Was Hikigaya's punishment too severe this time? Well, it was indeed a bit harsh.
There was no concrete evidence to prove the rumors spread by word of mouth. If the punishment was based solely on those notes, then from a rational standpoint, it did seem unfair to Class B.
But at the end of the day, the undeniable fact remained—Ichinose had stolen something before.
If this had happened in an ordinary school, where a student was caught stealing, rumors would spread like wildfire. Some might even mock her to her face, branding her a criminal. The story could easily be posted online, making its way across the internet.
And what would happen to those spreading the rumors?
Most likely, nothing at all. At best, a teacher might offer a half-hearted warning during a class meeting, advising students to be more mindful. More often than not, they would simply turn a blind eye.
As for the student who stole? Transferring schools would be the best possible outcome.
Otherwise, things could escalate to the point where suicide became a possibility.
Even so, the people gossiping behind her back would never face any consequences.
Whether that student was legally considered a criminal was irrelevant. From a moral standpoint, everyone else could hurl insults without taking any responsibility.
In a way, wasn't this also a form of bullying?
Yet, society silently condones it.
After all, this world is neither kind nor fair.
Thinking about this, Hikigaya suddenly felt a bit fortunate to be at this school.
It was only at ANHS that he had the chance to use the "class confrontation" system to deal with Sakayanagi.
If this were an ordinary school, even if he were the student council president, what could he possibly do about Sakayanagi…?
Regardless, there was no need to entertain such hypotheticals right now.
At this moment, at least, Sakayanagi was completely at his mercy. The outcome of this deliberation would not change.
However, the necessary procedures still had to be followed—confirmation from the involved parties and the homeroom teacher was required.
"Then, Kamuro from Class B, do you acknowledge this punishment?"
"Mm…"
Kamuro gave a slight nod and then remained silent.
She had no choice—Sakayanagi had caught her red-handed in a theft. There was nothing she could do but comply.
In a way, it was her own fault.
Besides, Hikigaya didn't think she was entirely innocent. Those slips of paper might really have been planted by her.
Even if it was under Sakayanagi's orders, the moment Kamuro chose not to refuse, she had already become an accomplice.
Friends were friends, but the line between right and wrong still had to be drawn.
In Kamuro's case… perhaps she was more of a gray area.
Then again, Hikigaya himself was also gray… No wonder he felt like they got along so well.
"Mashima-sensei, what is your opinion?"
"I have no objections," Mashima-sensei spoke flatly. "However, I'd like to remind you, Hikigaya—you are handling this case as a representative of the student council. At the very least, maintain a serious attitude. Don't make a spectacle of yourself."
"…My apologies, I may have gone too far."
Hikigaya was momentarily taken aback before lowering his head and admitting his mistake.
Now that he thought about it, he had indeed been too emotional. He had almost ended up arguing with Sakayanagi, turning the deliberation into something like a marketplace dispute.
If it were Senior Horikita, he would have discarded unnecessary emotions and handled the matter fairly and strictly… Sigh, he'd have to be more mindful next time.
Though Hikigaya had a feeling that if this situation happened again, he still wouldn't be able to keep his anger in check…
"Alright, this deliberation is now concluded. The penalty for Class B will take effect starting next month. As for Ayanokoji, you have three days to submit your written reflection."
"Understood."
Ayanokoji responded expressionlessly, while Sakayanagi remained silent as she left with Kamuro.
Before leaving, Kamuro turned back and gave Hikigaya a faint, bitter smile.
…Looks like that brat still wasn't willing to accept it.
Not surprising. Although Hikigaya had thoroughly humiliated her this time, there was no real substantial loss beyond embarrassment.
Even deducting three months' worth of class points from Class B wasn't as damaging as what the Katsuragi faction had suffered.
If it was a matter of comparing losses, Sakayanagi was still able to hold onto her position.
Soon, one by one, the people in the office left, until only one person remained—the bespectacled middle-aged man named Tsukishiro.
"My, my, that was quite the spectacle," he suddenly remarked, clapping his hands with a tone of admiration.
Hikigaya wasn't sure how to respond.
