"Let's get started then."
After the simple pleasantries, the two groups separated again.
Normally, Yume Kobashi wouldn't mind everyone gathering together.
But right now, she hadn't forgotten that she was firmly on Yuki Himeno's side.
The group ordered a few simple coffees and began their study session.
"All right, everyone."
Kobashi opened her bag, her face full of excitement.
"Let's count together—three, two, one—and take out the dishes we prepared!"
"Um… I'm really sorry."
Hikigaya apologized without much sincerity and stated the honest truth.
"I didn't prepare anything. I rarely cook. I usually just eat instant noodles or toast."
He had to play the loser role properly.
If he met their expectations even once, they would only grow higher.
"Eh?"
Kobashi froze, slowly putting down her bag. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"How can that be? Didn't we agree on it?"
"Uh… sorry…"
Damn it.
Back in middle school, girls never cried. Their eyes were cold, their voices sharp enough to freeze people.
So why was high school like this?
Hikigaya had absolutely no defense against this tactic.
"All right."
Seeing him apologize, Kobashi's expression immediately cleared.
"Then you can just eat ours this time. Next time, Hikki, you must prepare something properly, okay?"
Next time…?
"No way."
Hikigaya raised his hand immediately.
"I really don't like this kind of thing. Let's just forget it."
Yuki Himeno glanced at him quietly.
Even though she had long known what kind of person Hikigaya was,
yesterday he had at least taken a step forward—even if it was a lie.
Why did he suddenly retreat again today?
He was the type who wouldn't move even if dragged, and might even step backward at any moment.
Now, he had stopped pretending altogether.
"Then was it also a lie when you said you had the cooking skills of a sixth-grader?"
"That part was true."
"Then if you don't like cooking, why did you learn it?"
Yume Kobashi tilted her head, brows knit like a curious child.
"Because my dream is to be a househusband."
Hikigaya stopped pretending entirely.
Keeping up polite appearances with normies was exhausting, so he fully embraced his loser persona.
"…Huh?"
Not only the group in front of him, but even the five students from Class D at the next table froze.
"Hikki's dream is to be a househusband?"
Mako Asakura spoke in shock.
"Yes."
"But why? You're talented. Why would you waste your abilities?"
"…That's not it."
Hikigaya spoke quietly.
"In middle school, I was laughed at and ostracized. I'm really not as amazing as you think."
"Impossible. That sounds fake."
Mako Asakura shook her head.
"Hikki, you're handsome, your grades are good, and you're calm. You should've been popular. How could you be ostracized?"
"…."
Talking to them was exhausting.
Why wouldn't they believe him?
Wait.
Hikigaya frowned.
Why had Ichinose believed him so easily, while Kobashi and the others were always this optimistic?
It felt like Ichinose was the one slightly out of place now.
Kobashi and the others must've grown up like flowers in a greenhouse—protected, warm, and positive.
But Ichinose could accept the idea of him being ostracized without hesitation.
There was only one explanation:
Ichinose's past probably wasn't that bright either.
"All right."
Yume Kobashi tilted her head.
"Even if Hikki's dream is to be a househusband… how can you dislike cooking? That's essential."
"That's not it."
Hikigaya folded his arms.
"A true househusband gives his wife five hundred yen, then takes her money to go out and feast.
That's the kind of househusband I want to be."
"…."
Beside him, Yuki Himeno's mouth fell slightly open.
She was stunned.
He actually dared to say that.
In public.
Wasn't he afraid of social death tomorrow?
"Heh."
A cold laugh came from the next table.
Yukimura, still writing, spoke without looking up.
"I didn't expect someone like that to be assigned to Class B. I truly don't understand how the classes are divided."
However, the veins bulging on the back of his hand showed just how furious he was.
"What do you mean by that?"
Yume Kobashi and Mako Asakura turned toward him at once.
"Was I wrong?"
Yukimura pushed up his glasses.
"He openly says he wants to be a househusband. From what I heard, he has no ambition, lies constantly, and brushes off promises with apologies."
"I see nothing about him that qualifies as excellent."
"Akito, why are you pulling me?"
Yukimura turned, only to see Akito Miyake looking awkwardly at Airi Sakura.
"Did I say something wrong?"
He reviewed the logic in his head.
Clear evidence.
Sound reasoning.
Nothing wrong.
Hikigaya nodded slightly.
This was the normal perspective.
Kobashi and Mako Asakura were just too positive.
"That's not true at all."
Kobashi stood up, her small white hand pressing against the table.
"Dreaming of being a househusband may be hard to accept, but having a dream is a personal right."
"Laughing at someone else's dream only shows poor character."
"Yes, lying is wrong—but white lies exist."
"Everyone lies. Mocking that shows a lack of self-awareness."
"Breaking a promise is wrong, but it can also be a failure of communication."
"Hikki chose a gentle lie to spare my feelings. Mocking that just proves you're self-centered."
"…."
Hikigaya froze.
His cheeks burned.
He definitely hadn't thought that deeply.
Yume Kobashi was… incredible.
Two philosophies had emerged from the same situation.
Class D focused on themselves.
Class B focused on others.
Hikigaya felt confused.
Why was he placed in Class B?
Did he really think of others?
Or was he just avoiding trouble?
"What did you say?"
Yukimura's face flushed red, left speechless.
Beside him, Akito and Haruka didn't look pleased either.
Because that logic applied to them as well.
And yet—
Looking at Airi Sakura, they couldn't understand how she could like someone like Hikigaya.
"Yuki."
Akito tugged Yukimura's arm.
"Sorry. He's just too anxious about reaching Class A."
"No need to apologize."
Hikigaya spoke awkwardly.
"What Yukimura-kun said isn't wrong. Let's just continue studying."
This really wasn't worth fighting over.
To be honest, Hikigaya hadn't expected Kobashi and Mako Asakura to stand up for him.
They really did see him as a friend.
Even though they'd only known each other a few days.
"All right."
Kobashi bowed slightly.
"Sorry for getting emotional."
After a round of classic Japanese apologies, both sides sat back down.
"Yuki, were you scared just now?"
Kobashi squeezed Yuki Himeno's hand.
"I'm okay."
Yuki shook her head.
"I was angry too. I just didn't dare say anything. Sorry, Hikki."
"It's fine."
Hikigaya waved it off.
"Then let's begin."
Kobashi smiled again and took out a bag of cookies.
"This time, Hikki will judge who made the best ones."
"I won't lose this time."
"I made cookies too."
Three bags of neatly prepared cookies appeared on the table.
"Hikki, hurry up and try them."
"I didn't prepare anything…"
"Don't worry. Just taste them."
Reluctantly, Hikigaya tried each one.
They weren't amazing—but they weren't bad.
And somehow, they tasted a little sweeter than expected.
"So?"
Kobashi leaned forward.
"Which one is best?"
"Um… I think—"
"If you want to play house, do it somewhere else."
Yukimura's irritated voice cut in.
"This is affecting other people's studying."
"I think cafes allow chatting…"
Yuki Himeno muttered weakly.
"I mean them."
Yukimura pointed toward the corner.
Several boys were staring intensely.
The pressure had always been there.
"Should we leave?"
Hikigaya asked.
"We just got here. Let's change seats."
The others nodded.
Thump.
A white disposable cup rolled into the aisle.
A pair of brown leather shoes stepped down on it.