"The bag should be somewhere around… huh?"
Hearing Hikigaya's question, Ichinose instinctively started to answer but then hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing her face.
After a moment, she cautiously asked, "Uh... Hikigaya-kun, why do you need to know that?"
"Relax," Hikigaya said nonchalantly, "You won't have to do anything uncomfortable. Just watch quietly from the side, or you can call Kanzaki over. The two of you can decide together."
"But… I can't let you do something like this, Hikigaya-kun."
Though Ichinose didn't say it outright, her quick mind had already grasped what Hikigaya was planning.
Hikigaya sighed softly, "Yeah, I know. It's never okay to go through someone else's bag, no matter what."
If she didn't object, she wouldn't be Ichinose.
However, some things lose their meaning if not done in front of her.
"Exactly! So… hey, wait, Hikigaya-kun, where are you going?"
Ichinose's words were cut short as Hikigaya suddenly turned and headed into the camp. Puzzled, she hurried after him.
"Kanzaki, sorry, but I need your help with something."
Ignoring Ichinose, Hikigaya went straight to Kanzaki, who was squatting by the fire, heating some water. Not far away, Kaneda was standing by.
Kanzaki rose to his feet, glancing at Ichinose, who had rushed over, a faintly curious expression flickering across his face. However, he remained silent, simply nodding at Hikigaya.
"No problem, just say the word."
"Do you have a spare towel in your bag?" Hikigaya asked, his gaze fixed on Kaneda's back.
"If it's not too much trouble, could you lend it to me? I can go with you to grab it."
Kanzaki noticed the intensity of Hikigaya's focus and seemed to understand. He nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable.
"I see. Sure, I'll take you there."
"Thanks."
Hikigaya followed Kanzaki to the area where the boys from Class B had piled their bags. Ichinose trailed behind, wanting to say something, but unable to find the right moment to speak.
"Kanzaki, which one is yours?"
Though he asked, Hikigaya's eyes quickly locked onto a bag with a distinct color that was Kaneda's.
"The one on the far end," Kanzaki said, pointing to a bag on the edge of the pile. He glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention. Luckily, the spot was secluded, with a large rock conveniently blocking most of the view.
"If you don't mind, can I grab it myself?" Hikigaya asked.
Kanzaki hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Sure, go ahead. Sorry for the trouble."
"No worries."
Hikigaya crouched down and reached toward Kinda's bag. But just as his hand hovered mid-air, Ichinose grabbed it tightly between her bosom, stopping him in his tracks.
…Huh?
Feeling the unexpected softness on his arm, Hikigaya panicked.
"Uh… Ichinose-san? What are you doing?"
"No!"
Ichinose refused without a second thought.
"I told you, I won't let you do this! You've already done so much for us, Hikigaya-kun. There's no reason you should go this far!"
"That's not what I meant! Let go of me first!"
Hikigaya's face flushed as he spoke in a rush.
"I won't!"
Ichinose had no idea how devastating her actions were. Hikigaya could feel his composure slipping away, his mind unraveling.
"L-look, you've got the wrong idea," Hikigaya stammered.
"I wasn't trying to search Kaneda's bag. I just… I think I'm colorblind, so I might've grabbed the wrong one."
"No one even mentioned Kaneda-kun, you know?"
Ichinose's sharp remark exposed the glaring hole in Hikigaya's excuse, showing just how rattled he had become. But under the circumstances, it was hard to think straight.
—It's not me that's wrong… it's society!
While Hikigaya struggled to regain his composure, Kanzaki quietly walked over and grabbed Kaneda's bag.
"Kanzaki-kun?!"
"Ichinose, don't say anything."
Hikigaya had never seen Kanzaki act this way. Normally calm and reserved, he now spoke with uncharacteristic firmness.
"Just like you said, Hikigaya shouldn't have to go this far. So it's only right that I do it."
"But…"
Before Ichinose could stop him, Kanzaki had already unzipped Kaneda's bag. He quickly retrieved a small digital camera from inside.
"Looks like you were right, Hikigaya."
Kanzaki sighed heavily, holding up the camera for them to see.
"How… how could this…"
Ichinose's face fell, filled with disappointment. Hikigaya took the camera from Kanzaki and inspected it closely.
A label stuck to the bottom of the camera read "For Rental Use." Hikigaya powered it on, but there were no photos stored inside.
If his hunch was correct, Ibuki probably had a similar camera in her possession, which was why Ayanokouji had risked searching her bag.
"So, what are you planning to do?"
Hikigaya asked, turning to Kanzaki.
"If you confront Kaneda with this, there's no way he can deny it. Everyone else will agree to kick him out."
