Keyaki Mall.
On the street, Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyo walked on either side of Hikigaya.
From time to time, Hikigaya felt piercing gazes, and people often greeted Kushida Kikyo.
Each time, Kushida would smile and nod or wave.
Where on earth did this idol-like girl come from?
Meanwhile, Sakura Airi just kept her head down, shrinking her shoulders and following along quite timidly.
I'm truly sorry!
To think he was using such a timid and kind girl like Airi-chan. Hikigaya felt immense guilt toward Sakura Airi.
But things had to be done.
To get rid of Kushida Kikyo's pestering, the best way was to act as terribly as possible.
It might inadvertently affect Sakura Airi's evaluation of him.
But Hikigaya didn't care about that.
Speaking of which.
Aren't you two the ones treating? Why let him walk in front?
This wasn't right.
"So, what are we eating?"
Hikigaya's tone was flat, deliberately putting on a cold expression to make Kushida Kikyo back off.
"Well, since it's an apology..."
Kushida Kikyo clasped her small hands behind her back, walking to his left and smiling: "What would Hikigaya-kun like to eat?"
"Eh? Asking me?"
Hikigaya was a bit stunned.
When someone is treating, don't they usually decide the place first? Although he wasn't very familiar with these things.
But to push the responsibility onto the person being treated...
It only adds to one's stress.
However.
Since Kushida Kikyo asked.
There were two choices.
One was to choose an ultra-expensive gourmet meal, letting Kushida Kikyo experience the "brutal beating" of society so she would back off. But if he did that...
Class D's class points had never been much.
Sakura Airi likely didn't have many personal points; he had already forced her to come along, so making her pay a fortune would be truly conscience-stricken.
Furthermore.
He couldn't even be sure how many personal points Kushida Kikyo actually had.
In the end, it might turn into a conclusion where he had to pay the bill.
That would be a huge loss.
The only remaining method was one.
Choose food that lacked taste and was generally hated by girls; this was Hikigaya's specialty. He just had to make a "normal" choice.
Feeling.
"Then, how about ramen?"
Hikigaya asked with a slight hint of pride.
Sakura's ramen gave off the impression of an "uncle" food; the customers were basically middle-aged salarymen with insufficient financial resources.
The vast majority of girls probably wouldn't like something like ramen!
"Ramen? I like that too. Does Hikigaya-kun have any recommended shops?"
Kushida Kikyo smiled unconcernedly, while Sakura Airi kept her head down, walking beside Hikigaya.
The facts proved it.
Kushida Kikyo had never eaten ramen before; she was clearly the type who hated ramen.
Because.
This school currently only had one Jiro-style ramen shop.
There was no such thing as a "recommendation."
This was proof that Kushida had no knowledge regarding ramen!
It was likely because there were several coffee shops and milk tea shops that Kushida developed the misconception that there should be several ramen shops as well.
However.
This girl still put on an act of being "very expectant" and even asked him for a recommendation.
It had to be said.
This woman is so good at acting.
If this were middle school.
Hearing a girl ask him to recommend a ramen shop, Hikigaya felt he would have already started talking grandly about ramen shops in Chiba.
If one wasn't careful, she would steal a man's heart; this woman is truly dangerous.
However, now.
"There is only one Jiro Ramen here."
"You didn't know?"
Hikigaya ruthlessly pierced through her disguise.
Not even knowing this, yet daring to say she liked it—what a hypocritical liar.
"Eh?"
Kushida Kikyo's eyes twitched slightly before she tilted her small head and said:
"Is that so?"
"After entering this school, I've spent most of my time with friends and haven't tasted Advanced Nurturing's ramen yet. I didn't know if it was different from the outside."
"But, since it's a shop Hikigaya-kun likes..."
(Movement)
"I'm looking forward to it."
A perfect smile remained on Kushida Kikyo's pretty face.
Damn it.
This woman can actually defend herself and round out her story without blushing or a racing heart.
Terrifying.
"No, I don't like that shop. I just don't have a choice."
Hikigaya retorted with a flat expression: "Jiro Ramen having no special characteristics in the ramen world is common sense."
