After school.
Today, Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, and the others didn't come to the Volunteer Club. Hachiman didn't care much; they didn't come every day anyway.
Strictly speaking.
Neither of them were members of the Volunteer Club.
When the club time ended.
It was also exactly when the Student Council work finished.
At the school building entrance.
"Um... Honami, aren't you going to Himeno's place?"
Seeing Ichinose leaning against the wall, Hachiman quickly walked up a few steps.
Up until now.
The fact that Himeno Yuki liked him might be true.
In the past, helping him buy clothes and giving him a back brace might have been expressions of her liking him.
While he was grateful for Himeno Yuki's feelings.
However, now.
Since he was already dating Ichinose.
Hachiman wouldn't involve himself with Himeno Yuki; at most, he would apologize to her later and perhaps look after her where he could.
Although it felt like Himeno Yuki didn't really need him to look after her anyway.
Today.
He would let Ichinose go and speak with Himeno Yuki first.
Between two girls.
It would likely be more convenient.
"Yeah."
Ichinose took Hachiman's arm and they walked toward the school gate.
"But, I still want to walk this part of the way home with you."
"Oh, true."
Hachiman couldn't help but nod.
It was only a ten-minute walk; walking together didn't really have much significance.
However.
He could already appreciate Ichinose's desire to be together.
He really wanted to stay in the room with Ichinose every day.
Just as they reached the school gate.
The two saw several people standing there.
Karuizawa Kei, Sakura Airi, Hasebe Haruka, and Kushida Kikyo.
Their gazes simultaneously fell on Hachiman's arm; Ichinose seemed to want to lean her whole body against him.
Looking at the scene before them.
The result was already self-evident.
Seeing tears welling up in Sakura Airi's eyes, Hasebe Haruka couldn't help but sigh and tug at her sleeve.
In this case.
There was no point in asking anymore.
To keep asking.
Would only make things difficult for their side. Turning and leaving would be the best outcome for Sakura Airi.
However.
Karuizawa, with red-rimmed eyes, walked up to Hachiman.
She stared directly into his eyes.
"I have something to say to you, come here for a moment."
"Hmm?"
Looking at Karuizawa's red eyes, it felt like she was about to cry.
Could it be that Ryuuen had done something to her, or that she had run into some other trouble?
Hachiman frowned with a serious expression:
"Did something happen?"
As soon as he spoke.
The tears in Karuizawa's eyes fell uncontrollably down her face; she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and turned to glare intently at Ichinose.
"I have something to say to him. Ichinose, please leave for a moment."
"..."
Ichinose looked at her, then looked at Sakura Airi and the others behind her, and finally looked at Hachiman before nodding.
"Alright then, Hikki, I'll head back first."
"Ah, okay."
Hachiman paused for a moment before nodding.
If Karuizawa had something going on, it would indeed be better to keep it private.
Giving Karuizawa one last look.
Ichinose walked past Hasebe Haruka and the others.
Although the other two weren't clear, Karuizawa and Sakura Airi obviously liked Hachiman.
However.
There was nothing to worry about; Hachiman was trustworthy enough.
At Kushida Kikyo's suggestion.
The group went to a corner of the campus.
"Um... what exactly is this about?"
Hachiman asked with confusion, looking at the four girls in front of him.
However, no one responded; only Hasebe Haruka looked back at him with a look of disdain.
To be a blockhead to this extent.
It was truly rare.
It was really a miracle that Ichinose would date Hachiman.
If it were Sakura Airi and Hachiman together, the two would probably just stand there in a daze.
The group reached the corner.
With Kushida Kikyo's help.
Karuizawa finally wiped her face clean of tears, clenched her fists, and turned to stare at Hachiman.
Her cold tone held a hidden trace of expectation.
"Hachiman, are you dating Ichinose?"
"..."
Hachiman's face immediately turned red.
Why did these gossipy people always like to ask such questions? Wasn't it obvious? They really didn't have the observational skills of the people in his class.
He said:
"Well..."
Hachiman stammered somewhat embarrassedly: "It's already more than just that kind of relationship."
He might not "like" Ichinose in that way yet, but he wanted to take responsibility for her.
Just as Ichinose said.
Let time prove that this relationship can stand the test and become a "genuine" thing that lasts forever.
