Under the table.
Nagumo Miyabi kicked Kobayashi hard.
He was truly a bit annoyed.
He didn't expect Hikigaya to target him so much.
Feeling a pain in his lower leg, Kobayashi endured the pain and followed Nagumo's gaze to look at Sumida Makoto.
He immediately reacted.
That's right.
Except for Horikita Suzune saying a fair word, it seemed everyone wanted a severe punishment, not caring at all whether the three of them would be expelled.
Kobayashi and the others also knew they were in the wrong.
After all.
Maliciously ambushing a junior—their conscience was somewhat troubled.
But.
To rise to Class A.
There was no other way.
He could only follow Nagumo Miyabi's arrangements to have a sliver of hope of rising to Class A, and besides, he shouldn't have hit him that hard.
Furthermore.
Nagumo Miyabi had already promised.
Even if they were found out, he would keep them safe and sound.
Who would have thought Hikigaya would be so vicious—to be expelled for just a fight and at the same time be fined private points.
This was clearly an impossible task.
The people are already being expelled.
What is the point of paying private points?
He was clearly telling them: I just want you to get lost.
He didn't expect this unremarkable Hikigaya.
To have such a vicious heart.
To be saved now.
The best method seemed to be only to plead for Sumida Makoto's forgiveness; as long as he could withdraw the appeal, no one would be able to do anything.
After a brief moment of thought.
Kobayashi quickly stood up and, looking at Sumida Makoto nearby, said with a tearful face:
"Sumida-kun, I'm sorry, I was just momentarily possessed to attack you, and your injuries aren't that serious, right?"
"Can you please forgive me? I really know I was wrong."
"Please, I beg you."
"I really don't want to be expelled."
As he spoke.
Kobayashi shed tears of regret.
The two students from third-year Class C beside him were still somewhat decent.
Their eyes just drifted.
Their gazes occasionally drifted toward Nagumo Miyabi.
After all, Nagumo Miyabi had said he would cover for them; each person only needed five million.
Although it wasn't a small amount.
But Nagumo Miyabi controlled the entire wealth of the third-year.
It shouldn't be impossible.
He wouldn't break the contract... probably.
And under the table.
Nagumo Miyabi inconspicuously kicked Kobayashi again, his expression ugly to the extreme.
Damn it.
Do you even know how to talk? You can't even apologize!
You even said the injury isn't very serious—that kind of stupid talk makes people feel like you're telling the other person not to be so petty.
There was no choice.
After all, people from Class D have some issues with their brains.
Normally he could endure their stupidity and act generous.
But at this moment.
Nagumo Miyabi was in the heat of anger.
He found it difficult to control his internal anger toward Hikigaya.
Treacherous, ruthless, petty, seeking personal revenge, abusing power, and most crucially, having no dignity of the strong.
He only knew how to use these despicable methods.
Run away after winning.
If he had the ability, he should compete with him fair and square.
Fortunately.
"This..."
Although Sumida was not good with words, he was also a kind-hearted person; looking at the tearful Kobayashi, he suddenly hesitated.
"I beg you, Sumida-kun, I really don't want to be expelled; if it really doesn't work, you can hit us."
"Yeah, please, Sumida-kun."
Kobayashi and the others said with tearful faces.
This immediately made Sumida even more unable to bear it, and he turned to look at Ichinose and the others.
"Ichinose, Hikigaya, can we talk for a bit..."
Hikigaya looked at Nagumo Miyabi's smug smile.
It was truly disgusting.
Clearly he had hit someone, and seeing the punishment was too heavy, he turned around to beg the victim for forgiveness.
"Everyone, wait a moment."
As he spoke.
Hikigaya, Ichinose, and Sumida Makoto, the three of them left the conference room.
Seeing this.
The corners of Nagumo Miyabi's mouth curled up slightly, and Kobayashi nearby also seemed to let out a sigh of relief.
Clearly.
Sumida was moved by them.
There was a reason for choosing Sumida Makoto—such a soft-hearted guy.
Even if they failed.
There was still room for maneuver.
Once Sumida withdraws the accusation, Hikigaya will still be helpless.
Ryuuen immediately sneered, and Katsuragi beside him also frowned, waiting in the conference room to watch the show.
If it comes to the end.
And Sumida suddenly withdraws the appeal, then things would really be a joke.
The final decision-making power.
Was still in Sumida's hands alone.
Hesitation.
Class B is just like this.
They are simply too easy to be used by others.
If it weren't for Hikigaya having a bit of an edge, Class B would be completely manipulated by others.
Outside the student council room.
Sumida's swollen cheeks were a bit awkward.
"What should we do?"
"What are you thinking?"
Hikigaya was very helpless.
Seeing Kobayashi and the others in tears, Sumida clearly felt compassion, and the pretty face of Ichinose nearby was also a bit complicated.
"That..."
Sumida said somewhat embarrassedly:
"Hikigaya, you want to severely punish Kobayashi and the others to deter Ryuuen so he will behave in the future, right?"
"Yes."
Hikigaya nodded.
Although it wouldn't necessarily make Ryuuen behave, it would definitely greatly restrict Ryuuen's methods, at least giving him some misgivings.
Sumida was still considering the class, and he tugged at his painful mouth corner as he said:
"To be honest, I don't really want to forgive Kobayashi-senpai and the others; they should accept punishment for doing something wrong, but isn't this punishment a bit too heavy?"
"Yeah."
Ichinose also said with a complicated expression: "Can we reduce the punishment a bit, at least without expulsion?"
Hikigaya rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Just because of a few punches, they were going to be expelled.
To be honest.
Hikigaya didn't feel much...
They deserved it.
Who told them to love violence so much.
But before the other party could feel guilty, Sumida and the others were already starting to feel a bit restless...
Class B is good in every way.
Except they are too easy to bully...
Clearly, Ichinose is the student council president, yet she still centers things around him like this; it's already very good.
Only.
This matter is indeed difficult to handle.
If the punishment is too light.
It won't form a deterrent, and it will be difficult to achieve the effect of restricting Ryuuen.
It would basically be like working for nothing.
It would even be a blow to the student council's prestige; with today's case as a reference, it would be basically impossible to increase the intensity of punishments in the future.
If the punishment is too heavy.
The kind-hearted Ichinose and Sumida would both feel bad.
The most important thing is that the person who was beaten is Sumida Makoto; the initiative is always in his hands.
If even the victim himself forgives the other party.
Then outsiders shouldn't interfere too much.
It was just that Sumida Makoto was calling them out because he was considering the class; otherwise, with Sumida's temperament, he would probably just let Kobayashi and the others apologize and be done with it.
Of course, there is another method.
He could use the class to force Sumida to listen to him, forcing Sumida to compromise.
With Sumida's personality, he would probably accept it.
But this would definitely create a rift; he wasn't sure about Ichinose, but it would definitely leave an impression of being overbearing.
Being overbearing isn't necessarily a bad thing.
But being overbearing specifically toward one's own people—that's just not right.
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya pinched his chin and frowned.
Although the situation was giving him a headache, he still had to think of another way.