Dormitory building.
Kikyo Kushida stood at Hikigaya's door and rang the doorbell, her plump figure wrapped in pink pajamas.
Since the person was Hikigaya.
Kushida felt there was no need to worry. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to a boy's room to meet him alone so late at night.
To be honest.
Kushida felt she could even take Hikigaya down herself. Even if she stood in front of him without clothes, Hikigaya probably wouldn't dare to do anything.
There was nothing to fear.
Within a moment.
Hikigaya opened the door.
Looking at Kikyo Kushida in her pink pajamas outside the door—the smooth fabric was extremely tight-fitting, perfectly showing off her curvaceous figure.
"You..."
Hikigaya's face turned red, and he was instantly embarrassed: "Why are you dressed like this?"
"Eh?"
Kushida gave a brilliant smile: "Because it's already this late. I was just about to rest when I got Hikki's call. Changing clothes again felt like too much trouble."
Lack of sleep is a woman's great enemy.
To gain the trust of those stupid boys, a cute appearance and a perfect body were essential.
Kushida would not be careless in this regard.
Pity.
The boy in front of her was not stupid.
"Forget it, come in."
Hikigaya took a deep breath and led Kushida back to the bedroom. Two cups of MAX Coffee had already been prepared on the table.
"Um..."
Hikigaya sat at the low table with his head down, trying his best not to look at the pair of plump pandas opposite him.
"The reason I asked you here is mainly that I want to buy all of Class D's external praise votes."
"Sure."
Without waiting for Hikigaya's explanation, Kushida nodded in agreement.
After all.
She knew very well that external praise votes were very useless things. As long as they could be sold for a price, it would increase her class's evaluation.
Kushida desperately needed good reviews right now.
After all, just yesterday.
Suzune Horikita had shown no mercy, exposing the fact that she had helped Yamauchi in his attempt to get Ayanokouji expelled in front of the whole class.
This caused her evaluation in the class to drop.
Although Kushida wasn't stupid and used her crying performance to barely shift the blame back onto Yamauchi.
But what happened was fact.
Although no one in Class D pointed fingers, most of them probably felt a bit uncomfortable about her helping manipulate the criticism votes behind the scenes.
Now.
A chance to redeem her evaluation was placed before her; Kushida couldn't possibly let it go.
"Don't worry!"
Kushida gave a sweet smile: "I will definitely do my best to get them to give their external praise votes to you."
"No, no, no, you misunderstood."
Hikigaya was a bit dazed and quickly reacted: "I want you to give Class D's external praise votes to Class A's Katsuragi."
"Eh? Why is that?"
Kushida was instantly confused. She had originally thought Hikigaya wanted Class B's protection point for himself.
After all, even in her eyes.
Hikigaya definitely didn't have any risk of being expelled.
"Because."
Hikigaya explained again: "Getting Katsuragi the protection point will definitely be a blow to Sakayanagi's prestige. When that time comes, Class A might fall into internal strife again, which is a good thing for Classes B, C, and D."
"I see..."
Kushida nodded with a furrowed brow.
Internal strife in Class A was indeed a good thing for the three classes, but if that were the case, he could have consulted all three classes.
Although this matter was most beneficial to Class B, which was closest to Class A, the possibility of a successful negotiation was not low.
Forget it.
Kushida didn't care about those things.
Anyway, she didn't crave Class A that much; compared to Class A, she wanted to gain the trust of everyone in the school.
After all.
Since there were only benefits and no downsides.
Since Hikigaya didn't say, Kushida didn't ask.
Gaining the other party's trust slowly was not an easy task; one had to maintain the right boundaries to avoid causing resentment.
"Alright."
Kushida looked at the somewhat stiff Hikigaya across from her and nodded with a smile: "Then how much does Hikki want to pay?"
Even though she was in his room.
She hadn't expected this guy to be more stiff than she was.
As expected, it was because of this tight-fitting ice silk pajama she was wearing today, right?
For some reason, she found it a bit cute.
Kushida looked at Hikigaya with a playful gaze.
He didn't even care about the entire school's evaluation, yet he cared about such small things.
