"Well, then let's do this."
After a moment of thought.
Hikigaya quickly thought of a way.
Although it was a bit troublesome, it wasn't unsolvable.
"We can settle this privately."
"Eh?"
Sumida was momentarily stunned and became even more hesitant:
"Isn't my goal to deter Ryuuen and the others? If we do this, how can we still deter them? If that's the case, then... let's just go with the original judgment."
Clearly.
Compared to the misery-selling Kobayashi and the others.
Sumida was still on the side of the class; if it really didn't work, then forget it.
But their kindness couldn't be taken for granted either.
"No need."
Hikigaya's eyes showed contemplation: "Later you will settle privately; let Kobayashi compensate twenty million, and the other two each compensate five hundred thousand."
"Nagumo has quite a few private points in his hands; he should be able to provide these private points."
"Eh?"
Sumida's speaking speed immediately quickened slightly:
"Although that many private points are indeed very attractive, what about the matter of deterring Ryuuen? How about we just forget it and continue with your previous idea, Hikigaya; I'm fine with it."
"..."
Hikigaya frowned.
The more he interacted with them, the clearer their personalities became.
Aside from poor communication skills, Sumida was good in every way; only now did he realize that he seemed afraid to take responsibility.
Speculating that Hikigaya might be giving up on the original plan, Sumida immediately abandoned his original idea.
Whenever he encountered something where he might have to take responsibility, he would compromise ahead of time.
Afraid that because of his own reasons.
The plan would fail, so he avoided taking responsibility.
Forget it.
If his ability isn't enough, then avoid taking responsibility.
Don't take on matters.
Only contribute to the class within his capabilities.
To have such clear self-awareness and not cause trouble for the people around him—this is already very good.
"It's fine, leave it to me."
A smile appeared at the corner of Hikigaya's mouth.
Since it's difficult for me to handle, just push the problem back.
A person who thinks rationally.
When the harms far outweigh the benefits, what kind of choice will they make?
This shouldn't be hard to guess.
However.
To make things go smoothly, he still had to consider Nagumo Miyabi's face.
He didn't care personally.
But "face" might affect Nagumo Miyabi's judgment; the more thoroughly everything is considered, the higher the chance of success.
Soon.
Ichinose returned to the conference room, Hikigaya and Sumida Makoto discussed a few more sentences, and Nagumo Miyabi appeared in front of them with Kobayashi and the others.
The five of them moved to the opposite conference room.
The gazes of several people couldn't help but rest on Sumida Makoto, pleading for his forgiveness with wide eyes.
"This matter can be settled privately."
Hikigaya stood in front of Nagumo Miyabi, and as soon as he spoke, a winner-like smile appeared on Nagumo Miyabi's mouth.
This is reality.
The kinder a person's heart is, the more concerns they have, and the easier they are to be influenced by the people around them.
Even Hikigaya had to consider Sumida's thoughts.
Making things much more troublesome.
Nagumo Miyabi just couldn't stand that.
Precisely because of this.
The world should be decided by the strong.
"The conditions are."
Hikigaya said with a calm expression: "Kobayashi gives Sumida thirty million private points, and Shigan and Takatomi each give six million."
"Are you joking?"
Nagumo Miyabi's face immediately turned green with anger.
This Hikigaya's heart must be black.
"A private settlement requires more money than handling things officially."
Hikigaya said with a calm expression: "Isn't that natural?"
Naturally, it can be settled privately.
Then a higher price must be paid.
However, this is ultimately the reality of society; for students, most probably wouldn't be able to accept it.
As soon as this was said.
Nagumo Miyabi's expression cooled down, and Kobayashi pitifully targeted Sumida once again.
There was no other way.
Hikigaya was simply too cold and detached; it was easier to communicate with Sumida, the person involved.
"Sumida-kun... we really know we were wrong, please, can it be a bit less, this is really too much..."
"This..."
