Chapter 63: Preparations

When I returned to my room, Hiyori was there waiting for me—she must have used her spare key to get in. 

"...Welcome back, Hachiman." 

"Yeah, I'm home. Hiyori." 

But something felt off. Normally, she would greet me with a smile, but today she seemed slightly sulky. Her expression was more like a pout. 

"Hiyori. Is something wrong?" 

"...Come here." 

She took my hand, so I hastily kicked off my shoes and let her pull me along. Bracing myself for whatever she had planned, she guided me to the bed and made me sit down. 

"...?" 

Confused, I froze in place as Hiyori—cheeks puffed up—climbed onto my lap and buried her face in my chest. 

"...Hiyori?" 

"Yes." 

She answered without lifting her head. 

"What's this about?" 

"...This is my spot. I won't give it to Matsushita-san." 

"Why is Matsushita even—...Oh, right." 

Back at the cake buffet the other day, Matsushita had sat on me the same way Hiyori was doing now. Apparently, Hiyori had seen it happen. 

"So, is this... jealousy or something?" 

"Yes. Jealousy. I'm upset. I saw how sweet you were being with Matsushita-san, and it made me jealous." 

Her voice was blunt, almost like a confession. The way her arms were tightly wrapped around my waist made it clear she had no intention of letting go anytime soon. 

"I wasn't being sweet with her." 

"That's a lie. You were. I saw everything. That's why I'm in a very bad mood right now." 

With an exaggerated pout, Hiyori lifted her face to glare at me. 

Lately, I'd been noticing more of these possessive, jealous tendencies from her. 

Finding someone cute isn't just about their looks—it's their personality, their habits, the emotions they show you. All those little things pile up until you can't help but adore them. 

I gently ran my fingers through Hiyori's hair. The motion made her finally lift her head, her eyes narrowing in contentment, though her displeasure didn't seem to fade entirely. 

"Still in a bad mood?" 

"Yes. A very bad one." 

"What'll fix it?" 

"...You'll have to show me with your actions." 

As she said that, she closed her eyes and tilted her lips toward me. 

I knew what she wanted. What she was asking for. 

I cupped Hiyori's chin, guiding her soft-looking lips toward mine. 

"...Is this okay?" 

"...Of course." 

Her quiet reply came with flushed cheeks. Her eyes, barely open, reflected me like shimmering gemstones—so delicate they seemed ready to melt. 

This would be the first time since that day. Remembering how it felt back then, desire swelled inside me. Slowly, inch by inch, the distance closed between us. Soon, our breaths mingled. The sweet scent of her perfume filled the air. Just a few more centimeters, the slightest movement, and we'd—

DING-DONG. 

The frozen flow of time shattered as the doorbell rang. Instinctively, we jerked apart, the spell broken as reality yanked us back. 

"...Who is it?" 

Hiyori's voice was darker than I'd ever heard. Anger at the interruption was written all over her face as she glared daggers at the front door. 

"Wait here." 

I carefully lifted Hiyori off me, ignoring her intensely dissatisfied expression—there was no helping it. 

Heading to the door, I checked the peephole to see who it was. 

"...Ayanokouji?" 

Standing there was someone I never expected.

.....

I felt bad for Hiyori, but I went outside after Ayanokouji invited me. I bought a drink from a random vending machine and sat down on a bench. 

"What do you want, Ayanokouji?" 

"I came to make you an offer." 

The Ayanokouji standing before me had a different aura than usual—an eerie, intimidating presence. 

"An offer?" 

"That's right. It's something I can only discuss with you, and something only you can do." 

While saying things I didn't fully understand, he slowly closed the distance between us. 

"Hikigaya, what do you think about the White Room?" 

"...What?" 

An unexpected term coming from Ayanokouji. 

Which meant the conversation from here on would revolve around that. 

"I'm trying to prove, in my own way, that the White Room's education is far from perfect. You're doing the same, aren't you?" 

Without waiting for my response, Ayanokouji continued. 

"You and I are alike. Practically the same, I'd say. Our methods of proof are identical. The only difference is our way of thinking." 

"...What's your point?" 

I couldn't see the full picture of what he was saying. 

So far, it had just been Ayanokouji talking to himself. 

"I intend to create the strongest class with my own hands. I'll nurture Class D, branded as defective, make them grow, and use everything to fight me—to deny the White Room." 

"...!" 

"And what about you, Hikigaya? You didn't focus on a class—you strengthened an individual. Ryuuen. But in the end, what you're doing is the same as me, isn't it?" 

I see. So that's what this is about. 

I understood Ayanokouji's reasoning. 

"From here on, I will—" 

Ayanokouji laid it all out. 

