The group parted ways in the elevator.
When the elevator reached the ninth floor, Yuki Himeno stepped out and nodded, saying softly:
"Then I'll head back. See you tomorrow, Yume-chan~"
"Wait up."
Yume Kobashi smiled as she stepped out and linked arms with Yuki Himeno.
"I want to chat with Yuki-chan a bit more."
"Then come to my room."
Yuki Himeno kept a smile on her face, but inside she was somewhat helpless. These guys were just too enthusiastic, giving her absolutely no private space.
Unfortunately.
Bound by her persona.
Yuki Himeno couldn't choose to refuse.
Hanging out in other people's dorms was a perfectly normal thing for girls.
Creak~
Yuki Himeno opened the door, and the two entered the room.
Unlike typical girls' rooms, Yuki Himeno's room was quite simple, without excessive decorations.
After all.
Girls often came to visit.
Yuki Himeno couldn't buy things she liked if they were a bit eccentric, and even her makeup had to stay within the range allowed for high schoolers.
This was the price she paid for being unable to express her true thoughts.
To blend into the class, she had to constantly hide her true inner feelings; only when she was with Hikigaya did she feel so relaxed and free.
"Is it still cocoa for Yume?"
"Mhm!"
Himeno sighed as she walked into the kitchen before taking out the cocoa powder and hot water to make two cups.
"Sigh, I wonder what Hikigaya is doing..."
Yuki Himeno couldn't help but think.
Compared to her best friends in class, she still preferred hanging out with Hikigaya.
Every time he was teased, Hikigaya's cheeks would turn red.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared at the corner of Himeno's mouth as she remembered them kicking each other's legs under the table earlier.
That guy actually had that side to him; it was so interesting.
At the thought, Yuki Himeno lowered her head to look at the spot where Hikigaya had kicked her, as if she could still feel a lingering warmth from him.
She really had fallen for Hikigaya.
Though she hadn't experienced it before, falling in love with someone was perfectly normal, and Yuki Himeno didn't feel any embarrassment about it.
Except.
Confessing her feelings herself was still a bit embarrassing.
Besides, I'm the girl.
Yuki Himeno stirred the cocoa powder, her lips curling up. No matter what, Hikigaya should be the one to confess to her.
But, thinking of that blockhead.
Himeno felt a bit helpless. Although she had given many hints, Hikigaya was a total wooden-head.
She'd just have to make the hints more obvious next time.
Yuki Himeno brought the brewed cocoa back to the living room and handed it to Yume Kobashi.
When she was with Yume and the others.
Usually, they were the ones to start the topics; she was just a physically weak, gentle young girl, no need to worry.
"Hehe."
Yume Kobashi leaned forward while holding her cocoa, lying on the low table and studying Yuki Himeno.
Suddenly, she gave a mischievous grin:
"Yuki-chan, tell me quickly, do you like Hikki?"
"Gasp..."
Himeno's shoulders trembled slightly, and she let out a strange sound.
Looking at the scene before her, Yume Kobashi was already certain, her beautiful eyes sparkling even more:
"Wow~ It really is true!"
Yume Kobashi was clearly excited: "Yuki-chan, quickly tell me when you started liking Hikki."
"Uh..."
Bound by her persona.
Yuki Himeno suddenly felt a bit awkward.
She didn't dislike Yume Kobashi and the others; she just didn't like those endless gatherings.
She and Yume Kobashi had always been on very good terms.
When she faked a headache, it was usually Yume Kobashi who took care of her.
Even she felt Yume Kobashi was a very kind friend; in the other's eyes, they were probably already inseparable best friends.
"I... I don't..."
Yuki Himeno lowered her head and quickly tried to deny it.
But talking about these topics with these people still felt embarrassing.
"Ah, she's blushing, she's blushing~"
Yume Kobashi quickly shifted her body to sit next to her, putting an arm around Yuki Himeno's shoulder and rubbing her head against hers.
