"Hmm?"
Ryuuen stood up and walked over to Hikigaya, sizing up the fellow in front of him. Propping his right hand on the table, he frowned and said:
"A despicable guy like you might indeed be able to think of that method. But why would you help Class D? Could it be that you've been captivated by Suzune?"
"If Ichinose found out, I wonder if she would forgive you?"
Hikigaya frowned and glanced at Horikita Suzune.
He wasn't really afraid.
After all.
He had basically confessed everything he did to Ichinose, and it was all done with her consent.
However.
It wasn't clear yet.
Whether the other classes knew that Class B and Class D were in a cooperative relationship.
Therefore, he couldn't let Ryuuen know that piece of intel, lest it affect the class.
He also needed to find a reason that Ryuuen could accept.
"Who would like that kind of self-righteous woman?"
Hikigaya rolled his eyes and spoke bluntly: "I'm just selling my wisdom. Besides, shouldn't Class C be the one most worried about Class D moving up?"
"I see."
Ryuuen tapped his fingers on the table and said playfully: "You mean it doesn't matter even if Ichinose knows what you did, or perhaps she knew all along."
Without waiting for Hikigaya's response.
Ryuuen made his own judgment and nodded: "Indeed, a pushover like Ichinose probably wouldn't take it to heart even if she knew. On the contrary, she really might have agreed to it."
"In that case."
Ryuuen leaned toward him and smiled meaningfully: "Aren't you doing things for money? Are you interested in working for me?"
"Sure."
Hikigaya nodded without hesitation: "As long as it doesn't affect Class B and the price is right, you can find me anytime."
Naturally, he was lying.
There were two reasons he was willing to provide Horikita Suzune with a method.
First of all.
It was because of the cooperative relationship between Class B and Class D established by Ichinose; only then came the profit dealings with Horikita Suzune.
Although he did want to save up points.
Everything had to be done within the framework set by the leader.
He would never affect Class B.
Much less sell Class B's intel to others.
But the Ryuuen in front of him was clearly a bit troublesome.
He would brush him off for now.
When the other party actually wanted his help, he would just find a reason to refuse.
If Ichinose had signed a cooperative relationship with Ryuuen by then, he would earn that money just the same.
It didn't matter if the subject was Horikita Suzune or not.
He was just a small character who relied on his little tricks to occasionally reap some benefits under a company.
But one must have a bottom line.
Otherwise, there was a high possibility of being fired by the boss.
"Is that so."
Seeing how frank he was, Ryuuen lost interest and frowned, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long time.
He finally walked over to Horikita Suzune's table and sat down, letting out a light chuckle:
"I didn't expect it would turn out like this."
"What." Horikita Suzune knit her brows: "You seem very disappointed?"
"I am indeed very disappointed."
Ryuuen leaned against the back of the chair and raised his right hand like a king, saying coldly:
"In my eyes, whether it's you, Ichinose, Katsuragi, or that Hikigaya over there, none of you are my match. Crushing you would be easy."
"I was actually looking forward to Class D having someone with a mindset similar to mine who could become my rival."
Hey.
Hikigaya glanced at Ryuuen with some surprise.
He didn't care about the other's contempt; after all, he knew he was only at that level.
However.
This guy is a pervert, right?
Actually wishing for someone to compete with him.
Though, delinquent punks in middle school were indeed like that, always thinking about someone they could fight with.
As for strength.
He didn't see Ryuuen being much stronger than Ichinose—just another arrogant fellow like Horikita Suzune.
"Heh."
Horikita Suzune also mocked: "As expected of you. It seems coming in last place in the deserted island exam was indeed no fluke."
"Heh."
Ryuuen didn't take it to heart and sneered:
"No need to taunt me like that. You'll see the difference in strength later. However, there's still one question I haven't figured out."
"According to the score of 140 points, it's clear that two classes' leaders were guessed correctly. Excluding that pushover Ichinose, one was me, and the other was your Class D."
Hikigaya pricked up his ears, also somewhat interested.
This wasn't something difficult to deduce.
When they saw the Class D camp earlier, they had clearly bought tents and toilets. Only by guessing two leaders correctly could they have obtained a high score of over 200.
"However."
Ryuuen said mockingly: "According to Ibuki, you didn't have enough time to investigate during the exam. Most of the time you stayed at the camp. You clearly don't have the strength to find the leaders of Classes A and C in such a short time."
"Heh heh."
Horikita Suzune said calmly: "Ultimately, that's just your prejudice. In your eyes, having your cards seen through by a woman is a very embarrassing thing, right?"
"Heh heh, indeed."
Ryuuen couldn't help but smile: "I never thought I'd be seen through by you. To be frank, I was a bit surprised. Moreover, Katsuragi's defense wasn't so fragile that you could easily see through it."
"Heh heh."
Horikita Suzune said dismissively: "It seems that no matter what, you suspect there's a mastermind behind me."
"Exactly."
Ryuuen stood up and pointed his phone camera at Horikita Suzune, pressing the shutter without her consent.
"That's a candid photo."
"Don't say that. In exchange, I'll tell you something good."
"Suzune, this is a game. Go back and tell the person behind you that I'll soon find out the fellow acting in the shadows."
Ryuuen waved his hand and turned to leave.
Even if the method was obtained from Hikigaya, a leader who was running a fever clearly didn't have enough strength to find two leaders.
Hikigaya held the same thought.
Although Horikita Suzune's self-righteous personality was annoying and she seemed to dislike socializing.
In his eyes.
Horikita Suzune, along with Class D's Hirata and Ichinose, were likely the same.
