Chapter 079: Sakayanagi: What a Pity, We Can't Face Off in This Exam
"Everyone, return to your seats."
Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class D, walked into the classroom with a stony face to conduct the homeroom period. Having stood outside for a moment and being well aware of the "quality" of Class D, her tone was nothing but cold and harsh.
"It seems you are all fretting over the matter of points."
"Sensei, our class points are nearly at rock bottom," Hirata Yousuke immediately stood up, his tone urgent.
"Are there any exams in the near future that can raise the Class Evaluation Points?"
Hirata's words struck a chord with everyone, and the classroom fell silent instantly. Even the usually distracted students pricked up their ears.
This was because, as mentioned last month, a Special Exam would occur on the 1st of every month. Although these exams involved the risk of expulsion, there were also benefits. For instance, in last month's written exam, they obtained past questions from Kushida-san and managed to pass smoothly. Although they passed, some "dead weight" teammates had appeared, but regardless, they still managed to secure a total of 80 Evaluation Points.
That was equivalent to 8,000 points of living expenses per month—roughly 8,000 yen. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. However, it still wasn't enough to cover their spending. So, were there any more opportunities?
Chabashira looked down at the students. She could see they were desperate for a score increase to pad next month's living expenses, but currently, her focus was on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
In truth, the person with the strongest overall ability in Class D was Koenji Rokusuke. She had actually called Koenji for a private talk before. She had asked him if he truly wished to graduate as a member of Class D.
Then, she was hit with a counterattack.
"Me? Graduating from Class D? That is impossible. I came to this school for my own purposes, and naturally, I intend to graduate as a member of Class A."
Chabashira: "..."
"Chabashira-sensei, you are aware, are you not? Regarding the destination of the points held by the upperclassmen. If the senpais accumulate a vast amount of points only for them to become invalid upon graduation, then the atmosphere among the senpais would not be so calm. A qualified system should make students chase points and ultimately allow those collected points to exert their proper value.
How does the school handle these points?
If they were to become waste paper, the senpais could simply transfer them to people they like or kouhai near graduation. That would break the rule that students can only obtain points through effort in the school's Special Exams.
I believe the school is not so short-sighted."
Consequently, Koenji had obtained information from her that, when the third-year students are near graduation, the school would buy back private points from students' hands with cash at a certain ratio.
To a graduate, points were real money. Though there was a discount, it was still cold, hard cash. Therefore, since it was money, they were naturally happy to accept it, and it was impossible for them to gift "charity" to their kouhais.
Furthermore, Chabashira understood that Koenji didn't care about being assigned to Class D because his goal was simply to amass 20 million points and make his exit.
"Why not try leading the class? If you act as the class representative, you can also obtain points for leading from the students," Chabashira had tried to encourage him.
However...
"A meaningless arrangement. Sensei, you seem to be overstepping a bit.
The person who can lead Class D is a person of courage, but I happen to dislike being a 'brave warrior.' I prefer to be the high-ranking individual who rewards the warrior."
And with that, Koenji had decisively left.
This meant that the hope of asking him to lead the class was shattered. Koenji knew full well what kind of "trash class" Class D was; he felt the pressure and difficulty of leading were too great and simply not worth it. Therefore, he chose the path of going solo.
Additionally, his family background was top-tier—he was the sole son of the Koenji Conglomerate. Since the school eventually buys back points at a 0.8 ratio, 20 million points would equal 16 million yen. To Koenji... 16 million yen was not something he lacked.
He might simply be preparing to use his own money to buy back 20 million points from the senpais when the time came. 16 million yen was perhaps just pocket money to him, so he indeed didn't need to go in circles leading Class D or participating specifically in Special Exams.
This realization left Chabashira somewhat silent.
But, flashback over; it was time to continue the announcement.
"Sensei, are there any other Special Exams to raise the evaluation points?" Hirata asked again.
"None," Chabashira spat out the two words bluntly.
