Chapter 72: In the Next Expulsion Exam, the One Leaving Will Be You, Horikita Suzune
While Sakayanagi had suddenly attacked the third year, nothing else unusual happened among the first-years. School life proceeded smoothly until the day before the exam.
During this time, Hikigaya noticed that the incident where Sudo hits someone didn't occur. Clearly, starting with zero points and having been reported to the Student Council once already made violent outbursts too risky for Ryuen.
Ryuen might have been tempted to test if he could drop below zero, but with 100 class points practically in his hand, there was no need.
To some extent, Class C's zero-point start had crippled them while simultaneously lowering Ryuen's threat level. With a prior record, further violence might actually get him expelled.
But before the exam, something else happened.
Horikita Suzune wanted to see Horikita Manabu.
She didn't go to the Student Council office directly; instead, she asked Hikigaya to set up a private meeting since she didn't have her brother's number. According to her, she wanted to pay back the 200,000 points she owed him, and second, she wanted to help Karuizawa.
Karuizawa needed to increase her influence within her small group, which normally meant the "fake boyfriend" route with Hirata.
While Hirata's orientation was occasionally questionable in the later volumes, he was undeniably a "good person."
Because he failed to help a bullied friend in middle school, leading to a suicide attempt, he had eventually "ruled" his previous school through fear to stop the bullying. He was sent to Class D because of that history.
Now, he helped everyone to compensate for his past guilt. He would certainly help Karuizawa if asked.
However, even in the original story, that fake relationship eventually ended. Horikita's new plan was to give Karuizawa actual authority. Since Class A was willing to pay 2 million points for a Secretary position, student council roles were clearly valuable. Getting Karuizawa a position would boost her prestige among the "gyarus" and the class.
"It was Sakura's suggestion," Horikita explained.
"I see," Hikigaya said.
Sakura Airi. In Horikita's team, Kushida was the bridge to the class, Karuizawa was the leader of the sharp-tongued gyarus, and Horikita was the lone wolf attacker.
But adding Sakura... well, Sakura was cute. And by being in this group, she might avoid being "sacrificed" by Ayanokouji.
In the original story, she was expelled because she was willing to go and no one stood up for her. This alliance ensured someone would pull her back from the ledge.
Sakura's intuition was strong. She was the sole witness in the Sudo case and the only one willing to sacrifice herself in the first class-vote exam. Her offering a useful suggestion now wasn't strange.
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Hikigaya and Horikita waited near a secluded vending machine for Horikita Manabu. Hikigaya had messaged him, and the President had replied with a time and place. They arrived fifteen minutes early.
Horikita Manabu was a serious man. Even late at night, he was likely still working in the Student Council office. Between the deeper access to school info and the stipend, he was essentially a "corporate slave" in training.
'Work is terrifying' Hikigaya thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Horikita Suzune asked, noticing his pensive look. She thought he was doubting the plan.
"Work is scary... No, wait. About Sakura's suggestion? It's fine. We don't need a high-ranking post. Class D is trash, so a marginal, 'throwaway' position in the Student Council will suffice."
"Right," Horikita nodded. Her strength and finances didn't allow for more anyway.
"But I still feel like I lack influence in the class."
"You can propose 'correct' and 'logical' ideas," Hikigaya advised.
"Kushida will back you up. Karuizawa can handle the troublemakers. If something feels off, ask Sakura—she might give you an unexpected answer. If you still need more weight, talk to Hirata. As long as it's for 'protecting classmates,' he'll cooperate for free."
"Hirata, huh?" Horikita knew Hirata acted as the class mediator, but she found him difficult to deal with. If Kushida was perfect but flawed, what was Hirata's deal? She was beginning to realize her class was full of "extraordinary" people.
"Do you know about Hirata's past too?" she asked.
"Yes," Hikigaya said.
"He's a time bomb. He'll only cause issues when someone has to be expelled. He won't allow anyone to be cut, not even someone like Yamauchi. He'll stubbornly defy you on that."
