Sheep Club.
Hikigaya returned to the club, occasionally observing Mako Asakura across from him.
He really couldn't sit still.
It wasn't much when he was with Yuki Himeno; after all, that person was just "playing nice"—actually, she was quite easy to understand.
Therefore.
Even though Yuki Himeno liked to tease him.
Besides feeling annoyed or a bit awkward.
It wasn't really anything.
However.
Hikigaya had absolutely no understanding of Mako asakura; he only knew she was one of Ichinose's die-hard fans.
And the unknown is an extremely terrifying thing.
Don't be fooled by Mako asakura's smiling face; in her heart, she might be thinking:
Why do I have to study with Hikigaya? So disappointing. I really want to play with Ichinose. Please, can't you be a bit more self-aware?
Women are masters of acting.
It wouldn't be surprising even if a normal person had such thoughts.
Though Mako asakura likely wouldn't be that excessive; after all, being with Ichinose already showed she wasn't bad-hearted.
But compared to him.
She would definitely rather participate in a study group with Ichinose.
That was undoubtedly true.
It was just that in the face of Ichinose's request, Mako asakura couldn't easily refuse, so she half-unwillingly agreed to come to the Sheep Club to study.
Simply put.
In Mako asakura's eyes, he must be a troublesome existence.
However.
Compared to having the whole class hold a study group in the Sheep Club, Hikigaya still felt that the current situation was more relaxing.
But what should he say?
In his first year of middle school, he always tried desperately to find topics of conversation in front of girls, fearing they would feel bored or that there would be an awkward silence.
But the results were never good.
[Hikigaya always talks endlessly and likes to say mysterious things. How disgusting.]
Thinking of the evaluations that appeared behind his back, Hikigaya had the urge to die.
Better to do nothing.
As long as he imagined it as "work," there wouldn't be a problem.
His work was to tutor Mako asakura in liberal arts, and the reward was her tutoring him in science.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya took out his textbooks from his bag and laid them on the table, preparing to start today's teaching task.
"That was really scary just now."
Mako asakura remarked with some emotion, likely referring to Sakayanagi coming to Class B just now.
"Indeed."
Hikigaya nodded sincerely.
Sakayanagi was truly super terrifying; he really hoped there wouldn't be any more opportunities for contact.
Since it was work, he had to take it seriously.
To tutor her, he at least had to figure out Mako asakura's grades.
Hikigaya doodled in his notebook.
Based on his impressions, it would be best to first give Mako asakura a few test questions.
"But Honami was also so cool just now."
Mako asakura said excitedly: "Even standing in front of that Sakayanagi, she wasn't at a disadvantage at all."
"True."
Hikigaya replied noncommittally.
In any case, as a leader, Ichinose stood in front of everyone protecting them.
Gentle, kind, sunny, cheerful, cool, with excellent grades and social skills; she could perfectly handle complex social situations.
And she was so beautiful.
Ichinose must be very popular among girls as well, not to mention the person in front of him was one of Ichinose's iron-clad best friends.
Was she "preaching" to him?
At this time, Hikigaya had also finished writing ten test questions.
Strictly speaking, they were just a few questions of varying difficulty that he had memorized from past exams.
But for seeing Mako asakura's academic level, they should be enough.
"Here are ten test questions. You can try doing them first."
Hikigaya pushed the notebook to the center of the table and then said: "After that, I'll... think about how to improve study scores. If you have any requirements for science, you can tell me first."
He had originally wanted to say "tutor you," but Hikigaya felt it was a bit arrogant, so he changed his wording.
Correspondingly.
Mako asakura would tutor him in science and might also give him questions.
It was just that Hikigaya really hoped she wouldn't; he could actually do it on his own.
"Uh..."
Mako asakura tilted her head and clapped her small hands:
"As expected, Hikigaya-kun is a serious person. So reliable~"
The hidden meaning sounded like: What a boring man, no fun at all.
"Is that so? Then let's begin."
Hikigaya didn't mind.
It could be seen from Mako asakura's behavior that she was very surprised by his approach.
This undoubtedly showed.
That study groups led by Ichinose and the others probably started with small talk.
Library.
Except for those participating in club activities, Class B had split into several tutoring groups to conduct study sessions.
Yuki Himeno held a gel pen with her onion-white fingers, but she felt somewhat absent-minded.
Although she knew Ichinose wanted Hikigaya to integrate into the class—she was just that kind of "do-gooder," and there was nothing to be done about it.
Yuki Himeno also felt that.
It wouldn't be bad for Hikigaya to become a bit more cheerful.
Mako asakura and Hachiman Hikigaya were paired together.