Fortunately, Hikigaya had already prepared a countermeasure, and Sumida said with a hesitant expression:
"Then let it be twenty million for Kobayashi; after all, you were originally going to face expulsion and a twenty-million fine, so twenty million shouldn't be a problem. As for Shigan and Takatomi, fifty thousand each will do."
Being beaten.
Settling privately yet cutting it by half, or even a 90% discount.
It was truly frustrating.
Hikigaya's expression was quite calm.
Isn't the problem very simple?
It's one thing to commit a mistake and not honestly accept punishment, but these bastards just love to exploit Sumida's soft-hearted side.
Now my attitude has been given, so what about your attitude?
Ten million.
Fifty thousand.
Although it's still a lot, for Nagumo Miyabi, who controls the third-year private points, it certainly counts for nothing.
Class B can save nearly thirty million in a year.
Nagumo Miyabi has at least over a hundred million private points in his hands.
It's only one-tenth.
"Nagumo-dou..."
Kobayashi and the others couldn't help turning to look at Nagumo Miyabi, saying somewhat weakly: "Brother Nagumo, how about it?"
Inwardly they were already beginning to regret.
If they had known they would be punished so heavily, they naturally wouldn't have listened to Nagumo Miyabi.
Now their life and death were all held in Nagumo Miyabi's hands.
This feeling of having one's life and death controlled by someone else indeed felt bad.
Unfortunately, it was already too late to regret now...
"Sumida-kun..."
Nagumo Miyabi showed a somewhat helpless smile: "Kobayashi and the others are students from Class C and D; they might not have that many private points, and besides, this is their first time; I believe they have now learned their lesson."
"Can you forgive them this once and make it a bit less?"
As soon as this was said.
Hikigaya took a deep breath.
It was natural that things would turn out like this; seeing that Sumida was kind-hearted, these people immediately pushed their luck.
Fortunately.
He had already done the ideological work for Sumida just now.
"Enough."
Sumida roared out in anger, nearly exploding with rage.
He naturally had a temper too.
They had backed down again and again, and again and again.
Do you really think I'm some kind of sucker?
"Nagumo-senpai, you shouldn't be lacking these private points, right?"
Sumida said somewhat angrily.
If the private points were truly insufficient, then fine, but Nagumo Miyabi isn't without private points.
Could it be that in Nagumo Miyabi's eyes.
Private points are more important than companions?
Originally they thought the expulsion punishment plus the fine was truly too heavy, and both Sumida and Ichinose couldn't bear it.
Now it seems that's not necessarily the case.
Originally Nagumo Miyabi and Kobayashi and the others colluded to ambush him, and yet he was still haggling here over a few private points.
Sumida was truly a bit contemptuous.
"Brother Nagumo."
Kobayashi and the others looked at Nagumo Miyabi with faces full of pleading.
Backing down naturally has an effect.
One should back down when it's time to back down, only then can the conflict be shifted away.
Otherwise.
With Sumida's kindness, he would only be held tight by others.
From the start.
The matter had nothing to do with Hikigaya and Nagumo Miyabi.
It was a duel between Sumida and Kobayashi.
Sumida has already retreated several steps because of this; if the arguing continues, even Kobayashi and the others would inwardly feel a bit bad.
Even if Kobayashi and the others had no conscience, Hikigaya could still forcefully intervene again, and this way Sumida would find it easier to accept in his heart.
Let the problem go around in a few circles to make it go more smoothly.
In any case, my attitude has been given; it's just your attitude that is truly unacceptable.
And.
Originally it was Nagumo Miyabi who promised he would cover for them.
Now he only needs to spend a bit of private points to get Sumida to withdraw the appeal.
Why not do it?
More importantly.
The private points in Nagumo Miyabi's hands were originally snatched from the third-year.
Although.
The third-year classes might not necessarily have saved up that many private points.
But for something that hasn't happened, who can say for sure?
It was something already promised.
What's the big deal about giving a bit of private points now?
The pressure moved to Nagumo Miyabi's side