Chapter 071: Kushida's Confidence:? Ayanokouji? That shut-in is a nobody.
Nagumo had intended to intercept Sakayanagi-kouhai after being played.
As Asahina and Nagumo watched, an incredibly cute girl wearing a black beret and holding a cane in her left hand stepped out of the elevator. She was followed by two other girls: a tall one with long purple hair holding a parasol for her, and another carrying her water bottle.
Sakayanagi walked at the front like a queen on a royal procession. Asahina recognized her immediately. This was Sakayanagi Arisu—undeniably adorable.
But for Nagumo Miyabi, the memory of the dead-eyed junior she had sent to blackmail him made her presence far from pleasant. He walked straight up to her.
"Sakayanagi-kouhai," Nagumo said.
"You seem quite cheerful. But don't you think acting like the queen of this school over such a minor success is a bit ostentatious?"
Sakayanagi shifted her gaze toward him.
Nagumo continued, "I admit, you are clever. You've gathered a lot of intelligence and understand our second-year situation perfectly. But sending a mere lackey from your class to confront me... that's a bit insulting, don't you think?
However, your expectations might be frustrated," Nagumo added.
"I have already secured the votes from the third-year Class C and Class D. No matter how you struggle, it's useless. Even if you hold the candidacy for the next Student Council President, a candidate without votes is a worthless thing.
Of course, I have your oversight to thank for this. If you hadn't sent someone to my door, I wouldn't have acted so quickly. I admit, the first-years this year have some brilliant students among the trash, but thinking the second-years are easy prey is just foolish.
The 5,000,000-point transaction marks the end of this incident. Choosing to stop interfering in our second-year affairs is the only wise move."
"..." Sakayanagi remained silent.
Suddenly being stopped by a blonde senior who proceeded to spout a "loser's manifesto" while mocking her short-sightedness left Sakayanagi feeling rather displeased.
However, she realized something was off. When had she ever mentioned interfering in the second-year special exams? Or "choosing to stop"? And what was this about 5,000,000 points? As the leader of the Sakayanagi faction, she hadn't seen a single point of that sum.
It wasn't her style to let a provocation slide. If she hadn't been leaning on her cane, she would have crossed her arms to see what else this Nagumo Miyabi of Class 2-A had to say.
From Nagumo's words, she picked up a few clues.
"It seems Nagumo-senpai is quite afraid of me taking action," Sakayanagi remarked. "But you must realize there is no signed agreement with me. Any verbal promise made by the person I 'sent' might not be valid."
"There's no written contract because you wouldn't show your face. However," Nagumo countered immediately, "I recorded the conversation. You sent them with the intent to attack the second-years and sabotage our exam. Leaking that recording would make things very difficult for you."
Nagumo explained that while cross-grade exams were rare, they weren't non-existent. If Sakayanagi broke the "agreement," the entire second year would target her class during any joint school event.
Nagumo, of course, wouldn't release the parts of the recording that made him look bad. He would only use what benefited him. Having bought the third-year votes, he could potentially rally the entire school against Class 1-A. It would be an irrational move for Sakayanagi to continue.
But Sakayanagi had never attacked the second year.
This was either a subordinate acting on their own or—more likely—someone shifting the blame onto her. There was no one in her class capable of matching Nagumo, a Student Council Vice President who had led Class B to A, besides herself.
The list of people who would use her name as a shield while throwing her under the bus was very small.
'My goal remains that all students in the school receive the full 100-point reward for this written exam.'
The words Hikigaya had said during their last meeting flashed through her mind. He had repeated them twice.
She finally understood what he meant by "protecting the common welfare." The school provided the reward, but it had to be "protected" from being stolen. The third year was paid for by Horikita Manabu, and the second year was paid for by Nagumo.
And the "blame" for the aggression was dropped squarely on her lap.
'How interesting, Hikigaya-kun.'
Sakayanagi smiled. She wasn't angry. If he weren't aggressive, he wouldn't be a worthy opponent. In fact, she felt a thrill of excitement.
