As expected of Ichinose.
Hearing her words, Hikigaya felt even more helpless, truly powerless.
No matter what he did.
Ichinose wanted him to integrate into the class.
But Hikigaya felt like he already was a member of Class B.
Had he been expelled from Class B without his knowledge?
He really didn't understand.
What exactly did Ichinose mean by "integrating into the class"?
Did he have to act like a "normie" like Himeno Yuki and the others? Hikigaya felt that was absolutely impossible.
"Also."
Ichinose turned and reminded him: "Hikigaya-kun, you seem to speculate on the hidden meanings behind people's words for no reason. That's not very good; it's quite hurtful."
Right.
Ichinose simply wanted him to join the class; she definitely didn't want his private points.
"Oh, sorry."
Hikigaya apologized without a shred of sincerity.
If one's kindness was suspected by others, it would indeed be hurtful.
But the root cause.
Was still Ichinose insisting on dragging him to this nonsensical gathering.
Though Ichinose was indeed beautiful.
He didn't have any special feelings for her.
Before, he just thought having such a leader was quite good; now, he felt it was a bit of a hassle.
Explanation was useless.
Hikigaya didn't bother explaining to her anymore.
"Sigh."
Ichinose sighed, saying with some helplessness: "Truly no sincerity at all."
"Isn't it all because you're forcing me?"
"Hmm?"
"What?"
Feeling Ichinose's confused gaze, Hikigaya was equally confused.
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
Ichinose pinched her snow-white chin and fell into thought.
Before, Hikigaya was always polite to her—or rather, he had a business-like attitude toward everyone.
However.
Now she felt that although Hikigaya's attitude wasn't good, it was more authentic.
From another perspective, this was probably Hikigaya's true side.
Recalling carefully.
At the start of school.
Hikigaya's evaluation of Vice President Nagumo was also slightly biting.
But his nature wasn't bad; on the contrary, he was quite gentle.
He was always thinking for the class, and it seemed he even helped Sakura Airi from Class D—who he had no connection to—at the start of the term.
Thinking of this.
A smile appeared at the corners of Ichinose's mouth.
It proved her approach was working.
As long as she kept taking the initiative to get close, Hikigaya would reveal his true self.
Perhaps.
Hikigaya felt that as long as he showed his true side, others would gradually distance themselves.
But this true side actually made Ichinose happier. At least, Hikigaya was no longer acting in that business-like manner. As long as there was change, things would be easier.
"Then it's a deal."
"Next weekend, if nothing's up, we'll go to Karaoke."
Saying that.
Ichinose stuffed the cookies into his hand before getting up to return to Shiranami Chihiro and the others.
Looking at the cookies handmade by Ichinose in his hand, Hikigaya felt a bit of a headache.
Why did Ichinose always like to ignore his opinion?
An hour later.
Many boys also began to sing.
Hikigaya sat on a small stool with a stoic expression, occasionally putting a cookie into his mouth; he was just a heartless eating machine.
Speaking of which, why was Himeno Yuki still sitting there?
Hikigaya suspected this girl was trying to outlast him. If so, Himeno Yuki was sorely mistaken.
Although he didn't like these gatherings.
If it was just about sitting through it.
Hikigaya was extremely confident in his own endurance.
Just then.
"Yuki, what's wrong?"
"Sorry, it seems my old problem is acting up again."
Himeno Yuki covered her forehead with an apologetic face, then flashed a smile to reassure everyone.
Oh~
So she's solving it this way? That's amazing!
Keep acting, keep acting.
Hikigaya couldn't help but secretly praise her.
This girl's acting was so realistic, it was almost on par with his.
"Are you okay?"
"Maybe Himeno should go back and rest."
Beside her, a girl—Hikigaya remembered her as the short-haired girl, Kobashi Yume—said while supporting Himeno Yuki's shoulder.
"I'll walk her back."
Hikigaya stood up immediately, intending to catch this breeze. He had wanted to leave this victory party for a long time.
"Eh?"
Kobashi Yume and the others looked over in surprise.
Feeling everyone's gazes, Hikigaya immediately regretted it. Wouldn't this make it look like he had some designs on Himeno Yuki or that they were very close?
But before he could explain.
Kobashi Yume and the others seemed to understand something, revealing looks of realization—he probably didn't want to participate in this gathering either.
"Hmm..."
Supporting Himeno Yuki's fragrant shoulder, Kobashi Yume hesitated: "Then should I go back with you guys?"
"Sorry to trouble you."
The few girls nearby glanced at Hikigaya and nodded, which immediately made the hair on Hikigaya's neck stand up.
A chill spread through his body, rushing from his feet to his brain.
It instantly brought Hikigaya back to his senses.
The friendly atmosphere of Class B.
Almost gave him the illusion that the world was beautiful.
That look.
Was likely a lack of trust in him.
They were worried he might do something inappropriate to Himeno Yuki.
However.
The calmed-down Hikigaya soon stopped caring.
Strictly speaking.
He hadn't even spoken to most people in Class B, let alone being friends. He probably wouldn't even recognize them if they met; they wouldn't even be nodding acquaintances.
As Himeno Yuki's friends.
It was only normal for them to have such suspicion and concern toward a stranger.
If these people could fully trust him without ever having spoken a word, Hikigaya would find that even more terrifying.
No matter how friendly Class B acted, or how gentle Ichinose was.
This was the raw reality.
This class was so normal that it was perfectly natural to stay alert around people they weren't close to. The abnormal one was Ichinose.
