Led by Kamuro Masumi, Sakayanagi Arisu walked into the room leaning on her cane, taking in the scene.
"Oh my."
Looking at the hollow-eyed Hikigaya on the bed, Sakayanagi Arisu giggled, lightly covering her nose:
"It looks like it was intense... Hiki-kun, how are you feeling right now?"
"..."
Hearing Sakayanagi's voice, Hikigaya still didn't move.
"Why... why do this..."
"Why?"
Sakayanagi Arisu laughed softly:
"Isn't it obvious? With your ability, it shouldn't be hard to guess. Naturally, it's to regain control of Class A."
"Katsuragi regaining power and winning the selection project exam made things difficult for me."
"If I make another reckless move, I might become the target of everyone's criticism."
Hikigaya didn't respond, just staring blankly at the ceiling.
This was true. If Sakayanagi continued to ignore the class's interests, she would face collective resistance from Class A, and she would be the one facing expulsion.
"That move of yours was quite beautiful."
Sakayanagi Arisu sat at the desk, smiling with pleasure:
"Although I can no longer damage Class A's interests, as long as I can control both Class A and Class B and make both classes lose simultaneously..."
"Then..."
"I can naturally return to the position of leader."
That was it.
Since she couldn't damage Class A's interests individually, causing both Class A and Class B to fall together would deal a severe blow to Katsuragi.
Then, Sakayanagi could naturally rise to power again.
"While dealing with Class A and Class B simultaneously is difficult, it's not hard for me."
Sakayanagi Arisu's face was full of confidence.
While others might struggle to control one class, she could control two if she wanted.
Just because it was hard to move against Katsuragi, or because Hikigaya was on high alert, didn't mean she couldn't break through the predicament!
"Class B..."
Hikigaya was confused. Class B was currently Ryuen's class; had Sakayanagi reached some agreement with him?
"It seems you don't know yet."
Sakayanagi Arisu explained as if showing off:
"Congratulations, your Class C will rise to Class B in this exam. Hiki-kun, do you know why you lost?"
Saying this, she walked to the bedside and looked down at Hikigaya's dead eyes:
"Besides your kindness, it's your style of caring too much about those who aren't close to you."
"Perhaps you have no idea."
"In this exam, Katsuragi and Ryuen began a competition to recruit talent. I helped your class quite a bit in the middle; otherwise, with Ichinose's methods, you would have definitely ended up in last place."
"..."
Hikigaya didn't respond. He indeed didn't know what had happened during this exam; perhaps Sakayanagi and the others had done a lot behind the scenes.
However, he still couldn't understand.
"Why do this?"
Hikigaya's voice was hoarse: "Do you not feel any guilt using your classmates like this?"
"Guilt?"
Sakayanagi Arisu glanced at the suppressed excitement on Kamuro Masumi's face.
She laughed softly:
"You seem to care a lot about Kamuro-san's actions. But I told you, this is all about strength."
"Even if it means losing the most precious thing a woman has, I can convince Kamuro-san to be my pawn."
"That is my strength."
Sakayanagi smiled with pleasure. As for the "most precious thing a woman has," she didn't hold such ridiculous ideas.
While she might want to save her first time for someone she liked, whether such a thing was actually "precious" was debatable.
It seemed Hikigaya cared deeply about such intangible things.
Everything was designed to increase Hikigaya's guilt and gain total control over Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Hiki-kun."
Seeing Hikigaya clenching his fists in silence, Sakayanagi Arisu said playfully:
"Can you tell me your thoughts right now? I'm curious to know what a genius thinks in a moment like this~"
Hikigaya clenched his fists and didn't answer.
Anger, sorrow, fear, pity, and despair—all these emotions intertwined within him.
He never thought Sakayanagi could be this kind of person.
She had no feelings, and it wasn't for revenge or the class; it was purely for her own selfish desire to duel with a genius.
She could ignore the class's interests and use such despicable methods.
She could use Kamuro Masumi like this.
But it wasn't exactly using her. Kamuro Masumi was also scum, having no feelings or care for the class, just purely chasing a thrill.
Just for their selfish desires, they could ignore the class, ignore others' feelings, and ignore morality to use any underhanded tactic.
Two bastards.
He thought Nagumo Miyabi was bad enough, but he didn't expect Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi to be this vile.
"It seems your mind is still a bit confused."
Sakayanagi Arisu picked up a phone, a joyful smile on her lips:
"Let me tell you first. If this video is handed over to the school or the police, what do you think will happen?"
"Expulsion is a given, and Class C will suffer a huge loss. Ichinose and that Himeno-san will also be very disappointed in you."
"You'll end up in prison. I'm not very familiar with the law, but it'll be at least five years. Your future will turn pitch black."
"By the time you get out, Ichinose and the others might already be married to someone else."
"This will reach your home. Your parents and family will surely be affected. Having a rapist for a son—they'll be despised."
"And your children—they'll probably hate you for a lifetime for having such a father. Provided, of course, that anyone would want to be with a criminal in the first place."
"What a tragic future~"
Sakayanagi Arisu laughed softly, holding the phone.
She had made many backups, so she wasn't worried about Hikigaya destroying it.
"Who knows..."
Hikigaya said weakly, clinging to a final sliver of hope.
"Oh?"
Sakayanagi laughed as if she had expected this.
"Are you referring to the surveillance cameras in the lobby, the elevator, and the 15th-floor corridor? Regrettably, those cameras have been covered with spray paint. I paid three million points for that."
Since she was taking action, Sakayanagi Arisu had prepared everything.
She had more than just Kamuro Masumi under her command. After her last meeting with Hikigaya, Yamamura Miki had taken over the tracking.
Because she had coordinated with Kamuro and the others beforehand, they could cooperate so perfectly—even the drink and the descending elevator were prepared in advance.
The purpose was to ensure that once the video was submitted, Hikigaya would definitely lose.
There was no room for defense.
Though it cost a high price, Sakayanagi didn't care as long as she regained her position as the leader of Class A.
That was enough.
"What do you really want..."
Hikigaya asked with a face full of pain.
He knew dealing with someone like Sakayanagi would lead to no good, but he didn't expect it to be this despicable.
"You'll find out in the next exam..."
Sakayanagi Arisu was full of pleasure, even looking forward to it:
"Of course, Hiki-kun, if you have any trump cards, feel free to show them. I would welcome it."
All she wanted was the joy of dueling a strong opponent.
"It seems you have none."
"I'll be going now. Kamuro-san, please enjoy."
Looking at the dead-eyed Hikigaya, Sakayanagi Arisu felt it was only natural, yet also felt a slight sense of loss as she left the room.
After all, she had been preparing for today for nearly two months.
From the surveillance along the way, the temperature of the drink, Hikigaya's patterns of action—she had even had a student with sleep issues buy the sleeping pills for her.
Everything was under control!
The goal was to leave no loopholes!
As long as she held this video, Hikigaya would be her pawn for the rest of his life.
Of course, she didn't intend to control him forever.
But at least for the remaining two years in this school, he could only act as her pawn!
Sakayanagi Arisu had run through countless simulations in her mind.
There was no chance of a turnaround!
Knowing this, she still felt a bit let down, hoping Hikigaya might have a more stunning move.
As expected, even among geniuses, there is a gap.
She was the strongest!
Next, the two "main courses"—Ayanokouji and Hikigaya—had been finished.
However, it wouldn't be boring.
There were still the three "desserts"—Katsuragi, Ryuen, and Horikita Suzune.
They would be enough to pass the time!