Chapter 128 Horikita's Invitation
After lunch ended.
Karuizawa Kei invited him to the concert hall. Kamuro Masumi invited him to the ship's theater.
"Hachiman-kun!"
"Hikigaya!"
"Who exactly are you choosing?" X2
Facing the aggressive interrogation from the two girls, the corners of Hikigaya's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"...Anyone who didn't know better would think you two were fighting over a man!"
Seeing that the two of them were still dead serious, Hikigaya had no choice but to give a clear answer.
"I choose the sleeping quarters."
"Ah? Th-this... isn't this a bit too fast?" Karuizawa Kei said with a shy face, though who knows what she was actually thinking.
"Hmph! Inviting two girls to your room at the same time, how bold of you!" Kamuro Masumi wore an expression like she was looking at trash.
"I didn't invite you at all!"
Hikigaya felt immensely speechless.
"Seriously, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? I'm not some light novel protagonist; I don't get 'fanservice' benefits like that!"
Hikigaya never believed in pie falling from the sky, let alone the "Three Great Delusions of Life."
She likes me. They like me. Such wonderful things only existed in dreams. In reality... well, one couldn't say it was absolutely impossible. At least from the current situation, he could confirm that the two girls in front of him held a certain level of goodwill toward him.
Of course, goodwill is just goodwill. If you mistakenly believe a girl loves you because of it and get carried away, you're dead wrong!
"Hmph! It's good that you know!" Kamuro Masumi's tone was still harsh, but her originally disdainful gaze turned slightly friendlier.
"Eh? He actually withstood the temptation; Chiaki's plan didn't work either." The shyness on Karuizawa Kei's face vanished instantly; it was clearly an act from a moment ago.
Damn! Women really are born liars! And was the "military advisor" behind the scenes Matsushita Chiaki? Not satisfied with just eating the melon, she wants to hand-carve the melon herself! (eating the melon=gossiping)
I'll remember this grudge!
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.
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After parting with the two girls, Hikigaya returned to the sleeping quarters alone. He lay on his bed and played with his phone all afternoon. At six o'clock, the school sent the text message punctually.
[According to the rules, you are not the VIP. Please participate in the exam as an ordinary member of the Tiger Group. The exam will begin tomorrow and last for three days. Members of the Tiger Group, please assemble in Room 304 before 9:00 AM.]
There was nothing to question about not being chosen as the VIP.
In a group of 16 people, the probability of being selected was 1 in 16. The only thing that caught his attention was the phrase "According to the rules" at the beginning of the message. What rules did that refer to? Or was the selection of the VIP based on some traceable pattern?
Five minutes later, he received another text message, this one from Horikita Suzune. The content was an invitation to meet at a cafe to discuss the special exam, and to have dinner together beforehand.
Hikigaya had originally intended to refuse because he wasn't interested in the exam at all. But considering that he did plan to go to the cafe after eating, it would likely be awkward if he ran into Horikita then.
"Forget it, I'll just treat it as having a dinner companion."
Hikigaya realized he had been eating with girls quite frequently lately. This kind of "normie" behavior really didn't fit his usual "solitary" style. However, he figured it was just something happening during the exam days; once they returned, it would be summer break, and everything would surely return to normal, right?
He walked out of the sleeping quarters and headed toward the ship's deck. He soon spotted Horikita Suzune's figure. She was leaning against the railing; her long black hair swayed gently in the sea breeze, and the afterglow of the setting sun spilled over her smooth face, casting an orange-red glow.
"You're here, Hikigaya." Horikita Suzune reached out and tucked a strand of long hair.
Hikigaya noticed carefully that there was still a trace of moisture in her hair.
"Horikita, why did you specifically take a shower before coming out?"
"I went to the gym this afternoon and worked up a sweat, so I showered."
Horikita Suzune narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "You don't think I took a shower specifically for you, do you?"
"Not at all. Am I the type of person with an overactive self-consciousness?" Hikigaya pretended to be calm, but he was incredibly embarrassed inside.
In that split second, he really had misunderstood! Truly, one must never harbor fantasies. Especially when facing a cute girl; your IQ will drop if you aren't careful.
The sea breeze blowing toward them brought Horikita Suzune's scent along with it.
"Can we stay here for a while?"
"Why?"
"I want to watch the sunset clouds."
"Since when did you have such refined taste?"
Despite saying that, Horikita Suzune still turned to gaze at the sunset clouds on the horizon. Neither of them spoke during this time, simply watching the sky in silence until the sun went down.
Neither of them moved. Hikigaya turned his head slightly to peek at Horikita Suzune out of the corner of his eye, only to find that she was also turning her face slightly, observing him with her peripheral vision.
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
"Why are you peeking at me?" Horikita Suzune was the first to strike.
"If you weren't looking at me, how would you know I was looking at you?" Hikigaya responded calmly.
"I was waiting for you..."
"Sorry, I was just spacing out."
"What kind of reason is that?" Horikita Suzune didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She shook her head.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Let's go eat."
"Fine." Hikigaya nodded.
Then, they arrived at the entrance of the light-food cafe.
"I heard it's quiet here and the dishes are good... Uh, what's wrong with you?" Horikita Suzune looked strangely at Hikigaya, who stood motionless.
"Can we eat somewhere else?"
"Reason?"
"I've already been here twice today."
"With other girls?"
"..."
"Then I want to eat here too." Horikita Suzune's attitude suddenly became exceptionally firm.
'Seriously, do you want to eat here that badly?'
Having no choice, Hikigaya followed her in. After sitting down, Horikita Suzune didn't order; instead, she fixed her gaze steadily on him.
"Wh-what is it?" Hikigaya felt a bit creeped out by her stare.
"What did they eat?"
"Avocado salad, pasta, and sandwiches..."
"Then give me one of each of those."
'Is this girl starving?'
Half an hour later. Horikita Suzune couldn't help but let out a burp. Looking at the leftovers in front of her, her brow couldn't help but furrow. Clearly, having been well-raised since childhood, she had developed the habit of not wasting food.
After forcing down another piece of avocado, she finally couldn't overcome the physical sensation of being full and was forced to set down her utensils.
"A miscalculation... I didn't expect the portions here to be so large."
"That's why I said you should act according to your ability in all things."
Hikigaya habitually took the plates from in front of her and cleared away the remaining food.
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