The Right Choice

[Please have Hachiman Hikigaya come to the front desk. We have an item that has been lost.]

Hikigaya froze when he heard the announcement. Had he really lost something? Or was there another Hikigaya in the school? No, that was impossible.

"Uh..." Horikita Manabu, who was beside him, glanced over with a questioning look.

Hikigaya could only shake his head in response. He hadn't noticed anything missing. Apart from his phone, he hadn't brought anything with him, so it seemed unlikely he had lost something.

"Let's go check it out anyway," Manabu suggested calmly. "I'll head back to the student council to draft a report. Join me when you're done."

"...Yes," Hikigaya replied.

The school had determined that the fire sprinkler in the third-year boys' locker room had been triggered, but no fire had been detected. Further investigation was required to determine if there had been a malfunction.

The good news was that Hikigaya was relieved from his afternoon patrol duties due to the commotion, with another senior taking his place. The bad news was that he had to write a detailed report as a student council member present during the incident. He sighed. What was there to write about when he knew nothing?

Grumbling internally about the unexpected burden, Hikigaya made his way to the front desk, showing his identification on his phone.

"Thank you, this is your item," the receptionist said, handing him a small black plastic card.

A memory card?

Hikigaya blinked in surprise. "Excuse me, can I ask who brought this? Or what they looked like?"

"She was a tall, beautiful lady with long silver hair," the receptionist replied. "She also asked me to pass on a message."

"What message?"

"'Boys are not allowed to look.'"

"I see... Thank you."

Hikigaya immediately understood that this might involve something private. With a little imagination, he could guess what it was. The person who left it was likely a senior from Class 3-B, Kiryuin.

What was going on here?

This memory card must be related to the investigation he had asked Kiryuin to conduct. But why didn't she come directly to him to explain? Why go through such an elaborate process?

It was baffling... but there was no point in overthinking it.

After all, Kiryuin was as enigmatic as Kouenji. Wasting time trying to understand her actions was unnecessary, especially when there were more pressing matters.

"I should inform President Horikita to contact Tachibana-senpai," he muttered.

This issue wouldn't be easily resolved. If his suspicions were correct, someone would likely be expelled from school.

If he had to guess... the culprits were probably Chi and his group.

Recalling the earlier sense of unease, Hikigaya felt more confident in his conclusion. While he didn't want to see his classmates expelled, if they were guilty, then they deserved to be.

Trash like that had no place in this school. It wasn't just about protecting the girls who were targeted; Hikigaya didn't want a voyeur lurking around the school his sister Komachi might attend in the future.

As he headed toward the student council office, someone called out to him.

"Hikigaya, can I speak with you for a moment?"

"...Ayanokouji."

Hikigaya turned to face the speaker with a blank expression.

"I was wondering how long you were going to hide there."

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean," Ayanokouji replied.

"It doesn't matter. As long as I do."

Even before retrieving the memory card, Hikigaya had noticed Ayanokouji lurking nearby. Although he tried to appear as if he was just passing by, his frequent glances gave him away.

Most people wouldn't have noticed, but Hikigaya wasn't most people. The Lone Ranger was always on alert.

Ayanokouji's presence at this time could only mean one thing—he was involved in the incident. Was he an accomplice?

Hikigaya recalled seeing Ayanokouji and Yamauchi together in the locker room earlier, both suspiciously covering themselves with towels. In hindsight, they were probably aiding Ike.

If that is the case... sorry, Haruno-san, I may not be able to keep my promise this time.

No matter Ayanokouji's role, whether he was actively involved or just got dragged in, it didn't matter. If Ike and Yamauchi were guilty, Ayanokouji's chances of escaping unscathed were slim.

"Hikigaya, do you remember the conversation Karuizawa and I had before?" Ayanokouji asked. "I didn't tell you everything then. Besides the preferential treatment exam, I also asked Karuizawa to help with something else... investigating Ike and Yamauchi's secret photo shoot."

Straight to the point, Hikigaya thought.

"Are you trying to claim you're innocent?" he asked.

"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth."

Hikigaya believed him. When people felt uneasy about being dragged into wrongdoing, they usually either refused from the start or tried to stop it before it happened.

But that applied to ordinary people, not to someone like Ayanokouji.

"Perhaps you don't understand, but from my perspective, I couldn't stop Ike and Yamauchi from going through with it," Ayanokouji continued. "Even if they agreed on the surface, they would have acted behind the scenes. I couldn't think of a better solution than asking Karuizawa for help."

So, he was claiming that his approach was the best option.

"Hikigaya, what would you have done?" Ayanokouji asked.

"Reported it directly to the school," Hikigaya replied without hesitation.

"That's something only you would do, but I wanted to protect the friends I've made... even if they're in the wrong. They're still minors, and it was only an attempt. I hope to give them a chance, and I don't want the class to suffer because of this."

Ayanokouji sighed, his expression full of helplessness. Hikigaya, however, suspected it was a facade. If there was any truth to his words, it was likely only in the last part about protecting Class D.

Unfortunately, Class D was the last thing Hikigaya cared about.

"Anyway, it's pointless to tell me this," Hikigaya said coolly. "When the meeting happens, you can explain it to President Horikita. He won't wrongly accuse anyone. You can trust that."

There was no way Hikigaya would cover up such a serious incident just to protect Ayanokouji, especially if it meant letting Ike and Yamauchi escape punishment.

Everything would be handled impartially, and the final decision would be up to the school and the student council.

With that, Hikigaya turned to leave, but Ayanokouji's voice stopped him.

"Do you think this will lead to the best outcome?"

Hikigaya paused, then turned back to him.

Why was he using that difficult expression... as if there was something more to this?

"What do you mean?" Hikigaya asked.

