The next day.
As usual, Hikigaya headed for school.
There weren't many people left in the dormitory building; it was always the same few.
Stepping into the elevator, he saw the "Three Idiots of Class D"—Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Sudo. On the fourth floor, they bumped into Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"He looks like that Hikigaya guy, right?"
"I remember seeing him during the uninhabited island exam and the summer camp."
"I don't really have an impression..."
The Three Idiots of Class D whispered behind him in the elevator. Sudo had already forgotten a small fry like him entirely.
Hikigaya stood in front of the elevator with his hands in his pockets. However, because he was wearing a posture corrector, his back was a bit straighter than it had been at the start of school.
At the fourth floor, he met his old acquaintance, Ayanokoji.
Since they weren't very close, and they had run into each other more than a few times, there was absolutely no need for small talk.
"But still."
Yamauchi Haruki said disdainfully, "This guy is really pathetic, actually threatening a girl. He has no gentlemanly grace at all."
"Keep it down."
Ike Kanji was a bit nervous and quickly lowered his voice. "He might have done other things too. It's better not to get involved with someone like that."
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Yamauchi Haruki patted Sudo on the shoulder. "We have Sudo here; let's see if he dares to try anything."
"Even so."
Ike Kanji glanced at the back of Hikigaya's head. "If we're associated with someone like him, it'll definitely lower our evaluation, right? It would be bad if the girls misunderstood."
"T-That's true..."
If they weren't popular with girls because they hung out too much with Hikigaya, that would be bad.
Your evaluations probably aren't much better than mine.
Hikigaya didn't care. Although he didn't know these guys well, their reputations certainly wouldn't be good either.
These fools. Even when being played in the palm of someone else's hand, they had zero self-awareness.
Hikigaya even felt a bit smug.
The elevator stopped on the first floor.
The group left the dormitory. Yamauchi and the others quickly sped up, leaving as if they were escaping, not wanting any connection with someone like Hikigaya.
Meanwhile, Ayanokoji took an imperceptible glance at Hikigaya.
Although he was a bit curious and wanted to interact a bit to understand Hikigaya's personality, it was clearly inappropriate with Sudo and the others right there.
Next time, perhaps.
Watching their retreating backs, Hikigaya found it truly laughable.
Precisely because you care so much about the "atmosphere," you are so easily manipulated.
Just then...
"Hikki, Yahoo~!"
Ichinose's lively voice came from behind.
Hikigaya felt a tap on his shoulder, and the air was instantly filled with a citrusy fragrance.
Perhaps Ichinose had switched to a new perfume.
That didn't matter.
Being able to see Ichinose recover was truly great.
"Oh."
Hikigaya turned and greeted her. "Ichinose, it's rare to see you out at this time."
"Eh?"
Ichinose's pretty face flushed red for some reason.
Actually, she had been waiting here for a long time before she finally saw Hikigaya leave his room.
She said a bit sheepishly:
"Yeah, because I had a lot of preparations to make."
"I see."
Hikigaya nodded and resumed walking toward the school.
This was Ichinose's first day back since her leave. Perhaps she really did need to make some mental preparations, though he couldn't quite understand why.
"Actually... I thought about it seriously after I went back yesterday."
Ichinose walked alongside Hikigaya, the exhaustion on her face already gone.
To recover in just one night—Ichinose's vitality was truly impressive.
"What is there to consider?"
Feeling her a bit too close, Hikigaya pulled away by half a body's length, only for Ichinose to lean in again.
Wouldn't their arms bump occasionally like this? It's very inconvenient for walking. Why do these people always like to stick together?
"Misunderstandings can be cleared up, you know."
Ichinose had a brilliant smile as she looked at Hikigaya beside her.
"No way. They can't be cleared up, right?"
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
Those people never give others a chance to explain. They just interpret things arbitrarily and then avoid you like the plague.
"They can."
"As long as we explain properly, they can definitely be cleared up."
Ichinose nodded vigorously, her face full of sincerity. "It's true that clearing a misunderstanding is hard. But at least, you can clear it with those close to you first, and then slowly let others understand."
"Although it might take a lot of time, I will definitely find a way to clear this misunderstanding!"
"I promise!"
Ichinose was dead serious.
There was absolutely no need for Hikigaya to endure the misunderstandings of others alone for her sake.
Even if the misunderstanding was hard to resolve, she would at least endure it together with Hikigaya.
Ichinose had made up her mind.
"Is that so..."
Feeling like it was a total waste of time, Hikigaya didn't particularly care.
"If you have that kind of time, wouldn't it be better to put your energy into getting the class to Class A?"
