Being called out, Ayanokouji couldn't pretend he didn't see them. He appeared before the two with a calm expression.
"That..."
Hikigaya looked back and forth between the two.
One was a big-shot Director.
One was a guy the big shot was fixated on, who had also been protected by another big shot.
Clearly, Ayanokouji's identity was anything but ordinary.
"You two seem to have things to talk about, so I'll be going now."
Hikigaya took a few steps back guiltily.
No matter what they were doing, Hikigaya wasn't interested. He truly didn't want to get involved in this mess, and he certainly couldn't handle it.
Otherwise, forget about going to school—Hikigaya felt his life might be in danger.
"No need to be in such a hurry. Isn't the fifth floor still under repair?"
Director Tsukishiro pressed a hand on Hikigaya's shoulder and looked at Ayanokouji with a smile:
"You are both in the first year; you must have some common topics, right? Ayanokouji-kun?"
The implication was clear.
Ayanokouji actually had something he cared about.
It was quite unexpected.
"I suppose so."
Ayanokouji said calmly: "I am indeed curious why the Acting Director is following a student."
There were cameras all over the road.
Clumsy lies were pointless.
But walking back to the dormitory together wasn't an issue. Ayanokouji directly shifted the topic back to Tsukishiro.
"I see."
Facing the airtight Ayanokouji, Tsukishiro didn't mind and smiled:
"An elder like me is indeed a bit out of place in a setting like this. You two chat; I won't disturb you."
With that, Tsukishiro patted Hikigaya's shoulder and turned to leave with a kind smile.
He didn't need to do anything.
He only needed to point Ayanokouji out.
The two would naturally become wary of each other, suspect each other, and eventually be unable to resist testing each other until one of them was expelled.
After Director Tsukishiro left.
"That..."
Hikigaya felt a bit guilty looking at Ayanokouji.
Old man.
He might have offended some incredibly powerful people.
It might even affect Komachi.
Never think these politicians are good people; getting rid of one or two people is certainly not difficult for them.
Even just a bit of sabotage would be more than a dual-income family like the Hikigayas could handle.
This could be a major crisis for the Hikigaya family!
What should he do?
He definitely had to clear up the misunderstanding first. This was a misunderstanding he couldn't afford.
"I have no interest in your business."
Hikigaya spoke in a tentative, soothing tone: "You do whatever you want to do, okay?"
"Hmm."
Ayanokouji glanced at him expressionlessly: "Can I ask you a few questions?"
"Please go ahead!"
Hikigaya was extremely respectful, immediately adjusting his attitude.
The Ayanokouji in front of him undoubtedly had a significant background.
Either he was the child of some high-ranking official, or he was some kind of facility-raised monster/superhuman, or a spy—something like that.
In short, no matter which one it was, he was someone the Hikigaya family couldn't afford to mess with.
This 360-degree change in attitude left Ayanokouji somewhat speechless. He then said calmly:
"During the class poll, did you expect this kind of result?"
"Yes!"
Hikigaya answered very honestly: "I thought about the school making things hard for me, but I never thought it would turn out like this. I really have no interest in your affairs! Can we just pretend nothing happened?"
"..."
Ayanokouji remained expressionless.
It had to be said.
Now that things had turned out this way, the conversation was much easier.
What Hikigaya said was undoubtedly the truth; Ayanokouji could easily tell if he was lying from his expression.
"Then, if you had known things would turn out like this, would you still have done the same during the class poll?"
"No..."
Hikigaya shook his head without hesitation.
If he had known he might get dragged into such a troublesome mess, he would have definitely gone to borrow money from Horikita Manabu. He wouldn't have done such a stupid thing.
"That was a quick answer."
Ayanokouji said calmly: "It doesn't seem like your style. Did you have another strategy to ensure no one got expelled?"
"Yes!"
Hikigaya explained sincerely: "At the time, a senior had already agreed to lend me money. I already had insurance. If I had known ahead of time it would be like this, I definitely would have borrowed the money and spent twenty million to cancel the expulsion penalty."
