Early the next morning.
After Hikigaya and the others finished breakfast and were about to head to school, they ran into Nanase Tsubasa downstairs.
It was unclear whether it was a coincidence or if she was waiting there specifically.
"Ichinose-senpai, Himeno-senpai, Sakura-senpai, can I borrow Hikigaya-senpai for a moment?"
"Eh!? Sure."
Am I some kind of object?
Hikigaya still followed Nanase Tsubasa a few steps behind.
"Hikigaya-senpai..."
Nanase Tsubasa walked beside Hikigaya, and said somewhat complexly and hesitantly:
"Regarding yesterday's Cultural Festival, why did you open that kind of shop?"
"Ah..."
He could roughly guess what the other party wanted to say, and Hikigaya nodded.
"Speaking of which, it seems yesterday's surströmming shop also disturbed your class's business. Sorry..."
"Hikigaya-senpai seems very clear about the consequences, so why did you insist on using that method?"
Hmm...
The impact of the surströmming shop was naturally very bad, and Hikigaya also knew that doing so was very lacking in civility.
Starting from yesterday.
Some people's gazes toward him were not very friendly.
If Ichinose hadn't made Nakanishi close the door temporarily, he feared they would have wanted to kill him.
Nanase Tsubasa having an opinion of him was also natural.
"Of course, it was to win the Cultural Festival..."
Hikigaya said with a flat expression while hands in his pockets:
"Nanase, let me just tell you this: I am likely not as good as you imagine, nor am I a senior worthy of respect as you imagine."
"Joining the Student Council was for the purpose of seeking personal gain. Although I feel a bit sorry for you guys, I almost ruined the Cultural Festival you cherished."
"But to advance to Class A, I will use whatever means necessary."
Of course.
The premise was not to leave any opening for criticism.
Hikigaya had no need to hide it from them either.
Mainly because Nanase Tsubasa seemed like a gentle and kind person.
If the other party were recording.
Then he could only blame himself for misjudging her.
Of course.
Another reason.
Leaving others aside, Hikigaya also didn't want to lie to a good person like Nanase Tsubasa.
Even if he was a bit interested in a beautiful girl like Nanase Tsubasa, he hoped it could happen naturally.
"Is that so..."
Nanase Tsubasa furrowed her brows in confusion:
"If that's the case, why did Hikigaya-senpai go to crash into Yagami? Senpai doesn't seem very strong and doesn't seem to have studied martial arts either. Weren't you worried you would get hurt?"
Right?
"Of course I was worried..."
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly: "But as a member of the Student Council, I can't just watch a violent incident happen in front of me and not stop it, can I?"
"Is that so..."
Nanase Tsubasa lowered her head and pursed her lips.
However.
The only one who was able to take action was Hikigaya.
Seeing Yagami Takuya with a distorted face, as if he wanted to tear everything around him apart, even she was completely frozen and unable to move at that time.
This should also be natural.
Witnessing killing intent that was actually put into action, ordinary people would feel afraid.
While he claimed to be seeking personal gain.
Hikigaya was also the most dutiful Student Council Vice President.
In reality.
Nanase Tsubasa hadn't seen him seeking any private gain.
At most, it was just making things difficult for other classes regarding safety regulations during the Cultural Festival, but those were all reasonable restrictions.
Perhaps as Horikita Suzune said, he was just good at making excuses.
But one thing was certain.
"Senpai is indeed a very gentle person."
Hikigaya's mouth relaxed in a sigh of relief.
Hearing such words after a long time indeed felt good.
Previously, he might have denied it or glossed it over, but now Hikigaya smiled and said:
"I am also very happy to hear Nanase say that."
"Because it's the truth."
Nanase Tsubasa's mouth showed a brilliant smile, and just then, she suddenly looked back.
Amasawa Ichika had unknowingly approached to within two steps of them, with a little devil-like smile on her face.
"Amasawa-san, what is it?"
Nanase Tsubasa immediately became somewhat alert: "Approaching others so sneakily like this is a very rude thing to do."
"Hmm?"
Only then did Hikigaya react and turned to look at the girl in front of him.
As expected.
It was some kind of tracking technique again...
"I wasn't exactly trying to hide it. Leaving such small matters aside, hello there, Hikigaya-senpai~"
Amasawa Ichika smiled and leaned in front of Hikigaya.
Previously, she hadn't paid any attention to this unremarkable guy, but now Amasawa Ichika felt it was necessary to make contact.
Looking at Amasawa Ichika's slightly reddened little face close at hand, Hikigaya didn't back away further, only saying with concern:
"Weren't you expelled?"
Honestly.
Yagami Takuya and Amasawa Ichika clearly had a connection, and Hikigaya thought both of them would be dragged away.
"You could say that."
