“Isn’t that an exaggeration?
I think Ayanokouji is just a bit gloomy and expressionless.” “No, maybe it’s not as exaggerated as Hikigaya says, but I also think Ayanokouji Kiyotaka isn’t an ordinary student.” Horikita Suzune, sitting next to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, had exchanged many words with him.
She had thought the peculiar feeling she got from him was just her imagination.
But with Hikigaya’s confirmation, she decided to trust her instincts.
Hikigaya told them it was just a heads-up.
He didn’t really care if their views of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka changed.
It was a kind of arrogance, a self-satisfaction that came from speaking, to think that simply saying something would make others understand.
“Let’s not talk too much about Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
The main point today is the information trade.” Hikigaya directly handed them a blank piece of paper with the information written on it.
“Payment first, then goods.
I trust you.” The information sold to Class D was different from what was given to other classes.
It included a clause about being able to transfer classes with twenty million private points.
Hirata and the other person looked at it as soon as they received it.
“…” After reading it, Hirata tilted his head back and closed his eyes, seeming relatively calm.
In contrast, Horikita Suzune’s state was visibly shaken.
“Impossible…
Absolutely impossible.
With my abilities, I would never be assigned to Class D.” The government wouldn’t invest so much money into a school for the sole purpose of nurturing academically excellent students.
ANHS aimed to cultivate elite leaders.
Horikita’s reclusive personality was completely at odds with being a leader.
“That’s just your personal judgment.
The school’s evaluation of you is just that,” Hikigaya said, placing his hand on Kushida’s shoulder.
“In my personal judgment, Kushida is more outstanding than you.” Class D was a gathering of students with various personality issues.
From the agitated messages received on his phone, Hikigaya judged that Kushida had been accumulating a lot of stress lately.
He decided she needed to vent, and the best way was to use Horikita, whom she disliked.
If Kushida were to vent her feelings secretly like before and get caught, he would be in big trouble.
“I have some idea why Kushida dislikes me,” Horikita Suzune said, looking up at Hikigaya with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Do you…
also dislike me?” “I’ve always wanted to be friends with you, Horikita.” “I’ll make my own judgment.” Horikita ruthlessly shut down Kushida’s objection.
She was now embodying what Hikigaya had once hoped for her: to be true to herself, not rely on anyone, and express her inner feelings honestly.
“Not yet…
maybe.” Hikigaya could only answer her that way.
She wasn’t yet the ‘evolved’ Horikita Suzune who had expelled Sakura Airi in the second-year special exam, shattering his illusions.
However, he sometimes saw them as the same, and occasionally acted inappropriately without realizing it.
Just like just now, like the incident with Yamauchi this morning.
If it were another student, Hikigaya would have stopped Yamauchi.
But at that moment, he just watched.
Even though he knew Yamauchi wouldn’t succeed, that wasn’t an excuse.
He knew he had made a mistake again.
“That’s all for today.
We’ll talk about private points tomorrow.” Hikigaya felt a weight in his heart.
“Alright, I have a lot of things to verify too.” After Hirata and Kushida said their goodbyes, Hikigaya was the only one left standing in the room, still dazed.
Even though winter had passed, he still felt a bit cold.
—————— After school, Hikigaya declined Hirata’s invitation to a class meeting, using the excuse of needing to report to the student council.
With dark circles under his eyes, he climbed to the fourth-floor student council office.
Hikigaya had realized his recent behavior had been a bit reckless and had spent a long time reflecting last night.
“Wow, your eyes look like you’re dead.” At the student council office door, Hikigaya met another student council secretary and the president.
The petite girl with a buns hairstyle still harbored malice towards him from that day.
“Lord Horikita, I’m here to report that a student is slandering a student council secretary.
This is no longer an ordinary student.
I suggest we strike her hard.” “You…” Tachibana Akane’s eyes flashed with flames of anger.
“Use titles when working, and respect your seniors.” Taking out a key from his pocket, Horikita Manabu opened the door and walked in.
The previously dim classroom was now bright.
A wooden long table was placed in the center of the office.
Three sides were arranged with several office chairs, while the wall at the end of the classroom had only one chair.
It was obvious whose seat it was.
“Tachibana will show you the ropes for the next couple of days.
You can sit next to her.” “Understood, President.” After the two sat down, Hikigaya also sat down next to the sulking senior.
Because it was Horikita Manabu’s request, Tachibana Akane, though slightly annoyed, diligently taught him the student council’s work.
Soon, other student council members began to arrive while listening to Tachibana Akane’s clear voice.
One of them, with yellow hair, kept eyeing him with interest.
The yellow-haired man was Nagumo Miyabi, the vice president and leader of Class 2-A.
He had previously attacked Horikita Manabu’s class in the first-year year-end special exam, expelling Tachibana Akane.
However, Horikita Manabu had saved her with twenty million private points.
Explode, popular people.
Even though he used to be a slacker, Nagumo was so famous at school that Hikigaya had heard many rumors about him, such as having had many girlfriends, dominating the entire grade, and always wanting to one-up Horikita Manabu.
“Since everyone is here, Horikita Manabu, why don’t you introduce our new secretary?
I’m very interested in Hikigaya, the junior admitted on special approval by Horikita Manabu.” “Sorry, my sexual orientation is normal.” For some reason, Hikigaya felt he really disliked this yellow-haired guy, even though he had a handsome face.
“Hello everyone.
My name is Hikigaya Hachiman.
I like girls and hate work.
Please take care of me.” After standing up and greeting them, Hikigaya sat down and shrank back next to Tachibana Akane.
But Nagumo Miyabi wasn’t planning to let him off.
“Hating work is not good.
With great ability comes great responsibility.
Secretary Hikigaya, didn’t you earn six million private points today with your own abilities?” Nagumo propped his chin with his left hand, his eyelids slightly lowered.
“I appreciate talented people.” “Can the student council check students’ private points?” Hikigaya thought only the school administration could check, not expecting the student council to be able to.
“The president can, but the vice president cannot,” Horikita Manabu said, pulling himself away from the work on the desk.
“We can also see all students’ exam results.
The school records students’ growth, and outstanding students will receive special attention.” “Vice President Nagumo, how many private points do you have?” “Much more than you.” “Understood.” Since Nagumo was interested in him, Hikigaya felt he should strike a deal.
He had no qualms about going all out against the yellow-haired guy.
“Six million private points.
Let’s bet on who understands Horikita Manabu better.” Using the student council’s printer, Hikigaya printed out the bet and its conditions.
After signing his name, he threw it directly in front of Nagumo.
The bet included a lure specifically designed for Nagumo.
This move was his “Trapping the Dragon with a Phoenix’s Cage.”