Chapter 186: An Unexpected Event, Sakayanagi Arisu's Inner Thoughts
There were many ways to get Hikigaya expelled. With the power of the student council president and a few influential school officials, it would have been easy.
However, if they wanted to protect Nagumo's reputation and avoid exposing the school's darker dealings, it became more complicated.
Taking action against Sima Zhongda wasn't simple either. With Chairman Sakayanagi involved, they had to work in the shadows. Their efforts had been hidden from the public eye for years.
As the second day of the cultural festival ended, Sakagami sighed as he looked over the data in his hand.
"It seems Nagumo is doomed to fail, no matter what. Even the combined revenue from all the classes in the entire school probably wouldn't match the first-year joint class's total."
Such a monopoly hadn't been seen in a long time. The lower grades had completely overshadowed the upper grades, a situation that seemed like a dream come true, yet here it was, happening right before their eyes.
Michael spoke up. "It seems we have to make a choice. Should we keep fighting to the bitter end, or abandon Nagumo? It's hard to say what will happen if we stick with him, but at least if we switch sides, we can save ourselves."
Ye Zhi nodded in agreement. "That's right. If Nagumo falls, we can back someone else. I think Hikigaya is a good choice. He just defeated Nagumo, and if we can bribe him..."
Michael added, "If we can bribe him, it's like bribing the entire first-year class. The second and third years won't have the power to resist. No one can resist such immense wealth and power. A first-year student becoming student council president would be unprecedented here."
Sakagami sighed. "It's a shame about Nagumo. All the work we put into cultivating him has gone to waste."
Sima Zhongda remained silent, sitting in his seat as if waiting for someone.
The door was gently knocked, and Nagumo, defeated and broken, walked in.
Once filled with pride, Nagumo now appeared like a shadow of his former self. He walked cautiously to a seat, under the watchful eyes of high-ranking officials, and sat down.
The room fell silent.
Sakagami spoke first, "Nagumo, you know what mistakes you've made, don't you?"
Nagumo shook his head: "I haven't lost yet."
Michael scoffed: "You made this competition public, and even with our help, you still lost miserably. We've been waiting for Horikita Manabu to retire, hoping our time to finally come. But now, you've ruined everything. Do you think we're useless?"
Nagumo lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly: "I wouldn't dare..."
Sima Zhongda wasted no time. He threw a bank card onto the table.
"There's fifty million in cash in that card. Take it, and leave the school. But remember this, if you reveal anything about us, I guarantee your fate will be worse than the students who defied us before."
Nagumo's mind flashed with terrifying images. He remembered a scene he'd witnessed when he first enrolled, full of hope and aspirations for the school. He had seen a student tortured beyond recognition and left to die on a deserted island. The terror he felt then had never left him.
He had hoped to escape, but he soon realized that he was completely controlled by these higher-ups. He had become a pawn in their power play.
What exactly were they trying to achieve? Was it just the school? Or was this part of something bigger, something involving politics, society, and even the country?
For Nagumo, the gap between himself and those at the top felt like an insurmountable chasm. What he had believed was just a battle within the confines of the school had, in fact, expanded far beyond that, into the political world. The realization hit him like a cold wave. He had stumbled through life, step by step, thinking he was on a path to greatness, only to be outdone by a young upstart who seemed to have come out of nowhere. Now, he had lost all value, and even worse, he was being forced to leave the school.
Nagumo took a deep breath and said, "If I fail this time, I will step down as student council president, but I won't drop out of school. However, I promise you, your secrets will stay safe with me."
"As for the fifty million, I don't think it's necessary. I'll win tomorrow. I'm sure of it!"
With those words, Nagumo turned and walked out.
Michael watched him leave and said, "Nagumo is ruthless, but unfortunately for him, it's easy for us to force him out of this school."
Ye Zhi countered, "Don't be too quick to act. He knows our secrets. Pushing him too far might backfire on us."
