Chapter 46: Ryuen: My Class Points Are Gone, My Private Points Are Gone, And Now I Owe 1 Million?
Hikigaya paused slightly as he passed the school's bulletin board. This board was frequently used to post campus-wide notices or disciplinary decisions.
Currently, the posted notice was the investigation result regarding Class A's report against Class C:
[Class 1-C has been involved in multiple instances of fighting and brawling. As a result, all male students are hereby issued a formal demerit. Furthermore, due to the severity of his actions, Ryuen Kakeru is individually sentenced to a one-week suspension. During this suspension, he must remain in the student dormitory at all times, except for going out to eat.]
Below that announcement, the rewards were also listed:
[Hikigaya Hachiman and Ichinose Honami of Class 1-B reported a store clerk in the school shopping district for violating regulations. Investigations have confirmed the report; the employee has been dismissed and handed over to the police. As a special reward, Class 1-B is granted 100 Class Evaluation Points.]
"Um, excuse me... Hikigaya-kun—"
While Hikigaya was intently focused on the bulletin board, he heard someone calling him in a small voice from beside him.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on a girl with twin tails and plain-glass spectacles. At first glance, her style looked a bit rustic. However, a second look revealed clear, beautiful eyes, and her lowered eyelashes and slightly pursed lips gave off a submissive vibe, much like a small animal.
"Oh. Sakura, huh." Hikigaya accurately called out her name.
'So it's Sakura Airi. Speaking of which, she's holding a camera; is she heading somewhere to take selfies later?
She was an idol model in middle school, so it's normal for her to take selfies. But going to isolated places alone to take photos is risky. I recall in the original story, she went to the school building to take selfies and ran into the Sudo fighting incident.
As a result, she was the only witness who stood up to testify for Sudo, but her private selfies were all exposed.'
"Ngh..."
Sakura didn't seem to expect him to call her name immediately. Her small nose twitched, and she froze for a second.
She hadn't expected to have that kind of history?
Sakura was cute, but Hikigaya's goal today wasn't her.
"Well then, see you later," Hikigaya said curtly, turning to leave.
"Eh? ...Uh, okay." Sakura Airi's eyes widened slightly; she didn't seem to have reacted in time. By the time she instinctively raised her hand to wave goodbye, the only thing in her sight was the boy's receding back.
'Uwah.'
She wasn't sure if he saw her half-raised hand; she worried he'd think she was impolite.
She made a silent vow: next time, she would definitely wave to him much earlier.
Sakura Airi thought to herself.
Her gaze fell back on the bulletin board, scanning the news about the dismissed store clerk.
She had been to that electronics store and felt an inexplicable fear of that clerk. Later, she received harassing letters in her mailbox and texts on her phone. She had been terrified but couldn't find anyone to talk to. Incredibly, after Hikigaya-kun invited her out, all the harassment disappeared.
Clearly, it was because that clerk was fired.
'As I thought, Hikigaya-kun really is a good person. He helped me.'
She thought silently.
.
-
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The target of Hikigaya's trip was Ryuen Kakeru.
For this special exam, once Kushida obtained the test papers, Class D would seemingly be able to pass smoothly.
But.
He wasn't here to do charity.
Just as Ichinose and the others worried, Class B had to firmly protect the results they had achieved.
They couldn't afford a single risk of being reported. Thus, on one hand, he had Kushida buy the papers so she would take the blame if things came to light; on the other hand, he gave Kushida that hint earlier—to contact Horikita.
When Horikita recognized that Class D was beyond saving, he could "open up" another path for her.
For instance, having her gather 20 million points to transfer classes.
A massive sum unattainable by an individual becomes possible when the resources of an entire class are used as bargaining chips. In this way, Class D could, to some extent, become a "tool class" for Class B.
Furthermore.
The reason Class D was Class D was because of that group of "trash" holding everyone back. Therefore, a Class D that constantly drags its own feet is a "good" Class D.
After all, if all the trash were expelled, wouldn't the presence of "monsters" and problem children with stats far exceeding other classes cause Class D to rise?
However, that was just the layout for Class D. For Class B, there was still the "alliance" class they had a verbal agreement with since last month—Class 1-C.
Currently, Ryuen sat gloomily in a corner of the cafeteria, silently chewing on a free mountain vegetable set. He furrowed his brows, using his fork to poke with disgust at the wilted yellow vegetables on his plate.
"Shit, this tastes terrible!" he cursed impatiently under his breath. Before the words finished, a shadow loomed over his table.
Ryuen snapped his head up to find Hikigaya Hachiman's signature "dead fish eyes" crashing into his vision.
"..." Ryuen's eyes sharpened, his lips curling into a cold arc.
