Night fell.
Himeno Yuki came to Hikigaya's room again.
"Why are you here again?"
Hikigaya held the door slightly ajar, asking cautiously.
He felt like lately, this person liked to run to his room whenever she was bored. It was highly abnormal.
"What? I can't come?"
Himeno Yuki stood with her hands on her hips, her brows slightly raised and her eyes inexplicably red.
"Aren't you going to move out of the way?"
"Well, it's already eight o'clock. Isn't it a bit late? Can't we talk about whatever it is tomorrow?"
"Move..."
"Oh..."
An icy voice that seemed to freeze the soul made Hikigaya quickly clear the path and return to the room with her.
Himeno Yuki had a double persona.
She had secretly pinched him during the day, which gave Hikigaya a bad premonition.
"MAX Coffee is fine, right?"
"Sit down."
Himeno Yuki sat calmly on the edge of the bed, pointing to the low table in front of her.
"What is this actually about?"
Hikigaya stood stubbornly in place, signaling that he would definitely not yield.
By the way.
He wasn't a dog raised by Himeno Yuki. Why should he sit just because she said so?
If she wanted to support him.
Please come back when she could earn a ten-million-yen annual salary!
"Sigh..."
"Why did you do that kind of thing?"
"Wait, didn't I already explain this yesterday?"
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
He had already explained it to them separately several times yesterday. Why ask again?
Was it because this person had a double persona?
So a gift had to be given twice, and every question had to be asked twice?
Wouldn't that be too exhausting?
"I know..."
Himeno Yuki opened her mouth but couldn't speak, eventually turning her face to the side.
"But do you know that doing that is very irritating?"
"I don't know..."
Hikigaya frowned: "Why would you feel irritated?"
If it were sympathy or pity, he could understand. He could even barely understand Ichinose saying she felt guilty.
But what did "irritated" mean? Was she unhappy with his methods?
"Because..."
Hearing this.
Himeno Yuki suddenly stood up and glared at him.
He was clearly so smart normally, so why was he so stupid now?
Acting like this.
It only made them feel like they were useless, incompetent people.
She felt irritated by her own incompetence and, at the same time, her heart ached for him.
Looking at Hikigaya, who took half a step back out of fear, Himeno Yuki was quite helpless. She laughed out of extreme anger:
"With your behavior, you dare to threaten a girl? You can't even make up a decent story!"
"No, the story isn't important."
Hikigaya shook his head and said: "The important thing is making sure Ichinose is on the side of justice."
This group still hadn't figured out the essence. They really were stupid.
Thump.
Hikigaya took another hit to the stomach.
He clutched the spot where he was punched, looking at Himeno Yuki with a resentful gaze:
"Why? That actually hurt a bit..."
"Anyway..."
Himeno Yuki lowered her head, her voice faint: "Don't do that ever again. We... our hearts will ache."
"Didn't I say not to worry about that?"
"Sigh."
Himeno Yuki lightly punched his chest again, her gaze resentful:
"It's the same as your heart aching for Ichinose. You helped because you felt bad for her, right? Why can't you just understand?"
"No."
Hikigaya took two steps back, deciding it was best to keep his distance.
Ichinose had so many genuine friends.
She was pretty and had a great personality.
He wasn't qualified to feel sorry for someone like Ichinose, and it wasn't his place to do so.
"I just couldn't stand the situation. How could I feel bad for Ichinose?"
Hikigaya quickly defended himself: "Feeling bad for someone means placing yourself in a higher position than them. That's being way too self-important. Besides, this was just for the sake of reaching Class A."
"You?"
Himeno Yuki was practically exploding with anger.
If she didn't know Hikigaya well enough, she might have thought he was calling them self-important.
In reality, this guy was just using sophistry.
What reaching Class A?
He had clearly said before that he didn't care about Class A.
He only brought up Class A as an excuse when he needed it to make people speechless. It was truly despicable.
"Forget it. I guess Ichinose sees through you better after all."
Himeno Yuki massaged her forehead, feeling helpless, but she was the one who knew best how to deal with Hikigaya.
"If you're going to do something like this next time, you must consult with us—at least consult with me."
"Otherwise, hmph hmph."
"I'm telling you, I've studied Taekwondo."
Himeno Yuki gave a cold laugh and shook her small fist.
"You're being too barba... I-I get it."
Seeing Himeno Yuki take a step forward, Hikigaya used his arms to protect his face and quickly nodded.
Dammit.
Is this school a bit weird? Why have all these girls studied martial arts?
"Good that you know."
Himeno Yuki finally nodded in satisfaction.
