Deep breath.
Standing outside the door.
Ichinose's face was full of anxiety; she was very worried about Himeno Yuki's current state. After waiting for nearly ten minutes, the door finally opened slowly.
What greeted her was Himeno Yuki's somewhat haggard, pretty face and her slightly red eyes.
Looking at this scene.
Ichinose relaxed slightly.
Although it seemed Himeno Yuki had liked Hachiman from a long time ago, since she hadn't confessed for so long, this feeling probably wasn't that deep.
At least.
Currently, Himeno Yuki's state looked okay; this matter hadn't caused her too much of a blow.
"Eh?"
"Why is Honami-chan here?"
Himeno Yuki forced a smile and asked.
Naturally, she had made preparations.
At least.
She couldn't lose too pathetically.
Even if she were to leave, she had to go gracefully.
Fortunately, Ichinose didn't yet know about her liking Hachiman; she just had to pretend as if nothing had happened.
"Um."
"I was a bit worried about Yuki-chan's state."
"So I thought I'd come and see."
Ichinose took a deep breath to adjust her emotions.
This matter.
Wasn't a question of who was right or wrong.
After all, Himeno Yuki hadn't confessed to Hachiman, so it was only natural and reasonable for her to date Hachiman.
However.
Facing this companion who had a crush on Hachiman for a long time, Ichinose still felt a bit of a debt.
At least.
She had to say a proper sorry to Himeno Yuki and help her pull herself together.
"Is that so."
Himeno Yuki forced herself to maintain the smile.
She really didn't want to see Ichinose right now.
"I'm fine, I've already felt better after resting for a day, and I can go back to class tomorrow, so Honami-chan doesn't need to worry."
"That's good then, let's go in and talk."
Seeing Ichinose walk straight into the dormitory, Himeno had no reason to stop her, as her persona in class was like that.
The two of them arrived in the bedroom.
Fortunately.
The room had already been cleaned up by Himeno; she believed Ichinose wouldn't randomly go through her trash can for no reason.
"I'll go make some tea for you."
"I'll do it instead, Yuki-chan should sit down and rest first."
As she spoke.
Ichinose walked into the kitchen familiarly.
The girls were quite close and visited each other often; coming to Himeno Yuki's dormitory was like coming to her own home.
Of course, Ichinose's dormitory was also open to the girls.
In the bedroom.
Himeno held the black tea in her hands, sitting at the low table with her gaze lowered.
She really didn't want to look at Ichinose opposite her and truly wished she would just leave quickly.
However.
Ichinose was, after all, just coming to worry about her health.
Even if she thought that way in her heart, Himeno Yuki couldn't show it; she could only keep her gaze down to prevent Ichinose from seeing her expression.
She tried her best not to look so pathetic.
"I'm sorry, Yuki-chan."
Just then, Ichinose said with some guilt:
"I didn't know before that you also liked Hikki."
"Eh?"
Himeno Yuki couldn't help but look up, quickly squeezing out a smile to cover it up: "How is that possible? Ichinose, who did you hear that from? How could I possibly like Hikki?"
"Eh?"
Ichinose was also a bit stunned.
She felt that today's Himeno Yuki seemed a bit off; usually, she was the type to listen silently.
Even if she didn't like something.
Yuki would mostly just shake her head tactfully to indicate a negative.
She had never seen Himeno Yuki so urgently want to deny something.
"Yume told me."
Ichinose said with a slight hint of confusion: "Could it be that I misunderstood?"
"Is that so..."
Himeno Yuki lowered her gaze and silently clenched her fists.
She didn't expect it.
Kobashi Yume, out of her own concern, had told Ichinose; so she already knew.
Then what was Ichinose here for?
Was she here to show off?
"That..."
Seeing Himeno Yuki lower her head as if in silent admission, appearing somewhat dejected, Ichinose pursed her lips and asked:
"Yuki, can you tell me, since when did you start liking Hikki?"
"Saying these things now is meaningless."
Himeno Yuki kept her head down, her mouth a bit bitter, trying her best not to let herself lose so pathetically.
Since when?
It might have been at the start of the school year.
Seeing that Hachiman could actually be blunt and honest with Ichinose was truly admirable; that was something Himeno Yuki could never do.
It might have been from that time.
She had secretly fallen for Hachiman, which was why she helped him pick clothes and went shopping with him.
Even when she was mocked by Hachiman.
That genuine side of him still made her feel happy.
But.
All of that was meaningless now.
Unable to see Himeno Yuki's expression, Ichinose was slightly hesitant.
Regardless of Himeno's feelings, it was only natural that she wouldn't want to talk about this topic.
But.
She still really wanted to know.
How did Himeno Yuki actually feel about Hachiman?
Depending on the situation.
She might have caused irreparable harm to Himeno Yuki.
"I'm sorry."
Ichinose's expression looked troubled.
"I didn't expect things to turn out like this; I didn't consider Yuki's feelings at all today."
"It's not like that, after all, you didn't know before, Honami."
Himeno Yuki lowered her gaze and couldn't help but clench her fists.
Yeah.
She didn't know, so it couldn't be helped.
"Is that so."
Ichinose gave a heartfelt sigh of relief.
It seemed.
Himeno Yuki's feelings for Hachiman weren't that deep; perhaps it was just a young girl's admiration for someone strong.
In that case.
Himeno should be able to adjust her mindset soon.
Otherwise.
Ichinose really wouldn't know how to handle it.
Strictly speaking.
Although both were gentle.
Hachiman himself was somewhat introverted, and Himeno Yuki was also the gentle type who didn't speak much.
Liking someone.
Was naturally everyone's freedom.
But their personalities were really hard to call compatible.
For the three of them.
This outcome might be the best ending.
Only, seeing Himeno Yuki's dejected look, Ichinose really couldn't set her mind at ease.
"Yuki-chan,there's no need to be that sad; Yuki-chan,you are so pretty, your personality is kind, and your grades are so good, you can definitely find someone more suitable."
Himeno Yuki didn't respond, her gaze lowered, and her small clenched hands trembled slightly.
Seeing this.
Ichinose was also a bit helpless.
Although Himeno Yuki was a kind person, her personality was simply too introverted.
She rarely shared anything with them, always preferring to endure things alone in silence.
But.
It wasn't a big problem.
Usually, if help was needed from Himeno Yuki, she would readily agree without a single complaint.
Helping each other and supporting each other.
Only then.
Could they have reached this point.
As long as she moved her gaze away from Hachiman, she believed Himeno Yuki would also soon pull herself together.
"Yuki-chan"
Seeing that Himeno Yuki wasn't speaking, Ichinose volunteered: "If you don't mind, we can help introduce someone to you; like Shibata, and there are many excellent seniors in the upper grades too, do you want to..."
"What is this supposed to be?"
Himeno Yuki suddenly looked up to stare at Ichinose in front of her, unable to endure it any longer.