After class.
Hikigaya followed Shibata to a corner, with Kanzaki and several other boys standing nearby.
"Hikigaya."
"What exactly is going on?"
Shibata hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice.
Neither Ichinose, Hikigaya, nor Himeno Yuki were bad people.
Himeno Yuki, in particular, had a gentle character and usually didn't speak much in school; how could she possibly intervene in the two's business?
But.
Shibata's brain was overloaded, and he truly couldn't figure it out.
It wasn't just him.
Kanzaki and the others beside him were also full of confusion; it was just that for now, there seemed to be no major issues, so they weren't as concerned as Shibata.
"I want to know too."
Hikigaya shook his head somewhat bitterly: "You're asking so vaguely, I don't know how to answer."
In the eyes of outsiders.
It was probably hard to imagine that Himeno Yuki would do anything forceful.
"Then answer me first."
Shibata's face was flushed and he was stammering a bit: "The... the three of you being together, who proposed it first?"
"Honami..."
"Then what about Himeno?"
Shibata held his head, which felt like it was about to explode, and said with some headache: "Was she the one who agreed first, or was it you who persuaded her?"
"Himeno..."
I'll be...
Kanzaki and the others on the side were somewhat shocked.
Two girls chasing one guy, and even agreeing to be together.
Good grief.
They didn't doubt Hikigaya was telling the truth; they could just cross-check the answer with the girls later.
"Hiss..."
Shibata's face twitched as he said with some anger:
"Then what about you? Why didn't you refuse? No matter how you think about it, you should have refused this kind of thing. You said yesterday you would take responsibility for Ichinose; are you worthy of Ichinose?"
"Yeah, that's my problem..."
Hikigaya said somewhat bitterly: "There's no other way anymore..."
"No other..."
Shibata had not finished speaking.
Kanzaki whispered a few words in his ear.
Shibata opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, and finally slumped his shoulders as if his energy had been drained.
"I just feel, suddenly, it's quite meaningless... I'm going back first."
With that.
Shibata turned around and left.
"Sigh."
Kanzaki looked at the somewhat dejected Hikigaya and patted him on the shoulder.
"Since it's happened, there's no way around it. You just have to face it properly. As long as it doesn't affect the class, it's not a big deal. Anyway, I will bless you all. As for Shibata's side, leave it to me."
With that.
Kanzaki and the others turned and left, and several boys secretly gave him a thumbs up and winked.
Hikigaya was even more helpless.
In the eyes of other boys, this might be a very happy thing.
...
On the other side.
The girls in the class gathered together, surrounding Ichinose and Himeno Yuki.
Hearing that Hoshinomiya Chie had expressed it was no big deal, most of the "good girls" had reluctantly accepted it, though they still felt somewhat conflicted in their hearts.
"Sigh..."
Ando Sayo let out a sigh, looking at the smiling Ichinose with a hint of helplessness.
"Honami-chan, you really did this of your own free will?"
"Yes."
Ichinose's pretty face still carried an innocent smile: "Didn't I just say it? I feel that as long as everyone can smile, that is enough."
"..."
Ando Sayo exchanged glances with Tsube Hitomi and the others.
They all felt somewhat helpless.
Ichinose was kind to such an extent; she was completely selfless, even willing to share the things she cherished most with others.
However, the group then turned their gaze toward Himeno Yuki, their expressions becoming even more complex.
Even if Ichinose was kind, you couldn't just accept it so naturally, right?
Himeno Yuki was clearly a kind and gentle person too—how could she suddenly do something so unethical?
Yet, Himeno just kept her head down, acting timid and remaining silent.
She withered when there were too many people around.
"I think I can understand."
At that moment, Kobashi Yume pursed her lips and nodded: "If you fall in love with someone, you want to give them everything."
"Is that so?"
Ando Sayo looked over, somewhat puzzled.
"No, no, no." Kobashi Yume shook her head flusteredly: "It's just a feeling, just a feeling."
"Fine."
Tsube Hitomi turned to Himeno Yuki with a curious expression: "Then Yuki-chan, when did you start liking Hikki? I didn't notice it at all before."
"Me neither, I couldn't tell at all."
Amikura Mako and the others were also curious.
After all, Himeno Yuki rarely spoke; they only just discovered that this girl liked Hikigaya too.
