The next day.
August 9th.
Cruise ship top-floor cafe.
Hikigaya leaned on the railing, staring at the blue sea with his dead-fish eyes.
Yesterday, for the first time in his life.
He was blessed with happy birthday wishes by so many people.
Although it felt good.
It was mostly because the timing of Yuki Himeno pointing out his birthday was extremely clever.
The others probably also reluctantly chose to agree.
After all.
If they didn't agree, they would be labeled as cold.
Although Ichinose and the others were likely sincere in their blessings, there would definitely be people like that.
Hikigaya believed this from the bottom of his heart.
Even if Class B performed perfectly, it's impossible for such a perfect class to exist in the world.
This class is just a sham.
Yuki Himeno, who was forced to push herself, is the best evidence.
Hikigaya always kept the three principles of the unpopular in mind.
Namely: do not have hope, do not create cracks in the heart, and do not demand sweet words.
Many people.
Probably because of Ichinose's existence, were doing their best to show their kind side.
Forcing these people to accept the unpopular version of himself.
Was a bit regrettable.
Hikigaya thought about it and decided to let it go.
Nothing would change.
However.
Hikigaya pulled out his phone and opened LINE to look at the individual birthday wishes sent to him by Ichinose, Himeno, and Kobashi.
The first two were understandable.
Kobashi, namely Chihiro Shiranami, added him through the group chat yesterday and sent him a blessing.
It made him feel somewhat helpless.
This person is really simple. In reality, only the three of you sent individual blessings.
But since he had received favors, he had to repay the debt.
As a loner, he didn't want to owe anyone anything.
He would make a proper note of it for now.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Stare."
Kushida Kikyo hid behind a wall, watching the scene.
As expected.
Today, this detestable man appeared here again; it wasn't in vain that she specially cleared her schedule.
"Huff, just wait. There will be a time you'll regret this."
Kushida Kikyo took out her phone and sent messages to several people. Pinching the time, a cold smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of her mouth.
These stinky men are still very easy to manipulate.
Afternoon.
Hikigaya sat under a sunshade outside the cafe.
Sipping coffee with a white porcelain cup in one hand and looking at a paperback book in the other, he looked like a middle-class person sitting in a Starbucks.
Previously.
He felt some disdain for those creative workers who sat in Starbucks all afternoon.
He felt those people were just pretending to be refined. Rather, he felt that thinking Starbucks was refined meant it already had nothing to do with being refined.
But now.
Hikigaya suddenly understood.
Those people just didn't have friends and were afraid of loneliness, so they sat in Starbucks to work and enjoy the boisterous atmosphere.
Yes.
It must be like that.
After all, he was sitting here because he had nowhere else to go!
Just then.
A thudding sound of something falling drew his attention.
Hikigaya glanced to the side. A plump, cute girl was looking over here in surprise.
The phone dropped at her feet seemed to be the source of the sound just now.
The newcomer was Kushida Kikyo.
"Ugh."
Hikigaya looked away with a face full of disgust, pretending not to see.
Isn't this that "green tea"?
Why would she suddenly appear here?
Thinking about how he had deleted the other party's contact info, Hikigaya felt a wave of awkwardness and took another secret peek.
If she's sensible, she should understand his meaning.
Pretend not to see and turn away.
However.
That "green tea" Kushida Kikyo had a hesitant expression, looking over here from time to time, and accidentally made eye contact.
It's over.
Hikigaya was speechless.
They had made eye contact twice in a row.
Now he certainly couldn't pretend he didn't see her.
However.
He really didn't want to deal with such a "green tea" girl, and more importantly, there was no way he could win against such a gentle young lady.
Therefore.
He still didn't plan to speak, only hoping she would let him go.
Unfortunately.
Kushida Kikyo picked up the phone from the ground, took a deep breath with a hesitant face, and walked over like a frightened fawn.
"Thud."
Kushida Kikyo sat in front of him, placed the phone on the table, supported her thighs with her snowy white hands, and stared at the ground.
She said with what seemed like a forced smile:
"What a coincidence."
Hikigaya looked to the side with his dead-fish eyes, not daring and not wanting to respond.
What should he do?
When an ordinary person's contact info is deleted, shouldn't they vow never to see each other again?
Speaking of which.
Even if contact info is exchanged, most people never contact each other anyway.
