After class.
The people of Class B gathered in a worried circle.
"I wonder how Honami-chan is doing. If she's sick, will she be okay alone?"
"If it's just a sickness, that's fine. But if it isn't..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Are you trying to say Honami is feeling guilty? Are you guys also doubting if those rumors might be true?"
"I didn't mean that. I'm also worried about Honami's situation."
"Everyone, calm down!"
Kanzaki quickly raised both hands, standing between the two to soothe them.
Just because Ichinose was absent.
Class B had turned into this. Sure enough, Ichinose's presence was very important to Class B.
"There's no point in discussing this here."
"In short, after school, let's go visit Ichinose first, how about that?"
"I have no objection."
"I still have club activities. I might have to wait until after they're finished to go."
"It's okay."
"asakura, Shiranami, you two are closer to Ichinose. Can you please go check on the situation first?"
"No problem."
Under Kanzaki's pacification.
The atmosphere in Class B finally eased up, and everyone agreed to visit Ichinose.
"By the way."
Just then.
Shibata turned to look at Hikigaya sitting in his seat, his face looking complex.
"Hikigaya, you should go see Ichinose too."
Even if Shibata didn't want to admit it.
He also had a feeling that in Ichinose's eyes, Hikigaya might be more special than the other students in Class B.
If Hikigaya visited, it should have a good effect.
"No, I'll pass."
Hikigaya quickly refused.
Though he was slightly concerned.
But Ichinose had only been gone for one day, and Kanzaki and the others were worried to an absurd degree.
Clearly, Ichinose was the leader of Class B.
While they expected Ichinose to lead them to Class A, they also treated her like a cute little sister.
This relationship in Hikigaya's eyes.
Was truly strange.
It was almost impossible to tell if this was trust or something else. Since Ichinose was the class leader, they should at least give her a little trust.
"What did you say?"
Shibata was in disbelief and suddenly slammed his hands on the table:
"Hikigaya, do you have any idea how much Ichinose has looked after you? Shouldn't you go visit her?"
"Shibata..."
The girls around them were stunned; it was the first time they had seen Shibata get angry.
The contrast was intense.
The usually sunny and cheerful Shibata was quite scary when he got angry.
The atmosphere in Class B suddenly became awkward and uncertain.
"Um..."
Hikigaya stared at Shibata with his "dead fish eyes."
Although he knew Shibata probably liked Ichinose, just because Ichinose was gone for one day, he lost his reason.
This was exactly what Sakayanagi wanted.
Sakayanagi had accurately grasped Class B's weakness.
Whether it was their unity.
Or their nearly perfect cohesion.
Everything about Class B.
Was built with Ichinose as the core.
Once they lost Ichinose, Class B would likely collapse instantly.
"Well..."
Hikigaya spoke indifferently: "On Monday at noon, I'll go see her by myself."
Maybe.
Ichinose was really sick.
It was just taking one day off; there was no need to make a fuss.
If Ichinose continued to take leave next week, then the problem would probably be serious.
More importantly.
Going to Ichinose's dorm with the whole class felt awkward and would only add unnecessary pressure on her.
"I... I see..."
Shibata finally snapped out of it.
Hikigaya did prefer acting alone; even if he were to see Ichinose, he would likely go by himself.
Having regained his reason, Shibata suddenly felt his behavior just now was too emotional.
He quickly bowed:
"I'm sorry, Hikigaya-kun. My emotions got a bit heated just now."
"No, don't take it to heart."
Hikigaya really didn't mind, but he said hesitantly:
"But I feel it's better if not too many people go to see Ichinose. Given her personality, it will likely only add unnecessary pressure... probably."
He wasn't entirely sure either.
Although Ichinose gave him special attention, Hikigaya believed he had a decent understanding of her, but that was just from observing silently from the side.
In reality.
Kobayashi and the others certainly knew Ichinose better than he did.
"Indeed..."
Kanzaki and the others couldn't help but nod.
They also knew that Ichinose had a strong sense of responsibility.
Although Ichinose was cheerful and often helped others, she rarely troubled anyone herself.
"Let's do this: let the girls go visit first and see how the situation is."
"Understood. Then I'll go see Honami-chan after school."
The atmosphere in Class B improved slightly, but a dark cloud still hung over them.
After school.
After his club activities ended.
Hikigaya left the school and returned to his dorm.
Whether Ichinose was really sick or indeed affected would have to wait until next Monday.