She realized Hikigaya had likely distributed the test papers to Classes D and C, then dragged Class A in, making it look like a gift to the first-years.
In reality, he was baiting her to enter the fray. Because her father was the Chairman, she couldn't become the "enemy of the whole school," so she had limited her attacks to the "weak-minded" Horikita Manabu.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya seized the opportunity to attack Nagumo under her name, forcing Nagumo to buy off the third-year votes and secure his victory for the presidency.
This, in turn, weakened the value of the candidacy Sakayanagi had just obtained.
'Hikigaya-kun... you tricked me into biting a fat fish, only to tell me the fish can't be eaten—it's only for show. Then you impersonated me to attack a rival.'
"Terrible," she whispered. "No, brilliant, Hikigaya-kun."
She truly respected him now. He was the man who had allied with Class C last month only to set a trap for Ryuen.
His strategic depth was extraordinary.
She hadn't won this round. But she hadn't completely lost either.
"Since you've said so much, I have no choice but to follow the agreement," Sakayanagi said to Nagumo.
"However, Nagumo-senpai , please pay the remainder of the points now."
She knew Nagumo couldn't produce 5 million points instantly, especially with her not even present at the initial deal. He had to divert money to buy the third-year votes, so he certainly hadn't given Hikigaya the full amount yet.
'Since Hikigaya-kun used my identity, it's only fair that I 'collect' the rest. This is the story you started, after all.'
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During lunch, Hikigaya headed to Keyaki Mall instead of the cafeteria. Horikita had messaged him saying Karuizawa wanted to meet.
They met at a family restaurant. Though the notice was short, he had told her she could pick the time. He arrived first and ordered several sets: two spicy, two mild, and seafood soup.
Two minutes after he ordered, Karuizawa arrived. The bell chimed as a girl with a beautiful blonde ponytail entered. She was incredibly cute—comparable even to Sakayanagi. She wore her uniform jacket tied around her waist and black short socks.
This was Karuizawa Kei. This was Hikigaya's first time meeting the early-story heroine.
For Karuizawa, she had hesitated 50 meters from the restaurant. Horikita, Kushida, and Sakura could all hear his "inner voice." Would she? She didn't think she was some "heroine" destined for supernatural events. She saw herself as a parasite, a wretch looking for someone to protect her so she could survive this school.
"He was the one who told me about your past directly," Horikita had told her the night before.
He knew everything. She took a deep breath and entered. She found him instantly—dead-fish eyes, dark green hair. He looked difficult to approach, yet his eyes seemed sharp.
"Um—" Karuizawa stood at the table.
"Oh. Since you're here, let's talk. I've ordered lunch," Hikigaya said.
"Given Class D's financial situation, this meal is on me. I'll also pay you points whenever I need your specific help in the future."
"Pay me points?" Karuizawa blinked. Was he hiring her?
"You can't work part-time in this school," she said tentatively.
"Normally, yes. The school wants students to focus on class competition to prepare for society. I think it's meaningful," Hikigaya replied.
"You're... a bit different," Karuizawa muttered. He sounded more like a Student Council President than a student. She fidgeted.
"Horikita told me... you know about... my past."
Despite confessing to the girls last night, saying it to him felt different. She felt a wave of shame.
"I know your past. It wasn't your fault," Hikigaya said.
"It's necessary to oppose unfairness. Even though you were hurt, I think you're incredible for surviving it."
"Eh?" Karuizawa was stunned. She sat down.
"So... you recognize me?"
"I sympathize with what happened. If I were in your class back then, I'd have advised you to transfer or seek help. I don't know how many times you were disappointed by those you sought help from, but the fact that you struggled out of that nightmare makes you strong."
Karuizawa went quiet. No one had ever said that to her.
The girls had given her looks of pity, but Hikigaya gave her... validation.
