At the Bowling Alley.
"Then that counts as my win."
Hachiman held the bowling ball, looking a bit proud at the Karuizawa in front of him.
Even though he hadn't played before, crushing a beginner was no problem.
"18 to 15."
Karuizawa folded her arms and turned her face aside. "Only three points higher than me; what are you so proud of?"
"A win is a win."
Hachiman explained, still proud. "Anyway, besides today, you owe me a meal. No problem, right?"
Their match could only be described as a battle between two weaklings.
But a victory was a victory.
Hachiman was very happy to enjoy this "free" fruit of victory.
"Fine."
"I'm unwilling, but let's leave it at that for now."
Karuizawa bit her nail, appearing unconvinced.
But inside, she was already blooming with joy.
If one hint didn't work, she'd just do it a few more times. Taking down Hachiman was simply too easy!
"Good."
Hachiman lifted his chin proudly and looked around. It was nearly 3 PM, and more and more people were coming to the bowling alley.
Moreover, most were staff members of Advanced Nurturing High School.
One must never underestimate the sorrow of salarymen.
Reasonably speaking, they were already members of society and shouldn't have so much free time. Furthermore, they were mostly men and were all walking toward a certain room.
"What is that room for?"
Hachiman looked at the room nearby, puzzled. Many people didn't seem to have any intention of bowling.
They simply entered and exited, which was quite baffling.
"I don't know..."
Looking at the flowing crowd, Karuizawa shook her head, but then her eyes lit up.
"Could it be a hidden shop?"
"Hmm?"
Hachiman was stunned for a moment.
Besides the ramen shop, the school had indeed added many hidden shops; he just hadn't paid much attention to them.
He hadn't expected a shop to be placed in such a location.
It truly was a surprise!
"Go check it out?"
The two shared a look, and Karuizawa was a bit excited.
Since she often wandered around Keyaki Mall, she had found several hidden shops, including many new cosmetic shops, clothing stores, nail salons, and so on.
Every time she found a new popular shop, she could become the center of conversation among students!
"Oh, let's go see."
Hachiman was also somewhat excited. The two followed several middle-aged men into the room.
What they saw was a shop already packed with people, though it was relatively quiet inside as everyone was slurping ramen.
The sign read "Toranoana."
Finally found it!
"Eh?"
Karuizawa was instantly disappointed. "Why is it a ramen shop? What a waste. Why does the school open so many ramen shops?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Hachiman glared at her:
"What do you mean 'waste'? The hidden shops were added primarily for the ramen shops; the other stores are just extras!"
"Liar."
Karuizawa immediately glared back, giving Hachiman a start.
"I know very well! They added a total of five clothing stores, five accessory stores, some snacks, desserts, and only two ramen shops. Clearly, the ramen shops are the extras."
Ever since the school announced the addition of hidden shops, many girls had been extremely excited.
Finding a new shop would make one the center of gossip, and Karuizawa knew this very well.
When school started, they all thought this school was already perfect.
They hadn't expected the school could still make such reforms; many girls were extremely impressed.
"Uh..."
Hachiman said with a bit of a guilty conscience: "I was the one who proposed this motion. It was originally to add ramen shops."
It seemed he really couldn't refute her.
His original intention was clearly to add more ramen shops!
He didn't expect that there would be more other shops than ramen shops, most of which were opened for girls.
Dammit.
Men's spending power really is lower than a dog's. When will they ever stand up!
"Hmm?"
Karuizawa was stunned. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Anyway, my intention was ramen shops. The school probably just wanted to provide surprises and make you spend more private points."
Hachiman said with some disdain. This school was simply despicable and shameless; they poached his idea and didn't even give him a bonus.
Even "black-hearted" companies weren't this bad.
He could guarantee it.
The school just wanted the students to spend more money!
To live a good life, one had to desperately pursue private points—the so-called "meritocracy" (ability supremacy).
"Hmm?"
Karuizawa's eyes widened.
She sized Hachiman up but didn't doubt whether he was lying.
After all, she could just ask an upperclassman in the Student Council and find out easily.
However, she hadn't expected this.
She had been very impressed by the school's reforms, and now she discovered the owner of the motion was right in front of her.
"If you're so excellent, why don't you join the Student Council?"
Karuizawa placed her hands behind her back, feeling a bit moved. She had really found a treasure.
"Idiot."
"Didn't I already say?"
"I proposed the motion for my own selfish interests; it has nothing to do with being excellent. Besides, why should I join the Student Council to serve others?"
Hachiman glanced into the shop, more concerned with the ramen shop before him. "So, what now?"
The shop's location had been found.
He still had to follow Karuizawa to buy return gifts today, so it didn't matter if he came back later. But after some exercise, seeing the ramen shop made him feel hungry again.
"Hmm..."
Karuizawa looked at the ramen shop filled with "greasy" middle-aged men, then at the expectant Hachiman.
"Do you really like ramen that much?"
"I guess so."
Hachiman nodded proudly. "At the same price point, there is no food in the world more delicious than ramen!"
"What is there to be proud of?"
Karuizawa complained speechlessly, then glanced at the ramen shop again. After a moment of hesitation, she said:
"Then let's go in and try it?"
"Is that okay?"
Hachiman gazed at the girl with some doubt. "You look like you really don't want to go in. If you say that, I'm going to take it seriously."
"It's fine; after all, you're here."
Karuizawa shook her head nonchalantly.
Even though she really didn't want to be surrounded by "greasy" middle-aged men, she felt that with Hachiman there, there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Alright, let's go."
Hachiman also knew it was inconvenient for a girl to enter such a shop alone, so he nodded and led the way.
Karuizawa hurriedly grabbed the hem of his clothes, following behind like a wounded little rabbit.
She was a girl with past trauma, after all.
Only in such a completely strange environment would she show this side of herself.
Since it was the first time, Hachiman didn't ask and just ordered her a bowl of clear broth ramen, assuming she wouldn't know what to choose.
They found a table to sit at amidst the crowded bar counter.
Soon, the waiter brought two bowls of ramen to them.
Karuizawa didn't act coy like other girls and took a bite directly; her eyes instantly lit up.
"How is it?"
Hachiman said proudly: "Not bad, right?"
"What do you have to be proud of? You didn't make it."
Karuizawa gave him a pretty eye-roll, but she understood the feeling of showing off something one liked.
Though this guy was very smart, he occasionally showed a childish side like this.
Still, it really was delicious.
Watching Hachiman enjoy his ramen, Karuizawa couldn't help but smile.
For some reason, seeing Hachiman happy made her even happier.
"Next time let's go find that other hidden ramen shop. I'll treat you then!"
"Oh, no need. I already know where that Tenkaippin is."
Hachiman said nonchalantly, causing Karuizawa's face to fall.
Dammit.
Clearly he was attentive in many areas, so why was he always such a blockhead in situations like this?
Karuizawa's gaze became even more resentful.