Horikita realized her path to 20,000,000 points and escaping Class D wasn't just possible—it was the only logical choice. If a dead-weight student needed to be expelled, a top-tier asset like Hirata would explode. If they didn't expel the dead weight, Class D would never rise. It was a hopeless situation.
"Actually, Class D has hope if you can trim the fat during exams," Hikigaya added.
"Cut the ones with zero academic ability during written tests, then cut the unathletic ones during sports exams. The survivors would be a solid group."
Horikita looked at him. "Don't test me. Since I've allied with you, I've stopped thinking about leading Class D to the top." She pressed her hand to her chest, eyes burning with resolve.
Hikigaya: "..."
He was just suggesting a solution.
In the original story, even with dead weight, Ayanokouji dragged them to Class A by the third year.
From a rival's perspective, Ayanokouji was terrifying. But exams weren't just about stats—they were about strategy.
No matter how strong Ayanokouji was, if Hikigaya stripped away his supporters and kept him isolated, it would be "Hell Mode" for the masterpiece of the White Room.
'Wait. My thinking is starting to resemble Sakayanagi's. That's not a good sign.'
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Footsteps approached. The two stopped talking. Horikita Manabu, the President with the same sharp features and red eyes as his sister, arrived.
It was 20:47. He was early for their 21:00 meeting despite being at the office moments ago.
'Siscon', Hikigaya noted internally.
"Brother—" Suzune tensed up.
"Suzune," Manabu's voice was cold.
"I'm sorry, Brother..." She became incredibly timid. It was a rare sight. She admired him so much it created an inferiority complex.
'Komachi, I hope you never feel this way. That's why your brother stays mediocre—to protect you!' Hikigaya's inner monologue was hyperactive.
Hikigaya had already informed him via text about the position request. The fact that Manabu showed up meant he agreed.
"Being assigned to Class D was indeed your foolishness," Manabu said.
"If I hadn't noticed, your teacher, Chabashira-sensei, would have forced you to lead that meaningless class upward. You should be glad you haven't done so yet."
His tone was sharp, but it was far better than the original timeline where he told her to drop out immediately.
"I'm sorry..."
"I won't let you join the Student Council," Manabu said, pushing up his glasses.
"However, if you are requesting a position for someone else, I can make an exception. I can offer a 'General Affairs' role involving menial work, or a 'Disciplinary Committee' member—a marginal role with mostly free time."
He was opening a back door for her. Even the "strongest president" acknowledged that human sentiment and social "favors" sometimes overrode pure logic. Manabu looked toward Hikigaya as he spoke.
The look implied: 'I am the President, but I am also Suzune's brother. She can use my power.'
"Sorry, Brother... I will pay points for it. But my current balance..." Suzune insisted on her principles.
"The General Affairs post is 500,000 points," Manabu quoted. "Disciplinary Committee is 200,000."
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Hikigaya suddenly remembered something. In the original story's first meeting between the siblings, Ayanokouji was there. Was he nearby now?
With their shared last name and appearance, a clever person would easily connect the dots. A utilitarian would never miss a chance to observe this.
Hikigaya looked toward the shadows. He walked several meters out but found no one. He scanned the area—nothing.
'Did I guess wrong?'
"What is it?" Manabu asked, noticing Hikigaya's movement.
"I thought someone might be eavesdropping on your meeting," Hikigaya said. "But I couldn't find anyone."
"I won't deny Suzune is my sister," Manabu said, indifferent to the risk of being seen with a Class D student.
Hikigaya shook his head.
"No, I mean if this affects your Class 3-A standing, your sister will worry."
Manabu's mouth twitched in surprise before he masked it.
"My affairs are not for my sister to worry about." He turned to Suzune.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving."
"Wait, Brother—" Suzune said.
"I didn't agree to Chabashira-sensei's plan to lead Class D. Instead..." She clenched her fist, eyes turning resolute despite her lingering fear.
"I decided to collect 20,000,000 points and transfer out. I will leave Class D!"
She had been charging up this "ultimate move." Hikigaya noticed her upper body looked determined, but her legs were slightly trembling.
"Hmph. You chose that path? It is more rational than trying to drag Class D up. That would have been truly foolish. But 20 million is no simple task."