"Then... what you said to Horikita... are you willing to protect me?" she asked, her voice dropping the arrogant "gyaru" facade. She was desperate and needed an answer.
"As long as I am in this school, I can promise that," Hikigaya said.
"In exchange, I need you to work for me."
"I see." A cold trade, yet reassuring. If she was useful, she wouldn't be discarded. She relaxed slightly.
Then she realized: she hadn't heard any "inner voice" at all.
'I guess I'm not special after all' she thought. But the result was acceptable. Hikigaya was Class B's representative; he was a powerful ally.
Then a thought struck her: 'If I can't hear his thoughts, does that mean everything he just said to me was exactly what he was thinking?'
Hikigaya's phone buzzed.
[Hikigaya-kun, I didn't know you belonged to me now.]
[Do you wish to be kept by me as well?]
It was obviously Sakayanagi. She knew he had used her name against Nagumo. He started typing: I asked your opinion, and you didn't attack, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass...
Before he could finish, another message arrived:
[Since you aren't speaking, I'll take that as a 'yes.' Since you used my name, I'll be taking the remaining 2 million points from your 5-million-point deal with Nagumo-senpai for myself.]
Hikigaya put his phone away.
"That was Sakayanagi from Class A. She's one of my biggest rivals here. I'll likely need your help to deal with her later."
'Looking at her message reminds me of our last meeting. She mentioned finding a 'capable puppy' to do her chores. Karuizawa is certainly a match for Sakayanagi's Kamuro in terms of utility.'
Karuizawa's eyes widened. She had just heard his voice in her head. So she could hear him.
But then she processed the thought.
'Puppy? Pet? He wants to fight Sakayanagi, but he thinks of me as a dog?'
"I think... you shouldn't face Sakayanagi alone," Karuizawa blurted out. She wanted to tell him that if Sakayanagi could hear his thoughts, his plans would be exposed. But the words "inner voice" wouldn't come out.
"New?" Hikigaya asked, confused.
"V-Voice..." Karuizawa struggled.
"Students?" Hikigaya tilted his head.
Karuizawa realized she couldn't speak of the phenomenon. She'd have to tell Horikita and the others later.
The waiter brought lunch. They ate quickly to get back to class. Karuizawa thought about "Kamuro" from Class A. Was she also treated like a dog?
'Wait, did he just compare me to a pet? Are students in this school even human to him?'
After finishing, Karuizawa handed him a document.
"The class signed the agreement to sell the votes."
It contained 40 signatures from Class D, agreeing to sell their voting rights to Hikigaya Hachiman for 500,000 points.
"Even Koenji signed?" Hikigaya saw two names: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Koenji Rokusuke.
For 500,000 points (about 12,500 per person), the class was selling itself cheap. But for Class D, who were broke, it was half a month's living expenses.
"Koenji thought it was strange, but when we said it was you, he laughed," Karuizawa explained. "He said: 'It seems there are still people struggling in Class D.' But when Horikita asked him to help with the next exam, he refused immediately. He has zero class loyalty."
'He doesn't need class loyalty' Hikigaya thought.
'You, Horikita, and Kushida are just tools he's using to control the class while he stays detached.'
Karuizawa heard the thought.
'Tools?!'
'According to the original plot, Ayanokouji didn't buy the test papers, but after the exam party, Kushida should avoid him at all costs, or she'll run into big trouble.'
Karuizawa tilted her head.
'Information about Kushida-san?'
After school, Karuizawa messaged Kushida:
[I learned from Hikigaya's heart today: you need to be careful of Ayanokouji.]
She found she could send the information via text, even if she couldn't say it. But when she tried to text Hikigaya about the "inner voice," she couldn't type the words.
She added to Kushida:
[Specifically after the exam, after the celebration party.]
Kushida looked at the message. She looked toward the back of the classroom. There sat Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, the guy who hung out with the "Three Idiots" (Ike, Yamauchi, Sudou). He seemed to have no social skills and average grades.
'That shut-in? He's a nobody.'
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