"Well."
"Ten thousand private points for one external praise vote."
After all, Kushida was a bit stronger than Kaneda—at least Hikigaya thought so.
In front of a smart person, one shouldn't play small tricks.
"I'll give you an additional hundred thousand private points as a reward, but there's one condition: you must tell Class D about this tomorrow morning before the exam starts."
"I can transfer the four hundred thousand for Class D to you now, along with fifty thousand of your personal reward as a deposit. I'll give you the remaining hundred thousand after the exam."
"Here are two copies of the contract."
Hikigaya pushed the contracts on the low table toward Kushida. His name was already written as Party A.
After all.
The environments of Class C and Class D were different, and the timing was different, so the response naturally had to be different.
Ryuuen existed in Class C.
Those private points were even taken from him.
Although it wouldn't matter if Ryuuen found out, Hikigaya wanted to avoid that as much as possible before the exam ended.
As for Class D.
It didn't matter even if they knew about Hikigaya's existence.
After all, this matter truly had only benefits and no downsides for Classes B, C, and D, and Class D even got a share of the profit.
Even if Sakayanagi found out by then, it would be too late.
The prerequisite was that Kushida didn't feign compliance, so Hikigaya offered a higher price and used the method of a deposit and a final payment.
However.
With the contract in hand.
Kushida didn't need to worry that he wouldn't keep his promise.
"Hmm..."
Kushida read the contents of the contract seriously. Except for the high compensation of twenty million points per person, there were no problems.
After all.
It was just writing a name, which really wasn't difficult.
It was understandable.
She mainly wanted to see if there were any word traps.
"It's okay."
Kushida thought for a moment and agreed:
"However, everyone else is fine, but in our class, Koenji's personality is a bit special, or rather, unconventional."
"Moreover, Yamauchi-kun's relationship with Sakayanagi is also quite good."
"I'm not sure if they will agree. Is thirty-eight votes okay?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya's brow furrowed.
He still had an impression of that Koenji; after all, when that guy was surrounded by Ryuuen and the others last time, he was simply too unconventional.
This was basically no different from free money, right?
Could even something that was purely beneficial be refused?
"No problem."
Hikigaya thought for a moment and nodded.
Kushida Kikyo nodded, signed her name, and returned one copy of the contract. She folded the other copy and tucked it into her purse.
"I'll return the contract to you after the exam is over."
Obviously.
The private reward of 100,000 personal points was still to be collected.
After all, Kushida Kikyo was not someone who lacked a need for money, and if she didn't accept it, Hikigaya would worry about whether she would secretly double-cross him.
Seeing Kushida Kikyo sign her name, Hikigaya readily transferred 450,000 personal points to her; the remaining 100,000 would be transferred after the exam.
Although the exam was anonymous in nature.
One would know by looking at the exam results when the time came; everything was within the scope of control.
"Then, I'll walk you to the entrance."
Hikigaya hurriedly stood up to see his guest out. After all, Kushida Kikyo was dressed quite provocatively; a lonely man and a woman staying alone together was truly a bit uncomfortable.
"Wait a moment."
Kushida Kikyo also stood up cooperatively and smiled: "I still have a question I want to ask you. Why didn't you ask Horikita-san for help? Isn't she the leader of Class D?"
Well.
It was true that there wouldn't be much of a problem asking Horikita Suzune for help with this matter.
He believed she would likely agree as well, and with Horikita Suzune's credit being more guaranteed, he could probably spend 100,000 fewer personal points.
"It's nothing."
Hikigaya said indifferently: "I just don't like that person very much."
Although Horikita Suzune was indeed beautiful—a cold mountain flower, and even the most beautiful person Hikigaya had ever seen.
When school started, although Horikita Suzune was somewhat arrogant, she was very authentic. It wasn't until after the sports festival.
Hikigaya felt she had changed a bit.
Although she seemed to have become a bit smoother on the surface, in reality, she had simply made a compromise for this school.
Hikigaya truly didn't like it.
Ever since Horikita Suzune finished paying back the money, the two had never contacted each other again.
"Is that so..."
