"Um..." After hearing Hikigaya's analysis, Ichinose's expression became slightly complicated. "I don't think Werewolf is that kind of game."
"Eh, is that so?" Hikigaya was stunned. He had always thought it was a game about fake normies trying to join a small group.
"So, Ichinose, what do you think we should do?" Hikigaya pulled the topic back seriously. "Should we submit the answer to the school now?"
"Before that," Ichinose mused, pinching her snowy-white chin, "Hikigaya-kun, you don't have concrete evidence to prove your theory, do you?"
"Yes," Hikigaya agreed, nodding. "But as long as we can't reach the fundamental rules of this exam, it's impossible for evidence to exist, right?" Even if someone placed the school's text message in front of him, Hikigaya was certain he still wouldn't believe it, and others likely felt the same. Believing something isn't easy, especially when self-interest is involved. People only believe when they find the answer themselves.
Therefore, the VIP exam is essentially a gamble. Until the rule for selecting VIPs is found, any analysis involves a gambling element.
"Yes," Ichinose agreed. "But Hikigaya-kun, you seem to want to submit the answer to the school?"
"Yes." If he guessed wrong, they lost 50 class points. If he guessed right, they got 500,000 personal points and 50 class points. Any normal person would want to try, right? After all, there is no penalty for the individual who guesses. "However, I will listen to you. If you agree, I'll send the email. If you don't, I won't."
Ultimately, the entire class bore the risk. He wouldn't risk the class for his own selfish desires. The only person who could make such a decision was the "company leader"—Ichinose, who was supported by all of Class B.
"Hmm..." For some reason, Ichinose knit her brows for a long time before speaking seriously. "Hikigaya-kun, I'm glad you told me this, but there's one thing I don't understand. Can you answer me seriously?"
"Oh, okay." Hikigaya nodded, a bit confused. Was it a hard question?
"If someone came to me because they were troubled, I would be very happy," Ichinose said, her beautiful eyes fixed intensely on the boy.
"But Hikigaya-kun, you are clearly confident and already had the intention to give the answer to the school, yet you still came to ask for my opinion. Why?"
"Why?" Hikigaya frowned, even more confused. "Because guessing wrong loses 50 class points, and you are the class leader, so naturally I have to ask for your opinion. Is there a problem with that?"
He really couldn't see the issue. When doing something risky for a company, you naturally ask for the leader's opinion first. Isn't that basic social common sense? A guy who acts on his own won't be appreciated by the boss and might even get fired.
"As I thought..." Ichinose bit her lip. "Then Hikigaya-kun, do you know what Kanzaki and the others would do?"
"Naturally, they'd consult with you." Hikigaya was even more speechless. He felt like they weren't on the same wavelength.
"They wouldn't," Ichinose shook her head slightly. "If they were confused or needed help, they would consult me. But if Kanzaki was confident, he would act on his own. The others would too."
"Wait, wait," Hikigaya interrupted. "That's not right. Acting on your own without the leader's consent is wrong no matter how you look at it."
"It's not wrong," Ichinose continued shaking her head. "That's because Kanzaki and the others know that I will definitely support them, just as I trust everyone else."
Ichinose's face turned slightly bitter. "It just seems... we haven't earned your trust yet, Hikigaya-kun."
"No..."
"No need to explain, I'm not angry." Ichinose's eyes stared into his "dead fish eyes." "In your eyes, maybe you just see Class B as a company and me as your superior, don't you?"
"Uh..." Hikigaya was choked up. He did view the class as a company, and there was no way to refute that, but wasn't that how the school designed it?
"But," Ichinose took Hikigaya's hand, her gaze softening, "we are a class. There are no superiors or subordinates. I was only chosen as class rep because of everyone's trust. We are the best partners who will spend three years together. I don't want to look back on these three years and only remember cold relationships based on profit. Hikigaya-kun, I don't know what you've been through, but I—we all—hope you can see us as friends and partners, not as colleagues and a boss. Do you understand?"
Feeling Ichinose's soft hand, the warmth from her palm made Hikigaya feel flustered, and he tried to pull away. However, sensing his movement, Ichinose applied more pressure, refusing to let him escape easily.
Wait wait wait! This isn't right? This is too weird! Is the problem really me? Hikigaya suddenly felt a wave of self-doubt.
Was he too cold? Treating the class as a company and Ichinose as a boss instead of a comrade? A lack of mutual trust? It felt strange no matter how he thought about it.
"Then what about the exam?" Hikigaya asked, full of confusion.
"Of course, it's up to you to decide." Before he could respond, Ichinose flashed a brilliant smile. "If you guess wrong, we just have to work hard together to win it back, right?"
