After school.
Horikita Suzune, Hirata, Sudo, the three of them came to Ayanokouji's dormitory.
They are considered the core members of Class D now.
Originally, after Kushida Kikyo broke down completely, Matsushita Chiaki took her place.
Although she didn't do things as thoroughly as Kushida Kikyo.
She could barely play the role of a mediator.
It's just that this time Matsushita Chiaki was also a party involved; after consideration, Horikita Suzune still didn't call her.
"Ayanokouji, how is the situation with Koenji and Yukimura?"
Horikita Suzune asked in a heavy voice.
Although she had explained individually to Yukimura and said the truth, it was more a consideration of needing to appease Yukimura's emotions.
She was no longer the naive person she was at the start of school, so she naturally needed Ayanokouji's judgment as a supplementary aid.
If Yukimura really has the possibility of betraying the class.
Horikita Suzune would also remain alert.
"Although I'm not very sure, from the current stage, the two shouldn't have thought about betraying the class."
After speaking, Ayanokouji changed the subject:
"But if they lose the hope of rising to Class A, it is impossible to rule out the possibility of betrayal for both."
"I see, then we really can't lose."
Horikita Suzune sat kneeling in place and clenched her fist.
"It probably won't happen."
Hirata, sitting beside Ayanokouji, smiled and said:
"If they betray the class, they would also bear a huge psychological burden. I believe they are not that kind of person."
"I have the same opinion as you."
Horikita Suzune nodded.
Whether Yukimura or Koenji, neither seems like someone who would betray the class; at least Horikita Suzune and Hirata were in agreement.
"I think it's better to be careful."
Sensing everyone's gaze looking over, Sudo frowned:
"Doesn't that guy Yukimura always talk about rising to A? I think we should at least be a bit alert, and Ayanokouji should know Yukimura's character best. Shouldn't we trust Ayanokouji's judgment more?"
"There's probably no correct answer to this. Anyway, as long as we can keep winning, there's no problem."
Horikita Suzune said solemnly.
Clearly.
A divergence in opinion had occurred.
Even if people like Horikita Suzune and Hirata are excellent, there will certainly be people like Sudo.
Consistently being suspected and treated differently by people around them.
When the time comes.
Betrayal won't carry much psychological burden.
Only Ayanokouji was like a heartless choice-making machine.
Handling things appropriately is fine.
At the necessary moment, eliminate all these risks in advance.
However.
He still wanted to see the duel between Horikita Suzune and Hikigaya.
Class D definitely possesses an overwhelming pressure of strength.
A contest between strength and human nature.
A duel so different from the White Room made Ayanokouji extremely curious; with what result will the two sides decide the victory?
"Then Hirata, how is it on your side?"
"Except for Mei-yu keeping Hikigaya's contact info, everyone else is fine."
Hirata still explained with a lean toward optimism, but he was still explaining the intelligence just now in detail.
"And I checked the chat records; Mei-yu hasn't contacted Hikigaya either. I asked afterwards, and compared to betraying the class, Mei-yu is more hesitant about whether to apologize to Sakura..."
After speaking.
Even Hirata felt a bit complicated.
In theory, an apology definitely should be given.
But even for Hirata.
He didn't know how to face a companion he had once abandoned.
Abandoning a companion, and a completely innocent companion at that, and then finally having to go up and beg for the other party's forgiveness.
Even Hirata felt.
Whether doing so was a bit too shameless.
After all, they are high school students with more sensitive hearts; most will probably wash away this sense of guilt by burying the memory deep in their minds.
The fact is.
Now even the people who want to apologize are not many.
Even.
As more time passes.
It wouldn't be surprising if people start to hate Sakura Airi, hate her for not caring about past friendship, and hate her for not stopping Hikigaya.
"Is that so..."
Horikita Suzune nodded.
As the first one to raise her hand, and with Wang Mei-yu's personality, she is indeed much more credible than Yukimura and others.
"That fellow is actually still considering those things."
Sudo's expression was a bit complicated, but he didn't say much.
Only Ayanokouji on the opposite side was somewhat surprised.
He originally thought after appeasing Wang Mei-yu last time, there shouldn't be any more problems; Hikigaya must have said some unpleasant things.
This guy seems very good at messing with people's heads.
"Also, Sudo-kun."
Horikita Suzune folded her arms across her chest and said somewhat seriously:
"From now on, if there's anything, remember to tell me privately; don't say it in the class like today."
"Eh? Is there some problem?"
"Not necessarily."
Hirata smiled and explained: "It's just that Hikigaya's purpose is very likely to want to use this method to destroy our class's relationship of trust. In the future, for such matters that might affect the class, it's better to speak privately."
"In that case, I was used?"
"That's right."
Sudo's face was extremely ugly.
Hearing the explanations from several people, he also reacted; seeking him out at that time was to use his mouth to let the whole class know about this matter.
Damn it.
Sudo was truly a bit angry.
This Hikigaya doesn't look for others but specifically targets him to pluck.
Even though he's already so alert.
He was actually still used.
It can't be helped.
Sudo's character is the easiest to understand, and Hikigaya also understands him best...
"Horikita, how are things on your end...?"
Ayanokouji was somewhat concerned.
Karuizawa's scream in class earlier was indeed unusual; even Hirata and Sudou couldn't help but look toward Horikita.
"No, it's nothing."
Hearing this, Horikita Suzune's face flushed red as she shook her head, quickly changing the subject.
"Hikigaya's goal is simply to destroy Class D's relationships of trust. In reality, he probably never had any intention of bribing Yukimura and the others."
"Indeed."
Hirata nodded solemnly:
"I really don't believe they would agree to use personal points for headhunting. Class B would likely prefer to keep their personal points to protect their comrades, right?"
"I think so too."
Sudou clenched his fist, saying with disgust: "That Hikigaya is just full of big talk, specifically targeting other classes. It's truly pathetic."
"Well, it's also because our class is immature that we let him find a weakness."
Horikita Suzune spoke up.
The others said nothing; compared to targeting other classes, Sudou and Hirata undoubtedly preferred to work hard on improving their own strength.
Only Ayanokouji felt a sense of discord.
After a moment of hesitation.
Ayanokouji spoke tentatively:
"Even so, we can't just sit and wait to be targeted by Hikigaya like this. It's about time we consider fighting back."
"Hmm? How?"
Upon hearing this, Hirata and Horikita Suzune both frowned.
"But how? I don't think similar methods would work against Class B."
"Yeah, after all, Class B's cohesion is quite formidable."
Even Sudou held the same opinion.
Although Class B's strength might not be outstanding, they were indeed very united.
Putting aside whether they had enough personal points for headhunting, the probability of that succeeding felt too low.
"Hmm... true." Ayanokouji nodded in agreement.
Class B was average but lacked obvious weaknesses; furthermore, they were a group of mostly kind-hearted "good kids." Similar tactics would likely be ineffective against them.
"Although success isn't guaranteed, I might be able to give it a try."
"Huh?"
"How?"
"The original Class B wasn't like this. Class B became active like this primarily due to Hikigaya's influence. I think it's necessary to make contact with him."
Ayanokouji remained expressionless, but secretly observed Horikita Suzune's reaction.
Despite the sense of strangeness.
He hadn't expected Horikita Suzune to actually agree.
It was a bit puzzling.
However.
It wasn't a major issue.
Horikita Suzune had the self-awareness of a leader.
Even without his reminder, Horikita Suzune knew to take a step toward appeasing Yukimura's emotions.
Hikigaya seemed very skilled at messing with people's mindsets.
Then he would also try to mess with Hikigaya's mindset.