After a brief silence, Horikita Manabu spoke first.
"Not bad. It seems you've truly grasped the essence of this school. You're not the first student to notice the student council's special role. Among the four students I've interviewed before you, three also realized the council's importance to their class's future development."
He paused for a moment, and for the first time, a slight shift appeared in his otherwise steady tone.
"It's true that students with outstanding individual abilities can play a crucial role. That can't be denied. However..."
He adjusted his glasses and continued, "Sometimes, collective strength is just as essential. Unity is also a form of power."
Collective strength? Unity?
Hikigaya was genuinely surprised to hear those words from the student council president.
He had always assumed that the student council—an organization that represented 90% of the school's will—embraced the same meritocratic philosophy. Yet now, the president was talking about collectivism?
Was he actually the "cold on the outside, warm on the inside" type?
Their eyes met, and in that instant, Hikigaya suddenly understood the true meaning behind Manabu's words.
The perspective he had... was far above everyone else's.
Hikigaya couldn't help but acknowledge the maturity of this student council president. Even most adults couldn't compare to him.
A person's way of thinking determined their level.
From Hikigaya's perspective, Horikita Manabu was no longer fixated on the small world within this school—his sights were set on something much greater.
"Now, the final question—one that only a student from D-Class can answer."
Horikita Manabu's eyes turned sharp.
His gaze locked onto Hikigaya, as if scanning him like a machine. If there was even the slightest flaw, it would be detected instantly.
Hikigaya straightened his posture. If everything before this was just buildup, then this next question would be the real test.
"Since you understand the importance and value of the student council... tell me, as a student of D-Class, what is your value?"
Horikita Manabu crossed his hands and stared at Hikigaya with an icy expression—just like a certain commander sitting in his chair of authority.
As expected, Horikita Manabu's question was sharp and direct. He clearly knew what this school was really about, which was why he understood the true meaning behind the name "Class D."
No wonder only students from Class D were "qualified" to answer.
"The value of Class D, huh?"
Hikigaya muttered to himself, a bit lost in thought.
To be honest, the only value he had seen in Class D so far was "biological diversity" and "a case study on how humans can regress into apes." In a school that encouraged competition and prioritized ability, what exactly did Class D students amount to?
"At the start of the school year, I accidentally overheard how others described our class—defective products, flawed goods. Over time, I came to understand what they meant."
Hikigaya spoke calmly.
"Sometimes I wonder, even if something is defective, does that mean it can't be used? Think about it. There are plenty of real-life examples—clearance items, half-price bento boxes, second-hand stores. They might not be perfect, but they still have their buyers."
"But can people really be compared to products on the same level?"
"Obviously not."
It sounded like Hikigaya was talking to himself, but neither Tachibana Akane, Horikita Manabu, nor Haruno interrupted him. They just listened quietly.
"So, what's the difference?"
"Lessons and experience."
Hikigaya let out a sigh.
"There's a saying: the only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity never learns from history. But even that is a kind of experience. Right or wrong, people grow through lessons and experience, and that's what keeps society moving forward."
"Mistakes and flaws, in themselves, have value."
Hikigaya paused, looking around the room before locking eyes with Horikita Manabu.
"This school measures students based on ability. For all of you who successfully got in, that means you already have value and potential. That's what our homeroom teacher said on the first day, making it clear that the school considered Class D students to be worth the same as 100,000 private points."
"Many in Class D believed those words. But even now, I have my doubts. And seeing how my classmates have behaved so far has only confirmed those doubts—they don't deserve that value."
At this, Hikigaya suddenly smiled.
"So, as someone from Class D, what value do I have?"
Tachibana Akane frowned slightly, as if about to say something, but Horikita Manabu raised a hand to stop her, signaling Hikigaya to continue.
Meanwhile, Haruno looked even more intrigued, the corners of her lips curling up slightly as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"If Class D—full of mistakes and flaws—is truly worthless, then what does that say about this school, which boasts a 100% employment and university acceptance rate?
If Class B and Class C also exist, then why not just recruit the best students from schools all over the country? Wouldn't that be simpler and more efficient?"
"If the goal is to gather top students and give them the best resources, then why bring in obviously flawed ones like us?"
As Hikigaya spoke, Haruno's eyes grew even brighter, and even Horikita Manabu showed a flicker of surprise.
"The best students will naturally compete against each other. Healthy competition helps them improve and become even stronger. But for ANHS, a school that focuses on real-world competition, it's clear that they want students to adapt to something even harsher—an environment filled with ruthless and cutthroat competition."
"If Class A represents the best students recognized by the school, then doesn't that mean the other classes—including Class D—exist purely to challenge and sharpen them?"
Hikigaya looked calmly at Horikita Manabu.
"In other words, our value as 'flawed products' is to be stepping stones—to help polish the best students."
"Then doesn't that also mean that, somewhere deep down, the school believes Class D has the potential to threaten Class A?"
Hikigaya took a deep breath before speaking again.
"In that case, if I, as a member of Class D, possess the 'potential to threaten Class A,' then in Horikita-senpai's eyes—
Is that value... enough?"
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