School building.
"Let me take this back."
Kushida Kikyo picked up the bag from the ground and held it in her arms.
"Yes, then I'll trouble you with that."
Hachiman couldn't help but nod.
This was Karuizawa's bag, so it should naturally be taken back by her classmate, Kushida Kikyo.
"Um."
Kushida Kikyo asked with some hesitation: "Can I ask a question?"
"I don't have the power to stop you, but whether I answer is not certain."
Hachiman finished speaking in a muffled voice and turned to walk toward the dormitory building.
"Hikigaya-kun"
Kushida Kikyo asked with some confusion: "Did you really not know at all that Karuizawa and Sakura and the others liked you?"
"Sakura?"
Hachiman stopped his footsteps and glanced at her.
It wasn't just Karuizawa; there was also Sakura Airi? When did he become such a popular character?
"I see..."
Kushida Kikyo couldn't help but nod.
He really didn't know at all; this guy is truly a dummy.
"So?"
"How does it feel to be liked by so many beautiful girls?"
Kushida Kikyo walked alongside Hachiman and teased him.
She was truly curious.
In the past, Hachiman might not have cared about the evaluations of those around him, possibly because of some unbearable past.
But now.
After experiencing the feeling of being trusted and liked by others.
How would he handle it?
And.
When it was beautiful girls like Karuizawa and Sakura Airi, it was impossible for his heart not to waver even a little, right?
Even though she knew that asking such a question at this time might draw Hachiman's resentment.
But Kushida Kikyo was truly curious.
What exactly would this person, who was once the complete opposite of her, be thinking now?
However.
Hachiman did not respond.
Why should he tell Kushida Kikyo these things? He was currently in a bad mood.
He didn't expect that dating Ichinose.
Would come with so many troublesome things. Even though he hadn't done anything, he always felt a bit sorry toward Karuizawa and Sakura Airi.
It was truly a headache.
Seeing this.
Kushida Kikyo, holding the bag in her arms, said:
"If you don't want to say, then forget it. However, Karuizawa might have left this bag here on purpose, hoping that you would return it to her; perhaps there's still a chance to salvage things."
"Is that so?"
Hachiman stopped, looking at the bag in her arms with some daze.
"It's just a guess, just a guess."
Kushida Kikyo smiled nonchalantly: "But, as a girl, I feel the probability of that is very high. So, Hikigaya-kun,what are you going to do?"
"You should still be the one to return it to Karuizawa; she probably hopes it will be that way."
As a fellow girl, Kushida Kikyo could guarantee it.
Karuizawa definitely thought so.
One could see how much she truly liked Hachiman; even knowing that Ichinose and Hachiman were dating, she still held on to this sliver of hope.
As long as Hachiman returned the bag and said a few sweet words.
Maybe he could even "have his feet in two boats" and get Karuizawa to voluntarily become the "other woman."
However.
This would probably be difficult for Hachiman.
But as long as he showed up and gave Karuizawa a sliver of hope, with her performance just now, she probably wouldn't give up so easily.
She might even directly start a war with Ichinose.
"So, Hikigaya-kun, what do you want to do?"
"Do nothing."
Hachiman glanced at Karuizawa's bag and turned away to leave.
Setting aside whether Karuizawa had such a scheme.
Even if.
What Kushida said was true.
Hachiman would not do it.
He would go to help Sakura Airi and Karuizawa only because both had similar traits—they were too weak and made one want to help.
This was likely a common trait of being an older brother.
There were no feelings beyond that.
While it made him feel a bit guilty and somewhat worried.
But since he had already reached this point with Ichinose, he couldn't get involved in ambiguous relationships with them anymore.
This was the best choice for Ichinose, for Karuizawa, for Sakura Airi, and even for himself.
Fortunately.
They were not in the same class.
If they wanted to rise to Class A, they would sooner or later be competitors.
This way was for the best.
Only.
What would happen to Karuizawa's position in Class D?
If people knew about her behavior today, she would surely become the laughingstock of the class.
That would likely be absolutely unacceptable to Karuizawa.
But.
Why did she still...
Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it now.
"Um..."
Hachiman couldn't help but speak: "Kushida-san, could I please ask you to keep today's events a secret? It would be best if you could also tell Sakura and the others."
"Eh?"
Kushida Kikyo was suddenly stunned: "You've already refused them; I believe Ichinose wouldn't have any thoughts about it either. Is this to prevent Karuizawa from making a move?"
"Well, I guess so."
Hachiman couldn't help but nod.
There really wasn't a more suitable reason.
"Hikigaya-kun is truly a good person."
Kushida Kikyo couldn't help but sigh.
Even at a time like this, Hachiman was still considering things for Karuizawa; he really was a gentle, good person.
But this kind of gentleness.
Was truly a bit of a problem.
No wonder Karuizawa would like him to this extent.
Kushida's expression was a bit complex as she said:
"However, by taking care of her like this, are you treating Karuizawa as a sister?"
"It can't be helped."
Hachiman said somewhat helplessly: "People with younger sisters are all like this; it's just a habit."
"I'm an only child, so I don't really understand."
Kushida Kikyo turned her head to look at him and said with some emotion: "No girl likes being treated like a sister."
"..."
Hachiman did not respond.
Clearly, he had done nothing, yet he always felt like he had done something wrong; was there some kind of bug in this world?
...
Returning to the dormitory.
"Sigh."
Hachiman lay on the bed and let out a tired sigh.
So it was.
Having someone point at your nose and tell you not to be gentle was actually even more painful than being taken care of gently by someone.
At the start of the school term.
Ichinose must have felt this way too.
It was a wonder she was able to endure it.
And Himeno Yuki seemed to like him too; what was going on over there?
Speaking of which.
When did he ever become such a popular character? Why didn't they ever say anything?
Isn't that making it very difficult for someone?
So it was.
Being loved by so many people is also such a heavy burden.
Damn it.
Every time he thought of Karuizawa's teary-eyed appearance.
Hachiman felt a strange sense of debt toward her; he then randomly wanted to slap himself—didn't he also feel a bit of a debt toward Ichinose now?
No matter how he thought about it.
He always felt like he owed people something.
Is there some kind of bug in this world?
How can such a thing exist?
However.
This should be correct.
He had already reached this point with Ichinose; these things were unavoidable now, and he could only say sorry to the others.
Damn it.
What was so good about a person like him? Why did so many people like him?
It clearly wasn't like this in junior high.
It would have been better if they had just ignored him like they did in junior high.
That would actually feel better.
Hachiman tossed and turned on his bed, feeling an inexplicable irritability.
He wondered if Kushida and the others would help keep the secret.
They probably would, right?
Airi Sakura and Haruka Hasebe were two loners; they didn't seem like the type to gossip.
Furthermore.
Karuizawa would probably be kind to them as well.
If because of him.
Karuizawa was forced to repeat her past and be bullied again.
What should he do then?
Will that girl Karuizawa really be okay tomorrow?
Should he discuss it with Ichinose to help her?
Could Karuizawa accept that?
What if the two of them started fighting?
Carrying a head full of questions, Hachiman involuntarily fell into a deep sleep.
.