"Are you joking? Who would believe something like that?"
Ibuki's immediate response to Hikigaya's proposal was disbelief, which was only natural. It was the kind of suggestion that no one, under normal circumstances, would take seriously.
"Besides," Ibuki continued, her tone laced with skepticism, "you just said that no matter what Manabe and her group do, it won't affect you. So why go through all this trouble? I don't get it."
Hikigaya replied coolly, "You don't need to understand. Just wait for the results of this exam."
"Wait a minute! I haven't agreed to anything yet!"
"So, you don't want Class C to win?"
Ibuki was momentarily silenced, her retort caught in her throat. After a long pause, she managed to say, "You're a schemer. Who knows what kind of trap you're setting."
"Relax, I have no ill intentions towards Class C," Hikigaya said with a sincere expression. "Think about it—if I intended to bring down Class C, you wouldn't even have the chance to be standing here talking to me, would you?"
"Ugh..." Ibuki found herself at a loss for words again. As much as she hated to admit it, there was some truth to what Hikigaya said. If he hadn't shown mercy back in May, she and the three others would have been expelled, and Class C's morale would have been completely shattered.
But the thought that he was the one behind all of this only made her feelings more complicated.
Hikigaya continued his persuasion. "Besides, your class didn't score much during the last uninhabited island exam. Shouldn't you be trying to win more this time?"
"Hah?! You dare bring up the island?"
At the mention of the island, Ibuki's temper flared. She had endured a lot during that exam—living without dignity, relying on other classes for survival, and in the end, making a fool of herself by falling into someone's trap.
"Hey, you can't blame me for that," Hikigaya quickly defended himself. "I didn't tell anyone you were a spy. You're the one who overacted and got caught. And if it wasn't for me reminding Ryuuen, he wouldn't have thought of switching the leader."
"The nerve to call that a reminder..."
Ibuki was left speechless. If she hadn't been there, she might have actually believed his words.
Hikigaya, however, didn't feel like he had said anything wrong. His intention really was to give Ryuuen a heads-up, and if he happened to get a little compensation out of it, that was just a side benefit.
"In any case, I'm not going to force you. You'll have time to think it over, and whether or not you're satisfied with the reward is entirely up to you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means if you're not happy with the exam results, you can simply refuse. I won't complain, and I won't tell anyone about what we discussed today. How about it?"
"Hmph, don't think that just because you say that, I'll agree."
Ibuki wanted to flatly refuse, but the terms Hikigaya offered were too tempting. Yet, for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was stepping into a trap.
Was it just her imagination?
---
After tentatively securing Ibuki's cooperation, Hikigaya found himself in a café later that evening, waiting for another meeting. The situation with Manabe was just a minor distraction—his focus now had to be on the current preferential exam.
Initially, Hikigaya didn't have to concern himself with the Rooster Group. Whatever happened, he could simply take the second result and pocket fifty thousand points. But now, thanks to that jerk Ryuuen, he was forced to work overtime.
It wasn't long before the person he was waiting for arrived, right on time.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hikigaya."
"No, I was early."
The newcomer was Kanzaki Ryuji, a vice representative from Class A.
The reason for their meeting was straightforward.
"Kanzaki, I'll get straight to the point," Hikigaya said, holding up his phone to display a message. "I'm the preferential student in the Rooster Group. I need you to inform the three students from your class in the group after 9:30 tomorrow night."
"…What?"
Kanzaki stared at him, momentarily stunned by the abruptness of the request.
"Are you saying you're the preferential student?" Kanzaki asked, still trying to process the information.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying."
"And you're just going to tell me this? Are you sure? I assume you're aiming for result one in the Rooster Group, but I haven't agreed to anything yet."
"It doesn't matter."
Hikigaya's nonchalant attitude remained unchanged.
"Whether you believe me or not, it's up to you. Even if you do believe me, I doubt you'll reveal it early."
Kanzaki couldn't help but smile at Hikigaya's confidence.
"Can I take that as a sign of trust?"
"Yes, so can I count on you?"
Though Hikigaya's words seemed straightforward, the situation wasn't that simple. Kanzaki was a man who knew how to weigh risks, or he wouldn't have secretly negotiated with Ryuuen behind Ichinose's back.
Even if Hikigaya hadn't made any explicit promises, Kanzaki would undoubtedly consider the potential risks. Not to mention the favor Hikigaya had done him during the uninhabited island exam. Ruining his relationship with Hikigaya for the sake of fifty class points might not be the wisest move.
Of course, some things didn't need to be said aloud. As long as the message was understood, that was enough.
"Well, you've certainly outmaneuvered me," Kanzaki sighed, then added curiously, "But why come to me? If you asked Ichinose, she'd surely agree, wouldn't she?"
Before Hikigaya could respond, Kanzaki continued, "Also, it's strange for me to say this, but Ichinose has more credibility and a closer relationship with you than I do. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask her?"
There was a hint of a misunderstanding in Kanzaki's voice.
"No, nothing is going on between us," Hikigaya quickly clarified.