It was also completely a coincidence.
However.
That was one man and one woman, and "Little Mako" was also very cute—the two of them alone in a room.
Yuki felt like her head was going to explode just thinking about it.
"I wonder how Little Mako and the others are progressing."
Yuki Himeno wrote her practice questions while speaking as if casually.
"It'll be fine." Yume Kobashi, sitting beside her, comforted: "That's Little Mako. She can definitely handle it well. No need to worry, Yuki-chan."
"Though that's true."
Yuki Himeno's voice was weak, and she spoke with a bit of worry: "But the object is that Hikigaya; will it really be okay?"
"Yuki~"
Ichinose, who was tutoring Chihiro Shirami, was a bit confused:
"I've always felt Hikigaya is a trustworthy companion. Why do you say that? And didn't he walk you back to the dorm last time? Did he do something bad?"
"No, no. Sorry, I didn't express myself clearly."
Yuki Himeno acted like a fragile girl, explaining softly:
"I'm also very grateful to him for walking me back last time. It's just that Hikigaya doesn't seem very good at communicating with others. If the two of them are together, I wonder if they can actually achieve any study results."
"Indeed..."
Yumeko Kobashi tapped her snow-white chin with a finger, thought for a moment, and nodded:
"Little Mako only talks a lot with us; with others, she's actually a bit introverted. It feels like there won't be any progress."
"Right?"
Yuki Himeno's eyes lit up.
You definitely can't just let a man and a woman be alone together.
"Hmm?"
Yume Kobashi tilted her head in confusion: "Yuki, what's wrong? You seem a bit strange today."
In the past, Yuki Himeno always maintained a "weak and frail" posture and rarely showed such obvious emotions so clearly.
"N-No."
Yuki Himeno's eyes panicked.
If people found out she liked Hikigaya, it would be truly embarrassing.
She quickly looked at Ichinose and said:
"I think it might be better if Honami-chan goes over there to tutor?"
Having someone skilled at socializing nearby should make both of them more relaxed.
"I think so too, but it won't work."
Ichinose was somewhat helpless; she naturally understood this point.
Hikigaya and Mako asakura.
One had a twisted personality, and the other was relatively introverted in front of strangers.
Putting them together would likely result in slow progress.
But Ichinose had no choice.
She was first in the year in the entrance exam, a top-tier all-rounder in every subject, and needed to stay here to tutor others.
Although she had thoughts of giving special care.
She wouldn't neglect the whole class for Hikigaya alone, especially since this time involved the exam against Class A.
She had to go all out.
"True." Yume Kobashi was also somewhat helpless.
"I'm sorry, it's all because my grades are bad."
Chihiro Shirano slumped her fragrant shoulders, looking a bit dejected.
"That's not it at all."
Ichinose smiled and rubbed her small head: "Chihiro has already worked very hard, and aren't your grades improving? That's enough."
"But progress has always been slow."
Seeing Chihiro Shirano about to sink into despondency, Yumeko Kobashi quickly changed the subject and sighed.
"It would be great if Shibata were here right now."
"Yeah."
Unfortunately, Shibata was still a member of the soccer club and had no time right now.
"Then what about Kanzaki?"
"That wouldn't work, right..."
The several girls couldn't help but look at Kanzaki, who was currently answering a question for a boy; but Kanzaki was actually also a "silent type."
Although he would force himself for the sake of the class during exams, he didn't talk much normally.
"Then let me go?"
Yuki Himeno looked around and said tentatively: "Although Hikigaya and I haven't talked much, we are desk-mates after all. It might be a bit better?"
"Yuki... that wouldn't work either, right."
Ichinose shook her head helplessly.
To play nice, Yuki Himeno was also an introverted, weak little girl in class.
"Then I'll go instead."
At this time, Yume Kobashi smiled and looked at Yuki Himeno: "Isn't Yuki a member of that Sheep Club? It just so happens that Yuki and I are in the same group for this exam. We want to find a quiet place to study—it should be fine, right?"
"It seems so..."
Yuki Himeno nodded, pretending to think about it.
"Yume is so amazing~"
"Then Yume, I'll leave it to you."
Ichinose also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she had these friends by her side to help; otherwise, she really felt she might not be able to keep going.
"No problem, leave it to me."
Yume Kobashi touched her chest with a snow-white small hand, looking like "leave it all to me."
Although she couldn't compare to Ichinose.
But just finding topics to talk about wasn't a problem for her.
"Then let's go, Yuki."
Yume Kobashi hooked her arm through Yuki Himeno's, and the two packed their bags and left the library together.
The two were just like a pair of close-knit best friends.