As soon as they exited the counseling room, Hikigaya began to leave in a hurry.
He had a strong feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen—no, it was no longer a premonition but a certainty.
Ayanokouji appeared to have the same instinct, so he followed him in silence.
"Why are you following me?"
"It just happens to be the same way I want to go."
"..."
Hikigaya ignored further conversation and walked away. He reasoned that if Horikita sought help, she would likely prioritize Ayanokouji over him, given their previous interactions.
In other words, staying away from Ayanokouji would ensure his safety.
However, Ayanokouji, ever persistent, followed him shamelessly, seemingly intent on dragging Hikigaya down with him.
This guy is such a scoundrel!
"Hey, wait up, both of you."
Horikita caught up and walked alongside them.
It seemed there was no escaping this situation.
"Ayanokouji-kun, Hikigaya-kun, what do you think of Chabashira-sensei's remarks?"
"No opinion."
"Ditto."
Bastard. Don't ditto me. I am not a Pokemon!
Their disinterest did not deter Horikita. She persisted, "Aren't you at all interested in Class A? While the current gap is vast, nearly despairing, I believe the situation won't remain this way. The school will take action; otherwise, the competition would be meaningless."
Indeed, given the school system, class-based competition was inevitable.
Yet, Hikigaya had no intention of getting involved. He found no motivation to care for the underperforming class.
The students mostly occupied themselves with their phones, chatting, or sleeping during lessons. They were a hopeless bunch.
How could they be worthy of Class A?
"Horikita, let me be clear," Hikigaya stated.
"I never believed in the notion of a guaranteed admission rate. I entered this school because it offered free tuition and living expenses. My parents forced me to attend, so Class A's privileges are irrelevant to me."
"So you're unwilling to cooperate with the class?"
Horikita's dissatisfaction was evident, but Hikigaya was unfazed.
"That's right. But before you question me, do you understand what Class A truly signifies?"
"Obviously. It offers significant advantages for further education or employment, and it's no exaggeration to say it impacts future lives," Horikita answered confidently.
"Indeed. But have you ever considered what kind of students deserve such benefits?"
Horikita's impatience grew. "Why do you keep asking these pointless questions? There are students who have the potential to advance to Class A.
"Incorrect. At least, that's not how I see it."
Hikigaya's firm denial puzzled Horikita, and he continued to elaborate.
"For instance, consider the three inept students—Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo. Under your and Ayanokouji's leadership, Class D managed to outperform other classes. Yet, these three did nothing significant and still received the same treatment as Class A students. Is this fair? Is it good for society?"
Horikita struggled to respond, feeling that the truth of Hikigaya's words resonated with her.
After a month of interacting with them, she found most classmates disappointing. If not for the need for class cooperation to achieve Class A, she might have avoided them entirely.
Confusion gripped Ayanokouji as he pondered his inclusion in the leadership. Ayanokouji's current performance should put him on par with Yamauchi and others. Yet why is he receiving such a high value?
"This world is inherently unfair... just as I was placed in Class D," Horikita argued, clinging to her belief.
"I don't deny that, but I refuse to be the source of such injustice."
From Chabashira-sensei's behavior earlier, Hikigaya had deduced that Horikita's obsession with Class A wasn't just about the privileges but involved deeper motivations.
Although not directly confirmed, Horikita was likely the sister of the student council president, Horikita Manabu. Their similar surnames and manners suggested a strong familial resemblance.
Furthermore, Horikita's reaction to the mention of her brother indicated a strong desire to match or surpass him in Class A.
She resembled Yukinoshita in many ways...
Although Yukinoshita and Horikita were fundamentally different individuals, Hikigaya often found himself comparing the two.
It was a quirk he couldn't shake.
He chuckled softly to himself, recognizing the futility of his thoughts.
He wasn't dismissing Horikita's ideals; in fact, he admired her determination to see her plans through.
Had he been in junior high, he might have reluctantly supported Horikita, much like his involvement in the Service Club. However, his experiences had taught him that this approach was flawed.
The Service Club had ultimately disbanded, a testament to the ineffectiveness of his previous methods.
"Do you understand my point, Horikita?" Hikigaya inquired, his resolve apparent. He was determined to follow his path, no matter the outcome.
"Your reasons for wanting to join Class A are your concern," he continued. "I'm neither interested nor capable of interfering. I don't want my actions to cause trouble for society."
"Aren't you dissatisfied with being considered a failure?" Horikita's voice lacked its usual strength, leaving Ayanokouji puzzled.
"Not particularly," Hikigaya replied with indifference. "I've always been looked down upon. As long as I remain true to myself, that's enough."
Horikita fell silent, lost in thought. The conversation seemed to have reached an impasse.
Then, unexpectedly, she spoke up again. "I won't give up."
Hikigaya shook his head. "I told you, that's your business. Even if you sought my help, I've already done what I could."
"What do you mean?" Horikita asked, confused.
"The rewards from the midterm and final exams," Hikigaya explained, "include not just class points but also personal points." With your grades, you could earn around 110,000 points, which will be quite valuable."
"And what's the point? It's just for living expenses. I'm not interested in luxuries. I still have a lot of points left from the 100,000 I received. Also, didn't Chabashira-sensei say that surviving in this school doesn't depend on points?"
Hikigaya sighed, seeing Horikita's dismissive attitude.
"Forget it. If you only think at this level, I advise you to reevaluate your pursuit of Class A. It might just be a waste of time."
"Wait a minute."
Ignoring Horikita's protests, Hikigaya walked away, convinced he had said enough. Her understanding was her concern now.
He had his issues to deal with.