"Oh?"
Hearing Hikigaya's words, Nagumo Miyabi's smile became somewhat playful:
"How is it that Ryuuen and the others haven't said anything, but you, Hikigaya-kun, have some dissatisfaction with my judgment?"
"It's not that I have any dissatisfaction..."
Hikigaya secretly made a 'five' gesture with his palm, his face full of forced smiles: "It's just that for violence, I think the punishment can be a bit heavier."
In any case, private points are meant to be used.
Whether it was Sudou or Albert, both were the trump cards of Class D and Class C.
As long as the two could be suspended for a period of time.
Giving Nagumo 500,000 or even a million would be very worth it; moreover, a suspension punishment should also deduct their class points.
Hikigaya also had quite some confidence.
After all.
Nagumo Miyabi had split the loot with him during the previous cruise treasure hunt; he clearly wasn't any kind of good person.
He should be able to agree—at most, he would just give more private points.
"You piece of..."
Sudou was simply exploding with rage, pointing at Hikigaya and saying fiercely:
"Nagumo-senpai, in fact, this fellow sent someone to instigate me; he is the real culprit. If there's a punishment, he should be punished along with us."
The others didn't say much more either.
After all, with conclusive evidence, so many people around, surveillance cameras, and teachers, there was no way to defend it.
It entirely depended on how Nagumo Miyabi chose to punish.
Therefore, Hirata and the others also knew that pleading and explaining had no meaning, but it would be best if they could drag Hikigaya down with them.
"Ho ho?"
Nagumo Miyabi was full of playfulness, stroking his chin in mock deep thought.
He liked most to see these people dog-eat-dog, showing their clever little sides; in the end, they all still had to listen to him.
Punishing Hikigaya as well.
Nagumo wouldn't mind it much either.
However.
He had also watched that video just now.
Although it was anonymous, it wasn't difficult to find the poster through the power of the Student Council President.
But.
Even if it were confirmed that Hikigaya posted it, he only posted a video, and everything he said was the truth; everything else was just reasonable speculation.
The reason for punishment was insufficient.
Feeling the angry gazes of Sudou and others, and Hikigaya's expectant look and the hand gesture hinting that he wished for a harsher punishment.
If it were anything else.
Nagumo Miyabi didn't dislike a person with some cleverness like Hikigaya.
Anyway, this matter was also a piece of cake for him.
However.
Nagumo Miyabi still had some persistence of his own.
Looking at Hikigaya, his expression was calm as he said:
"Hikigaya, I should have said that some physical conflict between students is normal; it's just that the impact of this incident is a bit large, so the Student Council will take disciplinary action."
The subtext being.
As long as it didn't blow up.
Nagumo Miyabi didn't mind private violent behavior.
After all, no matter what.
Violence would always exist; that was reality.
Being able to utilize private points to play some clever tricks was Hikigaya's strength; being good at fighting was the strength of Ryuuen and others; being good at sports was Sudou's strength.
Similarly.
Being able to become the Student Council President and collect private points.
This was also Nagumo Miyabi's strength; at least Nagumo thought so.
Everything was personal strength.
"It's not..."
Hikigaya made a 'one' gesture again—how about one million.
"That's enough."
Nagumo Miyabi said somewhat playfully:
"Hikigaya-kun, have you forgotten?"
"During the previous event selection exam, you also had a conflict with Albert, and the punishment you received was also disqualification from the exam."
Hearing this.
Hikigaya's face stiffened.
He almost forgot; during the last event selection exam, he had done the same thing.
"Alright, the matter ends here. I will explain to the school that the basketball event concludes with Shibata's group as the winners."
"Of course, if you want to continue the competition as four people, that's fine too. That's all."
After saying that.
Nagumo Miyabi then turned to leave.
If it were anything else.
He wouldn't mind opening some doors of convenience for Hikigaya.
But this matter would not do.
If one thought that he, Nagumo Miyabi, was a person who only cared about profit, it would be an understatement; he didn't lack private points.
He just somewhat appreciated Hikigaya's clever tricks.
Individual strength-supremacy.
That was Nagumo Miyabi's philosophy.
He would never show favoritism to anyone just because of a few private points.
Watching Nagumo Miyabi's departing back.
Hikigaya's gaze was calm.
He had slightly underestimated Nagumo Miyabi; he had thought he would accept.
However.
It actually didn't make much difference.
Nagumo Miyabi was inherently very lenient with punishments for violence.
