"You really think I didn't check if this test was legit?"
When Ryuen first got his hands on the test, he was skeptical—100% doubtful.
So, he used every method he had.
He paid off upperclassmen, gathered intel, and had Kaneda and others analyze every detail.
The results were clear.
Back when today's second- and third-year students took their first midterms, they had used this exact same test to pass.
Its accuracy was confirmed.
In other words…
This midterm wasn't just a test.
It was another way for the school to measure the students' abilities.
So, based on the feedback, there were no issues. That's why they finally confirmed that this "past exam paper" was the real deal for the midterm.
As for Hikigaya's suggestion to report the "exam paper trade" to the school, Ryuen just scoffed at the idea.
At first, what Hikigaya said sounded reasonable, but if you thought about it more carefully, there were plenty of problems with his logic. The key issue was whether the school would actually take action against the "exam paper trade." From the information Ryuen had gathered, the school's attitude was clear—it allowed it and wouldn't interfere. That meant this so-called "exam paper trade" was actually within the rules of the midterm exam.
In other words, Hikigaya's so-called "threat" of reporting them was meaningless from the start.
"You're just using clever wording and the illusion of knowing something others don't to trick people! This kind of cheap trick might work on an idiot like Ishizaki, but not on me!"
Ryuen was completely confident, looking at Hikigaya as if he were watching a clown perform, his face full of mockery.
But what disappointed him was that Hikigaya showed no signs of panic at all. He was so calm that it made Ryuen feel a vague sense of unease.
"Ryuen, looks like you're still not giving up."
Hikigaya shook his head, then turned to look at Ishizaki and Albert. He slowly spoke a few words:
"May 19th, Class 3-D, Nendou, 25,000 points."
The moment Hikigaya said this, Ishizaki's expression changed dramatically. He looked at Hikigaya like he had seen a ghost, his hand shaking as he pointed at him.
"Y-You… how do you know that?!"
Hikigaya had just revealed the exact details of Ishizaki's transaction with an upperclassman—right down to the date, the person involved, and the amount of points exchanged. That was why Ishizaki was so shocked.
Hikigaya chuckled.
"Surprised?"
"So what if you know?!"
Ishizaki stubbornly tried to argue back. In Ryuen's eyes, it really didn't matter. Even if it was exposed, it wouldn't mean anything. As long as both parties involved refused to admit it, and with the school's attitude on the matter, Hikigaya's so-called "threat" was useless.
Suddenly, Ryuen clapped his hands and looked at Hikigaya with a sneer.
"Oh, I see now. You think that by reporting this to the school, they'll suspend them, make them miss the midterm, and force them to drop out? And you thought you could use that to threaten me? You really think I didn't consider what would happen if someone reported it?"
Ryuen smirked, as if he had already predicted everything.
"That's why I reported Ishizaki's exam paper trade to Sakagami ahead of time."
Sakagami was the homeroom teacher of Class C.
"R-Ryuen… ?!"
Ishizaki was completely shaken by Ryuen's words, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. It wasn't just him—aside from Albert, who remained expressionless, even Ibuki and the others were too shocked to say anything.
As expected of the tyrant of Class C—his way of thinking was on a whole different level. But what was even more terrifying was how ruthless he was.
Hikigaya remained expressionless as he coldly stared at Ryuen, his face unchanged.
"Heh, take a guess. What do you think Sakagami said?"
Ryuen sneered.
"He told me he would report the matter to the school and that I should just wait for their decision."
As he spoke, Ryuen pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it around.
"This is their decision—'A serious verbal warning for Ishizaki and a deduction of class points.'"
"T-That's it? That's all?!"
Ishizaki's eyes widened in disbelief. He had expected suspension or even expulsion, but in the end, it was just a verbal warning? Not even an official disciplinary record?
Ryuen crumpled up the paper and tossed it at Ishizaki before turning back to Hikigaya with a sneer.
"Do you get it now? Even if you run to the school and report the 'exam paper trade,' it won't affect us at all!"
At the same time, the school's reaction only further confirmed Ryuen's theory about this midterm exam. More importantly, he now understood just how "tolerant" the school was toward class and student competition. If he could use this properly, it would become a powerful weapon.
"Trash from Class D, but at least you're useful trash."
Ryuen glanced back at Ishizaki, Ibuki, and the others, then scoffed.
"And you idiots still haven't realized you've already fallen into this guy's trap!"
"Huh?"
Ishizaki and the others froze in confusion.
"From the very beginning, this dead-fish-eyed guy has been misleading you!"
Ryuen fixed his gaze on Hikigaya, his smirk full of ridicule, as if he had completely seen through him.
"First of all, a very simple logical trick—at most, 'exam paper trading' results in punishment for the students involved. It doesn't change the school's exam rules, and it definitely won't make the past exam papers invalid!"
"Besides, given how the school has been handling things, do you really think they would suddenly decide to scrap the past exam papers? No way."
"So the whole idea of 'the leaked exam papers being invalid' was just this dead-fish-eyed guy's 'assumption' all along. He was just twisting the facts on purpose. But honestly, a trick like that only works on brainless idiots like you!"
