On the street leading to the school.
Hikigaya sat on a bench, savoring a black coffee, watching the occasionally passing students with a flat expression.
"What is that guy doing?"
"Lower your voice, it seems to be Hikigaya from Class B."
"Well, what is he sitting there for? He's about to be late, right?"
"Keep it down. I heard the first-years are holding an exam to forcibly select a dropout. There's probably no point in that guy going to school anymore, is there?"
"Is that so? Then doesn't he deserve it?"
"Hee hee."
As expected.
Quite a few people were heading to school at this time.
Two girls covered their mouths and giggled at each other as they walked past the street in front of him; the news of the first-years' special exam had likely already spread throughout the entire school.
"Morning, Hikigaya-kun."
Just then, Asahina Nazuna suddenly walked over and sat on the bench, putting her arm around Hikigaya's shoulder to greet him.
"What are you doing?"
Hikigaya's expression instantly stiffened. He hurriedly moved two spaces outward, forcing a distance between himself and the other person.
The atmosphere in Kyoto is truly strange.
Why do these girls like to have physical contact with boys at the drop of a hat? It's very easy to cause misunderstandings, okay? Girls in Chiba are much more reserved.
"Ara..."
Asahina Nazuna's expression suddenly turned a bit playful.
"Don't you like threatening girls? Why are you still so afraid of me? Besides, I saw it, you know. You just made Honami cry."
"That was..."
"That was just Ichinose's sense of responsibility being too strong. She felt a bit guilty about making me drop out, that's all. It wasn't me who made her cry."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Asahina knit her beautiful brows.
"What exactly have you been doing this past year? Do you think Ichinose is the kind of person who would casually abandon a comrade?"
"No..."
Hikigaya naturally knew she wasn't.
"But, this time we first-years must forcibly select one dropout. There's nothing she can do about it, and the decision she made was correct."
"That's true."
Asahina Nazuna couldn't help but nod. This was indeed a choice of no other alternative.
"Your Class B has saved up a lot of private points. She should have told you all about filling the shortage of points to save the dropout, right?"
"Wait a minute."
Hikigaya tilted his head to look at Asahina, asking with some confusion:
"How do you know Class B has saved up a lot of private points?"
Even though...
Everyone in Class B knew, no one should have been talking about this kind of thing recklessly. How did this upperclassman senpai know?
"Eh?"
Asahina Nazuna tilted her head, her gaze toward Hikigaya becoming even more puzzled.
"Didn't Ryuuen put a note in the mailboxes last time, suspecting Ichinose of obtaining a large amount of private points through improper means? Although the school later explained it wasn't improper, didn't the whole school find out about this?"
"Oh..."
Hikigaya took a sip of black coffee with some embarrassment.
When did that happen?
How is it that I, a member of Class B, didn't know?
In that case.
It was probably something that happened and was resolved within a day or two.
That's why it didn't cause much of a stir.
"Then there's nothing that can be done."
Hikigaya said somewhat defensively: "Class B is still short quite a few private points. It's basically impossible to borrow them."
"Six million, right? It is indeed quite a lot."
"Huh?"
The way Hikigaya stared at Asahina was somewhat horrified.
How does this person know everything?
She even knows exactly how much money Class B is missing.
Could it be she really can read minds?
"Yes, I can read minds."
Feeling his horrified gaze, Asahina showed a somewhat proud smile.
"Scared now?"
"So, how did you know?"
Hikigaya was somewhat speechless.
Do you really take me for an idiot?
How could mind reading actually exist?
"Tch."
Asahina puffed out her cheeks.
"She seems to have asked Miyabi for help. What do you think that guy answered?"
"It's Nagumo?"
"Correct."
"..."
Hikigaya immediately frowned.
The third-years and second-years must both prepare for future special exams.
Before graduation.
They shouldn't have the spare capacity to give private points to the first-years; that's what Horikita Manabu did.
It's not strange to seek help from Nagumo Miyabi.
After all, Nagumo Miyabi controls the entire second year, and it's heard he has already secured graduation from Class A.
The richest person in the entire school is likely Nagumo Miyabi.
He indeed has the spare capacity to support the first-years.
But.
With Nagumo Miyabi's hypocritical and petty personality, he probably wouldn't lend private points easily.
Moreover.
During the rumor incident last time.
Nagumo Miyabi also wanted to use that to control Ichinose.
