After browsing the light novel section.
Hikigaya prepared to leave, and Shiina Hiyori, who was following beside him, couldn't help but feel confused.
"Hikigaya-kun, didn't you want to borrow some light novels?"
"No, I just came to take a look."
"Eh, why?"
Shiina Hiyori became even more confused: "Hikigaya-kun didn't come here because he likes light novels?"
"I just looked in passing."
He thought about it.
This matter was indeed not very convenient to explain. Hikigaya gave a dry laugh:
"I liked them a lot when I just started middle school, but my interest hasn't been very high lately. Now I only read some popular works."
The implication was.
There were no books here that he wanted to read.
For a girl like Shiina Hiyori, she probably didn't know much about light novels and likely couldn't judge if he was telling the truth or not.
Sure enough, Shiina Hiyori didn't take it to heart. After all, a literary girl like her preferred classics over light novels.
"Then Hikigaya-kun, what do you want to do?"
"Mhm, thanks for the help just now."
Hikigaya paused and nodded: "I'm going to look elsewhere."
The implication was.
He was seeing her off.
Thanks for just now, I don't need help anymore.
By the way, why was this girl constantly sticking to him? Even if she helped him get a book and lead the way, that should have been enough.
"Mhm..."
The well-read Shiina Hiyori naturally heard the implication.
Her expression dimmed slightly: "Sorry, because it's the first time I've met someone with the same interest, I got a bit carried away again. I've caused you trouble, haven't I?"
Don't be like that.
It made it seem like he was about to make her cry.
"That's not it."
Hikigaya hurriedly explained: "That, how should I put it, it's just that I prefer being alone. It's easier to get immersed in reading that way."
"I understand!"
Shiina Hiyori put her small hands to her chest, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"I also prefer reading alone, but the people around me are always noisy and think it's not good to be alone. They always go out of their way to take care of me; it's really a headache."
"Mhm, mhm..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but nod along: "Those people always self-righteously think they are looking out for others. I really want to ask them not to do that."
Why are there always people who just can't understand?
There really are people in the world who enjoy being alone. These people even put on an act of "I'm doing this for your own good" and "You look so pitiful."
It's practically nauseating.
What's worse is that they even label them with mental illnesses or twisted personalities.
It's simply the tyranny of the majority.
Hikigaya truly empathized, and his gaze toward Shiina Hiyori softened quite a bit.
"Oh, wait."
Hikigaya snapped out of it: "Where were we just now?"
"Oh, right."
Shiina Hiyori also thought for a moment: "Hikigaya-kun was going to find other books, right? Do you want me to recom—"
Halfway through, Shiina Hiyori suddenly realized that based on their previous communication, no matter what she suggested, Hikigaya's first reaction was always to refuse.
They could never communicate that way.
Shiina Hiyori tried changing her approach: "Have you read Dorothy L. Sayers' series?"
"I've read them."
Hikigaya ended the game immediately.
Not to brag, but his reading volume was quite astonishing.
He started just with the idea of killing time, but gradually he felt the joy brought by words, eventually even being able to see the meaning behind every character.
"What about Emily Brontë?"
"Read her!"
Hikigaya said somewhat proudly.
Trying to find something he hadn't read would be quite difficult. It was time for Shiina Hiyori to give up.
Unfortunately, Shiina Hiyori became even more excited instead: "Hikigaya's reading volume is truly amazing. Then what about Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely?"
"Oh, I haven't read that one."
Hikigaya felt a bit dejected. He didn't expect Shiina Hiyori to find a weakness so quickly.
His old man had a bookshelf stuffed to the brim.
He had read them all.
He naturally knew of Raymond Chandler's books.
Just looking at the title, he knew it was about feelings, love, and that kind of stuff only "normies" and girls liked.
He had categorized it directly into the category of trash literature.
He almost wanted to set it on fire.
"Then Hikigaya-kun must definitely read it."
Shiina Hiyori's eyes sparkled: "Then tell me your thoughts on it."
"Eh, why?"
Hikigaya showed a somewhat disgusted expression.
Reading is fundamentally a solitary act; why should I tell you?
Don't you feel embarrassed?
He really didn't want to show his elementary school book reports to anyone else.
"Uh..."
Shiina Hiyori pursed her lips and scratched her head sheepishly:
"Because there's no one in Class C who likes novels, I have no one to talk to. Is that not okay?"
Shiina Hiyori looked full of regret, almost as if she were about to cry.
This made Hikigaya feel a bit embarrassed.
"I guess I can, but my thoughts might not be anything pleasant."
Since she recommended it and he didn't have a clear goal, it wasn't impossible to read.
It was just that Farewell, My Lovely...
It must be some sappy, romantic trash that's nauseating. He would definitely critique it with a critical spirit.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Shiina Hiyori was full of smiles: "There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. I also really want to know different people's thoughts."
"Well, if it's just some thoughts, I guess it's fine."
"Then follow me. I remember that book should be over here."
The two walked past several bookshelves. Shiina Hiyori placed that book in his hands and also stuffed Chandler's The Lady in the Lake and The Little Sister into them.
It gave Hikigaya a headache.
While there was no problem using them to pass the time, these probably weren't the types he would like.
But seeing Shiina Hiyori's enthusiastic promotion, Hikigaya found it truly hard to refuse. He would reluctantly give them a look.
