There is something wrong with Hikigaya’s classroom of the Elite, as expected

Chapter 120: What Could Be More Important Than Expulsion?

“Would you, as a person, be afraid of expulsion?”

Horikita Manabu’s unexpected question left Hikigaya momentarily stunned. As a student of this school, expulsion was undoubtedly the most terrifying thing. However, when viewed in the context of an entire lifetime, compared to other matters, expulsion seemed rather insignificant.

“So… President, are you saying that there are things more important—or perhaps more ‘frightening’—than expulsion?”

Hikigaya narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing Horikita Manabu carefully. He even felt a slight chill run down his spine.

Because he had begun to sense the true intent behind Horikita Manabu’s words.

Taking a life was easy, but defeating someone was difficult. Could it be that he was planning…

After that, Horikita Manabu didn’t seem inclined to continue the conversation. Once they finished cleaning up their trays, the two prepared to return to their dorms. They walked in silence, and just before they reached the fork in the path where their dorms separated—less than 100 meters away—Horikita Manabu pointed to a nearby vending machine.

Each of them chose a can of drink. Afterward, Hikigaya bid Horikita Manabu farewell and turned toward the first-year dormitory.

At that moment, a voice called out from behind him.

“Hikigaya, I heard you have a younger sister?”

Hmm?

Hikigaya stopped in his tracks, looking back at Horikita Manabu, who was still standing in place. Puzzled, he nodded in response.

“Yes, I do.”

“I see…”

There was a rare hint of emotion in Horikita Manabu’s tone. Then, as if by habit, he adjusted his glasses. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, Hikigaya couldn’t clearly make out the expression on his face.

Horikita Manabu then slowly turned and walked away, leaving behind a sentence that sounded like he was speaking to himself.

“I, too, have a younger sister.”

“…”

A long silence followed before Hikigaya finally came back to his senses. By then, Horikita Manabu’s figure had already disappeared into the darkness of the night.

“So… that’s how it is?”

He finally understood Horikita Manabu’s true intention, and he also figured out the meaning behind all of Horikita Manabu’s previous actions. Even what happened tonight was something he had deliberately arranged.

No wonder Horikita Manabu had asked him to stay back…

What a cold-faced but warm-hearted older brother!

Hikigaya couldn’t help but press his hand to his forehead and laugh. “What an unexpected—but completely irresistible—reason!”

Just as he arrived at the dormitory building, someone suddenly blocked his path.

“Hikigaya, you’re finally back!”

Horikita Suzune appeared out of nowhere. Upon seeing Hikigaya, her usually cold face showed a rare but fleeting smile.

“I have some questions about Sudo’s fight incident that I need to verify with you.”

Horikita seemed unaccustomed to asking others for help, so her tone and wording were extremely stiff.

Realizing this, she hesitated for a moment and then added, “C-Can I?”

Hikigaya couldn’t help but grumble internally—he had just finished having dinner with someone’s older brother, and now their younger sister immediately came looking for him. Do these two have some kind of telepathic connection?

He nodded, and Horikita let out a small sigh of relief.

And then…

“Wait, why are you coming to my room?!”

Hikigaya looked at Horikita, who had followed him inside, with a dumbfounded expression. He had agreed to help her, sure, but wasn’t it a little inappropriate for a girl to enter a boy’s room alone at night?

Wait… Why am I even worried about this?

“There’s no time to waste. I’ll make do.”

“…Tch.”

Horikita spoke as self-centered as always—so much so that even she probably didn’t notice. After all, habits and ways of thinking don’t change overnight.

As she entered Hikigaya’s room, she seemed slightly surprised by how it was arranged and how clean it was. It actually resembled a certain someone’s room.

Hikigaya sighed, preparing tea as he asked, “So, what’s your question? Go ahead.”

Horikita sat properly on the carpet in a formal posture, pondered for a moment, then spoke. “There are some aspects of this dispute that I can’t quite understand…”

Hikigaya blinked in surprise, looking at the icy girl in front of him. Her confusion was actually the same as his.

Both of them were questioning the verdict of this incident. Without objective third-party evidence, neither party’s testimony could be considered conclusive proof. If the judgment was based solely on who appeared more injured and vulnerable, then Horikita thought that would be too subjective.

“Of course, it’s undeniable that Sudo’s past behavior and temper made the other side’s testimony seem more ‘credible.’ That’s also reflected in the verdict. However, the school also granted Sudo a one-week buffer period, which suggests that they, too, had doubts about Class C’s testimony. So… I wanted to hear your opinion, since you were involved in that meeting.”

After carefully organizing her thoughts, Horikita realized that something wasn’t right—there were inconsistencies, contradictions. That’s why she wanted to consult Hikigaya, knowing that his perspective would be more objective and comprehensive than Sudo’s own.

“…Looks like Sudo didn’t tell you the full story.”

Hikigaya immediately identified the issue. Horikita frowned, and he proceeded to explain everything in detail, particularly emphasizing Sudo’s aggressive reaction during the meeting and the additional punishment that followed.

Horikita’s expression darkened further.

“He brought this upon himself!”

In the end, she couldn’t help but curse in frustration.

“That’s exactly what happened.”

Hikigaya nodded. “Originally, there was still room to maneuver in this dispute. But he cornered himself. He can’t even blame others for setting a trap—he didn’t just fall for it, he went out of his way to stomp on it. If that’s not self-destructive, I don’t know what is.”

Hikigaya figured Ryuen must have laughed himself half to death when he heard about this. Even he probably didn’t expect to deal with someone as reckless as Sudo.

Seeing Horikita’s expression, Hikigaya suddenly recalled his earlier conversation with Horikita Manabu. After a brief moment of thought, he spoke.

“Horikita, if you guys are still trying to help Sudo at this point, then I think you’ve been approaching it the wrong way from the start.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Do you understand what it means to be suspended until summer vacation?”

“…What does it mean?”

Horikita was momentarily stunned, but she quickly realized something. “Hikigaya… Are you saying he won’t be able to take the next exams?”

Hikigaya expressionlessly nodded. “Exactly. That’s how the school’s rules work.”

“Which means… he’ll be expelled?!”

Horikita’s already grim expression became even uglier—she was visibly furious!