Hikigaya had a bad feeling and frowned.
"What kind of excessive condition did that guy propose?"
"Eh?"
Asahina leaned her delicate body back, becoming a bit disgusted.
"You really are too much. Is Miyabi such a despicable person in your eyes? That's President Nagumo, who is loved by everyone among the upperclassmen."
After all.
The two of them seem to be classmates, and they even call each other by their given names.
Clearly, they have a good relationship.
It's normal for Asahina to feel displeased when hearing bad things about her friend.
"Oh, sorry."
Hikigaya quickly lowered his head and followed up with a respectful attitude:
"What was Senior Nagumo's condition?"
"Pfft~"
Asahina couldn't help but burst into laughter, waving her small hand lightly.
"Don't be so nervous. Miyabi is just a despicable, hypocritical, and childish brat."
"..."
Hikigaya was truly speechless. Who was the person who made me nervous just now?
By the way.
Isn't this person's relationship with Nagumo very good?
"Because we are childhood friends, there's no helping it."
Mind reading! Asahina can read minds!
"The request Miyabi made seems to be for Honami to date him, and only then will he lend you six million private points."
"Scumbag."
Hikigaya couldn't help but speak out.
He originally thought Nagumo Miyabi was just a hypocrite who liked to use some despicable means, but he didn't expect him to be a scumbag to this extent.
Utilizing Ichinose's kindness and her inability to abandon her comrades.
Using such semi-coercive means to force Ichinose to date him.
And he's still just lending the money?
He is simply the trash among scumbags.
"How about it? Do you think Ichinose will agree?"
Asahina Nazuna rested her cheek on her hand, observing the Hikigaya in front of her as she asked.
"..."
Hikigaya lowered his head and did not respond.
With Ichinose's personality, she would probably agree.
He already knew Ichinose was very kind, but he didn't expect her to be kind to such an extent.
If.
The exam proceeded normally.
The person who would be expelled would undoubtedly be Hikigaya Hachiman.
Yet.
Ichinose actually wanted to choose self-sacrifice for such a person. It was simply the height of stupidity.
Not only does Ichinose have a lively and cheerful personality.
She is also very beautiful and possesses extremely high popularity in the school.
Without a doubt, she is a member of the school's top tier.
How could his value compare to Ichinose's chastity? Not even a single hair could compare; there was simply no comparison to be made.
Hikigaya seriously suspected.
Whether there was something wrong with Ichinose's brain. Could this person actually be an idiot?
Can she not even perform such a simple weighing of pros and cons?
For some reason.
Hikigaya felt a bit angry.
How could someone in the world cheapen themselves so easily, choosing self-sacrifice for a person like him?
Too stupid.
"Angry?"
Asahina sat next to Hikigaya, pulling him into an embrace, and spoke softly in his ear.
"If Miyabi and Honami start dating, then Hikigaya-kun, why don't you date me instead?"
"Is there something wrong with your brain?"
Hikigaya was startled and quickly stood up to put distance between them.
"Eh?"
Seeing this, Asahina twirled a strand of hair by her ear with her finger, feeling somewhat speechless.
"And you're supposed to be the one who coerces girls? I'm very popular among the upperclassmen, you know. Plus, I've never had a boyfriend; even Miyabi hasn't laid a hand on me. What are you dissatisfied with?"
"You're sick."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless and quickly turned to leave.
The two of them had only met a few times; clearly, she was teasing him, or using this as a reason to threaten him into helping Ichinose.
He didn't care what kind of relationship existed between Nagumo Miyabi and Asahina, or what relationship existed between Ichinose and Asahina.
In short.
Ichinose actually chose self-sacrifice for a person like him.
It was simply too stupid.
There was no way Hikigaya would agree.
Watching Hikigaya's retreating back, Asahina rested her cheek on her hand and watched him disappear into the distance.
I really wish Nagumo Miyabi could learn a thing or two from this guy.
Aside from being a bit awkward, he has a sense of responsibility, is upright, and feels like he would be very loyal.
He's simply a treasure.
If someone were willing to sacrifice everything for them, there probably isn't a woman who wouldn't be moved.
In Asahina's eyes.
The rumors from a while ago were simply cool. If it were her, she probably would have fallen for him right then and there.
As expected.
The childhood friend cannot win against the one who falls from the sky.