Palette Cafe.
The two found a booth and ordered coffee. Hikigaya, who was no longer the man he used to be, sat in front of Tsubasa Nanase.
He wasn't constrained; women were just like that. They were indeed scary, but as long as they didn't cry or make a scene, a cold rejection was nothing.
Tsubasa Nanase sat opposite him, her expression appearing slightly dejected.
"I'm sorry, Hikigaya-senpai, for bothering you again."
"It's fine, I'm free most of the time."
Hikigaya sat opposite her and said indifferently: "So, is there something?"
"Hikigaya-senpai should already know."
Tsubasa Nanase pursed her lips and said with some complexity: "Senior Ayanokouji has completed a pairing with Hosen from our class. I've had a little contact with Senior Ayanokouji these past few days, and he feels like a cloud of mist, making one feel eerie."
"Well, I thought as much."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently. Although he didn't know what had happened, this was likely the judgment most people had of Ayanokouji.
"The main thing is..."
Tsubasa Nanase covered her pretty face, speaking with a look of pain: "I've thought about it carefully these past few days, and I realized that what I wanted to do was just for my own peace of mind—just to vent my nowhere-to-go anger and frustration on someone... I'm such a selfish person."
"???"
Hikigaya was somewhat dazed. He had noticed last time that Nanase's small-scale methods had no meaning other than giving herself peace of mind. But wasn't that obvious? Did she only realize it now?
However, at least it showed that Tsubasa Nanase was no longer stuck in a dead end. It should be a good thing. Gambling one's life for a brief moment of peace of mind—is it worth it?
Hikigaya wasn't sure either, but looking at it now, Tsubasa Nanase's determination wasn't very firm.
"Hikigaya-senpai, what on earth should I do..."
"Even if you tell me these things..."
Hikigaya glanced at her, feeling even more helpless. He wasn't even clear on the details of the incident; he only knew that Tsubasa Nanase seemed to want the big shot standing opposite Ayanokouji to apologize. Naturally, it wasn't easy to say anything.
As for whether Tsubasa Nanase was selfish—clearly not. Otherwise, she wouldn't feel guilty or pained by her own thoughts.
"It's true. I'm sorry for saying unnecessary things."
Tsubasa Nanase wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and then realized that the other person knew nothing about her affairs. Being able to sit here and listen to her complaints was already rare and precious.
However, thinking about her contact with Ayanokouji a few days ago, that guy seemed to have no sense of pain at all; it was truly eerie. And, realizing that she might be doing something meaningless just to give her soul comfort, Tsubase Nanase really didn't know what to do. She just wanted to vent her frustration and anger on others, and she even felt some loathing for herself like that.
"That... Hikigaya-senpai, can you listen to me for a bit?"
"If it's just listening, there's no problem, but I might not be able to give effective advice."
Hikigaya nodded, listening as Tsubasa Nanase recounted her past. She had a childhood senior who was cheerful, outstanding in strength, and worth looking up to, until he was kicked out of his home in high school and forced to drop out to start working.
It wasn't a rare thing; there are quite a few people who don't finish high school. Based on Tsubasa Nanase's description, such a cheerful, strong, and talented senior wouldn't have found it very difficult to find a job to make ends meet, even after dropping out.
If he worked hard enough, attending a private university wouldn't have been impossible either. However, such a senior suddenly hung himself on February 14th.
"Later, I learned from someone that the reason Eiichiro's life was twisted—the cause of everything—was because Kiyotaka Ayanokouji escaped from the White Room facility and enrolled in this school."
"White Room?"
Hikigaya was a bit dazed: "I'm sorry, I don't know much about this facility."
"Mhm, actually, I don't know much about the White Room either."
Tsubasa Nanase pursed her lips, clearly not knowing much, and said with some bitterness: "I only know that the person in charge of the White Room is Ayanokouji's father. Originally, I wanted to make Ayanokouji drop out and then have his father apologize to Eiichiro."
"It's just that I've only now realized that what I wanted to do was just vent my inner anger to find peace."
"Hikigaya-senpai, what on earth should I do?"
"I see..."
Hikigaya rubbed his somewhat aching temples. To be honest, the information was temporarily so large it made his head ache. Although he had known for a while that Ayanokouji's background might be very large—even a national-level figure. But the person who wanted Ayanokouji to drop out was actually his own father?
