I didn't hear you clearly just now."
Looking at Hikigaya, who was bowing and asking for a favor, Karuizawa's gaze was resentful.
"Can you say it again?"
"I have something I want to ask your help with. Please!"
Hikigaya's attitude was sincere.
Since he was asking for help anyway, it didn't matter if he said it again.
"Sigh..."
Karuizawa gave a heavy sigh.
As expected.
Expecting a confession from Hikigaya was just unreliable.
She picked up the watermelon again and put it in her mouth, her pretty face looking dissatisfied.
"Fine, tell me about it first."
"Actually..."
Hikigaya looked around.
Even though it was a private booth, it was still a bit worrying. If anyone else found out, this plan would be ruined.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya beckoned to Karuizawa, hoping she would come closer.
Seeing this.
Karuizawa leaned her body directly, pressing her ear in front of Hikigaya.
Looking at Karuizawa's delicate, red-tinted earlobe, Hikigaya's face couldn't help but turn red.
I just told you to come closer, I didn't tell you to lean right against me.
Forget it.
"Actually..."
Hikigaya blocked the corner of his mouth with his hand and whispered into her ear. He watched as Karuizawa's brow gradually furrowed.
"Why?"
After listening, Karuizawa stood up with some dissatisfaction. She pursed her lips, clearly unwilling.
"You don't happen to like Ichinose, do you?"
"No, not at all."
Hikigaya shook his head without hesitation, asking in confusion: "Why do you ask that?"
Aside from thinking Ichinose was pretty.
He truly had no feelings for Ichinose and rarely even spoke to her. He really didn't know why Shibata always treated him like a rival.
Karuizawa said:
"Because."
Karuizawa was truly a bit angry: "If you don't like her, why would you help her like this? Isn't this very unreasonable?"
"No."
Hikigaya frowned and looked up at Karuizawa.
"Ichinose is the leader of our Class B after all. If she falls, won't things get messy?"
"While that's true... but..."
Karuizawa's expression was hesitant.
If Class B lost Ichinose, they would likely no longer have the ability to compete with other classes.
Although she could understand it.
Karuizawa just seemed somewhat unwilling.
"Please."
Hikigaya said sincerely: "I can give you 100,000 personal points as a reward!"
This matter.
Shouldn't have any particularly large impact on Karuizawa.
100,000.
Should be enough.
"It's not like I want your personal points."
Karuizawa crossed her arms and sat back in her seat, huffing.
"Then what do you want?"
Hikigaya was suddenly at a loss. If it wasn't money, he didn't have many extra things to give Karuizawa.
He couldn't exactly be a spy for her in Class B; Hikigaya would never agree to that.
Otherwise.
Wouldn't saving Ichinose be for nothing?
"Forget it."
Karuizawa opened a drink, poured herself a glass, and gulped it down. Her emotions finally calmed down a bit. She glanced at Hikigaya.
"You want to help Ichinose that much?"
"It's not that I want to, it's that I must."
"Phew."
Karuizawa pursed her lips and finally nodded: "Fine, I'll help, but you have to promise me one condition."
"Okay."
Hikigaya said without hesitation: "As long as it doesn't involve doing something harmful to my class, I can agree to any number of conditions."
"Huh?"
Karuizawa's eyes lit up: "That's what you said. Then you have to promise me a million conditions."
"No..."
Hikigaya's face stiffened instantly. He said in some embarrassment:
"That... what I just said doesn't count. It was just an expression of determination. Just one condition, one condition is enough!"
"I don't care."
Karuizawa was like a proud white swan, her fair neck held high:
"You already promised just now. Anyway, the first thing is—you remember the chocolate I gave you, right?"
"Um..."
Hikigaya nodded helplessly.
That was obviously a joke, right? This girl probably won't take it seriously, right?
Forget it.
Anyway, he would only pay the reward he should pay. If things got too ridiculous, he would just act like he didn't remember.
"On March 14th."
Karuizawa's finger drew circles in the air, her mouth showing a bit of smugness:
"You have to give me a double return gift. As for the gift, I want to pick it myself, so you have to accompany me shopping that day. No problem, right?"
"Okay."
Hikigaya nodded without hesitation: "Is that all?"
After all.
It was just one chocolate; double wouldn't be much.
He had already prepared 100,000 as a reward. Even if he paid for everything that day, it probably wouldn't reach 100,000. It would be fine even if she wanted a bit more.
"Yeah."
Karuizawa shook her small head: "That's it for now, I haven't thought of the rest. You're treating for all of this, right?"
"Yeah."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
At least, it looked like Karuizawa was willing to help.
"Then let's hurry up and start eating."
Karuizawa put a piece of tofu in her mouth, her eyes lighting up instantly:
"So cool and delicious. Is all of this Chinese food? There are so many I've never eaten before."
"Probably."
Hikigaya wasn't very sure either. He hurriedly picked up a dumpling and put it in his mouth, then quickly picked up a slice of watermelon.
Since it was a Chinese restaurant, it should all be Chinese food.
Dammit.
It was so expensive.
This one meal cost him nearly 30,000; he had to eat enough to get his money's worth.
