"However, it is also thanks to Sakayanagi-san."
"Because of her, I was able to learn that you, Natsuki, are actually so formidable—the 'Hidden Ace of Class D,' the 'Mysterious Source of One Million Personal Points.'"
Hiyori Shiina tilted her head slightly, covering her mouth as she chuckled softly.
In the anonymous post published by Arisu Sakayanagi, the analysis of Natsuki Subaru could be described as the ultimate flattery, seemingly vowed to craft Subaru into an invincible figure among all first-year students.
There was one more thing Hiyori Shiina did not say directly.
The reason she hadn't come to the library yesterday was precisely because of Subaru's appearance and the deeds exposed about him. These revelations had made the current leader of Year 1, Class C feel that the situation was tricky.
In his words, a person who could keenly perceive the rules from the very beginning and rapidly monetize them into an actual advantage in personal points could absolutely not be as simple as he appeared on the surface.
Because this involved matters between classes, Hiyori Shiina did not comment too much.
However...
Thinking of this, Hiyori subconsciously frowned.
She did not want the competition between classes to affect her personal friendship with Subaru. However, just because Hiyori thought this way did not mean others thought the same.
It had been over a month since the start of school. Whenever they had free time, Subaru and Hiyori would soak in the library together reading books. The friendly relationship between them had long ceased to be a secret.
The leader of Year 1, Class C wanted Hiyori to probe Subaru, to see what he was truly made of.
The reason Year 1, Class C had ignored Year 1, Class D last month and instead launched a charge against Year 1, Class B was, fundamentally, because they saw Class D as 'unable to form a climate.'
They believed Class D posed no threat to Class C, so they treated Class B as their primary target, intending to drag Class B down first before looking toward Year 1, Class A.
Now, with the emergence of a figure like Subaru, Class C could no longer pretend nothing had happened. After all... strictly speaking, Class A and Classes C/D were the matched opponents from the start.
Hiyori had sternly refused this request yesterday. But she knew very well that her refusal would not end the matter. At most, it would take a few slight detours before they eventually found their way to Subaru.
In this case, Hiyori could no longer clearly divide class matters from personal ones. She had to remind Subaru so he wouldn't be caught off guard.
"Is it because of me that you feel a bit troubled, Shiina?"
Seeing Hiyori's slightly furrowed brows, Subaru smiled gently and said, "Is Year 1, Class C preparing to take some action against me, wanting to test my mettle?"
Just as Hiyori Shiina understood Subaru very well, Subaru also understood Hiyori Shiina.
Hiyori separated class and personal matters very clearly. The class was the class, and the individual was the individual; she would not let matters of one affect the other.
Now, since Hiyori was frowning, it must be because something had happened over in Year 1, Class C.
Barring any accidents, it definitely had to do with Arisu Sakayanagi's post. The exposure from that post had caused Subaru to suddenly attract a large portion of the attention.
The natural result would be various probes and tests.
Year 1, Class C and Year 1, Class D were considered direct rivals. If Class D wanted to rise, they inevitably had to drag Class C down first. Facing what Subaru was currently displaying, it was impossible for Class C to pretend nothing had happened.
Subaru had long been mentally prepared for this.
"Yes, that is just about it."
"Actually, if it were a slightly more normal probe, I wouldn't have any objections."
Hiyori Shiina was not an unreasonable person.
There was no absolute dividing line between the class and the individual. After all, the class itself was composed of individual entities. If it were a relatively normal leader who wanted to test Subaru, then let them test.
Hiyori would not refuse, would not participate, and would not stop it, as long as it was within a reasonable and normal range.
Regrettably, in Hiyori's view, the current leader of Year 1, Class C was not a normal person. The probes from such a person would absolutely not be normal probes.
They would certainly be somewhat out of line.
"Currently, the actual leader of our class is named Kakeru Ryuen."
"Unlike leaders of other classes who were selected through normal means, Kakeru Ryuen used absolute violent means, spending almost an entire month to consolidate the entire Class C and become the leader."
"He beat up every single student who didn't submit, and he beat them until they submitted."
Hiyori briefly introduced the situation of the Year 1, Class C leader to Subaru.
Normally, in fights between students, even if one lost, they wouldn't necessarily submit. Even if they lost many times, the possibility of submission wasn't high. They might not win the fight, but they would remain defiant.
However, Kakeru Ryuen had forcibly beaten the entire class into submission.
Moreover, his methods could be described as stopping at nothing.
This was the reason for Hiyori's frown. She didn't know what kind of methods Ryūen would use to continue probing Subaru's mettle after she refused to cooperate.
So, she could only remind Subaru to be careful of Kakeru Ryuen.
"However, Natsuki, the main thing I want to say is that our relationship is our relationship."
"You don't need to worry about the entire Year 1, Class C because of our personal relationship."
Hiyori's expression became somewhat serious as she said, "If Kakeru Ryuen really makes a move on you, just fight back directly. I won't have any objections or thoughts about it."
Just as Hiyori said that it was understandable for the class to consider testing Subaru under normal circumstances, she also fully understood if Subaru fought back.
Since one made a move, one must have the resolve to suffer the backlash.
"Hehehe, rest assured."
"Actually, if we really have to compare, between Arisu Sakayanagi and Kakeru Ryuen, I actually appreciate Kakeru Ryuen more."
Hearing Hiyori's words, the smile on Subaru's face remained unchanged.
Compared to someone like Arisu Sakayanagi, who had to talk in circles, a person like Kakeru Ryuen with simple and direct methods made Subaru feel a bit more at ease.
If Ryūen targeted him simply and crudely, Subaru could respond simply and crudely.
Everyone would have a bright future.
