Lunch break.
Hikigaya was called by Kaneda to the area behind the school dorms.
"Here, this is the contract."
Kaneda handed the contract to Hikigaya. His gaze was somewhat hesitant, as if he wanted to say something. Hikigaya immediately knew what he was thinking.
Glancing briefly at the signatures under Party B, it clearly listed the names of all forty students in Class C, including Kakeru Ryuuen.
The contract deliberately hid Party A's name.
Actually, it wasn't necessary.
It was mainly because if Ryuuen knew this money was his own, that guy would probably blow a fuse, which would be a bit troublesome.
But in fact.
Since Mio Ibuki signed the contract with them, the money definitely wasn't going back. Ryuuen had no choice but to follow his plan.
"Thanks."
Hikigaya smoothly signed his name under Party A.
After all, with the money already given, the contract was mainly used to prevent the people of Class C from feigning compliance.
Hikigaya readily transferred four hundred and fifty thousand private points to Kaneda's account, and then Kaneda would transfer the money for the external praise votes to the Class C students.
"This..."
Kaneda looked at the transfer on his phone.
Clearly, he had said it wasn't needed yesterday, but Hikigaya still transferred his share to him.
Thinking of this.
"Sigh."
Kaneda sighed.
He patted Hikigaya's shoulder and turned to leave.
Hikigaya watched his back, feeling somewhat speechless.
From this guy's attitude toward Ryuuen.
Kaneda was clearly the type who became arrogant once he got his way—to put it bluntly, a bit of an ungrateful wolf.
No matter how many benefits he received.
Kaneda would probably think it was obtained through his own strength.
However.
Hikigaya didn't care either. Anyway, he wasn't close with Kaneda.
It was Ryuuen's money anyway.
Using Ryuuen's money to buy Class C's votes was perfectly reasonable.
At most, he was acting as a middleman.
Taking advantage of the rift between Ryuuen and Class C to make a little commission—it was just that the commission might be a bit much.
After school.
In the hallway outside the Class B classroom.
Hikigaya leaned against the wall. Ichinose stood beside him like a little follower, taking out her phone.
"Today we need to find Class D, right? Who would be appropriate to talk to?"
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya frowned.
How did it feel like he had experienced this scene several times? He really was trapped in the same day.
"Today is the last day, and the exam starts tomorrow, right?"
"Yes~"
Ichinose tilted her head, wondering if Hikigaya had become confused.
"Then forget it, I'll contact them myself tonight."
Hikigaya shook his head to leave, but as if remembering something, he turned back and said with some hesitation:
"Um... but it might be a bother, Ichinose. Please keep your evening free; I might contact you at any time."
"Eh?"
He wanted to contact her at night? Ichinose's face turned red, and she nodded without asking more.
"Um, anytime is fine."
"That's good."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief: "If I haven't contacted you by ten o'clock, it means the matter is settled, and you can just rest, Ichinose."
"Oh..."
Ichinose felt a bit disappointed for some reason.
"Right."
Only then did Hikigaya remember the main business: "How is the class doing?"
"Don't worry, everything has been arranged."
"As expected of you."
Hikigaya was truly puzzled: "Don't they have any complaints?"
After all.
Not only did he have things to do, but Ichinose had also assigned tasks.
However, they weren't exactly things worth praising. Therefore, he only told Ichinose, believing she wouldn't tell anyone else.
Yet.
Even so.
Shibata and the others actually followed orders without any complaints.
To be honest.
This unguarded trust and love for Ichinose really made Hikigaya feel a bit terrified.
It seemed that even if Ichinose told them to drop out, Mako Amikura and the others would probably just hesitate for a moment before crying and accepting it.
"No complaints."
Speaking of this, Ichinose became even happier:
"Didn't Hikki say there was a 70% chance? Yume and the others trust you very much; they agreed without asking any questions."
"Haha..."
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh: "How is that possible? It's because it was a task you assigned, Ichinose, that they accepted it so easily."
"It's not like that."
Ichinose shook her head, her smile becoming even more brilliant.