Why did this "green tea" girl take the initiative to approach him?
Doesn't she feel awkward?
"What a coincidence."
Hikigaya said awkwardly.
"Yeah."
Kushida Kikyo responded in an equally awkward tone, as if she didn't dare look at the man in front of her.
So awkward.
So painful.
Can I go back now?
Hikigaya really didn't know what to do.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Several minutes ago.
By the swimming pool on the cruise ship deck.
A group of boys from Class D were sitting by the pool, scanning the beauties in the pool without any hesitation.
"Yamauchi, look at that one, look at that one, so hot."
"Tsk tsk tsk, Ike, you really don't understand anything. That one is just a bit big. Look at that one, such long legs, that's what's truly hot."
"Ha? What's good about long legs? Big breasts are what's hot."
"What do you know? Only an experienced person like me knows the benefits of long legs."
"What? Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
"Of... Of course. I was the most popular guy in my entire middle school. I've dated at least ten thousand, I can't even remember anymore."
Haruki Yamauchi, one of the three idiots of Class D, said stuttering, while Ayanokoji sat in silence.
Does a middle school really have ten thousand girls?
"Who are you kidding? I've long discovered that you're always bragging, Yamauchi. You're completely untrustworthy. Sudo, you say: big breasts or long legs, which is better?"
Ike was looking for reinforcements with an excited expression.
"As expected, Horikita is the best, right?"
Sudo gazed at the sky, responding like a Buddha.
A group of people were arguing heatedly, not noticing the eyes of the girls filled with disgust.
"Beep."
Just then.
A phone notification sounded.
Ike opened his phone impatiently, and seeing the chat content, he instantly stood up in excitement.
"Forget it, I'm not going to talk nonsense with you guys. I'm going on a date with Kikyo-chan."
"Ha?"
Yamauchi was shocked: "Impossible! How could Kikyo-chan go on a date with someone like you?"
"Tch."
Kanji Ike brushed his hair disdainfully.
If it were before, he would definitely have fought back vigorously and cursed.
But today, he just felt that Yamauchi's appearance was especially cute; that jealous gaze was irresistible.
"Look."
Kanji Ike generously showed his trump card, his face full of pride: "Kikyo-chan actually invited me to have coffee together."
"Im... Impossible... Absolutely impossible!"
Looking at the chat interface, Yamauchi shook his head as if struck by lightning, unable to accept the scene before him.
"Ha?"
Sudo on the side finally reacted as well, getting up and angrily grabbing Ike's collar:
"Ike, you bastard, you actually dare to betray us. What exactly is going on?"
"Who knows..."
Even though he was picked up, Kanji Ike wasn't angry. Seeing his friend's expression of madness from jealousy was just too good.
He instead plucked at his hair slyly:
"Maybe Kikyo-chan was charmed by my handsomeness."
"Liar!"
Yamauchi also regained his senses, his face full of anger: "Kikyo-chan is mine! How could she like you?"
"Ha? Don't you like Airi Sakura?"
Kanji Ike suddenly frowned.
"Uh..." Yamauchi was stunned, scratched his head, and said: "That's right, the one I like is Airi Sakura. Then I'll let you have Kikyo. You better thank me properly and treat me to a meal."
"Sure, that's fine."
Kanji Ike was in a good mood and wasn't stingy: "Anyway, Sudo, hurry up and let go. I'm leaving first."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute."
Sudo let go and said with a complex expression: "We also want to go and see what a date is really like. We can also learn something."
"Hmm..."
Kanji Ike thought for a moment and said seriously: "You can come along, but you can only watch from behind. You're not allowed to mess things up for me, understand?"
"Understood!"
Sudo and Yamauchi nodded like chicks pecking at grain. Ayanokoji, who was on the side, also didn't quite believe it.
Would that two-faced woman, Kushida Kikyo, like Ike?
No matter how you think about it, it feels unrealistic.
Even taking a step back, if Kushida Kikyo really did like Ike, what would happen to her position in the school?
In any case.
Once she starts a relationship, Kushida Kikyo will inevitably lose the expectations of most boys.
For Kushida Kikyo, who wants to be trusted by everyone.
This should be something absolutely unacceptable.
In other words.
From the moment she decided on her dream, Kushida Kikyo should have already given up on the possibility of being in a relationship.
