After leaving Class C, Ichinose's phone soon received a contact. Hikigaya and Kanzaki followed her to a corner of the school garden.
As expected of Ichinose. As long as it didn't involve a Special Exam, almost the entire school could be her eyes and ears.
Before they even got close, they saw Ryuen sitting calmly on a bench, his left arm hooked over the backrest while his right hand flipped through a book.
Standing right in front of Ryuen, Ibuki Mio had her fists clenched, her expression agitated. It wasn't clear what they were doing.
Rather than a dialogue, it looked more like Ibuki was scolding Ryuen one-sidedly.
"Ibuki-san, Ryuen-kun."
Seeing this, Ichinose quickened her pace, approaching them with a worried expression. "Did something happen between you two?"
"Why is it you guys?"
Ibuki Mio turned to look at them and pointed at Ryuen with dissatisfaction.
"It's got nothing to do with you. I still have words for this guy. You wait a bit."
Since it was first come, first served—and she was in the same class as Ryuen—there was no reason to be picky.
"Ryuen!"
Ibuki Mio grit her teeth and glared at him. "If this continues, you'll definitely be expelled. What is Class C supposed to do?"
It seemed many in Class C could see the reality of the situation; Kaneda did not have the capital to compete with the other leaders.
"How many times do I have to say it?"
Ryuen Kakeru merely lowered his head to flip to the next page of his book, clearly not taking her words to heart.
"A tyrant is only permitted as long as that power has meaning. I have no more interest in this class. Expulsion suits me just fine. If you understand, then get lost."
"You..."
Ibuki Mio was nearly exploding with rage. If she hadn't been mindful of Ichinose and the others, she would have wanted to kick him already.
Ever since Ryuen Kakeru had been defeated by Ayanokouji, he had proactively discarded his identity as a leader.
"We have also come for exactly this matter."
Ichinose placed a hand over her chest, her gaze finally landing on Ryuen.
"Ryuen-kun, Ibuki-san, for this voting exam, our Class B is working hard to raise 20 million private points."
"And so?"
Ibuki glared at Ichinose with some dissatisfaction. "You aren't going to say something stupid like wanting to borrow money from us, are you? There's no way we'd lend it to you."
Hikigaya looked at her with a bit of pity.
While this girl had good physical abilities, her brain seemed a bit lacking.
"No, it's a trade!"
Ichinose took a deep breath and looked at Ibuki Mio with a serious face.
"Ibuki-san, losing Ryuen would undoubtedly be a huge blow to Class C. You shouldn't want Ryuen to be expelled either, right?"
"So what?"
Ibuki pointed at Ryuen in frustration. "Even without this guy, don't think we'll just lose! Who wins and who loses hasn't been decided yet."
"True."
Ichinose nodded without refuting. "No one knows the result until the very end. That's why we're here to talk about a trade."
"We are short 6 million private points to reach 20 million, and you guys earned a lot during the VIP exam."
"If you are willing to lend us the private points, Class B can cast all of our out-of-class praise votes for Ryuen-kun in this exam."
"That way, it's a win-win for everyone. How about it?"
"Um..."
Hikigaya wanted to speak, but feeling Ichinose's confused gaze, he shook his head helplessly.
"It's nothing."
It was a reasonable trade; at least they could make some money.
Even if out-of-class praise votes weren't worth that much, they could at least be half-lent and half-sold.
Even if they could only sell them for a few hundred thousand, it would be good.
How could it be a "loan"? Ichinose was really too kind.
On the other side, Ibuki Mio froze for a moment and then looked a bit excited.
"I see. There's a method like that."
Saying this, Ibuki Mio turned and glared at Ryuen. "Did you hear that, Ryuen? This way you won't be expelled. Hurry up and take out your phone."
"Not interested."
Ryuen flipped through his book dismissively, his attention seemingly fixed on the pages as he spoke nonchalantly.
"In this voting exam, it is the best choice for me, a failed leader, to be the one expelled."
Even if he weren't expelled, Class C would have to choose a leader to step down.
At least in Ryuen's view, a defeated tyrant had no meaning in continuing to exist.
"Hmm?"
Kanzaki stared at Ryuen and couldn't help but frown.
"Ryuen, do you really have no lingering attachment to this school? You really don't care if you're expelled?"
"If you know that, then get lost!"
Ryuen clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation; he truly did not care about expulsion.
Suddenly, Ichinose and Kanzaki were stunned, and Ibuki Mio grew even angrier, though she didn't know what to say.
Ryuen was willing to be expelled.
Even with the points available, he would do nothing; he had clearly made up his mind.