As long as he acted obnoxious enough.
He believed Kushida Kikyo wouldn't pester him anymore.
"Eh? Is that so?"
Kushida Kikyo clapped her small hands together in amazement: "Hikigaya-kun is so knowledgeable, how impressive~"
Hikigaya gazed gloomily at the girl before him.
Damn.
As expected of a high-level "normie" in disguise, she's truly formidable.
Not a single flaw.
Today, I must dismantle Kushida Kikyo's fake side.
Just wait and see.
"What about Airi?"
Hikigaya asked for her opinion.
If Sakura Airi weren't present.
Kushida Kikyo's face would probably be flashing like a countdown traffic light by now. She definitely wouldn't be this peaceful.
"Eh, I'm fine with anything."
Sakura Airi's voice was weak.
She sighed in her heart.
I really want to eat alone with Hachiman-kun.
Jiro Ramen.
The three of them walked into the shop. There were only a few scattered middle-aged men inside, mostly school staff.
Hikigaya had been here several times.
Occasionally, he would run into students in uniforms, but they were mostly students from sports clubs; they should still be participating in club activities now.
Although Jiro Ramen had no characteristics and couldn't compare to others in Chiba, there was no choice right now.
The group arrived at the automatic ticket machine.
"Um..." Kushida Kikyo looked sideways at the two: "Since this meal is an apology, let me pay."
"No... no need."
Sakura Airi hurriedly waved her hands: "I wanted to thank Hikigaya for his help, so let me do it."
A dispute arose between the two over who would pay.
"No need."
Hikigaya looked at the two, then comforted Sakura Airi: "Let Kushida pay..."
He had already forced Sakura to come along; how could he use her money? If money was to be spent, use Kushida Kikyo's.
"..."
Kushida Kikyo's smile never changed, but she was already cursing in her heart.
This guy is blatantly discriminating.
"That's right."
"It's just a few bowls of ramen, leave it to me."
Kushida Kikyo nodded with a smile.
One bowl of ramen was about 600, so three was nearly 2,000. For Hikigaya, this naturally wasn't an issue, but for Kushida in Class D, it was definitely not a small amount.
Since she liked to pester him.
Hikigaya wanted Kushida to understand the price of pestering him.
Next, the three looked at the automatic ticket machine.
Soy sauce ramen, tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen—the jumble of various ramens immediately made the two girls' eyes glaze over.
"What do you want to eat?"
Hikigaya stared at Kushida Kikyo with dead eyes.
Normally, he would order quickly and start enjoying this wonderful dinner.
But now.
Watch him expose Kushida Kikyo's hypocrisy and make her never dare to approach him again.
This person has definitely never eaten ramen before.
At this moment, Kushida Kikyo must be very confused.
"Is there a difference between these?"
Sakura Airi's face flushed red.
She felt quite embarrassed that she didn't even know how to order.
Actually.
Just as coffee shops give off an aura that "single men are prohibited," ramen shops in Sakura (Japan) also give off an impression that "single girls are prohibited."
It was normal not to have eaten it; Sakura didn't need to feel embarrassed at all.
Hikigaya gave her an apologetic look.
He would expose Kushida first.
"Um."
"What flavor does Hikigaya usually like to eat?"
Kushida Kikyo asked with a faint smile on her face.
One couldn't tell at all that she was stepping into this kind of shop for the first time.
Damn.
This hypocritical woman's disguise is far too perfect.
However.
When one tells a lie, it requires countless more lies to round it out.
On this point.
Hikigaya had deep personal experience; sooner or later, he would make the fraud Kushida Kikyo reveal her true form.
"Tonkotsu."
Hikigaya said weakly.
"Then I'll have the same as Hikigaya."
"Me too, me too."
Sakura Airi hurriedly chimed in. Kushida Kikyo smilingly bought three tickets, easily passing the first stage of the ramen test.
The three sat at the counter seats with their tickets.
Kushida Kikyo and Sakura Airi sat on the left and right, respectively, next to Hikigaya.
Ordinary people might not know that ramen in Sakura (Japan) also requires choosing the hardness of the noodles.
