In the Palette Cafe.
Watching the scene, the Ayanokouji group next to them was stunned.
This guy actually managed to stare deathly at the Class A people for thirty minutes without eating, drinking, or speaking.
To be honest.
Even the boys like Miyake Akito...
Felt a bit disgusted.
If someone stared at you like that for so long, it wouldn't be surprising if you developed some kind of psychological illness.
This Hachiman definitely has some kind of problem.
Only Sakura Airi's eyes were sparkling. This should count as Hachiman's victory.
"So amazing."
Kobashi Yume's eyes lit up: "I didn't expect Hachiman-kun to actually use this method to make them leave."
"No, it was pretty meaningless."
Hachiman rubbed his aching eyelids.
That's right.
his actions were meaningless.
He stared at Hashimoto Masayoshi and the others for thirty minutes. Although he successfully drove them away, he had wasted thirty minutes of his life.
The cookies on the table had been mostly eaten by Himeno Yuki and the others.
But this spirit of resistance was important.
You can't just let Class A people bully you without fighting back, right?
Maybe Kobashi Yume and the others were gentle, well-behaved babies, but he had been a disobedient child since he was young.
Normally it would be fine.
But since they had caused him harm, Hachiman would resist to the end.
"That's not true."
Mako said excitedly: "As expected, Hachiman-kun is really amazing. That was Class A, and Hachiman-kun won against them."
"Heh, you call this winning against Class A?"
Yukimura gave them a disdainful glance: "Although chatting is usually fine in a cafe, please keep it down. Don't disturb our studying."
He had a problem.
No studying.
No chatting.
No gains.
Just thirty minutes wasted for nothing.
This counts as winning against Class A?
That guy Hachiman is one thing—at least he has some self-awareness—but these girls from Class B must have some kind of problem.
"Of course it counts."
Kobashi Yume snapped back to reality, looking a bit unhappy:
"Hachiman-kun not only drove away the Class A people, but he did it without causing any negative incidents. Being able to think of such a method is already very impressive. At least I couldn't have thought of it."
"When you were facing Ryuen's provocation just now, if it weren't for Hachiman-kun, a fight would have almost broken out. Isn't the difference already clear?"
Beside her, asakura Mako and Himeno Yuki also wore expressions of displeasure.
Just now, Class D had also been targeted by Class C.
But they had no other solution besides violence.
And Hachiman could think of an effective method that didn't trigger conflict, which in their eyes was very impressive. At least it was better than Class D.
"Ridiculous."
Yukimura turned, pushed his glasses, and said disdainfully:
"Even if we take a step back and assume we really did cause a violent incident, we could use that event to win this exam. We'd just need to appeal to the school. Don't you dare deny that."
"And your method, although it drove away Class A, wasted thirty minutes of study time."
"Obviously, the violent incident would have yielded more gain, right?"
The values of the two sides were completely different.
The other side seemed to focus more on results—as long as they could reach Class A, any unscrupulous means were justifiable.
Why do these people always love to argue?
He felt that if this continued, another fight would break out.
"Um..."
Hachiman looked at the few remaining cookies on the table and said:
"The cookies are almost gone. Why don't we wrap things up for today?"
Debating with people you're not familiar with is inherently meaningless. Since there's no work to hand over, just a few perfunctory words will do.
"Alright."
Hearing his words, Kobashi Yume and the others didn't continue. They quickly gathered the cookies on the table and pushed them toward Hachiman.
"Then Hachiman-kun should take these back to eat."
"Eh?"
Hachiman said uncomfortably: "Why? There's no need."
"Eh?"
Okakura Mako was also confused.
"We specifically left these for Hachiman-kun."
"Yeah."
Kobashi Yume nodded in agreement: "Hachiman-kun was dealing with Class A just now and barely ate any. You can take these back."
"Eh, no, no need."
Hachiman quickly raised his hand, feeling a bit of cold sweat.
What "dealing with Class A"?
It was completely meaningless and had ruined the gathering for nothing.
How could he possibly accept them?
"Eh?"
"Do you think the cookies we made aren't good?"
"No... it's not that..."
How was he supposed to answer that? Hachiman quickly denied it. Besides, the taste was actually quite good. Could Kobashi Yume be a strategist?
"Then take them back and eat them."
Kobashi Yume smiled as she pushed three small bags of cookies into his hands:
"We specifically made these for this gathering. It would be a waste if Hachiman-kun only had a few pieces."
"Oh, okay."
Hachiman took the cookies, but they felt somewhat heavy.
The homemade cooking from girls that he had dreamed of in middle school—he had received it so easily, and in three portions at that.
Even if they were just leftovers...
If he was just responsible for handling the leftovers, it seemed okay.
"Then let's go."
The four of them stood up to leave their seats.
Their relationship with Class D wasn't great to begin with, and they were competitors in this school. Conflict had almost broken out just a moment ago.
There was no need to say goodbye.
"Everyone, we're leaving now. See ya~"
"See you next time."
"Bye-bye~"
The three girls, led by Kobashi Yume, took turns saying goodbye. Hasebe also felt a bit overwhelmed and said:
"Um, yeah, see you."
"..."
Feeling several gazes on him, Hachiman's expression turned a bit awkward.
Wait.
Since when were we on such good terms?
He hadn't even spoken a word to that Miyake or Hasebe. Is it really okay to just say goodbye like this?