For some reason, Kushida Kikyo froze for a moment, then revealed a brilliant smile:
"Then I'll head back. Don't worry, Class D should find this contract very easy to accept."
Saying this, Kushida Kikyo turned and left. Hikigaya walked her to the entrance and then returned to his bedroom.
Thus, everything was prepared.
Although he was 100% certain, what if it failed?
After all.
This plan was arranged on the premise that Hikigaya would not be expelled. If an expulsion still occurred, it would be a bit unfair to Ichinose and the others.
Honestly.
Hikigaya didn't like asking for help.
Just like Ibuki Mio, he would rather give up his most precious things than owe a favor.
He was the same.
From childhood to adulthood, he had overcome everything alone; Hikigaya had never thought of seeking help from anyone.
Even if he asked for help in this school, Hikigaya would provide reasonable compensation.
It was a fair trade; nobody owed anyone anything.
But this time.
After hesitating for a moment, Hikigaya still dialed Horikita Manabu's phone number.
After all.
Whether help was needed wasn't certain yet.
If it really didn't work, he might have to "sell his body" just like Ibuki Mio.
"Hikigaya?"
The call connected. Hikigaya took a deep breath and hurriedly said:
"I'm sorry, Horikita-senpai, to disturb you so late."
"..."
For a moment, Horikita Manabu on the other end was a bit stunned, wondering if Hikigaya's phone had been stolen.
"So you can actually say such polite things. However, it doesn't quite suit you. Speak, what is it?"
As expected of the commander.
Hikigaya's expression immediately became a bit awkward: "I want to borrow two million personal points from Horikita-senpai."
"Hmm."
Horikita Manabu's deep voice came through the phone: "The first-year exam is indeed difficult for you. Two million... alright, there shouldn't be much of a problem. Anyway, this money was originally meant to be left for you."
Clearly.
The upperclassmen were also holding a special exam, but two million wasn't too much. At this stage, Horikita Manabu judged that he should have that much to spare.
Immediately.
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief, then became even more embarrassed:
"No, I don't necessarily need to borrow it. I just hope Horikita-senpai can prepare two million personal points. Tomorrow, if there's a need, you can transfer it to me at any time. When the time comes, I'll join the student council and find a way to mess with Nagumo. How about it?"
Seeking help.
And still wanting the other party to accommodate his side, having them ready to send money at a moment's notice.
Hikigaya was embarrassed to the extreme, feeling like he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes.
"Hmm?"
Horikita Manabu was slightly taken aback before reacting: "You want to use my two million as insurance? What countermeasure do you have?"
"Something like that..."
For some reason, silence fell on the other end of the phone.
To have a countermeasure and still come to borrow money from him—a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Horikita Manabu's mouth.
"How much certainty do you have?"
"About ninety-nine percent...?"
Hikigaya said without much confidence. He truly didn't want to make this call.
If he said one hundred percent.
He felt Commander Horikita Manabu would rush over and give him a beating.
"I see."
Horikita Manabu's voice sounded somewhat gratified for some reason:
"This might be a bit difficult. The upperclassmen are still in the middle of a special exam. It's impossible to be ready to answer the phone at any time."
"I can only transfer it to you now, but you probably find that hard to accept..."
"Indeed..."
Hikigaya grew even more awkward.
To be honest.
He really didn't want to borrow this money.
"Let's do this."
Horikita Manabu said nonchalantly: "I'll give you a contact later. Kiriyama from Class 2-B, who is also the vice president of the student council."
"I'll transfer the money to him first. If you need it, call him. If you don't, treat it as if nothing happened."
"There should be no problem with that, right?"
"Thank you very much."
Hikigaya thanked him sincerely. Horikita Manabu said a few simple words and hung up.
Someone trusted by Horikita Manabu should not be doubted.
This way.
He had some insurance.
However.
Horikita Manabu's underlying meaning was also telling him that if he wanted to deal with Nagumo Miyabi, Kiriyama could become his teammate.
"Sigh."
Hikigaya let out a heavy sigh. As expected, the taste of owing a favor was not pleasant.
He truly hoped tomorrow would go smoothly.