On the other side, in the audience seats.
"What's going on?"
"That's Sudou from second-year Class D, right? Why did they suddenly start fighting?"
The people around stood up instantly; some were curious and others were gloating, wanting to watch the drama.
Hikigaya looked back.
He specifically looked at the few off-campus guests dressed in suits in the last row.
He saw several people with smiles on their lips.
They seemed to not care at all about this kind of fighting and brawling.
Which made sense.
Advanced Nurturing High School respects students' autonomy the most.
For high-ranking officials and politicians like them.
They probably care more about the students' ability to handle crises.
If every single thing were resolved by the school, there would be no difference from a normal school, and no need for special cultivation.
"Hikki..."
Kobashi Yume lowered her voice and said: "Does this have anything to do with you?"
After all.
A second ago.
Hikigaya said Class B would get first place.
The next second, such a thing happened.
If they were told it had nothing to do with Hikigaya, they obviously wouldn't believe it.
"I guess you could say so..."
Feeling the sparkling eyes around him, Hikigaya was somewhat uncomfortable.
"Words become reality".
In the eyes of people like Tsube Hitomi, he might be like a strategist who devises strategies within a tent and wins battles a thousand miles away.
But in reality.
Hikigaya was somewhat apprehensive and peeked at Ichinose.
As for the others, never mind.
After all, he hadn't done anything very excessive.
He just brought out a video and had Nakanishi and the others speak a segment of reasonable speculation, even if that speculation was malicious.
It was all facts.
Reasonable evidence and conjecture.
It wasn't a big deal.
Whether it was Kobashi Yume and the others, or Sakayanagi Arisu, they would probably only show admiration.
However.
Strictly speaking, this method was indeed relatively low-handed, and Hikigaya knew very well that it would probably be hard for Ichinose to accept.
"Eh!? Hikki, how exactly did you do it?"
"You'll know if you open the school forum".
Hearing Amikura Mako's words, Hikigaya nodded awkwardly, feeling like he would be lectured after returning to the dormitory.
Upon hearing this.
Opening the school forum and seeing the video, Kobashi Yume and the others understood instantly.
The fact that Sudou liked Horikita Suzune wasn't something that started just yesterday.
Moreover, the performance was far too obvious.
Aside from Horikita Suzune herself being emotionally indifferent, the others basically saw it very clearly.
"So that's how it is."
"But, Hikigaya-kun, how did you get this video?"
"During last year's sports festival, to prevent Horikita Suzune from being bullied by Ryuuen, Horikita-senpai hired me to protect his sister; it was filmed then."
"Eh? That long ago?"
Tsube Hitomi and the others were instantly shocked.
To think that Hikigaya could still utilize something from so long ago.
In reality.
Hikigaya didn't have this intention at all, nor did he personally place much importance on this sports festival.
After all.
These things certainly couldn't last long; it was impossible to have an appropriate opportunity every time.
Wanting to rise to Class A.
Focusing on every single exam like this was clearly an inefficient way of doing things.
"Then can we take first place?"
"Not necessarily, let's head over there too."
Hearing this.
Hikigaya could not help but stand up to leave his seat; although Himeno Yuki and the others were somewhat puzzled, they still stood up and followed behind Hikigaya.
At this time.
Ryuuen and Sudou seemed to have already been pulled apart; merely borrowing a knife to kill someone was still not quite enough.
This matter was undoubtedly also very beneficial to Class C.
Given Ryuuen's personality, it was highly likely he would choose to stab Class D in the back; not fighting back just now might have been for this reason.
Unfortunately.
The kind-hearted Albert could not stand by and watch Ryuuen get hurt, and failed to hold back from taking action.
Just one punch.
It was enough to drag both classes down together.
However.
Class D was currently cooperating with Class C, so there was a high probability they would solve it privately.
Although Sudou was easily emotional, Ryuuen was not.
Considering the long term,
With Ryuuen's personality, it was also possible he might simply extort a sum or stab Class D in the back to extricate himself.
Both were possible.
To define the nature of the matter, merely borrowing a knife to kill someone was far from enough.
The group walked down from the observation seats.
Hikigaya still felt somewhat apologetic; he secretly took Ichinose's soft little hand and fell back a few steps.
"Honami."
Hikigaya said somewhat nervously: "Do you feel a bit angry?"
"Eh? Why?"
Ichinose was instantly a bit dazed, having thought Hikigaya pulled her to do something else.
"It's not that..."
Hikigaya said somewhat awkwardly: "After all, this kind of method is indeed not worth praising...."
Hearing this.
Ichinose was slightly stunned for a moment.
Only then did she react; she was afraid that Hikigaya also had some doubts about his own methods.
Only by acting as a leader.
Could one understand that the problems to be considered indeed become more numerous.
Whether this method could be accepted by her, whether it could be accepted by the class, whether it would make Shibata and the others feel resentful, and whether it would affect class unity.
Of course, one could also be like Ryuuen and Horikita Suzune, paying no mind to the feelings of subordinates as long as they were bound by interests.
But Hikigaya was clearly not that kind of person.
He himself naturally didn't care, but when becoming a leader, considering the feelings of those below was necessary.
Every step.
To Hikigaya, these were all new experiences, and it was inevitable that he would feel some lack of confidence in his own methods.
"Not at all."
Ichinose put both hands behind her and laughed: "Hikki is also considering the class's interests; I believe everyone can understand."
"Is that so."
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment and nodded.
It was a bit unexpected.
"Alright, let's go."
Saying this.
Ichinose held Hikigaya's arm with both hands and walked smiling toward the arena.
She indeed was not suitable to be a leader; she was more suited to assist from behind.
When falling in love with someone.
One would throw themselves wholeheartedly into the other person.
However.
Ichinose did not have any dissatisfaction; on the contrary, she felt a sense of relief and was very happy.
If anything happened, Hikigaya would be there in front to handle it.
She only needed to support Hikigaya well from behind, take good care of Hikigaya, and stabilize the rear.
At least in Ichinose's eyes.
This was what a traditional woman should do.
Therefore.
She would try her best to smooth the relationships between Karuizawa, Sakura Airi, Himeno Yuki, and Sakayanagi Arisu.
She would try not to cause trouble for Hikigaya, letting him focus on dealing with work matters.
Several people arrived at the edge of the arena.
Hikigaya did not approach, but had everyone stop their pace, standing in the surrounding crowd like others to watch the show.
Sudou had already used violence against Ryuuen, and Albert had also used violence in return.
However.
No matter how effective the strategy was.
This matter.
Neither he, Ryuuen, nor Sudou himself had the power to decide.
The power of decision lay only in the hands of Student Council President Nagumo Miyabi.
Soon.
Under the gaze of Hikigaya and the others, Nagumo Miyabi finally arrived at Gymnasium No. 2.