"What? Surprised? Or do you think I'm ruthless? Selfish? Heartless?"
Hikigaya glanced around at Ishizaki, Ibuki, and the others. Seeing their grim expressions, he chuckled. "How many people from D Class get expelled because of this midterm exam—what does that have to do with me? If they knew their grades were bad but didn't put in the effort to improve, and instead relied on cheating to barely scrape by, what about next time? And the time after that?"
"Do they think they're some kind of protagonist blessed with luck, always getting out of trouble? Don't be ridiculous. If someone who doesn't even understand their own limits fails now, it's actually better than failing later in the real world. This is already the kindest outcome for them."
This was Hikigaya's true opinion—whether it was C Class or D Class, it was the same.
Even if both classes had gotten the exam questions, D Class and C Class had handled it completely differently. Or rather, Ayanokouji and Kushida were thinking several steps ahead of Ryuen.
Even if the school ended up changing the test, the impact on D Class wouldn't be as bad as it was for C Class.
"And do you know the biggest difference between me and you?"
Hikigaya suddenly asked.
"...What is it?"
Hikigaya was about to answer his own question when, unexpectedly, Ishizaki spoke up. No wonder Ryuen kept him around—he really knew how to play along.
"It's simple. I have zero interest in A Class."
Ishizaki, Ibuki, and the others were stunned for a moment before looking at him like he was joking.
Hey! I'm being serious here!
"That's why it doesn't matter to me how many students D Class loses. But you guys in C Class are different. You've been scheming this whole time because you desperately want to climb up to A Class, right?"
As he spoke, Hikigaya locked eyes with Ryuen.
"Alright, just say it—what do you want?"
At this point, Ryuen couldn't hold back anymore. The fact that he said those words meant he'd already lost. As long as they wanted to reach A Class, their fate would always be in someone else's hands.
"I thought you'd put up more of a fight. Didn't expect you to surrender this quickly."
Hikigaya was a little surprised.
"Cut the crap! If you really wanted to take down Class C, you wouldn't need us at all! Just say it—what exactly do you want, you guy who doesn't even care about your own class?"
Realizing there was no way to turn the situation around, Ryuen immediately shifted his approach.
Hikigaya had expected Ryuen to put up some resistance, but he was surprised by how quickly Ryuen gave in. That decisiveness was the only thing worth praising—everything else about him was garbage.
Of course, Ryuen had probably already figured out Hikigaya's true intentions. If Hikigaya really wanted to destroy Class C, he could have done it in secret. By tomorrow, the class would have collapsed, and they wouldn't even know who was behind it. There was no need for such an elaborate setup.
"Ryuen, is this really all you're capable of? And is that how you ask for a favor? I still remember what happened at the café that day, you know."
Getting drenched in coffee—Hikigaya had not forgotten. Hmph, he could hold a grudge for a long time!
"I'm sorry, I was wrong that day. Please… please forgive me. I promise to reflect on my actions."
Without hesitation, Ryuen bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.
"Ryuen!"
Ishizaki and the others shouted in shock. They never expected the all-powerful ruler of Class C to bow his head and apologize. But before they could say anything else, Ryuen's sharp glare shut them up.
Hikigaya also looked surprised. He had underestimated this so-called "tyrant." Most people would have lost their temper and charged at him after such humiliation, but Ryuen was different.
Not only could he read the situation, but he was even willing to humble himself in front of his subordinates. That kind of mental strength was rare at this age. Hikigaya had assumed Ryuen had taken control of Class C purely through violence, but now he realized there was more to him than that.
It was like that story about Han Xin crawling between a thug's legs to avoid a fight—enduring humiliation for the sake of the bigger picture, huh?
"Huh? Ryuen, what are you doing?"
Hikigaya looked at him with a face full of surprise. "I never held a grudge against you. You must be mistaken."
Ryuen frowned. He couldn't figure out what Hikigaya was up to. But then, the next second, he saw Hikigaya smiling at him.
"Besides… I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, am I?"
"..."
How could he not understand what that meant?
And because he understood, it made him even more furious.
"You want me to apologize to that woman…?"
