The next day.
Year 2, Class D.
"Horikita."
Ike Kanji tested the waters cautiously: "Didn't you meet with Hikigaya yesterday? How was it? Why on earth is he attacking us?"
"Sorry, the situation is not optimistic."
Horikita Suzune took a deep breath and explained calmly:
"That guy is targeting us simply because he can't stand the way our Class D does things."
The problem lay with herself.
Horikita Suzune didn't shift the blame onto Sakura Airi or Hasebe Haruka.
It was entirely that guy Hikigaya's subjective judgment.
For the sake of Horikita Manabu, who had already left school, wasting precious private points for no reason was simply acting on impulse.
Zero rationality.
Big idiot.
"Eh?"
"What is this?"
"Is that guy an idiot?"
"Is that guy a psycho?"
Ike Kanji and the others were also dumbfounded.
Just because he dislikes Class D, he wastes so many private points?
They also felt Hikigaya was an idiot.
With so many private points, wouldn't it be better to eat something good? Why give it to Ryuen?
Such easy money, and he wanted Ryuen to earn it.
"I suppose so..."
Horikita Suzune nodded; solving the problem was more important.
"From the current situation, Hikigaya is acting entirely on his own subjective judgment without a shred of rationality."
"It's impossible to get Hikigaya to stop."
"This..."
Ike Kanji and others felt conflicted: "Then are we just..."
The words weren't finished.
But everyone understood what he meant; if that were the case, they could only continue being pointed at and cursed.
And the feeling of being unable to talk back was indeed unpleasant.
"It's fine."
"This isn't a major problem."
Horikita Suzune's expression was calm, her gaze firm:
"One million a month—such a thing cannot last long."
"Otherwise, the people in Class B wouldn't let Hikigaya do as he pleases like this."
"We just need to hold on for a while longer."
With that.
Horikita Suzune stood up, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
"And wasting so many private points for nothing—looking at it from another angle, Class B is destroying itself."
"I believe it won't be long before problems erupt within Class B."
"Moreover, setting aside people from other classes, we can also harass Class B. Hikigaya is a massive flaw."
Horikita Suzune's gaze was firm and more confident.
It was hard to talk back to other classes, but Class B was a different story.
After all, Hikigaya dating so many girls at once meant he wasn't exactly a good person either.
Originally.
Horikita Suzune didn't take it to heart.
But since this big idiot Hikigaya insisted on targeting Class D, then she wouldn't hesitate to exploit it.
"Exactly."
"That guy thinks he's such a good person."
"He doesn't understand our pain at all, targeting us for no reason. It's too hateful."
"Simply a psycho."
Class D.
A picture of shared enmity.
Seeing the conflict shifted outward, Horikita Suzune inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
The infighting between Class D and Class B.
Would let Katsuragi and Ryuen reap the rewards.
Although it was somewhat irrational, who asked Hikigaya to be such a big idiot, insisting on doing such futile work.
Until now.
Horikita Suzune still felt Hikigaya was just wasting private points to vent his inner emotions.
Not a qualified leader.
A total waste of effort.
On the other side.
Ayanokouji watched the scene with a blank expression.
To be honest.
Having grown up in the closed White Room, Ayanokouji similarly could not understand.
Given that Kushida Kikyo could not be expelled.
Expelling Sakura Airi was the most correct choice, the one most beneficial to the class.
This point.
Was certainly not wrong.
But what exactly was Hikigaya's reason for being so obsessed with this?
Ayanokouji couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity, wanting to know what meaning Hikigaya's actions truly held.
Morality.
Such a thing is mysterious and vague.
Although it cannot be explained, one can clearly understand what it means to be immoral.
This might be knowledge he had never encountered.
Though he had come across it on paper, Ayanokouji really didn't understand what use it actually had.
Just like now.
Horikita Suzune shifting the conflict to the outside actually made the class more united!
What exactly are you trying to do?
Thinking of Hikigaya, Ayanokouji's heart truly felt an itch.
Therefore.
Ayanokouji decided to watch from the sidelines for now, wanting to see what kind of consequences would follow.