The accuracy of the leaked papers, the school's stance, and the punishment if they were reported...
Ryuen had already considered the worst-case scenario for everything. That was why he could act so recklessly—because he knew he had nothing to fear.
"Damn, I almost got tricked by this dead-fish-eyed bastard! What a damn liar!"
Ishizaki finally realized what was going on and shouted in anger.
*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
Hikigaya started clapping, unable to hide his admiration. "As much as I hate to admit it, Ryuen, you've got a real talent for arrogance and cockiness. It turns out you've been fooling everyone with that smug attitude of yours. You act all high and mighty, but in reality, you're more cautious than anyone else. That whole act is just to throw off the other classes, isn't it?"
Then, Hikigaya's tone suddenly changed. "But that just proves you're nothing more than a paper tiger—strong on the outside, weak on the inside."
"Ryuen, let me teach this damn liar a lesson! Ryuen,?"
Ishizaki was furious and was about to step forward when he suddenly noticed that Ryuen wasn't reacting at all. He froze on the spot.
Ryuen's expression had darkened unexpectedly. His eyes were locked onto Hikigaya, who still looked as calm as ever. Did he miss something important?
Something about Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes made him uneasy. It was irritating.
"Ryuen, everything you said was right. In fact, it was so right that you perfectly played along with the school's little game. As a reward, let me be kind enough to give you some information: The midterm exam… isn't just a single test paper."
Hikigaya smirked as he spoke, and Ryuen's face immediately changed, as if he had just realized something. Meanwhile, Ishizaki, Ibuki, and the others were still completely lost.
"Heh, the school deliberately left past exam papers out there as 'answers' for this midterm. That part is true. But think about it—what would the school do if those 'answers' turned out to be a problem? Would they really just sit back and do nothing?"
For some reason, an unsettling fear spread among everyone present, like a rising tide.
"Ryuen, your whole plan depends on one thing: the belief that 'buying test papers' won't get punished by the school. In fact, you're so sure that the school has silently allowed this practice, right?"
In truth, Hikigaya agreed with Ryuen on this. He also believed that the school wouldn't hand out harsh punishments for this, or maybe they wouldn't even punish anyone at all. At worst, there might be some empty threats with no real consequences.
That was why Ryuen completely misjudged Hikigaya's true goal.
From the start, Hikigaya never cared about getting the students punished for buying test papers. What he really wanted… was to force the school to change the midterm exam!
And that brought everything back to what Hikigaya had mentioned earlier—making Ryuen's precious leaked papers 'useless'!
"What the hell are you talking about? Even if you report the 'test paper trade,' it won't affect the actual exam at all."
Ibuki frowned. Was this guy still trying to act tough after being exposed?
Hikigaya glanced at Ibuki, then looked at Ryuen, whose expression was growing darker by the second.
"You're right. But… you guys missed one key point. This is still a school."
"Sure, the school turns a blind eye to 'test paper trading,' but have you ever wondered why they ignore it instead of just making it completely legal?"
"In any school, buying and selling test papers is a serious problem. Even in this school, it's the same. And we're not just talking about any school—this place was created by the government, backed by huge funding and educational resources.
The big shots running this place care about their reputation. They need to maintain their image. They need a cover-up.
Sound familiar? Politics works the same way, doesn't it? Everyone knows what's really going on, but they still have to jump through hoops and play these stupid games. It's all just for the sake of appearances!
There's a big difference between a half-secret and a fully exposed secret. In this world, there are a lot of things you can do—but you just can't say them out loud. Ryuen, I think you understand that better than anyone."
Hikigaya's face was full of sarcasm and disgust—not just toward this school, but toward his old school, toward society, and toward the powerful people above them all.
"So, let me ask you: what do you think would happen if I reported this?
To maintain their reputation and protect their so-called 'fairness, justice, and transparency,' what do you think the higher-ups would do?
Maybe they won't punish you. Maybe they'll act like nothing happened. But do you think they'll still use the same midterm exam?
Tsk, tsk, I really can't wait to see what happens."
Hikigaya smirked as he looked at Ryuen, Ibuki, and Ishizaki.
No one else was smiling.
Or so it seemed—until suddenly...
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
Ryuen clutched the side of his face and burst into laughter, like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "I thought you had something big up your sleeve, but in the end, all you've got is a bunch of empty words!
Dead-fish eyes, what you just said sounds convincing at first, but it's never gonna happen!
You think you can break the unspoken rules just like that? First, you need the power to do it.
Who the hell do you think you are?!
Do you really believe the school would change the entire exam just because of one D-Class student? Don't flatter yourself!"
Ryuen wasn't wrong at all. Everything Hikigaya had just said was based on the assumption that he had the power to stand up against the school. It was like the difference between an ordinary citizen reporting corruption and a high-ranking official doing the same—the impact would be completely different. That was just how harsh and unforgiving reality was.
To put it simply: "Dude, who do you think you are, and who do you think I am?"
Hikigaya, just a regular student from Class D, knew full well that compared to the massive institution that was the school, he was nothing more than an ant facing an elephant. There was no comparison at all. His complaint would be like a pebble tossed into the ocean—not even enough to make a ripple.
