Behind the school building.
Approaching dusk.
The sunset cast long shadows of the teaching building.
Hikigaya leaned against the wall with his shoulder bag, glancing at the passage beside the building.
Under the glow of the sunset.
The asphalt road outside the shadows looked like a branding iron being scorched, seeming like two different worlds from the shadows here.
By the way.
Why hasn't Ichinose arrived yet?
It seemed Miyabi Nagumo's student council was also a "black company" that surely required frequent overtime.
Just then.
A long shadow appeared in his peripheral vision.
Hikigaya straightened up slightly and walked over with his hands in his pockets. Honestly, there was no need to choose this place just to discuss the exam, right?
It was truly too troublesome.
Suddenly.
Ichinose's figure appeared around the corner. She was clearly startled, her shoulders even trembling.
"Hikki..."
"Oh."
Hikigaya responded dismissively.
He had been watching the changes in the shadow; there was no way they would collide.
Staring at Ichinose, whose pretty face was flushed by the sunset, Hikigaya said casually:
"What do you want to discuss? By the way, I don't have any effective opinions for this exam."
"Um..."
Ichinose held her chest with her left hand, and her right hand couldn't help but scratch her pink-blonde hair, seemingly not yet having recovered from the fright just now.
"That, sorry, did I scare you just now?"
Hikigaya nodded with a bit of apology.
It shouldn't be like this; there were still three body lengths between them. Could she really be scared to this extent?
"No, no, uhm..."
Ichinose scratched her hair anxiously and began to mutter softly.
"I thought it would be easier to say out loud..."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
Hikigaya was somewhat confused; her voice was so low he wondered if he had misheard her just now.
"Nothing, nothing."
Ichinose waved her hands hurriedly. Feeling Hikigaya's gaze, her pretty face flushed even more.
She took a deep breath, placed her hands in front of her, and bowed.
"Hiki-kun, I like you. Will you go out with me?"
Hikigaya's head felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. For a moment, his brain stalled. Then, reacting, he quickly glanced around the rooftop.
This shouldn't be some kind of prank, right?
Or maybe a game of Truth or Dare?
No, no, no.
Ichinose wouldn't do something like that!
Hikigaya knew this well—she was serious. Looking at the bowing Ichinose who was watching him, he suddenly became flustered.
Although Ichinose was very beautiful, he did not like her.
It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Ichinose.
He just couldn't accept it.
"Don't joke around..."
Hikigaya forced a smile and said, "If you say such casual things, I might accidentally end up liking you."
"I'm serious!"
Ichinose looked up quickly. Her beautiful eyes, like sapphires, couldn't help but well up with tears. She had already guessed the answer.
Reading between the lines, it was already a rejection.
However.
She still wanted to keep listening, or perhaps try to fight for it.
"That..."
Looking at the tears that couldn't help but overflow from Ichinose's eyes, Hikigaya began to panic. He couldn't stand seeing a girl's tears.
He had clearly expressed a tactful rejection.
Normally, with Ichinose's grades, it would be impossible for her not to understand; her feelings were genuine.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya grew even more flustered.
His mind searched everywhere for a new reason, a more suitable excuse.
However.
In this closed-off school.
No one could provide him with an excuse.
He had to face it alone.
This sincere heart had to be treated with sincerity.
"Of course, it's not that I dislike you, Ichinose."
Hikigaya raised his hands slightly, wanting to comfort her, but explained with some uncertainty:
"Rather, it's an honor to be liked by a girl like you. This might be the only chance I have in my life. If I refuse, I'll definitely regret it later, but..."
By the end.
Even Hikigaya himself didn't know what he was saying.
But there was one thing.
He was very clear on it.
Hikigaya stared at the ground, and his expression calmed down.
He said somewhat bitterly:
"But... Ichinose, this feeling you have for me isn't love. It's just a kind of gratitude. You really don't need to do this."
"I only helped you because I couldn't stand by and watch. Besides, you are very important to Class B. Thinking of ways for the class is just a duty everyone in the class should fulfill."
"This kind of gratitude is really not necessary."
"So... I'm sorry..."
Hikigaya finished speaking with his head lowered.
He was very clear.
Ichinose's feelings for him weren't love; she was just thankful that he lent a hand when she needed it most.
However.
He had just taken it upon himself to do a few things. He had never acted solely for Ichinose's sake.
Winning someone's favor by taking advantage of their vulnerability.
This kind of emotion.
He would rather not have it.
There was no response for a long time.
Hikigaya couldn't help but look up.
He saw two lines of tears flowing from the corners of Ichinose's eyes as she stood there, face covered in tears.
Watching this scene.
Hikigaya felt even more awkward, not knowing what else to say.
After a long while.
"Then... I'll leave first..."
Hikigaya spoke tentatively. Seeing that Ichinose did not respond, he walked past her and left the school.
It wasn't until he had walked some distance away that Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
Back in middle school, he used to frequently misunderstand and confess to girls he had barely spoken to.
He was even called "Narcissist-gaya."
However.
At some point.
He no longer looked forward to those "shallow" things mixed with impurities; he wanted something "genuine" without a single speck of impurity.
Just like Class B.
No matter what difficulties they faced.
Everyone would gather closely around Ichinose.
She held that "genuine thing" in her hands.
Moreover.
A relationship started out of temporary gratitude.
If he were to agree just like that.
Ichinose would likely regret it in the future, and that would also be unfair to her.
On the other side.
After Hikigaya left.
Ichinose remained where she was, Hikigaya's words still echoing in her ears.
She asked herself.
Did she like Hikigaya because of gratitude?
Ichinose was somewhat unable to refute it.
She knew clearly.
Yes!
But.
Is there something wrong with liking someone because of gratitude?
Ichinose really couldn't understand why he was always so demanding regarding emotions.
Things you like should be said properly; only then can you possibly get what you want.
However.
Hikigaya didn't seem to like her.
Thinking of this.
Ichinose leaned against the wall, half-squatting on the ground, covering her cherry-pink lips as she let out unwilling sobs. Her tears were already flowing like a burst dam.
As it turns out.
How fast her heart was beating just now was how much it hurt now.
Ichinose clutched her chest and breathed heavily, feeling as if her heart were being torn apart.
She really, really liked him.
But... why...