The Game Is Lost

According to Hirata, the initial conflict with Karuizawa had involved Rika Morofuji from Class B.

Although that girl wasn't part of the Rabbit Group, Hikigaya remembered seeing her with Manabe and the others back then.

In other words, the incident they were trying so hard to cover up… likely involved bullying Karuizawa in that basement, didn't it?

And it wasn't just a shove or two—what they did amounted to full-on harassment.

That explained why they'd been so desperate to get Hikigaya out of there; if anyone found out, they risked facing expulsion.

The pieces that hadn't made sense before were now clicking into place.

But a new question had emerged.

The fourth basement level, where it all happened, was a place meant for things like electrical equipment—why would Karuizawa be there alone?

It couldn't have been Manabe and her friends who lured her down there.

Unless…

"Hirata."

Hikigaya decided to press the most reliable source on this matter.

"After you and Karuizawa argued, did you meet with her again on the ship?"

"Yeah, of course. And it wasn't a fight—girls just get a little upset sometimes."

Hirata's patience remained intact, but such comments often made him seem somewhat naïve.

"Is that so? Then let me ask it another way."

Given this, Hikigaya decided to drop the pretense.

"On the third day of the preferential treatment exam, which was also the intermission day, around 4 PM, did you arrange to meet Karuizawa in the basement?"

"...Huh?"

The specificity of the question seemed to catch Hirata off guard.

"Hikigaya-kun, why do you suddenly want to know that?"

"You said you remembered suddenly, right?" Hikigaya replied, feeling exasperated. "Now that I've brought this up, you can't be that clueless. Don't you understand what I mean?"

"B-But how could I possibly call Karuizawa-san to a place like that without a reason?" Hirata stammered.

"What kind of place? What do you mean by that?"

"Eh? Didn't you just say…"

Hirata faltered, clearly at a loss.

His ability to keep his cool was lacking.

"That cruise ship has four underground levels. The first three are for guests, and I never specified which floor it was." Hikigaya regarded Hirata thoughtfully. "But from your reaction, it seems you assumed it was the fourth floor underground. Care to explain why?"

"Uh, I—I…"

"You're right about one thing, though. You didn't just call Karuizawa over for no reason."

At that moment, Hikigaya smiled knowingly.

"Anyway, it was probably Ayanokouji who asked you to lure Karuizawa down there, right? You must have been hesitant at first, but when it seemed all was settled, you didn't bother to investigate further, correct?"

"Uh…" Hirata's expression shifted multiple times, clearly indicating that Hikigaya had hit the nail on the head.

This was indeed a masterstroke.

"So, the sudden improvement in the relationship between Karuizawa and Ayanokouji was due to a 'hero saving a damsel in distress,' wasn't it?"

Though Hikigaya didn't want to frame it that way, he couldn't think of anything better to say at the moment.

"Well, this conversation is over!" Hirata suddenly stood up. "I don't know what method Ayanokouji-kun used, but I believe he's a good person and would never do anything to make Karuizawa-san unhappy!"

"Yeah, yeah, I think so too."

Hikigaya nodded solemnly, choosing not to argue with him.

This guy had completely aligned himself with Ayanokouji, seemingly brainwashed by him.

But it didn't matter now; he had asked all the questions he needed.

Ayanokouji's decision to counsel Hirata was a clever move—he'd managed to pull the class leader onto his side.

This would certainly make future class activities much more convenient.

However, Ayanokouji had overlooked one crucial point: if Hirata's emotional issues could be resolved with just a few words, it meant he was easily influenced.

People like that often struggle to keep secrets; a little provocation could lead to everything spilling out.

"Oops, it's almost time for class. I need to go."

Hirata realized he had gotten a bit too carried away and quickly exited the office.

"Ah, you can only rely on yourself in this world."

Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh, surprised that he had found a breakthrough through Hirata.

He had manipulated Ibuki into helping him investigate for so long but had nothing to show for it. Free assistance was truly unreliable.

The situation was now fairly clear.

Manabe and her group had bullied Karuizawa in the cruise ship's basement, and Ayanokouji had secretly filmed the entire encounter. He then used this footage to blackmail Manabe and the others. Consequently, on the final day of the preferential treatment exam, Karuizawa, who had always looked down on Ayanokouji, helped him for the first time.