"Let's not talk about this."
"I finished reading the book you gave me last time, Shiina."
Subaru changed the topic.
Subaru didn't care, nor was he concerned, about whether Year 1, Class C wanted to test him or target him.
"Actually, I'm a little curious why you gave me this book, Shiina."
"I thought that with your personality, Shiina, even if you were to give a gift, you would give me a slightly lighter novel."
Just like the first time Subaru met Hiyori Shiina in the library.
When Hiyori saw that Subaru wanted to read No Longer Human, she recommended the more healing and lighter Night on the Galactic Railroad.
Unexpectedly, the novel Hiyori had solemnly gifted him was not only not a light story, but it was exceptionally heavy—so heavy that it felt somewhat suffocating.
Hiyori Shiina did not answer Subaru's question directly but asked with a smile, "So, Natsuki, do you like that book?"
As for why she recommended it, naturally, it was because Hiyori understood very well that Subaru did not need superficial comfort.
Compared to comfort, Hiyori believed what Subaru needed more was understanding. And that book she gave him was a form of expression of Hiyori's desire to understand him.
"I like it very much."
"This might be my favorite gift in all these years."
Facing Hiyori's inquiry, Subaru gave his answer without hesitation.
Many people had given Subaru gifts. The gifts were all-encompassing: treasures, beauties, even territories.
But not a single one had truly touched Subaru's heart.
The novel Hiyori gave him, however, barely achieved this.
The madness, despair, and that most gentle love of the protagonist, Tetsuya Ishigami, in The Devotion of Suspect X gave Subaru a tiny bit of resonance.
While reading it, Subaru even felt for a moment that he wasn't reading a novel, but looking into a mirror.
He was examining himself—his past self—from a brand new perspective.
However, this was slightly different from that copy of No Longer Human.
If No Longer Human is a mirror collapsing inward, where Subaru sees a void and emptiness identical to his own, then The Devotion of Suspect X is something completely different—a prism projecting outward.
Possessing an extremely pure goal; it is still painful, but the pain is concrete. Although the love is twisted, it truly exists.
This made Natsuki realize that existence itself possesses meaning.
"It's good that you like it, Natsuki."
"To be honest, when I decided to give this novel to you, Natsuki, I hesitated for a long time."
Hearing Subaru's unhesitating answer, the smile in Hiyori's eyes became even more brilliant.
Hiyori had no way to predict what Subaru would see in that novel. This was inherently an adventure based on her intuition.
From a god's-eye view, this could even be called a grand gamble.
Ultimately, looking at the result, Hiyori had won the bet.
"As for why I gave you this novel, Natsuki..."
"Probably, it's because I felt that you, Natsuki, didn't need those relatively shallow comforts."
Hiyori answered Subaru's question.
The answer wasn't very detailed, but... that was enough.
"I see."
Looking into Hiyori's eyes, Subaru said somewhat seriously, "I will cherish this book properly."
...
"Natsuki-kun."
"Do you have time right now?"
After parting ways with Hiyori Shiina, Subaru was stopped by Yōsuke Hirata.
Because Subaru's daily movement routes had been exposed by Arisu Sakayanagi's post, it was very easy for Hirata to find him. If not for the club activities in the afternoon, perhaps he would have come even earlier.
"Hirata-kun?"
Subaru paused slightly upon hearing Hirata's voice.
However, after seeing the expression on Hirata's face, he understood. He smiled and asked, "Seeking me out at this time, do you have something you want to say to me, Hirata-kun?"
"Yes."
Hirata nodded, not denying it.
"Natsuki-kun."
"The matter from this morning isn't over yet, is it?"
Hirata looked at Subaru somewhat seriously and said, "Natsuki-kun, you haven't given up on the idea of using personal points to expel Yamauchi-kun, have you?"
In the distribution within this academy, every class possessed the possibility of becoming Class A.
Even Class D, which was secretly labeled as defective, also possessed the possibility of becoming Class A.
Yōsuke Hirata was one of the students evaluated by the academy as possessing the potential to lead Class D to become Class A.
In the morning, Hirata had realized that Subaru had not given up on expelling Haruki Yamauchi at all. Hirata, who could not accept a classmate being expelled, decided to have a private chat with Subaru.
He would do his utmost to persuade Subaru.
If he couldn't persuade him, he wouldn't hesitate to use some unconventional means.
"That's correct."
Facing Hirata's inquiry, Subaru nodded without any denial.
"Natsuki-kun..."
"Can you tell me the reason why you insist on expelling Yamauchi-kun?"
Hirata's gaze became more conflicted.
Unless it was a necessary situation, Hirata did not want to use violent means to persuade Subaru.
Looking at Subaru, Hirata asked with some lack of understanding, "If it's because of those things that happened before, I can guarantee you, Natsuki-kun, that those previous incidents will absolutely never happen again..."
Just like many students in the class who couldn't understand in the morning.
No one denied some of Haruki Yamauchi's disgusting behaviors. Many people even hated Yamauchi very much, and it wasn't as if no one had privately said they wanted Yamauchi to drop out or disappear.
But no one had ever truly wanted to expel Yamauchi.
It was just some verbal disputes; directly making someone drop out was indeed a bit too ruthless.
It made people somewhat afraid.
"It isn't because of the previous matters."
"I don't have a reason why Yamauchi-kun must be expelled."
Subaru shook his head.
"Then..."
Hearing Subaru's answer, Hirata's eyes lit up.
If this matter could be resolved peacefully, it would truly be for the best.
Subaru did not pay attention to Hirata's unfinished words. Instead, he smiled and said, "But, I believe the act of expelling Yamauchi-kun itself is very necessary."
___
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