Facing a person who wanted to be expelled—and someone from another class at that—what could they do?
Ichinose bit her lip and shared a look with Kanzaki, and then both looked back at Hikigaya.
Hikigaya glanced at Ryuen and was suddenly left speechless.
He didn't know what Ryuen had gone through, but if he couldn't even handle the blow of a single defeat, then some "tyrant" he was.
He used to think Ryuen was nothing special, but now he felt the guy was simply trash.
However, in the entire school, aside from Ryuen, there probably wasn't anyone else with the ability to lend Class B enough money to save their companion.
"Pfft..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but laugh. Feeling their confused gazes, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"It's nothing, I just thought it was a bit funny."
"What's so funny?" Ibuki Mio glared at him fiercely.
But sorry, he wasn't going to be intimidated now. Hikigaya looked at Ryuen with some disdain.
"What was that about 'a tyrant is only permitted as long as that power has meaning, and if you lose like this, no one will follow you'? You're just a deserter who messed up the class and wants to use this chance to run away. You just make it sound nice."
"..."
The finger Ryuen used to flip the book stopped for the first time.
His behavior was no different from a deserter; he was just putting a gold leaf on his own face.
However, if he didn't get expelled, Class C would still have to choose someone to leave.
Class C didn't have the good habit of saving private points like Class B.
They were nowhere near 20 million. It was impossible for them to follow Class B's method.
Thinking of this, Ryuen's finger flipped to the next page again.
"Exactly."
Hearing this, Ibuki Mio pointed at Ryuen in a rage. "You're just a deserter. If you want to redeem your reputation, then give me some results."
"Say whatever you want."
Ryuen still had no reaction. To someone who had made up their mind to be expelled, everything was futile.
Watching this, Hikigaya was somewhat puzzled; earlier, Ryuen had clearly been provoked by his words.
But Ryuen's attitude remained unchanged.
Recalling the incident on the rooftop, only Ryuen had taken responsibility, while Ibuki and the others were fine.
Hikigaya couldn't help but suspect something.
Was this guy like Ichinose—someone who would rather sacrifice himself than let any classmate be expelled?
Suddenly, Hikigaya thought a bit higher of him. It seemed Ryuen wasn't just someone who relied on violence.
"This..."
Ichinose and Kanzaki felt a sense of despair; even Hikigaya couldn't sway Ryuen once his mind was set on expulsion.
But it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Ibuki."
Looking at the anxious Ibuki, Hikigaya said nonchalantly, "Don't you want to stop Ryuen from being expelled? Since he's planning to be a deserter anyway, wouldn't it be fine to just snatch his phone? It shouldn't matter, right?"
"Hmm?"
Ibuki Mio glared at him fiercely, then turned to look at Ryuen.
Although she felt helpless, Class C really couldn't lose Ryuen. Otherwise...
Whether it was Sakayanagi, Ichinose, or Horikita Suzune—none of them were people Kaneda could deal with.
Although she was annoyed at being used by Hikigaya, this was indeed a mutually beneficial move. Ibuki Mio unceremoniously reached her hand into Ryuen's pocket.
"Since you're going to be expelled anyway, then hand over your private points like a good boy."
"..."
Hikigaya watched the scene intently, wanting to see if Ryuen truly didn't care about being expelled.
To his surprise, Ryuen just continued flipping through his book indifferently, having no reaction to Ibuki's actions.
Because he himself knew very well.
"Why is there only 4.9 million?"
Ibuki Mio pulled out Ryuen's phone, staring at the number in a daze.
The money wasn't enough.
No matter what these people barked or whether he was wavering, Ryuen knew the moment Hikigaya and the others mentioned they needed 6 million that even if Class C was willing to lend, the points wouldn't be enough.
"Why is there only this much? Didn't you take all the money from the cruise ship exam?"
Ibuki Mio glared at him, but Ryuen just stared at his book calmly without responding.
They had indeed earned a lot from the VIP exam.
But 2 million had been deducted for twice testing the school rules by covering surveillance cameras, and 500,000 had been given to a classmate as hush money during the sports festival to target Horikita Suzune.
There were other expenses, like taking care of idiots like Ishizaki. The spending was significant.
The money wasn't enough.
But there was no need to tell Ibuki and the others about these things.
Ryuen being expelled from Class C was the best outcome, and Class B would inevitably have someone expelled as well.
A deserter, huh...
Ryuen looked up at the departing backs of Hikigaya and the others. In that case, he really was a deserter...
However, there was nothing he could do about it.
Thinking this, Ryuen looked back down at his book, calmly accepting his upcoming expulsion.
Whatever.