Friday after school.
Hikigaya left the school.
Ichinose and the others went shopping with Tsubaki.
He had only mentioned it briefly, but Ichinose also seemed very worried about Tsubaki's state.
After all.
That state of being uninterested in everything around her.
It was truly worrying.
However.
This was something only Ichinose could do; it had nothing to do with Hikigaya.
Keyaki Mall.
On the street back to the dormitory, Hikigaya could still feel vague gazes watching him.
After all.
Ordinary people are not like Ayanokouji, who follows people like a ghost.
He didn't need any anti-surveillance techniques.
These people were quite blatant.
From time to time, Hikigaya would find someone turning to look this way and then whispering behind their hands.
They weren't as furious as Ike Kanji.
On the contrary, they were very low-key.
They kept their voices down so he couldn't hear, and if he approached, the conversation would stop immediately. However, the content of the conversation wasn't hard to guess.
It was nothing more than those same things.
Discussing what despicable means Hikigaya had used, and whether he was a villain who only dared to strike against his own class.
Suspecting Hikigaya had used despicable methods to control his classmates, and that Ichinose and Yuki Himeno had to compromise for the sake of the class.
After all.
This was combined with his school evaluation.
It was the most logical explanation bystanders could think of.
However.
Hikigaya could already face it calmly, walking toward the dormitory building with a smile.
Ahead, not far away, was a group of girls.
Several of the girls covered their mouths and looked back over their shoulders from time to time; an orange-haired girl also looked back.
Hikigaya had some impression of her.
After all, they had met several times; she seemed to be named Nazuna Asahina.
The relationship between the two wasn't particularly close.
It was just that she had specially informed him of the deal between Ichinose and Miyabi Nagumo last time, and Hikigaya felt some gratitude in his heart.
If Asahina wanted to borrow private points from him, Hikigaya would consider it for anything under two million.
However.
The other party didn't ask for anything.
Hikigaya didn't take it to heart either, following the group at a normal pace.
But the speed of a group couldn't match that of a loner.
A crowd distracted by idle chatter couldn't compare to someone single-mindedly wanting to return to their dorm.
Soon.
Hikigaya was within about five meters of them.
The conversation stopped for a moment, and then they started a topic about where to go and play.
If this continued.
At his speed, he would soon overtake them.
Hikigaya didn't care.
Just then.
Asahina whispered a few words to the girls beside her, then left the group and stood watching as the others walked away.
"Yahoo."
When Hikigaya passed by, Asahina stepped forward with a smile: "I've heard about it. I didn't expect you to be dating Honami and that Himeno-san at the same time~"
Actually.
Back when Hikigaya and Ichinose started dating.
The news had already spread throughout the school and became a topic for many.
There were all sorts of discussions and speculations.
Asahina didn't take it to heart.
After all.
It was perfectly normal for Ichinose and Hikigaya to date.
If there were a boy who could bear all the infamy for her, Asahina guaranteed she would have confessed her feelings long ago.
Though it was a bit of a pity.
This could only be said to be a natural result; it was only a matter of time.
However.
By the third day.
News broke that he was dating three people at the same time.
Asahina was simply stunned.
However.
Miyabi Nagumo was also very surprised and even somewhat admiring.
He only changed girlfriends frequently; he didn't expect Hikigaya to have such methods.
The strong should enjoy privileges.
What was dating two women at once?
Nagumo was even a bit envious; this was something he couldn't do yet.
Of course.
If they were gold-diggers.
Nagumo believed he could do it too.
But he had no interest in weak women; at most, he would just pay a suitable price to play around.
Being able to make a top-tier woman like Ichinose bow her head.
That was true strength.
"Haha, Asahina-senpai, is there something?"
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh and continued walking toward the dormitory building indifferently; surely this girl didn't come over specifically to scold him.
At least, she didn't seem like that kind of person.
"Don't go."
Asahina quickly blocked Hikigaya's path, looking him up and down with some confusion:
"I thought you weren't the kind of guy who was that fickle. Is there some other reason?"
"No, I'm just that much of a piece of trash."
Hikigaya stopped helplessly and said, "Senpai, did you find me just to ask this?"
"No, not really."
Asahina waved her hand dismissively: "I just happened to run into you and came up to say hello."
As she spoke.
Asahina scrutinized Hikigaya and rolled her beautiful eyes.
"Are you acting out of desperation?"
"Maybe."
Hikigaya thought for a while and nodded, though his tone was indifferent.
Perhaps this really was a form of self-abandonment.
But now Hikigaya didn't care anymore and frankly accepted the fact that he would have two girlfriends.
"Well..."
Asahina pinched her snow-white chin, somewhat puzzled:
"Looking at it this way, you don't seem to like that Himeno-san very much either. Why don't you consider breaking up with her?"
"It's impossible to break up."
Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
Forget it.
Asahina knew nothing about his situation.
It was normal for her to think that way.
But since things had come to this, he could only face it.
"Since it's already like this, I can only take responsibility. Otherwise, wouldn't I be even more of a piece of trash?"
"Hmm?"
Asahina looked up and thought for a while.
"Although I'm not clear on the situation, Miyabi dates them and then dumps them; he changes girlfriends like clothes. Are you two-timing and taking responsibility to the end?"
"It's hard to judge who is better or worse..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Both were trash; there was no refuting that.
He had finally fallen to the same level as Miyabi Nagumo.
However.
Hikigaya believed.
He was still a tiny bit better than that irresponsible trash Nagumo.
But in the eyes of others.
They were both trash.
And Nagumo was more social, so his reputation at school seemed quite good.
Maybe he was actually the bigger piece of trash.
Wait.
Why on earth was he comparing himself with Nagumo over who was more of a piece of trash?
"Senpai, can I go now?"
Looking at Asahina blocking his way, Hikigaya asked helplessly.
"Oh."
Asahina pinched her chin, only then snapping back to reality.
She might have been thinking about whether Nagumo or Hikigaya was better.
"Hey, Hikigaya, I'm begging you. Can you decide a winner against Miyabi?"
"No."
Hikigaya refused without hesitation: "If you're asking to borrow money, I can consider it a bit. Forget about anything else. Why are you always at odds with that guy?"
In any case.
Asahina could be said to have indirectly saved Ichinose.
Hikigaya was still somewhat grateful.
But it only extended to the scope of lending money. Dealing with Miyabi Nagumo for that bit of gratitude would simply be throwing himself away.
Impossible!
"You really are stubborn."
Asahina said somewhat helplessly: "There isn't really a reason. It's just that seeing Miyabi win all the time since we were kids feels particularly annoying. Since you're unwilling, then forget it."
"I have to go play with them. See you later~"
As she spoke.
Asahina waved her hand and quickly caught up with those girls from before.
"Nonsensical."
Hikigaya walked toward the dormitory building, speechless.
Targeting Nagumo just because she didn't like him—this childhood friend was truly something.