Sakagami sighed deeply, "For the past ten years, we've placed countless people into political circles, carefully cultivated, all for the purpose of shaping the society we envision. We want to correct the flaws of this world. I've seen people like Nagumo come and go, all serving as tools for that vision."
Sima nodded, "After this exam, we'll use our influence to introduce a special voting exam, similar to the cruel exam from ten years ago. And after that, both Nagumo and Hikigaya must be forced to drop out."
---
At a nearby coffee shop, though it wasn't clear how Koenji and Kiryuin had crossed paths, it seemed that their personalities had naturally drawn them together.
While the rest of the school was busy with festival preparations, these two were completely at ease. Kiryuin shifted between relaxed and serious expressions as he spoke.
"Kōenji, I didn't expect to run into you here."
"The same goes for you, Kiryuin. It's been years since we last met. I didn't expect you to be at this school too."
Kiryuin smiled faintly. "It seems our thoughts haven't changed much since we were children. Even the reasons we came to this school are so similar."
Kōenji returned the smile, his expression tinged with nostalgia. "I thought school life would last another two years... but it feels like everything's coming to an end sooner than expected."
Kiryuin raised an eyebrow, "Oh? You've noticed that too?"
Kōenji leaned back in his chair, "It's hard to ignore, especially during the cultural festival. Aren't there too many government officials running around?"
Kiryuin's smile widened, "Hikigaya really gave us a great opportunity, didn't he? So, are you still going to stand by and do nothing?"
Kōenji responded casually, "Those who need to act have already made their moves. I came to this school to relax, sure, but also for another reason. And if I'm not mistaken, you're here for the same, right?"
Kiryuin nodded, "Exactly. My family has already started to take action. We're just waiting for any weakness to exploit."
Kōenji chuckled, "Given our positions, it's not wise to act openly. Let's leave the rest to Hikigaya."
---
Meanwhile, Hikigaya and Horikita were busy tallying the day's revenue. As expected, although the school's interference had impacted sales, Hikigaya's quick thinking managed to turn things around. By the end of the day...
The revenue had already reached an astounding 40 million. Horikita couldn't hide her shock, this figure was beyond impressive. Even more astonishing was that Nagumo's side had only managed 10 million. Yesterday, the gap had been two to one. But today, it was four to one, with Hikigaya's class far outpacing Nagumo's. In just two days, the disparity was so vast that it could seal Nagumo's defeat.
Now, everything hinged on tomorrow.
----
Back in the student council room, Nagumo was alone. The massive revenue gap had shattered his composure. He immediately summoned Kiriyama, his most trusted subordinate, to discuss a last-ditch effort.
"President, do you have any ideas?" Kiriyama asked.
Nagumo's face was tight with frustration, "Gather all the points from the students in the seven classes and have them make malicious purchases at our store tomorrow. I've already calculated it, all the internal funds from the student council will push us to 100 million points. I don't care what it takes, but Hikigaya must be expelled. We're doing this, no matter what!"
Kiriyama hesitated, clearly worried. "President, gathering points from four second-year classes and three third-year classes is easier said than done. Even if we manage it, the points will return to the students' accounts after a while. If anything goes wrong, those 100 million points could vanish. This plan is too risky..."
Nagumo's voice grew more intense, "Stop talking nonsense. By tomorrow, 100 million points must be spent at our store, no matter what. This is our only shot. If we don't pull this off, Kiriyama, forget about graduating from Class A, or even graduating at all!"
---
Day 3 of the Cultural Festival, 12:00 PM.
With the outcome of the competition nearly decided, Hikigaya's side was much more relaxed. Sakura, having learned from yesterday's mistakes, performed skillfully. Hiyori and Ichinose also took the stage, showing off their talents. The four-member boy group, Hirata, Sudo, Ryuen, and Kanzaki, who performed last, completely captivated the audience, and it felt like nearly everyone in the school had gathered to watch.
But in a quieter, more secluded area, Nagumo's store turnover was growing at an astonishing rate, surpassing 100 million. While the method Kiriyama used remained a mystery, the fact remained, he had managed to secure that massive sum.
