At 8 PM, the Rabbit Group's second discussion began as scheduled.
The air in the room was still somewhat stagnant, but compared to yesterday's awkward silence, today's atmosphere had a subtle loosening due to one person's efforts.
"Everyone, regarding 'Outcome One' proposed yesterday, how have you all considered it?"
Ichinose Honami sat in the main seat, a brilliant smile on her face.
"If anyone still has concerns, or feels the distribution plan is unfair, we can discuss it openly. After all, as long as we can reach a consensus, this is a win-win game where everyone benefits."
"Tch... easy for you to say." Manabe turned her head, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table. "But what if someone betrays us? Something that's only verbally binding can't be trusted at all, right?"
"Regarding that, we can discuss it further..."
'I have to say, Ichinose also has ideas. From the beginning, she conceived a misleading strategy. If she hadn't proposed cooperation to achieve Outcome One from the start, she wouldn't have been able to lay the groundwork for proactively displaying the text messages on the last day, and the plan to mislead other classes into incorrectly reporting privileged information would naturally be out of the question.'
Natsukawa Sosuke sat in the corner, watching this scene, sighing inwardly.
'Even someone like Manabe, under Ichinose's subtle, pervasive offensive, has started to waver. Is this the power of the Archangel? It's terrifying.'
Unfortunately, in this world, there are always some walls that light cannot penetrate.
No matter how Ichinose tried to persuade them, the three A-class students consistently maintained their principle of silence.
Faced with the A-class trio's unyielding stance, Ichinose also sighed helplessly, but didn't press the issue further.
The discussion once again fell into a stalemate.
Natsukawa Sosuke glanced at the time; there were still more than ten minutes until the end.
'It's about time.'
He stood up and, under a chorus of puzzled gazes, walked directly towards the area where the A-class students were seated.
Seeing Natsukawa approach, Machida Koji immediately frowned in vigilance.
"You're Natsukawa from Class D? If you're here to be a lobbyist too, save your breath. I've said it, Class A won't cooperate."
"Don't be nervous, Machida-kun."
Natsukawa Sosuke waved his hand, a casual smile on his face, and pulled up a chair to sit opposite him.
"I'm not an idealist; I'm not interested in giving you ethics lessons. If you want to be turtles hiding in your shells, that's your freedom."
"Then what are you doing here?" Machida's frown deepened.
"I'm here to ask you for something."
Natsukawa Sosuke leaned forward and lowered his voice, speaking in a volume only they could hear:
"Give me Katsuragi Kohei's contact information."
"Huh?"
Machida Koji was clearly not expecting this request and was momentarily stunned. "Why do you want Katsuragi's number?"
"Trade secret." Natsukawa smiled mysteriously. "You should know, right? Katsuragi-kun and I had a very friendly cooperation on the deserted island as a precedent. I just have some private matters to catch up with him about."
Machida Koji's expression subtly changed.
As a member of the Katsuragi faction, he naturally knew that the class would have to pay a large amount of private points to Class D every month in the future. This was not a glorious matter within Class A.
He scrutinized Natsukawa for a few moments, then finally pulled out his phone from his pocket and brought up Katsuragi's contact information.
"Here. But don't expect to change our policy through Katsuragi. This'silent strategy' was formulated by Katsuragi himself."
"Thanks."
Natsukawa Sosuke quickly added Katsuragi's email and account, then returned to his seat.
'No choice. At this stage, I can't let Class D and Class B get too overconfident. So I'll have to talk to that bald guy about cooperation. It'll also give him some achievements to contend with Sakayanagi.'
...The hour of torment finally ended.
As the clock chimed, everyone got up and left.
Karuizawa Kei practically shot up, being the first to rush out of the room.
Ever since she was cornered by Manabe and the others in the hallway that afternoon, the awakened sense of fear had never left her.
She had to find someone to help.
She had to find someone to deal with those Class C guys.
