The day the final exams ended.
Everyone from Class B left the classroom with relaxed expressions, gloating over Ichinose's return and the smooth progress of their study sessions.
Everyone felt extremely confident about this exam.
At the very least.
It was impossible for anyone to be expelled due to a failing grade.
As long as they could spend each day in peace and be with their good friends, they were already very satisfied.
Hikigaya also packed his shoulder bag and left the classroom.
After working hard for so long, it was time to reward himself—though it felt like he had been rewarding himself every day lately.
Just as he left the classroom.
He saw two purple-haired buns in the hallway that looked somewhat familiar; it seemed to be that Student Council Secretary who usually followed Horikita Manabu.
Oh, she should have stepped down from her position by now.
The two of them accidentally locked eyes.
Hikigaya didn't take it to heart and walked straight past.
First-years were one thing, but he really wasn't familiar with any of the upperclassmen; she was probably there to find Ichinose.
However.
Tachibana Akane hurriedly blocked Hikigaya's path and bowed deeply.
"Um... I've been preparing for the special exams lately and haven't had time to come and thank you, I'm truly sorry. Also, thank you so much for what happened last time."
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya froze for a moment.
He only then realized she was likely talking about the incident at the training camp.
If it weren't for his suggestion, Tachibana Akane would likely have been dragged down as a sacrificial lamb, though Horikita Manabu would have likely saved her anyway.
But.
Horikita Manabu had already made a promise regarding this matter; there shouldn't have been any need for Tachibana Akane to thank him again, and Hikigaya hadn't kept it in mind.
He didn't expect it.
This person would actually come over to give her thanks.
What a polite child... good senpai.
Hikigaya looked down at the petite senpai in front of him.
He shook his head and said:
"No need, Senior Horikita has already promised a reward for that matter, you don't need to thank me again."
"It was President Horikita who asked me to come."
Tachibana Akane placed her small hands in front of her and spoke softly with her head lowered.
"Besides, that was a class matter. Personally, I must express my gratitude to you as well. Thank you truly."
"Fine then."
Since the other party insisted on thanking him, Hikigaya didn't mind and nodded.
"I've received your thanks, so I'll be going now."
"Wait."
Tachibana Akane quickly looked up and said: "As a thank you, I'd like to treat you to a meal. Is it convenient to borrow a bit of your time? It doesn't have to be today."
"No need."
Hikigaya said with some helplessness: "I just provided a few ideas and opinions, there's no need for this."
"..."
Tachibana Akane lifted her eyelids to glance at him, then spoke softly:
"Nagumo doesn't believe at all that those methods were things Horikita could think of. He has been testing the waters among the upperclassmen lately, but we've blocked them all for you."
"???"
Hikigaya was a bit stunned.
After all.
Horikita Manabu was indeed upright and looked like a very serious guy; it was normal for a despicable person like Nagumo Miyabi to disbelieve or even test him.
But.
What do you mean by saying this now?
"Um..."
Hikigaya stared at her and said: "What do you mean by that?"
Are you thanking me, or are you trying to threaten me?
Other girls aside, this kind of petite person who cries at the drop of a hat felt quite easy to bully.
Even you want to threaten me?
"Um..."
Tachibana Akane shrugged her shoulders in fear, her voice turning faint.
"President Horikita said that if I put it that way, you would go. Otherwise, you would definitely refuse."
"Ugh..."
Hikigaya furrowed his brows.
It looked like Horikita Manabu had read him like a book; if he were being coerced by a girl and things looked like they might get troublesome, he indeed might go.
But.
To let someone like Tachibana Akane coerce him was a bit too much of an insult, wasn't it?
Wait a second.
Hikigaya seemed to remember that this Tachibana person was quite fierce during the Sports Festival, and had blocked him with a very tough attitude when he tried to see Horikita Manabu.
Why did she seem like a completely different person now?
Could it be she was scared senseless by Nagumo Miyabi's methods?
Looking at the constrained senpai in front of him, looking like a startled little rabbit, Hikigaya spoke helplessly.
"Then let's go."
"Yes, Hikigaya-kun, what would you like to eat?"
"Oh, anything is fine."
...
Pallet Cafe.
Hikigaya looked at the cake, coffee, and pasta in front of him and fell into deep thought.
Since it was a "thank you," Tachibana Akane was naturally treating.
But strictly speaking.
This was all money Horikita Manabu intended to leave for him. Does this count as Tachibana's treat, or his own?
Forget it.
In the face of 20 million points, a few tens of thousands of private points was just a small amount.
"Itadakimasu."
Hikigaya used a fork to twirl the pasta into his mouth.
Though it couldn't compare to ramen, he wouldn't voice his opinion during a group activity; as long as it was edible, it was fine.