If everything had gone as planned, this should have been the moment when victory was assured. But...
The time was now 6:00 PM, and the cultural festival had come to a close.
As the data collection began, students rushed to pack up their stalls. The entire first-year class was certain they would be the final winners, and the mood was cheerful.
Meanwhile, Nagumo sat in the student council room, his face twisted into a sinister smile, convinced that his plan had succeeded. In his mind, the first year had already lost. There was no way anyone could surpass his final figure of 100 million.
As the crowd slowly began to leave, everyone anxiously awaited the official announcement of the results. Before that, however, all students and sensei were called to gather in front of the school for the final announcement.
Mashima stood on stage, his face filled with disbelief as he looked at the newly compiled statistics. However, as the announcer, he had no choice but to proceed.
Sima Zhongda, Sakagami, and others stood off to the side, as if they had their own agenda.
"And now," Mashima's voice rang out, "the results of the cultural festival..."
"First place, Class 2-A, 150 million!"
"Huh?!"
The entire field went silent. The first-year students were left stunned, their faces blank with disbelief. Even Hikigaya frowned, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Only the second-year students and Nagumo wore triumphant smiles, smug in their victory.
"I told you I would win," Nagumo said with a sense of satisfaction, his plan finally coming to fruition.
Sakagami frowned: "Sima, this is different from what we imagined…"
Sima Zhongda's face also showed a hint of seriousness. "150 million… What methods did Nagumo use? But this is not good for us. If it's investigated, our previous transactions will also come under scrutiny, and then…"
Michael spoke up, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Nagumo is really a madman!"
While the group discussed the situation, the remaining rankings were gradually announced.
Second place: Class 1-A, 33.33 million points
Third place: Class 1-C, 33.32 million points
Fourth place: Class 1-D, 33.31 million points
Fifth place: Class 1-B, 33.30 million points
Sixth place: Class 3-A, 13.19 million points
Seventh place: Class 3-B, 3.78 million points
Eighth place: Class 3-D, 1.82 million points
Ninth place: Class 3-C, 1.6 million points
Tenth place: Class 2-B, 0 points
Eleventh place: Class 2-C, 0 points
Twelfth place: Class 2-D, 0 points
The table alone was shocking. First, all the second-year classes' revenue had been attributed to Class 2-A. Then, there was Horikita Manabu's class, which had only sold stationery but still managed to stay ahead of the other classes in the same year, thanks to small, strategic investments. That was the kind of intellect Horikita Manabu possessed.
Then, there was Class 2-A. Without Nagumo, the first-year classes would likely have dominated the rankings. But with his appearance, Class 2-A completely monopolized first place. Just as everyone thought the results would continue smoothly, Horikita Manabu revealed a faint smile. At the same time, Chairman Sakayanagi, who had been standing on stage, finally spoke.
"Someone has reported that Class 2-A's sales figures show evidence of malicious and fraudulent transactions. Therefore, the rewards for this exam will be temporarily delayed, and Class 2-A will be subject to strict control and investigation."
When Chairman Sakayanagi's words were announced, Nagumo's smug smile froze instantly. In that moment, one word flashed through his mind: "Traitor!"
But who could it be?
Was it Asahina? Or Kiriyama? Or perhaps Hikigaya had already predicted everything? If not, why had things escalated to this point?
It wasn't just Nagumo who was rattled; Sima Zhongda's face also immediately turned cold. His worst fears had come true. If everything was to be investigated, it wouldn't just be Class 2-A that would fall. Years of work, political interference, and manipulations would be erased in an instant, leaving them with nothing.
A momentary look of panic flashed across Sakagami's face, though it was brief. Nonetheless, Chabashira Sae, who taught the first-year students, noticed. There had been so much turmoil recently that even the sensei could sense the rising tension.
Sima Zhongda: "We need to hold an emergency exam and expel Nagumo immediately. Otherwise, we'll all be dragged down with him."