"Ahhh—"
Disappointed groans immediately filled the classroom. But then, Chabashira changed the subject. "However, the school will solve your problem regarding food."
"What?"
Over thirty voices rang out in unison. The entire class's eyes were fixed on Chabashira, filled with disbelief. Chabashira gestured to the students in the front row to pass back a stack of documents.
"This is a consent form. Next, the school will organize a cruise ship trip for all students. You can think of it as a school trip common in ordinary schools. This school is fully residential, so all costs on the ship will be covered by the school, including three meals. Students who have objections or do not wish to go can sign the form to stay at school."
"Isn't this a free vacation? We're so lucky! Can we really enjoy this?" At this moment, a girl spoke up excitedly. It was Karuizawa Megumi.
"You should be clear about how you were selected for this school. Countless middle schoolers apply every year; even 'trash' like you were screened through layers of selection. Naturally, the treatment won't be poor." Chabashira's words were merciless. The word "trash" stung their ears, yet no one could refute it.
The Class Evaluation Points for Class A were as high as 1,055; Class B had 1,011; while their Class D had a mere 80 points. In terms of strength, they were indeed at the bottom. They even had someone as obnoxious as Yamauchi, whom even Class C didn't have.
Yet precisely because of Chabashira's bluntness, everyone felt relieved—it seemed the food problem really would be solved.
Whoa! They could now successfully survive the month even with only 8,000 points in living expenses.
"Sensei! Is it a luxury liner?"
"The food on the ship won't be instant noodles, right?"
"Idiot, she said it's a cruise trip! It's definitely a luxury liner! We'll be eating foie gras or Italian pasta!" The boys clamored with their imaginations.
"I hope there's milk tea on board! If we can rent clothes, that would be great too; I haven't bought any in a long time." The girls also joined in the excitement, their eyes full of anticipation.
The classroom atmosphere was instantly filled with joy, with only a few people remaining calm. Koenji Rokusuke was boredly resting with his eyes closed, Hirata seemed to be in deep thought, while Kushida-san and Karuizawa had joy on their faces. Sakura sat there somewhat awkwardly. Matsushita Chiaki also joined in the mood with Kushida and Karuizawa.
'Seems I can't count on her.'
Chabashira had originally thought Matsushita was the "problem child" with the mildest symptoms in Class D, but looking at her now, she seemed to have absolutely no interest in proactive actions like leading the class; otherwise, she wouldn't continue her "playing the fool to eat the tiger" act.
Chabashira's gaze continued downward. She saw Horikita Suzune. Horikita had opened her notebook and seemed to be recording things, but she didn't speak.
Based on Chabashira's understanding of her, Horikita should be able to realize right now that this was no ordinary vacation. If it were a simple vacation, there would be no need for the school to cover all expenses. A so-called "trip" was merely an exam in a different format. One exam per month was already a rule of this school.
Therefore, unless there were special circumstances, it was impossible to cancel it.
Especially since this was the third month of the first semester—the final month of the term. No final exam? You've got to be joking.
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The same announcement was taking place in other classes.
In Class A:
"Today is the 1st. On the 7th, everyone should be prepared. Pack enough sportswear for two days and head to the school gate to take the bus to the pier. From there, you will board the ship for a 7-day trip," the homeroom teacher, Mashima-sensei, stated.
"And Sakayanagi...
Your physical condition does not allow you to travel this far. So, unfortunately, you will have to stay at the school during this time," Mashima-sensei said.
Sakayanagi's body was very weak. She was forbidden from all sports-related activities; she could even choose not to attend PE classes or just watch from the sidelines.
This was something everyone in the class knew.
As the homeroom teacher of Class A, Mashima-sensei also knew that Sakayanagi was the daughter of the school's Chairman. In other words, Sakayanagi was the daughter of his boss. The Chairman had already told him to forbid Sakayanagi from participating in any projects related to physical exercise. Thus, forbidding her from acting here was perfectly normal.
