Chapter 041: Sakayanagi: ? I Can't Just Let That Remark Slide!
"What is it you want to ask?" Horikita Manabu placed both hands on the desk, interlacing his fingers in a pose reminiscent of Gendo Ikari.
"President, everything in this school has a specific price, right? Just like this written exam," Hikigaya said. "If someone fails—say, by missing just 1 point—could they also use private points to purchase that 1 point to ensure they pass?"
Oh?
Hearing this, both Sakayanagi and Katsuragi looked over. This month's special exam was indeed a written test; for Class A, it was a piece of cake and played to their strengths, so they hadn't given it much thought.
But now, Class B's Hikigaya had proposed a novel insight: that when points are insufficient, one can actually buy a score?
Is this school really that ridiculous?
If one fails a written exam, they must normally pay 20 million private points to avoid the expulsion penalty. But if one can simply buy the missing points, wouldn't that be much cheaper?
It had to be said, Hikigaya-kun from Class B had come up with a brilliant idea. Katsuragi and Sakayanagi both became interested in the topic, and Ichinose looked over as well.
However, unlike Sakayanagi and Katsuragi's surprise at Hikigaya-kun's unconstrained thinking, Ichinose thought of a different angle.
She wondered if Hikigaya-kun was finding an escape route for himself. He had over two million points, and if he could get another two million from Class A now, he would have over four million private points. If points could be bought, he could guarantee he wouldn't be expelled.
Clearly.
Hikigaya-kun's Math score of 9 was still too terrifying.
"An interesting question," Horikita Manabu said. "The school does indeed have a mechanism for selling points. 1 point is equivalent to 100,000 points. Those who fail this written exam can use private points to make up the difference to avoid expulsion." He paused, his gaze drifting almost imperceptibly over Class A's Katsuragi and Sakayanagi.
"Of course, that is provided your points are sufficient."
Yes.
Because Sakayanagi and Katsuragi had already agreed with Hikigaya to buy the Secretary position assigned to Class B at a double premium.
Therefore.
Having to suddenly pay 2 million points to Class B wasn't exactly a masterstroke for Class A.
For example, if a student in Class A failed and faced expulsion, they would have fewer points to deal with the situation.
It was vital for a class to accumulate enough points for exams to prepare for emergencies. This was the meaning Horikita Manabu wanted to convey.
"So, are the special exams for the senpais this month also written tests?" Hikigaya asked again.
"Yes," Horikita Manabu nodded.
"Generally speaking, the second month of every new school year is a written exam, and the senpais are no exception."
"I see." Hikigaya nodded as if he understood something. "I have no more questions."
"Does anyone else have any doubts?" Horikita Manabu turned his gaze to the others.
Based on his understanding of this person, the fact that Hikigaya would "honestly" ask such a question in public always felt off to him.
This was the guy who used his sister as leverage for negotiations during their first meeting, and the second time reported the shopping district staff, essentially intending to change the special exam mechanism.
One could say Hikigaya's style was full of transformative action, almost as if... as if he were here to "kill" the exams themselves. Therefore, Hikigaya's question at this moment gave Horikita Manabu a faint, ominous premonition.
Actually, there was another person on the scene in a bad mood. It was none other than Sakayanagi Arisu, who had earlier keenly raised the question of purchasing Student Council election eligibility.
Sakayanagi Arisu was smart; she felt the important thing wasn't the Vice President position, but the eligibility to run in the next Student Council election.
But Horikita Manabu had just dodged the question, which clearly showed that this eligibility had already been handled or sold by him.
In other words, Class A had already lost ground.
However, her focus was no longer on Hikigaya or Ichinose.
At that moment, Sakayanagi Arisu clearly heard Hikigaya's voice.
'My questions are finished, so I basically know how to handle the exam now. But man, why doesn't Sakayanagi Arisu ever wear a hat?
Her hair is so flat; she'd definitely look good in a black beret.
It's weird seeing her without a hat; I'm not used to it.'
"..." Sakayanagi was slightly stunned.
Why was this guy suddenly saying such strange things in public? Didn't he feel ashamed? And that a beret would suit her... she knew that, of course; she had several, she just hadn't worn them out.
But what did he mean by "not used to" seeing her without a hat? It sounded like he had seen her wearing one before.
When she looked at Hikigaya, however, she found that he hadn't opened his mouth. Not just him—Ichinose and Katsuragi were also deep in thought, clearly not having heard those shameful remarks.
So... was she hallucinating? Or... was she hearing Hikigaya's inner voice?
It seemed she didn't need to be jealous of Kamuro-san's "heroine potential" to experience supernatural phenomena, because... she herself had apparently become a heroine of this new world?
'Come to think of it, Sakayanagi is quite cold-hearted. I clearly met her once in a cafeteria booth, but she doesn't remember me at all.
Well, that's normal. Her tastes are a bit weird; she calls herself a genius and is only interested in defeating other geniuses. You have to earn the title of 'Genius' for her to remember you. In the original story, she remembered Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, whom she noticed at the White Room as a child, because he's a genius.'
'Ayanokouji...?'
Sakayanagi was slightly surprised by the name.
Because of her frail body, her father usually kept her at home. Although she had tutors and a vast library to draw knowledge from, she indeed interacted with very few people.
But she was undoubtedly a genius; her learning ability was extreme, and her tutors often praised her. Before entering this school, the number of people she had interacted with probably didn't exceed ten.
And Ayanokouji... she indeed had some impression. She remembered her father taking her to visit a genius-cultivation facility called the "White Room" when she was a child. She had seen the White Room's recommended genius, Ayanokouji, playing chess.
But that was ten years ago; she had almost forgotten.
Now, for Hikigaya Hachiman to point this out... this man was truly terrifying. Sakayanagi finally understood why Kamuro-san feared him so much. He really could see through her background.
'Speaking of which, even though Sakayanagi was sharp about everything just now, there's no need to worry. Because Sakayanagi has no offensive power.'
Sakayanagi: "?!"
Wait.
Sakayanagi frowned slightly.
What did he mean by "no need to worry"? Was she being looked down upon?
However.
'Because she's just a VIP here for the experience; she lacks the responsibility of a leader and isn't a qualified class representative.
So she's excluded from being a qualified class rep. When the time comes, she'll just drop out on her own.'
Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."
She thought only Kamuro could hear his heart, making Kamuro the "heroine." Now it seemed she had also gained heroine status.
But.
She couldn't just pretend she hadn't heard those words.
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