"Uh… Excuse me?"
"That was a compliment, of course." Tsukishiro smiled. "I've heard that this school is quite fascinating, and now I see that the rumors were true… By the way, I don't believe we've been introduced yet. What's your name?"
"I'm Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-D. Pleased to meet you."
"Class D, huh… Heh, it seems not all rumors are accurate."
Before assuming his current position, Tsukishiro had done some research on ANHS, including the widely known fact that Class D was considered the worst—a collection of "defective products."
But as it turned out, there were always exceptions.
In reality, Tsukishiro was not an ordinary teacher. He was a staff member of White Room, sent by Ayanokoji's father as the acting chairman of the board.
As for the original Chairman Sakayanagi, he had been framed and was currently under government investigation, placed under house arrest.
The fact that Ayanokoji's father could orchestrate such a thing so easily spoke volumes about his methods.
His goal was clear—to bring Ayanokoji back to White Room.
However, after arriving here, Tsukishiro had noticed something strange.
He had come across Ayanokoji's written reflection on the school forum, followed by news of this deliberation. Using "observing the school" as an excuse, he decided to visit the student council office in person.
What he saw had left him utterly shocked.
The so-called "masterpiece" of White Room… was being scolded like some misbehaving child?!
This… This… He had no idea what expression to make.
Thankfully, he was always squinting—otherwise, his reaction might have given him away.
Back in White Room, the title of "masterpiece" carried immense weight. Not only were the staff proud of Ayanokoji, but the other students both admired and feared him.
To some, he was an object of worship; to others, a target to surpass.
Simply having Ayanokoji's presence at White Room was enough to inspire its students, so it was no wonder his father was so determined to take him back.
But this wasn't something that could be rushed.
Even as the acting chairman, Tsukishiro couldn't act recklessly in a school monitored by government authorities. The only option was to find a way to make Ayanokoji drop out through special exams.
And now, he had also taken an interest in this student named Hikigaya Hachiman.
Perhaps he would prove useful in the future… For now, a simple greeting would suffice.
"Well then, I'll leave you to your work. Goodbye for now."
"Ah, take care."
Hikigaya had no idea what Tsukishiro was up to, but since the man hadn't done anything yet, there was no need to concern himself with it.
Hikigaya had even bigger problems to deal with at the moment.
Namely, writing a report… Ugh, why did he have to do this after every single review meeting?
Was this what being a corporate drone would be like in the future?
As he continued writing, he suddenly dropped his pen.
"...Sigh."
Letting out a long sigh, he slumped onto the pile of documents.
"What the hell am I even doing…? This is stupid."
Looking back at everything that had happened over the past few days, he couldn't help but feel like all his efforts had been pointless.
Sure, he had vented his frustrations, but when he looked at the results, he was simply treading water.
Punishment was supposed to correct the wrongdoer, to make them reflect on their mistakes—or at the very least, to make them realize where they had gone wrong. But from the way Sakayanagi acted, she was just resentful.
She wasn't reflecting at all—she was just upset that she had been outplayed.
If this had been a direct confrontation during a special exam, there was no way Hikigaya would have had any confidence in winning. And when it came to the regular exams, he didn't stand a chance.
As a student, the most straightforward measure of ability was academic performance. And in that regard, he couldn't hold a candle to either Sakayanagi or Ayanokoji.
That was why he never entertained the idea of changing those two geniuses.
In this world, the strong changed the weak—never the other way around.
So in the end… was expelling Sakayanagi the only option left?
Despite making up his mind countless times, he still hesitated when it came down to it.
At the end of the day, he was just an ordinary student.
A normal high schooler wouldn't spend all their time plotting how to get someone expelled… That wasn't remotely normal!
The only exception was that one time with Ayanokoji—but that was built on the foundation of that lunatic repeatedly going off the rails.
First, he knocked out Horikita on the deserted island. Then, he orchestrated the bullying of Karuizawa on the cruise ship. And finally, he beat up Kiryuuin-senpai at the pool and stole the evidence.
It was only after this relentless string of absurd actions that Hikigaya had felt compelled to try and expel him.