"Then what a pity. It seems I won't be able to participate in this Special Exam," Sakayanagi Arisu responded politely when her name was called.
However, her words caused a stir among the students in the class.
For Class D, because they were so "trash," it was easy to understand why they felt a luxury trip reward from the school was slightly abnormal. But for the students of Class A, who possessed confidence and pride, they felt a reward like a luxury school trip was reasonable.
But now, Sakayanagi said this was... a Special Exam?
"Sakayanagi, are you certain this is an exam?" Totsuka Yahiko of the Katsuragi faction immediately asked. Totsuka was a tall, thin boy with light green hair, and he was Katsuragi's number one lackey. Just as Sakayanagi "kept" Kamuro, Katsuragi brought his lackey Totsuka.
"It should be an exam," Katsuragi took over the conversation before Sakayanagi could reply. "Because this is the third month of the first semester. The first month was a behavioral assessment, the second was the midterm written exam, and now it's the third month. An exam is only natural. Therefore, the 'trip' is just a cover; it should be for an exam.
However, being able to leave the school grounds and ride a luxury liner... the school's funds are indeed abundant," Katsuragi said.
The other students began looking at Mashima-sensei.
"..." Mashima remained silent for a moment. "Currently, I can only tell you to gather at the school gate at 8:00 AM sharp on the 7th, take the bus, and finally board the ship. As for other information, I have nothing to disclose. Even paying points won't work."
"Nothing to disclose" was the most valuable information of all. it confirmed that there was an exam and that the teachers were restricted from giving too much intel, even for points.
"As expected, you can't understand this school with normal logic," Hashimoto of the Sakayanagi faction said.
"Sakayanagi—" Katsuragi seemed to think of something.
That is, since this was a Special Exam and Sakayanagi couldn't go... but there were 22 people in the class belonging to the Sakayanagi faction, while the Katsuragi faction only had 18. If the Sakayanagi faction didn't cooperate with him, wouldn't they risk losing their Class A status in this exam?
"Because of my absence, I fear it may lead to a point deduction for the class," Sakayanagi said. "Therefore, for this exam, everyone follow Katsuragi-kun's lead."
"Understood!" x22.
Even though it was during homeroom, over twenty students responded in unison.
In truth, the class wasn't just split into two factions; even the seating had been adjusted last month. The Sakayanagi faction sat in the two rows on the left, while the Katsuragi faction sat elsewhere. It was like two clearly demarcated boundaries. It could be said that this year's Class A was indeed more excellent, but they also had more problems than previous years.
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In Class B:
The homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya-sensei, also informed everyone to be ready on the 7th to take the bus to the pier and board the ship.
"So it's a school trip?"
"But we only just started our first semester; it seems a bit early."
"And this high school isn't an ordinary one, right? Would there really be a simple arrangement like a school trip? I feel like there will definitely be a Special Exam mixed in."
"Hikigaya-kun, what do you think?"
What did Hikigaya think?
"It's likely a Special Exam," Hachiman said. "And since we're leaving campus and a luxury liner is involved, it's probably a high-level Special Exam. The school's expenditure is too high; it can't be something minor."
He noticed Ichinose was also looking at him. After a brief pause, Hachiman thought of Ichinose's name in his heart.
'This exam is the Island Exam. All first-year students will head to a deserted island for a week of survival. If you accumulate points, you can convert them into Class Evaluation Points. After this exam ends, there is another Special Exam: the VIP (Zodiac) Exam. That exam is Ichinose-san's highlight moment in the original story.'
As he thought this, Hachiman noticed a wave of emotion on Ichinose's face. One moment she looked surprised, the next she seemed relieved, and then a bit embarrassed.
But she was likely no longer worried. She had been reassured.
Hachiman found that this "inner voice" thing wasn't so bad after all.
However, in the original story, the Deserted Island Exam was the battle where Class D rose, while the VIP Exam was a total victory for Class C. It could be said that everyone was showing off while Class B was getting pummeled.
