"Me?"
Hikigaya fell into thought.
He wasn't sure why Horikita Manabu suddenly brought up the past, but at least he didn't seem angry. So, Hikigaya tried to imagine it:
What if Komachi turned out like him?
No. Absolutely not.
Just thinking about it made him feel a chill.
If Komachi ended up as useless as him, the most he could do was work to support her. But if her personality became like his... Hikigaya was sure he'd worry himself sick.
But even then, if he distanced himself from Komachi because of it, throwing her into danger, that wouldn't be right either.
"Sure enough, there's only one way."
After some thought, Hikigaya nodded confidently, which made Horikita Manabu look intrigued. Maybe this guy really had a solution.
Hikigaya spoke with pride: "As long as I become useless enough, Komachi won't aspire to be like me. Instead, she'll strive to become better so she can take care of a loser like me. Perfect plan, right?"
Horikita Manabu was stunned.
This was the first time he'd seen someone speak so grandly about being completely pathetic. It was downright shameless. Yet, Hikigaya's deep care for his sister was evident.
"Well... it's a method, I suppose," Horikita Manabu sighed bitterly. "But that's clearly not an option for me."
Maybe it was because Hikigaya's parents raised him with a more hands-off approach. That kind of lifestyle wasn't an option for someone from an elite family like the Horikitas.
"Then, are you planning to do nothing this time?" Hikigaya asked, bringing the conversation back on track. After all, he came here for a transaction.
If Horikita Manabu truly intended to leave Horikita Suzune alone, it was a bit harsh, but it wasn't Hikigaya's problem. It just meant he couldn't earn any money.
"Hmm..."
Horikita Manabu fell into deep thought. Even someone like Hikigaya, from Class B, could easily see through the fragile strength of Horikita Suzune and threaten her if he wanted to. The situation had become severe.
Horikita Suzune was lucky to encounter Hikigaya, someone driven by money rather than cruelty. If she had run into someone with more sinister intentions, things could've been much worse.
"Here's my proposal," Horikita Manabu said firmly. "I'll pay you 150,000 yen to keep an eye on her during this sports festival. If anything dangerous happens, contact me immediately."
"So, if there's no real danger, you're just going to ignore her, right?" Hikigaya glanced at him.
It was only a one-day task, and he was already prepared to accept it. Horikita Manabu really was ruthless, but Hikigaya couldn't fault him for it. It was his choice, after all.
"Yes. About the payment..." Horikita Manabu pulled out his phone. "I'll transfer it to you now. You don't seem like the kind of guy who'd break a contract."
"Thanks."
Hikigaya nodded as he quickly received the transfer of 150,000 yen.
Just as he was about to leave, Horikita Manabu added:
"I'll also give you 5,000 personal points every month to keep tabs on her situation. Contact me if anything seems off."
"That's not necessary." Hikigaya waved his hand in refusal.
What a joke. He just wanted to be an information dealer and make easy money, not waste his time every day keeping an eye on that stubborn girl, Horikita Suzune.
"Even if it's a lie," Horikita Manabu chuckled, "You won't take the job."
"Exactly."
Hikigaya raised his hand and turned to leave. He was content with a one-day gig worth 150,000 yen. All he had to do was listen to Horikita Suzune's troubles and call her brother if needed. That's the kind of easy job he liked.
"Don't you care if the club report from the Wool Department gets approved?" Horikita Manabu called out.
Without stopping, Hikigaya just raised his hand. Of course, it would get approved. It was a loophole he found, and there's no way he'd let it fail.
Watching Hikigaya's back as he walked away, Horikita Manabu sighed.
It would've been ideal if Hikigaya joined the student council. He couldn't defeat Nagumo Masaru, but Horikita believed Hikigaya could find a way to keep him in check.
But this guy didn't seem interested in anything beyond fulfilling his duties as a member of Class B. It was almost impressive how efficiently he operated as a "social animal."
Lunch break was ending. As Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane returned to the entrance hall, she asked:
"President, what do you think of that Hikigaya?"
Horikita Manabu glanced at her, surprised. It was rare to see Tachibana Akane show interest in someone else.
"Although he's hard to read, he's a responsible and trustworthy person," Horikita Manabu replied thoughtfully. "If you give him a task, he'll get it done. But convincing him to accept it? That's the hard part."
"I don't see it," Akane frowned.
How could someone so unpleasant get such high praise from the president?
Just then—
"Brother."
Horikita Suzune appeared before them, her head lowered under her brother's cold gaze.
Seeing her, Horikita Manabu felt a deep sense of helplessness.
"Do you understand the situation Class D is in during this exam?" Horikita Manabu asked calmly.
"I understand that all too well now."
Horikita Suzune clenched her fists, her voice weak and full of guilt.
The leaked entry list had given Class C a perfect chance to crush them. It was her fault for being careless.
"But please don't worry. I won't cause you any trouble," Horikita Suzune whispered, her voice shaking.
But her brother's sharp eyes only made her more fearful. What Hikigaya said was true: Horikita Suzune was in a dangerous mental state. And her weakness was her attachment to her brother.
Horikita Manabu sighed. It felt impossible to keep his distance or get closer without making things worse.
"Farewell."
Horikita Suzune muttered softly before running away.
Watching her leave, Horikita Manabu felt his own powerlessness.
It would've been better if Horikita Suzune just stopped looking to him for approval.
Afternoon events began, but Hikigaya only needed to participate in the three-legged race with Ichinose. The rest of the time, he was free to slack off.
"Hey, Hikigaya, you're doing the three-legged race with Ichinose, right?" Juke slid into the seat next to him, striking up a conversation.
"Yeah. Why aren't you cheering for Shibata and the others?" Hikigaya asked, keeping an eye out for Horikita Suzune.
He hadn't spotted her, which was strange. But as long as Ryuen was around, she was probably safe.
"What are you looking at?" Juke pouted. "You're not thinking about that three-legged race with Ichinose, are you?"
"What? No. It's just a coincidence we're partners. Nothing special about it."
"Good. Because Ichinose is the school beauty. If you like her, you should just give up now."
"You're overthinking things." Hikigaya sighed. He just wanted to get through the day and earn his easy money.
And after this job, he could finally relax.
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31