From hard to soft.
They are: Kawatoushi (flash-boiled), Barigane (wire), Kakata (very hard), Kata (hard), Futsuu (normal), Yawa (soft), and Bariyawa (very soft).
This is a universal rule in the entire Sakura ramen industry.
Hikigaya, with murderous intent hidden, handed over his ticket. Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyo hurriedly followed suit.
Following that.
The three said nothing.
Humph.
The result is out.
Hikigaya was secretly proud.
There is only one truth!
Kushida Kikyo, that hypocritical person, has simply never eaten ramen. Wait for her to make a fool of herself and see if she still dares to pester him.
However, just then.
"Yours is Barigane (wire), right?"
The waiter asked looking at Hikigaya Hachiman; he had some impression of this regular customer with dead-fish eyes.
Then, he looked at the other two:
"What about you two?"
"Eh?"
Sakura Airi was immediately dazed, completely unaware of what the other person was asking.
What did "wire" mean?
Were they going to eat iron wires? Boys are truly terrifying.
Meanwhile, Kushida Kikyo on the side remained smiling, though her heart was already exploding with rage.
She fully believed it.
Hikigaya had definitely eaten ramen before.
He certainly knew these technical terms that only existed in ramen shops.
This damnable Hikigaya.
He wants to avoid contact with her so badly that he even set a trap for her while eating ramen.
He wants her to make a fool of herself.
He wants to expose her in front of Sakura Airi—to expose that she was lying.
What a total bastard!
Kushida Kikyo clenched her fists secretly as they rested on her legs.
Once she gained Hikigaya's trust, she would definitely make this self-righteous man pay the price.
"I'll have Barigane too."
Kushida Kikyo said, suppressing her anger.
"Eh eh eh??"
Sakura Airi was struck with horror. Were they really going to eat iron wires?
"I say."
Looking at Sakura's reaction, the waiter looked at Hikigaya with some dissatisfaction:
"Since you brought girls out to eat, as a boy, you should be more proactive."
"Yes... I'm very sorry."
Hikigaya bowed his head and apologized.
Damn it, I didn't expect to be recognized by the waiter because I eat ramen so often. What a blunder.
"Miss, they are choosing the hardness of the ramen. From hard to soft, it's Kawatoushi, Barigane, Kakata, Kata, Yawa, and Bariyawa. Which do you prefer?"
"Then I'll have the soft one."
Sakura Airi breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing this, the waiter looked at Kushida Kikyo with a doubtful gaze, implying: Are you sure you want 'wire'?
It couldn't be helped.
Female customers in ramen shops were far too few, let alone students.
Almost every student who came to the ramen shop.
He knew them.
For a first-time ramen eater, it's better not to choose such a hard texture.
"It's fine, I prefer it a bit harder."
Kushida Kikyo forced a smile, continuing to suppress her anger. Since she had already lied, she had to follow through to the end.
"Alright, wait a moment!"
Hikigaya's expression was flat, but inside he was dying of happiness.
(Product)
He didn't believe that after being provoked like this, Kushida Kikyo would still pester him.
Soon.
The waiter brought out three steaming bowls of ramen and placed them before the three.
Hikigaya calmly sent the noodles into his mouth.
The backfat was average, the noodles were average, the flavor was average. Jiro Ramen really had no characteristics and wasn't very popular among boys either.
But since it was ramen, the taste wouldn't be bad.
Correspondingly.
This kind of ramen was more easily accepted by girls.
"Eh?"
Sakura Airi took just one bite, and her eyes lit up: "This is so delicious."
Hmm?
A smile appeared at the corner of Hikigaya's mouth.
Unexpectedly, Sakura Airi turned out to be a fellow ramen lover; his favorable impression of little Airi couldn't help but rise a notch.
"It is indeed quite good."
Kushida Kikyo also nodded in praise.
This hypocritical woman is still pretending. Jiro Ramen is just the most ordinary shop in the ramen world, completely incomparable to Tenka Ippin.
Let alone being "delicious."
Hikigaya denounced her hypocrisy in his heart.