Trouble.
"I see."
Ayanokouji didn't press further; he had something he was more concerned about.
"If you didn't have that insurance, would you have still taken the same action at that time?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya frowned.
Seeing that Ayanokouji seemed very concerned, he couldn't help but think seriously about it.
He couldn't afford to offend Ayanokouji.
If he hadn't had the twenty million back then...
If he continued with the same method, he would definitely be targeted by Director Tsukishiro and dragged into the mess of these big shots.
If he didn't do it...
Class B would definitely have an expellee.
Although lying wasn't hard, it was better not to use clumsy lies in front of such a big shot.
Hikigaya thought deeply, his frown deepening.
Give him a break.
This matter was clearly already threatening the Hikigaya family.
He wasn't even close to most people in Class B. There weren't many whose full names he could even call out.
How could he, for the sake of these people he barely knew, provoke big figures like Director Tsukishiro and Ayanokouji?
After a long time, he stammered tentatively:
"Probably... maybe... likely... not?"
Ayanokouji calmly scrutinized the man in front of him.
Unexpected.
He actually really thought about it.
Based on his current performance, knowing the relationship between Tsukishiro and him, Hikigaya was clearly terrified and only wanted to stay away from these troubles.
This was clearly something that didn't require thought.
Most likely, anyone else would have come to an answer in a second.
And yet, he actually thought about it seriously, and in the end, he used uncertain words like "probably" and "maybe."
"Let me ask you one more question."
Ayanokouji pointed to a step on the ground: "If there were a step like this and you needed to jump over it, what would you do?"
"Jump over it..."
Hikigaya looked at the step on the ground, a bit confused. It was a step you could cross just by lifting your foot; naturally, you'd jump over it.
"And if there were a fence like this?"
Ayanokouji pointed to the ledge of a flower bed. It was a bit higher than before, but with a little effort, one should be able to jump onto it.
"Is there somewhere I'm trying to go by jumping up there?"
Hikigaya asked tentatively, not understanding what he meant by these questions.
"No special reason."
Ayanokouji's expression was flat: "I just need you to jump up."
"..."
You mother...
Hikigaya wanted to curse. Was this guy bored? But then he remembered the other's identity wasn't something he could deal with.
"Then I'd jump."
After all, with a little hop, he could make it.
"I see..."
Ayanokouji then pointed to the dormitory building beside them and said calmly: "What if I wanted you to jump over this building?"
Hikigaya's face went dark.
This person is definitely sick.
Even an idiot would know the answer to this.
Probably only someone like Saitama could jump over it.
"How could I possibly jump?"
"I suppose so."
Ayanokouji nodded indifferently: "Nothing else. I'll be going now."
"Wait a moment."
Hikigaya quickly spoke up to test the waters: "I'm really not interested in your business... that... could you..."
"Don't worry."
Ayanokouji turned back, his face expressionless: "As long as you don't do anything to me, I won't do anything. Is there anything else?"
Anyway.
He already had his answer.
Whether it was Tsukishiro or Hikigaya, as long as they did nothing, Ayanokouji would do nothing.
"Oh... oh..."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief and gestured: "Take care..."
"See you tomorrow."
Ayanokouji turned and left expressionlessly.
Just now.
Even at a dead end.
Hikigaya was clearly still hesitating whether to rebel against an existence he absolutely could not defeat.
Clearly, the time was not yet ripe!
Sensing the darkness that seemed to swallow his heart, Ayanokouji was truly intrigued.
If...
When he was forced to rise to Class A and faced an existence he absolutely could not defeat.
What would Hikigaya do?
Would he break down like those in the White Room, or give up in total despair, or like this time, launch a counterattack at all costs?
Whether it was Sakayanagi, Ichinose, Hikigaya, Ryuuen Kakeru, or Horikita Suzune, there were indeed many interesting people in this school.
However.
When the time comes.
He would become that absolutely insurmountable wall.
Standing before everyone!
Leaving them with a memory that they could absolutely never erase in their lifetime!