However, the taste was indeed not bad.
"By the way."
Just then, while eating watermelon, Karuizawa tapped the back of Hikigaya's hand:
"Hurry up and peel the shrimp for me, I want to eat crawfish."
"Oh..."
Hikigaya was a bit reluctant. After a moment of hesitation, he still honestly peeled the shrimp for Karuizawa.
This should be considered a condition, right?
Currently, the initiative was in Karuizawa's hands. It seemed he had to listen. If she threw a fit and refused to help, it would be bad.
Wait until she finishes helping.
Right in front of Hikigaya, Karuizawa ate the shrimp meat he had peeled while also picking up stir-fried beef with green peppers.
It truly made Hikigaya a bit envious; he hadn't eaten yet.
"So spicy... delicious... so spicy... delicious."
Is it spicy or delicious? Can you say it clearly? Hikigaya's gaze was resentful; he hadn't tasted that dish yet.
"Hikki, hurry up and try it."
Karuizawa placed a slice of beef in his bowl, her pretty face flushed red from the spice.
"This is super delicious."
Hikigaya looked at that slice of beef and felt truly awkward. This slice of beef was put into his bowl by Karuizawa's chopsticks.
How could he possibly still taste it properly like this?
"No need..."
Hikigaya's gaze was resentful.
If she really wanted him to eat, Karuizawa should peel the shrimp herself. This girl had no intention of letting him eat properly.
"I forgot your hands are busy..."
Looking at Hikigaya's hands peeling shrimp, Karuizawa picked up a slice of beef and thrust it directly to his lips.
"Mmph..."
The beef brushed past the corner of his mouth, and Hikigaya's face turned red.
"Hurry up and try it. This is really delicious. It's too much of a pity not to eat it."
As she spoke...
Karuizawa's small hand used more force to push it in. Hikigaya helplessly opened his mouth and began to chew.
It wasn't as tender as fresh beef; instead, it was a bit tough.
But combined with the chili, it had a different kind of flavor.
"So spicy..."
Hikigaya honestly stated his impression.
"Right? Just eat another piece of watermelon."
"..."
Hikigaya looked up at her.
Karuizawa used her left hand to hold a slice of watermelon to his mouth while her right hand sampled other delicacies.
To be honest, it was indeed quite spicy.
Hikigaya peeled the shrimp while honestly taking a bite of the watermelon.
He had the illusion of being "fed," and it didn't feel bad.
But it was still better to let him eat himself.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya put a freshly peeled shrimp into his own mouth. Seeing that Karuizawa didn't say anything, he grew bolder.
Peel my foot, you should just eat it yourself.
He would peel it when Karuizawa asked him to; for now, getting his money's worth was more important.
After finishing dinner.
Looking at the table full of leftovers, Hikigaya was truly reluctant to leave them.
"Waiter, doggy bag."
"Eh!?"
Karuizawa stood to the side, somewhat surprised: "You're going to pack it up? It seems like very few boys do that."
"Definitely. Those guys mostly just want to look tough in front of girls. This is all money."
Taking the containers from the staff, Hikigaya indifferently helped pack the food.
30,000 points.
That was roughly two or three days' wages for an average person.
He didn't have the capital to squander like that. If he weren't asking for Karuizawa's help, he wouldn't come to a place like this even if he were beaten to death.
"True."
Karuizawa crossed her arms and nodded in agreement:
"So many good dishes, it would be such a waste to just throw them away."
"Huh?"
Hikigaya was a bit surprised: "I thought you'd say it's pathetic or something."
"How is that possible?"
Karuizawa also trotted over to pick up a container, saying indifferently:
"I quite like these dishes too. If I weren't too full, I'd want to keep eating. I'll come to your dorm to eat tomorrow!"
"..."
Hikigaya's face stiffened. Go to his dorm to eat?
There was no way he would agree.
Kobashi Yume and the others entering his dorm was already the limit of what Hikigaya could tolerate. He wouldn't let people from other classes in.
"You should just take it back."
Hikigaya reluctantly handed the containers to her.
"Huh?"
Karuizawa was suddenly a bit angry: "What do you mean by that? Do you not want to eat with me that much?"
"Wasn't I just eating with you?"
Hikigaya was a bit speechless as he looked at the dishes on the table.
"Thinking about it, I don't really know how to handle Chinese food. Can these things really be heated in a microwave?"
"Uh..."
Karuizawa was also a bit dazed.
The two of them simultaneously looked at the staff member.
"Most Chinese food can be, but food with chili and garlic is best not microwaved. It's better to heat them by steaming or stir-frying."
Karuizawa looked at the containers.
Didn't that mean except for the dumplings, everything else couldn't be microwaved?
"Forget it."
Karuizawa shook her head and quickly put it out of her mind.
"Anyway, delicious food is delicious no matter what. I'll take these back. Hikki, come to my dorm tomorrow to eat!"
Hikigaya looked at the containers, his heart struggling.
Going to Karuizawa's dorm carried a certain risk, but this was 30,000 personal points. This girl probably wouldn't scam him, right?