"It won't be that easy, will it?" Hikigaya said with a headache. Ryuuen, Horikita, Katsuragi, and the yet-unseen Sakayanagi were clearly not easy to deal with.
"Exactly," Ichinose nodded with a smile. "The other classes aren't easy to handle, but as long as we work together and trust each other, I believe we can reach Class A. Isn't that why our class is feared by others?"
"Uh..." Hikigaya hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Alright."
"That's good then." Ichinose finally let go of his hand and stood up. "Our Rabbit Group still has things to do, so I'll be going first."
"Oh, okay, then I'll pay the bill." Hikigaya stood up to take the check, but Ichinose snatched it first.
"I'll do it. You seem a bit confused, Hikigaya-kun. You should rest here for a bit."
"No," Hikigaya said quickly, "I was the one who asked you to come and wasted your private time. As an apology, let me do it."
"It's not like that," Ichinose shook her head helplessly. "We're friends, so how could it be a waste of time?"
"Uh, but letting you pay isn't right, is it?"
"What does it matter?" Ichinose waved the check and laughed. "I'll get this one, and you can treat me next time, okay? Anyway, it's decided. See you tomorrow."
With that, Ichinose turned and left with a smile. Hikigaya watched her back, unable to let it go. Friends... It felt strange, yet he couldn't put his finger on why.
On the other side, after leaving the coffee shop, Ichinose looked at her phone and frowned. Using Hikigaya's theory, there was someone very suspicious in the Rabbit Group whose behavior was completely different from usual.
However, thinking about the cooperative relationship between Class B and Class D, Ichinose massaged her aching temples. Although she told Hikigaya to decide for himself, attacking Class D like this didn't seem right given the cooperation. But Hikigaya was a member of Class B. If he continued like this, he would undoubtedly be ostracized and become an outsider in Class B.
Rather than the cooperation between the two classes, Ichinose was more inclined to look after Hikigaya's feelings. She hoped to change his mindset so he could become friends with everyone.
So, what should she do? After thinking for a while, Ichinose decided to wait and see. Currently, the gap between Class D and Class B was huge, so there was no need for such caution. The classes to watch out for were A and C.
Night fell. Inside the dormitory, Kanzaki and the others were taking turns washing up. Hikigaya lay on his bed, staring at the bunk above him, unable to let go of his thoughts. He felt Ichinose's theory was a bit off. He couldn't say where, but it didn't sit right with him. At least, he couldn't agree with it.
Forget it. Hikigaya sat up and took out his phone. Strictly speaking, he now had Ichinose's permission to act freely. Since Ichinose said not to worry about the class risk, he wouldn't. Re-evaluating his logic in his head, Hikigaya still felt his judgment was correct. Kushida Kikyou was most likely the VIP. Among that group, she was the most suspicious.
Decision made.
[The Dragon Group's exam has ended. Dragon Group students do not need to participate in the exam further. Please act carefully and do not disturb other students.]
[The Monkey Group's exam has ended. Monkey Group students do not need to participate in the exam further. Please act carefully and do not disturb other students.]
As if in response to his action, Hikigaya received two emails in succession.
"Hey, what's going on?" Watanabe, who was playing with his phone, panicked instantly. "Two groups ended their exams at once! Kanzaki, Hikigaya, why did your Dragon Group end too?"
"What?" Kanzaki, who was showering, rushed out wrapped in a towel. "What did you just say?"
"Wait," Shibata also looked at them grimly. "The school says the Dragon and Monkey groups' exams are over. Do you two know anything?"
"Ah," Hikigaya raised his hand. "I sent the text for the Dragon Group. I don't know about the Monkey Group."
"What?" Kanzaki's voice rose again, and the other two stared with wide eyes.
"Hikigaya..." Watanabe hesitated. "You didn't just send it randomly, did you?"
"Of course not," Hikigaya said.
Hikigaya said, somewhat speechlessly, "I'm 70% sure. Besides, Ichinose agreed to it."
"I... I see." Kanzaki's expression relaxed as he let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Hikigaya," Shibata said with a complicated look, "how did you find out?"
"Nothing special." Hikigaya repeated the reasons he had given Ichinose. It wasn't anything amazing. It was just something that could only be noticed by someone like him, who sat silently on the sidelines observing from start to finish. In this regard, he was quite confident.
"Is that so..." Kanzaki nodded, agreeing with his reasoning. "I just wonder how the other classes are doing now."
Seeing the topic shift, Hikigaya stopped responding. With two groups ending their exams back-to-back, the other classes would likely only become more panicked.