"No need, no need."
Himeno Yuki waved her hand and smiled: "Having Hikigaya walk me is enough, and it's only a few steps away."
"Yuki..."
A girl lowered her voice, hinting at something.
"It's fine, you forgot that Hikigaya and I are seatmates."
Himeno Yuki held her forehead and slowly stood up. Hearing her say this, the others finally let it go.
Her subtext was that Hikigaya could be trusted.
But Hikigaya could roughly guess.
Himeno Yuki likely felt that being with the others would only be more tiring, so she chose this excuse.
Being with someone like him meant she didn't need to fake a headache at all, making her more relaxed and comfortable.
That was all.
There was no room for other fantasies.
"That's right."
Ichinose also understood Hikigaya's desire to leave the gathering.
"Then Hikigaya, I'm leaving Yuki to you."
said:
Smile.
"Mhm."
Hikigaya nodded and followed Himeno Yuki out of the booth.
Regardless, there were surveillance cameras everywhere in the school, and it was only a few steps, so there was nothing to worry about.
Leaving the Karaoke.
The sky had already turned dark, and there weren't many people on the road.
"Damn it."
Himeno Yuki instantly reverted to her true nature, launching a sneak attack with a light hand-chop to Hikigaya's side, saying with dissatisfaction:
"I was giving you signals just now, why did you pretend not to see?"
"Oh."
Hikigaya rubbed the spot where he was poked and said frankly: "I was a bit curious about how you usually leave the scene."
"Eh? Oh... I see."
Doesn't this mean Hikigaya pays a lot of attention to her? Himeno Yuki's face couldn't help but flush slightly. She clasped her hands behind her back, looking at the ground, and said softly:
"How about it? Am I smart?"
To think of the "faking a headache" method.
Based on Ichinose and the others' reactions, Himeno Yuki was clearly a repeat offender.
Indeed... smart my foot.
"No, I feel it's a bit stupid."
Hikigaya said nonchalantly: "If you don't want to attend, just don't attend. Why bother faking an illness?"
After speaking, Hikigaya realized—Himeno Yuki probably participated precisely because she couldn't say no. Fearing he might get hit because she'd think he was mocking her, Hikigaya quickly added:
"And even if you were direct about it, I think Ichinose and the others wouldn't mind."
"How is that possible?"
Himeno Yuki rolled her eyes helplessly and said:
"Ichinose might not mind, but the others would probably have something to say, like 'what's she trying to pull by faking it' and so on."
"That's true."
Hikigaya nodded in agreement.
He remembered reading online that a four-girl dormitory could have seven or eight group chats. Girls really are terrifying.
Class B had walked into a dead end.
They could only continue along this path of harmonious atmosphere.
Whether this was good or bad.
Hikigaya didn't like it, but he wasn't sure.
If this were a normal school.
Such a harmonious atmosphere would naturally be good.
But in this school.
Thanks to this harmonious atmosphere, Class B gained a level of cohesion unimaginable to others.
At least for now, it indeed had benefits.
It was just that Hikigaya didn't fit in.
"Sigh."
At this time, Himeno Yuki sighed with some regret:
"Actually, I quite like Karaoke. To think I could only sit there and chat, it's so annoying."
"What's there to be annoyed about?"
Hikigaya was confused: "If you spoke up, they'd probably be happy to sing with you. I see you're quite well taken care of among the girls."
"Well, obviously."
Himeno Yuki became even more speechless: "It's because I'm 'sick' that they want to take care of me. If I sang, they'd worry about my health and wouldn't let me do any intense activities."
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was suddenly confused.
He remembered this girl ran quite fast during the Sports Festival. Then Hikigaya realized—after he had pointed it out, Himeno Yuki had slowed down her pace.
She was too good at acting.
"Then that's quite miserable."
Hikigaya nodded sincerely. Just then, Himeno Yuki stopped in her tracks and looked Hikigaya up and down.
"What's wrong?"
Hikigaya looked at himself, confused.
"No, I should be asking you what's wrong."
Himeno Yuki tilted her head, even more confused.
"Me?"
Hikigaya frowned: "What's it got to do with me?"
"Never mind..."
Himeno Yuki started walking toward the dormitory again, with Hikigaya following behind.
"It's just, usually at a time like this, you'd say something like 'serves you right for faking it' to mock me."
"..."
Hikigaya looked at the dormitory not far away.
Strictly speaking.
This was the path Himeno Yuki had chosen for herself; faking an illness meant bearing the corresponding consequences.
Being looked after.
Unable to do intense exercise.
Unable to sing for long periods.
Unable to do the things she liked.
Otherwise.
It would be very easy to get caught.
These were the prices she had to pay for the "good person" persona she had built for herself.
It really was "serves her right."
"No, I'm just a bit tired today."
Feeling a bit out of it, Hikigaya nodded and said: "It indeed serves you right."
"You guy."
Himeno Yuki gave his abdomen another hand-chop: "Saying sarcastic things now only makes your personality seem even worse."
"It's fine. My personality was always this bad anyway."
Hikigaya rubbed the spot where he was poked, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. Indeed, that was just his personality.
It was impossible to change it now, so why care?
The two entered the elevator. Himeno Yuki leaned close to him, stood on her tiptoes, and lowered her voice:
"Next time, let's go to Karaoke just the two of us. I'm actually a very good singer."
"Not going."
Coincidentally, the elevator stopped on the fifth floor.
Hikigaya felt speechless and quickly left the elevator. Why did these people always want him to go to Karaoke?