The next morning.
Inside Hikigaya's dormitory.
Ichinose Honami, Himeno Yuki, Sakayanagi Arisu, Kamuro Masumi, and Karuizawa Megumi sat in front of Hikigaya in order.
Looking at the serious expressions of the people in front of him.
Hikigaya was suddenly a bit confused and felt a little guilty:
"Um... is there something wrong? Or have I done something wrong?"
"Hikki."
Sakayanagi Arisu had a gentle smile on the corner of her mouth.
"From today onwards, we are going to subject you to rigorous training. In addition to basic physical fitness and studies,"
"You also need to learn psychology, sociology, management, economics, law, and other related knowledge."
"Besides that, you also need to learn how to understand women, learn how to conduct yourself, and change this twisted personality of yours."
"Wait."
Hikigaya felt a headache just listening to it.
Although he had long realized such a day would come, after all, just trying to support them all was a bit difficult.
Improving grades and finding a better job—even if he followed Sakayanagi into politics—required high academic qualifications.
But this was surely a bit too much.
He pressed his forehead and said:
"Isn't this a bit too much? Let's start with academic grades first? And what's this about learning to understand women?"
"It's a very simple matter."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled playfully:
"Hikki, you seem very poor at dealing with girls. Only ignorance leads to fear."
"As long as you understand women enough, you won't feel fear anymore, nor will you feel restrained. You can become more composed."
"Karuizawa will be your first subject of study."
Saying so.
Sakayanagi Arisu glanced at Karuizawa, whose face was flushed:
"You need to learn from her how to understand a woman's true thoughts. To put it simply, we want you to only do the foreplay, until Karuizawa begs you to surrender."
Take it step by step.
At least let him know that women are not some prehistoric monsters, nor are they unattainable goddesses.
"Wait."
Hikigaya's face darkened.
Sakayanagi was really giving him nothing but trouble.
Ignorance is indeed a frightening thing, but you can't learn in this way.
What's more.
Now that he had Ichinose and the others, Hikigaya believed he already understood them quite well—at least he wouldn't blush at every turn and could treat them with a calm heart.
It wasn't as pathetic as Sakayanagi described.
"You're joking, right~?"
Hikigaya said with a dark expression:
"How could I do such a thing? Also, don't bully Karuizawa like this. Consider other people's feelings a bit."
"Is that so?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's smile was playful:
"See, you really don't understand women. You haven't even asked, so how do you know Karuizawa doesn't agree?"
"I have no objection."
Karuizawa's face was beet red, and she spoke in a voice as quiet as a mosquito.
Seeing this.
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Naturally, since Karuizawa was here, she had probably already discussed it with Sakayanagi and the others.
"Sigh."
Hikigaya gave a sigh, no longer caring much, but he turned to look at Ichinose and the others.
"Honami, do you all have no objections either?"
"Yes."
Ichinose looked at Karuizawa with some sympathy:
"Megumi, she already told me about your situation. She really likes you... Hikki, if possible, don't let Megumi's feelings down..."
The underlying meaning.
She likely already knew about Karuizawa being bullied.
Hikigaya turned to Karuizawa, his heart feeling somewhat tired, and his gaze swept over Sakayanagi, Kamuro, Ichinose, and Himeno.
Forget it.
Let it be.
Things had already reached this point; one more person wouldn't make a difference.
However, Hikigaya still felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Sorry, I can't accept this. I will work hard in sports and at school, but let's forget about these things."
As soon as these words were spoken.
Karuizawa stared at Hikigaya with sparks in her eyes, while Ichinose and Himeno Yuki were happy but also had complex feelings.
They were always forcing Hikigaya to do things he didn't want to do.
"Hikki."
At this moment, Sakayanagi, having anticipated this, said with a calm expression:
"I wonder if you have considered the future. You seem to come from an ordinary background, both parents are from dual-income households,"
"How exactly are you going to support Ichinose and the others?"
Uh...
Hikigaya looked at Sakayanagi blankly.
"Hmm?"
Feeling his gaze, Sakayanagi said playfully:
"Do you want me to support you? I can. Break up with Ichinose and the others, and I will guarantee you a worry-free life in the future. Even without working,"
"You can live a wealthy life. How about it?"
"No..."
Hikigaya felt somewhat helpless.
If you want to gain something, you really have to pay a price.
"Then you must listen to me."
Sakayanagi obviously knew he wouldn't agree and said calmly:
"Have you considered how to get Ichinose and the others' parents to accept this? Or do you plan to keep it hidden forever? Do you think Ichinose and the others will feel happy that way?"
"How should the rumors and gossip around you be handled?"
"Even if Ichinose and the others don't care and can endure it, can you calmly accept the status quo? Let them be pointed at by others because of you?"
Hearing this.
Hikigaya felt bitter. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
These.
Were problems he would inevitably have to face in the future.
It was just that the time hadn't come yet, so he avoided thinking in this direction. After all, it felt so powerless.
Now it had been pointed out by Sakayanagi, who must have already spoken to Ichinose and the others.
Therefore.
Ichinose and the others would make Sakayanagi the center.
"So you should understand, right?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze suddenly became sharp:
"Only when you stand high enough and become strong enough can you make the people around you shut up, and only then can the relatives of Ichinose and the others accept it calmly."
"Although we are still just high school students now, time always passes in the blink of an eye."
"Hikki."
"There isn't much time left for you to continue squandering, so you must listen to me."
Sakayanagi's words were very blunt.
Hikigaya naturally understood these principles. In this closed-off school, it might not be much.
But once he stepped into society, he would face the real problems.
Work, relatives, family, friends, colleagues—all sorts of problems would come rushing in.
He wouldn't receive anyone's blessing.
The road ahead was only pain.
The most effective way was to follow Sakayanagi Arisu; only with her father's help would success be possible.
To stand at a high enough position.
To make everyone around shut up, leaving them with nothing but envy.
As for achieving class mobility through one's own strength?
Hikigaya wasn't as naive as Nagumo Miyabi.
Not to mention crossing several classes.
This was simply impossible in today's Sakurajima.
A lawyer's son is a lawyer, a politician's son is a politician, a boss's son is a boss, and a worker's son is a worker.
Class solidification had reached such a point that relying on strength was clearly impossible.
Only by relying on Sakayanagi was there hope.
However.
He would have to pay a price for this.
Whether for himself or for Ichinose and the others.
Concessions must be made to society.