Masayoshi Hashimoto is Greatly Shocked

"Hmm? How dare you slander the reputation of Her Highness?"

Masayoshi Hashimoto frowned, though he didn't actually make any particular move, choosing instead to wait right there for Toru Hasegawa to continue.

The look in his eyes seemed to say—"Get on with it!"

Sure enough, since they were all just students, how could anyone be truly loyal to another person within just a few days? Toru Hasegawa thought to himself, while saying aloud:

"The story begins on the very first day of school."

"Uh-huh."

Masayoshi Hashimoto nodded repeatedly, signaling for Toru Hasegawa to go on.

Toru Hasegawa was truly speechless now; was he not even going to bother pretending anymore?

"Arisu Sakayanagi noticed the hidden meaning in Teacher Mashima's words on the first day, but she didn't point it out directly."

"Wait a second, do you have any proof for that?"

"Has no one told you that interrupting others is a very rude behavior? As punishment, go buy me a... cocoa." Toru Hasegawa said bluntly.

"Huh?"

Seeing Masayoshi Hashimoto frozen in place, Toru Hasegawa urged him:

"Go buy it quickly, or I won't tell you anymore."

How could one not prepare a drink before launching into a long-winded explanation? It was perfect; he might as well let Masayoshi Hashimoto do the legwork!

"Oh, oh, alright."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Masayoshi Hashimoto scurried off to buy the drinks.

Before long, he returned clutching two cans of cocoa and handed one to Toru Hasegawa:

"Let's go somewhere else to talk. How about your dorm room? I'm worried that if we talk here, someone might overhear us."

"You've certainly got your plans laid out well." Toru Hasegawa smiled. "But there's nothing in my room, so suit yourself."

And so, the two of them arrived at Dormitory 301.

"Your room... it really is completely bare. Aside from daily necessities, there isn't a trace of anything else."

"That's normal, isn't it? After all, school only started a few days ago." Toru Hasegawa shrugged.

"No, the first few days are usually when a room undergoes the most changes; it rarely changes after that." Masayoshi Hashimoto dismissed Toru Hasegawa's excuse. "Anyway, hurry up and tell me about Her Highness. I'm getting impatient."

"You won't interrupt me again this time?"

"I won't, I won't. I'll be a qualified listener."

Masayoshi Hashimoto wore a sincere, apologetic smile; at least on the surface, there was no sign of acting.

Seeing this, Toru Hasegawa finally began: "Why did Arisu Sakayanagi, who originally had no intention of pointing out the issues in Teacher Mashima's words, change her mind the next morning...?"

"...You are allowed to speak, you know. I need you to play the straight man here."

Seeing Masayoshi Hashimoto remain silent, Toru Hasegawa sighed helplessly; this wasn't the kind of listener he needed.

"Oh, oh, because what happened on the first day?"

"Right. Arisu Sakayanagi met Ayanokoji Kiyotaka at noon. It's clear they knew each other beforehand, and she likely harbors a great deal of fighting spirit toward him. That is the reason she chose to reveal part of the truth about this school the next day—because she needs to consolidate Class A."

After finishing, Toru Hasegawa took a sip of his cocoa.

"Is this the true nature of Her Highness?" Masayoshi Hashimoto muttered.

"No. Now that you know this, let's return to the first question: why didn't Arisu Sakayanagi point out the problems in Teacher Mashima's words on the first day? Hashimoto-kun, answer me immediately!"

"I don't know..."

Knowing the truth but deliberately staying silent—Masayoshi Hashimoto couldn't come up with a reason that convinced even himself.

"Because Arisu Sakayanagi doesn't take us seriously at all. We are all just pawns for her amusement."

Toru Hasegawa's voice wasn't loud, but at that moment, it sounded like a thunderclap in Masayoshi Hashimoto's heart.

"H-Her Highness really thinks that way?"

Unable to believe this fact, Masayoshi Hashimoto fell into a daze.

Toru Hasegawa shook his head. If he hadn't been able to see the favorability ratings above people's heads, he probably wouldn't have easily reached this chilling conclusion.

Thinking of this, Toru Hasegawa inevitably thought of another heavyweight player—

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Arisu Sakayanagi's favorability could still fluctuate, and it had a base value of 10, but that person's had been 0 from start to finish, never changing.

How cold-blooded must one be for that?!

"I'm sorry, but this is the only way everything makes sense... but don't worry."

After thinking for a moment, Toru Hasegawa felt he shouldn't treat the other party poorly. In exchange for Masayoshi Hashimoto running errands, he decided to gift him an extra piece of information.

"The ones who can enjoy a one-hundred-percent advancement rate and a one-hundred-percent employment rate are the people in Class A."

"Huh?" Masayoshi Hashimoto was shocked once again. "How do you know that?"

"I know this was purely an accident, but the possibility that the news is true is quite high." Toru Hasegawa couldn't help but laugh as he thought of the three second-year seniors who had fought Sudo for "instant noodle territory."

"...Wait, does that mean you actually possess intelligence that doesn't lose to Classmate Sakayanagi?"

Masayoshi Hashimoto suddenly noticed something; he stopped calling Arisu Sakayanagi "Princess" and instead stared straight at Toru Hasegawa.

"Oh my, although Sakayanagi's goal isn't to maintain the status of Class A, since she wants to compete with Ayanokoji, those two goals have effectively overlapped, so don't worry about it."

Toru Hasegawa laughed it off, trying to gloss over the topic.

If the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up, and besides... there is nothing in this school that cannot be bought with points... isn't that right?

"...Anyway, thank you for being willing to tell me this."

Masayoshi Hashimoto suddenly bowed to Toru Hasegawa with great solemnity.

He had originally approached the other party out of curiosity, but he hadn't expected to gain such unexpected intelligence.

The matters regarding the Princess, the matters regarding Class A...

"However, if it reaches a point where only you can step in, I won't hesitate to sell you out."

Masayoshi Hashimoto added, a smile appearing on his face.

In his heart, Toru Hasegawa's position had climbed above that of Arisu Sakayanagi; he felt a deep sense of admiration for that insight into the human heart.

His understanding of the essence of the school was also not the slightest bit inferior to Arisu Sakayanagi.

Toru Hasegawa also smiled: "...I will naturally step forward when the time comes. After all, most people who come to this school are here for the 100% advancement and employment rates, aren't they?"

"That may be so, but listening to what you just said, that doesn't seem to be Classmate Sakayanagi's goal."

"Well, people like her do exist." Toru Hasegawa said noncommittally.

"So, can I assume that your goal is the same as mine?" Masayoshi Hashimoto stared intently into Toru Hasegawa's eyes. "You should also be here for the 'goal of the majority' you mentioned, right?"

"...I'm very poor, and this place waives tuition and all other expenses."

Toru Hasegawa's answer was concise and to the point, and for some reason, Masayoshi Hashimoto believed what he said.

"Sorry." Masayoshi Hashimoto apologized at lightning speed. "If you need my help with anything in the future, just say the word."

Perhaps from this moment on, he truly began to treat Toru Hasegawa as a friend.

The other party hadn't avoided his question; if he had admitted it directly, he might have been suspicious, but the other party had given a completely different reason that fit his impression perfectly.

"Besides that, there might be people with other reasons, who knows~"

"How so?" Masayoshi Hashimoto was very curious. Could there really be other reasons? He had never thought about such questions in detail before, wishfully believing that everyone came for the 100% advancement and employment rates.

Toru Hasegawa only touched upon it lightly: "For example—a fresh start, or the completely enclosed conditions, or something like that."