What do you mean?"
"If I were to guess."
Hikigaya said with full confidence: "The key lies in the aspect of boycotting the exam."
The people in Class A can't be idiots.
Therefore, the probability of them deliberately failing is very low.
What remains is only.
Boycotting the exam.
Just what exactly counts as boycotting the exam?
There are very few monitoring devices during the forest camp, so such a concept is simply too vague.
Hikigaya considered himself a despicable guy, so he could very well understand the thoughts of despicable people like Nagumo Miyabi and Ryuuen Kakeru.
If one wanted to strike.
Nagumo Miyabi would definitely make a move based on this "boycotting the exam."
"For example."
Seeing Horikita Manabu's confusion, Hikigaya explained:
"If a teammate were injured, what would you do, Horikita-senpai?"
"Naturally, I would take them to the infirmary."
As long as one has a conscience.
Most people would probably make such a choice.
"But that way, they won't be able to participate in the exam. So, does that count as boycotting the exam?"
Hikigaya's expression was calm.
He had already discovered the flaws in this school.
People like Horikita Manabu were ultimately in the minority. Most people were like Nagumo Miyabi, Kaneda, Ryuuen Kakeru, and the others.
Driven by profit.
For the sake of rising to Class A, they would choose to stop at nothing.
Is there anything wrong with that?
Hikigaya didn't know either.
Having heard his crappy old man's complaints since childhood, Hikigaya was well aware that after entering society, he would likely compromise with life as well, gradually lowering his own bottom line.
Treating the exploitation of others' kindness as one's own strength.
Is there anything wrong with that?
For the sake of life, for the sake of family, for the sake of classmates, for the sake of rising to Class A.
What's wrong with stopping at nothing?
It seemed there was nothing wrong.
But Hikigaya only felt a sense of loathing, even a deep-seated hatred.
Strong people like Horikita Manabu were ultimately in the minority.
Most people were just like Nagumo Miyabi.
In fact, Hikigaya saw that not just Horikita Suzune, but even Ichinose was gradually moving in that direction.
This was likely the very purpose of this school.
In the name of meritocracy, in the name of personal points, in the name of comrades, to make them better adapted to this society.
They got to say all the nice words.
Hikigaya just felt it was disgusting. What was so bad about staying the way he was? It seemed he was always on the side with fewer people.
"This..."
Horikita Manabu was suddenly stunned, and then he knit his brow tightly.
If it were just the exam, he wouldn't be very worried. But if it were as Hikigaya said.
The third-year Class A would likely have many people fall for it.
Even he himself would fall for it.
As long as one still possessed a conscience, anyone would fall for it.
The concept of boycotting the exam was designed far too vaguely, completely different from previous exams.
This was likely a rule change that Nagumo Miyabi specifically suggested to the school.
Long before the exam even began.
Nagumo Miyabi had likely already predicted the current situation.
"This..."
Thinking of this,
Cold sweat broke out on Horikita Manabu's forehead.
This seemed to be an fundamentally unsolvable problem.
If you don't save them.
The other party could also use the reason of "standing by and doing nothing" or "disregarding the group" to drag the person down with them into expulsion. They would even face criticism from others after the exam.
When that time came.
The act of standing by and having no conscience would become a reality.
With Nagumo Miyabi's personality.
He would likely manipulate public opinion within the second year until the other party broke down.
"It's very simple."
Hikigaya said nonchalantly: "All you have to do is report to the teacher in advance. For example, say something like, 'Teacher, may I take her to the infirmary?' and just shift the responsibility onto the school."
Passing the buck was Hikigaya's specialty.
After all, this was still a school.
Therefore, it wasn't a difficult problem to solve; you just had to shift the blame.
Anyone with even a shred of conscience probably wouldn't refuse such a proposal. After all, it wouldn't require the teacher to personally escort her, nor would it interfere with the exam.
When the time came, if the school agreed to the "forced funeral" (collateral expulsion) mechanism based on that reason, one would only need to push the teacher forward as the shield.
Just say: "I did it with the teacher's permission."
After all, in the eyes of the students, the teacher represents the school's official stance.
Regardless of what the school actually wants to do, they must maintain an outward appearance of fairness.
In that case, if the school wanted to initiate the "forced funeral" mechanism, they would first have to admit the teacher was in the wrong, which indirectly forces the school to take a stand.
If saving someone is considered "wrong," it would imply that the school intends to turn them into heartless social machines.
Whether for the school or even the nation backing it, that would be a massive blow to their public credibility.
There are some things that can be done but never spoken aloud.
"This..." Horikita Manabu was momentarily stunned, then said somewhat bitterly: "This is indeed a solution, but matters might not necessarily develop in that direction."
After all, someone getting injured could be a deliberate ploy by the opponent, and there are surely more ways than one to set someone up.
"It doesn't matter," Hikigaya nodded and said. "When the time comes, Senior Horikita can remind them. Whenever they feel hesitant about their actions, just ask the teacher first."
The key point was to shift the responsibility.
In any case, teachers are the perfect scapegoats, just like a corporate employee's manager.
When you don't want to take responsibility, ask the leader.
If they agree, do it. If they don't, do nothing.
If problems arise later, push it all onto the teacher's head. Unless Nagumo Miyabi actually dares to target the school itself?
