章 55: A Golden Exterior, a Rotten Core
After completing the basic round of self-introductions, the tense atmosphere in the room gradually eased, as everyone understood they were among "their people."
Though Kamuro Masumi still glared at Hikigaya with visible hostility, the others, including Sakayanagi, regarded him with calm, neutral expressions. It felt strange to Hikigaya, knowing these were some of Class A's big players.
"Anything you'd like to eat, Hikigaya?" Sakayanagi asked with a smile. "I made a little profit today, so I'm treating everyone."
"..."
This girl really knows how to stir things up.
Hikigaya felt conflicted. He never expected Sakayanagi to say something like that in front of everyone. Her words were outrageous. However, surprisingly, neither Kamuro, Hashimoto, nor Kitou seemed bothered by Sakayanagi's odd behavior. Instead, they accepted it as perfectly normal.
What in the world? Are you all secretly masochists or something?
Hikigaya's mind raced with these thoughts, but outwardly, he remained completely unmoved, standing there as if unaffected.
"Anything you'd like to eat, Hikigaya?" Sakayanagi suddenly leaned in closer.
Sitting so close to her, Hikigaya could catch the faint scent of her perfume and feel the soft warmth of her proximity. He had never been in such close contact with a girl, except for his sister. Instinctively, he recoiled, startled.
In his panic, he almost stumbled right into Kamuro Masumi's lap.
Unlike the petite, middle-schooler-like figure of Sakayanagi, Kamuro was undeniably a top-tier beauty in both looks and physique.
This made Hikigaya's reaction even more intense. He had no idea how to handle this situation.
"Honestly, do you not even know how to sit properly?" Kamuro's voice broke the silence.
Hikigaya had braced himself for a shove or perhaps to be scolded for being a "pervert," at the very least. But to his surprise, Kamuro simply helped steady him with a calm expression, as though she were mildly exasperated but not particularly angry.
Wait, is she not as bad-tempered as she seems?
Hikigaya paused, realizing that maybe he had misjudged Kamuro.
Meanwhile, Sakayanagi, unfazed by the entire ordeal, continued smiling. "So, anything you'd like to eat, Hikigaya? And just so you know, Kamuro-san can't be dessert."
"What...?"
Hikigaya was thoroughly done with Sakayanagi's antics.
Is she seriously trying to get me in trouble?
Hikigaya's mind was in chaos. He was tense, expecting Kamuro to lash out at any moment. However, Kamuro seemed completely unaffected by Sakayanagi's words, her expression indifferent, as if she hadn't caught on to the innuendo.
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
To regain some control over the situation and prevent Sakayanagi from continuing her teasing, Hikigaya decided to take the initiative.
"You didn't call me here just for a meal, did you? Let's cut to the chase—what do you want?"
As a nobody from Class D, Hikigaya couldn't imagine what Sakayanagi might want from him. Surely, she wasn't interested in anything he had to offer.
She can't be after my looks, right? That would be way too conceited. Even Ayanokoji is more likely to attract attention than me…
Because of this, Hikigaya didn't feel the need to be cautious around Sakayanagi. He doubted she had any leverage over him, so he was free to speak his mind.
Unlike the others, who, despite being Sakayanagi's so-called "subordinates," looked more like her hostages, trapped by some unseen weakness she held over them...
"Heh, as expected, only Hikigaya-kun knows how to satisfy me."
Don't say something that can be so easily misinterpreted!
Hikigaya shot a complicated look at Sakayanagi, who was sitting gracefully, speaking as though her words were perfectly normal.
"It's been three weeks since the start of school. Hikigaya, what's your impression of this place?"
"My impression?"
"Yes. If you had to describe it in one word."
Confused by her question, Hikigaya decided to just speak his mind.
"A golden exterior with a rotten core, perhaps?"
"Pfft!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Hikigaya noticed a change in the expressions of everyone present, particularly Kamuro, who looked like she was barely holding back a reaction.
Sakayanagi couldn't contain her laughter. Resting one hand on the chair and covering the corner of her mouth, she chuckled, "Heh, haha... your answer is even more amusing than I expected."
At that moment, even the nearby Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kitou Hayato couldn't help but glance at Hikigaya. Their expressions conveyed a silent message: This guy is something.
So you all came here just to laugh at me, huh?
Hikigaya thought, his face numb. A sense of frustration washed over him as if everyone was laughing while he was the only one unable to join in, his tears threatening to well up inside.
If someone had taken a picture of this scene, it would make for a perfect reaction meme.
"Sorry, sorry."
Realizing that her reaction might have been a bit inappropriate, Sakayanagi Arisu quickly composed herself, trying to ensure her attitude wouldn't upset Hikigaya.
"You make a very valid point." She smiled warmly. "This school truly is rotten at its core. Once you grasp the concept of survival of the fittest, it's hard not to see the flaws in this system, don't you think?"
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't someone in Class A like you embrace that system? After all, you're sitting at the top of the pyramid right now."
Sakayanagi let out a soft chuckle. "The reason it's called a pyramid is because only a select few can stay at the top. And no one knows if they'll be able to stay there forever."
Her words carried a philosophical weight, hinting at her perspective on the merit-based system.
But Hikigaya couldn't tell if she was being sincere or just putting on a show.
In moments like this, Hikigaya knew he couldn't let Sakayanagi control the conversation. Otherwise, he'd just become another pawn in her game, a mere diversion to kill time.
With that thought, Hikigaya decided to push back a little. He deliberately asked, "Yeah, the top of the pyramid is always occupied by the strong. But what if there's an even higher peak above it? Who's sitting at the pinnacle of Class A right now?"
Sakayanagi's expression didn't waver. "What are you trying to say, Hikigaya?"
Her tone was calm, making it hard to read her true thoughts.
Hikigaya took a deep breath before responding. "When I went for my student council interview, I noticed a lot of students from Class A following a guy named Katsuragi Kouhei. From what I saw back then, it seemed like Katsuragi, not you is the true leader of Class A."
Silence fell over the room, the atmosphere suddenly becoming tense.
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