Time passed.
Ichinose and the others had been preparing for the special exam these past few days. Since it required communication skills, Hikigaya had no room to intervene.
As for the academic part of the exam, there was no need to worry particularly.
Saturday.
Inside the dormitory.
Ichinose was still working hard for the special exam; only Himeno Yuki was here.
She was lying on the bed with a handheld console, playing an adult game with great interest. The thin, white, translucent nightgown she wore was quite eye-catching.
"Um..."
After getting dressed, Hikigaya turned around, his gaze inevitably drawn to her snow-white bottom: "I have something to do, I'm going out for a bit."
"Eh?"
Himeno Yuki sat up in a "duck sit" position and quickly said with excitement: "Then I'll go too, I heard a new movie is coming out."
"No..."
Hikigaya lifted the bag in his hand and said helplessly: "I'm going to the library to return some books to someone, I'll be back in a bit."
"To someone?"
Himeno Yuki looked at the books in his hand and asked in confusion: "Aren't those borrowed from the library? Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Shiina Hiyori from Class B..."
Hikigaya had no intention of hiding it.
Informing his girlfriend of his schedule should be a boyfriend's duty.
He didn't dislike it; in fact, having an extra layer of restraint should help him avoid repeating the same mistakes.
"Alright then."
Himeno Yuki nodded.
As long as it was just normal social interaction, she wouldn't interfere, and a public place like the library should be fine.
"What time did you arrange to meet Shiina-san?"
"Ten o'clock, in about an hour."
"Then do it with me once before you go! Use this position."
Himeno Yuki pointed at the handheld console in her hand, looking eager to try.
On the screen, a completely naked woman was lying on the ground, with two thick arms firmly grabbing her twin tails from behind.
It seemed she had learned quite a lot from adult games.
"This..."
Hikigaya said awkwardly: "Let's wait until Ichinose comes back tonight. I'm leaving now."
With that, Hikigaya quickly left the dormitory.
Watching his departing back.
Himeno Yuki's face immediately fell, and she lay on the bed clutching a pillow unhappily.
Over the last few days, there had been no problems among the three of them.
However, Hikigaya refused to do it with her alone even once.
Even though she was dressed like this.
She just wanted to make Hikigaya happy, but this guy always insisted on waiting until Ichinose returned.
"Prude."
Himeno curled her lips.
She lifted the light gauze at her chest, revealing a glimpse of snowy white skin.
Clearly, it was fine at night, and even Ichinose had agreed to it.
He really was being impossibly prudish.
"Sigh..."
Himeno Yuki let out a helpless sigh.
It still required some time.
The Library.
After returning the book he had borrowed last time to Shiina Hiyori, Hikigaya sat down to kill time.
To be honest.
Although the problem had been resolved.
He had been very happy with Ichinose last time, but he didn't know what kind of attitude to use when facing Himeno Yuki alone.
Should it be the same as before?
Or should he frankly treat Himeno Yuki as his girlfriend as well?
Either way, it felt a bit off.
He could only wait for Ichinose to return; only then would the atmosphere feel more bearable.
"Stare~"
Shiina Hiyori sat opposite him, using a book to block the lower half of her pretty face, revealing a scrutinizing gaze.
"Wh... what is it?"
Hikigaya suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.
Logically speaking.
The other party must have heard the school rumors. It would be perfectly normal if Shiina Hiyori felt disgusted or wanted to reconsider their relationship as book buddies.
"Hikki..."
Shiina Hiyori's ethereal voice carried a somewhat saddened tone:
"You don't look very happy. Is reading with me really such a boring thing?"
"No, how could it be... it's just..."
Hikigaya hurriedly shook his head, but stopped halfway through his sentence.
Dating two people at the same time.
And still wanting to seek the approval of other girls.
That would be far too self-indulgent.
After thinking it over, he decided not to say anything.
"Right, this is the book list I wrote this time."
Hikigaya quickly changed the subject, pushing the written list in front of Shiina Hiyori before letting go.
"Mhm, that's more like it."
Seeing the trace of confusion in Hikigaya's eyes, Shiina Hiyori tilted her head and gave a lazy smile.
Although she wasn't clear on the detailed process.
Hikigaya clearly wasn't the kind of playboy; for him to end up like this, it was likely that he truly felt powerless to change the situation.
Shiina Hiyori understood this well.
She took two books out of her bag while smiling:
"Since there's no other way, you can only face it frankly, can't you? Hiki-kaki, that is your style after all."
"I suppose... you're right..."
Hikigaya managed a forced smile.
Interest.
The matter had reached this point.
He could only face and accept it frankly.
Even though he understood it clearly on a rational level, it was somewhat difficult to accept emotionally.
"Mhm..."
Seeing this, the corners of Shiina Hiyori's mouth curled into a smile:
"Hikki, would you like to come to my room?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya was stunned and quickly shook his head:
"No, I made a promise to someone. I will absolutely never go to a girl's room alone again..."
"I see..."
Shiina Hiyori nodded understandingly.
Most likely.
He had made a promise to that Himeno-san.
Come to think of it.
That Himeno Yuki was quite "despicable." Knowing that such a method would make Hikigaya blame himself, she chose it anyway.
However.
Looking at it from another angle.
This also showed that Himeno Yuki liked Hikigaya to such an extreme extent.
Willing to serve Hikigaya together with Ichinose.
She was quite brave.
"Alright then."
Shiina Hiyori nodded with a lazy smile:
"Then Hikki, can you accompany me to the school building?"
"What for?"
"I'm not telling you. You'll know once we get there! Just tell me if you can accompany me or not?"
"Alright, that's not a problem."
Hikigaya smiled and nodded.
At least.
The school was a public place, so there shouldn't be any danger.
Besides.
Given Shiina Hiyori's personality, she couldn't possibly do anything outrageous. Moreover, she clearly wasn't interested in his private problems.
Shiina Hiyori just wanted to read books in peace.
The lack of pressure actually made Hikigaya feel much more relaxed.
They left the library.
The two walked side by side.
"Maybe you should go first."
Hikigaya hesitated: "I'll follow behind you, or just tell me the destination and I'll head there first."
After all.
His reputation in school right now had likely hit rock bottom.
Being with him.
Would very likely affect Shiina Hiyori's own reputation.
"Eh? I don't really mind."
Shiina Hiyori looked at the pedestrians by the street and tilted her head:
"However, in this school, it's impossible not to interact with anyone for the remaining two years. Hikki, are you trying to escape?"
"True..."
Hikigaya took a deep breath.
With special exams existing, it was impossible to avoid contact with others forever.
Running away might not be shameful.
But when running away cannot solve the problem or make it disappear.
One can only face it.
Fortunately.
Shiina Hiyori didn't care about these things.
Come to think of it, she was always able to simplify complex problems.
Shiina Hiyori really was amazing!