Early June.
Though it was unclear if Ichinose had used any special methods, the midterm exams passed smoothly. Class B didn't need to worry about academic grades.
Inside the Wool Club (Sheep-Free Club).
"Wow, amazing." Yuki Himeno put her hands behind her back and bounced around, observing the computer, gaming consoles, and other items in the room. She exclaimed, "How on earth did you do this?"
There was no one else in the room, so she must have been asking him.
"Why are you here again?" Hikigaya's face darkened as he sat at the table.
Weren't we supposed to be ghost members? This is my secret base. A boy's secret base isn't something to be shared easily with others.
Although Yuki Himeno didn't like frequent gatherings, she also seemed to have a loner personality. He had seen her wandering alone in Keyaki Mall several times, even though she usually never came here.
As for these items—though applying for them was easy, a club activity report had to be submitted every year. Hikigaya had also learned that the standards of this school were terrifyingly high. The official members of the sports clubs were almost at a national competition level.
It was not a level he could reach. Hikigaya had already decided to mooch off the club for a year and, if it didn't work out, just dissolve the Wool Club.
"I am technically a member of the Wool Club, aren't I?" Yuki Himeno heard his annoyance and looked back dismissively. "Naturally, I came here to slack off."
"Slack off?" Hikigaya asked, puzzled. "There shouldn't be much to do lately, right?"
"Hmm?" Yuki Himeno tilted her head, as if to say what are you talking about?
"What's wrong?"
"I mean," Yuki Himeno said after a while, "Hikigaya, you haven't checked the class group chat at all, have you? Even though you never speak, I remember you joined it."
"Uh..." Hikigaya looked away. The class group had long been set to "Mute." That group pinged constantly every day, and he had nothing to talk about anyway.
Wait.
How did this girl know I joined the class group?
Is she a stalker?
How scary!
Of course, it was more likely that Ichinose had mentioned it.
"Is there something going on?"
Hikigaya quickly changed the subject.
"Nothing much." Yuki Himeno sat on the other side of the square table, looking speechless. "Aren't our class and Class D in a cooperative relationship?"
"Eh?" Hikigaya was stunned. When did that happen? Why didn't I know?
"You..." Yuki Himeno looked at him with disdain. "You should really look at the class group more. It seems a violent incident happened between Class D and Class C. Ichinose asked us to help find any witnesses."
"Well, that's very like Ichinose." Hikigaya nodded. Even when facing people with no connection to her, Ichinose would lend a hand without hesitation. Truly a gentle person.
As for finding witnesses... anyway, it had nothing to do with him.
"Exactly. Running around everywhere with Mako-chan and Chihiro-chan every day is exhausting." Yuki Himeno slumped onto the table wearily.
Using the Wool Club as a shield when she doesn't want to help—this girl is quite something.
"If you don't want to help, why not just refuse?" Hikigaya said with malicious intent.
"You guy." Yuki Himeno sat up straight and glared at him. "You know I can't do that, yet you say it on purpose. Your personality is really terrible."
"I suppose so." Hikigaya nodded in agreement. He was that kind of guy; if she knew that, she should stop coming here.
"But speaking of which, are you going to be okay?" Yuki Himeno glanced at the treadmill, which showed no signs of use. "I see you haven't trained at all. There seems to be some kind of outdoor exam during summer vacation. Will you be okay?"
"An exam?" Hikigaya asked curiously. "Outdoor? Where did that info come from?"
"Who knows." Yuki Himeno spread her hands. "It seems Ichinose learned about it from the upperclassmen. This school has some unusual exams. Physical fitness and academic grades are both quite important."
"As expected of Ichinose." Hikigaya nodded frankly. As long as he could cling to Ichinose's leg, reaching Class A shouldn't be a problem.
Well, although he knew the school was special when he found out there was no division between arts and sciences. But physical fitness!
Even though he took PE classes seriously, he was too lazy to train. Doing just enough was fine; after all, a house husband doesn't need excessive physical strength.
"You really don't care at all." Yuki Himeno rolled her eyes beautifully. This guy really didn't take the exams seriously. "But really, you don't plan to help?"
"Looking for witnesses? No!" Hikigaya said, speechless.
If Ichinose asked him to help in the name of the class, he would probably wander around Keyaki Mall randomly. But since Ichinose hadn't spoken up, he was happy to take it easy.
Furthermore, it was a matter involving other classes. Help my foot!
"Sigh." Yuki Himeno let out a sigh and shook her head helplessly. "I really envy your ability to speak your mind like that."
"If you don't want to help, just refuse." After saying this, Hikigaya was stunned; the scene felt a bit familiar.
"Hi~ki~ga~ya~-kun!" Yuki Himeno's eyebrows twitched, and she forced a smile word by word. "Sitting and reading all the time is bad for your neck. How about I give you a massage?"
"No, no thanks, I'm good." Hikigaya gave a triple refusal, frantically declining.
What's going on? Himeno-san is scary.
"Don't be polite. My technique is very good." Yuki Himeno leaned forward like an assassin preparing to strike, stepping behind him. Her soft, bone-less hands landed on his shoulders and squeezed hard.
"Ah!" Hikigaya let out a cry of pain. "I surrender, I surrender! I give up! I admit defeat!"
"Hmph." Yuki Himeno gave a soft snort. Like picking up a salted fish, her soft hands massaged the back of his neck.
"You should work a bit harder. If you get expelled, I'll lose my shield," Yuki Himeno said while kneading his neck.
Mikasa, you're Mikasa, right!
"You don't need to tell me, I know." Hikigaya shrank his neck. However, with his weak point caught, her soft hands were like a ghost, clinging to his neck.
Physical fitness, huh...
I feel like I could put in a little effort.
At least I should ensure I'm above average so I don't cause trouble for others.
Hikigaya made a secret resolution. Speaking of which... how much longer was she going to massage him? He felt like he was about to start sweating. Hikigaya felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.