However, Ayanokouji orchestrated this entire situation.

He had instructed Hirata to lure Karuizawa to the basement. As for how Manabe and the others happened to be there…

"Hmph, checkmate." Hikigaya couldn't help but smile triumphantly.

If nothing else, it was likely that Ayanokouji had summoned them as well.

He might have even instigated the bullying in the first place.

Of course, Ayanokouji must have contacted them anonymously, but it was already the 21st century.

Many mystery novels try their best to avoid involving modern surveillance technologies because they don't want to include the complications of contemporary investigative techniques.

Once the bullying was exposed and the school was pressured to conduct a serious investigation, anonymity or fake accounts would be useless.

In other words, even if Karuizawa was willing to protect Ayanokouji, it wouldn't matter.

As long as the entire school became aware of the incident, they would have no choice but to act in response to public pressure. Otherwise, the phrase "pay attention to the issue of bullying" would become a joke, and similar incidents would continue.

"Seriously... what is that guy thinking?"

Hikigaya increasingly felt there was something deeply flawed in Ayanokouji's reasoning.

What could he say? Ayanokouji never seemed to consider what might happen if his plans failed.

Just like at the pool incident, he could have easily stopped Ike and Yamauchi, but he opted for that self-righteous approach, which spiraled out of control.

The same thing had occurred this time. Ayanokouji had set a trap for Karuizawa, likely because he recognized her influence over the girls in the class.

Didn't he ever think about what would happen if the truth came to light and he ended up expelled?

Hikigaya had done his share of dangerous things, like when he had set a trap for Ryuuen in May and purposely got beaten up to extort a large sum of points.

Of course, this carried risks of failure.

But even if he failed, the worst-case scenario was merely getting beaten up for nothing.

That risk was manageable.

Ayanokouji, on the other hand, never seemed to factor in the possibility of failure when making his plans. Was this extreme self-confidence, or did he genuinely not care about being expelled from school?

"Hmm... Never mind."

The more Hikigaya pondered, the more confused he became, so he decided to stop overthinking it.

After all, he still had a lot of paperwork to finish.

Oh, if only writing reports were easier than dealing with a masterpiece!

…

By the time he finished processing the documents, it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. Hikigaya decided to return to the dormitory before classes ended to avoid squeezing into the elevator with everyone else.

Although he had no evidence yet, the outcome was undoubtedly decided.

The key lay with Manabe. As long as he could get her phone, it wouldn't matter if the chat history had been deleted.

With a bit of point expenditure, he could apply to the school for reinstatement. If that didn't work, he could leverage the bullying as an excuse, and the school would have no choice but to respond.

The most challenging part, of course, would be persuading Manabe to hand over her phone.

Once the bullying was exposed, she would likely be expelled, and he doubted she would cooperate willingly in that case.

Fortunately, Class B had an absolute dictator.

Hikigaya had just the offer that this individual wouldn't refuse.

Thinking about it, Ayanokouji had pulled off something like this... It was even more outrageous than he had imagined.

Was his mind twisted because he had been treated as an experimental subject by his father?

To be honest, Hikigaya did feel a bit sorry for such a person and thought he was quite pitiful.

But over the past two weeks, he had gradually come to terms with it.

After all, he was just an ordinary student with no real power to change anything.

The only thing he could do was protect his sister's future.

As long as Komachi had a chance to attend ANHS, the school didn't need someone as dangerous as Ayanokouji.

That's right; he would not be soft-hearted this time!

Just as Hikigaya kept cheering himself on internally, he suddenly halted in his tracks.

A strange man was standing at the entrance of his dormitory.

He appeared to be in his forties, wearing a well-fitted suit. He stood tall and straight, exuding an air of meticulousness and importance.

Who is this guy?

At that moment, the man seemed to notice Hikigaya and approached him.

"Hello, you must be Hikigaya Hachiman-kun, right?"

"Yes, and you are?"

Hikigaya instinctively used honorifics.

"Haha, nice to meet you." The man smiled warmly. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm the chairman of this school, and I want to thank you for looking after my daughter all this time."

"Eh? Chairman?"

Hikigaya was stunned by the revelation.

What daughter could he possibly mean… Could this be Sakayanagi's father?!

Why would someone so important come here in person? Couldn't he just call me to his office to express his gratitude?

