The next day.
Winter break officially began.
After sending Karuizawa back to the dormitory building yesterday, the two exchanged contact information under the pretext of her returning his uniform.
Returning to his dormitory, Hikigaya went straight to sleep.
Early morning.
Hikigaya lay on his bed wrapped in a quilt, scrolling through his phone.
He didn't want to get up at all.
As expected, winter break was the strongest period of the year, second only to summer break.
Just then.
A notification flashed on LN—it was a message from Ichinose.
Hikigaya frowned. He had already gotten used to using LN.
He knew very well.
This trash APP had a trash feature that displayed "Read," which was likely the source of the legendary "Read and ignored."
After hesitating for a moment.
Hikigaya prepared himself mentally and chose to click on it.
After all.
Ichinose was at least a leader of the class; perhaps there was some important matter. Besides, if he pretended not to see it, Ichinose might very well come to his door.
[Ichinose: Hikigaya-kun, do you have time over the next two days?]
Such a message came through LN.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and the day after is Christmas.
This kind of question.
Is generally used to arrange some work or to invite someone out.
Without much time for thought.
[Hikigaya: These two days... a bit of...]
Hikigaya vaguely hinted to the other person that he was busy.
The fact was that he had nothing to do.
But it's Christmas.
The very days when normies are noisy and sparkling.
Even though it's a day meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus, and even in the birthplace of Christmas, it's a day for family reunions to eat turkey.
What a great holiday, yet it was distorted by this group of ignorant normies.
They spend all day clamoring about watching movies and having dinner, radiating an atmosphere of "I'm so happy right now."
Doing so.
Just proves that normies are a bunch of ignorant fools.
Hikigaya didn't want to go out at this time.
Just seconds after being read, he received a reply from Ichinose.
[Ichinose: I see. As expected, Hikigaya-kun must have plans with someone for Christmas, too?]
[Hikigaya: Mm mm... something like that, I guess.]
Hikigaya awkwardly looked away.
He was going to properly observe the customs of the birthplace of Christmas; at the very least, he would go to KFC to buy a bucket of fried chicken.
That's right.
He had already made an appointment to meet Colonel Sanders.
So he had no time.
[Ichinose: Sorry then. We clearly agreed to go to karaoke together, Hikigaya-kun. Let's go together after Christmas is over...]
"..."
Hmm?
Hikigaya was suddenly stunned.
When was this agreed upon? Why don't I remember?
Speaking of which.
Why didn't Ichinose mention it before? Hikigaya soon realized that they had been focusing on preparing for the pairing exam.
It was indeed reasonable to focus on the exam.
However.
Would he really agree to go to karaoke with someone?
Hikigaya had his doubts, but if Ichinose said so, then it probably was.
Perhaps there was some situation he couldn't refuse.
Which forced him to agree and push it back. Then things were simple.
[Hikigaya: We'll see about that when the time comes.]
Just keep dragging it out!
Ending the communication with Ichinose.
Soon, another message from Kobashi Yume came through on LN.
[Kobashi Yume: Does Hiki-chi have any plans for Christmas?]
"Uwawah..."
Hikigaya leaned his body back, distancing himself from the phone, wearing the expression of an old man on a train.
He had noticed it before.
Could Kobashi Yume be even more formidable than Ichinose?
Directly asking if there were plans.
This was not easy to answer.
Yes—————What plans?—————The lie is exposed.
Hikigaya could already foresee this kind of outcome.
No matter how one looked at it.
Kobashi Yume surely wouldn't use that kind of scheming, right?
[Hikigaya: Maybe...]
I'll just say I'm not sure!
On the other side.
The girls' dormitory.
Kobashi Yume and Himeno Yuki lay on the bed, their lower legs unconsciously kicking up and down.
The two stared at the phone screen in front of them.
"Hmm... what does 'Maybe' mean?"
Himeno Yuki asked with feigned confusion, while inwardly cursing that this guy couldn't possibly have anything to do and was just acting.
Does he really not want to go out and play with them that much?
Damn it.
Clearly just a Hikigaya, yet he dared to be so arrogant.
"Hmm..."
Kobashi Yume placed her slender white fingers at the corner of her mouth in a peace sign and pondered:
"Indeed, Hiki-chi is quite popular. People might look for him at any time, so Hiki-chi probably finds it hard to make guarantees in advance."
"Is that so?"
Himeno Yuki asked in a somewhat skeptical tone.
That was clearly wrong. Where did that guy look like he was popular?
"Yuki, we can't be careless."
Kobashi Yume said somewhat seriously: "People like Sakura-san or Kushida-san might also invite Hiki-chi."
"..."
Impossible to deny.
But Himeno Yuki fully believed that even if those people wanted to invite him, Hikigaya would surely refuse.
"Then what should we do?"
Himeno Yuki's gaze was somewhat resentful.
She felt that leaving it to Kobashi Yume was not as good as her directly going to Hikigaya's dorm to snatch him up.
"Hmm..."
Kobashi Yume stared at the phone and pondered for a moment:
"Not easily making promises shows that Hiki-chi is someone who takes promises seriously. Let's leave an impression on Hiki-chi first."