Ryuen's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Hikigaya. But faced with Hikigaya's cold stare, he eventually lowered his head with gritted teeth, forcing out a single word in frustration:
"Fine!"
"Since you're sincerely apologizing, I'll be generous and forgive you. Now, let's talk about compensation."
As he spoke, Hikigaya took out his phone and sent a message to someone. At the same time, he pulled out a contract he had prepared in advance.
Ryuen took the document, scanning the densely packed text. His eyes widened as he read through the terms, and his blood pressure skyrocketed. It took him about two minutes to finish, and when he did, he almost coughed up blood.
This wasn't a contract—it was a damn slave agreement!
To sum it up simply:
1. Each student in Class C must give Hikigaya 50% of their total private points earned through class points every month. The amount each student pays cannot be less than 20,000 points. Any shortfall will be carried over to the next month, with a 3.5% monthly interest on overdue points.
2. The contract remains in effect regardless of whether Class C moves up or down in rank.
3. Class C students are strictly forbidden from revealing the contract's details to third parties or harassing Hikigaya in any way. Anyone who violates this or fails to pay three times will voluntarily accept expulsion.
And most importantly—
4. Even if Hikigaya gets expelled, the contract will still be valid, and the payments will automatically convert into deductions.
That was the gist of it, but to everyone present, it was nothing short of a slave contract!
"There's no way we're agreeing to something this ridiculous! This interest rate is even higher than overdue credit card fees!"
Ishizaki was the first to explode, pointing at Hikigaya in anger. "This is an unfair contract, you scheming bastard!"
"This is basically loan sharking!"
Ibuki also looked furious.
"Oh? So you actually know what loan sharking is?"
Hikigaya looked shocked, as if he had just discovered a new continent. This made Ibuki suddenly feel the urge to rush up and beat him up.
"A scheme?"
Hikigaya chuckled. "Are you guys misunderstanding something? This was never a scheme. It's an open plan, and the way to break it is actually quite simple, isn't it, Ryuen?"
In fact, breaking Hikigaya's open plan was indeed simple.
First, since each class had its own passing threshold, they could manipulate their class's test scores to lower the failing line to a level where everyone could pass easily.
Second, they could just take the test head-on and pass it with their own abilities. No matter how many times the test papers were changed, they would still pass—as long as Class C had actually put in the effort to study this month.
"If you can achieve even one of those, then you can completely ignore this contract. I'd even give you a round of applause."
Hikigaya's sharp gaze swept over everyone. "But too bad... you can't do either of them!"
Ishizaki was speechless, and Ibuki's face turned dark. The frustration must have hit hard, as a feeling called regret filled everyone's hearts.
Now, Class C had only two choices: signing the contract, which might give them a slim chance of survival, or refusing, which would mean certain doom.
So… was there even a choice?!
"I get it!"
Ryuen took a deep breath and stared at Hikigaya.
"Ryuen!"
"Hey! Ryuen!"
Ishizaki and Ibuki both spoke up at the same time, trying to stop him.
"Shut up! Know your place! Your only job is to listen and do what I say!"
Ryuen suddenly turned and punched both Ishizaki and Ibuki—wow, was he just going for brute force now?
After disciplining his underlings, Ryuen turned back to Hikigaya and pointed at the first clause in the contract. "We'll sign, but this part needs to be changed. That's my final condition!"
Hikigaya laughed like he had just heard a joke. "Final condition? Hearing that from you is hilarious. What's next? Gonna say something like 'If I go down, I'm taking you with me'? Tsk tsk. If you really had that kind of guts, I'd actually respect you. But this is your choice—do you want to be a hero for a moment or a coward for a lifetime?"
"You bastard!"
Ryuen didn't react, but Ishizaki's eyes turned red as he rushed forward and grabbed Hikigaya's collar.
The next second, Albert pressed him down with one hand.
"Sorry, Ishizaki. This is the boss's orders."
Whoa, whoa, why are you guys fighting each other now?
"Fifty percent of the private points. The students who can pass the test won't just sit back and let others get expelled. They won't agree to this so easily. In the end, no matter what happens, you won't get any benefits from this."
