Before he could get close.
A man in a wine-red uniform walked out of the corner, appearing directly in front of Hikigaya.
"Co... Commander..."
Hikigaya blurted out instinctively.
"Commander?"
Manabu Horikita frowned.
"No, it's nothing. I'm just a bit sleep-deprived."
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh. After all, the other person held the power of life and death over the Wool Club; it was better to maintain a certain level of respect.
"Forget it."
Horikita looked at the drink in his hand. "You really like this coffee. This should be the first can sold at Advanced Nurturing."
"Hahaha."
Hikigaya laughed dryly.
Unfortunately, this was one someone else didn't want; the birth of the God of MAX Coffee was not ideal.
Another layer was to hint for the other person to leave quickly—I don't want to talk to you.
"There's still a chance now."
Horikita evaluated indifferently: "You should have realized by now that the Wool Club is just a boring club with no value. It's not too late if you want to join the Student Council now."
"Haha, I still want to put as much energy as possible into the class."
Hikigaya looked away and took a sip of coffee.
I have to say, for the sake of the class is a very useful excuse. As long as I use this move, the other person presumably has nothing more to say.
"Is that so? Then it's a pity."
Horikita naturally understood his meaning, nodded, and walked toward the dormitory building, saying:
"Although sugar helps improve learning efficiency, drinking too much isn't good for the body."
Only when the footsteps gradually faded did Hikigaya take another sip.
"Thanks for the concern, Commander."
What a twisted guy. If you're concerned, just say it directly. Saying it like this feels like a warning. The Commander probably doesn't have many friends.
By the way, what was the Commander doing here?
Hikigaya glanced curiously around the corner, and as soon as he looked, he felt a faint sense of regret.
In the narrow corridor.
An exceptionally beautiful girl was leaning against the wall, clutching her stomach. Yet there was no trace of pain on her pretty face; instead, it held a hint of self-reproach and frustration.
Isn't this that arrogant girl?
Hikigaya's face stiffened.
Although he had deleted both of their contact information, they were in different classes and had their own things to do.
If they didn't actively seek contact, they basically wouldn't run into each other.
Unexpectedly.
He had actually run into one of them now.
Her surname seemed to be the same as the Commander's, both called Horikita. Could they be siblings?
Offending both the Commander and this arrogant woman at the same time.
A total disaster.
It would be a bit awkward if he were discovered. Hikigaya wanted to turn around and leave.
"I didn't expect it would be you."
The arrogant girl suddenly spoke, and Hikigaya knew instantly he couldn't run.
"Haha."
He gave a dry laugh and looked back at the girl's stomach. "Are you okay?"
"None of your business."
Horikita Suzune pushed against the wall with her other hand, stood up, and looked at the man in front of her, saying with some hesitation:
"Are you very close with Br... Senior Horikita?"
So they are siblings.
There's no need to change your phrasing for something so obvious.
But.
This person's personality is truly terrible!
She clearly told him it was none of his business, yet she turned around and asked him a question. There should be a limit to self-righteousness and looking down on people.
However.
Considering this person has an older brother who is the Student Council President.
I still can't afford to offend her.
"Well."
It wasn't a big deal anyway, so Hikigaya said flatly: "We've met a few times, but we aren't close. It's just that he wanted me to join the Student Council, and I refused."
"Is that so?"
Horikita Suzune pursed her lips even more, looking as though she might cry, as she truly looked at the man in front of her for the first time.
Spiritless eyes like those of a corpse, messily applied hair wax with no sense of taste, a physique that barely reached the average level, and slightly slumped shoulders that were a major deduction.
Simply put,
He had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Why would her brother acknowledge someone like this and even invite him to join the Student Council, and more than once?
Horikita Suzune bit her lip slightly, a hint of blood seeping out.
Hikigaya was stunned.
Hey.
Don't cry.
Why the sudden tears? He couldn't stand it when people cried in front of him.
"What, did you have a sibling spat?"
Hikigaya spoke as calmly as possible, as if seeing a dejected Komachi.
"I told you, stay out of my business."
Horikita Suzune's gaze instantly sharpened. "My lack of ability shames my brother; it's only natural for him to hate me. There is no room for anyone else to intervene in this. If you understand, then get out of the way. You're a nuisance."
This person's personality is really rotten.
"Yes, yes..."
Hikigaya made way for her to pass, only then sipping his coffee and saying: "Still, I feel that the Com... your brother doesn't hate you. On the contrary, he's quite concerned about you. Strictly speaking, he's probably at a loss, or perhaps even a bit self-reproachful?"
"Eh?"
Horikita Suzune looked back slightly, her pretty face appearing somewhat confused.
"Well, how should I put it."
Hikigaya pointed his finger and explained awkwardly: "I also have a younger sister, so I understand. He probably feels some guilt toward you and doesn't dare to interact with you."
"Ridiculous. Listening to you makes me feel like a real idiot."
Horikita Suzune held her forehead and sighed. "Brother feeling sorry for me—there should be a limit to jokes. Otherwise, I won't forgive you."
"Well."
Hikigaya said nonchalantly: "He directly discussed Student Council matters in front of you, knowing it would catch your attention, and yet he still did it. Do you think the Com... your brother would be that foolish?"
"Hmm?"
Horikita Suzune was momentarily stunned.
Her brother was naturally not an idiot; if anything, he was the most outstanding person in the world.
"Then... why?"
"Probably because he wanted me to wake you up."
Hikigaya shook the coffee can in his hand.
It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't noticed Horikita Suzune, but since he had, Manabu Horikita's actions were clearly deep with meaning.
If he truly hated her.
He wouldn't have deliberately said something in front of his sister that would catch her attention.
That man clearly wouldn't make such a low-level mistake.
The remaining intention was obvious: it was most likely to have him wake up Horikita Suzune.
This was also an exchange of power.
After all, the other person was the Student Council President; the power to approve equipment was still in his hands.
It was just a few words; whether she listened or not was up to her.
"You, wake me up?"
Horikita Suzune was stunned for a moment, her look saying as if you're worthy: "What do you mean?"
What a dislikable person.
"Maybe..."
Hikigaya said with a resentful look: "Maybe let you change that arrogant, condescending attitude."
"Although I don't know what happened between you two, he feels very guilty toward you. Rather than pulling away, it's more like he doesn't know how to face you, so he chose this method."
Horikita Suzune lowered her gaze, her expression complex.
It was all just the other person's deduction, but she had to admit that the person in front of her had indeed provided a new possibility.
If it were true, that would be wonderful.
"Is that so? I remember your name is Hikiku..."
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya's face darkened. He didn't expect the first person to get his name wrong would be this seemingly excellent yet arrogant woman.
Was it on purpose?
"Is that so? Seeing as you spoke well, I won't pursue it further today."
How could a person's personality change just like that? After Horikita Suzune finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the dormitory.
This person's personality is truly annoying.
However.
It looked like she hadn't noticed the fact that she'd been deleted as a friend yet.
That's great.
From another perspective,
Doesn't that mean she never intended to contact him anyway?
Hikigaya felt a bit sad as he bought two more cans of MAX Coffee. He hoped Manabu Horikita was a man of his word and would let the Wool Club's equipment pass smoothly.