Fifth floor.
The two of them left the rooftop.
Karuizawa hugged her shoulders with both hands and suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" Hikigaya turned back and asked anxiously.
He had finally escaped that trouble; it would be a real headache if something else went wrong now.
"That... I look like this..." Karuizawa's eyes flickered, and she tugged at her shirt, hesitating.
Only now did Hikigaya have the mood to observe the girl in front of him properly.
The blue shirt, soaked in water, clung tightly to Karuizawa, highlighting her perfect curves.
Upon closer inspection, one had to say that as expected of a gal, she was very cute.
It was precisely because she didn't want her history of being bullied to be exposed that Karuizawa couldn't fight back.
If anyone else saw her in her current state, it would surely raise suspicions.
"This..." Hikigaya glanced at the Service Club room next door, feeling a bit conflicted.
"How about you go rest in the club room first?"
"Oh." Karuizawa looked at the classroom and nodded slightly.
The two of them arrived at the Service Club. Hikigaya opened the door, led her inside, and then closed it.
Winter break started tomorrow.
Almost all students had already left the school by now.
As long as they didn't make too much noise, no one should notice them.
Treadmill, computer, PS, video camera.
Karuizawa looked at the room in confusion before pulling out a middle chair like a startled fawn and sitting down.
What kind of club was this?
Meanwhile, Hikigaya stood in the middle of the room, feeling a bit of a headache.
The other party didn't want the fact of her bullying to be discovered, but she couldn't stay here forever either.
The best course of action would undoubtedly be to have Karuizawa wait here while he went to borrow a piece of clothing from a girl for her to change into, and then take her out of school.
However, Hikigaya felt a headache coming on; he didn't have any female friends, and he didn't even have male friends.
How could any girl be willing to lend him her private clothing?
Furthermore, even if there were, how would he explain it if asked?
In that case, there seemed to be only one way.
"Then you wait here first," Hikigaya said after a moment's thought. "Then transfer some private points to me, and I'll go buy one for you."
Although buying female clothing felt a bit shameful, there was no other way right now.
"Eh?" Karuizawa pursed her lips, hesitating slightly. "But I don't have many private points..."
Hmm. Hikigaya stared at the girl in front of him with a dark gaze.
Class D had only 109 class points last month; Karuizawa didn't seem like the type to save money.
She was probably the type who would say, "Aren't we friends? Lend me some money."
It would be good enough if she didn't owe people money.
This month's 209 class points wouldn't be issued until January 1st.
Karuizawa might indeed have no money.
But what could he do?
He surely couldn't be expected to front the money for her, right?
Why should he?
Preventing campus conflict is everyone's responsibility—that's what Kobashi Yume and the others said.
That was fine.
But the two of them didn't even know each other; why should he have to pay for Karuizawa?
"Then what do you suggest?" Hikigaya truly couldn't think of any other way. He stared at Karuizawa's soaked clothes and said: "If you stay like this, you're definitely going to catch a cold. Can't you just borrow some money from your friends first?"
No matter what, the plan he came up with should be the best, and possibly the only solution.
Karuizawa was instantly shocked.
She had no idea what to do.
One moment, this guy appeared like a Prince Charming; the next, he wanted to run away like a deserter; then he suddenly returned like a warrior; and then he acted like a villain using her as a bargaining chip.
He had her heart in a constant state of turmoil.
In reality, she had indeed been saved because of Hikigaya's verbal tactics.
In short, he was a very smart guy; why was he acting like a blockhead now?
"Achoo..." Karuizawa tightened her clothes and sneezed. "So cold..."
"Uh..." Hikigaya scanned the room, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, there's no heating equipment here. I forgot to pour you some water. Is MAX coffee okay?"
The high sugar content of MAX coffee was enough to serve as an energy drink.
Hikigaya had already used club funds to buy it by the case to keep it stocked; the club had plenty left.
Without waiting for Karuizawa's response, Hikigaya turned and plugged in the electric kettle, then poured two cans of MAX coffee into paper cups after heating them, pushing them to the center of the table.
Karuizawa cupped the steaming paper cup with both hands and took a small sip, feeling a bit better, though the gaze she directed at Hikigaya was somewhat resentful.
"That... can't you just lend me your clothes?"
"Is that allowed?" Hikigaya asked, somewhat dazed.
"Eh? Shouldn't you be asking me that?"
Karuizawa was equally confused.
She was the one borrowing something from him; how could he turn the question back on her?
"Indeed..."
Hikigaya took off his uniform and placed it on the desk, saying with some hesitation, "That... there might be a bit of a smell."
"Mm..."
Karuizawa slipped his slightly oversized uniform over her body and tightened the collar on both sides. Sniffing the scent on the clothes, Karuizawa felt a sudden sense of peace.