His thoughts, his plans, the actions he would take. 

After hearing everything, I nodded quietly. 

It was a sign of agreement—a clear signal of cooperation. 

Not a single misalignment. The same thoughts, the same reasoning. 

On this matter, Ayanokouji and I had decided to work together.

.....

Golden Week was approaching its midpoint. 

"Sorry for being late. Got caught up in some things." 

"...It's fine." 

As the sun began to set, I had called out Takahashi Shu, the partner I had chosen for the exam, to a quiet café in the Keyaki Mall. 

I took my seat, but Takahashi's expression was clouded. The fact that he wouldn't meet my eyes made it clear he still held some aversion toward me. 

There wasn't a trace of the cheerful demeanor he once had. 

"I mentioned it in my email, but I never said it in person. Thanks for partnering up with me for the exam. I appreciate it." 

I tried to keep the tone light, but Takahashi only nodded in response. 

"Takahashi, I know you resent me. After what I did, it's only natural." 

No matter the circumstances, the fact remained that I had threatened him. 

"...I don't resent you." 

His words came out heavy as he kept his gaze down. 

"I mean, you did... do all those things to me, Hikigaya-senpai. But I don't actually hold a grudge against you." 

"Is that so?" 

"Yeah. In the end, I got to pair up with someone and avoid the penalty." 

The penalties for first-years were lighter compared to ours, but avoiding them was still preferable. 

"...I'm grateful. But I can't get what happened out of my head. I just... can't help being scared." 

I had suspected as much, but the emotion Takahashi felt toward me was fear. 

Well, that was only natural. To an ordinary student, what I did was abnormal—the actions of someone unhinged. 

"I can't make excuses for that. But I want you to understand one thing: I had no other choice at the time." 

For the first time, Takahashi looked at me directly. 

By now, some of his wariness must have faded. 

"Then let's get to the main topic. The reason I called you here today is to make a proposal." 

"A... proposal?" 

Takahashi's guard went back up. He had already been burned by me once before. It was only natural to be cautious. 

"Takahashi, how would you like to become my ally?" 

"...? What do you mean by that?" 

Confused, Takahashi tilted his head in question. 

"I mean exactly that. I'll provide compensation, and in return, you carry out my orders. That's all." 

A pawn from the first-year class—someone from the same grade as the White Room students. 

Takahashi's presence would be essential in the upcoming exams. 

"That... depends on what you're asking. I know how many private points you have, Hikigaya-senpai, so I don't doubt the compensation part." 

"Of course, I won't order you to do anything that puts you in harm's way. I can promise you that. What I want is a business partnership." 

I didn't need trust between partners. 

I didn't need friendship or sentiment. 

All I wanted was a transactional relationship where both sides pursued their own interests. 

...At least, for now. 

"I won't force you. If you want to refuse, that's fine." 

Pushing too hard would only make him wary again, rendering him useless as a pawn. 

It was crucial to let Takahashi make the choice himself. 

"...Honestly, I'm not comfortable with you, senpai. But if it benefits me, I'm willing to hear you out." 

For the first time today, I felt like Takahashi was truly looking at me. 

"Then it's settled. I'll be counting on you from now on, Takahashi." 

I extended my hand for a handshake, and Takahashi, though still slightly tense, took it. 

"Then let's get straight to the first job." 

"Huh? R-right now?" 

"How does 30,000 points sound? I'll pay upfront." 

Takahashi hesitated. Understandable—he couldn't agree without knowing the details. 

"It's simple. I want to make use of your wide social network for something." 

"Something...?" 

"I need you to––––––" 

I explained my plan to Takahashi. 

The task itself was straightforward, yet complex. 

It might even stir up a school-wide incident, but the only class affected would be a certain second-year one. 

Once I finished, Takahashi's face twisted in clear discomfort. 

This wouldn't put Takahashi himself in any danger. But whether this act could be considered morally right by general standards was another matter entirely. 

"Takahashi, this school runs on meritocracy. Now that you're my business partner, you should use every means available to you. That's the only way to survive and come out on top." 

In my opinion, terms like "underhanded," "malicious," or "ruthless" were nothing more than excuses made by the weak. 

In a school where only the winners were rewarded, clinging to meaningless sentiment would only get you expelled. 

The current state of the second-years made that painfully obvious. 

"...Understood. I'll do it." 

After a few minutes of deliberation, Takahashi's expression hardened with resolve. 

"Good. Make sure no one finds out you're involved." 

With that final warning, I took the check and left the café. 

The effects of Takahashi's actions wouldn't be felt until after the break ended. 

I was targeting that class. 

To prepare the stage for what was to come. 

All for the sake of the final battle.

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