But Sakayanagi… She was annoying, sure, but the worst thing she had done was slander Ichinose.
And to be fair, Ichinose had indeed committed a mistake—Sakayanagi's only real fault was fabricating details that weren't true.
If she had simply accused Ichinose of being a thief outright, then even if Ichinose managed to bounce back, her reputation would still take a hit.
By the time the next school year rolled around, the new students would inevitably look at Ichinose differently.
More importantly, if Sakayanagi had taken that approach, no one would have been able to say anything against her.
But instead, she chose to play around… In a way, she was using her reputation as a shield for Ichinose.
Everyone was so focused on Class B's traitor that no one was talking about Honami-chan's past as a shoplifter!
…Wait.
Was that why Sakayanagi was so angry?
No matter how he looked at it, her actions weren't nearly as severe as Ayanokoji's. She wasn't even as bad as Ryuuen.
As he analyzed the situation in his head, Hikigaya couldn't help but let out a wry smile.
No wonder Haruno called him a "rational monster." Even he felt like his thought process was a little too cold.
"Sigh… At this rate, can I take down Nagumo?"
The more he thought about it, the more he doubted himself.
Nagumo had already expelled over a dozen students—including some from his class.
Hikigaya had no confidence in doing something like that.
More importantly, why was it so easy for him?
Weren't they all classmates? Did it have to go this far?
For Hikigaya, the ideal high school life was simple—attending class seriously most of the time, occasionally showing up late just for the hell of it, going to cram school or working a part-time job after school, coming home to eat Komachi's cooking, then graduating and getting into an easy university.
After that, he'd either find a wife willing to take care of him or let his parents do it. And if all else failed, well… there was always the option of becoming a corporate drone.
That was all he wanted.
Expelling people? What did that have to do with him?
"…Might as well just drop out myself."
"What are you saying?"
A surprised voice came from the doorway just as Hikigaya muttered to himself.
Looking up, he saw Chabashira-sensei standing there.
"…Sensei, did you get lost?"
"As if. I just forgot something."
She probably realized he was just trying to defuse the awkwardness, so she didn't press the issue.
After walking in and picking up the pen she had left behind, she turned to leave but hesitated at the door.
"Hikigaya, is something bothering you?"
"…Not really." His gaze wavered. "I'm just reflecting on my weakness. Nothing new, don't worry about it."
"Weakness…? You mean yourself?"
"Who else would I be talking about?"
Chabashira was momentarily at a loss for words.
This kid had just torn Sakayanagi and Ayanokoji in front of two homeroom teachers without batting an eye. And now he was calling himself weak?
Who the hell would believe that?
But in the end, she couldn't say for sure that he was just putting on an act.
After all, he was still just a student.
"…Anyway, if you ever have personal problems, you can talk to me about them."
"Discussing with you?… I'll pass." Hikigaya rejected the idea without hesitation.
"…You're as unpleasant as ever." Chabashira-sensei suddenly sighed. "Do you remember when I called you, Ayanokoji, and Horikita to the guidance room? I knew from that moment that you were a difficult student. And even now, you haven't changed a bit."
"People don't change that easily."
"That's true… No, actually, you've changed a little."
Hikigaya wasn't sure why she suddenly corrected herself, but he had no intention of engaging in a heart-to-heart discussion about personal growth.
With a sigh, he said, "Sensei, since when did you become such a passionate teacher? You should just stick to being the 'NPC who hands out quests' like before."
"An NPC who hands out quests… huh. That's quite the fitting description."
Chabashira-sensei chuckled, though there was a hint of self-deprecation in her smile.
"Huh? You actually understand that reference?"
"Of course. I was a student once too."
After a brief pause, she continued, "But this isn't something we can decide. The school's first rule for teachers is that we must not interfere too much in student affairs."
Hikigaya was well aware of that.
Even someone like Hoshinomiya-sensei, who doted on Ichinose, could do nothing but watch helplessly during the recent incident. She couldn't step in directly.
Similarly, Mashima-sensei probably had his grievances about Sakayanagi's actions, but at most, he could only drop subtle hints—nothing more.
