In the hallway.
Ichinose and Nanase Tsubasa supported Ibuki Mio on the left and right, and Horikita Suzune followed by their side.
Ichinose's physical strength wasn't very good.
Originally it was Horikita Suzune supporting her, but unfortunately Ibuki Mio was unwilling.
"Ibuki-san, are you alright?"
Looking at Ibuki Mio's pale little face, Ichinose asked with a face full of worry.
Ryuuen was only choked for a bit and slammed once on the ground, but Ibuki Mio had taken a solid, ruthless kick from Yagami Takuya.
She might be injured even more severely than Ryuuen.
"I'm... fine..."
Ibuki Mio held it in for a long while before she managed to squeeze out two words.
Pointless bravado resulted in this kind of outcome.
If not for her experience in martial arts and using force to block at the critical moment, Ibuki Mio suspected she might have been kicked to death directly by that one kick.
After all.
Yagami Takuya clearly didn't know how to control his strength and was already unable to consider such things.
Yagami Takuya, Amasawa Ichika, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
The three clearly had some kind of relationship.
Based on the strength Yagami Takuya displayed.
Amasawa Ichika might be holding back, or maybe she was unable to display her true strength last time because of an injury.
Then Ayanokouji Kiyotaka
He wasn't just holding back, he was simply letting out an ocean.
Originally Ibuki Mio was still somewhat defiant, but at this moment Ibuki Mio also couldn't muster a single thought of resistance...
The gap was already large enough to inevitably make one feel some despair...
Yagami Takuya played with them like toys, let alone Ayanokouji Kiyotaka whom he was so obsessed with.
"Honami-senpai, what exactly happened with you guys?"
Nanase Tsubasa asked somewhat nervously.
When Ichinose came to find her, she was far too anxious and there was completely no time to explain.
But the scene just now was far too bizarre.
Only Hikigaya was in a standoff with Yagami Takuya, and everyone else was standing silently to one side, even Advisor Sakagami looked somewhat terrified.
"Just now Ryuuen was almost killed by Yagami... fortunately Hikki saved him..."
Ichinose's expression was somewhat complex as she simply recounted what had happened.
Hearing this.
Nanase Tsubasa opened her mouth and didn't know what to say.
They just wanted to investigate Yagami Takuya a bit and press for the truth, why did it almost result in a loss of life.
Ibuki Mio, who was sandwiched between the two, likewise had a complex expression.
Although Hikigaya looked like he acted out of responsibility, and didn't intend to favor any side whether it was Ryuuen or Yagami Takuya.
But at the final moment.
It was still Hikigaya who stepped in and saved them.
If not for Hikigaya.
Would they have been killed by Yagami Takuya because of this?
"Ichinose."
"Exactly what kind of person is Hikigaya."
Horikita Suzune, following behind, lowered her head with some concern.
Just now.
She did nothing.
She was indeed frightened by the crazed Yagami Takuya.
No.
After all, it is such a peaceful society, any person.
Seeing such a scene that resembled murder appear before one's eyes.
Would be frightened, right?
Whether it was her, or Ichinose, or even the adult Advisor Mashima.
In that instant.
They were all frightened to the point where they couldn't move.
Even now they were still a bit fearful.
With the strength Yagami Takuya displayed, even if they all joined together, they wouldn't be enough for him to fight... or kill.
Why was Hikigaya still able to react, and even take action to make arrangements.
Originally.
She thought Hikigaya was just a big idiot who used public office for private gain and liked to use some despicable little tricks.
She didn't expect.
At the critical moment.
It was Hikigaya who saved them.
Not only did he save Ryuuen, he even wanted to seek justice for the perpetrator Yagami Takuya.
Horikita Suzune was truly somewhat curious.
"Mhm..."
Ichinose said somewhat complexly: "Although Hikki usually seems to not care about anything, at critical moments he is instead the most reliable person, it's just..."
Ichinose didn't finish; actually, she didn't like it.
When she saw Hikigaya go to knock Yagami Takuya away, she was simply terrified to death.
"Is that so..."
Horikita Suzune clenched her fist and didn't respond.
