On the other side.
Year 2 Class A.
Watching Kamuro and Sakayanagi return to their seats, the people of Class A had gazes filled with doubt and a hint of hesitation; they wanted to ask but were somewhat tentative.
Although Sakayanagi spoke gently to everyone.
Having been together for over a year.
Everyone was well aware of Sakayanagi's nature; if they accidentally offended her, it wouldn't do them any good.
But.
No matter how they thought about it, they couldn't understand.
How could Sakayanagi and Kamuro Masumi be dating Hikigaya?
One must know Sakayanagi was the former leader of Class A, and her academic grades had always been first in the class, top-tier in the school.
Even Kamuro Masumi's overall strength was among the strongest of the girls.
Two major generals of Class A.
Were actually dating a boy from another class at the same time; what if they suddenly betrayed the class?
Even just holding back slightly.
Would be a huge loss for Class A.
They seriously suspected.
If this was a tactic by Sakayanagi to deal with Katsuragi.
Thinking of this.
Everyone's gaze couldn't help but turn toward Katsuragi Kohei in the middle of the classroom, only to see Katsuragi sitting in his seat with his arms crossed and a steady expression.
Class A currently had 1108 class points.
Class B had 703 points.
The gap looked large, but it was really just a matter of one or two special exams.
Class A really didn't want to struggle anymore.
If internal strife continued like this, when would it ever end?
The most frustrating part was.
Sakayanagi had always used means or psychological control on others, and she had several die-hard loyalists under her.
Though not as many as the current Katsuragi faction.
If Sakayanagi really started trouble, they wouldn't be able to handle it.
At this time.
Katsuragi sat in his seat.
His heart was not as steady as it appeared on the surface; instead, he was even more bewildered. This Sakayanagi was always able to do things that exceeded his understanding.
Reasonably speaking.
He and Ichinose and others had reached a cooperative relationship.
Given the personalities of Ichinose and Hikigaya, they shouldn't be able to backstab him, right?
Katsuragi's heart was heavy.
But he also knew he absolutely could not show any wavering in front of his classmates.
Although he had led the class to victory in two consecutive exams and established a cooperative relationship with Class B in this uninhabited island exam.
His position in the class was still unstable.
The main reason was naturally Sakayanagi's overly assertive personality.
Most people preferred to keep the peace; once a conflict arose, the neutral faction would very easily compromise with Sakayanagi.
Every step.
Katsuragi had to walk with extreme caution.
Otherwise.
With Sakayanagi's personality.
As long as she could become the class leader, she would surely only view her companions as pawns, sacrificing even more people then.
This was something Katsuragi would never allow.
Near noon.
Only then did Katsuragi stand up and walk in front of Sakayanagi, speaking in a heavy voice.
"Sakayanagi, and Kamuro, could we step aside for a word?"
"Finally couldn't wait any longer, Katsuragi-kun."
Sakayanagi smiled indifferently, stood up, and followed Katsuragi out of the classroom with Kamuro Masumi; the group went to the hallway.
Although it was still a public area, the Class A students nearby consciously pulled away quite a bit.
"Sakayanagi."
Gazing at the girl before him, Katsuragi's voice was heavy:
"What exactly is your purpose for dating Hikigaya?"
"Is it that unbelievable for me to be dating someone?"
Sakayanagi chuckled softly.
Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, it was an unbelievable thing for her to date anyone, let alone several people dating Hikigaya simultaneously.
However, Sakayanagi didn't care about those things.
Only the union between the strong and the strong has a higher chance of giving birth to even more excellent genes.
And Hikigaya was undoubtedly an even more outstanding existence than her.
Just that point alone was sufficient.
Furthermore, that thrilling feeling of being pinned down by Hikigaya at that time was something Sakayanagi could not forget to this day.
"I don't want to meddle in your affairs either."
