On the other side.
A physically and mentally exhausted Hikigaya lay on the bed.
The shock Karuizawa brought him today was not small.
If it were like before, just being met with cold eyes or a cold rejection, Hikigaya would have been a bit sad but wouldn't have taken it to heart.
He was like that.
Only.
Crying and cursing like that.
While liking him, she also said she hated people like him the most.
It really made Hikigaya feel a bit bad.
Although he didn't know what exactly he had done wrong, the feeling lingered in his heart for a long time.
However.
Before he could fall asleep.
He was startled awake by a doorbell.
"Phew."
Hikigaya quickly sat up and took a deep breath.
His spare room card had long been taken by Ichinose in the name of being his wife; of course, Ichinose also gave him her spare room card.
If it were Ichinose, she would definitely have come in directly.
Who was it this time?
Hikigaya arrived at the entrance and opened the door with some impatience, having been frustrated by Karuizawa's scolding.
He then saw Himeno Yuki standing outside the door in her wine-red school uniform, her eyes still a bit red.
"Move!"
Himeno Yuki gave him a push, walked straight into the room, and closed the door.
Seeing this guy made her heart feel annoyed.
If it weren't for Hikigaya.
She and Ichinose wouldn't have become like this.
This guy was the culprit.
Even more hateful was.
He had let Ichinose see her true side.
So annoying.
"That..."
Hikigaya followed Himeno Yuki back to the bedroom and said guiltily: "Honami should have gone to your place, right?"
Speaking of which.
This girl seemed to like him too, and Hikigaya felt a real headache coming on.
He finally understood what was meant by "the hardest thing to accept is the grace of a beautiful woman."
If Himeno Yuki was like Karuizawa and put on a show like that just now, his heart might not be able to take it.
Too scary.
He only now realized.
These people were much more terrifying than his junior high classmates; they weren't even on the same level.
"Sit down."
Himeno Yuki said coldly, pointing to the edge of the bed with a chilled tone.
"Oh, okay..."
Hikigaya quickly and honestly sat on the edge of the bed, hands on his thighs, back straightened, posing properly.
He felt it was better not to provoke Himeno Yuki right now.
To be honest.
If Himeno Yuki wanted to give him a beating, Hikigaya felt he could honestly accept it.
Just don't do what Karuizawa did.
That was really unbearable.
He felt it might become a shadow he could never erase for the rest of his life.
"That..."
Hikigaya was careful not to provoke her: "How did your talk with Ichinose go?"
Speaking of which.
Where was Ichinose?
Didn't she go to talk to Himeno Yuki?
How come only Himeno Yuki came over? What was he supposed to do?
However.
Himeno Yuki didn't respond at all, only staring coldly at Hikigaya, which immediately made him feel even more guilty.
"I'm not a good person; I like to lie, I'm stingy with money, I have no taste—Himeno, you completely deserve someone better."
"..."
Himeno Yuki still just stared coldly at Hikigaya.
Yeah.
Why did she fall for this guy?
He wasn't even that handsome; in terms of looks, Hikigaya was only ranked eleventh in the grade.
His grades weren't very good either.
He couldn't even compare to classmates like Shibata and Kanzaki.
Not to mention his social skills.
He was worse than an elementary schooler.
And his personality was so timid, being careful even when talking to girls; he was actually afraid of a girl like her.
But.
This was the real side of Hikigaya.
Himeno Yuki only now realized: why did she disdain those flaws of Hikigaya before?
He didn't hide his flaws at all and was completely unconcerned with the gaze and evaluation of those around him.
Wasn't it because of these flaws that she fell for Hikigaya?
Moreover.
Although he usually lied, slacked off, and was slippery, he was very reliable at critical moments and had more responsibility than ordinary boys.
Just like right now.
As long as he was dating Ichinose.
There was absolutely no room for anyone else to intervene.
As a boyfriend.
He was simply too reassuring.
Why hadn't she been a bit more direct before? If she had, the person standing in front of Hikigaya now should have been Ichinose.
Damn it.
Thinking of this.
Himeno Yuki walked to him with a cold face; Hikigaya quickly closed his eyes tightly, ready to take a beating at any moment.
He only now realized.
As long as she didn't cry and shout like Karuizawa.
Taking a beating was actually an easy thing.
Just then.
Feeling a forceful push, Hikigaya, whose body lost control and was somewhat panicked, quickly opened his eyes.
What he saw was.
Himeno was straddling his waist, her rounded legs under the white pleated skirt gripping his waist tightly.
"What are you doing..."
No matter how strong Himeno was, he was still a boy after all; however, just as Hikigaya wanted to break free, he couldn't help but freeze in place.
What met his eyes was.
Himeno's small delicate nose was slightly red, her gaze was as sharp as a blade, yet two lines of tears were falling uncontrollably from her face.
"Just a Hikigaya."
Himeno Yuki sat on top of him, constantly tearing at Hikigaya's shirt, her voice gritted yet choked up.
"You're clearly just a Hikigaya, a mere Hikigaya, what's there to be so arrogant about? If I want to, I can do it at any time; don't look down on people."
As she spoke.
Himeno Yuki cupped Hikigaya's face and pressed her lips forcefully onto his.
Hikigaya's eyes widened.
He instantly felt his head go blank, and his mind was in chaos.
So.
Karuizawa's crying and shouting wasn't the most intense.
This being fierce, crying, and forceful.
What did it all mean?
Feeling Himeno Yuki's unpracticed movements, while tears soaked his face, Hikigaya's hands froze at his sides.
He really didn't know what to do.
...
The next morning.
Hikigaya hadn't slept all night, staring blankly at the ceiling.
He clearly wanted to be responsible to Ichinose.
However.
At the critical moment, he could do nothing; he simply couldn't push away the tearful Himeno .
It was undoubtedly a betrayal of Ichinose.
Only.
Hikigaya still couldn't understand even now; Himeno Yuki's movements were clearly unpracticed and it was obviously her first time, yet she desperately wanted it again and again.
Did she like him?
But he was already dating Ichinose, and Himeno Yuki clearly knew that, so why did she do such a thing?
Did Ichinose know?
Did she hate him?
Impossible, right? Then why did she do such a thing?
Hikigaya really couldn't figure it out, so he asked somewhat blankly.
"Why did you do such a thing?"
"..."
Himeno Yuki sat on the edge of the bed with her back to Hikigaya, putting on her school uniform, not letting him see her expression, her voice somewhat raspy as she spoke.
"For no reason. I do it because I want to. Is it any of your business?"
After all.
She had cried and screamed all night.
It would be strange if her voice wasn't hoarse.
After speaking.
Himeno Snow put on her clothes and got up to leave, her body swaying and her steps stumbling as she nearly failed to stand steady.
"Are you okay?"
Hikigaya quickly stood up and asked.
However.
Himeno didn't even turn her head as she walked toward the exit. Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed in the room.
Ichinose appeared before the two of them, taking in the scene.
The room was filled with a scent she knew all too well. Several crumpled tissues were scattered randomly on the floor, and Hikigaya sat on the bed without any clothes on.
What had happened.
There was no need for further explanation.
Ichinose turned her gaze toward Himeno Snow. The two looked at each other, neither being the first to speak.