Watching Ibuki Mio's back as she left without hesitation.
Ichinose looked at the untouched food on the table and said with some regret:
"She didn't even touch it."
"It can't be helped."
Hikigaya picked up his chopsticks again and said indifferently: "There are always people in the world who would rather lose out than owe someone a favor."
Whether it was Ibuki or Ryuen Kakeru, they were clearly that type of person.
However.
That was no longer important. What was important was the five million!
Hikigaya was secretly ecstatic.
Although the initial goal was to prevent Class B from having any expulsions, after Hikigaya mentally rehearsed the plan over and over.
He suddenly realized.
He could achieve a lot in this exam.
For example, this time.
Taking advantage of the rift between Ryuen and Class C, he had directly obtained a huge sum of five million!
This money.
Was probably what Ryuen had painstakingly saved up over the past year.
Although this five million still had its uses.
In the end, whatever remained would undoubtedly go into his own pocket!
How wonderful!
Hikigaya's heart was already blooming with joy.
Even if Horikita Manabu left him private points after graduation, it didn't mean this money was useless.
Upon graduation.
Any amount of private points could be exchanged for cash at a certain ratio.
Perhaps.
He could even earn enough for university expenses.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya took a sip of miso soup and his eyes immediately lit up.
"How is it?"
Ichinose bit her chopsticks slightly and asked nervously.
"Mm."
Hikigaya nodded quickly and said frankly:
"Because it's just 'normally' delicious, it feels hard to evaluate. I didn't expect you to be so good at cooking, Ichinose."
"???"
Ichinose froze for a moment before realizing he was likely praising her. Her face turned slightly red:
"Mm, because Mom was always busy, I was always the one cooking at home."
"Oh, as expected of Ichinose."
Hikigaya picked up a piece of tonkatsu and put it in his mouth. However, a dinner meant to invite Ibuki Mio had turned into a meal for just two.
It was a bit of a waste.
"By the way."
Seeing Hikigaya eating happily, Ichinose also showed a happy smile:
"There was some left over just now, and I've packed it for you. You can keep it for tomorrow's lunch or dinner."
Since it was leftovers, it couldn't be helped.
"Oh, right."
Hikigaya remembered something and quickly put down his chopsticks and took out his phone:
"How much did you spend on the ingredients? I'll transfer it to you."
"No need."
Ichinose quickly waved her hands and said: "I did this voluntarily, and I had my share too. It didn't cost many points."
"No."
Hikigaya shook his head and pointed at Ibuki Mio's portion:
"This time was mainly to treat Ibuki to a meal. The points spent on these ingredients should also be deducted from that five million."
The original intention couldn't be mistaken.
This was, after all, to treat Ibuki Mio to a meal and solve dinner for the two of them. He couldn't let Ichinose spend her money.
"Ugh..."
Ichinose's gaze was resentful, and she was unable to refute. She nodded helplessly and took a receipt from her pocket to hand to him.
"Fine."
"Wait a moment."
Hikigaya then followed the receipt and transferred the private points to Ichinose. Only then could he eat in peace.
Otherwise, it would feel a bit uncomfortable.
"By the way."
As the two of them ate, Ichinose said: "So where are we going tomorrow?"
"Hmm..."
When it came to serious business, Hikigaya frowned.
To be honest.
Ichinose was simply too kind. This was not her fault, of course.
Being kind was absolutely not a wrong thing.
But this card was only effective when it was necessary to gain the opponent's trust, lower their guard, or when Ichinose's social network was needed.
Normally, Ichinose's kindness would inevitably have some negative effects, making it easy for others to exploit them and put their side in a dilemma.
But Ichinose was, after all, the class leader.
"Um... about that..."
Hikigaya sought her opinion: "Let me handle the subsequent matters alone. However, I might occasionally ask you for contact info or to find someone. It would be best if you could keep your phone available at all times."
"Got it."
Ichinose smiled and nodded without any objection, her face full of expectation:
"Hiki, how about you become the class rep?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya was a bit dazed: "Why say this all of a sudden?"
"It's not sudden."
Ichinose slowly shook her head, a bright smile on her face.
"I've been thinking about it for a long time. It's been almost a year, and Class B has seen almost no growth. Although Class A lost some points due to previous internal fighting, Sakayanagi has now officially become the leader of Class A."
