“…That’s…” she started.
I think that this was something she had never expected… Actually, no. Rather, I think that it’s something she didn’t want to think about. Horikita was probably willing to accept a certain level of compensation, but she choked on her words as she tried to respond to my condition.
“You’re saying some truly ridiculous things. What, you’re telling me to let you run completely free, like Kouenji-kun?” asked Horikita.
It wasn’t anger pouring out of Horikita, it was dismay.
“You’ve been engaging in discussion with me lately, and you’ve even started to contribute a little to the class, and yet here you are telling me that you won’t even cooperate from now on…?” she huffed.
“I understand that you don’t like it. But I have my own thoughts, and that’s exactly why I’ve made this proposal,” I explained.
“Can I ask you something?” asked Horikita. “You said you have your own thoughts. What are those, exactly?”
“I’m not dead set on getting up to Class A in the first place. I don’t especially care if I graduate from my current class, or Class C, or Class D. Can’t you understand that someone like that wouldn’t feel the need to work desperately hard and cooperate in order to move up to Class A?” I asked.
“…I suppose you’re right,” said Horikita.
“And I’m not as particular about Private Points as Kouenji either. I even feel like what I get from our current amount of Class Points is more than enough. I wouldn’t even be bothered if they were reduced by half,” I answered.
I told her that even if we lost because I didn’t help, that would still be an acceptable situation for me.
“Okay then, why is it that you’ve lent me a hand every now and then before now?” asked Horikita.
“Because the class becoming stable is the best thing that I could ask for. You and your classmates have matured, Horikita,” I explained. “I’ve simply decided that we’ve reached a point where I can get by with letting go and allowing you and the others to manage things.”
“I honestly have no idea where to start when it comes to your statements, but… I understand what you are trying to say. You mean that after you help with this End-of-Year Special Exam, you want to relax and enjoy the rest of your time as a student, right?” asked Horikita.
“Yep, that’s it,” I said. “But I have no intention of making that particular demand right now, just from taking on the position of general. As long as I’m the general, I promise not to ask for what I just explained right now, about leaving me alone as a reward, as long as you keep winning and make sure they don’t get past our center, thus keeping me from having to take a turn.”
“…Which means you’ll only be demanding that condition if you’re forced to take your turn as the general and lead our class to victory then, basically?” asked Horikita.
“Yeah. Oh, but keep in mind that even if you get the general for the other class, probably Ichinose, down to one remaining Life Point, and I still have to come in and win it, you’ll still have to keep your promise,” I explained.
Horikita needed to always keep a development like that in mind, namely, the notion of someone profiting while others fight. It was a proposal that would normally get rejected, unsurprisingly. That was precisely why I mentioned it as an important part.
“So, supposing if, hypothetically, I do take a turn as the general, and we lose the exam, then in that case, as long as I remain your classmate thereafter, I promise to help you the next time… Actually, no, I promise to cooperate with you for the next six months,” I declared.
I promised to help her for the next half a year in exchange if I were defeated. That shouldn’t have been a bad offer from Horikita’s perspective.
“Even in the unlikely event that you lose, I can gain your cooperation for a while… You really have come to me seeking a deal with terms similar to what Kouenji-kun did, haven’t you?” said Horikita.
“Actually, I believe my proposal is even better than what Kouenji offered. Unless I were to get expelled in the middle of the year or something else would cause me to leave your class, Horikita, I’m going to be cooperating with you for six months,” I added.
“Why not say you’ll do it until graduation, instead of saying half a year?” asked Horikita.
“That’s far too much,” I replied.
“Sigh… I suppose that even if I refuse your proposal here, Ayanokouji-kun, I have no guarantee that you’ll continue to devotedly assist me in the future, do I?” asked Horikita.
“Of course not. Because I don’t mind even if I don’t graduate from Class A,” I replied.
“I suppose this is rather fitting for you. What a troublesome proposition,” said Horikita.
“Let me think for a bit,” added Horikita, as she crossed her arms and closed her eyes. It sounded like she would consider the matter and come to a conclusion right here and now, as if she didn’t have any time to delay. Personally, I would’ve been fine waiting until nighttime, but I didn’t want to interrupt her now that she was thinking, so I waited for her answer.
If Horikita, as the center, defeated the general from the opposing class, then our relationship would remain unchanged. Even if Horikita lost, if I then won, she would still get Class Points for the End-of-Year Special Exam. However, the risk was that she’d no longer have my cooperation. If Horikita lost and I lost, she would gain my cooperation for the next six months, unless there were some unforeseen problems. Just now, Horikita had been presented with these three possible futures.
“Let’s say that I, who want you to cooperate with me for the next six months, work together with the vanguard and lose on purpose, so that I put you at a disadvantage. What would you do then?” asked Horikita.
“I wouldn’t really care. I’ll keep my word if I lose under any circumstances,” I replied.