Top-floor cafe.
"So comfortable."
Hikigaya leaned on the railing, feeling the oncoming sea breeze.
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it.
Anyway, the public security in Sakurajima is decent; it's impossible for the opponent to put him in a sack and throw him into the sea.
Just then.
"Hi~ki~ga~ya~~kun~~"
Yuki Himeno's voice sounded out syllable by syllable, as she tapped his shoulder.
"Oh."
Hikigaya looked back somewhat puzzled and said: "Is there something?"
"You really are cold as usual."
Yuki Himeno rolled her beautiful eyes, then leaned against the railing, looking at the man beside her:
"You're quite something, aren't you? Skipping the victory party just like that. Don't you consider the feelings of Ichinose and the others?"
"Ha?"
Hikigaya raised his hand and explained unconvinced: "Are you an idiot? Even if I went, I would only make the atmosphere awkward. Rather, isn't it precisely because I considered the feelings of Ichinose and the others that I didn't go?"
"True..."
Himeno nodded.
She couldn't say she didn't understand.
While not to the point of being ostracized, the relationship between Hikigaya and the others could only be considered average; they just knew each other by virtue of being in the same class.
Everyone else has their own friends, so they certainly wouldn't be able to look after him.
In the end.
It would just end up with Hikigaya eating by himself on the side.
"However."
Himeno said disdainfully: "Aren't you being a bit too self-conscious? How could the atmosphere become awkward just because of one person like you? They wouldn't even notice you at all, okay."
"Ugh..."
Hikigaya was momentarily choked up.
This person's personality is truly excessive, why tell the honest truth.
Back in middle school, even if he sat in a corner, others still had a great time; he was like the onion at the bottom of the plate, not attracting anyone's attention.
"Speaking of which."
Hikigaya crossed his arms and said proudly: "I didn't like attending such gatherings in the first place, and there's no need to force myself. Not attending is better for both sides."
"Well, that's also the truth."
Himeno held her forehead and said somewhat helplessly: "I really wish Ichinose and the others wouldn't drag me to gatherings every time."
After saying that.
Yuki Himeno felt something was wrong.
Wasn't she here to bring this guy back? How did she almost get talked out of it?
"Wait."
Himeno's face darkened: "Didn't you guide Kaneda to write down your name during the exam? As the biggest hero, if you aren't there, how can we have the heart to hold a victory party? Be sensible for once."
"Eh?"
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment: "How did you know?"
"Ryuen and the others were here just now..."
Yuki Himeno reluctantly explained the previous incident once, then put her hands on her hips and said:
"So I'm here to take you to the victory party. Don't make things difficult for me."
"I see..."
Only then did Hikigaya nod.
Even when he didn't know, those leaders were acting for the sake of the class.
It's only the second day, Ryuen's mobility is really high.
He'll probably go to Class D to scout for information too.
"No."
Hikigaya said somewhat speechlessly: "If you didn't want to do it, you could have just not accepted the task. I'm not going. Go back and tell Ichinose and the others to have fun."
"Hmph..."
Yuki Himeno clenched her pink fist, her face turning dark.
As for why she accepted this task, it was just because she felt her relationship with Hikigaya was decent, and that he should give her some face.
There must have been something wrong with her brain at the time.
She didn't hate gatherings; she just hated those endless gatherings.
Like a victory party.
Doing it once in a while felt nice too.
But excluding the biggest hero like Hikigaya from the victory party, Yuki Himeno felt a strange sense of pity.
Hikigaya shouldn't be treated like this.
He shouldn't be blowing in the sea breeze all by himself like he is now.
He should be bathed in the glory of victory right now, enjoying the praises of everyone.
This is what he deserves.
"Sigh."
Himeno held her forehead and said with a headache: "Though that's true, if you don't go, I'll be in trouble. It might affect my evaluation in the class."
"Well."
Hikigaya thought for a moment and said: "Just say you didn't find me, or simply say Hikigaya really didn't want to come. Wouldn't that work?"
Yuki Himeno's face grew even darker.
Is this person really so hard to invite?
She didn't have much patience either.
"I say, are you going or not?"
"Not going. Whoa, don't push, don't push."
Being pushed several times in a row, Hikigaya couldn't help but panic a little, walking towards the stairs involuntarily.
"If I tell you to go, you go. Why all the nonsense?"
Yuki Himeno's mouth curled up slightly, her snowy little hands giving Hikigaya a nudge every now and then.
She had also discovered it.
You can't just follow along with this guy; you have to lead him.
"I'll go, I'll go, alright?"
Hikigaya was full of helplessness. This person is really over the top, who forces someone to attend a victory party.
Moreover, he wasn't really the "biggest hero" to begin with.
Restaurant Number One.
"Everyone~"
Returning to the restaurant, Yuki Himeno resumed her disguise: "I've brought Hikigaya back~"
Why are you saying it like I'm your child.
Hikigaya followed behind her somewhat helplessly. It was quite embarrassing with her pushing him from behind all the way.
In any case, there was no escaping it, so he could only come along.
"Welcome back~"
"Yuki, Hikigaya-kun!"
Ichinose came forward to greet them, and the people from Class B followed behind her, though most of their eyes were gathered on Hikigaya.
Why are you saying it like I'm coming home.
Although he understood the reason they were focusing on him, it was a huge misunderstanding.