"Class C isn't a worry, but Horikita and the others in Class D increased their class points by nearly three hundred in one year. Their growth rate is the fastest among the four classes."
"If it continues like this, I don't know if I can still handle the position of class rep, I don't know if I can lead this class, and I don't know if I can protect everyone."
"But you're different, Hiki. Whether it was before, or this exam, or facing Class A's attack earlier, you've made the greatest contributions."
"Hiki, you're more suited to be the class rep of Class B than I am. We'll just assist you from the side."
Clearly.
Ichinose was not someone who didn't think or was greedy for power; rather, she had thought about it a lot.
Although Hikigaya's methods were hard to agree with.
But if Hikigaya hadn't been supporting them from behind, Class B's situation would likely be even more difficult than it is now.
Ichinose really had some doubts.
Whether she could truly handle this position.
"That's too much of an exaggeration."
Hearing her words, Hikigaya felt quite helpless: "It's not as you say. It's undoubtedly because you've united everyone that Class B can be Class B. Ichinose, you're too modest. There's no way I could be a leader."
"To tell you the truth, I don't even know the names of everyone in Class B."
Hikigaya shook his head. He really didn't know what Ichinose was thinking, wanting him to be the leader.
"Eh?"
Ichinose froze for a moment, her gaze resentful: "Hiki, that's a bit excessive."
It's been a year.
To not even know his own classmates—that was truly out of line.
"Sorry..."
Hikigaya was also somewhat embarrassed.
After all, apart from Kobayashi Yume and the others and the occasional few boys who would talk to him, no one else ever approached him.
"Fine."
Ichinose pursed her lips, still watching Hikigaya expectantly:
"Do you really not want to do it?"
"I can't."
"Then..."
Ichinose sighed, somewhat helplessly: "Hiki, whenever there's an exam in the future, how about you stay by my side and occasionally give me some advice?"
"This... I'll do my best..."
After hesitating for a moment, Hikigaya nodded and added: "But, you'd better not have too high expectations. The reason this exam could be solved this way was mainly because the timing was right."
"That's fine then."
A smile appeared at the corners of Ichinose's mouth.
As long as Hikigaya was by her side, she felt like she could do anything.
And.
Although Ichinose knew very well that despite what Hikigaya said, he would eventually work desperately to find a solution.
Of course.
Ichinose knew very well the pressure that expectations brought, so she wouldn't have excessively high expectations for Hikigaya. Just having him stay by her side was enough.
After the two finished dinner, Hikigaya checked the time:
"It's about that time."
The implication was that Ichinose should head back.
"Oh?"
Ichinose saw the dishes on the table and quickly stood up: "Then let me help you wash the dishes."
"No need."
Hikigaya said indifferently: "It's already this late. I'll handle the dishes. Good night."
"Well, alright then..."
Ichinose left the dorm somewhat helplessly. Hikigaya saw her to the entryway, then returned to clear the dishes.
In the kitchen.
Hikigaya wiped the plates.
Although he felt a moment of temptation upon hearing Ichinose's words earlier, on second thought, it seemed impossible.
Responsibility.
It was easy enough to talk about.
But what if they didn't reach Class A?
What use would it be then?
Failing to reach Class A meant completely killing the futures of all 39 people in the class.
Unless he were some kind of chaebol heir who could provide everyone with a stable, high-paying job.
Only then would it be fair!
Unfortunately.
Hikigaya was not.
Hikigaya certainly wasn't afraid of being expelled.
But could one person's expulsion be equivalent to the futures of 39 people in the class?
Probably not.
If those 39 people were all idiots like Yamauchi Haruki, Hikigaya naturally wouldn't mind; he wouldn't feel the slightest guilt for screwing them over.
But Class B wouldn't work.
They were all such kind, gentle, and considerate people.
How could he put the futures of these people on the table as a wager?
At the very least.
Hikigaya didn't think his own value could compare to the futures of 39 people in Class B.
Aside from the universally supported Ichinose, no one in Class B could become the leader.
Hikigaya understood very clearly.
His own strength was just that; he didn't have the ability to carry the future of 39 people.
At most.
He could only help out by Ichinose's side.