Sheep Club.
Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, Himeno Yuki, as well as Shirami Chihiro, Kanzaki, and Shibata came to the club.
Looking at the figures before him, Hikigaya was a bit dazed.
"That... what's going on?"
"Hiki-kun, did something happen between you and Honami-chan?"
Kobashi Yume asked nervously, and Amikura Mako and the others beside her were also full of worry.
Ichinose and Hikigaya.
Their behavior was far too obvious; everyone saw it.
"This..."
Hikigaya suddenly felt a bit awkward.
While he didn't dislike talking behind people's backs, it was probably better not to talk about this kind of thing.
It felt like he was bragging about dumping Ichinose.
It really made him feel bad.
"Nothing much..."
"Sigh..."
Kanzaki, standing on the perimeter, couldn't help but sigh:
"Don't worry, I believe everyone here isn't the type to spread rumors. Ichinose isn't herself right now. If this continues, I'm worried it will affect the exam."
"Yeah."
Amikura Mako sat across from Hikigaya, her face full of worry:
"Hiki-kun, what exactly happened between you and Honami-chan? If you tell us, we can help you with ideas."
"This..."
Hikigaya's gaze was hesitant.
Whether it was Kanzaki or Kobashi Yume and the others, none of them were the type to spread rumors, and Hikigaya truly didn't know how to handle it.
Every time he met eyes with Ichinose.
He felt so awkward he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"It's just..."
Hikigaya explained a bit sheepishly: "Yesterday, Ichinose confessed to me..."
"Eeeeh???"
Before he could finish.
Shibata and the others were shocked, and Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako's hearts skipped a beat.
Ichinose confessed to Hikigaya!
For some reason.
The two girls felt a bit lost.
In the time they had spent together, Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako had also realized.
Naturally, the two were a perfect match; both Ichinose and Hikigaya were capable and kind-hearted people.
There was no thought of anyone being unworthy of the other.
But.
Why did it still feel a bit uncomfortable?
Himeno Yuki, on the side, didn't really mind, as she had already guessed the outcome when she heard about the confession.
This method.
It wouldn't work on a twisted guy like him!
"Wait a second."
Kanzaki frowned, a bit puzzled: "Isn't that a good thing?"
"No..."
Hikigaya became even more embarrassed: "And then... I refused..."
"Eh!?"
Amikura Mako and the others were simply stunned, truly caring about the fact: "That was Honami-chan, you know?"
In everyone's eyes.
Whether it was looks, ability, or personality, Ichinose was beyond reproach—the type who was great both in public and at home.
Probably no boy would refuse a confession from Ichinose, right?
"Somehow."
The pure-hearted Shibata squatted on the floor, hands clutching the edge of the table as he said a bit dejectedly: "I feel quite conflicted."
Even though Hikigaya refused and he should be happy, thinking about the fact that the person Ichinose liked was indeed Hikigaya.
Shibata felt quite down.
And his long-admired goddess had been rejected so decisively.
Shibata felt an indescribable complexity.
"Why exactly?"
Kobashi Yume was truly curious.
He even rejected Ichinose; then she... then Himeno Yuki would have even less of a chance?
"No..."
Feeling everyone's stunned gazes, Hikigaya said helplessly: "What Ichinose has isn't love, it's just gratitude toward me."
"Hold on a second."
Chihiro said with tears in her eyes: "Hiki-kun, you didn't reject Honami-chan like that, did you?"
"Yeah..."
"Hiki-kun..."
Hearing this, Chihiro's tears began to flow uncontrollably: "How could you do that? That's too cruel."
"Yeah."
Gazing at Hikigaya opposite her, Amikura Mako also had a complex expression:
"Hiki-kun, you were really too much."
"Sigh."
Kobashi Yume sighed, her gaze resentful: "I always feel that you're obviously very smart, Hiki-kun, so why do you become so stupid in this area?"
"Eh? Is there a problem?"
The one asking was Shibata, who looked at the others with confusion.
If he refused, he refused.
He really couldn't hear what was wrong; these people were being too much, not even letting someone refuse?
"Yeah."
Feeling the reproachful looks from several people, Hikigaya was also a bit confused.
"Even I should have the right to refuse, right?"
"Sigh."
Kanzaki looked at the two idiots in front of him and sighed, then turned his gaze toward Hikigaya.
"Even if you want to refuse, you can't just unilaterally deny the other person's feelings like that, can you?"
"No..."
Hikigaya said somewhat speechlessly: "But Ichinose really confessed to me out of gratitude, right?"
"I don't know about that."
