Chapter 055: Hikigaya: I'm Doing Something Bad! Sakayanagi: Me Too!
In the original story, Horikita Suzune was sharp and aggressive. Under the secret manipulation of the protagonist Ayanokoji, she forced Class D to climb upward, eventually even brushing against the threshold of Class A.
However.
Even if the novel hadn't concluded yet, Hikigaya was certain that even if Class D managed to ascend to Class A by luck, they could never hold that position.
Ultimately, Class D was merely a class being forcibly carried by the wings of a powerhouse.
Even if they reached the summit, the school would never allow them to graduate smoothly with the halo of Class A.
At that point, the school would undoubtedly implement written special exams far beyond the current difficulty—exams that no longer relied on old questions—to test their raw strength with "real blades and spears" and filter them out.
The reason was simple.
Class D did indeed hide "crouching tigers and hidden dragons."
There were top-tier scholars, gifted athletes, "monster-like" existences, and problem children who could hold their own against Classes A and B. However, the majority were students of mediocre or even "bottom-tier" aptitude. Their existence acted as a heavy anchor.
The school promised that Class A graduates would receive heavyweight recommendation letters, enough to open doors to top-tier industries and elite universities.
But.
These Class A graduates also represented the school's face.
If they performed poorly, it would bring shame to their alma mater.
Moreover, many prestigious universities are not places where one can simply walk in and coast to graduation; academic failures would find it nearly impossible to survive until completion.
Therefore, while the school seemingly "fairly" assigned 1000 base points to all classes, it had actually drawn invisible class lines from the start. Being sorted into Class D was almost equivalent to a declaration that the road to upward mobility was severed.
So, do smart people have no other way out? Actually, they do.
For example, among the homeroom teachers of the four current first-year classes, everyone except Class C's Sakagami Kazuma-sensei was once a student at this school.
Among them, only Mashima-sensei was a legitimate Class A graduate.
Hoshinomiya and Chabashira both started in Class D. As the pillars of their class, they worked together to push their class to the height of Class B.
Although their final push for Class A ended in failure, the school recognized their strength and gave them the precious opportunity to stay and teach.
After earning their university degrees, both Chabashira and Hoshinomiya chose to return. Now, six years into their careers, they were leading their third batch of students.
In other words, the school wouldn't ignore an outstanding individual even if they came from Class D.
While their graduation prospects wouldn't be as lavish as Class A's, they could still obtain a significant recommendation letter—providing an alternate channel for advancement.
However, now.
Horikita Suzune had stepped onto a fork in the road completely different from the original story.
She had abandoned the script of carrying the heavy burden of Class D. Consequently, she wouldn't have to experience the roller coaster of climbing to the peak of Class A only to fall back down in embarrassment.
Instead.
She chose a path that seemed more direct but was actually laid out for her entirely by Hikigaya Hachiman: amassing 20 million personal points to transfer directly to Class A.
Being assigned to Class D was a result of her own deficiencies. But if she led Class D to become Class A, it would prove she was impressive.
However, if she could save 20 million points to transfer, it would simply mean she was personally incredible.
Wait, why is the latter more impressive?
The former represents the class. Her class has monsters and dead weight; by suppressing the dead weight and selecting the monsters, she would effectively be carried by them.
She would merely be an "accessory."
But if she possessed 20 million points, and those points were her hard-earned, personal wealth, that achievement itself would be the ironclad proof of her ability. If she could reach that requirement, even her brother, Horikita Manabu, would acknowledge her.
After all, this was a feat no one in the school's history had yet accomplished.
And if others can't do it, but you can?
So...
Actually, little Horikita had been tricked. She was just completely unaware of it at the moment.
Furthermore, she had no way of knowing that her brother never entertained the thought of forcing her to withdraw, nor did he find it embarrassing for her to be in Class D.
In Manabu's eyes, the evaluation system must have been flawed; it had nothing to do with his sister herself.
This thought might be arbitrary, but as a veteran "sister-con" himself, Hikigaya knew full well that Horikita Manabu would never look down on his sister for this.
However, as an older brother, he would naturally worry about her situation.
Manabu was a third-year, nearing graduation with only one year left. He either had to cultivate his sister until she could stand on her own before he left, or find a way to take her with him upon graduation.
Therefore, Manabu's requirements for his sister were actually pitifully low.
Thus, when Hikigaya suggested that Horikita Suzune prove herself by gathering 20 million points to transfer, her acceptance was exactly what he wanted—she was being thoroughly misled.
Would she take the bait?
"You want to gather 20 million points to transfer... because you hope to gain your brother's recognition through that?" Hikigaya asked.
"Yes," Horikita Suzune nodded. Then she lowered her head.
"I am so weak," she said. "Not only did I think I was excellent, but after enrolling, I was evaluated as a 'fool' in Class D.
And... my performance last month was very inadequate." Her tone was filled with self-loathing.
Oh. That was a truly earnest evaluation.
Because she knew the truth of the school but couldn't even gather enough points to buy the exam materials, let alone unite her class. He had heard from Kushida that Horikita couldn't even collect the minimum 200,000 points from Class D to buy the "truth" of the school.
It was indeed quite terrible.
But this was someone else's sister. And if she didn't feel like a "weakling" herself, it wouldn't be so easy for him to fool her.
"So, you feel ashamed because your brother paid 200,000 points for you? You feel like you've burdened him and want to make up for that debt?"
"..."
Horikita Suzune quickly looked up, because Hikigaya was exactly right. "Yes," she said.
Oh. If that was the case...
"A nice sentiment. But unfortunately," Hikigaya guided her, "the price your brother paid is far beyond your imagination." He paused deliberately, watching her expression instantly tighten.
