Soon.
The group finished visiting all the school's clubs and obtained everyone's joint signature letter.
After all.
Giving away free money and seeking benefits for them.
No one would disagree.
"You're really being underestimated. Do you think that through this method, you can make everyone slack off and give up on rising to Class A?"
Following behind the group, for some reason, Horikita Suzune was talking a lot.
"Hikigaya, we are no longer that Class D from the beginning of the school year. It's useless for you to do these things."
"Who knows."
Hikigaya looked back, feeling somewhat helpless at Horikita Suzune's strong and seemingly stubborn gaze.
After all, they were both members of the Student Council, so he said nonchalantly:
"Even if it's just to improve everyone's lives, isn't that good? And they seem pretty happy, don't they?"
As he spoke.
Hikigaya slowed his pace and walked to Katsuragi's side.
"Katsuragi, do you have time after school? There's something I want to talk to you about."
"Hmm?"
Katsuragi frowned slightly.
The Cultural Festival had just ended.
The time was approaching the second-year graduation, and there were currently no special exams. The content of the conversation wasn't hard to guess.
"No problem, but I have some things to do after the club ends. I'll contact you then, probably around 6:30. How's that?"
"No problem, I'm available anytime on my end."
Hikigaya didn't mind.
Specifying a time directly wasn't annoying either. He would tell Ichinose and the others later.
After the club time ended.
Around six o'clock, Hikigaya received a contact from Katsuragi, and they agreed to meet at Palette Cafe in Keyaki Mall.
Entering the cafe.
He instantly saw Katsuragi and Sakayanagi Arisu sitting in a corner.
The two seemed to be talking.
Hikigaya walked toward them without hesitation, but then stopped in his tracks; he seemed to have overlooked something just now.
Hikigaya backed up a few steps and looked toward the adjacent seat.
Horikita Suzune, dressed in her burgundy uniform, was sipping coffee with a flat expression, wearing over-the-knee black stockings below.
"What are you doing here?"
Hikigaya frowned and asked.
Palette Cafe was hard to enter alone.
Running here to drink coffee alone felt a bit too coincidental.
Not to mention it was Horikita Suzune.
This person seemed like the type to focus entirely on self-improvement.
"I'm drinking coffee here; what's so strange about that?"
"Are you trying to eavesdrop on my conversation with Katsuragi?"
"You're overthinking it."
Horikita Suzune picked up the white porcelain cup and took a sip, saying calmly:
"Even so, if you want to discuss important matters, you should find a more private place, shouldn't you?"
"Hmm... do as you like."
Hikigaya turned and left.
Even if it was heard by Horikita Suzune, it didn't matter. He felt this person's brain had some issues.
Watching Hikigaya's retreating back.
Horikita Suzune knitted her brows with some dissatisfaction; every time Hikigaya looked at her, his gaze held some disdain.
"Sorry for making you wait."
"Hikigaya-kun?"
Seeing Hikigaya sit down beside her, Sakayanagi Arisu was a bit surprised. She gave the opposite-sitting Katsuragi a thoughtful look but said nothing more.
"It's on my end as well, sorry for making you wait."
Katsuragi sat opposite with a steady expression:
"You can order whatever you like to eat; my treat."
"Oh... it's almost dinner time, so never mind."
Just as he was about to agree, Hikigaya realized.
Ichinose was waiting for him to go back for dinner.
"Katsuragi-kun."
"With the second-year advancement approaching, the probability of a special exam similar to last year's occurring is very high."
"I looked for you this time to cancel the partnership between Class A and Class B; I'm here to notify you."
Next.
He would have to find a way to deal with Class A.
Only, during this period.
The cooperation between the two classes had been mutually beneficial. Hikigaya felt somewhat bad about moving against Class A directly.
Better to give a heads-up first.
"As expected..."
Katsuragi had also anticipated this.
"With advancement approaching, if a consideration similar to last year's appears, it indeed becomes difficult to maintain a cooperative relationship."
"But that's just the surface reason, isn't it? Although the third term is generally short, there is at least one term left."
"Hikigaya, you want to cancel the cooperation now; could it be that you want to move against Class A?"
"Pretty much."
Hikigaya didn't hide it either.
Although they cooperated well, after all, there was a competitive relationship; such a partnership could not last forever.
"I see..."
Katsuragi nodded composedly, quickly adjusting his mindset.
At least, Hikigaya didn't suddenly backstab like Ryuuen.
"Understood. In any case, the cooperation during this period has been pleasant. I hope there will be further opportunities to cooperate."
"No problem."
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth curled into a smile.
What was canceled was only this kind of long-term partnership; it didn't mean they couldn't have short-term cooperation. Future cooperation would depend on the exams.
"I'll ask just in case."
Katsuragi also looked toward Horikita Suzune on the other side.
"She seems to have been waiting at the school gate since after school and followed me to this cafe. Did something happen between you and Horikita?"
"Who knows."
Hikigaya glanced back, feeling a bit speechless.
"Worried that I'll target Class D, she probably plans to come and gather intelligence. Maybe her head has some issues."
"I see..."
Katsuragi was thoughtful.
The group exchanged a few more simple words. Hikigaya and Sakayanagi Arisu stood up to leave, and Horikita Suzune, having finished her coffee, trailed behind at a distance.
On the street back to the dormitory.
Hikigaya slowed his pace to match Sakayanagi Arisu's speed.
"Hikki"
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke with a smile, seeming a bit concerned: "What do you think was Katsuragi's purpose for making sure you saw him meeting me at this time?"
"Heh..."
Hikigaya said indifferently: "Trying to drive a wedge between the two of us, even though it wasn't necessary."
However.
From Katsuragi's perspective, it must have been a necessary measure.
After all, Sakayanagi Arisu had unhesitatingly announced her status as his girlfriend; no matter what, it was a thorn in Katsuragi's heart.
Or.
A thorn for all members of Class A.
"Half right."
With a gentle smile on her face, Sakayanagi Arisu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She hadn't expected Katsuragi to try to play her; fortunately, Hikigaya hadn't fallen for it.
If a pointless misunderstanding with Hikigaya occurred because of such a small thing.
For some reason.
Sakayanagi Arisu felt a bit apprehensive inside.
Sensing such a mindset, Sakayanagi Arisu felt she had fallen, or rather, she wanted to sink together with Hikigaya.
Before Hikigaya could speak, Sakayanagi Arisu changed the subject:
"I heard you want to increase the incentive points for clubs?"
"Yeah, just wait and see."
Hikigaya said with some pride: "By the third year, I will definitely enter the top ten or twenty of the grade!"
There were nearly 160 students in the whole grade.
The top sixteen was still a bit difficult.
But the top three.
Hikigaya was very confident.
As long as everyone regresses together, he will eventually become number one!