"Since the start of school..."
Himeno Yuki lowered her head and responded in a low voice, secretly tugging at Ichinose's pleated skirt. She was really bad at dealing with these situations.
After all, she felt a bit guilty.
She had already said she was fine with being the "third wheel," but being questioned by friends like this was too difficult to bear.
"That's right."
Ichinose also nodded with a smile: "I was very surprised when I first found out about it too. I only then realized Yuki had liked Hikki all along."
"Love at first sight?"
Ando Sayo and the others were stunned. Seeing Himeno Yuki nod made them even more excited, though it was mostly Ichinose doing the responding.
Himeno Yuki couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. They were in Class C and felt no malice.
Even if there were some doubts, Ando Sayo and the others wouldn't say anything too harsh. At most, they would offer their blessings.
"So, Honami-chan."
The topic shifted as one girl asked excitedly: "To what stage have you and Hikki progressed? Have you kissed? What does it feel like?"
"Eh? We've already done everything we should do."
Ichinose spoke up generously.
She didn't feel there was anything to hide; after all, everyone here was one of their own.
"Huh? Yuki too?"
Seeing Himeno Yuki nod, Ando Sayo and the others were instantly shocked.
"Isn't this a bit too fast for you guys?"
Himeno Yuki and Ichinose's faces turned bright red.
It was indeed a bit fast.
But thinking back on that feeling, it didn't seem fast at all.
"Kya~"
One girl squealed, her face flushing: "How does it feel? I heard it's supposed to be very comfortable."
"Yes."
"Don't be like that, exactly how comfortable is it?"
A girl grabbed Himeno Yuki's hand and asked. Since a moment ago, it had actually been Himeno Yuki responding; it felt like she wanted to talk about it even more.
"I can't really explain it clearly either."
Himeno Yuki couldn't suppress her desire to brag. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly as she whispered: "It feels like my mind goes completely blank. I can't think of anything. It's like being in heaven."
"Kya~"
Several girls listened with blushing faces, yet they still wanted to hear more.
"So, is Hikki's... the same as in the movies? How long is it?"
"This long..."
Himeno Yuki was embarrassed but still gestured slightly with her hands. Feeling the amazed gazes of everyone, she became even more smug.
"Liar."
"That's almost thirty-five centimeters, how is that possible?"
"It's true."
Himeno Yuki gestured again, her face flushed as she said: "If you don't believe me, ask Ichinose."
"Yes."
Seeing Ichinose nod, Ando Sayo and the others became even more excited, chattering away. At their teenage age, they were naturally curious about these things.
"Um..."
Just then, Kobashi Yume spoke up with some hesitation: "Honami-chan, Yuki-chan, as long as you're happy, I think it's fine. But what do you plan to do later?"
"Eh? Yume, what do you mean by that?"
"It seems Sakura-san also likes Hikki. If other girls pursue Hikki in the future, Honami, what will you two do?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent and turned to look at Ichinose.
That's right.
Even if they didn't care now, it was mostly because Ichinose and Himeno Yuki were already very close.
But what about the future?
There was also that girl from Class D who liked Hikigaya. If she also asked to join, would Ichinose accept her too?
"Uh..."
Ichinose's face stiffened, and then she lowered her head.
When the three of them were together yesterday, she found that she didn't seem to hate it; in fact, she was quite happy.
But what about the future?
Would she have to share Hikigaya again?
Could she really stop others?
"At least..."
Ichinose thought for a moment and showed a smile: "At least they have to be a kind-hearted person, right?"
"Uh..."
Kobashi Yume and the others were left speechless.
They couldn't tell if Ichinose actually liked Hikigaya or not.
If you say she likes him, she is willing to share him with others.
If you say she doesn't, she doesn't mind everyone serving him together.
It was truly hard to tell.
Beside her, Himeno Yuki was speechless, her gaze becoming sharper as she kept her head down.
She couldn't rely on Ichinose; she was too unreliable.
She would have to rely on herself.
Those "vixens" from Class D needed to be stopped by her.
Fortunately, it wasn't that difficult. As long as she could stop them from using forceful methods, she didn't need to worry about Hikigaya's side.
She wasn't as kind as Ichinose.
Trying to steal her man?
In their dreams.