Leaving the library.
Shiina Hiyori still followed behind him faithfully.
"Speaking of which, give me your contact information, Hikigaya-kun."
Hey—
This girl actually used a declarative sentence rather than a question, as if she were giving a command that was hard to refuse.
"Oh."
Hikigaya humbly pulled out his phone.
He didn't expect Shiina Hiyori to master the way of talking so quickly.
Looking at it from another angle.
Although Shiina Hiyori said she had no one to talk to, her communication skills didn't seem bad; in fact, she seemed quite clever.
The two exchanged contact info.
Shiina Hiyori looked at the newly added contact in her address book, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her face.
"Speaking of which, where does Hikigaya-kun usually read?"
"Dorm and club."
"Club?"
Shiina Hiyori said in surprise: "What kind of club is it?"
She had already discovered it.
If she used a request, Hikigaya would instinctively refuse, but as long as she used a question, this guy would generally answer honestly.
"Service Club (Wool Club)."
"Service Club?"
Shiina Hiyori was even more surprised: "I haven't heard of that department. Is it a club you founded yourself? Does Hikigaya-kun even do handicrafts?"
"No."
Hikigaya said a bit sheepishly: "Well, it's basically a club meant to scam school funding."
"Eh? But would the school approve a club like that?"
"Don't be so surprised."
Hikigaya explained dismissively: "Even in normal schools, there are many clubs that scam funding. It's not strange that this school would agree; it's just that we have to submit a result every year, which I heard is quite difficult."
"True."
Shiina Hiyori nodded in agreement: "I heard the Tea Ceremony Club was very relaxed, but after joining, I learned from the seniors that the club has to worry about competitions every year. The school is unexpectedly strict."
"Tea ceremony, huh."
Hikigaya glanced at her and felt that with Shiina Hiyori's gentle personality, she would probably look good in a kimono.
"It does seem to suit you."
"Eh?"
Shiina Hiyori's face turned red, and she said sheepishly: "That sentence just now didn't have any other meaning, right?"
"Literal meaning. Is there a problem?"
"Whew."
Shiina Hiyori sighed in relief: "You told girls not to make those kinds of jokes, but boys shouldn't say things like that easily either. Otherwise, it's very easy to be misunderstood."
"Eh? Is that so?"
Hikigaya was a bit dazed: "Oh, then sorry."
Back in early middle school, he had once specially complimented a girl's uniform as being very pretty to try and please her, but the other party basically just forced a smile and said thank you.
It shouldn't be that easy to misunderstand; at most, it would be repulsion.
Whatever.
If she says it is, it is.
The two chatted while walking toward the dormitory building.
Hikigaya had quite a headache; he originally thought she was just going to the shopping mall which was slightly on the way.
Now it seemed she was going all the way to the dormitory.
"Um, Shiina-san, are you going back to the dorm?"
"Yes."
Shiina Hiyori smiled beside him: "Since I've finally met Hikigaya-kun, I want to chat a bit more. Let's go to the dorm. Also, you can just call me Shiina."
"Oh."
Hikigaya looked puzzled.
Are girls nowadays all this proactive?
Although he knew it was because Shiina finally found a friend with common interests, isn't this a bit too enthusiastic?
Or is this just how normal people are?
Hikigaya wasn't quite sure.
The two returned to the dorm and entered the elevator together until it stopped at the fifth floor.
"Um."
Hikigaya left the elevator, truly unable to hold it in.
He looked back at the dorky girl in front of him and said hesitantly:
"While liking reading isn't a bad thing, and finding friends with common interests is good, it doesn't mean every guy who likes reading is a good person."
After saying it.
Hikigaya regretted it a bit.
It felt a bit like he was being a "teacher," thinking he was somebody. How Shiina chooses to act should be her own business.
But he couldn't help it.
He felt that with Shiina Hiyori being so dorky and having a personality that gets enthusiastic when meeting a soulmate, she would easily be tricked by those bad men who have read a few books.
"Eh?"
Shiina Hiyori was stunned for a moment before smiling: "As I thought, Hikigaya-kun really is kind."
"Idot, I'm not."
Hikigaya's face turned red: "I'm telling you to be wary of me too."
"I know."
Shiina Hiyori smiled: "That's why I said Hikigaya-kun is kind."
"Whatever, it's your business anyway."
Hikigaya was speechless. Why was he saying so much to her? He turned and left the elevator.
Shiina Hiyori poked half of her small head out, watching him enter room 501 before secretly pulling her head back.
"Mhm."
Shiina Hiyori tilted her head, lost in thought.
She did take Hikigaya's warning to heart; after all, she wasn't stupid.
Asking herself.
Even if she met someone else who liked reading, Shiina Hiyori felt she probably wouldn't follow them all the way to their dorm like this.
At most, she would recommend some books and look forward to the next chat.
After thinking for a while.
Shiina Hiyori came to a somewhat strange answer.
That was, after getting a handle on Hikigaya's personality, she felt Hikigaya was simply too easy to bully.
He gave off a harmless feeling.
He would blush with just a little teasing; it was just too interesting.
Thinking of this.
Shiina Hiyori felt her face heating up. It was the first time she had met someone even more introverted than her; she just couldn't help but want to tease him.
No wonder her classmates all liked to tease her.
So that's how it works...