As the old proverb goes:
When a man steps out of his house, he faces ten enemies!
What this means is:
One must remain vigilant when going out!
There was no helping it.
Today was March 14, White Day.
Whether it was obligation chocolate or true feeling chocolate, boys who received chocolates needed to give a return gift on this day.
More importantly...
Hikigaya sat on the edge of his bed, looking down at his phone screen.
[Karuizawa: Tomorrow morning at nine, in front of Palette in Keyaki Mall. Don't forget you're buying me a super expensive return gift tomorrow.]
[Karuizawa: Hmm? I saw the read receipt. Where's the response?]
[Hikigaya: Understood...]
It seemed there indeed was such a thing.
Back when he had Karuizawa spread the rumors, they had indeed agreed on an expensive gift as a reward, and Karuizawa would get to choose it herself.
"Sigh..."
Hikigaya sighed, changed into his windbreaker, and left the dorm.
Favors are indeed the most troublesome.
He also had to buy return gifts for Sakura Airi and the others. He wouldn't be able to rest today either.
Leaving the room, Hikigaya warily scanned his surroundings.
This school was terrifying; he even needed counter-surveillance skills just to attend.
Most importantly, Sakayanagi had proactively come looking for him yesterday; she definitely had some scheme.
There are always villains out to get me!
I must be more careful!
Keyaki Mall, Palette Cafe.
Hikigaya stood outside the door for a moment, then decided to find a seat in the fast-food restaurant across from it.
The same move doesn't work on a Saint twice.
Based on his understanding of Karuizawa, this girl would likely be about half an hour late.
As for why he chose this fast-food restaurant instead of the Palette Cafe across the street—Palette always gave off an atmosphere that forbade single men from entering.
Just like a girl entering a ramen shop alone, it required courage.
Hikigaya decided not to ruin that atmosphere. He rested his chin on his hand and looked through the window at the cafe across the street, activating his "human observation" skill.
Since it was the weekend, few students wore uniforms.
However, there were quite a few young people at Keyaki Mall.
It made sense.
With the end of the school year approaching, both first-years and upperclassmen likely had their respective special exams.
But even so, it was still the weekend.
Few students would insist on training on their day off; most were probably like him.
At most, they'd be a bit more serious in PE class.
When it's time to play, they play.
However, perhaps due to White Day, the number of couples on the road felt a bit higher than usual, which was quite an eyesore.
A short while later, a girl wearing a blue off-the-shoulder dress appeared in his vision. Her legs, as fair as lotus roots, were bare. It was Karuizawa Kei.
She carried a canvas bag, looked around in confusion, and then checked the time on her phone.
Putting her phone away, Karuizawa cupped her small hands and blew out a white breath, then rubbed her hands together.
It couldn't be helped.
It was still March, and the weather still carried a hint of chill.
Dressing like that, it would be strange if she weren't cold.
She was the perfect example of choosing style over warmth.
Hikigaya was quite surprised. He checked the time; he didn't expect her not to be late!
Seeing this, Hikigaya quickly stood up and walked over to Karuizawa.
"Ah..."
Seeing Hikigaya suddenly appear before her, Karuizawa put her hands on her hips, sounding a bit angry:
"Why are you late! Didn't we agree to meet here at nine?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya felt quite awkward.
Now it had turned into him being the late one.
"I thought you'd be late, so I was sitting over there..."
"I see..."
Karuizawa's face flushed red, and she bashfully toyed with a lock of hair by her ear.
Perhaps her previous lateness had left Hikigaya with a bad impression.
That couldn't be helped.
Time was just too tight.
She had to do her makeup and change her clothes properly.
"Alright, let's go in."
Hikigaya quickly changed the subject: "Aren't you cold dressed like that?"
"Eh? Oh..."
Karuizawa nodded, her face turning even redder. She quickly turned and walked into the cafe. As she thought, dressing like this today was the right choice!
Only then did Hikigaya dare to step into the cafe. The two found seats and sat down.
"So..."
Hikigaya said helplessly: "What do you want for a return gift? It has to be under 100,000 points. Or I can just transfer the points to you and you can buy it yourself, how about that?"
Though they hadn't signed a formal contract, Karuizawa really did help a lot last time. The reward should be given. He just hoped it could be resolved with personal points.
"I don't want that."
Karuizawa immediately glared at Hikigaya with dissatisfaction.
"Didn't we agree you'd accompany me all day today? It's still early. Let's go watch a movie and have lunch first, then go pick out a gift in the afternoon! And you're paying for everything!"
"Did I agree to that?"
Hikigaya's face stiffened; he couldn't remember the details anymore.
