Chapter 47: Two Conditions

"Really?" Hikigaya stared at the girl before him with a faint smile. "Horikita-san, you must be the leader of Class D." He wasn't sure why, but there was something particularly amusing about annoying this self-righteous girl.

"So what?" Horikita Suzune's sharp gaze met his, her tone firm. "You know Class B and Class D are in a cooperative relationship. If you betray Class D, Ichinose will never forgive you."

"You really hate losing dont you?" Hikigaya shook his head helplessly. Even now, she still clung to Ichinose's name to intimidate him. That relentless attitude—refusing to let go of any possible leverage—was probably a quality required to be a leader. For him, though, it was simple: if he could avoid trouble, he would. If he couldn't, he would still try to find a way to deal with it.

"Don't worry." Hikigaya raised a hand nonchalantly. "I have no intention of interfering with Ichinose's plan."

In Class B, everyone had their roles to play—responsibilities, so to speak. At the very least, he couldn't drag Class B into his own mess. After all, Ichinose was the class leader, and whatever plans she had, he would stay working under her. The most he'd do was secure some small benefits for himself.

"As long as you understand." Horikita's calm tone carried a hint of relief as if her warning had successfully worked.

"Well..." Hikigaya shrugged. "However, you have to agree to two conditions."

"Fine." Horikita didn't seem the least bit surprised but added, "But keep in mind, a foolproof method isn't necessary for Class D. Even without it, we're confident in clearing this exam. You should consider that when naming your conditions."

This girl really had guts. Even now, she was trying to lower his asking price. She was right, though—if Class D truly had confidence, they wouldn't need an "insurance policy" at all. But the fact that she was here proved otherwise. Despite her bluff, she wanted his help.

Still, Hikigaya had a feeling: if he said something like, "You wouldn't want your brother to find out about your incompetence, would you?", Horikita Suzune would probably agree to any condition.

Her obsession with her brother ran deep. It was awkwardly transparent, though she didn't seem to care about hiding it. And yet, despite how easy it might be to manipulate her, Hikigaya had morals. As despicable as he considered himself, he wouldn't stoop low enough to extort someone under threat.

Now he could understand why The Commander was so worried about his sister. Suzune's flawed mindset made her dangerously vulnerable. Having a sister like her would be a constant source of anxiety. If Komachi were anything like Suzune, she'd be an easy target for exploitation, and the mere thought sent a shiver down his spine. No, enough of that. He shook off the unsettling thoughts and refocused.

He remembers his previous transaction with Horikita Suzune could be considered his first real negotiation in life. Back then, it was just a small favor at the start of the school year—a trivial matter that held little value and relied entirely on the students.
This time, however, was a completely different story. Based on its impact, his strategy could easily be worth over 150 class points and even help Class D overcome Class C, their biggest rival at the moment.

Its value was immeasurable. Yet, as he sat there, he realized something surprising: the first step—deciding the price—was far more difficult than expected. If he set it too high, Suzune would undoubtedly refuse. Too low, and he'd feel dissatisfied with the outcome.
To make matters worse, he had no idea if Horikita Suzune could even afford a steep demand.

If the price exceeded her limits, she might simply walk away. Was she truly confident, or was it just a façade of self-assurance? Moreover, while this special exam was significant, there would surely be more of them in the future. But would any of those exams provide opportunities to earn personal points? That remained uncertain.

"Let me ask you something." Hikigaya pondered for a moment. "What's your position in Class D? Do you even have any friends?"

"Don't joke with me." Horikita crossed her arms, her expression one of disdain. "Do you think I would associate with those incompetent morons? I don't need friends. I'm fine on my own."

"Why Im not surprised by your answer." Hikigaya was momentarily speechless.

This girl really wasn't the type to connect with others. If she'd had any status within Class D, he might have negotiated for Class D to pay him. But now he had to aim his conditions solely at her. If the price was too much for her shell likely won't agree.

"Alright." Hikigaya nodded thoughtfully. "First condition: buy me a MAX coffee using Class D's points." MAX coffee was his lifeline, after all. Since it wouldn't affect Class B, there was no harm in asking. A lone wolf took care of himself.

"…Ha?" Horikita blinked, momentarily thrown off. She stared at him as if waiting for him to clarify.

"Wait," she said finally, rubbing her forehead. "Did you just say... MAX coffee?"

"Yeah?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Deal." Horikita agreed without hesitation, almost as if afraid he might change his mind. For someone who rarely negotiated, this was far too easy. In her eyes, asking for MAX coffee during such an important moment was outright foolish.

"Great. I'll expect it tonight."

"Fine." She agreed but was still skeptical of him.

With the first condition settled, Hikigaya raised a second finger. "Now, the second condition: for the next six months, you'll transfer 50% of the personal points you receive to me every month. For free."

He admit that Suzune had flaws but undeniedly her grades and physical performance are top-notch. But who knows would there be exams in the future to increase private points? If Class D passed this exam, their class points would surpass 300, steadily increasing. At worst, Suzune could earn at least 100,000 personal points over the coming months. At best?

Hikigaya could ride her success and save up to 20 million points, simply by holding onto Horikita Suzune's Horikita Suzune's talents.