Therefore, if he didn't intervene or change the strategy for this exam, Class B would end up at the bottom.
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Setting aside the topic of Class B's ranking, Hachiman encountered a difficult problem on the first night.
He received two messages. One was from Sakayanagi Arisu.
[What a pity, we can't face off in this exam.]
It seemed that, just like the original story, she had been forbidden by her Chairman father from participating.
Because this Island Exam didn't just involve buses and ships; it required landing on an island, finding a base camp, and performing wilderness survival for 7 days. Although the school would provide supplies, there were also options to source materials locally.
Whether it was a lot of walking or the possibility of a rough life, the Chairman likely wouldn't let his daughter go.
Sakayanagi's regret was a good thing for Hachiman. After all, no one wants to make things harder for themselves. Because Sakayanagi's actions were too aggressive; in the original story, she didn't go to the island, but if she had, she might have devised an even stricter strategy.
There was nothing new in Sakayanagi's message; he had already heard from her inner voice during their private meeting that she couldn't attend. So she wasn't surprised, and he naturally wasn't either.
But the other message made him frown.
[Head to the shopping district bathhouse at 8:30 PM.] — by Horikita Manabu.
"..."
As expected. Last time he helped Horikita Suzune ask Horikita Manabu out, the older brother hadn't said much, but he had clearly noticed something. Especially since his little sister's transformation was so rapid.
As a fellow older brother, Hachiman could understand, and he predicted that Horikita would contact him again soon. However, Hachiman also needed to confirm whether Horikita Manabu wanted to entrust his sister to him or if it was something else.
So, after a bit of thought, Hikigaya replied: "Okay."
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Time quickly moved to the afternoon. School let out early, so Hachiman went back to his dorm for a bit before heading out again around 7:00 PM.
The shopping district bathhouse.
Looking at the school map, there was indeed a bathhouse in the shopping district. Perhaps because demand was low, it was located in a rather secluded spot. However, perhaps because it was secluded, very few students visited, and this tranquility—reducing the chance of having to talk to others—suited Hachiman perfectly.
After all, to some extent, he was someone who liked acting alone.
Hachiman always hated the noisy, crowded atmosphere of swimming pools, but he had a particular fondness for the relaxation of a bath—the feeling of being wrapped in warm steam, where all fatigue was smoothed out. It was one of the few moments he could lower his guard.
Horikita Manabu's scheduled time was 8:30, but it was only past 7:00. He could enjoy himself for a bit first. Besides the bath itself, challenging the high temperatures of the sauna was also a rare pleasure.
Thinking this, he pushed open the sauna door. The heavy door felt heavier than expected due to the heat built up inside. But the moment a crack opened, Hachiman froze, astonishment flashing in his eyes.
Because there was already someone inside.
The man wore a dark towel, his bare upper body showing clean lines. Even in the scalding steam, the glasses on his nose stayed firmly in place without moving an inch. At the moment Hachiman pushed the door, the man had already sensed his presence and slowly looked up.
"Oh, it's Hikigaya. You came early."
The cold voice drifted through the hazy steam, yet the owner of the voice carried a composed smile.
"Don't just stand there at the door looking dazed. Why not come in and sit?"
Hachiman's brain went blank for a second because he could never mistake that voice. Sitting on the sauna bench, quietly enduring the high heat, was the man who invited him today—Horikita Manabu.
They had agreed to meet at 8:30, and yet, here he was, enjoying the sauna early as well.
Who could have imagined that the usually dignified, cold, and stoic Student Council President would come to such a secluded public bathhouse and steam in a sauna like a regular person? Hachiman grumbled internally; he had thought only "loners" like himself would favor such a place.
It seemed he was mistaken.
However, since Manabu liked solitude, Hachiman wondered if Suzune might like it here too. If the experience was good, maybe he could share it with her.
"How long do you plan on standing there?" Horikita Manabu spoke again. His tone held no impatience, yet it carried an undeniable aura of authority.
