Time passed.
Monday quickly arrived, and Ichinose took leave again.
Even if she were truly sick, she should have improved after three days. Given Ichinose's personality, she would likely go to school even if she felt slightly unwell.
This could no longer be explained by mere illness.
Even in Class B.
People were starting to fall silent; if Ichinose became like this, those rumors outside probably had some truth to them.
Even if they wanted to help Ichinose.
Faced with this situation, they didn't have the confidence to make a strong rebuttal anymore.
Approaching noon.
Hikigaya stood up to leave the classroom; at the very least, he should go see Ichinose.
"Hikigaya..."
Shibata said with a face full of worry: "I'm counting on you. No matter what, Honami is our most important partner."
On this point alone.
Class B maintained a unified opinion.
Regardless of Ichinose's past, she was their most important partner.
"Well..."
Feeling the expectant gazes of everyone, Hikigaya felt slightly uncomfortable.
He needed to make some preparations beforehand.
He asked:
"Did Ichinose say anything?"
"No."
Mako Okakura and the others said with worry: "Honami-chan just told us not to worry and said nothing else."
"And about the past..."
"..."
Hearing this.
Kobashi and Airi Sakura looked at each other, both looking hesitant.
As things stood.
Even they couldn't help but believe that something might have happened in Ichinose's past, let alone the other people in the school.
"I did ask."
Chihiro Shiranami had tears in her eyes, her voice a bit choked:
"But Honami-chan refused to say anything. I believe it's definitely not her fault. Honami-chan is so kind. No matter what she did, she is our most important partner."
Upon hearing this.
The surrounding Class B students all nodded.
"Is that so? Got it."
Hikigaya nodded and turned to leave the classroom. He still knew nothing. Clearly, Ichinose had become somewhat withdrawn and was unwilling to communicate with anyone.
However.
It didn't really matter.
Regardless of Ichinose's past, Class B regarded her as their most important partner.
After a moment.
Hikigaya turned back. Feeling everyone's confused gazes, he said awkwardly:
"Um... where is Ichinose's dorm?"
Come to think of it.
He didn't even know where Ichinose's dorm was.
Even if he went, he probably wouldn't achieve much.
...
Dormitory building.
Hikigaya stepped out of the elevator, preparing to head to Ichinose's room. He stopped just as he exited the elevator.
A "flying-fish head" Ayanokouji was leaning against the door of Ichinose's room, staring expressionlessly at the balcony.
Why would this guy come to Ichinose's dorm?
Even if they had a good relationship, a visit should be after school, right?
Why was he spacing out in front of Ichinose's dorm in the middle of the day?
Hikigaya frowned.
At the same time.
Ayanokouji noticed him. Given Hikigaya's habit of acting alone and his status in Class B, it wasn't surprising he would come to visit Ichinose.
However.
Since Hikigaya had appeared, he had to leave.
"Are you here to visit Ichinose too?"
Ayanokouji spoke first, his expression neutral.
"Yeah."
Hikigaya nodded and said: "Um... are you and Ichinose on good terms?"
"I don't know..."
Ayanokouji looked back at Ichinose's door:
"At least I consider Ichinose a friend, and Class D has received a lot of help from Class B, but I'm not sure what Ichinose thinks."
"I see..."
Hikigaya nodded.
Ichinose had many friends in the school, so there was nothing wrong with him visiting her, but the timing was indeed a bit suspicious.
"Do you have a way to help Ichinose?"
Hikigaya asked softly.
Since this guy was the "X," the mastermind hidden in Class D that Ryuen was looking for, he must be someone with outstanding ability.
He should have some way to help Ichinose.
"I don't know..."
Ayanokouji's expression didn't change: "Today is also the first time I've come to see her. Since you're here, I'll head back first."
With that.
Ayanokouji nodded and turned to leave.
After all, Sakayanagi's target was him. There was no point in telling Hikigaya. He would just come back tomorrow.
Until Honami Ichinose's heart was completely broken.
Surely.
That would satisfy Sakayanagi's expectations.
...
Watching Ayanokouji enter the elevator until it stopped at the first floor, Hikigaya was still confused.
He really couldn't figure out.
Why Ayanokouji would come to Ichinose's dorm at this time.
Forget it.
Hikigaya arrived at Ichinose's door and rang the bell, but after waiting for a moment, there was still no response.
In desperation.
Hikigaya dialed Ichinose's phone. Only then did the faint sound of footsteps ring from the other side of the door, and they were getting further away.