Anyone with half a brain could see that Kaneda hadn't brought a camera for sightseeing. However, the decisiveness Kanzaki had shown moments ago was now gone. He fell silent, turning his gaze to Ichinose, who remained deep in thought.
...This guy.
Hikigaya sighed and waved his hand in front of Ichinose's face.
"Hey, Ichinose, you okay?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Ichinose blinked, forcing a smile.
"Thanks for asking, Hikigaya-kun. I'm alright."
But the way she looked told a different story. She was anything but alright.
Hikigaya could understand her feelings.
If it were just a case of Ichinose being betrayed, she might not have been so dejected. But the reality was that everyone in Class B had agreed to take Kaneda in. They were all willing to take a risk and offer him their trust.
For Ichinose, who valued the class more than anything, she couldn't stand to see her classmates' sincerity trampled on.
And now, she was stuck between a rock.
If the truth came out, Kaneda would undoubtedly be expelled from the Class B camp. However, the students of Class B might never trust anyone from another class again. But if they kept the secret, once the identity of the class leader was exposed after the exam, everyone would inevitably figure out what had happened.
…What a naive girl.
Hikigaya sighed quietly before speaking.
"I have an idea. How about we let Kaneda leave on his own without alerting anyone?"
"Huh? Really?"
Ichinose's eyes widened in surprise, and Kanzaki turned to look at him as well.
"Kaneda's smart. He just needs to sense something's wrong," Hikigaya said, waving the camera in his hand. "If I take this, once he realizes it's missing, he'll probably stay quiet and leave on his own."
He added, "And if he doesn't, Kanzaki can keep an eye on him. Just make sure he doesn't find out who the leader is."
"…I see. That's a pretty good plan."
Kanzaki, not wanting the class to realize they'd been betrayed, quickly agreed.
But Ichinose's face was filled with emotion as she protested, "No way, Hikigaya-kun! That's—it's like stealing… We can't do that."
She faltered, realizing how harsh "stealing" sounded, her tone becoming awkward.
"Yeah, it is stealing."
Hikigaya let out a self-deprecating laugh. He had no intention of justifying his actions, regardless of his motives.
But he wasn't planning to stop either.
"S-so, let's just put it back, okay? We'll figure out something else." Ichinose pleaded earnestly.
"No, I'm stealing it. And what of it?" Hikigaya slipped the camera into his pocket without hesitation. "If you want to report me, go ahead. I won't hold it against you."
"That's… impossible."
Ichinose stared at him, her expression conflicted, unable to find the right words.
Kanzaki, on the other hand, sighed. "Sorry, Hikigaya. You're not even in our class, yet you've done so much for us. I owe you for this."
"No need. This is just payback for the hammock."
Hikigaya reached over and took the fabric from Ichinose's arms.
Watching this, Kanzaki chuckled and shook his head. "Wait here a minute. I'll grab some rope for you."
"Thanks."
In moments like this, there was no need for pleasantries.
Hikigaya glanced over at Ichinose, who still seemed dazed. Something was off.
Why did she react so strongly when it came to stealing?
"Ichinose."
He called her name, making her slowly lift her head.
"This may sound like sophistry, but I don't believe stealing is always wrong. Sometimes, the outcome matters more."
"…What?"
"Take this situation, for example." Hikigaya offered a faint smile. "Even if it's just for my satisfaction, I believe what I'm doing has meaning. So, you don't need to feel guilty. I'm doing this for me."
"Hikigaya-kun…"
Ichinose gazed at him as if she were seeing something brilliant.
Just then, Kanzaki returned, carrying ropes.
"Sorry, this is all I could find."
"It's fine, this will do."
Hikigaya looked over the materials—enough to make three hammocks. That would ease the strain on sleeping arrangements. He'd have Hirata handle the distribution once they got back.
"Oh, one more thing."
Before leaving, Hikigaya turned and said, "Have you ever thought about why Kaneda brought a camera in the first place? Think carefully about that."
Without waiting for a response, he left.
But with Ichinose and Kanzaki's intellect, they would figure it out. They didn't need him to spell it out.
If Kaneda had only wanted to spy on the class leader, he wouldn't have bothered with a camera. He could've just handed the information directly to Ryuen.
The camera meant he wanted to capture undeniable proof.
Hikigaya didn't believe that the evidence was meant for Ryuen. As much of a scumbag as Ryuen was, he wouldn't distrust his underlings like that.
That left only one possibility.
He never imagined Katsuragi would ally himself with Ryuen…
As Hikigaya walked toward Class D's camp, he realized he'd have to visit that tyrant king himself.