Last time, he had also benefited from Nagumo Miyabi's lenient attitude, being able to easily get by with the result of disqualification from the exam.
The incident this time was the same.
It's just.
If the rules were beneficial to him, Hikigaya was very happy to keep playing; but when the rules were disadvantageous to him.
Hikigaya was going to resist!
After Nagumo Miyabi left.
"Despicable person."
Sudou looked at Hikigaya with some contempt, gritting his teeth in hatred.
After all.
Sudou wasn't stupid either.
Only Hikigaya was jumping so actively; Hikigaya must be utilizing him.
But it was still unclear exactly what had happened between Horikita Suzune and Ryuuen before.
Seeing that video, Sudou could not help but think too much.
Therefore.
His gaze toward Ryuuen was also not very friendly.
One Hikigaya, one Ryuuen—neither of them was anything good.
"Sudou-kun, calm down."
Hirata patted his shoulder to comfort him: "What should be considered now is not these things."
"Yeah, I know. Phew."
Sudou took a deep breath; his gaze toward Hikigaya was filled with loathing.
If it weren't for this fellow.
How could he have been disqualified from the exam and results?
If that were the case.
Class D's score would be at least forty or fifty points less. How should he explain to Horikita Suzune?
The group was in no mood to care about the basketball competition anymore and hurried to turn and leave.
Ryuuen also turned to leave with a cold face.
Without saying another word.
What had already happened had no meaning to dwell upon.
The leader of Class B had changed.
This time.
He was caught off guard by Hikigaya.
The most important thing now was what to do with the exam from now on; he could no longer treat Class B as the Class B of the past.
Originally.
Ryuuen had not taken Class B seriously.
After all, that naive girl Ichinose was still easy to deal with, but Hikigaya's methods were similarly despicable.
Class B would become more troublesome.
At least in Ryuuen's eyes, that was the case; it forced one to treat it with caution.
"Honestly, that fellow Sudou is too much."
Amikura Mako said with some anger: "He doesn't understand Hiki-kun at all; clearly he was the one who acted himself, and Hiki-kun was only telling the truth."
"Yeah, Hiki-kun, are you alright?"
"Completely fine."
Hikigaya shook his head indifferently.
He cursed Sudou and the others for being despicable and inhuman, and Sudou cursed him for being despicable.
Both felt they stood on the correct side.
It wasn't anything to care about.
The incident ended.
Hikigaya and the others also took one last look at Ayanokouji and the others before turning to leave.
...
After the crowd dispersed.
Only Miyake Akito sat on the long bench with a blank gaze.
After being lectured by Hikigaya.
During this period of time.
Miyake Akito had been doubting himself.
Whether he liked himself more, or liked Hasebe Haruka, or if he was forcing his own 'liking' onto Haruka.
This wasn't really anything to be conflicted about.
After all, liking oneself and liking Haruka were not in conflict.
However.
Seeing Sudou Ken's performance today, Miyake Akito lost his confidence again.
Merely hearing that Horikita Suzune might have been coerced by someone, Sudou Ken didn't hesitate to act directly, without even a word of nonsense.
To protect Horikita Suzune, he wished he could just beat Ryuuen to death.
It was truly lacking in rationality.
But.
Miyake Akito could not help but feel somewhat bitter; perhaps this was what truly liking someone was.
And he had actually only grabbed Hikigaya by the collar.
Considering the surrounding impact, even at a time like this, he was still considering whether this kind of thing would affect himself.
Did he really like Hasebe Haruka?
Originally being able to adjust to participating in the sports festival showed that his mindset had almost recovered—at least it showed he was rational enough.
But now.
Miyake Akito went into isolation again.
Just at this moment.
"Miyake, are you alright?"
Ayanokouji walked forward expressionlessly and asked.
Recently, Satou Maya had become somewhat distant from him; as for the reason, he could roughly guess it.
Most likely, it was the subsequent impact of directing the spearhead toward Sakura Airi.
Satou Maya had developed a trace of fear toward him.
This wasn't anything important.
After all, Satou Maya's strength was just so-so; losing such a pawn was not a pity.
It's just.
For the upcoming third year, Ayanokouji needed to make certain preparations.
No matter how Ryuuen, Hikigaya, Katsuragi, and others performed.
In the end.
They would all face an absolutely insurmountable wall.
At that time.
How would Hikigaya and the others respond?
Would they choose to give up directly, or would they be able to defeat him, this 'masterpiece'?
Ayanokouji could not help but feel somewhat expectant.