Soon.
Hikigaya returned to the conference room and stood before Chairman Sakayanagi. The homeroom teachers of each class had already left.
"Hikigaya."
Looking at the fellow in front of him, Chairman Sakayanagi's expression was cold.
"Do you think that just because you're dating Arisu, you can get carried away?"
"It's not like that."
"Then what is it? It can't be simple respect, or that you just couldn't control yourself and accidentally kissed her, right?"
Chairman Sakayanagi sneered. Did he take him for a fool?
Dating secretly was one thing; he could turn a blind eye to that.
But publicly taking liberties with a teacher was undoubtedly a slap in the face to the school.
More importantly.
Playing around in secret was fine.
They were both men.
Chairman Sakayanagi wasn't unable to understand.
However, as Sakayanagi Arisu's boyfriend, he actually flirted with another woman right in front of him, the father-in-law.
Absurd!
To think a mere son-in-law-to-be could be so arrogant. He had to be put in his place.
"That's not it..."
Hikigaya crossed his hands behind his back, staring intently at his father-in-law as he explained:
"I just wanted to confirm that we are all just guinea pigs studying alongside Ayanokouji, right?"
"Hmm?"
Chairman Sakayanagi's pupils instantly constricted to the size of pinheads.
He wanted to speak but felt it was unnecessary.
In any case.
By using such a method to confirm the school's attitude, Hikigaya clearly already had the answer in his heart and was merely seeking verification.
As it turned out.
For such an insignificant matter, the school would not expel them.
However.
Chairman Sakayanagi was, after all, his father-in-law.
Though cold on the surface.
Hikigaya also knew that this Chairman was a man with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
Whether he was showing favoritism because of his status as a son-in-law.
Hikigaya couldn't easily judge, so it was best to confirm and hopefully get a definitive answer from Chairman Sakayanagi.
"Hmm..."
After a moment of silence, Chairman Sakayanagi said in a deep voice:
"Guinea pigs... do you feel dissatisfied?"
"Not really."
Hikigaya revealed a smile and said: "I will properly fulfill the role of a study companion. But since you want us to perform experiments with Ayanokouji, why not let him experience the beatdown of power? That should make him realize the importance of education even more."
Whether it was guinea pigs or experimental subjects.
As long as he could obtain relaxed authority and allow Class B to rise to Class A, Hikigaya didn't care.
The most important thing was to let the school feel the benefits.
However.
Gazing at the continuously silent Chairman Sakayanagi, Hikigaya had no choice but to add:
"Otherwise, if Ayanokouji were to find out about this, it would probably affect his judgment, right? That might not achieve the experimental or other intended effects."
After speaking.
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Give him full and relaxed authority, and he would go take down Ayanokouji.
But.
Whether it worked or not.
At least say something. What did this silence mean?
Watching Hikigaya's performance, Chairman Sakayanagi remained silent, his heart feeling somewhat complicated.
Dammit.
This guy was always looking for trouble for him.
Even clarifying the pros and cons?
Was he trying to threaten him?
How irritating.
Chairman Sakayanagi naturally knew these things without Hikigaya saying them.
It's just.
He found Hikigaya annoying... seeing him so smug, he had to discipline him.
Hmph.
Chairman Sakayanagi tapped his fingers on the desk, feeling quite satisfied watching Hikigaya's anxious appearance.
After a long silence, he sighed with some emotion:
"Arisu should have told you some things about the White Room, right?"
"Hmm?"
The topic changed a bit too quickly, making Hikigaya stun for a moment before saying:
"Roughly. I heard it's an educational institution that practices elite education or something."
"She doesn't know much either."
Chairman Sakayanagi leaned back in his executive chair, looking at the ceiling and beginning to feel sentimental.
"That is an educational institution composed entirely of white. Whether it's the walls, ceiling, beds, toiletries, tableware, or clothing, everything you see is a sheet of snowy white."
"Such an environment can make one feel a sense of loneliness, allowing one to empty their mind and focus purely on learning."
"Even the daily routine is subject to rigorous management."
"Living in such an environment every day, everything he sees is artificially presented to him. Don't you think Ayanokouji is quite pitiful?"
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya fell silent.
He naturally didn't understand the scientific basis for such a policy.
From birth until now.
Everything seen was artificially arranged and carefully calculated; Ayanokouji's whole life was lived within a falsehood.
Just from the literal description.
Hikigaya didn't feel he could truly empathize or presumptuously claim to understand the other party based on just a few words.
That would undoubtedly be a form of arrogance.
But... it must be quite miserable.
"I don't think so..."
Hikigaya pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "At the very least, there are many people in the world more deserving of pity than him, right?"
At least.
In any case.
Ayanokouji's birth already surpassed 99% of the people in the world.
Instead of pitying Ayanokouji, you might as well pity me.
By the way.
Get to the main point quickly. Hikigaya used his eyes to urge him.
Chairman Sakayanagi did not respond.
Ultimately, their positions were different.
Hikigaya was just a commoner. To pity a second-generation official like Ayanokouji—what a joke. It would be better to spend time pitying ordinary people.
"That... how about it?"
Hikigaya asked tentatively.
"Get out, get out, get out."
"Order received!"
Seeing Chairman Sakayanagi wave his hand, a smile appeared on Hikigaya's face, and he quickly turned to leave.
This should mean he agreed, right?
Chairman Sakayanagi looked at the proposal on the desk, along with a stack of joint signatures beside it.
Truly whimsical.
Chairman Sakayanagi's head was really starting to hurt.
Increasing the exchange ratio of Class Points and Private Points was already giving him a headache, and now there was the demand to double incentive points and lower certain penalties.
Did he think the school was a bank and didn't need money?
In the end.
All this pressure would fall on Chairman Sakayanagi.
Hikigaya didn't care though.
Regardless, his task was to reach out to the school for money; as for how to reach out to the higher-ups for money, that was Chairman Sakayanagi's job.
"Sigh..."
Chairman Sakayanagi let out a sigh, but a trace of a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of his mouth.
Most importantly.
This matter wasn't something he could decide alone.
He didn't expect that before Ayanokouji noticed, Hikigaya would be the first to perceive it.
It was also normal.
After all, what they saw and heard was different.
As a bystander, Hikigaya's field of vision was certainly clearer.
If it weren't for the fact that Hikigaya specifically liked to go against him, Chairman Sakayanagi would be quite satisfied.
Thinking of this.
Chairman Sakayanagi left the school in a good mood.