Sakagami: "I'll arrange it immediately. As for the second and third years, Michael and Ye Zhi, I'll leave them to you."
Michael and Ye Zhi exchanged tense glances. From the moment Chairman Sakayanagi stepped forward, they knew this was no longer just a minor issue. If they weren't careful, everything they had worked for over the past ten years could vanish in an instant. Amidst the confusion and heated discussions in the first-year class, the announcement of the results was temporarily halted.
Once the exam results were released, Sakayanagi slowly approached Hikigaya.
"Hachiman, I didn't expect such a reversal in the end."
Hikigaya didn't seem bothered by it: "What, are you here to mock me? But I didn't expect that the famous Sakayanagi Arisu is actually the daughter of Chairman Sakayanagi."
Although Hikigaya had always known Sakayanagi held a unique position within the school, it wasn't until Chairman Sakayanagi appeared that he fully understood who she really was.
Sakayanagi: "Whose daughter I am isn't important. What matters is our relationship. This feeling of being both an enemy and a friend is something I've always enjoyed."
Hikigaya, slightly perplexed, responded: "It would be easy for you to defeat me, yet you always treat me as an unconquerable enemy. This is the one thing I can't understand."
Sakayanagi smiled gently. After a brief pause, she spoke again, "Defeating you isn't difficult, but that has never been my goal."
"Then what exactly is your goal?"
"I want to understand you. From the moment I truly met you, I've been curious about why someone like you exists in this world."
"I don't think I'm anything special. Maybe to others, I'm just a marginal character."
"But to me, you are the most special. I've been watching you all this time, and everything I've done has been to witness your growth. You're not a genius, yet you are one. This duality is fascinating to me, and it makes me want to possess you."
Hachiman shook his head in resignation. "As expected, I still can't understand you, Sakayanagi. You're a true monster."
Sakayanagi smiled slightly. "That's alright. Because I already understand you well enough, and I've developed a different kind of feeling for you."
Hikigaya: "Will you leave this school?"
Sakayanagi: "If possible, I want to see how far I can go with you."
Hikigaya: "If you wanted to, you could easily go to a place I can't reach, right?"
This time, it was Sakayanagi who shook her head. "No… someone like me can't reach the final destination, neither physically nor mentally. But you're different. You're someone who, even after knowing everything and deceiving yourself, will still keep moving forward. So… I can only try my best to keep up with you, help you, and watch you…"
Even though she had been a genius far surpassing her peers since birth, she said these words at this moment, suppressing her own emotions. Perhaps only someone like Sakayanagi, who was aware of her own limitations, could do this.
She had already investigated him. In the world Hikigaya came from, although there were records in the archives, when she searched for Hikigaya's family, everything was as though it had never existed. Despite being a genius, it had taken Sakayanagi a long time to accept this strange reality.
Whether it was Soubu High School, Komachi, the Service Club, Yukinoshita, or all the relevant files she could find, none of them existed in this world. Despite this, someone like Hikigaya had appeared before her. Sakayanagi wasn't sure when he would leave, but she knew… his departure was inevitable.
If there's one emotion in the world that's the greatest, it's the act of selflessly giving everything, even knowing that the other person will leave. That's what's truly admirable.
So…
"Even so… I still like you, Hikigaya Hachiman."
---
Everything seemed to have returned to how it was at the start of the school year. Everyone was going about their business, but unlike before, Class 1-B had undergone significant changes. Whether it was Sudo, Sotomura, or the others, they were all utilizing their abilities in their respective fields.
Hikigaya continued his normal, somewhat carefree life. Despite a small hiccup in the last exam, no one questioned his abilities. After all, the astonishing revenue was enough to allow them to live comfortably for a while.
Sakura, Kushida, and Kamuro still occasionally visited his room for their intense "activities," while Ichinose was planning her future. Kei, gradually realizing all that was happening around her, finally gathered the courage to walk into the pharmacy…
Everything continued as it always had.
(End of this chapter)