The group left the student council room.
The person who had been resting with his eyes closed on the sofa left immediately, but the other first-years blocked Hachiman's path.
"Um..."
Utsunomiya said with some confusion, "Hikigaya-senpai, I'd like to ask you a question."
"Oh, go ahead."
Hachiman nodded nonchalantly.
What a polite and good kid. It felt pretty good being called "Senpai."
"Then I won't be formal," Utsunomiya said with a frown. "I'm curious—why was Hikigaya-senpai the only second-year chosen to participate in this exam?"
"That... I'm not sure either."
Hachiman gave a dry laugh.
If the second-years found out about this, it would cause a huge uproar. Tsukishiro probably realized he didn't want to cause trouble.
Expelling Ayanokouji or turning a blind eye.
It was at most a choice between two options.
Otherwise...
...whether he stood on Tsukishiro's side or Ayanokouji's side, it would be a hassle.
"I see..."
Utsunomiya exchanged a look with the petite girl; perhaps they were comrades from the same class.
"Then, Hikigaya-senpai," Utsunomiya continued, "what do you plan to do?"
"Me? I'm not doing anything," Hachiman said dismissively.
Though he wished these people would get Ayanokouji expelled, he wasn't going to do it himself.
However, that was likely going to be difficult.
After all, they were in different grades.
The first-years probably wouldn't have many chances to interact with Ayanokouji.
Still, with Acting Director Tsukishiro around, it felt like he would specifically design some special exams to target Ayanokouji.
Come to think of it, if they really wanted to get Ayanokouji expelled, they could just say the dorm was leaking to force him out, or maybe somehow give his phone a bug so he couldn't pay for anything.
Though Hachiman didn't know much about those things, it felt like getting Ayanokouji should be a very easy task.
Even if there was resistance from other powerful figures.
If they were determined, they could just wait for a school delivery and arrange for some delivery workers to shove Ayanokouji in a sack and haul him away.
That shouldn't be hard, right?
Never mind. It was truly impossible to fathom what these powerful figures operating at a national level wanted to do.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going first."
Seeing that they weren't speaking, Hachiman turned to leave.
After all, they had just received this kind of news. They were probably feeling lost in their hearts.
Even if they wanted those 20 million points, they would act like "good people" in front of others.
These people could do whatever they wanted.
In the hallway, before he had gone very far, Hachiman heard a shout. Turning back, he saw the golden-haired girl from before.
Looking closely, he realized she was quite cute.
Her golden hair reached her waist, her sapphire eyes were sparkling, and she had a great figure—almost like a little sister from next door.
It seemed the average looks of this year's first-years were also very high.
"Um..."
Hachiman turned back. "I believe you're Nanase-san. Is there something else?"
"Yes, Hikigaya-senpai," Nanase Tsubasa said with a serious expression. "May I ask a question?"
If she had a question, why didn't she ask earlier?
What a careless person.
Since she was a junior who had come looking for him, Hachiman didn't mind providing a little help to the freshman.
"Fine," Hachiman said casually. "I'll answer what I can."
"Hikigaya-senpai, do you know that Ayanokouji-senpai?"
Nanase Tsubasa breathed a sigh of relief. It was wonderful to encounter such a kind senior.
"Sort of," Hachiman nodded, then added somewhat meddlingly, "You're not thinking of dealing with him, are you?"
"Not right now."
Nanase Tsubasa shook her head, her expression growing heavy. "Then, in Hikigaya-senpai's eyes, what kind of person is Ayanokouji-senpai?"
Hearing this, Hachiman frowned.
"Not right now" didn't mean "not ever."
The 20 million points hadn't moved Nanase Tsubasa, but she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't try to get Ayanokouji expelled in the future.
Even though there were better ways to dodge the question, she hadn't lied.
It seemed she was a decent junior.
Clearly, she was troubled by something and had specifically come to ask about Ayanokouji.
"Um..." Hachiman frowned and asked, "Do you know Ayanokouji?"
"Eh?"
Nanase Tsubasa's pupils shrank, and she immediately became guarded. "Senpai, why do you ask that?"
"No..."
Isn't it obvious? Hachiman felt a bit speechless.
"You said 'not right now,' which means you weren't moved by the points. But you're clearly bothered by something related to Ayanokouji, which is why you came to ask me, right?"
"This..."
Nanase Tsubasa was momentarily stunned. She quickly straightened her face and explained:
"I want to understand what kind of person Ayanokouji-senpai is. Based on his character, I will then decide whether or not to participate in this exam."
"I see..."
Hachiman couldn't help but nod.
So that was it. She was a "Partner of Justice"!
Judging whether to participate based on the person's character.
If the target was a bad person, she would take the 20 million; if he was a good person, she would give it up.
Is that how it was? What a kind soul.
"And then? Senpai hasn't answered my question yet."
"How should I put it..."
Hachiman thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Generally, I think he's a disgusting and somewhat eerie guy. However, you'd better not make a move on him."
Nanase Tsubasa was clearly a kind person.
A person like her shouldn't get mixed up in this; let the idiots do something that would easily offend the big shots.
"Eh?"
Nanase Tsubasa knit her brows in confusion.
"Eerie and somewhat disgusting? Are you saying Ayanokouji-senpai is a bad person? Then why do you suggest I don't take action?"
"I didn't say that," Hachiman said, feeling somewhat helpless. "I haven't had much contact with Ayanokouji, so I don't know him well. I just get the feeling he's the type who is indifferent to everything and only cares about himself. I can't judge if he's a good or bad person."
Strictly speaking, Hachiman wasn't sure if Ayanokouji had actually done anything bad.
He shouldn't speak ill of others. He was just being frank about his views; the final judgment was up to Nanase herself.
"As for why I suggest you don't do it..."
Looking at the junior before him, Hachiman scanned their surroundings and lowered his voice:
"That guy's background is incredibly powerful. It's best not to offend someone like that just for some Private Points."
Are you kidding me?
Even if Tsukishiro seemingly didn't care and wouldn't retaliate... the big shots on Ayanokouji's side might feel differently.
In school, it might not be a big deal.
But once they left the school gates, those powerful people could crush a couple of average citizens in a heartbeat.
Tasks like that... should be left to someone like Housen Kazuomi, who didn't know the heights of the heavens.