"So you're still bluffing, huh? Classic Class D trash. Hahaha—did you actually think you could take on the school all by yourself…?"
Ryuen laughed loudly, mocking Hikigaya's stupidity and arrogance. But then, as if he had just realized something, he suddenly froze. His arrogant laughter stopped abruptly, and his eyes locked onto Hikigaya in shock.
"Huh? Keep laughing. What's wrong?"
Hikigaya looked at him with a fake expression of surprise, but Ryuen didn't respond. His face was twisted, like he was ready to tear someone apart.
"Oh, right!"
Hikigaya adjusted his collar and gave Ryuen a half-smile. "Since you asked so sincerely, let me reintroduce myself. First-year, Class D, Hikigaya Hachiman. As for my current position… I'm just a small student council member. I don't have many talents, but if there's one thing I'm really good at… it's taking out the trash."
The moment Hikigaya said the words "student council," Ryuen completely lost his ability to laugh. The entire area fell into an eerie silence.
Unlike Ishizaki and the others, who were still confused, Ryuen's face had turned so dark it looked like he might start dripping with sweat. That was when he finally realized where Hikigaya's confidence was coming from.
"Student council!!!"
Ryuen gritted his teeth, spitting out the words like they were poison.
And Hikigaya's last remark? That was a direct jab at how Ryuen had mocked him and the student council back at the café.
Hikigaya, seeing the last bit of hope disappear from Ryuen's eyes, chuckled and said, "If you think I don't have enough authority, then what about the student council president? He's known for being completely fair and impartial. If there's a serious violation, I'm sure he'd deal with it strictly. Don't you think so?"
This was Hikigaya's real trump card. He had never believed that he, with his weak position, could shake up the school. If an ordinary student tried something like this, it probably wouldn't work. But if it was done as a student council member? The situation changed entirely.
Of course, he was just using Horikita Manabu's name to scare Ryuen. But if Ryuen still refused to back down, Hikigaya wouldn't mind making this lie come true.
The power and influence of the student council in this school were something that regular students might not notice. But once you reached a certain level, you'd understand just how terrifying its influence really was.
Horikita Manabu had emphasized this many times—the school gave the student council both the right and the responsibility to adjust the system when necessary. In other words, they had the power to make corrections.
Simply put, if the school made a decision, the student council had the authority to propose changes. Technically, they were subordinate to the school, but in terms of power, there was a degree of equality.
And it was this position within the student council that gave Hikigaya the leverage he needed to move this "elephant."
The school couldn't just ignore the student council's opinions. At the same time, the student council would also show proper respect to the school's authority.
The best possible outcome—the compromise between both sides—was exactly what Hikigaya had described. The students involved in the test paper deal would be punished lightly, while the school, to maintain its reputation, would change the midterm exam questions, at least making the test seem fair on the surface.
That was how the world worked. A game of power and influence.
Ryuen's face was pale, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. His frustration was obvious.
At that moment, Ishizaki suddenly remembered something, like a drowning man grabbing onto a lifeline. He pointed at Hikigaya and shouted, "Hikigaya! You were the one who first mentioned the test paper deal! As a student council member, you broke the rules yourself! If we get punished, you won't get away either!
And don't think we don't know! That guy from your Class D, Ayanokouji, and Kushida—they were making secret deals with the test papers too! Albert and I both know about it!"
Albert, who was wearing sunglasses, nodded.
Sunglasses? At night? What, do your eyes glow or something? Hikigaya mentally rolled his eyes but also confirmed something he had suspected for a while.
"Ishizaki, you really shouldn't go around making things up. I never said anything to you about a 'test paper deal.' And I've never broken any rules."
"Bullshit! Back at the library, you told Hiyori—"
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Ibuki couldn't take it anymore and angrily cut Ishizaki off, glaring at Hikigaya. "Don't you get it? That guy said it on purpose so we would overhear! And you just fell for it, hook, line, and sinker! I even warned you back then!"
"Huh?"
Ishizaki's head was spinning, but he finally realized—he had been completely played.
"Hey, you bastard, Hikigaya!"
Ryuen stared at Hikigaya with a dark expression. "Do you even realize the consequences of what you've done? Sure, C Class might have a lot of students failing, but don't forget that D Class also got the exam questions. When the time comes, D Class will have a bunch of students expelled too!"
"Heh, so you're not that dumb after all."
Hikigaya sneered. "But do you really think using D Class as leverage will make me back down?"
Ryuen's heart sank.
"Someone like me, who gets ignored by my class even after joining the student council, who is looked down on, insulted behind my back... Do you really think I'd say something ridiculous like 'I won't betray my class' or 'I care about my class'?"
Hikigaya's words were the exact ones Ryuen had mocked him with half a month ago. Now, hearing them thrown back at him was enough to make Ryuen, who always thought highly of himself, want to cough up blood.
This was a straight-up insult!
Seeing Ryuen's face twist as if he'd just swallowed something nasty, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel incredibly satisfied. No wonder so many people enjoy those power-fantasy web novels where the protagonist slaps people in the face—this really is addictive!
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