"Understood," Horikita Manabu took a deep breath and nodded. "Hikigaya, regardless of whether your theory is effective, your reward will certainly not be small. If it proves useful, the personal points I leave you upon graduation will definitely not be lower than twenty million."
"On this, I can give you my word."
After all, if someone were to be expelled, Horikita Manabu knew in his heart that he would definitely save them.
Hikigaya's theory not only saved them twenty million personal points but also saved three hundred class points.
It was a value that perfectly matched the contribution.
"Hmm." Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, genuinely curious: "Senior Horikita, why are you thinking of leaving these personal points to me? No matter how you look at it, this is..."
To be honest, twenty million personal points was simply too much.
Even if the theory was useful, Hikigaya didn't feel it was worth that much.
Furthermore, the previous Horikita Manabu hadn't known anything for certain yet, but he had dared to make the decision to leave all his graduation personal points to him.
Hikigaya really couldn't figure it out.
"Your theory has that kind of value."
"You probably find that explanation hard to accept, don't you?"
Hearing this, a trace of a smile appeared at the corners of Horikita Manabu's mouth: "Consider it a bit of my own personal selfishness."
"Eh?"
"Hikigaya, what do you think of this school?"
"A trash school," Hikigaya replied frankly.
This school trains people to become emotionless social machines; from beginning to end, he felt it was a garbage school.
"Uh..." Horikita Manabu was choked up, completely unprepared for this answer, but then he laughed to himself anyway.
"Is that so? It seems you have a different insight into this school. Actually, I quite like this school—competing with each other, thinking, celebrating, enjoying pain and joy together, and finally gaining precious companions."
Hikigaya found this point a bit hard to refute.
But even so, the "good" part was only Class B; it was still a trash school.
"But Nagumo advocates for individual strength and diminishes the concept of the class. Those with strength can enjoy more, while those without it fall to the bottom."
"Heh..." Hikigaya gave a dry laugh.
If he had to choose one, he was naturally on Horikita Manabu's side.
Was this Nagumo Miyabi some kind of idiot?
Although he knew he wasn't Nagumo's match, did Nagumo really think he was that strong?
No matter how strong he was, could he be stronger than the school? Could he be stronger than those financial conglomerates that have been operating for hundreds of years?
If individual ability truly reigned supreme, Hikigaya felt Nagumo Miyabi would likely take a beating once he entered society.
"I have always wanted to stop Nagumo."
Watching Hikigaya's disgusted expression, Horikita Manabu let out a faint sigh.
"Unfortunately, time is running out, and Nagumo is no weakling. So, I've made many preparations for this, and this time is the same."
"By leaving these personal points to you, I feel you will be the one to stop his reforms."
"Is this some kind of joke?" Hikigaya's expression remained calm.
If Nagumo Miyabi didn't proactively seek him out, Hikigaya had the confidence to ignore the guy for the rest of his life.
Even if Nagumo did seek him out, Hikigaya would just avoid him.
It was best to stay far away from those "fun-seekers"; their very existence was a hassle.
"It's not."
A smile rose at the corners of Horikita Manabu's mouth, and a hint of warmth appeared in his cold eyes.
"People's perspectives change every day. Just like this exam—dragging down Class A like this, aren't you also trying to do something for your class?"
"If it were the beginning of the school year, I believe you wouldn't have done this."
Hikigaya's expression suddenly stiffened, and he felt a wave of shame.
Does this guy have mind-reading powers? He reads people so accurately.
It was exactly as Horikita Manabu said.
If it were the beginning of the school year, Hikigaya knew he would likely just be "punching the clock."
Although he would participate in the exams, he definitely wouldn't be doing his best to drag down Class A like he was now; he would have likely just coasted through the exam perfunctorily.
His grades wouldn't have been great, but they wouldn't have been too bad either.
And he certainly wouldn't have incited the hostility of people like Kaneda Shinji.
There was only one reason for doing this.
That was wanting to do something for this class, or wanting to do something for certain people.
At least, that was how it looked in Horikita Manabu's eyes.
Precisely because he saw that Hikigaya's mindset had clearly changed since the start of school—no longer just focusing on himself but starting to care about the class—Horikita Manabu decided to leave the remaining personal points to him.
This money would likely be used in this school, whether to deal with Nagumo Miyabi or for others.
It didn't matter.
From the moment Hikigaya helped Sakura Airi in his awkward way, Horikita Manabu knew it.
Hikigaya was a guy who cherished his companions and cared about the class. Even if he had some small underhanded tricks in his heart, he and Nagumo Miyabi were not cut from the same cloth.
This was an inevitability of entering this school.
Even if it was just providing a little help to a junior, there was nothing wrong with that.
Horikita Manabu was not stingy.
"After all, I'm a member of Class B. If we want to rise to Class A, this is an obligation everyone should fulfill."
Hikigaya scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Is that so? Then let's treat it that way for now."
Horikita Manabu nodded with a smile, not minding, and turned to leave.
Even if it was just treated as a class obligation, it was fine.
At least, he could see Hikigaya's change—the change made for the sake of the class.
As long as he still wanted to rise to Class A, facing off against Nagumo Miyabi or others was an inevitability.
After all, even if Hikigaya wanted to stay out of it, Nagumo Miyabi's personality would surely not allow it.
He only hoped that when the time came, Hikigaya would consider this favor and take any opportunity to assist his foolish younger sister.
Watching Horikita Manabu's departing back, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel helpless. He truly was a terrifying yet respectable senior.