They all belonged to the type who participated in the exam seriously and wouldn't guess other leaders without 100% certainty.
Even a "green tea" character like Kushida Kikyo.
To maintain her persona, she probably wouldn't do anything that would affect her own evaluation.
However.
They had only met a few times.
Hikigaya wasn't entirely sure, but Ryuuen's deduction wasn't without merit.
The mastermind hidden in Class D... Hikigaya glanced at Ayanokouji in front of Horikita Suzune.
Although he didn't know the others in Class D.
If there was a mastermind, he felt this guy was highly suspicious.
"You should leave."
Horikita Suzune said, seeing the guest out.
"Understood."
Hikigaya stood up and left.
In any case, he didn't take it too much to heart.
The gap between Class D and Class B was still large; Ichinose probably considered this when she cooperated with Class D.
The one who needed to make a judgment was Ichinose. He would just tell Ichinose what he heard later.
Anyway.
Fulfilling his duty as a Class B student and saving up 20 million personal points as much as possible.
That was his way of doing things.
If it really didn't work out, he could just transfer to Class A at the end.
After sending the deductions about Ryuuen and his suspicions regarding Ayanokouji to Ichinose.
In less than a few minutes, he received her reply.
[Ichinose Honami: I see. This time Ayanokouji-kun and I are both in the Rabbit Group, so I will pay a little more attention. Regardless of whether there is someone else behind Horikita-san, or if Ayanokouji-kun is really hiding his strength, I believe Class B is the strongest!]
Although he didn't really want to say it.
Hikigaya Hachiman still wanted to sigh: As expected, it turned out like this.
Back when he sent the message.
He had roughly guessed how Ichinose Honami would respond.
Whether it was Ichinose Honami, Horikita Suzune, or Ryuuen Kakeru, they were all extremely confident—even arrogant in his view.
Presumably, Katsuragi and that Sakayanagi, whom he hadn't met yet, were the same.
These people all felt they were the strongest.
They would definitely not lose...
This was probably a necessary quality for being a leader.
Hikigaya asked himself and knew he couldn't do it.
Anyway, he definitely wouldn't think about leading the class to Class A.
Being able to look after himself and not cause trouble for the class.
He felt that was already his limit.
However.
Ichinose's words made sense.
Even if Ayanokouji was really hiding his strength and had top-tier school-wide standards, he was still just one student.
It's not like he's some hidden big shot from a special institution.
Ichinose Honami is not inferior to these people.
At least, Hikigaya couldn't see where Ryuuen, Katsuragi, or Horikita Suzune were stronger than Ichinose; they were even far inferior to Ichinose's leadership charisma.
At least.
Even someone like him.
Was willing to work under a leader like Ichinose.
As for Horikita Suzune and Ryuuen Kakeru, no thanks; he felt he would be exploited to death. Katsuragi might still be a possibility.
It was really great to be assigned to Class B.
Near noon.
Filled with emotion, Hikigaya returned to the dormitory. The exam was coming up soon, and given the personalities of good students like Kanzaki, they would likely choose to arrive early.
Sure enough.
Watanabe and Kanzaki were tidying their hair, and Shibata was putting on makeup—something apparently called "no-makeup makeup."
This might be the key to becoming a "normie." At least Hikigaya couldn't do it; he could head out anytime.
"Hikigaya, you're back. Then hurry up and get ready for the exam."
Hikigaya just needed to charge his phone for a bit.
"By the way."
At this time, while combing his hair, Kanzaki said calmly: "Although the class follows a voluntary principle and it's fine if you don't want to answer, I'll ask just in case: Hikigaya, are you the 'Target'?"
"No."
Hikigaya replied casually, and then felt the room fall into an eerie silence.
Looking back.
The three of them were staring at him with looks of shock.
"What do you guys mean by that?"
Hikigaya said, somewhat speechless.
"Ah, no."
Shibata waved his hand hurriedly: "It's just, I thought you definitely wouldn't say it, Hikigaya, and would instead choose to solve the exam yourself."
"Yeah."
Watanabe also nodded in agreement.
In their eyes, no matter what it was, Hikigaya would find a way to solve it himself and never had the habit of asking for help.
"How is that possible."
Hikigaya said, a bit speechless: "Since it's within the scope of work, communication should be indispensable."
"Work, huh..."
Kanzaki murmured softly: "Forget it, this is fine for now. If you have any problems later, you can find me anytime."
"Understood."
Hikigaya nodded.
This wasn't something very difficult to understand.
In his eyes, any exam was just a part of the job. Since the "company" asked, he naturally wouldn't hide it.
As a corporate slave, he just needed to do his part well.
"By the way."
Hikigaya asked with some concern: "That thing about the 'strict adjustments'—how did your discussion go?"
"Oh, that."
Shibata responded with a smile: "We thought of several possible patterns, but in the end, we still couldn't be sure. I'm afraid only someone who knows the Targets of two or more classes could accurately find the pattern."
"It's simply too demanding. The school indeed won't let us pass the exam so easily. Ichinose also told us to face the exam with all our strength and not waste energy on shortcuts."
"Is that so."
Hikigaya nodded nonchalantly.
How should he put it?
He had to marvel.
As expected, he knew Ichinose would say that.
Was there a problem?
It didn't seem so.
Was there no problem?
Hikigaya felt Ichinose was a bit too conservative.
Complaining about the boss.
It was indeed something every corporate slave would do.
Hikigaya shook his head, pushing the negative thoughts out of his mind.
Anyway, he wouldn't become a leader, and no one would listen to him. Since Ichinose was the class leader, he might as well choose to believe in her.