After the inspection.
Hikigaya followed Kiryuuin to the back of the school building, while Nanase Tsubasa had finished work early to purchase silk scarves.
"Kiryuuin-senpai, is there something?"
Looking at the valiant senior before him, Hikigaya was a bit helpless.
Presumably it was for very personal reasons, but letting Kiryuuin follow along all the time was indeed not a solution.
"I'm just a bit curious."
Kiryuuin crossed her arms, somewhat concerned: "You seem to know that such means are insufficient to win the Cultural Festival; why do you still do such troublesome things?"
"It's not really troublesome."
It wasn't anything that couldn't be said; Hikigaya explained indifferently:
"I'm just causing trouble for Nagumo and Horikita; as for the Cultural Festival, it'll have some effect more or less, and that's enough."
"I see; does this mean you have other thoughts about the Cultural Festival?"
Kiryuuin nodded in realization, not caring much about the Cultural Festival itself, and quickly moved to the main topic.
"You think keeping Takatomi and Nishigishi will bring trouble to Nagumo? You wouldn't think the two of them could be Nagumo's opponent, would you? Or is keeping them just a simple act of kindness on your part?"
"How could that be..."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
He had no relation to Takatomi and Nishigishi; how could he keep the two of them just out of simple, temporary kindness.
From the looks of them, they were clearly even less likely to be Nagumo Miyabi's opponents.
"They can't bring trouble to Nagumo; it's just that their presence is a trouble for Nagumo. Given Nagumo's personality, he shouldn't have been as composed recently as he used to be; that's enough..."
"Indeed..."
The corners of Kiryuuin's mouth curled up slightly: "Nagumo has been much more irritable recently than before, but what's the use? Dealing with the two of them should still be a very easy thing for Nagumo, right?"
"I can't explain it to you; you can just think I'm using the two of them to stall for time, and don't want to face Nagumo head-on, that's fine too."
Hikigaya really didn't know how to explain it.
Many things couldn't be explained clearly.
One could only say.
Takatomi and Nishigishi, along with many seniors in the third year.
Had anger in their hearts.
As for what kind of effect this anger could produce, it actually completely depended on Nagumo Miyabi himself.
According to Kiryuuin's words.
With Nagumo Miyabi's current irritable temper, it would be hard for him to keep Nishigishi and Takatomi.
As long as Nagumo Miyabi could be stalled.
So he wouldn't have time to intervene in other grades' affairs.
It was already enough.
"I see..."
Kiryuuin clearly didn't comprehend it.
It's just that such a reason was easier to accept.
Kiryuuin didn't take it much to heart.
"You seem to look down on me a bit... saying it that way is a bit inappropriate; should I say you look down on brute force?"
"So? Is there a problem?"
Hikigaya nodded frankly.
Those who use their brains more or less look down on those who use violence.
Scholars and warriors despise each other.
In fact.
In today's society, brute force is clearly also the most useless ability; a bunch of guys fighting and hitting at school were telling him this was strength?
Are they planning to become security guards or bodyguards after graduation?
Or join the underworld?
Don't make him laugh.
Hikigaya found it somewhat inexplicable.
It would be fine for ordinary people, but what exactly was the use of producing a batch of social elites who were good at fighting and scuffling?
As for Kiryuuin herself.
Hikigaya didn't mean to look down on her; just keeping her at a respectful distance was enough.
In reality.
Hikigaya could roughly guess.
If she were slandered or encountered something.
Kiryuuin's first reaction would most likely be to step on the other party and interrogate them for the truth of the matter.
When encountering something that didn't go her way.
She liked to use violence to solve the problem.
Maybe the other party was wrong, but that wasn't important.
She was no different from the original Sudo.
It was just that Sudo was more due to his own emotional issues, while Kiryuuin maintained her rationality while being habituated to solving problems with violence.
This was unavoidable.
After all, with Kiryuuin's academic ability and physical capacity, violence could already solve over ninety percent of problems.
Strong academic and martial prowess.
Led Kiryuuin to form path dependency; if undecided, throw a punch first, and if it doesn't work, then think of a way.
It's just that Kiryuuin was tall and also very beautiful.
That made people less repulsed by it.
It's impossible for an ordinary person to become like this; they would encounter the drawbacks of this approach more or less during their growth.
For example, Ryuuen.
Even Ryuuen knew very well.
When using violence, one had to find a place without cameras, and only dared to jump back and forth on both sides of the rules, clearly still having some reverence for rules.
Kiryuuin, on the other hand, had no reverence for rules at all.
She must have a good father.
And one who favored Kiryuuin extremely, covering for her a lot behind the scenes, allowing Kiryuuin to grow up so carefree into what she was now.
Whether it was good or bad, Hikigaya didn't know.
At least Kiryuuin was full of confidence and unscrupulous, which might be a good side, unlike someone from a commoner family like him whose actions always carried a hint of concern.
However.
One thing Hikigaya was very clear about.
He couldn't afford to provoke such a person; without a good father, Kiryuuin's way of doing things would have gotten her beaten to death long ago.
What was strong was not Kiryuuin herself, but the father behind her.
Naturally, it wouldn't make one feel respect.
"You think this way can restrict violent means?"
"In fact, it's also very effective, isn't it?"
Looking at Kiryuuin who had walked in front of him, her sharp eyes carrying a hint of mockery, Hikigaya gave a helpless sigh and said.
At least Ryuuen and the others had been much quieter recently, heard to be frequently wandering around looking for hidden cameras again.
Clearly.
There was an effect.
When the time came, he would just install another batch; just let Ryuuen go find them slowly, anyway, it didn't cost his money.
Unfortunately.
Kiryuuin had not experienced the restrictions of rules, therefore she had no reverence for rules.
Or perhaps she had experienced them.
It's just that the rules in Kiryuuin's eyes were not the same as those in Hikigaya's.
In Kiryuuin's eyes.
As long as it wasn't murder or arson, fighting and scuffling were just insignificant small problems.
"Is that so?"
The corners of Kiryuuin's mouth before him rose slightly.
She originally thought Hikigaya had been tamed by Nagumo Miyabi, but now she found he hadn't.
And.
Everything about Hikigaya made her feel interested.
Clearly knowing it wouldn't cause much effect on Nagumo Miyabi, yet he still did it.
Perhaps there was some reason in it that she couldn't see.
Wait and see.
Seeing how things would evolve might be good.
But as for brute force.
In this aspect, Kiryuuin was still very confident.
Thinking of this.
Suddenly.
Aiming at Hikigaya's abdomen, Kiryuin Fuka swiftly threw a punch.
However.
Unexpectedly.
Hikigaya's body shifted to one side, easily avoiding it.