"Oh."
Hikigaya nodded.
"Hikigaya."
Kobashi approached him and said with some excitement: "I heard you deliberately guided Kaneda during the exam for the class's victory. Thank you so much."
"Yeah, thanks to..."
"No."
Before the others could finish, Hikigaya quickly explained:
"I just did what was within my duties. Ultimately, even if I did nothing, Class B's defenses were thorough enough, and Kaneda might not have guessed correctly."
Yes.
This was the actual truth.
Even if he did nothing, Kaneda might not have guessed correctly.
Specially going to provoke and induce Kaneda might have just been his own bored self-satisfaction.
The efforts of Ichinose, Shibata, and others also absolutely cannot be underestimated.
To take all the credit for himself.
Would be too arrogant and too selfish.
He doesn't deserve such praise.
"Uh..."
Shibata and the others were stunned for a moment, then laughed: "While that may be true, Hikigaya really is humble."
"Yeah."
Kobashi's face flushed red as she hurriedly said: "I was so nervous I couldn't breathe until the last day, I didn't dare face Kaneda. If it weren't for Hikigaya, I probably would have been seen through easily."
"No."
Hikigaya also hurriedly explained: "Ko... You also prepared food for everyone every day, you looked fine."
"Alright, alright."
Ichinose watched the scene before her with enjoyment, clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, and with a happy smile on her face said:
"The fact that Hikigaya's heart was thinking of the class is real, and that's enough. Anyway, let's celebrate once more."
"By the way."
Himeno patted Hikigaya's shoulder and grinned: "Today seems to be this guy's birthday."
"Eh? Really?"
Ichinose was slightly taken aback, and the others also felt a bit embarrassed.
"How can this be? I haven't prepared any gift!"
"Exactly. Hikigaya, you're being too much of an outsider, not telling us about your birthday in advance."
A group of people started chirping.
Hikigaya turned to look at Yuki Himeno beside him, his eyes widening. You can't set people up like this! And how did this person know?
As for his birthday, he almost forgot it himself.
Only Komachi would send him a congratulatory text on his birthday, so he wouldn't forget.
He hadn't celebrated his birthday for many years.
"No need."
Hikigaya hurriedly explained: "My family doesn't have the habit of celebrating birthdays."
If he let the other party go through the trouble of buying him a birthday gift, it would be too much to bear, and quite shameful too.
"I see."
Ichinose nodded, realizing that wasn't the way to go, so she smiled and nodded in acceptance:
"In that case, let's just simply celebrate. As long as the sentiment is there, it's fine. What do you all think?"
"Let's just leave it at that for today."
Shibata also laughed: "Next year, we'll make it up to Hikigaya. How about that?"
"Sure, then it's decided!"
The group instantly agreed.
Hikigaya also followed Yuki Himeno and the others to the dining table.
There was no choice.
The only one here he was somewhat familiar with was probably Yuki Himeno; humans are indeed creatures that involuntarily seek out acquaintances.
"Well then."
Ichinose raised her glass: "To Hikigaya's happy birthday, and to taking first place in the uninhabited island exam. Cheers~"
"Cheers~"
Hikigaya raised his glass, his face turning red.
It was an experience he'd never had before. His heart felt warm; the feeling of being blessed by others wasn't bad.
However.
Can a victory party and a birthday party be combined like this?
What exactly is going on?
"Everyone, let's at least have the restaurant provide a birthday cake. How about it?"
Putting down her drink, Ichinose suggested with a smile.
"Sure, at least a birthday cake is a must."
"No... Ouch."
Just as Hikigaya was about to politely decline, he felt a kick on his lower leg. Looking to the side, he found Yuki Himeno smiling as she watched the scene.
This person.
He only just realized that Yuki Himeno seems to have a bit of a violent streak.
How scary.
At this time, Ichinose also purchased a new cake from the waiter, seemingly planning to use class funds.
"I say..."
Hikigaya leaned toward Yuki Himeno and lowered his voice: "How do you know my birthday? Are you a hacker?"
"Eh?"
Himeno leaned her body back slightly, watching the front with a well-behaved smile on her face, and whispered:
"Isn't it written on your LINE profile?"
"I see..."
Hikigaya sighed in relief and nodded. He was scared to death, thinking Yuki Himeno had used some hacking skills to break into the school system.
However.
Wasn't birthday information written in the personal details? To think someone could see that.
Hikigaya was a bit puzzled.
Soon.
Surrounded by everyone, Hikigaya felt his cheeks burning as he blew out the candles.
"Hikigaya, happy birthday~"
Ichinose led the clapping with a face full of smiles.
"Thank you."
Hikigaya nodded, still not quite adapted to it.
As time passed, the cake was soon distributed to everyone, and the people of Class B split into several groups.
Roughly, Ichinose was chatting with Kobashi, Yuki Himeno, and others, while Shibata and Watanabe were gathered around them chatting.
Hikigaya sat in a corner of the restaurant holding a small piece of cake.
He cut off a small piece and put it in his mouth.
Although it couldn't compare to high-sugar MAX Coffee, the unique richness of the cream still made one feel happy.
As expected.
It still ends up like this.
Still sitting alone in a corner eating.
But looking at the occasional laughter in front of him, Hikigaya felt it didn't seem bad.