In an instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through Hikigaya's mind, leaving him feeling bewildered.

"I wanted to visit you as soon as I heard the news, but I've been tied up with official business in other places for the past few weeks. I just returned to school this morning. Please understand."

As he spoke, Chairman Sakayanagi glanced at Hikigaya's arm with concern.

"How's the wound? Does it still hurt?"

"No, no, it's nothing new," Hikigaya replied quickly, shaking his head.

"That's a relief," Chairman Sakayanagi sighed. "But if it does hurt, please make sure to tell your teacher right away. I'll arrange for you to see the best hospital outside."

After a brief pause, he added, "Of course, this isn't just because you saved my daughter. More importantly, you're a student at this school, so there's no need for you to feel any psychological burden."

As their conversation continued, Hikigaya began to question the nature of the man standing before him.

Is this Sakayanagi's biological father?

Unlike Sakayanagi's aggressive demeanor, the chairman was like a gentle uncle, lacking any pretentiousness. It was hard to reconcile the two as father and daughter.

"By the way, could you invite me in to sit for a while?" Chairman Sakayanagi suddenly asked.

"Huh...? Oh, yes, please come in."

Hikigaya hadn't expected such a request. He thought the chairman would simply leave after expressing his gratitude. After all, it was strange for the chairman to come to a student dormitory.

"Hehe, my apologies for being so abrupt," Chairman Sakayanagi smiled slightly, as if he could read Hikigaya's thoughts.

"I often hear my daughter mention you, Hikigaya-kun, and your performance at school has been exceptional... No, it should be said that it has surpassed exceptional. Most teachers hold you in high regard, and I've always wanted to speak with you privately."

"Thank you for the compliment," Hikigaya said, lowering his gaze modestly.

But... is this true?

Are there many teachers who praise him? Hikigaya found it hard to believe. The chairman's choice of words, referring to "high regard," felt like a roundabout way of expressing something else.

By the way, Sakayanagi frequently mentions him.

That girl has said so many negative things about him behind his back!

Suddenly for the first time, Hikigaya felt an urge to spank Sakayanagi. And, isn't there a school rule that prohibits students from contacting the outside world?

"I must admit, it's quite embarrassing. I established the school rule to prevent students from communicating with outsiders to foster their independence, yet here I am, breaking it myself."

To Hikigaya's surprise, Chairman Sakayanagi brought this up himself.

With a wry smile, he continued, "But how could I refuse Arisu? She came straight to my office and argued that this was merely a conversation between a student and the chairman, and since it was on school grounds, it didn't technically violate the rules. Plus, given her health... As a father, I simply couldn't bear to turn her down. It's truly shameful."

"...You've worked hard."

Hikigaya didn't feel any particular sympathy; instead, he regarded the chairman as a man who upheld fairness even in the face of his beloved daughter's charms.

However, Sakayanagi's maneuvering left him at a loss for words. At least the situation was relatively benign—she wasn't using her father's position to run rampant in the school.

As he opened the door, Hikigaya gestured for the guest to enter and poured a cup of tea.

"I'm truly sorry for the trouble I've caused you," Chairman Sakayanagi said, accepting the cup with both hands.

After taking a small sip, he set the cup down and suddenly stood up, his expression serious as he faced Hikigaya.

"Now, please allow me to formally thank you."

He bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees.

"I am immensely grateful to you for saving my daughter; this kindness I will never forget."

"...You're too kind. I just happened to be there," Hikigaya replied, feeling more troubled than flattered.

Perhaps it was due to Sakayanagi being the father of the girl in question, but the school officials who came to express their condolences were all overly polite.

Yet, this man was different.

He was simply a father wishing to express his gratitude to the one who saved his daughter—there were no ulterior motives.

But that made things more troublesome.

There really was no need for him to come all this way... Sakayanagi's actions were more in line with Hikigaya's preferences.

When he was hit by a car from the Yukinoshita family and received visits, it was always from the driver handling the matter. That level of courtesy felt just right.

So… was this serious man really Sakayanagi's father?

The thought flashed through Hikigaya's mind again.

If that were the case, it wouldn't be too difficult to find an opening. It wouldn't be surprising if Arisu had noted something down after seeing it somewhere. However, there was one thing that caught his attention.