"Maybe I am part of the reason, but they also trust Hikki just as much."
"No way."
Hikigaya didn't want to argue about this: "Then I'll be heading back first. See you tomorrow."
Hikigaya turned and left.
Maybe Yume Kobashi and the others did have some trust in him, but for most of Class B to agree, it was definitely for Ichinose's sake that they didn't ask questions.
Being able to get the approval of everyone under you without needing to explain much.
This was undoubtedly a very precious ability. Ichinose's ability was truly a bit terrifying.
Night fell.
9:00 PM.
In his room, Hikigaya sat on the edge of the bed scrolling through his phone. If he wanted to buy Class D's external praise votes...
Suzune Horikita, Kikyo Kushida, Kei Karuizawa, Airi Sakura, Haruka Hasebe.
He thought for a long time.
He felt that talking to any of them could lead to success.
But Hikigaya still felt that Kikyo Kushida was the most appropriate.
Not only did Kikyo Kushida have extremely strong social skills, but her status in the school was also very high, and her position in her class must be similar.
Even in Class B, there were many of Kushida's friends.
Moreover, guys like Kanji Ike were clearly captured by her, long since becoming Kushida's little sycophants—pity sycophants never end up well.
If.
Kushida was meticulously playing the role of someone who wanted to be trusted, then this matter was even more tempting to her, and she would be more likely to agree.
The only difficulty was.
It was already 9:00 PM; the other party was likely about to rest.
Inviting a girl to one's room late at night, especially with only the two of them, didn't have a high chance of success.
The possibility of going to Keyaki Mall was also low. It wouldn't even be strange for her to refuse directly so late at night.
Mainly.
No matter what relationship Arisu Sakayanagi and Haruki Yamauchi had, the fact that they were in contact was real.
Dragging it out so late.
Was to completely cut off the possibility of Yamauchi contacting Sakayanagi.
Otherwise.
If Sakayanagi got the information midway and intervened, this matter would be ruined.
Forget it.
If it really didn't work.
He would let Kikyo Kushida go to Ichinose's room or just take Ichinose to her door.
That way, she would probably find it easier to accept, although Hikigaya didn't want to trouble Ichinose if he could help it.
With that thought, Hikigaya dialed Kikyo Kushida's number. It took a while before it connected.
"Eh, Hikki?"
On the other end of the phone, Kushida's excited voice came through: "I didn't expect Hikki would contact me. I'm so happy."
The subtext.
You rarely contact me, so contacting me suddenly must be because something is up. However, knowing Kushida's personality, it was more likely she was acting cute.
"Sorry."
Hikigaya said somewhat apologetically: "Contacting you so late."
"It's no problem."
Kushida's joyful voice came through: "I'm very happy to get a call from Hikki."
"..."
Hikigaya took a deep breath and got straight to the point:
"Um... I have something I want to ask you. Can we talk for a bit?"
"Eh? What is it?"
"No..."
Hikigaya picked up the contract prepared on the low table and said awkwardly:
"It would be best if you could come to my room. I have something to give you."
"At this time?"
Kushida's voice was slightly confused.
It was already 9:00 PM. Having a girl go alone to a boy's dorm room—was this guy trying to do something bad?
However.
Thinking of that idiot Hikigaya, it didn't seem likely.
"Yes."
Hikigaya was a bit embarrassed.
He knew this timing was indeed not great.
But there was no other way.
If they signed the contract now, Kushida definitely wouldn't be able to notify the people in her class. She could only explain it to Class D tomorrow morning before the exam started.
That way, it would be foolproof.
Even if Sakayanagi found out, she probably wouldn't be able to do anything in such a short time.
Just as Hikigaya was about to suggest going to Ichinose's room, he heard Kushida say sweetly:
"Alright, your room is 502, right?"
"Eh, yes..."
Hikigaya was slightly stunned and nodded. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.
"Then wait a moment, I'll be there in about five minutes. See you soon."
With that.
Kushida hung up the phone.
To even specify such a clear time—this kind of wait was truly reassuring. Kushida was indeed trustworthy.