Conference room.
It took quite a while before Hikigaya got Kobayashi to calm down.
It wasn't difficult either.
Just a couple of rebukes were enough.
At this time.
The three of Kobayashi sat at the end with dead expressions, waiting for the student council's judgment, as if they had already despaired of everything.
Whether it was Ichinose.
Or Ryuuen and Housen Kazuomi and the others, they couldn't help but be somewhat silent.
No matter how many times.
People being expelled always makes one feel sympathetic.
Hikigaya naturally also felt somewhat unpleasant, all the more because he was the one personally wielding the knife.
Naturally, there was a bit of "can't bear it."
But to rise to Class A, this is a pain that a leader must endure.
At this time.
Hikigaya stood behind Ichinose without speaking, leaving Ichinose and the others unsure how to speak.
He was waiting.
With so many people present, he didn't believe no one was curious.
"Where is Nagumo-senpai?"
"Gone."
Hearing Horikita Suzune's words, Hikigaya immediately followed up.
It had to be said.
Every time something happened, this person Suzune was really good at cooperating.
Hikigaya still continued to wait.
Waiting for their emotions to ease, giving them sufficient space for dialogue to say the words he wanted them to say.
"You'd better not believe that guy Nagumo."
nikishi said through gritted teeth: "Clearly it was him who told us to do it and promised he wouldn't ignore us, and yet he cut himself off so cleanly."
"Nagumo is a shameless beast; we've all been fooled by him."
As he spoke.
Kobayashi and the others couldn't control their tears.
Remorse, self-blame, anger, frustration—several people's emotions were complex.
Sumida had already done enough.
Backing down again and again.
Leaving people speechless; it was Nagumo Miyabi who was selfish and treacherous, simply a beast.
The conflict had been shifted to Nagumo Miyabi.
Hearing their curses.
None of the people around spoke; they all had their own judgments.
Some felt that Kobayashi and the others were weak and couldn't blame anyone else, and some felt Nagumo Miyabi was shameless.
None of that was a problem.
Probably because "the words of a dying man are good," they at least knew that what Kobayashi and the others said was certainly the truth.
If Nagumo Miyabi and Kobayashi and the others were allowed to reveal their ugly sides in the conference room, the effect would naturally be even better.
But accordingly.
Not wanting to lose face in front of people, Nagumo Miyabi might also have chosen to save Kobayashi and the others because of it.
Hikigaya knew very well.
It was he who was guiding Nagumo Miyabi, making him as likely as possible to choose to discard Kobayashi.
Even if he discarded them, he could minimize the loss.
It was he who created such a comfortable environment for Nagumo Miyabi.
After all.
The main purpose was to establish authority.
It was impossible to truly let Sumida withdraw the appeal, otherwise not only would the effort be for nothing, but the prestige of the student council would also be lost.
Words would be like farts.
In the future, if he wanted to establish this authority again, it would be impossible.
Although he could continue to push forward forcefully, it would only leave gossip about abusing power.
It's just these small details of human nature.
They are difficult for people to perceive.
Yet they happen to be the field Hikigaya is good at.
The previous judgment was indeed wrong; good people like Ichinose do exist in the world, but more people are still ordinary people like Nagumo Miyabi.
Aside from having stronger abilities.
Nagumo Miyabi was no different from Kobayashi and the others.
Rational thinking, seeking nothing but profit.
Is that really hard?
Any normal person can do it; it is not worthy of Hikigaya's admiration.
At this time.
Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Hikigaya stepped forward with a calm expression.
"After investigation by the Student Council, 3rd Year Class D's Kobayashi Yuta intentionally injured someone. He is sentenced to expulsion and a fine of 20 million private points."
"That is all~."
"???"
Kobayashi clenched his fists, his expression bitter. If he hadn't made a scene in the classroom next door just now, he would probably have started another one.
Beside him, Nishigishi and the others were suddenly surprised.
That is all?
Does this mean Hikigaya has finished speaking?
"Then what about us..."
"Just now, Sumida dropped the appeal against the two of you. Alright, you may leave."