Hachiman snapped back to reality and breathed a sigh of relief. Ultimately, they were both men; there was nothing to be stiff about. If it were a girl, he wouldn't be the only one feeling nervous. He nodded, walked quickly into the sauna, and sat down at a deliberate, moderate distance from Horikita Manabu.
The scalding steam instantly swept over his body, and his pores opened fully under the heat. The inner heat and relaxation intertwined, making him unable to resist a silent 'Ah, comfortable' in his heart.
Although the meeting time had moved up, Hachiman never liked beating around the bush. After a moment of silence, he asked directly, "President, I have a question. I know you and Horikita are siblings, but the way you act doesn't seem like ordinary siblings."
Hearing this, Horikita Manabu tilted his head slightly. He didn't refuse to answer. His tone was calm, and he also seemed to dislike wasting time, so he said directly: "Suzune has a fatal flaw.
She has always lived in my shadow, treating 'catching up to me' as her only goal, but she has never recognized her true self." Manabu's gaze shifted to the corner of the sauna, his tone carrying a hint of complexity.
Clearly, he knew better than anyone that his sister was desperately trying to chase his example. "And then she came to this school."
Hachiman understood. He could roughly guess the flaw Manabu was talking about. Chasing someone else's shadow and treating their height as one's own destination—eventually, a person cannot live as a mere copy of someone else.
A person is a person because they have their own edges and light. Horikita Suzune needed to become the one-and-only Horikita Suzune, not the second Horikita Manabu.
Yukinoshita Yukino, who was in a similar situation to Horikita Suzune, had actually realized this long ago. However, she still couldn't make the decision to completely break free from the shackles of wanting to become like her sister.
It was in this moment that Hachiman thought of what Yukinoshita had said to him: "One day, you have to come and save me." She hoped she could one day become the real Yukinoshita.
But the discussion right now was about Horikita Suzune, not Yukinoshita. Hachiman quickly snapped back to the present.
"Since you know all this, why not tell her directly?" Hachiman asked, his tone laced with confusion.
"It would be meaningless," Horikita Manabu rejected the suggestion without hesitation.
"In this world, those who can truly see their own flaws and determine to change them are very few. Most people only linger in place, repeating the same mistakes."
"But Horikita is different from when she first enrolled," Hachiman countered softly, the current image of Horikita Suzune surfacing in his mind.
"She is already trying to make changes now."
At this, Manabu's gaze suddenly snapped to Hachiman, sharp enough to pierce through a person's soul.
"In that case, is the fact that Suzune has such a change thanks to your 'care'?"
'Care?'
Hachiman's cheeks warmed slightly, and he subconsciously avoided Manabu's gaze. Because... care? Maybe that wasn't the right word.
He wanted to use Horikita as a tool to profit from Class D. Class D, a scattered mess unable even to produce a spokesperson, lacked the ability to contribute class resources.
Thus, someone needed to stand up and "package" Class D to be sold off.
That was the initial thought.
And now, noticing that Ayanokouji was about to step out to lead the class, he planned to use Horikita as a spy buried in Class D. On one hand, she couldn't become Ayanokouji's assistant; on the other, she could trip Ayanokouji up.
So, could all that be called "care"?
He didn't have the thick skin to call it that out loud.
"It's not really care, more like cooperation," Hachiman spoke slowly, weighing his words.
"The value of the right to run for the next Student Council President that you gave me directly is too great. It's impossible for me not to have other thoughts.
I might go as far as to dig into the reason why you gave me such a chip," Hachiman said.
"You are clever." Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses, acknowledging his statement.
In other words, it was as expected. There was no such thing as a free lunch; all gifts were already marked with a price.
"This school is very special. Suzune came here following me while knowing nothing, yet I am already a graduating third-year. There isn't much I can do for her.
If she cannot adapt to this school, then when I leave, I will take her with me," Manabu said.