"..."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
It seemed Ichinose had been sitting right on the other side of the door just now.
Inside the room.
Looking at the contact from Hikigaya on her phone, Ichinose pursed her lips, feeling lost.
After all.
This was the first time Hikigaya had called her.
If it was a message of concern, Ichinose really didn't want to pick up; she felt even more guilty.
It was precisely because of her.
That everyone in Class B was worrying about her to such an abnormal degree.
But Hikigaya hadn't contacted her before; what if it was something about school?
Thinking of this.
Ichinose still answered the call, but she didn't speak.
"Um..."
Hikigaya said helplessly: "I rang the doorbell just now but there was no reaction for a long time. Are you okay?"
"Eh? Was it Hikigaya who rang the bell just now? What about Ayanokouji-kun?"
On the other end of the phone.
Ichinose's voice sounded full of energy.
Even if it was a cold, she had clearly recovered.
"Uh..."
Hikigaya said awkwardly: "He left when he saw me come."
"I see..."
Ichinose involuntarily walked back to the entrance, looking at the door and pursing her lips. Since Hikigaya was at her door, he must be worried about her too.
"I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm fine. Class is about to start, so Hikigaya-kun should head back quickly."
...nose.
"But..."
Hikigaya really didn't know what to say: "Your voice doesn't sound like you have a cold..."
"Um..."
Perhaps because he was too blunt, Ichinose was momentarily choked up. She pursed her lips before saying:
"Well, the cold is already better, I'm just feeling a little uncomfortable..."
"I see..."
It was obvious she just didn't want to go to school. Hikigaya said with some awkwardness:
"That... I also often fake being sick to take the day off and slack off. It's okay if you don't want to go to school, but will you be back tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry... I don't know either."
"I see..."
Hikigaya fell into silence.
Clearly, Ichinose still really wanted to return to school, she just couldn't escape the past and struggled to flee from her inner self-reproach.
From the perspective of someone like him—who was unpopular and often told to "go die" by others—he truly didn't know what there was to be so self-reproachful about.
"Is that letter really that important to you, Ichinose?"
Inside the room, there was no response from Ichinose for a long time. She clearly didn't want to discuss this topic.
"Understood..."
Hikigaya nodded.
Although he couldn't understand it, this matter seemed truly important to Ichinose, enough to make her somewhat reclusive.
"Then I'm heading back."
Hikigaya hung up the phone and turned to leave.
He was truly bad at comforting people.
Even now, looking at Ichinose on the verge of collapse, Hikigaya didn't know what he should say.
When the elevator stopped at the fifth floor, Hikigaya stepped in and pressed the button for the first floor, staring blankly at the lights above his head.
A moment later.
Hikigaya walked out of the elevator, left the dormitory building, and headed toward the school.
How did things turn out like this?
Clearly, there was no benefit in targeting Class B right now. Why was Sakayanagi still targeting Ichinose like this?
Forget it.
There was no point in thinking about these things now.
Without Ichinose.
Class B was already on the verge of collapse. Whether it was Shibata, Kanzaki, or Kobashi Yume, they were all extremely worried about Ichinose.
Even if Ichinose had some kind of past.
They still regarded Ichinose as their most important partner.
Furthermore.
Ichinose was the leader of Class B.
Even if Ichinose's abilities were slightly lacking.
Her cheerful personality and daily vitality brought smiles to many and provided a lot of help to those around her.
Class B could not function without Ichinose.
At the very least,
Ichinose had never harmed anyone, right?
Although Hikigaya was initially a bit annoyed by her special attention, even he had to admit it.
Ichinose was indeed a good person.
Even if one took a step back.
Even if Ichinose was kind to the point of being a "Holy Mother" and was currently unfit for a leadership position.
So.
Is being kind a mistake?
Why should a kind person suffer such slander? Why should a single mistake be clung to relentlessly?
Could it be.
That Sakayanagi and the others are truly saints without fault?
Isn't it because they saw Ichinose's kind heart that they felt such methods would be effective against her?
No matter what the opponent's goal is, what their original intention is, or what their reason is.
Maliciously slandering others is simply wrong, isn't it?
The fault in this matter,
Clearly lies with that detestable woman, Arisu Sakayanagi.
So.
Why should Ichinose have to be bullied?
Why should a good person have a gun pointed at them?
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya couldn't help but clench his fists.
This matter.
He would not allow it!
.