"Then why did you go through Kushida to get me here?" Kanzaki pressed. "If it was just for business, you didn't need to go to all this trouble. You could have gone directly to Ichinose and achieved the same result."
"Yeah… why, indeed?"
"Sorry, but I'm the one asking the questions here."
"Uh..." This question had Hikigaya stumped.
Seeing Hikigaya's silence, Kanzaki leaned closer and whispered, "Hikigaya, if you don't mind me asking… do you like Ichinose?"
"Cough, cough!"
Hikigaya nearly choked.
"No, where did you get that idea?"
"That's a reasonable assumption, isn't it?"
Kanzaki gave him a puzzled look. "Back on the uninhabited island, I noticed you seemed especially protective of Ichinose. And during your conflict with Ryuuen, you helped her get back on her feet and even lent her a significant amount of personal points."
"That was because I owed Hoshinomiya…"
"Don't use that as an excuse," Kanzaki interrupted. "Even if you owed Hoshinomiya-sensei, there was no need to go that far."
"It's not like that."
"Heh, there's no harm in admitting it," Kanzaki smiled and added, "It's not just our class. Many guys like Ichinose, even some upperclassmen. So, you might want to make your move soon."
Hikigaya didn't appreciate Kanzaki's unsolicited advice. Sure, if you looked at her objectively, Ichinose was perfect, especially her figure… Well, most guys were simple creatures like that.
But to say that he liked her? At least for now, Hikigaya hadn't developed those kinds of feelings.
The reason he helped her was much simpler.
Hikigaya hesitated to say it outright, but if he kept quiet, Kanzaki's misunderstanding would only deepen. Finally, he decided to clarify.
"Hey, Kanzaki… don't you think Ichinose is a special person?"
"Yeah, I get what you mean," Kanzaki nodded with a smile.
"No, you don't understand," Hikigaya said with a frustrated look. "What I'm saying is… in this school, a student like Ichinose is probably one of a kind."
"…I see."
This time, Kanzaki truly understood.
In a normal school, it might not be apparent, and people could shrug off losses with a laugh. Someone like Ichinose wouldn't stand out much. But in this hellish environment where everyone aimed for Class A, where everyone was on guard and ready to push others down, Ichinose still kept her heart pure, genuinely wanting to help those in need.
Perhaps that was what drew Hikigaya to help her.
"Ah, you're a sentimental guy, after all," Kanzaki said with a tone full of admiration. "And speaking of special… even though we haven't interacted much, I think you're even more special than Ichinose."
"Wait, what do you mean by that…"
Just as Hikigaya was about to throw out a retort, someone suddenly approached their table.
"Huh? Hikigaya-kun? And Kanzaki-kun too? What a rare combination. What are you two doing together?"
"Good evening, Ichinose."
"...Hi."
Kanzaki greeted her as usual, while Hikigaya felt a bit awkward.
He hadn't expected the very person they were just talking about to show up... Maybe it was time to find an excuse to leave quickly.
However, Ichinose sat down without even asking if she could.
"You startled me," she said, taking control of the conversation without missing a beat. "For a second, I almost thought I was seeing things outside. Since when did you two get so close? And why didn't you tell me you made a new friend behind my back?"
For some reason, her last words seemed to carry a hint of displeasure... It must be his imagination.
Hikigaya casually replied, "It's nothing, we just ran into each other and decided to chat for a bit. But what brings you here?"
"I just watched a movie with Chihiro-chan and the others. When we were leaving, I saw you and Kanzaki-kun in the café, so I thought I'd come in to say hello. But it's getting late, so I sent them ahead."
As she spoke, Ichinose gestured towards the window.
Outside, Shiranami was looking back repeatedly, her eyes almost glued to the café, while Wakamura and Kobashi were practically dragging her away.
What are they even doing out there?
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun," Ichinose suddenly called out his name again, her voice now a bit hesitant.
"Yes?"
"Um, we haven't properly thanked you yet."
"...For what?"
"You know, for what you did on the uninhabited island," Ichinose said in a lowered voice. "When we get back to school, let me treat you to something. You can have anything you want."
"Uh, but didn't I already attend the celebration?"
Honestly, Hikigaya didn't want to waste any more of his summer break on this.
Ichinose shook her head. "That was free, so it didn't feel like a personal gesture... And I'll invite Kanzaki-kun and the others too, so it'll just be like a small outing with everyone."
She added those last few sentences, likely to prevent Hikigaya from refusing outright.
While he appreciated her thoughtfulness, the idea of hanging out with students from other classes seemed like torture.
"Yeah, if you have the time, please join us," Kanzaki chimed in, echoing her invitation... despite Hikigaya having already explained his reluctance.
Faced with their heartfelt invitation, Hikigaya couldn't bring himself to refuse and reluctantly agreed.
All he wanted was to discuss the Chicken Group's matters, but somehow, things ended up like this...
It's all that idiot Ryuuen's fault!