Ayanokoji also decided to follow and take a look.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Top-floor cafe.
"Phew...."
Hikigaya took a sip of coffee, his gaze having nowhere to settle.
What should he do.
This is just too awkward.
Although he could normally face any gathering with composure, he always felt a bit guilty facing Kushida Kikyo.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Kushida Kikyo was observing the scene before her without leaving a trace.
She felt the time was about right.
Handling these stinky men isn't easy peasy.
Although she didn't know why the other party had deleted her, it was no different.
"Um..."
Kushida Kikyo seemed to have finally gathered enough courage, saying in a low voice with a slightly awkward tone:
"Why... Why did you delete me?"
"..."
Hikigaya drifted his dead-fish eyes to the side.
Even if he was silver-tongued, he was still somewhat at a loss at this moment.
How should he answer this?
By accident?
That was clearly unlikely.
Speaking plainly: "I don't want to deal with a dangerous 'green tea' like you, please let me go!"
He felt that was a bit too self-righteous.
After all, everything was just his own speculation. What if the person in front of him wasn't a "green tea" girl?
Words are like knives.
It wasn't good to directly wound such a cute girl.
After all, their relationship was average. Strictly speaking, there was no relationship at all. Speaking of which, why did this person have to ask?
Couldn't they just go their separate ways?
He really wasn't good at dealing with characters like this who could smile at anyone; it was as if they were wearing protective suits, making them difficult to handle.
The other party's level was clearly much higher than his own as a loner.
"Well... right, it's just that."
Hikigaya extended a finger and defended himself: "After all, we're in different classes and are in a competitive relationship. Having contact with each other isn't very good."
"Then..."
Kushida Kikyo stole a glance at the other person: "What about Horikita-san?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya was slightly stunned.
"I see you get along quite well with Horikita-san."
Kushida Kikyo revealed a slightly awkward smile and said: "I just feel like, are you to her... so that's why..."
Although she spoke as if using a code, Hikigaya understood.
Did this girl develop a sense of competition with Horikita Suzune, which is why she's pestering him like this?
Then things just got a lot easier!
"I deleted hers too."
Hikigaya straightened his back, becoming instantly frank, and hurriedly added: "However, she doesn't seem to know yet, so I hope you won't tell her."
"Is that so..."
Kushida Kikyo nodded slightly, the slight swaying motion of her delicate body showing that she was quite happy to hear this news.
Her original purpose included scouting the relationship between the two.
She had originally thought that Horikita Suzune had told this guy about her past, which was why Hikigaya was on good terms with her.
Now it seems.
Hikigaya didn't treat them differently; he treated everyone equally.
People he doesn't want to contact.
All deleted.
However.
The fact that this guy deleted her contact information was still unforgivable.
What kind of thing is he, to dare delete me?
3.8 Originally, interacting with a person like you, it should have been me who was doing you a favor.
"Alright, I won't tell her."
Kushida Kikyo nodded several times and said softly: "Then let's keep this as a secret between us, how about it?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Sharing a secret—this is supposedly a high-level communication technique.
Even though it's the same "kindness."
But for some reason.
It feels like Ichinose is upright and fair, while the person in front of him is just "tea-like" (acting fake/manipulative).
He still didn't want to deal with such a dangerous person.
"No need."
After weighing the pros and cons, Hikigaya said seriously: "You can say it if you want."
The implication should be obvious.
If Kushida Kikyo truly possessed social skills matching her reputation, she should understand.
I just don't want to associate with you!
Compared to facing someone like Kushida Kikyo, Hikigaya felt he would rather face Horikita Suzune.
Bastard.
Kushida Kikyo naturally understood his meaning. Internally, she was cursing wildly: Who do you think you are?
If it wasn't for me.
Do you really think anyone would look twice at you smelly men?
Forget it, even this step is within the plan.
After all.
Having been deleted by him once, Kushida Kikyo understood very well that the other party did not want to associate with her.
"Ugh."
Leaving her phone on the table ignored, Kushida Kikyo covered her reddening eyes with the back of her hand and ran outside.
Hikigaya stared at the phone on the table.
He wondered if he had done something wrong.
But.
He felt.
Kushida Kikyo was either truly like this by nature, or she was a ceiling-level "Green Tea Bitch."
He really didn't want to associate with such a dangerous existence.
But.
What should he do about the phone in front of him?