Forget it.
Better discuss this matter with Ichinose and the others later.
Just how close Kushida Kikyou was with the Class B people.
Hikigaya wasn't sure either.
"And then?"
"Hikki..."
Hasebe Haruka asked with some concern: "Do you think what Kushida did was right?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was a bit puzzled but still nodded in response.
"It's not a matter of right or wrong. It's understandable, just a bit childish."
"What do you mean?"
"Well..."
Hikigaya scratched his head, finding it a bit hard to explain.
During this period.
Sakayanagi had required him to read many books he absolutely would never have looked at before.
With the accumulation of knowledge.
Hikigaya no longer went to distinguish between right and wrong; now, the more he looked, the more he felt his past self was extremely childish.
He even wanted to die of shame.
After all.
He had done something similar before.
When someone wrote "go die" on his desk, Hikigaya turned around and wrote for everyone to go die on their desks, making the situation big.
Forcing the school to intervene.
Looking back now.
While this approach was effective, it was explosively childish.
It would have been better to just physically fight back.
Though it was for self-preservation, the actions were not much different from what Kushida had done.
"If viewed from the surface."
Feeling the complicated gazes of Hasebe and Sakura Airi, Hikigaya still explained in a heavy voice:
"Kushida's approach was definitely wrong. Losing her cool and dragging everyone down once things were exposed... even feeling disgust and hatred is very normal."
"Indeed... is it..."
Hasebe Haruka pursed her lips, and Sakura Airi's expression beside her was also complicated.
As long as one is human.
Anyone would feel disgusted by Kushida Kikyou's actions.
"But, from another perspective."
Hikigaya explained in a heavy voice: "If she didn't do that, Kushida would definitely have been ostracized and fallen to the bottom of the class, and might have even been bullied."
"Her doing that also had an element of self-preservation, it's just that her method was a bit childish."
"This..."
Hasebe Haruka was a bit dazed.
She felt there was some truth to that.
If Kushida had considered everyone's feelings and hadn't let the class collapse, then she herself would have fallen to the very bottom of the class.
Doing so was understandable.
However, Hasebe Haruka still felt it was somewhat unacceptable.
"Then does Hiki-pips think what Kushida did was right?"
"Didn't I just say, her method was definitely wrong."
"Then what does Hikki's think would be the correct approach?"
"Hmm..."
Feeling the hopeful gazes of the two, Hikigaya originally didn't want to talk about Kushida Kikyou, but after thinking for a moment, he said:
"If I were Kushida, in the past I might have chosen the same approach as her; now, I would choose to drop out and transfer."
"But before that, the person who discovered the post also had a problem."
"If they could have sought verification or even questioned Kushida privately, things wouldn't have developed to such an irreparable state."
Saying that.
Hikigaya nodded.
Because of this.
Being indirect is necessary.
If that student could have approached Kushida privately, the situation certainly wouldn't have developed to such an irreparable state.
This was everyone together.
Pushing the situation to a point where no one could back down.
No one could achieve the desired result.
Of course.
One cannot demand too much of a student.
If he hadn't experienced so much, Hikigaya wouldn't be able to think of these things now.
He originally thought.
His past actions wouldn't hurt anyone or cause trouble for anyone.
Now he understood.
Actions he considered perfect.
How many people they would hurt, and how much compromise and endurance they would force upon the other party.
It's just.
In the past, he wasn't aware of these things.
Since he has now become Class B's leader, he must be aware of these things.
For self-preservation.
Kushida's best move could only be to reveal everyone's dirty secrets; if she were a bit kinder, then she could only drop out to ensure safety.
Clearly.
Kushida wasn't that kind either, and she likely felt some indignation in her heart.
Being an emotional trash can for those around her, having to endure disgust every day while facing someone like Ike Kanji.
What's wrong with saying some facts?
Broadly speaking.
In her heart, Kushida still held this kind of thought; she's just a childish kid.
"Is that so..."
Hasebe Haruka and Sakura Airi looked at each other.
Each felt a bit complicated.
"What's wrong? Is there any other problem?"
"It's nothing..."
Hasebe Haruka shook her head and said in a somewhat dejected tone:
"Actually, we always treated Kushida as a friend, and now we don't know how to face her..."
After all.
A year ago.
Hasebe Haruka and Sakura Airi liked to bring Kushida along, and Karuizawa also liked to bring Kushida along.
Clearly.
Kushida still had some merits; at least she was a very convenient tool, and could serve as Class D's emotional trash can.
The relationship between the several of them was clearly very good.
Besides Sakura Airi, Kushida Kikyou was Hasebe's best friend among the Class D girls, one of her only two female friends.
However.
Except for parents.
Who else in the world would be so unconditionally good to another person?
Not to mention.
An emotional trash can like Kushida Kikyou who was available on call.
Naturally, there was a price.
"It's nothing."
Hikigaya could only try his best to comfort them: "To accept a person is not only to accept their strengths but also their weaknesses."
"If you can't accept them, then just leave."
"Yeah."
Hasebe Haruka and Sakura Airi looked at each other.
They both felt a bit bitter.
Though it was such a simple truth, it was emotionally unacceptable.
During these two years.
Kushida Kikyou provided them with all sorts of help.
Frequently counseling the two of them.
Perhaps Kushida just wanted to gain their trust.
However.
The kindness Kushida showed them was real.
The fact that Kushida used their dirty secrets as leverage was also real.
When they liked her, they liked her to death, and when they hated her, they hated her to death.
These feelings were by no means fake.
After knowing Kushida Kikyou's true character, whether to continue treating her as a friend.
Hasebe Haruka wasn't very clear either.
After all.
Since Sakura Airi hadn't dropped out yet, she and Kushida Kikyou didn't have much of a conflict.
Except.
She had always treated Kushida, Ayanokouji, Miyake, and Yukimura as her best friends.
In the end.
They all freaking betrayed her?
If it were only one or two, it wouldn't be a problem.
But they all chose betrayal.
Hasebe Haruka was also made a bit unsure of herself, having to wonder if there was something wrong on her side too.
Anyway, in Class D.
Everyone more or less has some problems.
Even if Sakura Airi was cowardly at heart, her kindness could not be denied.
If you can accept it, then accept it; if you can't, then part ways.
The world keeps turning regardless of who is missing.
"And then?"
"Upon entering this school, Kushida discovered that Horikita was from the same school, and later her true identity was discovered by Ayanokouji."
"Kushida wanted them both to drop out, which is why she dragged the exam to the very end."
"After that... it was that Horikita-san felt Kushida was an indispensable member of Class D, so Ayanokouji-san made me drop out..."
Saying that.
Sakura Airi pursed her lips, feeling a bit distressed.
She clearly also treated Ayanokouji and the others as friends.
Although it was understandable rationally, it was emotionally unacceptable.
Afterward.
Sakura Airi recounted the events of the exam in detail.
"What?"
Hearing her narrative, Hikigaya's pupils contracted sharply.
He couldn't help but stand up and stare at the two.
Leaving Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune aside for the moment.
This fellow Kushida Kikyou was actually childish to such an extent; despite there being no benefit at all, she actually started revealing the dirty secrets of those around her again.
Most importantly
Karuizawa Kei.
No wonder he hadn't received any contact from Karuizawa today; the situation might be even more thorny than imagined.