This was indisputable. As a fellow "Onii-chan," Hachiman could understand Manabu's feelings. If his sister was under his nose, he could still support her, but if he was no longer at the school, he would be powerless.
Especially since Horikita Manabu had noticed that his sister might be enticed by the homeroom teacher in Class D to aim for the upper classes.
Although it was a normal ambition for a Class D student to climb up, that wasn't his sister's will—it was the will of the teacher, Chabashira.
"Doesn't Horikita already have a goal?" Hachiman said. "She wants to save up 20 million points to go to Class A."
However...
"Are you certain she wants to go to Class A?" Manabu suddenly smiled, his gaze locking onto Hachiman with a playful tone.
"Or do you want to pull her into your class?"
Hachiman's heart sank as he felt a secret annoyance.
As expected, dealing with smart people was a pain.
Horikita Manabu was indeed a "stat ceiling" in the original story. The protagonist Ayanokouji was strong, but Manabu was a mountain comparable to him. How could a man who dragged 39 classmates along to maintain a Class A position be simple?
In class competition, one must know what to sacrifice and what to gain.
Manabu's bottom line was protecting his comrades, so he had passed up many opportunities. It looked like he was in a bind, but from another perspective, it showed how incredible he was. Even in such a predicament, he maintained Class A status, had zero expulsions, and class funds were abundant enough to at least support one student being pulled back after expulsion.
It was truly ridiculous.
"Suzune is someone who likes to be alone, but unfortunately, she confuses 'high-mindedness' with 'loneliness.' Her talent makes her look down on others, thinking she doesn't need to walk with them. This is her greatest weakness.
Because a person's ability is ultimately limited. No matter how excellent, there will be a ceiling that cannot be broken. But if one can walk side-by-side with others and work together, perhaps they can cross those heights that were once out of reach. This is what I know, and what I hope she understands after she grows.
And now, she chooses to be with you, even if it's just cooperation," Manabu added.
"Do you understand what that signifies?"
"Is it because she thinks I'm strong, and she can learn things by cooperating with me?" Hachiman guessed, feigning ignorance.
"That is not it," Manabu shook his head.
"Suzune has indeed changed, but this change did not come from her own needs. She is a very persistent person; if she studies alone, she can follow a curriculum for 16 hours a day without fail.
Her willpower cannot be underestimated.
However, her choosing to cooperate with you—someone from another class—is like she has already hit a brick wall. It made her realize she must have a strong person as support.
She hopes to absorb experience in survival and competition from you," Manabu said.
'Is that so?'
Hachiman had just used Manabu for several experiments in his mind and confirmed that men could not hear his inner voice, even if he tried to transmit it intentionally. Only the girls could hear him.
But Manabu's deduction couldn't be denied. Because Horikita Suzune had definitely heard his inner voice—she even cooperated with Kushida and the others because she heard the "ending" where she eventually had to beg Kushida on her hands and knees.
Since she knew the result, it was indeed unwise to keep hitting the wall.
Even though Horikita was stubborn, she knew how to choose when the result was already known.
That was the reason for her change. Manabu's analysis was correct.
But there was one thing that was incorrect.
That was: Horikita Suzune was a little sister, and his own Komachi was also a sister. Like all siblings with a great relationship, they might change for the sake of their brother.
This was something Horikita likely couldn't say, but Hachiman felt it was something he should convey.
So he said, "I only told her that brute force will only leave her bloody. Her existence is a shackle to you, and you are not the 'omnipotent' person she imagines."
"So, President," Hachiman said. "Do you know what the true root of a person becoming stronger is?"
"It's having a person or a thing that must be protected," Horikita Manabu answered almost instantly.
"Yes," Hachiman said. "Your sister... because of your compromise and concession to Sakayanagi recently, she noticed it. She realized that her brother also has to consider many things, and his hard work might go to waste. So, she wants to work hard.
She wants to become strong, even if she can only help you a little bit.
And you cannot reject a sister who changed because of that feeling, can you?" Hachiman asked.
