Keyaki Mall.
Tenkaippin Ramen Shop.
"Changing to a new shop, I also want to try a new flavor."
Kushida Kikyou sat at the counter, tilting her small head cutely:
"Boss, I want mine a bit softer."
"No problem, coming right up!"
"..."
Hachiman cast a glance at her inconspicuously.
Kushida Kikyou was truly committed to her act to the end.
Clearly, she liked eating soft noodles, yet she had to find a reason for herself just to maintain her persona.
It was inexplicably a bit cute.
Back when Kushida Kikyou had offered advice for Komachi's birthday gift, Hachiman had already stopped disliking her so much.
It was just that when facing such a "green tea," it was better to be careful.
Avoid letting yourself get sucked in.
It was better to maintain a bit of vigilance.
Soon.
Four steaming bowls of ramen were served to them. Since they were all veterans, Hachiman didn't need to push them.
"Is this oil?"
The three girls looked at the fat on the ramen before them and suddenly felt a chill of disgust.
After all, it was their first time eating Tenkaippin, so such a feeling was normal; if you're afraid of even this, you won't be able to eat at Toranoana.
"Give it a try."
Unfortunately.
He could never find where that hidden Toranoana was.
After all.
It wasn't their first time eating ramen, and they knew that although this thing looked unremarkable, it was indeed quite delicious.
The thick fat hit the taste buds.
Kushida Kikyou and the others suddenly widened their eyes, truly unsure how to describe it.
"It's truly... a violent deliciousness..."
"Then that's great."
Hachiman's mouth curled into a satisfied smile. Someone who likes eating ramen couldn't be a bad person.
Unfortunately, he forgot those bad habits of beginners again.
"Whew..."
Sakura Airi blew gently at the ramen before her.
"That senior just now was so scary. I didn't think Hachiman could actually talk to a guy like that; you're really amazing."
"Don't say silly things; I was scared to death."
Hachiman was somewhat helpless.
Those bastard "normies" just loved to show off and highlight their presence. In this "ability-first" school, it was probably even more so.
They insisted on competing for high and low.
What a garbage school.
"That is also very impressive."
Sakura Airi said despondently: "Unlike me, I couldn't even say a word just now."
"It's nothing."
Hasebe Haruka beside her patted her small head: "That senior was indeed too scary. It's not Airi's fault. Those who could talk to that senior were probably only Hachiman and Kikyou-chan."
"..."
Kushida Kikyou ate her noodles silently.
Wanting to be trusted by everyone was not an easy task. If one couldn't maintain absolute neutrality, they would sooner or later be excluded by one side or the other.
She just listened silently.
She wouldn't casually say bad things about someone, except behind their backs.
"By the way."
While eating her noodles, Hasebe Haruka suddenly narrowed her eyes and said: "Hachiman, do you like Ichinose?"
"No."
"What a fast answer, how suspicious~"
Hasebe Haruka drawled playfully.
"It's not."
Hachiman shook his head helplessly and said: "Because I've been asked that so often lately, I've already gotten used to it."
Honestly.
Why did all these people think he liked Ichinose?
Besides those trivial matters between men and women, couldn't these normies have any other reasons in their heads?
"Is that so?"
Hasebe Haruka tilted her head, glancing at Sakura whose small face was turning red, and smiled:
"Then why were you willing to ruin your own evaluation just to help Ichinose?"
"There was no other way."
Hachiman said nonchalantly: "If Ichinose weren't there, Class B would probably be finished."
As he said it.
Hachiman also helplessly discovered that "rising to Class A" was a very useful excuse.
No matter what was done.
As long as it was in this school, it could all be pushed toward wanting to rise to Class A, and the other party could interpret it on their own.
"True..."
Hasebe nodded and asked with some curiosity:
"Then let me ask you a question. Would you go to such lengths to save your own girlfriend regardless of the cost?"
"I'm sorry."
Hachiman said indifferently: "I've never had a girlfriend, so I don't know."
What use was a verbal guarantee.
Since it hadn't happened, Hachiman couldn't say for sure himself. Furthermore, he would have to first understand what kind of predicament the other party had fallen into.
"..."
Hasebe frowned.
This person was truly selfish. He helped Ichinose like this for the sake of rising to Class A, yet he didn't even have the attitude to protect a girlfriend.
Even if it was just saying it.
At least it could have made Sakura Airi happy for a moment.
However.
Looking at Sakura Airi nodding happily, Hasebe knew the little girl's heart was fluttering. She was actually happy because of Hachiman's zero experience.
Sigh.
If it weren't for considering Sakura Airi's almost obsessive feelings of love.
Hasebe really didn't want to get close to Hachiman.
"Well..."
Seeing that they were no longer speaking ill of others, Kushida Kikyo curiously joined the conversation.
"Hiki-kun, if your girlfriend and your mother both fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?"
There it is.
The "death-trap" choice that gives countless boyfriends a headache; the "green tea" Kushida was dropping heavy hints again.
"Who knows."
Hikigaya gave her a flat, sideways glance.
"At the very least, I'd first have to figure out why they fell in, if there are railings or lifeguards nearby, whether they were swimming or doing something else. If they can't swim, why didn't they bring a lifebuoy? Honestly, why go swimming in the first place? Isn't it fine to just watch TV at home?"
It was practically a sickness.
Those who drown are usually the ones who can swim.
If you can't swim, why didn't you make preparations?
The probability of both falling in at once and being unable to be saved is infinitely close to zero.
It was a moronic question.
He truly didn't understand why people got so stressed over it.
"That... makes sense, I guess..."
Kushida Kikyo and Hasebe Haruka forced awkward smiles, rendered utterly speechless and unsure of how to respond.
What Hikigaya didn't understand was why the shop owner gave him a thumbs-up.
As expected.
Doing the correct thing is always praised.
After finishing their noodles, the group parted ways at the dormitory building, and Hikigaya and the others returned to their respective rooms.
At that moment.
Inside the girls' dormitory.
"Um..."
Hasebe Haruka scratched her hair, glancing at Sakura across from her.
"Airi, maybe you should just forget it. I really feel like you and him aren't a good match."
"Eh?"
Sakura Airi looked shocked and turned tearful:
"Why? Am I not good enough for him?"
"No... it's that he isn't good enough for you."
"How could that be?"
Sakura Airi looked a bit happy: "It's not like that. If I could be with Hiki-kun, it would definitely be the happiest thing in my life."
"Fine, as long as you're happy."
Hasebe facepalmed, sighing helplessly.
"Anyway, I'll help. But if you two actually date and you ever feel unsatisfied, you must tell me! I'll definitely stand up for you."
"Hiki-kun wouldn't bully me."
Sakura Airi puffed out her cheeks, her face turning red for some reason.
If only Hikigaya could hold her while they lay on the sofa watching TV together.
Or.
If Hikigaya acted as a photographer and producer to take a photobook of her.
The two of them earning money to support their home together.
How wonderful that would be.