---
At midnight, Katsuragi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Usually, he was able to fall asleep on time, but tonight, his roommate was already snoring away, while Katsuragi was wide awake.
When he thought about what had happened that afternoon... Sigh.
Even Katsuragi was at a loss for what to do in the current situation; Class B was practically on the verge of being cornered.
However, there might still be a glimmer of hope.
That was the fact that Class D had not yet launched their attack.
Logically speaking, since Kushida had already obtained information about Class B's preferred student, convincing the other students shouldn't be difficult given her standing in the class.
...Was there a reason for the delay?
This was something Katsuragi couldn't figure out no matter how hard he tried.
Just then, his phone on the nightstand beeped—it was a message from someone.
But at this late hour... Could it be?
Katsuragi jumped up, quickly grabbed his phone, and saw that the message was indeed from Hashimoto.
It simply read, "Come to the deck."
Without hesitation, he got dressed and hurried out of the room.
As he made his way through the corridor towards the deck, he was stopped by Hashimoto, who was hiding in the shadows.
"Katsuragi, over here."
Hashimoto was standing at the corner of the hallway, motioning towards the deck with his thumb.
"Be careful, don't let Kushida hear."
"Right."
Katsuragi didn't ask any questions and cautiously peeked out at the deck.
He saw Kushida standing alone, leaning against the railing, gazing up at the starry sky. The moonlight clearly illuminated her face.
After a moment, Katsuragi pulled back and whispered, "How did you know she'd be here?"
"Of course, I asked her roommate," Hashimoto replied smugly. "Actually, it's not just tonight. Since the first day of the exam, Kushida has been sneaking out late at night. Some of the girls suspect she's seeing a boyfriend, but someone like her wouldn't do something like that, right?"
Katsuragi nodded, not asking further.
Hashimoto's words were credible. With his looks and charm, it wouldn't be hard for him to get information from the girls. In fact, several girls had joined Sakayanagi's faction because of him.
However, factional conflicts were a thing of the past; now everyone had to work together.
"Who do you think Kushida is waiting for?" Hashimoto asked curiously.
"I don't... someone's coming."
Before Katsuragi could finish his sentence, a shadow gradually approached Kushida.
When they saw who it was, both of them couldn't help but exchange a glance.
It was Ryuuen?
"Sorry to call you out so late, Ryuuen-kun," Kushida said.
"Ha, if you're ever in the mood to mess with me, you're always welcome," Ryuen's tone was laced with mockery.
Katsuragi could hardly believe what he was witnessing—those two, conspiring together in secret. It completely upended everything he thought he knew. But he couldn't just blame them; he wasn't any different. No one would've expected him to work with Ryuen during the uninhabited island test either. Even when he told his classmates, Miyake had looked utterly astonished.
"Come on, don't joke around," Kushida laughed, feigning lightheartedness. "This time, I'm actually here to discuss something serious."
"Serious?" Ryuen raised a brow. "Didn't I already agree? You tell me who Class D's VIPs are, and I'll handle the rest. What more do you want?"
Katsuragi was taken aback by Ryuen's words. So they had already made a deal?
"Tomorrow morning, I'm supposed to negotiate with you and Kanzaki. You're showing up a bit too early, aren't you?" Ryuen smirked, clearly enjoying the game.
"No, that's not what this is about," Kushida replied smoothly. She took out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen before pressing play.
"I recorded something earlier today," she said, smiling. "I happened to bump into Hachiman, Katsuragi, and Hashimoto at a café. They looked like they were talking about something important, so I discreetly recorded the conversation."
Ryuen's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Really now? Even Katsuragi was involved? I'll admit, you've got my attention."
Damn it!
Katsuragi's hands balled into fists, but he forced himself to remain calm. As the recording played, Ryuen's expression gradually shifted. But rather than satisfaction, a mocking sneer crossed his face.
"Heh, Kikyo, do you think I'm an idiot?"
Kushida blinked, looking genuinely perplexed. "What? What are you talking about?"
Ryuen's eyes narrowed. "Do you honestly think this recording proves anything? For all I know, you and Katsuragi planned this whole thing to bait me. I'm not stupid enough to fall for that."
Katsuragi felt a surge of relief. If Ryuen didn't believe her, then—
Kushida let out an exasperated sigh. "You're too suspicious, Ryuen." She shook her head like she was dealing with a child. "Do you even know why I decided to eavesdrop on Hachiman and the others in the first place?"
Before Ryuen could respond, she continued, "It's because Hachiman hates you. He spilled the identities of all Class C's VIPs to me, hinting that I could use it to bring you down. I figured he must've figured something out."
Ryuen snorted, his disbelief clear. "What a load of crap."
Kushida's expression softened into a sweet, angelic smile that made Katsuragi's skin crawl.
"Oh, it's not a lie," she said, her voice sugar-coated. "If you don't believe me, I can tell you right now. The VIPs are Ishizaki Daichi from the Snake Group, Shiina Hiyori from the Sheep Group, and Nishino Takeko from the Dog Group. Isn't that right?"