Katsuragi took a deep breath before looking at Sakayanagi, saying solemnly:
"But you should know clearly that we will eventually become competitive rivals. Sakayanagi, what exactly are you thinking?"
This was because Sakayanagi Arisu had several members of the Sakayanagi faction under her command.
If it were anyone else.
They would surely suffer suspicion and ostracization from the class, constantly having to guard against whether they would betray the class due to emotional issues.
It would be a huge blow to the class's unity.
As long as they were still in this school.
Cross-class dating was almost an impossible thing to achieve.
Unless.
It was like the third years.
The gap was so vast that there was no longer a need to consider class competition.
But the second years clearly did not have such conditions.
"Don't be so nervous."
Sakayanagi's face was pleasant: "I will no longer compete with you for the class leader position, nor will I do anything detrimental to the class again."
"Not only that, Kamuro-san and I will completely follow your command from now on."
"Of course, you are aware of my physical condition; the only place I can contribute is in academic grades. I can guarantee that won't fall below the school's top three."
"For other aspects, Katsuragi-kun, you'll have to consider them yourself; I won't offer any opinions."
"???"
Katsuragi was suddenly a bit dazed.
There was such a good thing?
If it was truly as Sakayanagi said—that she would no longer do things detrimental to the class—that would undoubtedly be a huge benefit to Class A.
Class A would become more united!
If it weren't Sakayanagi speaking, he might have actually believed it.
"What exactly is your purpose?"
Katsuragi was full of vigilance.
He was no longer that naive Katsuragi from the start of school; he wouldn't easily believe Sakayanagi's words.
Precisely because of this.
In Sakayanagi's eyes, Katsuragi had also become more troublesome.
"Of course there are conditions."
Sakayanagi's eyes were sharp: "No matter what you want to do or what policy you use, my only requirement is to lead everyone to graduate from Class A."
"???"
Katsuragi was even more bewildered; did she even need to say that?
Before he could speak, Sakayanagi chuckled.
"If I said it was for the sake of the class, Katsuragi-kun probably wouldn't believe it. I need you all to become Hikki's whetstone, using your full strength to prevent him from ascending to Class A."
"This..."
Hearing this.
Katsuragi frowned.
He didn't care much about the matter between Sakayanagi and Hikigaya.
Although she wanted him to be a whetstone, this was undoubtedly a great thing for Class A.
"Even if you say that, I still find it hard to believe."
"If you want me to be Hikigaya's whetstone, that means you've already fallen for him, right?"
"If it finally comes to a decisive battle between Class A and Class B, you won't betray the class because of your feelings and stand on Hikigaya's side, right?"
Katsuragi asked while seriously scrutinizing Sakayanagi's expression.
It was truly difficult to judge Sakayanagi's truthfulness.
If the class had a time bomb that could go off at any moment, it would be a disaster instead.
"Presumably, no matter what I say, Katsuragi-kun, you won't easily believe me."
Sakayanagi Arisu met Katsuragi's scrutinizing gaze and said in a flat voice:
"I will not interfere; I won't stand with Class A to use Hikki, nor will I stand with Hikki to sell out Class A. I will merely act as an ordinary member of Class A."
"Not just me, but Kamuro-san as well. I will also restrain the people under me to follow your arrangements."
"As for whether we can graduate from Class A, that will depend on your strength, Katsuragi."
"Is such a guarantee sufficient?"
As soon as this was said.
Katsuragi's expression became somewhat complex, and in his heart, he had already believed it a bit more.
"I'll be watching you."
"While wasting energy on me is a foolish choice, whatever you like. We'll head back first then."
Watching the receding figures of Sakayanagi and Kamuro Masumi.
Katsuragi finally sighed in relief.
It seemed to be true; then this was undoubtedly a great thing for Class A.
Only.
She actually wanted them to be Hikigaya's whetstone.
Katsuragi shook his head helplessly.
Although he didn't know what had happened, being fancied by someone like Sakayanagi was truly a disaster.