Being soft like Kobashi Yume or Ichinose wouldn't work. This was the correct way to handle Hikigaya.
"By the way, Yume and the others will probably ask you to go to Karaoke tomorrow. If you dare refuse, I won't be polite."
"A waste of... No problem."
"Also, you're still wearing that posture corrector I gave you, right? Take it off and let me see."
Saying this, Himeno Yuki began pulling at his clothes. Hikigaya helplessly took off his jacket and the posture corrector.
Could this person stop doing this? She always liked to be so hands-on.
He really had no good way to handle her.
"Well?"
Hikigaya stood before her nonchalantly.
"Why are you still slouching?"
Himeno Yuki knitted her brows in dissatisfaction: "Haven't you been wearing it for a long time?"
"Isn't it a bit better than before?"
Hikigaya stood in front of the mirror, feeling he was slightly more upright than before.
"Besides, I've only worn it for two months. How could results show so quickly?"
"True..."
Himeno Yuki nodded, and a mischievous smile instantly appeared on her pretty face:
"Anyway, as long as it's effective. So? Are you looking forward to what kind of girlfriend I'll introduce you to?"
"No way."
Hikigaya was helpless: "After all, money was spent on it. It would be a waste not to wear it. Besides, your introductions are useless. That's not something you can decide."
"You shouldn't do anything extra either. Otherwise, don't blame me if your persona in class collapses."
If the other person hadn't sent it, and if he hadn't spent a large amount of money on a return gift.
Hikigaya really wouldn't want to use this thing.
He wanted even less to deal with Himeno Yuki's meddling.
Even if she really wanted to introduce someone, it would only make others uncomfortable.
If the person could decline frankly, it would be fine. But if they only endured interacting with him while hiding their disgust because of Himeno Yuki's feelings...
Hikigaya would probably have to apologize to the world for being born.
"It's fine."
"You'll see when the time comes."
"Just wear the posture corrector every day and stay hopeful. I'm heading back for today. See you tomorrow."
Saying that.
Himeno Yuki waved and turned to leave. Hikigaya saw her to the entrance.
He truly hoped Himeno Yuki wouldn't act on her own just for her own amusement.
Gyaru types really were difficult to deal with.
The next morning.
Seeing Ibuki Mio inside the elevator, Hikigaya felt a headache.
If "scary girls" were divided into ten parts, Ibuki's fierce eyes would claim eight.
"...Are you coming in or not?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm coming in."
Ibuki Mio immediately glared. Hikigaya kept his head down and walked into a corner of the elevator to keep his distance from her.
"Heh."
Ibuki Mio sneered: "With your cowardly appearance, you supposedly threatened a girl and dared to lay a hand on Ichinose?"
Himeno Yuki is one thing.
But why does someone from another class dare to look down on me? Did you forget the rooftop incident last time?
Furthermore.
I have something on you people, even if it's leverage I can't use.
"Um..."
Feeling his self-esteem take a hit, Hikigaya gave her a guilty look:
"I am a guy, after all. Can you stop looking down on me?"
"Ha..."
Ibuki Mio gave a snort, looking him up and down.
"I could knock you over with one kick, believe it or not?"
"Sorry..."
Hikigaya immediately backed down.
Probably another Taekwondo expert. The people at this school were far too elite; he had never learned anything.
"So."
Just as she spoke, the elevator stopped on the first floor. Ibuki Mio continued:
"Was it for Ichinose, or to reach Class A?"
"Class A."
Hikigaya didn't hesitate.
Finally, someone whose head isn't full of romantic nonsense. Ibuki Mio's head was unexpectedly good.
"Is that so?"
Ibuki didn't seem to care, and Hikigaya naturally didn't say more.
However, what troubled Hikigaya was that Ibuki Mio continued to walk side-by-side with him.
They were heading to school right on time.
If he went slow, he'd be late and lose class points. If he tried to run, he'd definitely run into Ibuki again.
With no choice.
Hikigaya sped up slightly to shake her off, but Ibuki Mio accelerated at the same time.
"???"
Hikigaya was stunned.
"Um... what is the meaning of this?"
"I won't lose."
Ibuki Mio's eyes were stubborn.
No matter how much Hikigaya wanted to reach Class A, they would definitely not lose.
"???"
Where did this competitive spirit come from?
"Then you go first. You'd better run fast, or you might be late."
"I don't need you to yield!"
Ibuki Mio stubbornly stayed by his side, perfectly matching whatever speed Hikigaya used.
Hikigaya felt it was truly ridiculous.
Was it necessary to be so competitive over this?
Fine.
This person's head didn't seem to work very well either.