The Ayanokouji who could make rational judgments at critical moments, the Hikigaya who could save everyone at critical moments...
Exactly what kind of person did she want to become...
...
And on the other side.
At this time, in the Student Council room.
"What respect for student autonomy, what White Room, what a joke... Isn't this place just come and go as one pleases."
Hikigaya leaned against the back of the chair, looking up at the ceiling above his head and murmuring.
He had long suspected Chairman Sakayanagi was somewhat off.
A qualified politician.
How could he possibly, because of a bit of sympathy, rashly resist an existence like Ayanokouji Atsuomi who could easily handle him.
After this incident.
Hikigaya could basically also make a judgment.
Sure enough.
Everything was a lie.
Amasawa Ichika and Yagami Takuya.
They were obviously both assassins from the White Room, right?
Not necessarily...
Based on the performance just now, Amasawa Ichika was more likely to exist as a chain to restrain Yagami Takuya.
It was just that this chain didn't seem very useful.
What about Ayanokouji Atsuomi being unable to intervene, or Chairman Sakayanagi maintaining Ayanokouji Kiyotaka out of sympathy?
Why?
Yagami Takuya and Amasawa Ichika.
Did these two, also from the White Room, not deserve sympathy?
What a broken rule.
Those five adults.
They clearly weren't staff members of the Advanced Nurturing High School.
Isn't it possible to enter whenever they want?
Why didn't they just take Ayanokouji away?
Ishigami Kyo who possesses upright strength, Yagami Takuya acting as an assassin, Tsubaki Sakurako who is fearless of expulsion, Housen Kazuomi who excels in violence, and Nanase Tsubasa who is like a loyal dog.
The naive Sakayanagi Arisu, the naive and kind Ichinose, and Ryuuen Kakeru who repeatedly jumps across the rules.
The self-centered Class D.
Horikita Suzune, who is like a blank piece of paper.
Hikigaya suddenly realized.
Everything.
Might just be a game of chess between the school and Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
The first-years, the second-years—no, perhaps even Nagumo Miyabi and Horikita Manabu are just pieces selected through meticulous precision.
Including Ayanokouji.
Perhaps they are all just chess pieces.
Calling them chess pieces might be slightly inappropriate.
They were all just carefully selected guinea pigs, guinea pigs for an experiment for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
They might not even be aware of it themselves.
But as an experiment.
It is enough to throw a group of guinea pigs together and watch their development.
Everything is an illusion.
Everything Ayanokouji sees is only what those above want him to see.
Only in this way.
Can Tsukishiro's bizarre actions, Chairman Sakayanagi's favoritism, and the continuation of Tsukishiro's system be explained.
In the eyes of those above.
They were all just a group of clowns on a chessboard.
People like Yagami Takuya and Amasawa Ichika could be taken away whenever they wanted.
It didn't matter at all.
Once this was understood, all previous irrationalities became clear.
Damn it...
Hikigaya clenched his fists, though he wasn't particularly dissatisfied.
If he was a piece, then so be it.
As long as he could get what he wanted, that was fine.
Recognize one's own position.
Since he was a piece, the leader of Class B and the Vice President of the Student Council, Ayanokouji Atsuomi even personally gave him advice.
This should indicate.
That he has decent utility value to those above.
Isn't that great?
However.
This point still needed to be tested.
Thinking of this.
The corners of Hikigaya's mouth curled up slightly.
Since he had utility value, he should also demand some privileges.
Regardless, Yagami Takuya had harmed others and naturally deserved the proper punishment; he had already received it.
Then.
What about Ayanokouji, who was hiding behind the scenes controlling everything?
Perhaps Ayanokouji hadn't harmed anyone.
Relying on an anonymous love letter to easily manipulate all of them was indeed impressive.
Hikigaya frankly admitted that this was something he couldn't do.
However.
Did he think it would just end like this?
Since there was action.
Everything must bear a corresponding price.
Since he wanted to experiment.
If he didn't let Ayanokouji experience the consequences of acting rashly.
How would that be acceptable?
Still wanting them to keep the secret? Keep dreaming!