Dormitory building.
The two stood before the door.
Sakura Airi rang the doorbell full of pleasant surprise.
If Haruka knew she didn't have to drop out, she would definitely be very surprised and happy.
However.
There was no response for a long time.
"Could it be she's not back yet?"
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly: "Better call and ask."
"Eh, true."
Sakura Airi nodded worriedly, quickly opening Haruka's contact info.
It would be fine if she wasn't back yet.
If something had happened, it would really be worrying.
Inside the room at the entryway.
Hasebe Haruka was sitting on the floor in a duck-sit position, unable to hear any sound, her brown eyes completely lifeless.
What on earth had she done?
Although it was Sakura Airi who spoke.
But she actually voted in favor, personally sending away her best friend?
This was undoubtedly a betrayal of their friendship.
Even now.
Hasebe Haruka still couldn't understand.
What she was actually thinking at that time.
Although time was tight then with only a few seconds left.
There was no time for extra consideration.
But Haruka still didn't understand why she would vote in favor.
Clearly she shouldn't have.
Until now.
Hasebe Haruka finally realized what she had actually done.
Although Sakura Airi was very kind, gentle, and cute.
However.
With Sakura Airi's gentle, inward, and timid personality—being completely afraid to speak to people—what would she do after dropping out?
How would she survive in society?
The real Sakura Airi was so beautiful; what if she was tricked by someone with evil intentions?
Hasebe Haruka's mind was full of these questions.
Clearly, she had already made up her mind; as Sakura Airi's best friend, she had to protect Sakura Airi properly.
Yet, now.
She had personally pushed her best friend into the abyss.
Thinking of this.
Hasebe Haruka no longer had any thought of going to school; she had the urge to drop out or even commit suicide.
However.
Fearing death is an instinct of all living things.
Thinking carefully.
This wasn't just her fault; it was also Ayanokouji's fault, the whole Class D's fault.
Just at this moment.
The phone ringtone woke Haruka up. Hasebe Haruka took out her phone, looking at the three words "Little Airi" on it.
It took Hasebe Haruka quite a while to react, her pupils shrinking before she picked up the phone full of delight.
"Airi, is it Airi? Where are you now, why are you calling me, is something wrong? I will definitely help you."
Hasebe Haruka's voice was hurried, her face full of joy.
As if wanting to grasp a last life-saving straw, and even more wanting to atone for what she had done to Sakura Airi.
If only she could do it over again!
No matter how much Sakura Airi insisted, she would resolutely never vote in favor again!
"Really..."
Outside the door, the corner of Sakura Airi's mouth couldn't help but curl into a smile; she was also worried about Haruka.
She knew that after she dropped out, Haruka would definitely be very dejected.
But.
With Hasebe Haruka's strong personality, she would surely be able to move on quickly.
"Kaka, I'm right outside the door, why aren't you answering me?"
"Creak..."
As soon as she finished speaking.
The room door in front of Hikigaya and Sakura Airi was pushed open, and Hasebe Haruka appeared before them with the phone pressed to her ear.
Looking at Hasebe Haruka's red eyes and her joyful expression, Hikigaya was slightly surprised.
To be honest.
He completely didn't expect Hasebe Haruka to have this kind of expression.
After all.
Having just learned they were at the dorm, Hasebe Haruka's expression definitely wasn't faked.
Since she was so heartbroken.
Why bother voting in favor at the time? It was truly a bit bizarre.
"Airi!"
The phone hit the ground with a thud.
Hasebe Haruka didn't pay any attention to Hikigaya at all, unhesitatingly pulling Sakura Airi into her arms.
Tears gushed out.
Hasebe was covered in tears, her voice constantly sobbing.
"Airi... Airi... is it really you? I'm sorry... I'm really sorry... I shouldn't have voted in favor... I'm really sorry..."
"Really..."
Sakura Airi was slightly stunned, holding Hasebe Haruka in her arms:
"I just realized, Kaka is a crybaby just like me..."
"That..."
Glancing around, Hikigaya couldn't help scratching his head and said: "Can you two go inside to talk?"
"Eh?"
Only then did Hasebe Haruka snap back, looking at Hikigaya next to her in a daze; why was this guy here?
However.
Now wasn't the time to consider these things.
"Let's go inside..."
Inside the room.
The two were weeping in each other's arms.
Hasebe Haruka constantly voiced her apologies and regret; it was basically Sakura Airi comforting her now.
Watching the scene before him.
Hikigaya sat to the side feeling quite helpless, as if he were a mass of air.
He felt it wasn't the time to talk either; maybe he should come back tomorrow, but Sakura probably needed him to explain.
After a long time.
Hasebe Haruka's emotions finally stabilized, holding Sakura Airi's small hand, her eyes still somewhat red.
"...Airi, what's this all about? Is there some kind of remedial measure from the school?"
This was the only explanation Haruka could think of.
After all.
Twenty million was really too much.
Although she was curious why Hikigaya was here, spending twenty million to help someone from another class cancel an expulsion penalty.
This was instead even more incredible.
At least.
Hasebe Haruka absolutely did not believe such a thing existed in the world.
If the other person were a close friend like Sakura Airi, it would be one thing, but the relationship between Hikigaya and Sakura Airi clearly wasn't that good.
Ever since Sakura Airi gave up.
The two had barely seen each other for nearly half a year, and Hikigaya had never looked for Sakura again.
To say Hikigaya would spend private points to save Sakura.
It truly exceeded Hasebe Haruka's range of understanding; perhaps in anyone's eyes, it was an unbelievable thing.
Even Ichinose.
Probably wouldn't do such a thing.
In reality.
Helping Sakura was largely because of Horikita's reminder; after all, these private points were given by others, and it was necessary to give Horikita Suzune a hard time.
If there weren't this reminder.
Hikigaya also wasn't sure what choice he would have made, or perhaps the private points simply wouldn't have been enough, and thus he would have been powerless.
"It's not that."
Sakura Airi also held Haruka's small hand tightly, unable to hide the joy in her tone.
"It was Hikki who spent twenty million private points to transfer me to Class B, so I don't have to drop out."
As for the matter of the loan.
Sakura Airi didn't take it too much to heart.
After all, Hikigaya had also lent her private points last year and didn't make her pay him back in the end.
That IOU.
In Sakura Airi's eyes, was more like a reason for Hikigaya to convince himself.
"Eh?"
Hasebe Haruka was slightly stunned, turning to look at Hikigaya in a daze.