After school.
Hikigaya's dormitory.
The atmosphere of the Cultural Festival grew higher and higher. Karuizawa, Hasebe Haruka, Ichinose, and others made an appointment to go out and play.
Although Hikigaya occasionally went out with them.
But he didn't actually like it very much.
Outside of school it was fine; after all, everyone encountered was just a group of strangers, and one didn't need to take it to heart afterward.
But this was a closed school.
Secretly dating was one thing—do whatever you love—but intentionally showing off in front of others was very unlikable.
Perhaps they didn't have that intention, but in the eyes of outsiders, it looked that way.
Moreover.
Hasebe Haruka and the others indeed liked to show off.
Unfortunately.
Karuizawa and the others were very playful, so Hikigaya could only accompany them.
Although he didn't like it.
He couldn't say he hated it much either.
If forced to say whether he hated or liked it, he still liked it.
As long as he paid a bit of attention himself.
At this time.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in Hikigaya's lap, using a spoon to cut a piece of cake and brought it to Hikigaya's lips.
"Come, ah~"
"Ah..."
Hikigaya accepted it with his mouth.
Holding Sakayanagi Arisu's soft, delicate body in his arms was like holding a doll.
Having the feeling of being fed by someone didn't feel bad.
"Your goal has been achieved."
Sakayanagi Arisu continued feeding, a gentle smile still on her face.
"Now that you've become the Student Council President, what have you decided to do next?"
"First, definitely win the Cultural Festival."
Hikigaya chewed the cake and replied indifferently: "After that, just watch; it should make you feel interested... probably."
"Ara, Hikki, surely you don't still distrust me?"
"How is that possible."
Hikigaya said indifferently: "It's nothing more than that set of the superstructure determining the economic base..."
What kind of results they would get.
Depended entirely on themselves.
Rather than using individual points to teach.
It was better to place the results they might cause in front of them and let them reflect for themselves; those who couldn't reflect would be eliminated directly.
Since it's meant to simulate society, simulate it thoroughly.
Only in this way can true strong individuals be screened out.
Although he didn't understand what Chairman Sakayanagi meant yesterday, Hikigaya did think a bit about his words.
Roughly clear.
There might be no correct answer to this kind of question.
"Hmm?"
Sakayanagi Arisu knitted her brows, still somewhat unable to understand.
Although her individual strength was very high, in terms of thinking, she was no different from Horikita Suzune or even Ayanokouji.
Still stuck at the level of thinking "as long as I am strong enough, it's fine."
"Never mind."
Sakayanagi Arisu shook her head.
She took a small slip of paper from her pocket.
Every time, Hikigaya could think of methods beyond her expectations.
Even if driven to a dead end.
In Hikigaya's eyes.
There seemed to be no such thing as "impossible."
Well...
It wasn't that there weren't any, but it was just that Hikigaya was relatively lazy and indifferent to things around him; as long as he was pushed a little, a method would appear.
This is likely the difference between genius and commoner, knowledge and wisdom.
"However, Hikki..."
The corner of Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth curled into an arc as she handed the small slip of paper to Hikigaya.
"Your stage is not limited to this school; you must also consider future matters. Fortunately, there are still many excellent people in this school."
"Take a look; these are the talents I have selected for you."
"Try to keep them under your control as much as possible; as for how to control them... it's up to you."
Sakayanagi Arisu also knew clearly.
Hikigaya disliked her behavior of using weaknesses to control others.
Everyone has their own different way of doing things.
Being able to gather the people around oneself to do the same thing—this is individual ability.
On this point.
Sakayanagi Arisu did not force him.
Taking the paper.
Hikigaya soon frowned.
Third Year: Nagumo Miyabi, Kiryuuin Fuuka, Kiriyama Ikuto, Asahina Nazuna.
Second Year: Katsuragi Kouhei, Ryuuen Kakeru, Ibuki Mio, Tokitou Hiroya, Kanzaki Ryuuji, Shibata Sou, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Hirata Yousuke, Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyou, Matsushita Chiaki, Yukimura Teruhiko, Wang Mei-Yu.
First Year: Ishigami Kyo, Amasawa Ichika, Yagami Takuya, Tsubaki Sakurako, Utomiya Riku, Housen Kazuomi.
Specially marked: Nanase Tsubasa.
These.
Were the excellent talents Sakayanagi Arisu judged would be helpful to Hikigaya in the future.
Although some were defeated opponents.
But Sakayanagi Arisu would not look at people with prejudice; as chess pieces, they were at least qualified.
A purely rational view.
Regardless of whether Hikigaya could achieve it.
She just screened them out for Hikigaya to choose from.
Hikigaya was truly speechless.
Surprisingly, even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was in there.
This wasn't a matter of strength.
But rather that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was the biological son of Ayanokouji Atsuomi; once this label was attached, there was no room for maneuvering.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's personal thoughts didn't matter.
In the eyes of outsiders, these two could only be on the same side; trying to view them separately was almost as difficult as reaching the heavens.
From this, one could see.
Sakayanagi Arisu's naive points.
Fortunately.
She hadn't included Kouenji Rokusuke, otherwise Hikigaya would suspect she had lost her mind.
After all, he is the successor to a large conglomerate and will definitely have his own place in the future.
Hikigaya didn't have any objections.
He knew clearly.
If he wanted to enter politics in the future, helpers would be indispensable.
As for what to do if Sakayanagi Arisu dumps him, he'll deal with that when it happens.
The only problem was.
There was only one person from Second Year Class A, Katsuragi Kouhei.
As if seeing Hikigaya's doubt, Sakayanagi Arisu smiled indifferently:
"Leave the others from A to me to handle; after graduation, I will hand these resources over to you. Unfortunately, Katsuragi still maintains a high degree of alertness toward me, which is truly heartbreaking."
"Isn't that obvious..."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
Although Sakayanagi Arisu had seemed very quiet recently, she kept holding onto several chess pieces without letting go; it was inevitable for Katsuragi to remain alert.
Correspondingly.
Sakayanagi Arisu was also inevitably worried about whether Katsuragi would retaliate against her.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance.
Sakayanagi Arisu still could not relax.
It turned out like this.
Entirely due to her own doing.
As for Sakayanagi Arisu's behavior of treating people as chess pieces, Hikigaya disliked it but also defaulted to it.
Trying to change someone's view now.
Too difficult.
Seek common ground while reserving differences.
Although Sakayanagi Arisu would not assist in the exams, she would leave him a precious legacy of talent after graduation.
"That is true indeed; Katsuragi has grown a lot now."
Sakayanagi Arisu nodded in agreement. Even though she was being guarded against, she didn't have the slightest dissatisfaction; instead, she felt Katsuragi's approach was correct.
"In addition, there is Nanase Tsubasa."
Saying this, Sakayanagi Arisu said somewhat seriously: "This person, no matter what method you use, you must get her into your hands."
"Your evaluation of her is that high?"
"Naturally, people like Nanase are very rare."
The corner of Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth couldn't help but reveal a smile.
Her evaluation of Nanase Tsubasa was exceptionally high; setting aside strength for a moment, Nanase Tsubasa was like a loyal dog.
As long as she can be controlled in hand, she can basically be completely trusted.
A top-tier chess piece!
No matter how Hikigaya saw it, that was how it was in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes.
And.
Nanase Tsubasa seemed to have some admiration for Hikigaya; such a chess piece was almost within reach.
Unfortunately.
Hikigaya turned a blind eye to such a piece.
Simply a waste!