"I know," she continued. "One person's strength is limited. I have an alliance with Hikigaya-kun from Class B, and I have three companions in Class D. The committee position is for one of them."
"I see. You've learned to form a group instead of being alone. You have grown a little," Manabu said.
"But you cannot survive this school with just that."
He walked away. Hikigaya immediately checked his phone. He hadn't seen Ayanokouji, but he had messaged Kushida.
Hikigaya: Kushida, do you have Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's contact?
Kushida: Eh? Why so sudden? I'm not close to him, but I have everyone's ID.
Hikigaya: Check his GPS for me. Was he near my location just now?
Kushida: Is it urgent?
Hikigaya: Yes. I want to know if he was eavesdropping.
Kushida: ? Is it that serious? Checking now.
Two minutes later, as Manabu vanished and Suzune stood dazed, the reply came.
Kushida: Your guess might be wrong. Two minutes ago, he was about 500 meters away from you.
500 meters? To a normal person, that was far. But three minutes had passed since Hikigaya started looking and messaged Kushida. 500 meters in three minutes was nothing for Ayanokouji.
If he had been there, it was the worst-case scenario. If he used the fact that the President was giving his sister's friend a "back-door" position, it could cause massive damage within Class D.
Hikigaya went to the vending machine and bought two drinks. He got himself a MAX Coffee and a tomato juice for the health-conscious Horikita. He pressed the cold bottle into her hand.
"Thank you... but I don't—"
"You and Yukinoshita are the same. Sometimes you need someone to be forceful with you. Once faced with strength, you soften up," Hikigaya said.
"What is this Yukinoshita like?" she asked.
"She is superior to you in every way," Hikigaya said bluntly.
"She's a genius. Her academic and learning abilities are peak. She can read the room and always knows the right thing to do, unlike a blockhead like you. When facing an equally talented sister, she works herself to the bone to catch up."
"..." Horikita Suzune felt she shouldn't have asked. It felt like an insult.
"You wanted to pay him back the 200,000 points to prove you didn't need his help, but you realized you needed him to go through the back door just to get a position. So you felt like a liar," Hikigaya added.
"Yes," she whispered, getting used to him reading her mind.
"I'm still so weak... I'm always passive. I wanted to help him, not be a burden..."
She composed herself and looked at him.
"I need your help. My power alone is tiny. Hikigaya, I know you are powerful. Your thinking is unpredictable, and your evaluation of me is terrible—you're always comparing me to that Yukinoshita—but none of that matters. You are the person in my network who can actually help me, and possibly help my brother. So... Hikigaya-kun! I need you."
'Gulp.'
Now it was Hikigaya's turn to be taken aback.
'Suzune, do you realize what you're saying? Translated with emotion, that sounds like: 'I need you, help me and my brother, be my tool.''
Hikigaya felt his conscience stop hurting.
'Suzune, you're just like Ayanokouji after all. You see people as tools.'
But she had also said she'd help him if he were in trouble. It was a mutual alliance. And she had growth potential. Perhaps in the future, if she transferred to Class B, she could be the cold logic to Ichinose's warm emotion.
"Fine, I'll help you. Didn't I say it before? I welcome you to my class."
"Yeah," she nodded, comforted.
Hikigaya looked at her and thought: 'If Yukinoshita were in this state, she'd probably reach out her hand to seal the deal as partners.'
Horikita couldn't do that. They were different people.
'Compared to Yukinoshita, Horikita is at a disadvantage in most areas, but she does have wins. Her stamina is higher—Yukinoshita has zero endurance. Also, Horikita's chest is significantly larger than Yukinoshita's. That's a huge complex for Yukinoshita, but Horikita wins effortlessly there... C? No, probably a D. Maybe an E...'
"You idiot!"
Just as she was calming down, Horikita's face turned bright red. She jumped up and threw the tomato juice he had forced on her right at him.
"I'm going back!" she yelled, retreating with a crimson face.
'Why did she hit me?' Hikigaya wondered.
And so, with that pact, the first semester's midterm exam of Advanced Nurturing High School began.
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