Chapter 132 Ichinose Joins In
"How could that be? Horikita-san, don't just slander people casually~" Kushida Kikyo's first reaction was to deny it.
"Kushida, there is no one else here. You don't need to pretend anymore." Horikita Suzune gazed at her with a determined look.
Kushida Kikyo tried to control her expression several times, but eventually, she couldn't hold it together. Her trademark kind smile instantly transformed into coldness: "Fine! I do hate you, Horikita!"
"Just because I went to the same middle school as you?"
"You... you really do know about my past!!" When she said this, Kushida Kikyo shot a panicked glance toward Hikigaya.
'Wait, this is a matter between the two of you—why are you looking at me?' Hikigaya felt perplexed.
"No, I don't know you at all." Horikita Suzune shook her head.
"You should understand that aside from studying, I'm not interested in other matters."
"Liar!"
"What makes you think I'm lying?"
"Just the fact that you said you were with Hikigaya!"
"That was to provoke you into coming out."
"Heh! Do you even believe those words yourself?"
"..." Horikita Suzune was stunned for a moment, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Tch!" Faced with Horikita's lack of understanding, Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes grandly.
"Um, actually, I don't really understand either..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but chime in. He thought to himself: What riddles are these two women playing at!
"Hikigaya, you shut up for a second!" Kushida Kikyo suddenly glared at him. That inexplicably complex look made Hikigaya even more confused!
'What is this woman going crazy for?' Hikigaya could only look at Horikita Suzune, only to find that she had suddenly developed a look of half-realization.
"Let's set the matter regarding Hikigaya aside for now."
'What do you mean 'the matter regarding me'? What does this have to do with me?'
Hikigaya really wanted to open his mouth to ask, but the atmosphere between the two girls wasn't right at the moment.
"I can guarantee you that I will absolutely never reveal anything about your middle school days to others. Even though I don't know anything about it..." Horikita Suzune stated her position with a serious face.
"You say it and I'm just supposed to believe it?" Kushida Kikyo curled her lip, her expression remaining indifferent.
"Then what exactly do you want?"
"Unless you drop out!"
"That is impossible!"
"Then there's nothing to talk about!" Kushida Kikyo stood up, intending to leave.
"Wait a second, Kushida." Hikigaya instinctively grabbed her hand. To be fair, he had originally intended to grab her sleeve, but unfortunately, she was wearing short sleeves.
It is worth mentioning that Kushida Kikyo, whose palm was being held, stopped her footsteps quite naturally. Hikigaya's heart stirred: Is there hope?
"Is there anything that can't be discussed properly?" Hikigaya suddenly felt like he was reciting a classic Hirata line.
"Hmph! There is nothing to talk about between her and me!" Kushida Kikyo's words were still very firm, but Hikigaya keenly noticed that her expression seemed to have improved ever so slightly.
"Hai~ Kushida-san, you are the little angel of our class~~ Don't keep a long face all day~~~" Hikigaya said things that made him feel a bit nauseous.
"Glid-tongued. Have you been possessed by Yamauchi?"
"Hey! That's going too far!!" Hikigaya's face instantly darkened.
"Heh~ can't take it already? Then do you know how hard it usually is for me?" Kushida Kikyo's eyebrows relaxed, revealing a bit of pride.
'Good! Her mood seems to have improved a bit...' Hikigaya secretly gave Horikita Suzune a look, signaling her to stabilize Kushida's emotions first before continuing the negotiation.
"Hikigaya, let go of her hand."
"Huh?" Hikigaya's eyes widened.
He saw Kushida Kikyo's face, which had just slightly improved, instantly turn gloomy again.
"Horikita, can't you read the atmosphere?" Hikigaya couldn't help but complain.
"With that attitude of yours, you still want me to do things for you? No way!" Kushida Kikyo snapped back without hesitation.
"It was my mistake." Horikita Suzune let out a long sigh and said in a cold tone, "From the beginning, I shouldn't have held any expectations for you."
Bam! Kushida Kikyo slammed the table and cursed: "You bitch! Who do you think you are?"
"Whoever I am, it's better than you."
"Bullshit! In what way are you better than me?"
"Looks, character, academic knowledge."
"Mine are bigger than yours!"
"...Shallow."
"Mine are bigger than yours!"
"Kushida! Is your cerebellum atrophied because all the nutrients went to those two lumps of flesh on your chest?"
"I broke through your defense, hee hee!"
Seeing the two girls arguing more and more fiercely, Hikigaya quickly intervened.
"Calm down! You two, pay attention to the setting."
Hikigaya instinctively looked at the counter, only to find that the guy who was brewing coffee had vanished at some point!
'Damn it, are you an NPC? You pulled a vanishing act at the critical moment!'
With his good hearing, he also noticed a set of footsteps coming from the entrance of the cafe. He grew very anxious! If this scene was seen by others, there was no guarantee it wouldn't spawn strange rumors like "Scumbag—two-timing" or "Two women fighting over a husband."
"Shh! Someone is coming!"
However, despite Hikigaya's persuasion, the two girls still looked at each other with mutual hatred, looking like they could start a fight at any moment! Since talking wasn't working, he had to resort to physical force.
"Have you two had enough?" Hikigaya pulled Kushida Kikyo back into her seat with one hand, then immediately pushed Horikita Suzune down, forcing the two girls' bodies to sit tightly together.
From the back, you couldn't see their facial expressions; an observer would probably just think they were close best friends.
"Hikigaya, you...!" Just as both girls were about to explode, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Eh? Isn't this Hikigaya-kun?"
The person entering was none other than Ichinose Honami and her follower Shiranami Chihiro. Upon seeing Hikigaya at first glance, her expression brightened and she stepped forward quickly, then noticed the two girls.
"And Horikita-san and Kushida-san too?"
Horikita Suzune turned her head, her expression somewhat hard to describe.
"What a coincidence, Ichinose-san."
Kushida Kikyo, on the other hand, reacted very quickly, changing her face to a smile in a split second to respond.
"You two have such a good relationship~~" Shiranami Chihiro looked at the two of them sitting so closely together, her small face revealing a hint of envy.
"Pfft!" Hikigaya's face tensed up; he almost burst out laughing.
"Eh? Hikigaya-kun, what are you laughing at?" Ichinose Honami gave him a strange look.
"Nothing...
I just feel that Shiranami-san has excellent eyesight!" Hikigaya gave a thumb up to the clever little cutie.
"Uh... thank you?" Shiranami Chihiro seemed to have very little contact with boys; being suddenly complimented made her bow her head shyly.
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