"Of course, I won't slack off on that front either."
As she spoke, Ichinose rummaged through her bag. Seeing this, Hikigaya slowed his pace.
By the way, has this person ever arrived at school right on time?
If they dawdled like this, there was a very real chance of being late.
Soon, Ichinose pulled out an exquisitely decorated rectangular gift box. Hikigaya noticed several more in her bag.
"Here."
Ichinose handed the gift box to him. Hikigaya looked confused.
"This is? Yesterday's matter should have been settled. You don't have a reason to give me things, right?"
"Eh?"
Ichinose blanked for a second, though she had long since become familiar with Hikigaya's personality. Her face reddened, and her voice became a bit weak:
"This is... chocolate..."
"Oh?"
Hikigaya finally realized.
Ichinose had been on leave during Valentine's Day. Recalling the several boxes in her bag, these must be "obligatory chocolates" (giri-choco) for Valentine's Day.
Even though the holiday had already passed, Ichinose hadn't forgotten and had specifically prepared gifts for everyone. She really was a considerate leader.
In that case, he could accept it.
"Thanks."
Hikigaya took the chocolate and casually put it in his school bag.
By the way, what was even the point of such a holiday? Besides increasing expenses, it was utterly useless.
Thinking about having to give return gifts later, Hikigaya felt a headache. It was too expensive.
"Oh..."
Hikigaya suddenly thought of something. "By the way, I have a question I want to ask you. You don't have to answer if you don't want to. Is that okay?"
"Eh?"
Ichinose was stunned, her small face suddenly becoming beet red.
She had just given him chocolate—was he going to confess right here? Wasn't it a bit too fast?
"Yes, it's okay..."
"How did Sakayanagi find out about your past?"
Hikigaya really couldn't figure it out.
Reasonably speaking, Sakayanagi shouldn't have much contact with Ichinose, and they were in different classes.
Ichinose wasn't an idiot. Since she cared so much about her past, she shouldn't have told anyone.
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Ichinose's gaze became resentful, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"It was probably from President Nagumo. I only ever told President Nagumo about it..."
"Uh..."
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth twitched, his face stiffening.
Great.
He didn't know what Nagumo Miyabi's goal was in telling Sakayanagi Arisu these things.
But if that was the case, he had likely offended not just that "pleasure-seeker" Sakayanagi, but also indirectly offended the pleasure-seeker Nagumo Miyabi.
He had tried his best to avoid Sakayanagi by taking the rumors upon himself, but he had completely ignored the existence of Nagumo Miyabi.
The incident didn't seem to be over.
He would have to go apologize to President Nagumo later. He really couldn't afford to offend these people, nor did he want to deal with them.
"Hikki, why do you look so pale?"
Ichinose looked at him with some confusion. "Don't worry. Hiding a past misdeed was wrong in the first place. I told President Nagumo because I wanted to join the Student Council. This should be a test for me. He probably won't do anything to you."
"I hope so..."
Hikigaya forced a smile.
Even a job doesn't require a report on past misdeeds; how could joining a crappy student council care so much?
Most likely, that blond guy Nagumo Miyabi used his position to half-threaten and half-induce Ichinose into saying things she didn't want to say.
And she called it a test. Clearly impossible.
Nagumo Miyabi most likely had some other ulterior motive.
Hikigaya asked in confusion:
"Don't you hate that guy?"
"Hate him? No."
Ichinose shook her head frankly. "Rather, I'm very grateful to President Nagumo. It's because of his recognition that I have the chance to join the Student Council."
Hikigaya was truly speechless. She was being sold and was still helping them count the money.
He gave a couple of dry laughs:
"I have a feeling you're going to be frequently scammed in the future, Ichinose."
"Is that bad?"
Ichinose smiled with a bit of a troubled look as well.
Hearing her words, Hikigaya opened his mouth to speak but then quickly nodded:
"As long as you think it's fine."
He didn't have the right to interfere in Ichinose's life. Whether she grew or fell was her own business.
Besides, "pure" and "kind" were complimentary words. There was nothing wrong with them. The problem was always with the person doing the hurting.
"By the way."
Hikigaya sped up his pace, changing the subject. "Let's hurry, or we'll be late."
"Really?"
Ichinose quickly pulled out her phone to check, her pretty face suddenly tense.
"How is it this time already? It'll be bad if we're late. Let's run!"
As she spoke, Ichinose grabbed Hikigaya's wrist and ran toward the school.
"Wait, there's no need to run..."
Being dragged along, feeling the breeze brush against his face, Hikigaya felt quite embarrassed.
However, he didn't exactly hate the feeling.