"Mature?"
Hikigaya was taken aback. "Why the sudden question?"
"Because I heard you asking if she was your senior, so I was a bit curious," Sakayanagi explained with a smile.
"…No, I was just looking for something to say at the time."
Hikigaya's suspicion was piqued again. He sensed that this question had underlying motives.
"Really? Well, let's just leave it at that."
Surprisingly, Sakayanagi didn't press the issue further and shifted back to her original topic.
"I came here to thank you for helping Masumi-san."
"Again with this..." Hikigaya said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Well, I did receive your thanks."
To be honest, he didn't care much for thanks. He just hoped Sakayanagi would leave soon before things got more complicated.
Unfortunately, Sakayanagi wasn't inclined to oblige.
"It might be enough for you, but it's not enough for me. I've prepared a thank you gift for you. Please accept it."
"No, Kamuro-san already gave me a thank you gift," Hikigaya protested. "Besides, I stopped her just for myself. There's no need for you to spend points."
Sakayanagi's smile remained. "Actually, I wanted to give you a gift for my own reasons as well."
Why does this white-haired girl have to be so bothersome?
Hikigaya found her presence increasingly irritating. Her demeanor was starting to resemble that of the Demon Queen.
"Anyway, Hayama-kun, please enter this code in the point transfer app."
Sakayanagi took out her phone, entered some commands, and showed the screen to Hikigaya.
"…code?"
"Yes, you can make anonymous transfers using this," Sakayanagi confirmed.
Hikigaya didn't want to accept it. He was concerned it might lead to trouble. However, Sakayanagi's stubbornness made it clear she wouldn't be easily dissuaded. Besides, the amount was likely manageable—perhaps 20,000 or 30,000 points.
"Fine."
He entered the code as instructed. Soon, he received a notification that the points had arrived.
He blinked in surprise.
"…Huh, what's this?"
"This is just a small token of gratitude for your help."
"Wait, is this really appropriate?" Hikigaya questioned, looking at the enormous sum. Sakayanagi had deposited 200,000 points, which was a significant amount compared to the 5,000 he had spent this week. His account balance now stood at 295,000 points.
Sakayanagi's actions made her seem more formidable than he had imagined.
"Haha, you must be wondering 'how did I earn so many points,' right?"
"No, that's secondary."
"Oh?"
Sakayanagi's eyes twinkled with curiosity.
"What's the main point then?"
Hikigaya sighed. He wasn't eager to continue the conversation but felt uneasy about accepting such a large amount of money without understanding the reason.
"Is it appropriate to give so many points to someone from another class?"
Sakayanagi's reaction was unexpected. She suddenly lowered her head and began to laugh in a peculiar, unsettling manner.
"Great… I was right… I won't be bored for a while…"
Hikigaya felt a chill run down his spine. The expression on Sakayanagi's face was reminiscent of Haruno's disturbing enthusiasm.
Sakayanagi recovered quickly, her smile taking on a predatory edge.
"Hayama-kun," she said, looking as though she could see through him. "You figured out the system of this school on the first day, didn't you?"
"Why do you think so?"
"It's simple. Your question about Masumi-san being a senior was a test to see if she was lacking points. And your focus on the other classes indicates you anticipated future competition, right?"
Despite having expected this, Hikigaya couldn't help but be impressed by Sakayanagi's perceptiveness.
She does deserve to be in the Class A.
"Then I'll be honest. It's not too late to reconsider," Hikigaya said.
"I understand your position, so I can return the points right away."
Sakayanagi laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
"You underestimate me, Hayama-kun." She said, her voice filled with amusement.
"I want to say the same to you. Given your position, you shouldn't have helped Masumi-san. This money is a reward for your kindness. Please accept it."
"…Really? Then I'll accept it."
At this point, refusing further would be too awkward. Hikigaya hoped Sakayanagi wouldn't take this opportunity to make excessive demands.
Unfortunately, things rarely went as he wished.
"Also, although it's not mandatory, if you feel uneasy, you can spend more time with me. I don't have many friends in the class."
Sakayanagi's expression was almost pitiful. Any other boy might have been easily swayed by her demeanor.
But Hikigaya was on high alert. He knew well enough that such offers often came with hidden agendas.
"No, no. I'm just a bored person. Why not let Kamuro-san keep you company? She's your friend, after all."
"Masumi-san has her own life. She's also in the art club. And… I enjoyed talking with you. You're one of the few who can keep up with me, like with the point-earning strategies we discussed."
Sakayanagi's admiration made Hikigaya uncomfortable.
"You act disinterested. You've already come up with a strategy, haven't you?"
"Can you read minds or something?"
"Hehe, can I ask you something?"
He exactly knew what she wanted to ask, and she also knew that he knew.
"Is it necessary?"
Hikigaya was puzzled by Sakayanagi's insistence. They both seemed to be on the same page about the situation.
"Yes, I'd like to hear it," Sakayanagi said firmly.
"Alright." Hikigaya reluctantly agreed. "To be blunt, this school's environment mimics society. To earn a lot of points quickly, three things are usually essential."
He held up three fingers.
"Pornography, gambling, and drugs."
Sakayanagi didn't recoil in disgust. Instead, her interest seemed piqued, which only confirmed Hikigaya's fears.
"Of course, pornography and drugs are out of the question in a school setting. So, the only viable option is gambling."
"But gambling is also illegal in Japan," Sakayanagi pointed out.
"True, so it's more accurate to say betting," Hikigaya corrected.
"In a school setting, where we only have points, betting through club competitions doesn't violate any rules and can yield substantial points quickly. It's currently the easiest way."
Clap… clap… clap…
Sakayanagi clapped her hands lightly, her eyes narrowing like a cat's as her aura grew more intense.
"Your observations and deductions are impressive," she said with a hint of admiration. "It's a pity we're not in the same class. No, perhaps it's for the best. After all, you must get what you want firsthand…"
She muttered to herself, her voice taking on a childlike tone. Hikigaya felt a shiver of apprehension. He knew from experience that maintaining composure was crucial in such situations.
"Is that enough?" Hikigaya asked, his expression unchanged. "We can end this exchange now. I want to return to the dormitory."
"I apologize if I've upset you," Sakayanagi said, her gaze fixed on Hikigaya. The intense atmosphere that had surrounded them moments before dissipated, as if it had been nothing more than an illusion.
"But I wanted to know if your thoughts aligned with mine," she continued, her voice calm.
"Fortunately, my efforts weren't in vain. I've learned quite a bit today."
"...I don't feel fortunate," Hikigaya sighed, the weariness of the day heavy in his tone.
Sakayanagi's laughter was light, almost teasing. "Haven't you heard? Sighing causes happiness to slip away unnoticed."
"That sort of thing has been out of reach for me since the day I was born," Hikigaya replied, stretching as he scanned the nearly empty library. "It's about time to wrap this up. I want to head back to the dorm."
Unbeknownst to them, the library had emptied, leaving just the two of them and the dozing librarian at the front desk.
"Sure, we can go somewhere else. I know a great café," Sakayanagi offered, effortlessly taking control of the conversation. It left Hikigaya feeling a bit at a loss.
Isn't this torture over yet?