"Yes, you did!"
Karuizawa remembered very clearly: "You also said any number of conditions would be fine. You agreed to a million conditions, and this is only the... third or fourth!"
Hikigaya squeezed out a smile.
It looked like he had talked big back then. But such things shouldn't be taken literally; at most, he'd just treat her for this one day.
Anyway, his budget was within 100,000.
"Fine."
Hikigaya sighed helplessly: "But if we do this, won't you be troubled if people see the two of us together?"
"Eh? Why?"
"Aren't you dating that guy named Hirata?"
"I already told you it's fake."
Karuizawa pounded the table with her small fists, getting even angrier:
"And we broke up a long time ago. It caused quite a stir at school. Why didn't you know?"
"I never heard about it."
Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
Honestly, why did he have to know? Did this girl think she was an idol?
"Forget it."
The sooner this was over, the sooner he could go home. Hikigaya quickly stood up:
"If you don't care, then there's no problem. Let's go."
"Then we're going to the movies first!"
Karuizawa quickly stood up and hurried to Hikigaya's side.
Cinema.
Looking at Hachiman, who stood before her with his hands in his pockets, Karuizawa's gaze was resentful.
"What are you still standing here for?"
"Hmm? What?"
Hearing this, Hachiman withdrew his gaze from the poster he was looking at and asked, somewhat dazed.
"The milk tea and popcorn! Aren't you going to buy them yet?"
Karuizawa pointed unhappily toward the milk tea shop nearby...
It was agreed that Hachiman would pay today, so why was he standing there like a blockhead?
"Oh, oh..."
Hachiman finally realized, hurriedly ran to the milk tea shop to buy two cups of milk tea, then bought two buckets of popcorn and returned.
After all, these were rewards for Karuizawa, so he really should be the one paying. But if this girl wanted a drink, why didn't she just say so?
"Here."
Hachiman held the popcorn buckets with half his hand while his pinky hooked the milk tea bags, handing them to Karuizawa.
Watching Hachiman balancing popcorn in both hands with milk tea cups dangling from his small fingers, Karuizawa couldn't help but clutch her stomach and laugh out loud.
"What's with you? You look like you're about to attain Buddhahood."
"Do you want them or not?"
Hachiman's face darkened. Holding them like this was quite tiring, okay?
Was it really that funny?
Was Karuizawa's sense of humor really that low?
"Sorry, sorry."
Karuizawa finally took the milk tea. Feeling the temperature, she was a bit surprised.
"It's actually hot. I didn't expect you to pay attention to details like that?"
"I guess so. After all, there's Komachi at home."
Hachiman explained indifferently, while lifting his hand to signal that she still hadn't taken the popcorn.
After all, Komachi never drank ice water.
Most girls were probably the same.
Moreover, Karuizawa was wearing so little today; she probably wanted something hot to drink.
"You hold the popcorn for now."
Karuizawa tugged on Hachiman's sleeve and pointed toward a poster on the wall with the hand holding her milk tea.
"I want to watch this one."
On the poster, a man and a woman were embracing; it was likely a romance movie.
"Oh."
Hachiman looked indifferently at another poster. "Then I'll watch this one. We'll meet back here when they're over."
"Uh..."
Turning to stare at Hachiman, Karuizawa was instantly stunned.
"Eh? What?"
Hachiman was also a bit confused.
Previously, they were always in group activities of more than two people, and others were paying, so he naturally didn't voice any opinions.
But today he was alone with Karuizawa.
And he was the one paying.
He didn't want to waste money watching a movie he didn't like.
"Sigh... fine."
Karuizawa couldn't help but sigh, turning her gaze aside.
He was quite handsome, but perhaps it was because of this personality that Hachiman remained inconspicuous at school.
Because of this, Hachiman hadn't been snatched away by other girls, and it was her turn.
"Not allowed!"
Karuizawa didn't actually have an objection, saying somewhat triumphantly: "You must serve me for the whole day today! It has to be all about me! You must watch this one with me!"
"That's too overbearing..."
Hachiman was a bit dumbfounded.
Even if it was a reward for Karuizawa, wasn't this a bit too tyrannical?
"Alright, let's go."
Karuizawa conveniently hung her bag around Hachiman's neck and pushed him toward the counter to buy tickets.
Hmph.
The clever Karuizawa already knew how to deal with him.
Clearly powerful, yet kind-hearted enough not to bully girls—this kind of "host" was truly the most suitable for her.
A smile couldn't help but appear on Karuizawa's lips.
Since Hachiman said there was nothing wrong with a parasite's way of life, then she would cling to him.
And suck him dry!