Seeing this scene, Hikigaya let out a slight sigh of relief.
Fine.
Since she didn't mind, then it didn't really matter.
"Alright, let's go quickly then."
Hikigaya stood up and spoke.
Since the matter was resolved, it was time to head back to the dormitory.
"Um..."
Karuizawa pursed her lips and said, "I want to go back in the evening... is that okay?"
"This..."
It was true.
There were indeed fewer people at night.
The probability of running into acquaintances would be much lower.
But was he really supposed to wait with Karuizawa until evening? What a joke. However, looking at Karuizawa's current state, it seemed impossible to just leave her alone.
"No."
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly, "If you don't go back quickly to wash up and get some sleep, you'll still catch a cold tomorrow. This doesn't make much sense."
"It's okay... I don't care about catching a cold."
Karuizawa's smile was slightly bitter.
Compared to a small matter like a cold, it would be truly terrible if people found out. She never wanted to go back to those days of being bullied again.
She had finally managed to climb back up with great difficulty.
Yet she had almost fallen back down.
When she was called to the rooftop by Ryuen and the others, Karuizawa's heart had been filled with extreme despair—until she saw Hikigaya, and her heart was filled with hope.
"Sigh..."
Hikigaya gave a helpless sigh.
To prefer catching a cold over being discovered—the bullying Karuizawa had faced must have been extraordinary.
Just sitting here until evening wasn't a big deal.
Anyway, he would just be playing games in the dorm; it was the same in the club. Hikigaya walked over to the computer and sat down, planning to surf the web to pass the time.
If she wanted to sit, let her sit.
On the other side.
Karuizawa sat in her seat, holding a paper cup and tasting the coffee.
The rich sweetness filled her taste buds.
Even though she had just suffered something terrible and had been doused with buckets of ice-cold water in such freezing weather.
Yet for some reason.
Thinking about Hikigaya's performance just now.
A trace of a smile unconsciously appeared on Karuizawa's lips.
He didn't have the intelligence of a master strategist, nor the frankness of being full of confidence. In fact, he was a bit comical and even a bit cowardly, yet he felt exceptionally reliable.
Even though they were strangers.
He still reached out to help a stranger like her.
"Eh..."
Karuizawa suddenly spoke up: "Why did you help me?"
"Ha? Don't misunderstand."
Hikigaya stared at the computer screen and said without thinking much:
"I just wanted to take the opportunity to catch Class C's violent incident red-handed so I could deal with Class C and Class D in one go. I didn't intend to help you."
"Hmm?"
Karuizawa's pretty face immediately stiffened: "Then are you lying to Ryuen, or are you going to tell the school about today's events?"
"..."
Hmm?
Hikigaya was slightly stunned, his brain suddenly stalling.
It was as if he had hit some kind of BUG.
As things stood now, as long as today's incident was reported to the school, he could deal with Ryuen and the others from Class C in one fell swoop.
And,
He now held the card that was Karuizawa in his hand.
With a little threat, she would comply.
If handled correctly.
He could solve Class D in one go.
At least, Hikigaya had that kind of confidence.
Being able to take down two classes instantly had only benefits and no downsides; it could even be said to be risk-free.
There was no reason not to do it.
In fact.
That's exactly what he should do!
Why hide it for Karuizawa?
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya pondered for a moment, his tone becoming stern:
"Give me five thousand private points next month, or I'll expose today's incident."
"Oh."
Karuizawa immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile appearing on her lips.
Wasn't this just his way of helping her?
It's just that Hikigaya's method might be a bit awkward, perhaps taking her feelings into account and not wanting her to feel any psychological burden.
A truly super gentle, good man...
"Thank you, Hikigaya... By the way, my name is Kei Karuizawa. What's your name?"
"Hachiman Hikigaya."
Hikigaya shrunk his neck and turned his body somewhat helplessly to look at the girl in front of him, saying with a face full of annoyance:
"I say, I was just using you as leverage to threaten Ryuen. Don't go thinking I'm some kind of good person."
"But you won't actually do that in the end, will you?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya's face froze.
It seemed he had hit another BUG.
What was going on? It felt like since entering this school, the BUGs in this world were becoming more and more frequent.
"You're overthinking it. When necessary, I will not hesitate to use today's events as a weapon," Hikigaya said stubbornly.
That's right, currently Class D only had 209 points, and the gap between Class B and Class C had widened slightly for the time being.
Now was not the time to deal with Classes C and D.
He was just laying the groundwork for the future.
"Oh."
Karuizawa giggled.
She wondered why she hadn't heard of someone like Hikigaya before; it was probably because of this awkward personality that he wasn't popular.
But.
Now he had been discovered by her.
The two fell silent again. After a moment, Karuizawa pursed her lips and asked with some anticipation:
"Um... will you continue to protect me in the future?"