Hearing his words.
Tears flowed down like a burst dam, and her vision became blurred. Karuizawa quickly wiped the tears with her sleeve, her voice choking:
"Tell me, did Ichinose threaten you? Why would you date her?"
"Um..."
Hachiman also felt something was wrong and said hesitantly: "Are you okay?"
"Answer me!"
Karuizawa glared at Hachiman through teary eyes.
Suddenly.
He was startled.
Although he had heard girls say words that seemed like they could freeze a person, what was with this crying while being aggressive?
Why did this feel even more terrifying than a cold, heartless rejection?
Hachiman stammered.
"It wasn't exactly a threat..."
The moment those words came out.
Karuizawa could no longer control herself, and her tears became even more uncontrollable.
So it was.
It wasn't a threat.
They had just naturally started dating; there was no more room for excuses.
Thinking of this.
She repeatedly wiped the corners of her eyes with her palms.
Her voice was choked with sobs:
"Why... why... you clearly said it, you clearly promised."
Didn't he say.
If she had any problems, she could come to him to discuss them.
Didn't he say.
He agreed to her "one million conditions."
He clearly approved of her being a parasite; he should have taken responsibility for protecting her for a lifetime.
Why would he still date Ichinose.
Beside them, Sakura Airi was momentarily dazed, looking at Karuizawa with even more surprise.
Originally.
She thought she already liked Hachiman a lot.
But.
She didn't expect Karuizawa would cry like this; she clearly liked him much more deeply.
Perhaps.
Between Karuizawa and Hachiman.
There was some interaction they didn't know about.
Although she was equally sad, Sakura Airi suddenly felt that her own "liking" might be quite shallow.
Whether it could compare to Ichinose's, she didn't know.
But it definitely couldn't compare to Karuizawa's.
"Um... are you okay?"
Hachiman looked at Karuizawa and asked with some heartache.
He didn't know how to handle girls' tears; this was the first time he had seen a girl cry like this in front of him.
"How could I be okay."
Hearing this.
Karuizawa looked up at the blurred Hachiman, almost as if she were screaming from the bottom of her throat.
"I like you, didn't you know? And, you clearly promised, why do you still want to date Ichinose?"
"..."
Hachiman was suddenly a bit dazed: "I didn't promise anything, did I?"
While Karuizawa's past was indeed worthy of sympathy.
But he.
At most, told Karuizawa that if she had anything, she could talk to him, and he'd do his best to help.
He should have made any guarantees, right?
Karuizawa was suddenly flushed red with frustration.
But she still had red eyes and a choked voice.
"Break up. It's impossible for you to like Ichinose; can you break up with her?"
Karuizawa knew clearly.
It was impossible for Hachiman to fall in love with Ichinose; it was likely that despicable woman who made the first move.
"Sorry, I can't do that."
Hachiman said somewhat awkwardly.
He had never considered that Karuizawa would actually like him; when did he ever become such a popular character?
But breaking up with Ichinose.
That was definitely impossible; while he couldn't say he loved her, he couldn't say he hated her either, and he had to take responsibility for Ichinose.
Karuizawa bit her lip, tears falling uncontrollably as she stared at the Hachiman in front of her.
Only the sound of sobbing echoed in this corner from time to time.
Kushida Kikyo and the others beside them didn't know what to do anymore; this was that strong Karuizawa.
This was the first time they had seen this side of Karuizawa.
It was truly quite unsettling.
Sakura Airi looked at Karuizawa with some envy; she was really brave.
The long silence.
Finally, Hachiman couldn't bear it anymore, pulled out a tissue and held it out to Karuizawa.
"Anyway, wipe your face first."
"Go away."
Karuizawa slapped away the tissue in front of her and cried out with some resentment.
"If you don't like me, then don't be so gentle to me! What's so great about someone like you? I hate you the most."
Having said that.
Karuizawa threw her shoulder bag at him, then ran toward the school gate with her arm covering her face.
"This..."
Hasebe Haruka couldn't help but tug at Sakura Airi; the two looked at each other, then gave Hachiman a glance before turning to leave with some hesitation.
The matter was settled.
Though the reason was unknown.
Karuizawa seemed to have liked Hachiman to an irredeemable degree.
Their own feelings clearly couldn't compare.