heavier.
"Then come to my room."
"Is it okay with Ichinose and the others?"
"It's fine, I'll just let them know."
With that.
Hikigaya held the umbrella and sent Horikita Suzune back to the dormitory building.
"Thank you."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head and said with a complex tone:
"I thought you must hate me."
"Huh? Why would you think that? While I certainly can't say I like you, it hasn't reached the level of hate, right?"
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
"..."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head and didn't respond.
Although such a way of putting it was very annoying, it seemed her last thought that he wouldn't date someone like her even if he were killed was just her own misunderstanding.