"No doubt, what you're doing is right by the world's moral standards, but—"

But. The real point always came after "but."

"Hikigaya, you're intelligent," Ayanokouji said, meeting his gaze. "Someone like you, who already understands how society works, must realize... sometimes the right choice doesn't lead to the best results. Acting on a momentary sense of justice can have regrettable consequences."

"...?!"

The words hit Hikigaya like a hammer, leaving him momentarily stunned.

The right choice... doesn't always bring the best results.

Could that be true?

The feelings he had been suppressing started to bubble up again. Regret, self-blame, and something more complex—emotions he couldn't quite name.

"Think about it," Ayanokouji pressed on. "Even if Ike and Yamauchi get expelled, will they change? Or will they become even worse after being labeled as voyeurs?"

He was still trying to convince Hikigaya, watching his reactions carefully.

"They're just minor villains now. Their plan was thwarted, and they'll probably behave after this scare. Schools are supposed to educate and reform... Look at Sudo. He's a completely different person from when he first enrolled. He even refused to join in this time."

Ayanokouji took a step closer, his expression sincere.

"Hikigaya, I think Sudo's change is thanks to you. You have this incredible power to influence people, so why not give Ike and Yamauchi a chance too? Can you say they're beyond hope?"

Ayanokoji's tone was sincere, without a trace of deception, and he truly believed in what he was saying.

However, the purpose behind his words was open to interpretation.

"Yeah... I can't say for certain," Hikigaya murmured, feeling conflicted.

Just as Ayanokoji had pointed out, if Ike and Yamauchi were expelled for this incident, it might serve as a catalyst for change in their lives. Yet, it could also push them down a darker path, making their future even worse.

From this perspective, perhaps they deserved a chance to turn things around.

But then again... what did that have to do with him?

To put it bluntly, Hikigaya had only helped Sudo because he got caught up in the situation and didn't want to feel guilty about it afterward.

Hikigaya didn't feel obligated to meddle in the affairs of other students. What happened to them was their own concern, and he had no duty to intervene.

Right now, the only thing on his mind was ensuring a good environment for Komachi. This was his top priority. And if this was the opportunity to do so, he was determined to unmask the culprit behind the recent incident.

He wanted to make an example out of these students so that their disgraceful actions would be remembered in the school for years to come. It would serve as a cautionary tale to prevent other male students from entertaining such twisted ideas in the future.

However... Ayanokoji's words weren't entirely without merit.

In all honesty, these guys were innocent in a way, at least to some extent.

Although President Horikita would never wrong an innocent person, there was no guarantee that Ayanokoji wouldn't face expulsion. He must have been aware of this possibility, which explained his relentless attempts to persuade Hikigaya.

"Alright, alright. Considering how much you've said, I'll admit that you've half-convinced me," Hikigaya finally relented.

"Half-convinced?"

"Yes. Expelling every student involved in this matter might be a bit excessive," Hikigaya responded in a calm, detached tone, leaving no room for argument.

"So, here's what I'm willing to do. I'll suggest to President Horikita that if those involved voluntarily confess and reveal the mastermind behind this, they might be spared."

"And what will happen to the mastermind?"

"They'll be expelled, of course," Hikigaya stated bluntly. "There's no escaping that."

Before Ayanokoji could respond, Hikigaya cut him off, "Don't even think about negotiating. Let me be clear, this is just a suggestion on my part. President Horikita might not listen to me, so don't push your luck. Otherwise, you can go explain things to the President yourself."

"Understood," Ayanokoji agreed, nodding. The two had reached an understanding.

---

As Hikigaya walked away, Ayanokoji felt a sense of relief wash over him.

It had gone more smoothly than expected.

Although he hadn't convinced Hikigaya to completely cover up the incident, at least he wouldn't be expelled. That was the important part.

It was a good thing he had rushed over as soon as he heard the announcement. Otherwise, things could have taken a turn for the worse.

Ideally, Ayanokoji didn't want anyone in the class to be expelled. But it wasn't something he absolutely couldn't accept.

This situation might not be entirely negative.

Ayanokoji had already considered expelling someone from another class, preferably one of the three girls from Class C related to Karuizawa. If that wasn't possible, then he'd pick someone from another class. And if all else failed, he'd choose someone expendable from Class D.

He was preparing to ascend to Class A, and that meant getting rid of unnecessary people.

Ike and Yamauchi were prime candidates.

If someone from Class D were to be expelled, the rest would inevitably fight harder to stay. In that sense, this could be a positive outcome.

Of course, there was no need to expel both of them at once. Expelling the mastermind would suffice, and keeping the other might be useful later.

After all, one expulsion would be enough to send a message. Adding another wouldn't have twice the effect.

As for who that should be...

Ayanokoji took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Sorry to bother you, Doctor, but could I have a word?"

"Huh? It's rare for you to call me, Ayanokoji. What's up?" The so-called "Doctor" was a nickname for Hideo Sotomura, a pudgy boy in Class D with a knack for computers, hence the nickname.

Ayanokoji and Sotomura had been partners in the Rabbit Group during the preferential exam, and they had talked on occasion, so they were on relatively good terms.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you in person… It's about Ike."

"Huh? What's up with Ike?"

"…Remote control car. Recording."

"Wha—?! I-I understand. Where should we meet?" The two words that came out of Ayanokoji's mouth immediately flustered Sotomura, confirming his suspicion.

Ike hadn't come up with the plan to secretly record with the remote-controlled car on his own—he wasn't smart enough for that. The equipment must have been borrowed from Sotomura, who was known for being an otaku.

If Ayanokoji could convince Sotomura to testify as a witness, and rope Yamauchi in as well, then sacrificing one person would be a small price to pay to ensure the safety of the others.