"I never expected to see this side of Yuki-chan. So cute! As expected, love really changes a person!"
After all, the other person wasn't an idiot.
No matter how she denied it, Yume Kobashi had already made that judgment.
"Yume."
Yuki Himeno said helplessly: "How did you find out?"
"It was quite simple."
Yume Kobashi said somewhat proudly: "I already felt something was off at the library. You even asked Asako if she liked Hikki; that's not something Yuki-chan would normally do. I noticed it immediately."
So it was back then.
Yuki Himeno was a bit helpless; it was precisely because her relationship with Yume Kobashi was too good that the other noticed this anomaly.
"And then?"
Yume Kobashi's soul for gossip was burning fiercely: "When did Yuki-chan start liking him?"
"Since... since school started."
Now that she'd been caught, there was nothing to be done. Yuki Himeno started feeling shy.
Thinking back carefully.
It probably started when Hikigaya spoke bluntly to Ichinose, saying he didn't need her sympathy.
"Eh, that early?"
Yume Kobashi was simply shocked: "Did Yuki-chan know Hikki from before?"
"No."
"Then what do you like about Hikki? Was it love at first sight?"
Yume Kobashi clasped her hands to her chest, her beautiful eyes shining brightly.
Liked him since school started.
If that wasn't love at first sight, what was it?
"It wasn't..."
"Honami was a bit depressed back then, right? Actually, Hikki said something a bit harsh to her, and I just thought he looked so cool being so blunt."
Yuki Himeno firmly denied it, her voice weak as she tried to change the subject.
At the start of school, she just thought Hikigaya's blunt personality was cool; after getting to know him, she realized that even he had a cute side.
If she teased him even a little, his face would turn red instantly.
So cute.
"Mhm, that's true..."
Yume Kobashi thought for a moment and then nodded.
"Honami-chan was indeed a bit depressed then. So that's what happened. To be able to make Honami-chan depressed, what on earth did Hikki say?"
"Phew..."
Yuki Himeno secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her strategy to change the subject was a success. Ichinose was always very persistent; how could anyone not be curious about what made her so down.
Since she couldn't hide it anymore anyway, she simply sold Hikigaya out.
"He said he didn't need sympathetic care..."
"Uh..."
Yume Kobashi was momentarily stunned, then said helplessly:
"Although I think Honami-chan definitely didn't mean it that way, it does feel very much like Hikki's style."
"Yeah, and Honami-chan still couldn't leave him alone in the end."
"Exactly, that's Honami-chan!"
No matter who it was.
Ichinose could never sit by and watch someone in trouble.
Although Hikigaya didn't feel he was in trouble, in the eyes of others, being alone was definitely not a good thing.
"Wait!"
Yume Kobashi suddenly snapped back, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure:
"Yuki-chan always changes the subject like that sometimes. So sneaky~ Although that's also a cute side of Yuki-chan, but don't you like him? Why don't you confess to Hikki?"
"But..."
The topic was pulled back again; bound by her fake persona, Yuki Himeno had to speak.
"That would be too embarrassing. And what if he doesn't like me?"
Actually.
Himeno wasn't worried about that at all.
After all, Hikigaya's behavior was right there, and Yuki Himeno was confident in her looks; she felt that if she confessed, she could easily win Hikigaya over.
Plus, she was likely the one closest to Hikigaya.
To put it simply.
Himeno felt only two words applied.
Invincible!
Dealing with Hikigaya was no problem; the only thing to worry about was those other girls.
"But..."
Yume Kobashi frowned, tapping her chin as she pondered:
"Hikki gives off a very mature feeling, and he's very smart. During the special exam, he found the hidden VIP right away. He feels very reliable, and I think he'll definitely be successful in the future."
"If you don't confess, what if Hikki is snatched away by someone else?"
The two had completely different perceptions.
Himeno was more like a normal person, while the thinking of Yume Kobashi and other Class B students leaned more toward the positive.
Furthermore, since Hikigaya didn't communicate with them much, Yume Kobashi and the others only saw his good side.
