The Next Day.
After School.
Class B Classroom.
"Well then, Hikki, let's go!"
Yume Kobashi, Mako Asakura, and the others walked straight up to him. Feeling several gazes focused on him, Hikigaya instinctively shrank his neck.
They completely ignored the rest of the class. People like Kobashi were honestly the hardest for him to deal with.
"Eh? Yume, are you guys going somewhere?" Hitomi asked.
"Yeah. It's a rare Friday, so we're planning to have a get-together at Pallet."
"Eh? Pallet? I want to go too."
"Sorry, Hitomi~"
Kobashi pressed her hands together apologetically.
"This is our first get-together. Let's all go together next time, okay?"
"Okay!"
Since the main purpose this time was to help Yuki Himeno, Kobashi could only apologize to the others.
Tap. Tap.
Hikigaya tapped his textbook, hoping they would take the hint and leave him alone.
Unfortunately, the girls stood right next to him and continued chatting.
"Yume, what did you make?"
"It's a secret~ I'll tell you later~"
"Sigh…"
Hikigaya stood up helplessly. Only then did the group finally begin moving toward the exit.
He really wasn't suited for this kind of atmosphere.
Pallet Cafe
This place always gave off a distinctly girly vibe, which was why it left such a strong impression on Hikigaya.
This was only his second time here.
Yet it felt exactly the same as when school first started.
What was the school administration even doing?
Did they think students had no choice, so they didn't bother refreshing the place at all?
The group found a table for four and sat down.
"Asako—no, Mako, come sit here!"
Kobashi grabbed Mako Asakura's arm and pulled her over. The two sat together, leaving Hikigaya and Yuki Himeno on the opposite side.
Hikigaya glanced at the seating arrangement.
One side of the table was pressed against a decorative wall, while the other faced the aisle.
If he sat on the inside…
Who knew how long it would take before he could escape?
He had no intention of staying long. He planned to go through the motions and leave as soon as possible.
So he stayed standing.
Only after Yuki Himeno took the inside seat did Hikigaya sit down by the aisle.
"Huh?"
A confused voice reached his ears.
He turned his head.
At the table across the aisle sat another group of four.
Airi Sakura was there.
Next to her was a beautiful girl with long blue hair and a beauty mark beneath her eye. Her impressive bust was even more eye-catching than Ichinose's.
Across from them sat two students Hikigaya didn't recognize—along with the fake loner himself, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
So even he could manage social gatherings.
That loner persona was definitely an act.
Since they were vaguely acquainted, Hikigaya gave a brief nod before looking away.
The school wasn't big. Running into acquaintances at Keyaki Mall was normal.
"Ugh…"
Airi Sakura let out a small whimper.
It was over.
Hikigaya was definitely misunderstanding things.
She had already told Kushida she didn't need to join the study group.
So why did this have to happen now?
"What a coincidence," Kobashi said, looking surprised.
"I remember you're Sakura-san, right? You came to our class before looking for Hikki."
Hikki…?
Airi Sakura nearly burst into tears.
They even used nicknames. Their relationship must be really close.
"And you are…?" the blue-haired girl asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I'm Yume Kobashi from first-year Class B. Nice to meet you."
Kobashi introduced herself confidently.
"I'm Yuki Himeno…" Himeno added quietly.
"And I'm Mako Asakura, also from Class B. Nice to meet you!"
Mako waved cheerfully, then glanced at Ayanokouji.
"I remember you're Ayanokouji-kun. You came to our class during the deserted island exam, right? Are you Hikki's friends too?"
Hikigaya's face instantly heated up.
Could they not phrase it like that?
This was painfully embarrassing.
The group across from them fell silent.
They all looked like they weren't great at social interaction, so their gazes naturally shifted to Airi Sakura and Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
After a brief glance at Sakura, who was clearly too nervous to speak, Ayanokouji responded calmly.
"Yeah. We're classmates from Class D. This is Haruka Hasebe, Teruhiko Yukimura, and Akito Miyake."
He paused briefly.
"You already know Airi Sakura. Sorry for the trouble we caused you last time."
That pause was subtle.
He neither fully denied nor confirmed being friends.
Hikigaya frowned slightly.
This guy was good with words.
That one-second pause neatly guided the topic toward Airi Sakura.
Whether intentional or not, it felt calculated.
But why?
What was the benefit?
Did Ayanokouji like Airi Sakura?
Hikigaya couldn't tell.
The atmosphere grew awkwardly quiet.
Kobashi and the others all turned to look at him.
"What?" Hikigaya asked, confused.
"Hikki," Mako Asakura said firmly.
"Someone just apologized. You should respond properly."
Fair point.
Since Sakura had come to Class B looking for him, it made sense for him to reply.
"Ah… he was probably talking about the deserted island exam, right? Everyone was just doing their jobs back then. I don't see how that has anything to do with me."
"Eh? Really?" the girls blinked.
Kobashi turned back toward the other group.
"Ayanokouji-kun, were you referring to the deserted island exam?"
Hikigaya was watching closely.
This guy gave off an unsettling feeling—too secretive, too unreadable.
If he was capable, he should just show it.
This half-hidden attitude was irritating.
"Sorry. I didn't explain it well," Ayanokouji replied.
"It was a bit of both."
At that, Yukimura frowned and spoke up.
"I was curious too. Sakura, why did you go to Class B? Did you need something?"
That was better.
If you were curious, just ask directly.
"She just came to repay me," Hikigaya said.
"And she helped me with a small favor. I should be the one thanking her."
He deliberately avoided the details.
"Hmm?" Haruka Hasebe blinked.
"So Airi-chan borrowed money from you? Even though you're in different classes?"
Hikigaya was baffled.
How did she immediately assume it was a loan?
"I guess you could say that," he replied flatly, then looked away.
He wasn't even here by choice.
Why was this turning into a group discussion?
"Wuwu…"
Airi Sakura shrank into herself, tears welling up.
Hikigaya's tone sounded cold.
He must have misunderstood her.
"Airi-chan, what's wrong?" Hasebe asked worriedly.
"Um… actually…"
Airi gathered her courage.
"I didn't really need to join the study group. Kushida made me…"
"What are you saying?" Yukimura frowned.
"Your grades aren't great either. Kushida was just worried about you."
"Yukimura…" Miyake muttered, glancing at Hikigaya.
"That's not what she meant."
Hikigaya stiffened.
Dragging Airi Sakura into this was bound to cause problems.
He had only forgiven her twenty thousand private points.
Was it because of that ramen trip with Kushida?
…Was this his fault?
"Um…" Hikigaya scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I'm… sorry."
"No, no!"
Airi immediately smiled through her tears.
"It's not like that at all."
"If something comes up," Hikigaya said quietly,
"you can find me anytime. I'm not very reliable, though."
"Mhm."
Airi nodded repeatedly, relief washing over her face.
Yume Kobashi watched both sides in silence.
It was obvious Airi Sakura liked Hikigaya.
But Hikigaya's responses felt strangely off.
Why did it feel like they were talking on completely different wavelengths?
Was communication really this difficult?