Chapter 105 Refusing to be a Shield
"No, I really don't need to..."
Before Hikigaya could finish his sentence, he couldn't help but let out a sneeze.
"See? You've already caught a cold!"
Ichinose Honami came to his side in a huff, staring at him with a serious expression.
"Is Hikigaya-kun going to take it off himself, or are you planning to let me help you?"
"Huh?!"
Even Shiranami Chihiro, who had been squatting in the corner in self-isolation, turned her head at this.
'What kind of provocative words are those?'
However, Hikigaya could hear that this was a lecture belonging specifically to an "older sister" type.
"No, no, no, I'll do it myself!"
Hikigaya looked embarrassed. As an older brother himself, he naturally understood this kind of persistence when it came to looking after younger ones. If you didn't listen, the other person might actually step in and do it personally...
"That's better."
Seeing this, Ichinose Honami nodded in satisfaction and then turned her back.
'Sigh!'
Taking off his clothes in front of two girls from the same school... what kind of awkward hell was this?
"Hikigaya-kun, move a little faster, or you'll catch a chill," Ichinose Honami urged.
Seeing the other's stubborn and forceful attitude, Hikigaya had no choice but to take off his shirt.
"Take off the pants, too."
"No, that's a bit too much..."
"We both just took ours off. My, my—Hikigaya-kun, you're a grown man, you aren't actually shy, are you?"
'Shouldn't you look in a mirror when you say that?'
Looking at the red-faced Ichinose Honami, Hikigaya suddenly remembered a saying: As long as you aren't embarrassed, then the ones who are embarrassed are the others!
Just as she said, he was a grown man, what was there to fear? Thinking of this, Hikigaya decisively shed his track pants, leaving him in only his boxers.
After catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye, Ichinose Honami quickly looked away. Shiranami Chihiro, after taking a curious peek, immediately turned her head back with a flaming red face.
"Ahem!
Hikigaya-kun, give me your clothes."
"Oh, oh, sorry for the trouble..."
Hikigaya handed the wet clothes to her. Ichinose Honami hung them on the fireplace to dry.
"By the way, this is my towel. If Hikigaya-kun doesn't mind, you can use it to wipe yourself down."
Looking at the pink towel Ichinose handed over, which still carried a faint fragrance, Hikigaya thought to himself: How could I not mind!
However, he also knew that if he said anything about refusing now, Ichinose Honami would surely use "health" as an excuse to continue lecturing him until he agreed. Since he couldn't escape the "older sister" care anyway, he could only choose to accept it.
"Thank you."
Hikigaya took the towel and briefly wiped his face and hair. The fragrance hitting his nose was truly soul-stirring!
"Wuuu!
Even I haven't used... Honami-chan's towel."
Shiranami Chihiro's face was full of unwillingness and jealousy.
"Ahaha~ That's why I said...
Hikigaya-kun is my..."
Ichinose Honami originally wanted to seize the momentum and say the word "boyfriend," but in front of Hikigaya, she was too shy to speak it aloud.
Hikigaya's heart remained unperturbed. He knew Ichinose Honami was just using him as a shield to avoid Shiranami Chihiro's confession.
'Don't have any illusions!'
"Wuuu~ A blushing Honami-chan is so cute...!"
Shiranami Chihiro looked at her with a complicated expression. On one hand, she loved Ichinose Honami's shy face; on the other hand, knowing that this cute expression was for a boy gave her the strange illusion of being betrayed!
"Anyway, it's just as you think. Hikigaya-kun and I..."
Ichinose Honami continued to weave her lie.
"Ichinose-san."
Hikigaya interrupted her, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.
"I believe a confession is an act of courage from one party. Whether it is a rejection or an acceptance, it should be treated seriously."
"Eh..."
Ichinose Honami's expression froze.
"Forgive me for not cooperating with your performance, Ichinose-san.
We are not in a real boyfriend-girlfriend relationship."
Hikigaya spoke the truth in a cold tone.
"Wh-What exactly is going on?"
Shiranami Chihiro looked bewildered.
"I'm sorry, Chihiro-chan."
Ichinose Honami's eyes were complicated, and she then took a deep breath.
"Hikigaya-kun is right. You showed me your heart, so I should treat it with sincerity; I shouldn't use lies to deceive you..."
"..."
As if realizing something, Shiranami Chihiro's body trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry. Although I don't currently have anyone I like, I cannot accept your confession."
Ichinose Honami gripped her shoulders firmly.
"Chihiro-chan is my best friend, I don't want to hurt you."
"I understand..."
Shiranami Chihiro bit her lip hard, lowered her head, and let out a sob. Eventually, she couldn't hold back her tears.
"Waaaah~ I really like you so much, Honami-chan!"
"I like you too, Chihiro-chan. But only as a friend."
Ichinose Honami gave her a friendly hug, comforting her with gentle words. After crying for quite a while, the emotionally wounded Shiranami Chihiro fell into a deep sleep in Ichinose's arms.
"I am very sorry for making your friend cry."
Hikigaya didn't know if what he had done was right.
"No, it's not Hikigaya-kun's fault.
It was my own indecisiveness."
Ichinose Honami shook her head.
In truth, she had sensed Shiranami Chihiro's feelings for her long ago. To preserve their friendship, she had chosen to avoid it. When it became unavoidable, she had thought of using a lie to deceive her...
"Thanks to Hikigaya-kun, you woke me up!"
Ichinose Honami couldn't help but turn her head, looking straight into his eyes with a burning gaze.
"Waking you up aside, you should turn your head back first."
Hikigaya looked embarrassed. Don't forget, he was still in his "naked gear" state!
"Ah... I'm sorry!
I-I didn't mean to!"
Ichinose Honami hurriedly looked away. However, the prominent sight she had caught in her peripheral vision still caused her heart to pound uncontrollably.
'No! I can't look! What if I'm seen as a pervert?'
Hikigaya went to the fireplace and checked his clothes; they still felt a bit damp. To ease the awkward atmosphere, he began to look for a new topic.
"By the way, Ichinose-san.
Regarding tomorrow's leader guessing, do you have any thoughts?"
Speaking of which, Ibuki Mio was a spy in Class B. With her abilities, she had likely photographed the keycard. These naive kids in Class B... surely they weren't still being kept in the dark even now?
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