Whether Horikita Suzune's strength was superior, or whether Hikigaya would achieve the final victory.
He hoped to absorb this knowledge he didn't understand from Hikigaya.
On the other side.
Year 2, Class B.
Putting Horikita Suzune's matter aside for now—since it needed time to ferment, Hikigaya didn't take it too much to heart.
All of Horikita Suzune's calculations were built on the assumption that the opponent was a kind person.
As long as she ran into one despicable person.
She would taste the consequences of this approach.
Class B's affairs were more important.
After school.
Hikigaya took a stack of A4 papers and walked to the podium.
"Sorry to take a moment of your time, I have something to say to everyone."
"Eh, Hiki-kun, what's up?"
"How many people in this class aren't in a club? Please raise your hand."
Although confused, most of Class B still raised their hands; a rough estimate was nearly 30 people.
That made sense.
After all, Advanced Nurturing didn't have a rule forcing club participation.
And there was so much pocket money.
Wouldn't it be better to go to Keyaki Mall after school or hang out with friends?
Those participating in clubs were only a small portion.
"Understood."
"Then please, those who aren't in a club, fill out this club application form and join the Wool Club."
"I'm temporarily serving as the Wool Club president; after this, Nakanishi, you'll take over."
Hikigaya handed the application forms to Ichinose beside him.
Sensing everyone's confusion and slight hesitation, Hikigaya continued to explain:
"The Wool Club has no club activities. It just needs someone to report in occasionally. it won't take up your personal time..."
"Furthermore, the club can apply for computers and game consoles. Although they can't be taken off school grounds, playing games at school is fine."
"While the dedicated funds can't be used freely, they can save some private points."
"In short, everyone who hasn't joined a club, just join the Wool Club. Whether you go to the club room or not is up to you."
"Usually, I'll leave it to Nakanishi to report to the club occasionally."
"Understood!"
Nakanishi patted his chest in guarantee.
"Hikigaya, this shouldn't save too many private points, right? Is there another use?"
"I suppose so, you'll find out when the time comes."
Hikigaya nodded without giving much explanation.
It was merely being used as a smokescreen.
The only problem was.
During the last Sports Festival.
Club-operated projects couldn't participate in the corresponding competitions; joining a club had more disadvantages than advantages.
This point.
Hikigaya decided he would apply to the Student Council later, or it wouldn't matter if they quit then.
As for the one-year report, it wasn't a major issue.
Since there were no downsides and it didn't take up personal time.
Soon.
He got everyone's agreement.
After school.
While everyone continued preparing for the Cultural Festival, Hikigaya called Ichinose aside.
"Um..."
Gazing at Ichinose's cute, pretty face, Hikigaya hesitated slightly:
"Honami... about that..."
"Honestly, Hikki, if there's something, just say it."
"There's something... I might need to use you a bit."
Hikigaya asked with some embarrassment.
In the end, he still couldn't do anything and had to rely on those around him.
"Eh?"
Ichinose was momentarily taken aback, then she immediately took Hikigaya's hand in both of hers, a brilliant smile appearing on her face:
"Hikki, please use me to your heart's content. Being able to become your strength makes me very happy too."
"What do you mean 'use'..."
Holding Ichinose's soft hand, Hikigaya felt a bit helpless as she always said such extraordinary things:
"Don't talk about yourself like you're a tool..."
"What does it matter..."
With that, Ichinose linked her arm with Hikigaya's, full of anticipation:
"So, what does Hiki-kun need me to do?"
Being able to become Hikigaya's strength made Ichinose feel particularly blessed.
"Help me get an introduction to Nagumo Miyabi."
"Understood."
Although she wasn't sure what Hikigaya wanted to do, Ichinose didn't ask more questions.
At least.
This was much better than her previous directionless efforts.
How to get them to graduate from Class A was the most important thing to Hikigaya.
It was just.
That's it.
Hikigaya liked to carry everything on his own shoulders, not wanting them to suffer a single grievance, but weren't they the same?
As long as she knew this.
Ichinose felt that nothing else mattered.
Being able to help Hikigaya was her greatest happiness.