The key issue was...
Hikigaya really couldn't figure out what Sakayanagi was trying to do.
There was absolutely no benefit.
Even if we take a step back.
Suppose Sakayanagi crushed Ichinose here; by the next exam, Ichinose should be able to recover. She couldn't stay dejected forever.
Hmm...
Hikigaya really couldn't understand.
What kind of sin could make Ichinose stay dejected forever? Did she really commit such a serious crime?
After all.
It was just one failure, just one mistake.
Saints do not exist in this world.
Big or small.
Everyone must have made one or two mistakes.
Hikigaya could say he had been failing in the past; he was a king of consecutive losses. Aside from feeling a bit down at first, he didn't care afterward.
He truly couldn't understand.
Why were they so obsessed with past mistakes?
Was it necessary?
Hikigaya returned to his dorm absentmindedly and stopped in his tracks.
Several exquisite gift boxes were placed at his door, each with a card indicating the sender.
They were gifts from Haruka Hasebe, Kikyo Kushida, Airi Sakura, Hiyori Shiina, and Kei Karuizawa.
At a glance, they were obligatory chocolates.
After all...
"What are these guys doing..."
Hikigaya was quite speechless.
Several gift boxes were scattered randomly on both sides of the door, making one wonder if they were accidentally discarded trash.
Only Karuizawa's gift box dominantly occupied the center.
Even if it's just obligatory chocolate, please don't just throw it around, okay?
If it weren't within the range of his dorm door, Hikigaya would have suspected these were trash someone had randomly tossed.
Picking up the boxes of chocolate, Hikigaya went back to his room.
He really didn't expect to receive so many.
Quite a lot.
Even a "gal" like Karuizawa was a gentle, good person; at least she was better than his frivolous classmates in middle school.
Although it was just obligatory chocolate, a return gift was essential.
However.
Hikigaya threw the boxes of chocolate into a drawer; now was indeed not the time to think about this.
He used to think Ichinose was very strong, hearing that she didn't back down even against Ryuen.
Now he realized.
She might be even more fragile than he imagined.
However.
These things would have to wait until Monday to be judged.
He really hoped she could adjust on her own.
At nine in the evening.
Hikigaya finished washing up and lay on his bed scrolling through his phone. He involuntarily clicked on Ichinose's avatar.
But thinking about it, there didn't seem to be much to say.
Given Ichinose's social circle, there must be many people concerned about her.
Even if she only spent ten seconds replying to each, she would probably spend hours a day on social interactions.
This was undoubtedly a form of pressure.
At a time like this, it was better not to add to her stress.
Beep.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Hikigaya went to the entrance and saw through the peephole that it was Yuki Himeno before opening the door. He was used to it by now.
Otherwise, this girl would probably call directly or keep pressing the bell.
"What is it?"
"Hurry up and step aside, it's a bit cold."
Yuki Himeno gave a gentle push, but Hikigaya had already learned to move out of the way; he couldn't stop her even if he wanted to.
Hikigaya followed her back to the bedroom and watched as Yuki Himeno sat unceremoniously on his bed.
Hikigaya asked helplessly:
"So, what is it?"
"Here."
Yuki Himeno took out a gift box from her pocket and tossed it over.
"The return gift must be double."
"..."
Hikigaya caught it in a panic and said speechlessly:
"Obligatory chocolate again. I'm surprised you even care about this."
"What do you mean 'again'?"
Yuki Himeno raised an eyebrow and then realized: "Did Sakura and the others give you some too?"
"Something like that."
"Fine then."
Since someone like Airi Sakura wasn't worth worrying about anyway, Yuki Himeno sighed and said:
"Seriously, what do you think should be done about Ichinose?"
Hikigaya placed the chocolate on the table.
Even Yuki Himeno was very worried about Ichinose's situation.
"Does she really have a cold?"
"Yeah."
Himeno also sighed: "But it feels a bit strange. She was fine yesterday, how did she suddenly get a cold today?"
Hikigaya gave a faint sigh.
Although he used to pretend to be sick to skip class whenever he woke up late, that was limited to verbal excuses.
Although he felt it was fine to skip class when one was feeling down, and that escaping once in a while didn't matter.
But even so.
Ichinose wouldn't go as far as to intentionally make herself sick just to take leave...
This wasn't just escaping; it was a total collapse.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya couldn't help but clench his fist.