"Probably not?"
Yuki Himeno spoke in a tone that pretended to lack confidence.
But she also knew.
Hikigaya's reputation in Class B had always been high.
Girls were very sharp in their observations.
Even though he didn't coordinate his clothes, in this school, it could be seen as being thrifty, and he washed his hair clean every day.
His looks were quite decent, and his grades weren't bad.
He gave off a mature and stable vibe.
After gaining 50 class points for Class B during the VIP exam, Hikigaya's evaluation skyrocketed, and people just assumed he was being humble.
"Yuki-chan is being too careless!"
Yume Kobashi's face suddenly became serious:
"From what I can see, that Sakura-san from Class D and Kushida-chan both seem interested in Hikki. Yuki-chan, you can't be careless. Although I feel a bit sorry for Kushida-chan, I will definitely take your side!"
Uh.
Himeno kept her head down to hide her expression.
She was truly helpless inside.
To be honest.
Sakura probably did have feelings for Hikigaya.
But Yuki Himeno never thought that "country bumpkin" would be her match.
As for Kushida...
In the eyes of outsiders, she probably wouldn't be a match for Kushida.
But...
One lie must be covered by countless others.
"It should be okay..."
Himeno said softly and weakly: "We're in different classes, so it should be impossible, right?"
"That won't do!"
Yume Kobashi was more invested in this than her own business, analyzing carefully:
"Let's put Sakura-san aside for now; she seems very introverted too. You and Hikki are not only in the same club but also seatmates, so it should be fine."
"But Kushida-chan is not only pretty but also very popular with boys at school. Her personality is good and her communication skills are amazing. You can't be careless!"
"Actually..."
Yuki Himeno gritted her teeth and had no choice but to say softly:
"I asked secretly. Hikki seems to think Kushida-san isn't a good person and really dislikes interacting with her?"
"Eh?"
Yume Kobashi was suddenly stunned: "Why? That's Kushida-chan."
"Because..."
Himeno gave a rough description of Hikigaya's judgment of Kushida.
After hearing Hikigaya's reasoning.
Yuki Himeno hadn't taken it to heart either; she found even the people in her own class a hassle, let alone Kushida Kikyo.
Even without Hikigaya, she would only treat Kushida as a superficial friend.
"Is Hikki being too cautious?"
Yume Kobashi shook her head helplessly: "I don't think Kushida-chan is that kind of person. Oh well, in that case, Kushida-chan shouldn't be our opponent!"
"Mhm... no competitors... in that case..."
Yume Kobashi rested her chin in her white hand, lost in thought:
"You really don't have to rush. You can just wait for things to happen naturally, for Hikki to confess to you."
As for Ichinose, although she seemed to take care of Hikigaya, they both knew that was just her personality.
Besides.
Ichinose and Hikigaya didn't seem like a good match at all.
Himeno and Hikigaya were a perfect fit!
"Phew."
Yuki Himeno breathed a sigh of relief; she had finally managed to brush it off.
"Don't worry, Yuki-chan."
Yume Kobashi clenched her fists in encouragement: "I will definitely support you and make you and Hikki a happy couple!"
After all.
In her eyes.
Neither Hikigaya nor Yuki Himeno were the talkative type.
For this couple to get together, it was all up to her!
Yume Kobashi felt she had a heavy responsibility.
"Eh?"
Yuki Himeno was slightly stunned.
Thinking about it that way, it actually seemed pretty good.
She would naturally make her moves behind the scenes, while leaving the overt help to Yume Kobashi.
Perfect!
"Thank you, Yume-chan!"
Yuki Himeno said in a low voice, feeling grateful for having such a best friend for the first time.
The two stayed up late strategizing, though it was mostly Yume Kobashi talking.
"Yume-chan, you mustn't tell anyone about this, okay?"
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Yume Kobashi clenched her pink fist and solemnly thumped her chest as a guarantee.
A friend's happiness must be protected by her!