And Tsukishiro was actually on his father's side? What is all this? Then who is the big shot standing on the opposite side of Tsukishiro? Why help Ayanokouji as well? Is it some kind of family ethics drama?
Forget it. I really don't understand the brain paths of these politicians. To actually have national-level leaders develop a disagreement over him; I just need to know that Ayanokouji isn't someone to be offended.
As for Ayanokouji's father, naturally, he is even more someone not to be offended. To be honest, for a national-level leader, wanting to drive an ordinary person to a dead end and suicide is simply too easy.
This matter is not Ayanokouji's fault; it's all the fault of Ayanokouji's father. Tsubasa Nanase clearly understood this too. She wanted to contact Kiyotaka Ayanokouji first to judge whether he was good or bad. Only by being a bad person could Tsubasa Nanase make up her mind.
But for an ordinary person to want to take revenge on a national-level leader? Unless they can open the limiters in their body, it's absolutely impossible. Or enter politics and stand on the opposing side, but the opposing side seems to be helping Ayanokouji too.
In short, other than venting this frustration onto Ayanokouji, other things are unrealistic. But Tsubasa Nanase also knew this was wrong, yet she had no choice. As for the White Room, Tsubasa Nanase clearly knew nothing about it at all, only knowing the name. It was likely some kind of secret facility, and Hikigaya wasn't interested.
She was completely being used as a pawn by someone to deal with Ayanokouji.
"Just forget about it."
Hikigaya really couldn't say any words of comfort... so he casually said: "If the Eiichiro you spoke of was truly a gentle and kind person, I think he wouldn't want you to become like this either. He wouldn't want you to ruin your whole life by acting impulsively."
"The person himself indeed doesn't want that," a faint murmur sounded. Hikigaya was a bit dazed and asked: "Did you say something just now?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Tsubasa Nanase quickly waved her hands, indicating she hadn't said anything. Then she pursed her lips with some complexity: "But if that's the case, my reason for being in this school no longer exists."
"Well."
Looking at the junior before him, a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of Hikigaya's mouth: "Although this school is a bit trashy, the class is okay. You'll definitely be able to find a reason to continue staying here, right?"
"Is that so..."
Tsubasa Nanase looked up at Hikigaya. A reason to stay. Feeling her gaze, Hikigaya continued to nod.
After all, Tsubasa Nanase was just trying to find peace of mind, and such empty words might not be of much use. But being used as a pawn now, pointing the spearhead at Ayanokouji and performing some painless acts of revenge, was clearly not a good thing.
Who knows if Ayanokouji's father has a mental problem, insisting on forcing his own son to drop out? What if he changes his mind one day? In the end, it's ordinary people like Tsubasa Nanase who will suffer.
"If you absolutely must get justice for your childhood friend, rather than these small, painless things, I suggest you go into politics after graduation, learn more information, and then make plans."
While he didn't care if Tsubasa Nanase was drawn into these big shots' schemes, this should be the most reliable way. After graduation, find a reliable backer to side with and seek justice from Ayanokouji's father. That should be the most reliable choice.
"Is that so..."
Tsubasa Nanase nodded indifferently; in fact, her heart had already found peace. From February 14th until now, it had only been a bit over a month. During this time, she had been preparing for enrollment and learning information about Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, stuck in a dead end and basically not interacting with people.
As long as someone could provide a reason for peace of mind, it was enough. Whether it was an excuse or a method had no meaning; her determination to avenge Eiichiro wasn't firm, and was even just a fantasy for Tsubasa Nanase's self-satisfaction.
"Speaking of which."
Tsubasa Nanase looked up and stared at Hikigaya before her, asking with some confusion: "I heard Hikigaya-senpai is dating Senior Ichinose and Senior Himeno at the same time. Is that true?"
"Mhm, true."
"Why is it like this?"
"Because I'm a piece of scum."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently, candidly admitting it: "If there's nothing else, I'll head back first."
"Well then, I'm sorry for wasting so much of Senior's time. See you tomorrow."
"Oh."
Watching Hikigaya's departing back, Tsubasa Nanase's gaze was full of admiration. Although she didn't know the reason, how could Hikigaya be a piece of scum? He is the gentlest senior in the world!