Watching Hikigaya start to enjoy the food, a smile finally appeared on Tachibana Akane's small face.
"What are you laughing at?"
Hikigaya felt a bit uncomfortable.
Eating here shouldn't require following any special rules, right? He hadn't heard Kobashi Yume or the others mention anything.
"Nothing, nothing."
Tachibana Akane waved her hands quickly and changed the subject: "Um... about those rumors earlier, are you okay?"
"Why do you think they are rumors?"
Hikigaya was somewhat speechless.
Just like Ayanokouji, the two of them shouldn't have met more than a few times.
"President Horikita said you couldn't possibly do such a thing."
"Is that so..."
That guy again.
Before Hikigaya could continue, Tachibana Akane lowered her head and explained softly:
"I also feel that Hikigaya-kun is not that kind of person. It was probably to help Ichinose-san, right?"
"It was to reach Class A."
Hikigaya was a person with a clear goal, always keeping "reaching Class A" on his lips.
"Yes, actually..."
Tachibana Akane nodded, lifted her beautiful eyes to glance at him, and spoke softly:
"This time it was mainly Nagumo who, in order to control Ichinose and stretch his hand into the first-year year, intentionally told her past to Sakayanagi-san. Nagumo just wanted to wait for Ichinose to break down before stepping in to save her."
So that's how it was.
He felt that Tachibana Akane treating him to a meal today was for the purpose of telling him this intel; it should also be what Horikita Manabu intended.
However.
He already had a general understanding of these matters.
"Is he an idiot?"
Hikigaya was truly a bit puzzled: "Thinking he could control Ichinose just with that? Is Nagumo that naive?"
Don't look at how weak the shut-in Ichinose appeared; the Ichinose standing on the podium was super cool.
"I'm not too sure either."
Tachibana Akane shook her head and said: "However, Nagumo has a very high reputation among the upperclassmen girls. Even having dated many girls hasn't affected his evaluation."
"Heh."
I don't want to hear about that. Hikigaya said with some disdain:
"Mostly superficial women who just took a fancy to Nagumo's status as Student Council President, thinking that dating such a guy could raise their own status in the school."
"Being able to use the number of women he's dated as a boastful capital only proves that Nagumo is also a superficial guy."
In all fairness.
That little blonde Nagumo Miyabi did indeed belong to the handsome category, wore perfume, and was a Student Council President who controlled an entire school year.
It wasn't surprising that he would attract those superficial women.
Not worth mentioning.
Damn it.
As expected, normies are all scumbags who like to have improper relationships with girls. Hikigaya considered whether he should take some evidence and report them to the school.
After all.
The school strictly forbade improper relationships; they were just turning a blind eye.
Once it was brought to the surface.
It would definitely give Nagumo Miyabi more than he could chew.
Since he didn't have a girlfriend anyway, he felt this kind of reporting was an option. Hikigaya seemed to have found a way to deal with Nagumo Miyabi.
"Yes."
Tachibana Akane quickly nodded seriously: "I've always felt that Nagumo guy is a total scumbag, always causing us trouble."
Oh.
It seemed that badmouthing someone together was also a way to get closer.
However, since the target was Nagumo Miyabi, Hikigaya didn't mind saying a few bad words about him.
The two of them revolved around Nagumo Miyabi.
Conceited, despicable, hypocritical, willful, acting on his own, and liking to dye his hair blonde—they said a lot of bad things.
Chatting with Tachibana Akane was actually quite pleasant.
After finishing dinner.
"By the way."
Tachibana Akane seemed to remember something and leaned forward slightly again:
"I'm sorry. Before, I always thought Hikigaya-kun was someone who didn't care about the class and only thought about taking shortcuts because you liked being lazy. I had many misunderstandings about you. I'm very sorry."
"..."
Hikigaya felt like he had been insulted.
If the other party were joking it would be one thing, but it felt like Tachibana Akane was being quite serious.
Hikigaya said with some discomfort:
"No, your judgment was quite accurate..."
"That's not it at all."
Tachibana Akane explained quickly, gazing intently at Hikigaya, her voice rising a few notches.
"I understand now. Hikigaya-kun is just like President Horikita; you both silently contribute to the class, standing at the very front of the class alone to protect everyone. You are an existence worthy of respect."
"It's not..."
Hikigaya felt even more uncomfortable; this was worse than being insulted.
"It's just."
"Hikigaya-kun is even more low-key and humble than President Horikita."
A brilliant smile appeared on Tachibana Akane's pretty face.
Whether it was classmates, friends from other classes, or seniors from upper years, this school didn't lack people who could understand him.
"That's too much of an exaggeration."
"No wonder—are you just indirectly calling me someone who likes to hide his strength and show off?"
It was just that Hikigaya still wasn't quite used to it.