However.
Hikigaya was a sucker for that.
Looking at the tearful Wang Mei-Yu, he felt quite helpless.
"Fine, if you think that's okay, I'll talk to Airi for you and arrange a time for the two of you to meet. That should be enough, right?"
"Wuu wuu wuu..."
Wang Mei-Yu didn't sob, but the tears flowed non-stop.
She was used to it.
Whenever she argued with someone, she would involuntarily start crying.
Inwardly, however, she was thinking.
Hikigaya's words couldn't help but trigger her self-reflection.
Hirata and Ayanokouji were both very gentle; the things they said were always comfortable and matched her wishes perfectly.
But.
Was she really just pushing the problem onto others.
To make herself feel better?
Looking back at the past.
Every time she encountered a problem, she liked to consult others.
Originally she didn't think there was any issue with that, but after Hikigaya pointed it out, she realized she was indeed just pushing the problem onto the other party.
She had never made a decision on her own.
Right then.
Hearing the sound of sobbing, the people around couldn't help but look over.
"Isn't that Vice President Hikigaya?..."
"That guy made a girl cry again..."
"Shh... keep it down, be careful he doesn't make things difficult for you."
"But, who is that opposite him? Does that guy want to target a new girl?"
"Seems to be Wang Mei-Yu from Class 3-C?"
"Class C? They deserve it? She's from that former Class D... I knew it, although Vice President Hikigaya is a pervert, he seems like he's never bullied a girl."
"Maybe he was just talking about the last exam. I heard Class D cut off another ally again to get four hundred points."
"Tsk... it's that Class D after all, I already guessed this outcome before the exam."
"Honestly, thinking crying can make it like nothing happened is hilarious."
On the other side.
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Generally speaking.
Regardless of the reason.
As long as you make a girl cry, you will be the one in the wrong.
However.
The situation was different since the subject was Class C.
Class C had already fallen to the bottom.
As long as the target was Class D, no matter how over-the-top it was, people would interpret it themselves and always stand on the side of justice.
This was the current situation Class C was in.
However.
Letting Wang Mei-Yu continue crying like this wasn't a solution either; Hikigaya himself felt a bit bad.
She burst into tears instantly after just a couple of words.
Too fragile...
"Alright, stop crying. If there's nothing else, I'll head back first. I'll have Kei and the others talk to you later, okay?"
Seeing that Wang Mei-Yu was still suppressing her sobs and not responding, Hikigaya paused for a moment and stood up to leave.
"Wait..."
Hearing Wang Mei-Yu's words, Hikigaya stopped and turned back to look at the girl.
He saw that Wang Mei-Yu was still suppressing her sobs, and after hesitating for a long time, her voice was like a mosquito's hum.
"I'll go myself..."
Hmm...
As expected, I made Wang Mei-Yu angry, didn't I.
Hikigaya felt a bit helpless.
"If you're just speaking out of anger, there's no need for that."
After all.
If it was just out of anger.
Wang Mei-Yu would likely just back down again once she turned around.
"It's not..."
Wang Mei-Yu lowered her small head and said softly:
"While Hikigaya-kun's words were indeed a bit irritating, I can feel they were sincere. I really am just pushing the problem onto others."
"I cast the vote myself, so I really should go and apologize myself."
"Is that so..."
Hikigaya nodded and didn't take it too much to heart.
After all, what was the point of saying nice things? Class C mostly said one thing and did another.
It would depend on what Wang Mei-Yu actually did.
He would wait until she actually apologized before changing his view.
Even as the culprit who manipulated public opinion, he now found it difficult to trust this class.
"Fine then, you decide. I'll head back first."
Hikigaya nodded and turned to leave.
The next day.
After school.
Class 3-A.
Hikigaya, Ichinose, and the others left the classroom and saw Wang Mei-Yu cautiously peering over.
He didn't expect her to actually come.
But when Sakura Airi truly appeared in front of her, Wang Mei-Yu still felt a bit afraid, with a hesitant expression.
She had done a very terrible thing to Sakura Airi, so even if she were told something harsh, it would be normal.
But.
She was just afraid of being told something unpleasant when she had no room to defend herself.
After all, others could easily find excuses.
Or they didn't take it to heart at all.
Only Wang Mei-Yu clearly knew that she had done a very cruel thing to Sakura Airi.
In the end.
"Wang-san, hello..."
It was Sakura Airi who, after hesitating for a moment, stepped forward and greeted her kindly.
Since Wang Mei-Yu said she would come to apologize herself, Hikigaya naturally hadn't discussed it with Sakura Airi.
It's just that during this time.
Hikigaya had told her that whenever she ran into people from Class C, she should greet them more often.
There was no need to be too close, just to show that she didn't take it to heart.
Therefore.
Sakura Airi took the initiative to speak.
She had long since taken a step forward; she was no longer that timid, weak person who didn't dare to make eye contact.
"Ah... hello... Sakura-san..."
Wang Mei-Yu stood in place, her head lowered in silence for a long time, not daring to look directly into Sakura Airi's eyes.
"That... Wang-san?"
Seeing this, Sakura Airi was a bit confused: "Is there something you're looking for me for?"
"This... that..."
Wang Mei-Yu's small face turned beet red.
A simple apology.
Was truly too difficult for Wang Mei-Yu.
After a while, she stammered:
"Actually, I have some things I want to say to Sakura-san privately. I don't know if you have time now. I'll treat you to a meal?"
"Eh?"
Sakura Airi was even more perplexed.
After all, although they were once in the same class.
For nearly two years, the two had absolutely no interaction, and had not even spoken a word to each other.
This was actually quite normal.
Except for people with extremely strong social skills, many classmates might not say more than a few words to each other in three years.
Thinking of this.
Sakura Airi looked back. Seeing Hikigaya nod, she then agreed:
"That, it's fine, but there's no need to treat me. Let's just go Dutch."
Sakura Airi nodded in agreement.
To say she didn't have a small grudge in her heart would be impossible.
Although she didn't care.
She also didn't want to continue building a good relationship with the people of Class C.
To be treated as a sacrifice and then turn around and try to suck up to them—Sakura Airi was not so self-deprecating as to do that.
From a long time ago.
Sakura Airi had always addressed them as classmates.
Therefore, there was no need for a treated meal.
She had no reason to accept a treat from Wang Mei-Yu.