Kanzaki's expression was flat.
He felt that Hikigaya was an idiot in this regard, just like Shibata.
"I like you!"
"No, you don't!"
Where is the logic in a rejection like that?
"Even if you're going to refuse, at least give a proper reason."
Kanzaki explained somewhat helplessly: "For example, why you don't want to date Ichinose. Is there something about her you don't like, or is there a goal or reason why you can't date for now, or what kind of girls you like, or simply that Ichinose doesn't fit your criteria."
"At the very least, the reason for the rejection should come from yourself, right?"
"Just unilaterally denying the other person's feelings like that—don't you think that's a bit arrogant?"
"Ugh..."
Hikigaya's face stiffened.
Hearing Kanzaki say it like that, unilaterally denying the other person's feelings was as if he were pinning all the blame on her.
It did feel a bit cunning.
Shibata, on the side, was stunned; even rejecting someone was this much trouble.
"Exactly."
Shirami Chihiro clenched her small fists, her eyes red as she stared at Hikigaya.
"Even if you want to refuse, you have to say it properly!"
"That's right."
Kanzaki also looked at the somewhat bewildered Hikigaya and said: "You'd better explain things to Ichinose again. Otherwise, if it affects this exam, it'll be a problem."
"Alright... fine..."
Hikigaya nodded helplessly.
Speaking of which.
Why did Ichinose choose to confess at this time?
Doesn't this affect the exam?
Could it be.
Ichinose is a tactician?
Afterward, Kanzaki and Shibata left the club, but Shirami Chihiro stayed behind, moving her chair to squeeze in next to Amikura Mako...
"Hiki-kun."
Amikura Mako said somewhat helplessly: "I didn't expect you to be such a perfectionist."
"I'm not."
Hikigaya asked with confusion: "You know I'm not good at tidying my room, right?"
"I mean mentally."
Kobashi Yume rested her cheek on her hand, glanced at Hikigaya, and said softly: "This is going to be a problem."
Clearly.
Hikigaya was looking for someone whose soul could perfectly match his own.
But that was simply too difficult.
It felt a bit unrealistic.
"Umm..."
Chihiro said hesitantly: "Hiki-kun, why exactly did you refuse? What is your own reason?"
"My reason..."
Hikigaya's face stiffened, and he shook his head helplessly: "I'll go tell Ichinose tomorrow."
Watching this scene.
Kobashi Yume and the others felt a bit of regret. If they couldn't clear this up, it felt like they couldn't move forward.
Thinking of this.
She couldn't help but look at Himeno Yuki, but she found that the other girl didn't seem to care much.
Himeno Yuki maintained a smile as she listened to their conversation.
No matter who they were.
These people were just too kind; how could they possibly be a match for her!
Even Ichinose.
Could only end in heartbreak before Hikigaya.
On the other side.
In the hallway.
"You could also go comfort Ichinose."
Glancing at the somewhat dejected Shibata beside him, Kanzaki said flatly.
"Hmm?"
Shibata pondered for a moment and shook his head: "That wouldn't be right. Going now would feel like taking advantage of someone's vulnerability. It wouldn't be fair to Ichinose."
"Sigh..."
Hearing this, Kanzaki sighed, patted his shoulder, and looked at him with sympathy: "I feel like you'll be single for the rest of your life."
"Why?"
Shibata was a bit indignant: "I'm not bad-looking, and Hikigaya is the same, isn't he?"
To be honest.
Although he had suspected that Ichinose might like Hikigaya, the fact that Hikigaya would actually reject Ichinose's confession was something Shibata simply couldn't have imagined.
Previously.
He had always viewed Hikigaya as a rival.
Shibata felt like a complete idiot.
To even be able to refuse Ichinose—Hikigaya's standards were far too high. If anyone was going to be single, it should be Hikigaya.
"Do you have his level of strength?"
Kanzaki felt truly sympathetic. This guy was quite outstanding in terms of personality and looks, but he just felt a bit childish.
The key point was that he was so kind. If you aren't single, who is?
"No..."
Shibata suddenly felt even more dejected.
Aside from running fast, he didn't seem to have anything that surpassed Hikigaya.
"What about you then?" Shibata's gaze was a bit resentful. After talking all that, you're still single too.
"I don't have that intention for now."
Kanzaki looked at him dismissively. You want to compare yourself to me?
He said with a calm expression:
"Compared to these insignificant matters, I'm more interested in moving up to Class A with everyone."
Shibata's face stiffened.
He was suddenly at a loss for words.
How were all these people so outstanding?
Was he the only one who wanted a girlfriend?