On the other side.
At the corner of the special teaching building.
Looking at Kanzaki and Shibata wearing aprons, Hikigaya felt a bit helpless.
Clearly, Class B's dessert shop planned to spend most of their expenses on ingredients; accordingly, the clothing was somewhat simple.
"That's the situation..."
After finishing, Hikigaya nodded.
Relying on his strength alone was clearly not enough; in the end, they had to rely on everyone working together.
"Is this to rise to Class A?"
Kanzaki frowned, clearly somewhat puzzled: "And, why choose this specific point in time."
"It's not that I specifically had to choose now."
Hikigaya nodded and explained: "It's just that if it succeeds, there will be more than enough time, and it will be very helpful for the Cultural Festival. How about it?"
PAGE 3
Kanzaki and Shibata looked at each other.
To be honest.
They still couldn't understand Hikigaya's methods.
"Then, assuming it succeeds, how much certainty do you have of rising to Class A?"
"One hundred percent."
Hikigaya met their gazes with a firm look.
Naturally, it wasn't a lie.
From the beginning to the end.
Hikigaya had never taken Horikita Suzune and Ryuen Kakeru seriously; even Sakayanagi Arisu, aside from being a bit unscrupulous, was nothing special.
As long as it succeeded.
Hikigaya had one hundred percent certainty of rising to Class A.
The only one worth being wary of was Katsuragi.
But in terms of comprehensive strength and unity, their class wouldn't lose.
"Alright then."
Kanzaki and Shibata smiled and nodded in agreement.
Even if they didn't understand, as long as Hikigaya was certain, it was fine.
"Sorry, Shibata."
Hikigaya looked at Shibata with some apology: "I can only let you do some unpleasant things."
"It's not like that."
Shibata spread his hands indifferently: "That guy isn't a good person anyway, and in the end, it still depends on whether the other party falls for your scheme."
"He will!"
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth curled into a confident smile as he added:
"By the way, don't let the rest of the class know about this."
"No problem."
Kanzaki and the others didn't object, they were just a bit hesitant:
"Then what about Ichinose's side?"
Hikigaya took a deep breath and said: "Don't worry, I'll go talk to her side."
"That's fine then."
After the words were finished.
The few exchanged a few simple pleasantries and turned to leave.
Watching the retreating backs of Kanzaki and Shibata, Hikigaya also breathed a sigh of relief.
He couldn't achieve anything alone.
Having such considerate companions was truly great.
Special teaching building.
Hikigaya bought a bag of drinks and returned to the classroom; lately, he had indeed been eating a bit too much sugar, so he had to neutralize it occasionally, mostly with bitter coffee.
In front of Class 2-B.
Ichinose and the others were inside the classroom preparing for matters related to the Cultural Festival, while Tsube Hitomi stood at the door responsible for keeping watch.
As long as there was work.
There was always someone who would draw the short straw.
It was just that Tsube Hitomi had been responsible for work the others didn't quite like; she had always been the one responsible for keeping watch.
Such a grand event.
Tsube Hitomi didn't have an antisocial personality either; it was impossible for her not to want to leave beautiful memories together with everyone.
However.
For the sake of the class.
She still took on the tedious work proactively.
"Hard work. I'll have to trouble Tsube to take these drinks inside."
Hikigaya handed the shopping bag to Tsube Hitomi and nodded:
"Leave the rest to me. You should also go inside and prepare for the Cultural Festival with Honami and the others."
"Really..."
Tsube Hitomi feigned anger and said:
"Didn't we agree to let you call me Hitomi?"
"Sorry, I forgot for a moment, Hitomi."
"That's more like it."
Looking at the shopping bag in front of her, Tsube Hitomi looked at Hikigaya with some helplessness:
"Didn't I tell you? I'm doing these things voluntarily. Hikki, you don't need to care."
"No, it's only for today. This is all I can do."
Hikigaya lifted the shopping bag again and added: "Hurry up, these many drinks are quite heavy."
Tsube Hitomi hesitated for a moment, and only after taking the shopping bag with both hands did she show a smile:
"Alright, alright. Then I'll leave the rest to you, Hikki."
"Oh, thanks for the hard work."
Saying so.
Hikigaya helped her pull open the classroom door. Tsube Hitomi carried the shopping bag into the classroom and looked back once.
As expected, the feeling of being cared for by someone was truly great.
After the classroom door closed.
Hikigaya leaned against the wall responsible for keeping watch.
Even now, they didn't know the Cultural Festival projects of other classes; they probably all had personnel arranged to prevent information leaks.
But smelling such a fragrant scent, anyone could probably guess that Class B was the catering type.
However.
As long as they were students, they would look forward to a large-scale event like the Cultural Festival.
So far, he hadn't seen anyone scouting around...
Although there were class point rewards based on ranking, most people probably just wanted to focus on experiencing the Cultural Festival.
Near the end of school, club time ended.
Knock, knock, knock.
Hearing a faint tapping sound, Hikigaya turned his head to look.
At the corner, Horikita Suzune and Hasebe Haruka stood in the hallway, choosing not to come forward.
It should be out of consideration to avoid causing a misunderstanding.
There were some words they wanted to talk to him about.
Hikigaya straightened up, glanced at the two, and turned back to simply explain a few words to the companions in the classroom.
Actually.
Hikigaya didn't have any intention of contacting Horikita Suzune; he just needed to present the consequences in front of her.
But since Horikita Suzune took the initiative to come.
Saying a few simple words didn't matter.
As for Hasebe Haruka, Hikigaya didn't take it to heart; he knew better than anyone that Hasebe was just being stubborn.
If the person expelled wasn't Sakura Airi, but Ike Kanji or others.
Hasebe Haruka certainly wouldn't have cared.
High school is the critical age for officially shaping values.
Regardless of strength.
Without firm values.
It feels like everyone has their own logic.
To avoid the class losing three hundred class points, protecting a traitor who is useful to the class, Kushida, and choosing to expel the person with the weakest strength.
Can such a choice be called wrong?
In Hikigaya's view, it was naturally wrong, but in the eyes of Class D, it was certainly no problem.
It wasn't surprising that Hasebe Haruka would be persuaded.
Hikigaya knew very well.
Even without his existence, Hasebe Haruka would likely have slowly accepted the result of Sakura Airi's expulsion.
But that didn't mean it was right, nor did it mean it was their true thought; they were just being subtly influenced by this school.
Becoming seekers of profit.
Becoming the same as Horikita Suzune.
Gradually abandoning conscience to think about problems from a profit perspective.
Treating it as growth and maturity.
Wanting to become such a person is understandable; it is indeed easier to succeed and live better than an ordinary person.
But at the same time.
One must be prepared to bear the consequences.
After finishing the explanation.
Hikigaya walked in front of the two and looked at Horikita Suzune.
He was also somewhat curious.
Was this person simply too stupid to understand the consequences, or did she know perfectly well but wanted to become that kind of person.
Whether she had already prepared herself to bear all the consequences.