"After all, we have an advantage as good friends right now. If Sakura and the others also send invitations, Hiki-chi should choose our side!"
No sooner said than done.
Kobashi Yume immediately sent an invitation.
[Kobashi Yume: We've decided that the Hikigaya group will go out to play together on Christmas. Hiki-chi, remember to keep your time free~]
[Hikigaya: We'll see...]
What a stubborn guy.
Himeno Yuki said with some worry: "Is it really okay?"
She still felt it was more reliable to directly go to Hikigaya's dorm to grab him.
"Don't worry."
Kobashi Yume looked sideways and smiled: "Doesn't this show that as long as there's no major important matter, Hiki-chi has already agreed?"
"Really?"
Himeno Yuki said somewhat helplessly: "This feels a bit troublesome. Wouldn't it be more convenient to just go find him?"
"Hmm?"
Kobashi Yume moved in front of Himeno Yuki, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"Yuki, you're really impatient. Do you want to be all lovey-dovey with Hiki-chi that much?"
"It's not that..."
Himeno Yuki's pretty face turned bright red.
"Yuki is so cute~"
Kobashi Yume took her into her arms: "Alright, alright, we'll go find him together when the time comes."
"Yeah."
Himeno Yuki nodded.
Actually.
Although she knew the probability of success would be highest if she went to Hikigaya's dorm to grab him.
If it was just her alone, Himeno Yuki would also be somewhat embarrassed.
On the other side.
Seeing that finally no one else was sending communications, Hikigaya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seriously.
Even during the holidays, there was no peace.
It wasn't that he disliked being with Kobashi Yume and the others; it was just that he wanted more freedom during the holidays.
Better go out and improve his meals first.
Hikigaya changed his clothes and draped his windbreaker over himself, planning to go out and find another hidden ramen shop.
Although following middle-aged corporate slaves was indeed a good choice.
Having Tenkaippin was enough to endure for a bit.
The remaining shop, Tora no Ana, was better saved for slow exploration to leave some fun for food hunting.
Beep.
Just then, the phone rang again.
It was actually a message from Karuizawa.
[Karuizawa: Um... I seem to have caught a bit of a cold. Could you help me buy some cold medicine?]
Hikigaya frowned slightly.
Since Karuizawa didn't want anyone to know what happened yesterday, wanting to hide the matter of her cold was understandable.
However.
He had clearly told her yesterday.
If she waited until night in that state, she'd most likely catch a cold.
This girl...
She really deserved it.
Then again, why should he help Class D, or buy cold medicine for someone he barely knew?
Honestly.
Was there some kind of BUG in this world? Why wasn't the management fixing it quickly? No one would play such a trash game.
Fine.
He was going out to improve his meals anyway; buying some cold medicine on the way wasn't a problem, but it would just be an "on the way" thing.
[Hikigaya: Transfer the money to me, plus a five-hundred point errand fee.]
Five hundred points.
He wasn't extorting her.
Rather, it was the market price for Keyaki Mall staff.
On the other side.
Karuizawa's snowy chin rested on the pillow in her arms as she sat on the soft mattress against the wall.
A smile unconsciously escaped from the corner of her mouth.
She knew it.
As soon as he heard she had a cold, this guy would definitely come.
But he actually wanted to ask her for money.
That was too much.
However.
They only met for the first time yesterday; asking for money was normal.
Anyway, she felt whether she gave this money or not didn't make much of a difference.
[Karuizawa: Eh? But I don't have many private points right now. Just consider it a loan from you for now.]
Karuizawa swayed her petite body along with her joyful mood.
She naturally wouldn't default on the debt; with her social circle, borrowing a few thousand private points wouldn't be difficult.
If all else failed.
There were also the two big pushovers in the class, Kushida Kikyo and Hirata Yosuke.
But.
Karuizawa pouted her pink lips.
She just didn't want to see Hikigaya constantly talking about money with her.
Even if he wouldn't come without money, he still had to mention money; it was so awkward.
Could their relationship only be explained with private points?
[Hikigaya: Remember to pay me back next month, and give five points in interest.]
See?
He would indeed come.
Karuizawa smiled even more happily and flopped down onto the bed.
Although he didn't look very reliable, he was incredibly reassuring.
It seemed.
As long as Hikigaya was there, he would help her resolve anything.
Five points.
You couldn't buy anything with five points nowadays.
[Karuizawa: I know, I know. I can't do this anymore, my head is so dizzy.]
Karuizawa hurriedly sent the message.
But for a parasite like her who couldn't survive without relying on others.
Five points.
Perhaps it was a very reasonable price.
Karuizawa clutched her chest; could her heart be sold for only five points?
Thinking of this.
Karuizawa held her abdomen.
For some reason, perhaps because Hikigaya had also suffered bullying, she felt that if it were him, he probably wouldn't mind.
In less than five minutes, Hikigaya's contact came through again.
[Hikigaya: That... have you burned your brain? I don't even know where your dorm is yet.]
He seemed to be complaining, but the fact that he only noticed now meant he must have been worried about her physical condition.
Karuizawa sat up from her sickbed, hurriedly lay back down and covered herself with the sheet, and then told Hikigaya her room number.
Yesterday's incident was common practice; she wouldn't catch a cold over such a small matter