There is something wrong with Hikigaya’s classroom of the Elite, as expected

Chapter 144: The Scapegoat

Hikigaya’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present heard him clearly, their expressions varying.

If we talk about Horikita’s issues, there were definitely big problems, but they weren’t on the same level as Sudo’s incident, so you could almost feel the flames coming from Horikita’s eyes.

However, even so, Horikita still didn’t say a word, gritting her teeth, looking like she wanted to explode but was holding it back forcefully.

“Not willing to accept it? That’s fine.”

Hikigaya ignored the look in Horikita’s eyes: “Because this won’t be the first time, and it definitely won’t be the last.”

After saying that, Hikigaya no longer paid attention to Horikita. He turned toward the few surveillance cameras near the corridor and the stairs, taking out his phone to record and take pictures.

“Evidence gathering on-site is complete. As for the subsequent handling, I ask everyone present to head to the student council meeting room, where the president has been waiting for some time.”

After speaking without any expression, Hikigaya turned and left. The remaining people looked at each other, and they had no choice but to follow him to the student council meeting room. Horikita and Ayanokouji remained silent during the whole journey, while Hirata, Ichinose, and the others looked worried. Only Ishizaki’s face was full of excitement, as if he had already predicted what would happen next.

Not long after, everyone arrived at the student council meeting room. Originally, today was supposed to be the final decision on Sudo’s fighting incident, but clearly, that matter had to be postponed for now. The immediate issue to address was the serious violation by Class D for secretly installing surveillance cameras in the school.

In the deliberation meeting, it was still Horikita and Tachibana Akane handling the matter. Compared to the last fight-related dispute, this time the violation was clearly much more severe in nature, and the atmosphere was far more serious and oppressive than before.

Since entering the meeting room, Horikita had kept her head lowered, seemingly unwilling to meet her brother’s gaze.

Hikigaya handed the footage and his phone to Horikita Manabu, then recounted the events in detail. Horikita’s expression remained indifferent, with no sign of any change in her facial expression.

Horikita’s gaze turned to the students from Class C, and she then listened again to the testimonies from Ishizaki and others, which were not much different from what Hikigaya had described. Essentially, Class D had intended to use the secretly installed surveillance cameras to pressure the students from Class C to withdraw their complaints about the fighting incident involving Sudo. Ishizaki strongly insisted that he wasn’t deceived and that it was Class D who fabricated lies to deceive him.

When Ishizaki tried to continue, Horikita raised his hand to interrupt, signaling for him to stop. With no choice, Ishizaki had to remain silent.

Horikita then turned to Ichinose, asking a few questions, before saying, “So, Ichinose, you didn’t know that the surveillance cameras in the hallway were fake and thought they recorded last week’s conflict between Class D and Class C? That’s why you chose to help the students from Class D, is that correct?”

Ichinose’s expression was troubled, and she instinctively glanced at Hikigaya, their eyes meeting. The cold gaze and the reprimand she had just received echoed in her ears.

Haruno beside Ichinose gently touched her hand and whispered, “Ichinose, think about your classmates, don’t let Horikita’s efforts go to waste.”

In the end, Ichinose nodded in acknowledgment, though it seemed to take all of her strength.

“So, are you saying that Class B is also a victim who was deceived?” Horikita confirmed again.

“Yes, yes,” Ichinose said, as if she had exhausted all her strength.

After this, a brief silence fell over the room, and everyone’s gaze naturally turned to the core student of the entire matter—Horikita Suzune.

The illegal installation of surveillance cameras had clearly been a very serious violation, and the mastermind behind it was the student from Class D—Horikita Suzune!

After feeling all the eyes on her, Horikita took a deep breath, glanced at Hikigaya across from her, then resolutely spoke: “The whole thing was planned and led by me alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Ichinose couldn’t bear to look and turned her face away. Kushida frowned, looking somewhat irritated. Ishizaki wore an excited expression, almost as if he were watching a show. Ayanokouji stood behind them, expressionless as he observed everything.

Horikita decided to take all the responsibility upon herself, which was both expected and unexpected. By shouldering all the responsibility herself, she could at least avoid dragging anyone else into this and minimize the losses as much as possible.

However, taking all the responsibility on her own wasn’t something so easily done. How many people could truly have such awareness?

It was just like many scandals exposed in the media—large companies often push someone out as the “scapegoat” for the greater good, such as an intern or a temporary worker… It was a common sight.

Right now, Horikita was voluntarily acting as the “scapegoat,” which was the last semblance of dignity for a proud and stubborn girl.

After hearing Horikita’s “guilty” statement, many people in the room couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that Horikita was sacrificing herself to protect the others and her class.

Horikita couldn’t help but look up at her brother. She had originally thought her brother would show disappointment, anger, or some similar emotion, but the reality was that there was absolutely nothing!

There wasn’t even the slightest change in her brother’s expression, as if Horikita Suzune, standing in front of him, was just a stranger, completely indifferent.

Horikita felt as though something had hit her heart hard, and the intense pain made her feel a little dazed!

Why?!

Even a little anger, even a little disappointment would have been fine, so why was her brother showing no reaction at all?!

At that moment, Horikita’s brother suddenly turned his gaze to someone: “Hikigaya, what do you think about this matter?”

Because of Horikita’s brother, all eyes were drawn to Hikigaya. Hikigaya gave Horikita a long, deep look, then slowly spoke: “President, I think something’s off with this matter.”

“Is this really just Horikita’s fault alone?”

“Oh?”

“I believe Horikita is taking all the responsibility to cover for the real mastermind behind this, intentionally shouldering all the blame herself.”

Hikigaya’s voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, causing everyone in the room to widen their eyes in shock!

Especially…

“Hikigaya, what are you talking about! I already said, I’m the one who planned and instructed everything. It has nothing to do with anyone else!”

Horikita suddenly stood up, staring at Hikigaya in disbelief, then quickly spoke.

Ichinose, Kushida, Ishizaki, and the others all showed expressions of confusion, not understanding what Hikigaya was trying to do. Similarly, Ayanokouji furrowed his brows instinctively. Only Haruno seemed to have realized something, giving a smile that was half amusement and half something else.

“Horikita, it seems you’re misunderstanding something.”

Hikigaya looked at Horikita without expression, his voice cold: “From the very beginning, this matter has never been something where you can simply say, ‘I’ll take responsibility,’ and everything will be solved. This is not something that can be easily wrapped up by you ‘confessing.’ How the facts and responsibilities are determined has always been a matter for the student council!”