"..." Horikita Manabu remained silent.
If it were a sister like that, naturally, he couldn't reject her. Or rather... he didn't expect that his own predicament would become the motivation for his sister's growth.
But for over two years, he had decided to walk this path. Even if the steps were difficult, he would continue. Because behind him, he carried the futures of 39 classmates who believed in him.
"I should head out," Manabu stood up, reining in his emotions. "I invited you today for two things.
Last time we met, I left early to investigate. Indeed, there was a student wandering nearby at the time of our meeting, so your vigilance was correct.
That student is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class D. He is very special; he entered through a special channel from the Chairman. His files are not here in the Student Council."
In other words, he entered through the back door? But to some extent, it could be understood that all students' admissions were pre-determined, so files would be sent over, and the written/interview scores would determine the class.
Those who performed well went to Class A, and those who performed poorly went to Class D. Of course, they also considered whether the files recorded any "stains." For example, Ichinose was assigned to Class B because she had a record of suspension; while someone like Kushida, whose file noted she caused a class strike and was judged a "problem child," was sent straight to Class D.
As for Koenji Rokusuke, his arrogant attitude during the interview offended the examiners, resulting in a low score and a Class D assignment.
"His written entrance exam scores were 50 in every subject. It was a clear display of score manipulation.
It's unclear why he did that, but he is indeed a dangerous person," Manabu said.
So, the reason Horikita invited Hachiman tonight was to disclose this intel.
Naturally, Ayanokouji was in Class D, and his sister was also in Class D.
Manabu himself was the Student Council President and the class representative of 3-A; he had his own work and Special Exams to complete, so he couldn't focus entirely on his sister. The best he could do was provide as much intel as possible to the person with the opportunity and ability to look after her.
"I understand," Hachiman responded solemnly. "If Ayanokouji makes a move, I will save Horikita once if necessary."
"Why?" Manabu seemed a bit surprised. Because Hachiman hadn't even asked for a chip in return yet.
"Just because when I met her before, she said that if I were to be expelled, she would do her best to help. So if she is expelled because of this, my support is just mutual aid," Hachiman said.
"..."
'Is that so? Suzune actually said something like that?'
Manabu seemed surprised. But if that was the case, then something he shouldn't have said perhaps needed to be added.
"Last time we met, I said I am Suzune's brother. As a sister, because her brother holds a high position, she is able to demand certain resources I possess. This is the nature of a society built on human relations; once you enter society, you will find that being smooth and tactful is important.
But in this school, even resources and status are a form of 'strength'.
I am the Student Council President, so Suzune, as my sister, can take a position in the Student Council from me.
And..." He paused for a few seconds, as if worried the topic he was about to raise was too heavy. After a while, he added, "First-year Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu. Her surname is the same as the Chairman's. She is the Chairman's daughter."
In other words.
Sakayanagi Arisu was blood-related to the Chairman, so she had the chance to borrow other forms of help from him. To survive in the world, one couldn't rely solely on hard work; it wasn't so easy to surpass the decades and generations of effort others had put in.
Background, innate quality, and talent—all of these could be a person's resources.
Therefore, Horikita Manabu telling Hachiman this was a warning: as the Chairman's daughter, if Sakayanagi wanted to, she could do some "excessive" things.
However...
"You also don't need to worry too much. Chairman Sakayanagi is a broad-minded man, and he has a fair side.
As for Sakayanagi, I have met her; she is proud and disdains using 'outside' tricks," Manabu added to reassure him.
But Hachiman's mind was no longer on that.
Because specially allowing Ayanokouji to enroll was already not "completely fair."
Allowing Ayanokouji to enroll, only for the school to be reported by Ayanokouji's father for embezzlement and the Chairman taken away for investigation, turned the entire Advanced Nurturing High School into a stage for the White Room faction to self-direct their "Greatest Masterpiece."
Therefore... Chairman Sakayanagi's slight use of power was, from the very beginning, a mistake.
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