"They said I can be free from now on."
Amasawa Ichika said smilingly: "As expected, Hikigaya is also an insider about the White Room. Did you learn about it from Nanase-san or from Sakayanagi-senpai?"
"Answering you doesn't really matter, it was both, I suppose."
Sensing the gazes of Ichinose and the others ahead, Hikigaya picked up his pace and continued forward.
"So, do you have something you want?"
"Hikigaya-senpai..."
Nanase Tsubasa followed on his left side, her expression somewhat serious: "Senpai, don't be fooled by this person's behavior; she is a woman who is very good at deceiving people."
"Seriously, Nanase-san thinks of me like that? That's truly saddening."
Amasawa Ichika also smilingly followed on Hikigaya's right side.
She quickly entered the topic.
"Then why didn't Senpai expose Ayanokouji-senpai's identity? If you want to advance to Class A, this should be more advantageous for Class B, right?"
"You were indeed eavesdropping just now."
Nanase Tsubasa immediately realized.
"Nanase, no need to be so worked up. Knowing she's a person from the White Room, I wouldn't believe her that easily either."
Hikigaya said without being polite at all.
After all, except for the start of school and seeing her yesterday once, he didn't understand Amasawa Ichika at all.
As it stood.
The hearts of the people educated by the White Room were far too fragile.
Resorting to murder at every turn was truly a bit terrifying.
Even though Amasawa Ichika was very beautiful, Hikigaya didn't dare to have any bad intentions.
"Seriously... Senpai is really direct."
Amasawa Ichika smiled indifferently: "But I don't hate people as direct as Senpai; in fact, I like them best. So why didn't Senpai choose to expose Ayanokouji's identity?"
"Haha..."
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh, not believing a word of it.
But it wasn't impossible to answer.
"Isn't it obvious? It's because I don't dare to."
"???"
Amasawa Ichika immediately furrowed her brows in confusion: "What does that mean?"
"Literal meaning. I just don't dare to expose Ayanokouji's identity, how else can I explain it?"
Hikigaya said indifferently.
Everything has its limits.
Understanding that the entire school might be Ayanokouji's experimental site and they were all just a group of guinea pigs.
Hikigaya indeed didn't dare to expose Ayanokouji's identity.
Respecting student autonomy was all a lie.
Otherwise.
He would only suffer a heavy blow from above.
The existence of Yagami Takuya was indeed strong evidence, but if the White Room were smeared.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi would certainly not forgive him.
As for Chairman Sakayanagi's protection, he hadn't even married into the family, so it was clearly unreliable.
Most likely, he would be driven to death like that man Matsuo.
Therefore.
Hikigaya only promoted the possibility of Ayanokouji being gay but did not interfere with the existence of the White Room.
"How can you not dare? Senpai doesn't seem like that kind of person?"
"Then I won't tell you."
Hikigaya didn't provide much explanation.
Amasawa Ichika clearly existed as a limiter for Yagami Takuya.
With Yagami Takuya's expulsion, she had clearly lost her utility value, which is why she was allowed to continue staying at the school.
Understanding the intentions of those above.
Many problems could be quickly understood, but there was no need to tell Amasawa Ichika that.
Grasp the sense of propriety for oneself.
Whether it was Yagami Takuya, Amasawa Ichika, or the others, they were all chess pieces chasing Ayanokouji, and everything around them was fake.
It made Hikigaya feel somewhat pity.
It's better not to tell them such a cruel thing.
Furthermore.
At the moment, it was only a guess.
"Eh? Is Senpai such a stingy person? Fine."
Amasawa Ichika didn't care either, only muttering with her head down:
"Then why did Senpai say that sentence to Takuya yesterday, saying he was very strong?"
"That's the truth, isn't it..."
Hikigaya glanced at Amasawa Ichika beside him and sighed:
"Your abilities are already far beyond ordinary high school students. I just thought he didn't need to be obsessed with being first. I was telling the truth, wasn't I?"
As he spoke.
Hikigaya also knew.
This might not be what the other party wanted.
"If I had to say, it might be pity. Sorry, perhaps such an arrogant thought will make you even angrier..."
"Is that so... Senpai is clearly so weak, yet pities others; it truly is quite irritating."
Amasawa Ichika still kept her head down, but Hikigaya and Nanase Tsubasa somehow heard a hint of sobbing.
After a long time.
Only then did Amasawa Ichika look up, her reddened eyes showing a brilliant smile.
"However, Takuya looked a bit happy at the end yesterday. That was the first time I saw him with that kind of expression."
"In any case, thank you, Hikigaya-senpai..."
Amasawa Ichika gave a deep bow.
If only Hikigaya had been in the fifth generation with them.
How good would that have been?
Perhaps everyone wouldn't have turned out like this.