Ryuen analyzed calmly.
"So if you want to make enough profit, this condition has to change."
Surprisingly, Ryuen was unusually calm. "As compensation, we can add an extra 3 million private points. Otherwise, this negotiation ends here."
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes and took a closer look at Ryuen. Compared to the red-haired delinquent in his own Class D, this guy was on a whole different level.
Seconds ticked by. Ryuen's face remained unreadable, as if he was prepared for any outcome.
In contrast, Ishizaki and Ibuki grew more anxious, showing just how weak their mental fortitude was compared to Ryuen.
Hikigaya suddenly smiled and clapped his hands—part mocking, part impressed. Then, he pulled out another contract he had prepared in advance.
It wasn't much different from the previous one. The 50% private points clause remained unchanged.
But at the end, there was now a time limit—12 months.
Originally, the private point transfer was supposed to last for three years, a total of 36 months. Now, it had been reduced to just 12 months!
Ishizaki and Ibuki's faces lit up with joy.
But Ryuen didn't smile at all. In fact, his expression darkened as he clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
"And as compensation, the additional private points we just added will also be included as an attachment. However, the amount will be increased from 3 million to 5 million, and the latest payment deadline is six months. If overdue, a 3.5% interest will be charged per month."
Hikigaya added to the new contract.
Seeing Hikigaya's smirking expression, Ryuen took several deep breaths before speaking. "Deal."
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you something."
Hikigaya smacked his forehead in frustration. "This contract must be finalized by 8 AM tomorrow at the latest. If the deadline passes, it will automatically become void. Also, it requires the signatures of all Class C students. I don't think I need to explain why, do I?"
"..."
Ryuen's face darkened. Hikigaya had completely blocked any chance for him to back out or play tricks.
"Hey! How the hell are we supposed to collect signatures from the entire class in just one night?!"
Ishizaki shouted, and this time, Ryuen didn't stop him.
"Tch, not my problem."
Hikigaya shrugged, looking like he was asking for a punch. "If you can't do it, I suggest you spend the night praying to the gods for a miracle on tomorrow's test."
"You—"
"Oh? What's this about praying to the gods? Am I late? Did I miss something fun?"
Suddenly, from the dimly lit alley, a tall figure unexpectedly appeared, speaking in a tone that made it clear she was here for the drama.
It was Haruno. With just one glance at the scene, she seemed to have already pieced together what was happening.
Immediately, she slipped into full drama mode, giving Hikigaya a deeply resentful look. "Wow, Hikigaya-kun, you're so selfish! Having fun without inviting me?"
"There's no way anything fun is happening in a shady alley in the middle of the night!"
"Really?"
Haruno leaned in closer, smiling mischievously. "But that smirk on your face is giving you away~"
"I am not smirking!"
Hikigaya instinctively raised a hand, only to realize too late that he had fallen into her trap. "Wait a second, Haruno… you've been here for a while, haven't you?"
"Nope~"
Haruno pouted in fake dissatisfaction. "I was just getting out of the bath when I got your message. I didn't even have time to put on my underwear before rushing over."
"So…"
Haruno moved in closer, whispering in his ear with a teasing tone. "Wanna check if I'm lying?"
"*Cough! Cough! Cough!*"
Hikigaya's face turned bright red as he quickly shut down the conversation. Meanwhile, Haruno burst out laughing.
As for Ryuen and his group, who had been watching their entire flirtatious exchange, they were all wearing stone-cold expressions, cursing in their heads: *What a damn couple.* Yet, none of them dared to say it out loud.
"Alright, it's getting late. Once we wrap this up, we should all head back and rest."
As soon as Hikigaya finished speaking, Ryuen stiffened. After taking several deep breaths, he stepped forward and faced Haruno.
"Yukinoshita, I was in the wrong at the café that day. I sincerely regret it and feel deeply sorry. Please forgive me!"
Clenching his fists tightly, Ryuen struggled to bow his head and body at a 90-degree angle, offering Haruno a heartfelt apology.
一 一 一 一 一
You can read 30 advanced chapters on
pat reon.com/GMadman
一 一 一 一 一