"Supporting each other? Do you think that because you like Ichinose?"
Although he couldn't understand such an emotion, Ayanokouji still asked:
"But if you truly like someone and want to spend a lifetime with the person you love, shouldn't you be single-minded?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched; he couldn't refute it.
Indeed, it was hard to say it was entirely "like"; it was more like he craved their bodies.
"It truly can't be called entirely 'like,' but I can only do my best to take responsibility and work hard so that everyone is happy enough..."
"Hmm?"
Ayanokouji was slightly surprised.
Although Hikigaya said it very easily, it felt more like he was forcing himself rather than being voluntary; perhaps it could become a good breakthrough point.
"What if you fail? Ichinose and the others might very well leave you. No, in your current situation, the probability of someone leaving in the future should be higher. By then, your efforts will not be rewarded, will they?"
"Hmm?"
This time it was Hikigaya's turn to be stunned.
He scrutinized Ayanokouji before him with slight surprise.
If one day Ichinose grew tired, or Sakayanagi Arisu became dissatisfied with him, or Karuizawa and the others had other reasons to leave.
That was certainly possible.
Moreover.
The probability was likely not low.
"Are you afraid of failure?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Isn't it because you are considering failure and are afraid of failure that you asked such a question?"
"Hmm..."
Ayanokouji suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Afraid of failure?
How could he be afraid of failure? He didn't even know what failure felt like, let alone fear it.
Rather.
He even craved a true defeat to prove that man's error.
However.
Normal people probably wouldn't like failure.
He would just go along with Hikigaya's words here.
"Are you not afraid? Just like your relationship with Haruka isn't actually that good; perhaps one day Haruka will leave you and marry someone else."
"At that time, all your efforts will be in vain."
"Do you not have any thoughts about that?"
Well.
His relationship with Haruka was indeed average, and it had even developed in a bizarre way.
It was just Haruka's gratitude plus her competing with Ayanokouji and the others.
Plus, she was indeed very beautiful.
He just went with the flow and it developed to this step.
Perhaps one day.
It wouldn't be surprising if Haruka found someone she truly liked and left.
Others also had such a possibility.
"So what?"
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth curled into an arc as he smiled:
"Ayanokouji, effort without reward is the most common thing in this world."
"Failure is nothing to be afraid of. Rather, I have been failing all my life since I was a child. As long as I can keep moving forward after failure, it's fine."
"If what you said happens—if Haruka leaves, if Honami leaves, if they all leave me—I might be sad, I might be disappointed, I might regret losing such excellent women."
"I might even fall into despair, but as long as they can live happily, that's enough."
By now.
The deeper he went, the more he discovered.
Ayanokouji's strength might indeed be great, perhaps far above Yagami Takuya, but his psychological age was almost zero.
"It's not that I want to do it, but that I must do it. I must be responsible for everyone. As for the result, I just do my best to do it well."
"I see."
Ayanokouji didn't take it to heart.
Even knowing he was definitely not the most outstanding person in the world.
But in this school.
He was always looking at the people around him from the position of a superior.
From the perspective of a teacher teaching students.
From the viewpoint of the strong toward the weak.
Of course.
Ayanokouji also possessed such strength; even Hikigaya only made him feel a bit of freshness and curiosity.
"You must do it? Then what if you can't graduate from Class A in the end, what will you do?"
"Then I'll just have to kneel and apologize to everyone..."
Hikigaya said indifferently.
By then, he could only hope Sakayanagi would be generous and provide stable jobs for the people of Class B.
Otherwise.
He could only apologize with a "Hontou ni moushiwake arimasen" (I am truly sorry).
However.
In Hikigaya's eyes, this possibility was very low.
From the moment he entered the Student Council and grasped power, Hikigaya felt it was impossible for him to lose.
"That's quite surprising. Sorry for wasting so much of your time."
"That's nothing."
Hikigaya asked with some concern:
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, though I can't guarantee I'll definitely be able to answer."
"Ayanokouji, what do you think is your weakness?"
"Hmm..."
Ayanokouji remained expressionless.
He didn't know why Hikigaya would ask this; was he trying to find his flaw?
He tried to think for a bit.
But Ayanokouji couldn't think of his own weaknesses.
But it wasn't impossible to answer.
"Although there are many inadequacies, my biggest weakness is indeed that I am not good at communicating. I get a bit nervous when I am with people."
"Is that so? Sorry for asking an unnecessary question."
"It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Ayanokouji said dismissively: "Then let me ask you another question. After these two years, I believe the bonds in each class are constantly strengthening. Do you think it's possible to make Yukimura and the others betray under such circumstances?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle:
"Bonds?"
"Sorry, I don't see any bonds in Class D. Ayanokouji, are you misunderstanding something?"
"In my eyes, Class D is far from united; they just don't want to be seen as someone who disregards the collective, that's all."
"What's the difference?"
Ayanokouji was somewhat puzzled.
"Who knows? It's nothing, I'll be heading back first."
Hikigaya gave a light laugh, turned around, and left.
He only realized now.
Perhaps Ayanokouji was even more naive than he had imagined.
Even though they were both contributing to their classes.
Both were participating in special exams with all their might.
They looked similar.
But in essence, they were worlds apart.
Class D was not united; they just didn't want people to think they were someone who didn't care about the class.
Never mind.
A person who has never experienced failure.
Is nothing to be feared.
On the other side.
Ayanokouji returned to the dormitory.
"Not for oneself, but entirely for others."
Ayanokouji lay on the bed.
It seemed impossible to make Hikigaya waver through words alone.
Hikigaya was very clear about what he had to face, what difficulties to overcome, and what outcomes he might accept.
Even knowing defeat lay ahead.
Hikigaya would walk on without fear.
Completely opposite to him.
If he saw the possibility of defeat, Ayanokouji knew he would definitely take action to avoid it at any cost.
A person who has been failing in the past?
Ayanokouji even doubted it.
How could one keep failing? At least Hikigaya didn't look like someone who had been failing all the time.
However.
At least it was certain.
Hikigaya had already made up his mind to rise to Class A, and that determination was very firm; it didn't seem like something he would easily give up on.
Yet.
Ayanokouji also couldn't imagine the scene of his own defeat.
By the third year.
When Hikigaya faces an existence that absolutely cannot be defeated.
What will he do then?
Will he do a dogeza apology to Class B as he said, or will he rack his brains to come up with a brilliant strategy?
For some reason.
Perhaps because graduation was approaching, Ayanokouji felt his heart becoming slightly active.