Hikigaya spoke with an indifferent look, gazing at the three people opposite him.
Long before this.
Hikigaya had already discussed it with Sumida.
To drop the appeal against these two.
After all, the two were only accomplices and hadn't actually laid a hand on anyone, while Kobayashi was the main perpetrator.
He had deliberately kept it from the four of them.
Just waiting for Nagumo Miyabi to perform.
"Eh?"
Nishigishi and the other were momentarily stunned. Kobayashi stood up and opened his mouth to retort, but then sat back down bitterly.
On the verge of expulsion.
Kobayashi also began to reflect.
Why did he listen to Nagumo Miyabi?
Why did he listen to Nishigishi and the others?
Why did he place his life and death in Nagumo Miyabi's hands?
Why, despite knowing that hitting people was wrong, did he do it after just a bit of egging on?
When you do something wrong.
Naturally, you must accept the punishment.
Whether he was reflecting on his own naivety and lack of ability for being too trusting, or reflecting on the fact that he truly did something wrong.
That was his personal business.
At least in this moment, Kobayashi grew slightly.
Even if he does the same thing in the future, he will at least think about it a little.
"Thank you, thank you, Sumida."
Nishigishi and the other walked up to Sumida, their faces covered in tears.
"Forget it."
Sumida scratched his head somewhat helplessly: "Anyway, you didn't touch me. In the future, don't do things that hurt others anymore."
"Also, you should thank Hikigaya. It was because Hikigaya saw that I was in a difficult position that he suggested this idea."
"Yes, yes, we know. We definitely won't do it again."
Nishigishi and Takatomi nodded repeatedly, then turned to walk in front of Hikigaya.
"Many thanks. Thank you, Vice President Hikigaya."
"No need. You don't need to thank me. It's mainly because the mistake you made was light, so Sumida was willing to cancel the appeal."
Hikigaya said with a flat expression: "Otherwise, by my original intention, if your private points were not enough, you would still be expelled. Moreover, I am not worthy of your thanks."
"Even so, we still want to thank you."
Nishigishi and Takatomi still bowed in gratitude. Hikigaya remained calm from beginning to end.
Mainly.
It truly wasn't worth Nishigishi and Takatomi's thanks; even calling him despicable would be understandable.
Because Hikigaya knew very well.
These two could not stay.
Whether Nishigishi and Takatomi stayed or not was not important to Hikigaya.
What was important was.
This was important to Sumida; it could make Sumida feel a bit better.
This was also important to Nagumo Miyabi.
If Nishigishi and Takatomi stayed, they would be two thorns that would constantly make Nagumo feel uncomfortable.
Given Nagumo Miyabi's character, he would likely find a way to finish them off.
Even weak people were ruthlessly expelled by Nagumo, let alone two guys who would only be a nuisance if they stayed.
Their expulsion was only a matter of time.
But every such step.
Would urge Nagumo Miyabi toward his end.
Perhaps this dead end wouldn't show during their school days, but it would certainly make Nagumo Miyabi die a miserable death.
He couldn't even beat him.
Nagumo Miyabi clearly did not have top-tier strength.
When it came to despicable methods.
Hikigaya was confident he could play them until they didn't even know how they died.
As for the gratitude of Nishigishi and Takatomi.
Perhaps at this moment they truly were thanking him and Sumida, but it wouldn't be false if they forgot it in two days.
Even if in two days.
For their own safety, Nishigishi and Takatomi continued to suck up to Nagumo Miyabi, seeking his forgiveness and continuing their loyalty to him.
Hikigaya didn't think there was any problem with that.
But their existence would surely be a thorn to Nagumo Miyabi. What would ultimately happen depended on Nagumo Miyabi himself.
On the other side.
Katsuragi, Ryuen, and the others had heavy expressions, even feeling a hint of fear.
The scene before them was too eerie.
No matter what.
Hikigaya could make Nagumo Miyabi get lost, and such a severe punishment could actually make Takatomi and Nishigishi feel grateful.
Even if that gratitude might be fake.
This undoubtedly showed,
That Hikigaya was an extremely deep and scheming fellow.