"Your brother actually gave me another compensation: the status of a candidate for the next Student Council President.
I can use this status myself, or I can sell it. You should know that a position as a Student Council Secretary is priced at 1 million personal points by your brother. And the status of a Presidential Candidate..." Hikigaya's tone became meaningful, "when needed, a price of 5 million or even 10 million wouldn't be difficult.
And the question you asked me about the school's truth is only worth 600,000 points at most. Do you understand why your brother gave me something so expensive?"
'Do you understand?'
The sunlight shifted slightly, making the room look a bit hazy.
Horikita Suzune snapped her head up, her eyes filled with unbelievable shock.
"You mean..."
"Your brother probably intended for me to 'look after' you a bit." Hikigaya threw out the pre-prepared lie without blinking.
"That's why I'm giving you advice."
"If you're going solo to gather 20 million points, I suggest you come to my class." He paused, his tone taking on a natural air of care.
"Since we are in different classes now, if you come to mine, I can look after you more."
"..." Horikita went completely silent. Her gaze lowered to the patterns on the table. She didn't speak, appearing deep in thought.
After a while, she asked, "But isn't gathering 20 million points to go to Class A the optimal solution?"
Horikita seemed to have found a loophole in Hikigaya's words.
But.
"That's not a problem," Hikigaya said quickly.
"Because my class will eventually become Class A."
"...Is that so." Even though Hikigaya was currently the representative of Class B, not Class A, Horikita's tone was no longer as persistent.
After all, after knowing the truth of the school, one would find a huge gap between the four classes this year. It was just the gap between AB and CD. And with the minor deviation between A and B—if Hikigaya hadn't told Class A about the old questions, and they hadn't figured it out, Class B would have the chance to overtake them.
So, although Hikigaya was talking big, Horikita Suzune didn't find anything unusual.
"So, back to the present," Hikigaya said.
"You feel that gathering 20 million points is more appropriate now, right?"
"...Yes. But it's very difficult," Horikita said, shaking her head. Not just difficult—she couldn't even earn back the 200,000 points her brother advanced.
"Furthermore, part-time jobs seem to be forbidden in this school. I noticed no students working in the shopping district," Horikita added.
Indeed. An ordinary high schooler wanting to make money would think of a part-time job.
But. This school isn't like others, and you, Horikita Suzune, aren't exactly an ordinary high school girl.
Your thinking is wrong.
"The school's goal is for students to grow through competition, and class competition is a great method. The school is unlikely to hire students, so you have to change your mindset." Hikigaya almost showed her his personal account balance but remembered something.
He added, "But it's not like you have no other way to make money."
"What is it?" Horikita asked curiously.
"You probably haven't noticed, but you're actually quite cute. Cute girls naturally have other ways to make money." As soon as Hikigaya said this, Horikita Suzune—who hadn't even stood up when Kushida left—instantly stood up.
She even backed up two steps to keep her distance from him. A look of total alertness.
But did he trigger her "alert" status? Well, he did need her to be more alert.
"I'm saying I hope you don't take that path. In this school, you can earn a lot of points using your brain," Hikigaya said.
"..."
So, he was actually teaching her? Setting boundaries for what she shouldn't do. This feeling... was just like an older brother.
"I understand," Horikita Suzune said.
But looking at her determined face: "..."
'Well.'
Although he was fooling someone else's sister, Hikigaya wondered if this was really okay. Even for him, a momentary pang of conscience appeared.
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At that moment. The Student Council Office.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows onto the polished floor. Though it was Sunday, Horikita Manabu was at his desk handling mountains of paperwork. As the most outstanding President in history, aside from his undeniable strength, he was a model of diligence.
The newly appointed Secretary, Katsuragi, had also arrived early. He came to work very earnestly, hoping to "learn and practice more to progress quickly."
"Nagumo won't come to the Student Council on weekends, so Katsuragi-kun, stay with me for now," Manabu said without looking up, his steady voice ringing in the quiet office.
"Tachibana Akane will also guide you."
"Thank you, President," Katsuragi replied respectfully. As a Class A elite, he respected the strong and held a special attachment to Student Council duties—he was the Vice President in middle school, and being in the Student Council here brought him great satisfaction.
"President?" Just as Katsuragi finished his reply, he heard Horikita Manabu suddenly sneeze loudly for no reason. He called out with concern.
"Did you catch a cold?" Secretary Tachibana Akane also noticed.
Not only was Manabu the President, but he was also her classmate and trusted partner. Naturally, she cared about his health. She knew that the current third-year Class A maintained its position largely because the President carried everyone.
He worked very hard.
'If we were more outstanding, would Horikita-kun not have to work so hard... but at least he can rest a bit during this exam.'
Since this written exam used old questions, it was a test for first-years but a "welfare" benefit for second and third-years. Manabu wouldn't need to worry about it. Tachibana thought to herself.
"I was probably just being talked about by someone," Manabu said.
"My health has always been fine." He gave a small smile to Katsuragi and Tachibana. This was a rare sight; people assumed the President was strictly stern, but he had such a gentle side.
"Ara, it seems I've come at quite a lucky time." At that moment, a cute girl's voice appeared outside the Student Council office.
Katsuragi was very familiar with that voice. It was the voice of the other Class A representative, Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Sakayanagi, why are you here... at this time?" Katsuragi asked with a look of alertness.
"Nothing major, Katsuragi-kun." Sakayanagi Arisu leaned on her cane, her silhouette slowly appearing in the doorway. A cute smile hung on her exquisite face, but her gaze was fixed directly on Horikita Manabu. "I've simply come to consult President Horikita on a few questions."
She keenly captured the lingering gentle atmosphere in the office, but unfortunately for them... her purpose here was anything but kind.
'Why say such wicked things?'
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