On the other side.
Hikigaya arrived at the agreed-upon booth.
As soon as he entered.
He found Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi sitting on the sofa, talking and laughing.
The relationship between the two seemed not to have changed at all.
Sakayanagi didn't seem to care about Kamuro Masumi's betrayal in the slightest, which truly made Hikigaya unable to understand what she was thinking.
"You're here."
Hearing the door open, Sakayanagi Arisu patted the spot beside her and smiled:
"Hikki, come sit here."
Declining her kindness.
Hikigaya chose to pull up a low stool and sit opposite Sakayanagi Arisu, squeezing out a smile.
"Um... Sakayanagi-san, did you need me for something?"
"My father..."
Can you please stop bringing up your backing at every turn.
That is very shameless!
With such a look in his eyes, before Sakayanagi could finish, Hikigaya sat down beside her.
"Don't be so nervous."
Sakayanagi Arisu picked up a MAX coffee from the table and handed it to Hikigaya.
"Hikki seems to really like this drink. I specially prepared it for you."
"Um... is there something you need?"
Hikigaya took the MAX coffee and asked tentatively once more.
This girl really.
Knowing full well the reason he was nervous was Sakayanagi , yet she always enjoyed teasing him like this.
"Indeed."
Sakayanagi Arisu nodded and said: "Because of you, it has become much more difficult for me to return to the position of Leader of Class A, or perhaps it's simply impossible."
It wasn't absolutely impossible.
As long as she waited for an opportunity and planned slowly, she still had a chance to return to the position of Leader of Class A.
But now there was only a year and a half left until graduation.
There wasn't much point in taking the stage again.
Before she could play a few special exams, they would probably have graduated.
Fortunately.
All that was left now were Horikita Suzune and Ryuen Kakeru.
While the two had decent strength.
They weren't quite up to the mark.
Sakayanagi didn't have much interest in two mediocre little geniuses.
"So, I've changed my mind now."
Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled softly: "Hikki, I want you to lead Class B to defeat Katsuragi and all the others to rise to Class A."
"Wait..."
Before Hikigaya could open his mouth to refuse.
Sakayanagi Arisu's small hand reached behind Hikigaya to caress him, and leaning into his ear, she said in an ethereal voice:
"You didn't think that taking away my first time would come without any price, did you?"
Hearing this, Hikigaya's face instantly stiffened.
The implication was, this was the condition for settling the debt?
"Don't look at me like that."
Slender jade fingers teased deep on Hikigaya's thigh, and Sakayanagi Arisu's beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of playful joy.
"Actually, I am also a young girl who yearns for love. Every time I think of yesterday, my lower abdomen feels hot and restless."
"Please take responsibility properly, Hikki..."
""
Hikigaya forced himself to suppress the rising Black Holy Sword and barely squeezed out a smile:
"You haven't fallen in love with me, have you?"
"That's right."
Sakayanagi Arisu showed no shyness; instead, she became even more delighted:
"I've been completely conquered by this filthy thing of yours. How is it? Being able to conquer a wicked woman like me in this way—are you very happy?"
"Stop joking."
Hikigaya quickly moved one seat away.
Even though he knew she was fooling him, for some reason, hearing Sakayanagi say that made him feel a little excited.
Watching Hikigaya move away, Sakayanagi Arisu did not force it:
"However, although I'm letting you rise to Class A, I won't give you any support. Kamuro-san won't either. On the contrary, we will do our best to stand by Katsuragi's side and work for the class."
"This is a test for you, do you understand?"
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a beaming smile.
Although Hikigaya was a true genius—a genius above her—he still had many shortcomings.
Of course.
This wasn't Hikigaya's problem, but a matter of his upbringing.
In the coming time.
She wanted to cultivate Hikigaya into a true leader, and Katsuragi and the others were the whetstones specifically prepared for Hikigaya.
"Why is that?"
Hikigaya was a bit dazed and asked again: "You didn't really fall in love with me, did you?"
"That's right."
Sakayanagi's delightful smile and reply remained unchanged.
"Not only have I fallen in love with you, but when we become adults, you are to marry me as your wife."
"Wait a minute."
Hikigaya became even more confused.
He really couldn't figure out—he only forced himself on Sakayanagi once, and she fell in love with him just like that?
Impossible.
Honestly, he really didn't understand what Sakayanagi Arisu was thinking.
But.
Whether it was true or false, it was impossible.
"You can..."
"Once I, Sakayanagi, have decided something, no one can change it."
Before Hikigaya could finish, Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes, and her expression suddenly became serious.
"However, don't worry. I won't ask you to leave Ichinose and the others. Rather, after graduation, Ichinose and the others can become your reliable chess pieces."
"No..."
Hikigaya said with some difficulty: "We aren't even familiar with each other. You could find someone better, right? No need to..."
"That should be for me to judge, shouldn't it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu said playfully.
Although her father had only her mother as his wife, and she respected her father for that, in reality, Chairman Sakayanagi visited entertainment venues quite often.
After all.
In Sakurajima Island.
Wind-and-moon shops were legal businesses; these were normal human physiological needs.
At this status.
Having several women wasn't a big deal at all.
Sakayanagi didn't care about these things either.
"No..."
"My father..."
Before Hikigaya could finish, Sakayanagi Arisu said playfully. Seeing Hikigaya's face stiffen, it seemed this method was indeed more effective against Hikigaya.
Although she didn't like borrowing her father's power—that would make her look like a useless person who relied on her family.
But.
This didn't mean she wouldn't use it.
From the moment she took an interest in him, Hikigaya had no choice; he had to be hers.
Of course.
Sakayanagi Arisu would naturally fulfill her duties as a wife properly.
The first step.
Was to build confidence in Hikigaya and give him a more correct self-perception.
Being too conceited was naturally not good.
But being too humble was also not good.
"This..."
Hikigaya said with a stiff face: "This matter, I need to discuss it with Ichinose and the others."
"As you wish."
"Also..."
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly: "Even if you let me rise to Class A, I couldn't possibly be Ayanokouji's opponent."
"Sigh."
Sakayanagi Arisu gave a helpless sigh: "Although Ayanokouji's strength is decent, he is no match for me. You are the one who pushed me to a dead end, so why would you still care about Ayanokouji?"
"No..."
Hikigaya was also somewhat concerned.
He even felt like testing whether Sakayanagi knew Ayanokouji's identity and background.
After all.
Chairman Sakayanagi was a big shot; if Sakayanagi knew a thing or two, it wouldn't be surprising.
Just as he was about to speak.
BANG.
The door to the booth was roughly pushed open.
Himeno Yuki appeared before the three of them, with Ichinose following behind with a complex expression.