Doesn't this make him the only rude one?
Oh!
So they're just saying goodbye out of politeness?
Then there's no problem.
Hachiman was very good at these superficial social pleasantries.
"See you."
Hachiman gave Sakura Airi a slight nod.
"Yes, see you next time."
Sakura Airi said, her face turning bright red.
Hmm?
Perhaps because she had made friends, Sakura Airi had become a bit bolder. Although her face still turned red, at least she didn't stutter.
It didn't really matter.
Hachiman and the others turned and left the cafe.
"It feels kinda amazing."
Hasebe Haruka said with a sigh: "As expected of Class B. They seem to have a really good relationship."
"I thought so at the start of the term, too."
Yukimura was correcting a test question, his tone cold: "But unfortunately, I only feel now that they aren't suited for this school. If you don't want to be expelled, you all need to attend supplementary classes properly. To reach Class A, you need to work harder."
"True. Let's work hard for a bit longer."
The group continued their study session; no one refuted him.
After so much time, they had long since grown used to this school.
Advanced Nurturing.
This is not a school where you can win by cohesion alone.
In the end, what you can rely on...
Is ultimately your own strength!
...
On the other side.
On the way back to the dorms.
Hachiman let out a helpless sigh.
Whenever there's a group activity, he usually just trails at the back of the group.
But as soon as he fell behind a few steps, Kobashi Yume and the others slowed their pace to match him.
He just had to walk right next to him...
At that moment.
Kobashi Yume and Himeno Yuki sandwiched him between them on the left and right, while Okakura Asako followed closely beside Kobashi Yume. The group headed toward the dormitory building together.
"So, Hiki..."
Kobashi Yume gripped the strap of her shoulder bag with her right hand, a smile playing on her lips.
"Which of us do you think made the best cookies earlier?"
"Eh? Why are you asking me?"
Hikigaya asked, looking somewhat perplexed.
"Because Hiki was busy dealing with Class A just now," Kobashi Yume giggled. "We've already talked about it. Little Asako thinks mine are the best, I think Yuki's are the greatest, and Yuki thinks Little mako's skill is the highest. So, we wanted to know who actually made the tastiest ones."
"What a coincidence."
Hikigaya was speechless.
The cooking levels of the three were fairly similar. Since people's tastes naturally differ, it was normal for them to have different preferences.
At least in his opinion, they were all just at an average level.
"Mm, that's why we want to hear Hiki's opinion," Kobashi Yume nodded with a smile.
Such a coincidence wasn't hard to orchestrate. They only had to ask for makos opinion first, and then the others could coordinate their answers accordingly.
"Even if I say something, it doesn't mean that person's level is the highest, right? Asking me seems meaningless."
"Don't be such a wet blanket, Hiki."
mako asakura was also curious: "We just want to see who did best."
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya thought for a moment. It wasn't a difficult question to answer; he just had to tell the truth.
"It should be Ko... Kobashi."
He had originally intended to call her "Yume," but he felt it was far too embarrassing, so Hikigaya switched back to using her surname.
"Eh?"
Kobashi Yume froze for a second. She cast an apologetic glance at Himeno Yuki before asking:
"Why me?"
"Because your level is indeed a bit higher?"
Hikigaya spoke without reservation. "If my cooking level is only at a sixth-grade elementary school level, then yours, Kobashi, is about a third-year junior high level. Okakura is at a first-year junior high level, and Himeno is at a fourth-grade elementary level."
Thump.
Hikigaya's shin took another mysterious kick. He looked at Himeno Yuki with a slightly resentful gaze.
But her cooking really was only at a fourth-grade level.
A gyaru-style beauty like Himeno Yuki probably rarely cooked for herself.
I see.
Is this the "bluntness" that Himeno Yuki likes?
It's certainly direct.
Hikigaya doesn't use polite pleasantries at all.
"Sigh."
Kobashi Yume pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling helpless. "Hiki, at times like this, you should at least say everyone's food was delicious."
"Oh... okay..."
Hikigaya gave a perfunctory response. If he were capable of such social niceties, he would have been the most popular guy in class long ago.
"Then, whose cooking does Hiki like the most?"
"Is there a difference?"
Hikigaya was suddenly confused.
Obviously, he would like the one that tasted the best. Wasn't that a redundant question
"Uh..."
Kobashi Yume's face stiffened; she felt cornered by the question.
Actually, there really wasn't much of a difference. Most people like the tastiest option, right?
I see.
No wonder Yuki needs time. Expecting a confession from Hikigaya might actually be quite difficult.
Kobashi Yume realized she needed to work harder for her best friend's happiness.
"Because some people might prefer eating things that aren't as good, like how many rich people enjoy street stalls?"
"No."
Hikigaya was speechless. "I think the flavor profile is probably similar. They just find high-end dining too troublesome, though I wouldn't really know."
He had heard news stories like that.
But since he hadn't really eaten high-end food, he didn't truly understand why some wealthy people liked street food. He could only take a wild guess.
"That's not it! Anyway, Hiki, tell us whose you liked best?"
"Kobashi's."
Since she insisted on asking, Hikigaya could only tell the truth again.
"Sigh..."
Kobashi Yume let out a sigh, but still smiled. "Thank you."
This won't do.
For the sake of her best friend's happiness, she had to try even harder