"I hope you aren't here just to enjoy the show!"
"I sympathize with your situation," Hikigaya said. "But are you sure you're going to do absolutely nothing for this exam?"
"What do you mean?" Ryuen's brow locked tight.
He had collaborated with Hikigaya once; last time, the other party had also approached him with intel.
But.
He felt something wasn't quite right.
Like those idiots in his class were saying: 'Ryuen, if you hadn't tried so damn hard, if we just did nothing, would Class C still have lost all its points?'
Whether it was his own problem or a lack of vigilance that let someone report him to the school, the result remained the same.
His strict management over the past half-month, even all the "effort" of the students, had vanished into thin air.
'Class A! I will never let that class go!'
"I've found the method to clear this exam. And I have a proposal for you," Hikigaya's voice pulled Ryuen back.
"How about Class C becomes a subsidiary of Class B?
In future exams, you follow Class B's lead. In exchange, Class B will pay you 800,000 points a month for living expenses."
With 800,000 a month, each Class C student would get roughly 20,000 points—just enough to sustain basic needs.
"Impossible!" Ryuen slammed the table and stood up, his eyes sharp as knives.
"Class C will never sink to that level!"
He refused immediately.
Becoming a subsidiary meant giving up all competitive eligibility. He'd be coming to this school just to wait for death.
That ran counter to his goals.
He came to challenge this school's rules, not to be a piece of trash!
"That's a shame," Hikigaya said.
"It seems we'll have to continue with our previous 'cooperation' style."
"1 million points. I'll sell the clear method to Class C. After all, your class is packed with academic failures—including yourself, Ryuen." Hikigaya's gaze swept over him.
"Your academic ability is only Rank D. You're at the level where you'll fail immediately if the written test is even slightly difficult."
"Another clear method?" Ryuen's pupils constricted. He leaned forward slightly, exuding wariness.
Last month, Hikigaya from Class B told them the school's truth. Now, before the exam even started, Hikigaya was here again.
If he accepted the plan, would Class C end up even worse than if they had done nothing?
Once the thought surfaced, it wouldn't go away. That unprecedented 0-point start had left too deep a psychological scar.
However, the fact that Class C was full of failures was true; even he was in danger.
"I don't have points right now." Ryuen spread his hands, his tone carrying a trace of irritation and helplessness.
"The remaining 200,000 points have already been split among the students for this month's living expenses."
"Then just owe it," Hikigaya said nonchalantly.
"Once your class gains evaluation points later, you can always pay it back."
"Are you so sure Class C has to take on this debt?" A mocking smile suddenly appeared on Ryuen's face, and his eyes turned dangerous.
"You saw the bulletin board, didn't you? Class C might have been reported by Class A and lost all its points, but our current score is zero."
He leaned back in his chair with a reckless, vicious air.
"This means that even if Class C violates school rules again, we won't lose any points! Since we can't be deducted..." His mouth split open, revealing white teeth.
"Why shouldn't we go collect some 'protection fees' from the other classes?
For instance, actively starting brawls to create a 'punish both sides' situation, getting students from other classes suspended for a week or two to drag down the classes that actually want to study." Ryuen spoke faster, a frantic light in his eyes.
"Or, finding ways to make certain people fail their exams. Every student in Classes A and B is precious to you, but right now, none of you have 20 million points to waive an expulsion."
"So, using this method to settle the debt... wouldn't that be much better? So, tell me," he stared provocatively at Hikigaya, "why should I pay for your plan? Not making a move against you—that's the bargaining chip for this deal!"
Class C's zero points were a dead end, yet Ryuen had turned them into a weapon without a bottom line.
He was a former gang leader, after all; he was best at using violence to solve problems.
"If that's the case," Hikigaya unhurriedly pulled his phone from his pocket. The screen lit up, clearly showing a recording interface.
"Then you will be the first one to be expelled."
He tapped the screen to stop the recording, then practicedly dragged the progress bar to the key moment where Ryuen said 'even if Class C violates school rules again, we won't lose any points.'
This meant that if Ryuen actually dared to implement his crazy "protection fee" plan, it wouldn't end in mutual destruction.
It would result in ironclad evidence of malicious rule-breaking and intent to disrupt school order—especially since he was already under suspension. Expulsion would be the only outcome.
Ryuen Kakeru would be the first person expelled among the freshmen.
Almost instantly.
"..." The color drained from Ryuen's face. He stared fixedly at the phone, his Adam's apple bobbing as he forced a curse back down his throat.
'Dammit!'
Hikigaya had specifically come to his door to slip this fatal noose around his neck.
In this round, he was still the fish on the chopping block, being toyed with.
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