She had told Hirata about it that afternoon, but he was caught up with some things and asked her to find him after the exam that evening. She jogged all the way and finally found Hirata Yosuke waiting in the resting area near the staircase.
"Yōsuke-kun!"
Seeing his gentle figure, Karuizawa Kei felt as if she had found a lifeline. She practically threw herself at him, gripping his arm tightly.
"Yōsuke-kun, you have to help me! Go warn them! Or have the teacher kick them out! Don't let them get near me again!"
Hirata Yosuke listened to her crying, his eyes showing concern, but more so, a sense of difficulty.
He gently patted Karuizawa's back, trying to calm her down.
"Karuizawa-san, please calm down first." Hirata's voice was still gentle, but it carried a rationality that made Karuizawa uneasy. "Since they said you pushed someone, then... is that true?"
"Huh?"
Karuizawa Kei suddenly looked up, staring at him in disbelief. "Does that matter?! The point now is that they're picking on me! They want to bully me!"
"It matters, Kei." Hirata sighed, looking at her with sincere eyes. "If it's truly a misunderstanding, we can explain it clearly. But if... if you really accidentally did something like that, I think the best solution is to apologize."
"Apologize?!"
These two words were like a red-hot needle, fiercely piercing Karuizawa's most sensitive nerve.
She violently shook off Hirata's hand, took two steps back, and looked at her nominal boyfriend with an extremely unfamiliar gaze.
"What are you saying... Hirata-kun?"
"You're telling me... to bow my head to those people? To admit my mistake to them?"
"As long as you apologize and the misunderstanding is resolved, they naturally won't target you anymore." Hirata earnestly persuaded her, "I believe that with good communication, everyone can understand each other. I'll help you talk; we'll go find Rika-san together..."
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Karuizawa Kei shrieked, cutting him off.
Her voice became sharp and piercing; fear had completely overwhelmed her reason, giving rise to the most twisted anger.
"It'll be fine if I apologize?"
"Once I bow my head, once I show weakness, they'll think I'm easy to bully! They'll get worse! Next, they'll hide my shoes, scribble on my desk, throw my textbooks into the sink..."
"In this world, only the strong won't be bullied! The only way is to scare them, to make them afraid to come near!"
She rushed forward, screaming hysterically:
"Didn't you promise?! You said you'd protect me! That you'd stand by me no matter what happened!"
"Then go deal with them! Make them shut up! Use your status, or points, or even violence! Whatever method, just make them disappear!"
Faced with Karuizawa's almost deranged demands, Hirata Yosuke fell silent.
The light in his eyes didn't change because of her coercion; it was still that sorrowful gentleness.
"I'm sorry, Kei."
"I will keep my promise to protect you. I can always stay by your side, standing in front of you when you're attacked."
"But... I will never actively harm others to protect one person."
"I have my bottom line. I don't want to see conflict in the class, and I certainly don't want to become an aggressor of violence."
"You..."
Karuizawa Kei stared blankly at her hand, which had been pushed away.
Despair.
Complete despair.
She finally understood that this man, this protective umbrella she had thought was the strongest, did not belong exclusively to her.
His gentleness was equally bestowed upon everyone, even those who wished to harm her enemies.
"Ha... haha..."
Karuizawa Kei suddenly started laughing, her laughter dry and mournful.
"Is this your answer? Hirata Yosuke."
Tears still streamed from her eyes, but her gaze turned icy cold, a look of abandonment towards an incompetent host.
"Protect me... it was all a lie! You're just a coward who only says pretty words!"
She fiercely wiped away her tears. "If you can't do it, then get lost!"
"If you can't protect me, then you're worthless to me!"
"Our relationship... ends here!"
Having thrown down these resolute words, Karuizawa Kei didn't even glance at Hirata again, turning and running away.
Her heels made dull thuds on the carpet. She was like a wounded beast, frantically trying to escape this place that had utterly disappointed her, to find another den to shelter in...
...
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