COTE : There is Something Wrong With Hikigaya-Chapter 187: The Devil’s Temptation

As soon as Hikigaya finished speaking, Katsuragi, Totsuka, and the surrounding students all had a drastic change in expression. They had just realized how "greedy" Hikigaya really was.

Everyone had assumed that 1.5 million private points would be enough to settle the issue. But to their shock, that was only the cost of compensating for the medical kit. The real problem—how Class A would explain the theft—hadn't even been addressed yet!

"Hikigaya, don't push it too far!"

Totsuka shouted, "1.5 million private points is already more than a Class D student could earn in half a year—no, even in three years!"

"Heh, too far?"

Hikigaya gave Totsuka a cold look. "I never said this was just one issue. Compensating for the loss and explaining why a Class D medical kit ended up in your Class A camp are two separate matters.

Of course, if you're unwilling, that's fine. I won't force you. Just make sure you can handle the consequences."

Katsuragi's face darkened. He hadn't expected Hikigaya to be this cunning.

Everyone present could hear the threat in his words. The 1.5 million points wasn't even the real problem anymore. The real issue was exactly what Hikigaya had pointed out—how Class A was going to explain why a Class D first aid kit had appeared in their camp.

The worst part was that neither Katsuragi nor Totsuka had a solid explanation, nor did they have any proof to support one.

They would have to provide evidence that Hikigaya had swapped Class D's medical kit with the one at their base. Otherwise, anything they said would just be speculation. And even if they had evidence, Hikigaya would still have plenty of ways to argue against it.

From the moment Katsuragi and the others moved the supplies from the beach hut to their camp, Class A's fate had already been sealed.

If things continued like this, Class A could very well be accused of theft.

Not only would that mean all their efforts over the past seven days on the deserted island would go to waste, but more importantly... the gap between them and Class B would shrink significantly!

Neither outcome was something Katsuragi could accept.

It was a dead-end.

Katsuragi clenched his fists tightly. Right now, Class A was like a fish caught in Hikigaya's grasp, completely at his mercy.

"Just tell me what you want to let this go."

Katsuragi finally let out a long sigh. He understood that their only way out was through Hikigaya. As long as Hikigaya was willing to change his stance, they could turn this "theft" into something justifiable.

Totsuka and the other Class A students around him all looked humiliated. But they had no choice—if they didn't compromise, they'd be eliminated immediately.

"I heard you made a deal with Ryuen. You pay him 800,000 private points every month, right?"

"H-How do you know that?!"

Katsuragi's eyes widened in shock. Then, as if realizing something, he suddenly turned to glare at the students from Sakayanagi's faction.

"Heh, what kind of person do you think Ryuen is? If he can make a deal with you, why wouldn't he make one with me?"

Hikigaya had no problem throwing Ryuen under the bus. After all, there was no way Katsuragi could confront Ryuen about this right now. Besides... knowing Ryuen's personality, he actually might pull something like this.

"Damn that Ryuen! He acted all friendly with us while making a deal, then turned around and sold us out! What a scumbag!"

Totsuka cursed angrily.

"So, my request isn't too much. Just pay me 1 million private points every month, and we'll be even."

Hikigaya said it as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Totsuka and the other Class A students erupted in protest.

"No way! That's too much!"

They had agreed to pay Ryuen 800,000 private points mainly because he had traded them 200 points' worth of survival supplies in return. It was a mutually beneficial deal.

But Hikigaya was demanding 1 million private points a month—more than Ryuen—and the worst part was that he wasn't offering anything in return.

Hikigaya didn't need to do a thing, yet every Class A student would have to hand over 25,000 private points each month.

On top of the existing contract with Ryuen, that meant every Class A student would be losing 45,000 private points per month!

"Hikigaya, I can agree to the 1.5 million private points for compensation. But paying you 1 million private points every month... don't you think that's going too far? You're being way too greedy!"

Katsuragi spoke in a serious tone.

At the same time, he was very sensitive to the number Hikigaya had just mentioned. Based on his own calculations, Class A should have earned close to 400 class points in this special exam, which meant each student would receive 40,000 private points. However, Ryuen had already taken 20,000, and now Hikigaya was taking the rest—on top of that, he was even asking for extra.

The amount of 1,000,000 private points landed at a very delicate spot, as if Hikigaya knew Class A's internal situation even better than Katsuragi himself.

Realizing this, Katsuragi's expression hardened. He also became aware of something important—why exactly was Hikigaya targeting Class A?

Was it because of the competition between classes?

Or was there something more...

"Katsuragi, have you still not figured out the situation?!"

Hikigaya was clearly annoyed at Katsuragi's attempt to negotiate. "I'm not the one begging here. You're the one asking for my help. Of course, if you guys are fine with failing this exam, then just pretend I never said anything."

"You—!"

It was rare to see Katsuragi actually get angry.

Looking around at the Class A students, Hikigaya let out a mocking laugh. "Let me break it down for you. One million private points split among all of you is just 25,000 points per person. That's nothing for Class A students, right? Converting this amount into class points, it's only worth 250 points. And let's be honest, the points you earn from this exam will definitely be much higher than that.

On one side, you're just losing a small portion of your personal points. On the other side, you're completely screwed and will even have to worry about Class B catching up. My offer should be a great deal, don't you think?"

Most of the students fell silent. Some of them were clearly hesitating.

Losing private points wasn't their biggest concern—the real fear was that failing this exam would allow Class B to close the gap.

"You either give up a small portion of your private points but keep your class lead, or you lose both private points and class points. I think any rational person knows which choice to make."

Inside the quiet cave, Hikigaya's words carried a devilish tone—chilling yet strangely persuasive.

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