"No matter what, why you're thinking about withdrawing is your issue. I have no reason to interfere… but as someone who's been there before, I'll just say this—doing that would only be running away."
"…And what's wrong with running away?" Hikigaya muttered, or perhaps, he was just talking to himself.
"Running away is fine. It's just that…"
Chabashira-sensei let out a bitter chuckle.
"You might end up becoming an adult like me."
"...Huh?"
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment before he frantically shook his head.
"No, that's not happening. I don't want to turn into a crappy—ouch?!"
Before he could finish, Chabashira-sensei raised her fist and smacked him on the head. Hard.
"You're a teacher! You can't just hit a student!"
"Shut up. That's what you get for being rude."
Damn it, this damn old hag… If the education board were here, I'd report her!
…But fine, I'll let her off the hook this time.
Just then, something crossed Hikigaya's mind.
"Oh yeah, Chabashira-sensei, I've got a question."
"A rotten student like you thinks I'll answer?"
Even with her sarcastic tone, Hikigaya didn't take offense.
After all, unlike the childish Chabashira-sensei, he was a mature adult.
"That guy just now, Tsukishiro—who the hell is he?" Hikigaya asked curiously. "You and Mashima-sensei looked like you were treating him like some kind of deity."
"…Deity? You are an annoying student."
Chabashira-sensei sighed before dropping a bombshell. "He's the new acting chairman. Don't mess with him—people with squinty eyes are always dangerous."
"Oh? Didn't expect you to know that say—wait."
Halfway through his sentence, Hikigaya suddenly realized something.
"…So that means Sakayanagi's father is out?"
"Yeah… Wait a second." Chabashira-sensei's face changed as she quickly asked, "Hikigaya, why does it feel like… you already knew that?"
"I didn't know. You just told me."
Hikigaya scratched his head, trying to play dumb.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be working.
"What do you mean, I told you? A normal student's first reaction wouldn't be to assume the chairman got ousted." Chabashira-sensei narrowed her eyes.
True. Normally, people would think he was reassigned or took sick leave.
Recalling his meeting with Sakayanagi's father, Hikigaya remembered the man had silver hair like his daughter and looked quite frail—his complexion wasn't great either.
Damn, I should've just asked if he was sick…
"Aha… well…"
After a brief hesitation, Hikigaya decided to dodge the question.
"Sensei, didn't you just say it yourself? Stick to your NPC role and don't interfere too much in student affairs."
"...You're not cute at all."
"I wasn't trying to be."
"…Whatever." Chabashira-sensei waved him off. "Anyway, just think about it properly. Oh, and one more thing—I have some good news for you. Your next special exam is going to be an extremely difficult one."
"…How is that good news?" Hikigaya deadpanned.
"Let me finish. On the other hand, for you, it'll also be extremely easy… That's all I'll say. I'm leaving now."
"…Sure. Have a safe trip."
What the hell? What's with all the cryptic nonsense?
Riddlers get out of Gotham.
That said, he knew Chabashira-sensei couldn't reveal too much. She still followed the school's basic rules.
…A particularly tough special exam, huh?
Was it what the new acting chairman was doing? Otherwise, Chabashira-sensei wouldn't have bothered to warn him.
…Wait.
Now that I think about it, that guy's from White Room, right?!
Hikigaya suddenly remembered. Before leaving, Haruno-san had mentioned something about this.
She even predicted that Sakayanagi's father would be ousted… though, it was probably just temporary.
So that means this Tsukishiro guy is here to take Ayanokoji back to the White Room?
But if that's the case… why did he randomly praise me just now?!
No matter how much Hikigaya thought about it, he couldn't figure it out. All he could do was hope nothing troublesome would happen.
Ugh, I haven't even sorted out the whole Sakayanagi situation yet, and now another problem pops up.
…Maybe I really should just drop out?
Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Sure, I'll get a lecture from my parents if I withdraw, but at least I'll get some obligatory chocolate.
And if I'm not in ANHS anymore, Komachi probably won't insist on attending that school either… probably.
…Wait.
Now that I think about it…
Dropping out sounds pretty great, doesn't it?