"Thank you for your hard work, Matsushita."
According to their prior agreement, Hikigaya arrived at a nearby café close to the dormitory to wait. Oddly enough, Matsushita was a bit late, and he had been waiting for quite a while before she finally arrived.
"You're a bit slow today... did something happen on your way here?" Hikigaya couldn't help but ask. They were supposed to have left at the same time.
"No, not really. But you should take a look at the end of the video first."
Matsushita sat across from him, pulling out a camera from her bag and handing it over. Hikigaya opened it and watched for a while before a chuckle escaped his lips.
"Why are you laughing?" Matsushita asked, clearly puzzled.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just find this guy rather interesting," Hikigaya said as he turned off the camera and removed the SD card.
Ryuen, once again, had managed to surprise him. The man had chosen to kneel in submission, yet later, without mercy, he had punished his own followers. Was it a form of leadership? Or perhaps a bizarre pride that drove him?
Regardless, it didn't matter much to Hikigaya. His goal was already achieved. Once Class C signed the contract, Ryuen would have no choice but to find a way to increase their class points and improve the daily living conditions of his subordinates. Whether it was for his personal ambitions or for the future stability of the class, Ryuen would have to fight for every inch.
And to prevent Ryuen from giving up entirely, Hikigaya had even set a minimum threshold for point transfers, taking into account the possibility of his own withdrawal from the school.
In short, as long as Ryuen's will to fight remained, he would have to struggle until graduation. In fact, knowing Ryuen's personality, this challenge might just suit him perfectly.
Right now, Ryuen was probably racking his brain, figuring out how to turn the tables.
"Seriously, what's so interesting about that?" Matsushita sighed in exasperation. "I was terrified just watching. That's a real delinquent! Hikigaya-kun, weren't you scared being surrounded by so many people?"
Matsushita, who had grown up in a sheltered environment and attended prestigious schools, had only seen delinquents on television.
"Of course I was. If I'd run into them in a dark alley outside of school, I'd have immediately dropped to my knees and begged for mercy," Hikigaya replied without hesitation.
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because that's just the kind of person I am."
Hikigaya raised the SD card in his hand, his expression unreadable. "As long as it helps me achieve my goal, I won't hesitate to abandon my dignity or resort to underhanded tactics. Just like this time."
This entire confrontation had been recorded on video, and it could be edited in two ways. If the latter half were cut out, it would show Ryuen leading Class C in bullying Hikigaya. If the former half were cut out, it would show Ryuen and Class C kneeling in submission before Hikigaya.
Neither version would deliver a fatal blow to Ryuen, but like the straw that broke the camel's back, if Ryuen made another misstep in the future, this footage could prove invaluable in toppling him.
That said, Hikigaya wasn't keen on using it unless absolutely necessary. If Ryuen fell from power, Class C would likely crumble beyond repair.
Though his words in the library had been harsh, they were undeniably true. Class C, aside from a few individuals with standout talents, was a rabble of misfits. Having someone as ambitious and capable as Ryuen leading them wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
The problem lay in Ryuen overstepping his bounds.
Even a dictator must give respect and opportunities to those who are genuinely capable, fostering their initiative. But Ryuen viewed all his classmates as mere pawns, aiming to shoulder the entire burden of class competition alone while expecting everyone else to follow his commands without question.
That simply wouldn't work.
The main issue was that Ryuen wasn't as clever as he thought. His methods might be effective against straightforward types like Horikita or Katsuragi, but if he went up against someone like Sakayanagi, he'd be in for a rude awakening.
Matsushita remained silent as she listened to Hikigaya's words, possibly feeling disheartened by the truth he had laid bare.
"So, Hikigaya-kun, you really are..." she began softly.
—Yes, just as you think, Hikigaya mused, laughing bitterly to himself. He was nothing more than a despicable person. So there was no need for anyone to...
"...really amazing!"
"...What?"
Matsushita's eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at him, causing Hikigaya to instinctively take a step back.
What on earth is she talking about?
"Weren't you listening to me at all?" Hikigaya asked, bewildered.
"Of course I was. But all I heard was how you outwitted Class C," Matsushita replied nonchalantly. "I don't get what's bothering you. Those guys made the first move. Hikigaya-kun, you were just defending yourself."
"But... I threatened them with expulsion," Hikigaya pointed out.
"So what? It's only fair. Anyone who gets violent deserves to be expelled."
Matsushita sighed, her tone taking on a teasing edge. "Seriously, where did the courage you had when you reported the incident at Sobu go?"
"That... that was different," Hikigaya muttered, feeling a headache coming on. He didn't notice the complex look in Matsushita's eyes as she gazed at him.
—Why, Hikigaya-kun? Why do you always look down on yourself?
Does it not matter to you if you get hurt?
Even if she asked him, he wouldn't admit it. He'd just keep pushing people away, just like he had before.
In that case...
"Hikigaya-kun, I have a proposal for you," Matsushita suddenly said.
"A proposal?"
"Yes, a deal. Like today, wouldn't it be convenient if someone were there to assist you when needed?"
Her suggestion was unexpected, and Hikigaya couldn't quite grasp why she would want to help him.
"Why would you do that? Do you want points?"
"Not just that. Mainly, I believe if Class D is going to rise, your strength is essential." Matsushita's opinion of him seemed surprisingly high.
But that was impossible.
"Sorry, but I've already said it—I'm not interested in the class competition," Hikigaya shook his head, refusing.
"That's fine. I'm betting on the future."
Seeing Hikigaya's confused expression, Matsushita smiled. "Even if we don't make it to Class A, I'm sure you'll be someone important one day. It'd be smart to get on your good side now. Besides, there's a reward for me, so it's a win-win."
"You're overestimating me." Hikigaya replied with a wry smile.
But upon further thought, Matsushita's proposal wasn't half-bad.
After all, her assistance had made this plan much smoother. He might encounter even trickier situations in the future, and having an ally wouldn't hurt.
Matsushita was a sharp, resourceful person, someone who would undoubtedly be an asset when the time came.
"Also, if I come across any valuable intel, I'll pass it on to you, Hikigaya-kun. You can decide the payment then."
"…Understood. I'll take you up on that," Hikigaya replied.
After a brief pause, he asked, "So, about this payment... would 50,000 points be enough?"
"Really?"
Matsushita raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"That's quite generous. I figured when I saw that camera, you had already found a way to make some serious amount of points."
"Well… something like that," Hikigaya muttered vaguely, not going into detail. He pulled out his phone and transferred 50,000 points to Matsushita right then and there.
"I've received it. Thank you for your patronage," Matsushita said with a gentle smile as she extended her right hand toward Hikigaya.
"Well then, Hikigaya-kun, don't hesitate to use me however you see fit in the future."
[T/N: I didn't edit it, she really said that!]
"...Alright."
Hesitant for a moment, Hikigaya eventually reached out and shook her hand.
I'm still not used to dealing with girls, he thought. But... maybe it's a little easier than before?