"Hikigaya."
Katsuragi turned to look at the four people before him, his gaze finally resting on Hikigaya as he said in a deep voice:
"Is Class B still being led by you, Ichinose? Or rather, is it you?"
From the beginning.
The one who first responded was actually Hikigaya; Katsuragi instantly felt something was wrong.
However.
This was also because Hikigaya had no intention of hiding it from Katsuragi.
In front of Horikita Suzune and Ryuuen, Hikigaya would naturally hide his brilliance, but he wouldn't in front of Katsuragi.
Since it was a cooperation.
And the object was a person like Katsuragi, Hikigaya naturally wanted to collaborate sincerely.
"For the time being... suppose it's me..."
Hikigaya nodded and said: "But I don't know about later. If I can't get results, I might have to step down."
Katsuragi didn't pay attention to his self-modesty and asked in a deep voice:
"Then for this Sports Festival, do you have some kind of strategy?"
After all.
A few days ago.
Ichinose had just talked to him about the cooperation issue.
For example, Shibata and Kitou, many people from the two classes have formed pairs, preparing to participate in group projects.
Now he discovered that Hikigaya was actually leading the class.
Although he felt very at ease with Ichinose, it wasn't necessarily the same for Hikigaya, though he didn't think he would do something like a backstab.
But regarding the matters of several previous exams.
Hikigaya's methods weren't worthy of praise either; he was completely acting against the school.
To put it nicely.
It's called being unpredictable.
To put it bluntly.
Katsuragi cannot trust Hikigaya as much as he trusts Ichinose.
Although it's still worth cooperating, he has to be a little bit on guard; he won't be as relaxed as when facing Ichinose.
If Hikigaya suddenly gave him a backstab.
Although he felt the possibility wasn't high, Katsuragi had to consider it for the class and take precautions.
"Not clear yet."
"Next we still have to go to Class C and Class D for reconnaissance; we'll see the situation then."
Hikigaya didn't hide it.
He finally understood Katsuragi's meaning just now.
Katsuragi's evaluation of Kitou and Hashimoto Masayoshi just now might have been intentionally showing a flaw.
After all.
The matters of Kitou and Hashimoto Masayoshi aren't major problems.
Although what Katsuragi said might be the truth, whether he has other hidden moves isn't certain.
It counts as a strategy of sowing suspicion.
If one used this point to trip up Class A, the cooperative relationship would probably end there.
"However, you can rest assured."
Hikigaya explained in a deep voice: "Regardless of whether there are any ideas, it won't affect Class A. If I take action against Class A, I will terminate the cooperative relationship with you in advance."
Katsuragi obviously didn't trust him as much as he trusted Ichinose.
This was also a matter of course.
However.
Hikigaya didn't have the idea of dealing with Katsuragi.
He isn't Ichinose.
If Ryuuen and Horikita Suzune played dirty little tricks with him, Hikigaya naturally wouldn't mind using some underhanded methods.
But facing Katsuragi.
Hikigaya still wanted to settle the score with him fair and square.
This kind of thing doesn't need explanation; just do it.
"I see."
Katsuragi breathed a slight sigh of relief, nodding with a somewhat complicated look at Hikigaya.
He had to admit.
He actually never held Ichinose in high regard.
Ichinose wouldn't use small tricks; as long as it's a fair and square duel, Katsuragi is confident he won't lose.
But Hikigaya might be much harder to deal with than Ichinose.
But these things aren't for consideration now.
At least, for now, they are still in a cooperative relationship, and Katsuragi isn't a guy who breaks his word.
"There are a few more questions."
"Lately, I've often heard about that Sakura student. Your relationship shouldn't be that good; why would you spend twenty million individual points to help her change classes?"
Katsuragi's gaze watching Hikigaya was somewhat puzzled.
If this were Ichinose's opinion, Katsuragi could still accept it, but now he discovered that the person leading Class B was actually Hikigaya.
This was clearly Hikigaya's intention.
Although he similarly felt great sympathy for Sakura Airi's encounter, if it were Katsuragi being asked to pay twenty million points to help Sakura transfer.
Katsuragi believed he couldn't do it.
"It's nothing."
Hikigaya said nonchalantly: "Mainly there are some partial personal reasons, and also just some things I can't stand, don't you feel the same?"
"Suppose so, sigh."
Saying so, Katsuragi couldn't help but sigh.
"Horikita should have looked for you a few days ago; she also came to find me, seemingly wanting to restore Class D's evaluation. Honestly, seeing the current Horikita truly makes me a bit moved."
"Indeed..."
Hearing this, Ichinose nodded with a complicated expression: "Class D's current determination truly cannot be underestimated."
"Actually."
Katsuragi nodded, his voice heavy:
"Seeing Horikita a few days ago, I now feel Class D might be the opponent most worth being wary of."
"Indeed..."
Kanzaki and Shibata's expressions also couldn't help but become somewhat solemn.
After all.
A cold leader who can even kill their own people—how could such determination to ascend to A not be moving?
The key point is.
The current class points of each class.
Class A: 1208
Class B: 803
Class C: 748
Class D: 678
Class rankings haven't changed temporarily, but Class D and Class C are only one step apart; Horikita Suzune gained actual benefits in the last exam.
Seeing the people around.
Constantly using unscrupulous means to obtain benefits.
Facing Horikita Suzune's unswerving conviction, they, whose minds are not yet mature, will inevitably feel shaken.
Would using such methods be better?
Seeing others making money is harder to bear than losing money oneself, and it's even through using such unscrupulous means.
It inevitably makes people fall into self-doubt.
Hikigaya knew this very well.
This doesn't only apply to Ichinose, Katsuragi, and the others; people are easily blinded by short-term interests.
"Then Katsuragi, let me ask you."
Hikigaya watched Katsuragi's eyes and said seriously: "If you were asked to cooperate with Horikita and the others now, what would you do?"
"Hmm..."
Not just Katsuragi, but Ichinose, Shibata, and the others nearby also fell into deep thought.
Letting them cooperate with Horikita Suzune and the others?
Thinking of this.
Katsuragi's expression was complicated, clearly feeling some unwillingness in his heart; after a long while, he gave an answer.
"If it's beneficial to the class, I probably would, but I would sign a contract with her, wouldn't I?"
"That's right."
A smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Hikigaya's mouth as he nodded.
Exactly.
That's the answer.
He would still cooperate with Horikita Suzune and the others.
However.
At the beginning of school, cooperating with Horikita Suzune mostly didn't require considering a contract; she had the same credibility as Ichinose.
Although Horikita Suzune is arrogant, she wouldn't lie.
Yet now.
Horikita Suzune's credit—no, it should be her morality—has collapsed.
Morality is an ethereal thing.
It's hard to describe in words what counts as being moral, but it's very easy to judge what is immoral.
As long as one is a normal person.
One can judge what Horikita Suzune did.
It was truly terrible.
Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, regardless of how sincere Horikita Suzune's attitude was, regardless of how firm her determination was, regardless of how many reasons she had for having to do it.
It all makes one feel extremely uncomfortable.
A person who doesn't care about the feelings of their companions, and can even abandon them at any time.
Do you dare to follow them?