During this period.
The matters of the special exam were in full swing; the entire first-year group was desperately searching for teammates.
As for the specific situation, Hikigaya wasn't very clear.
During this time.
As usual, Hikigaya trained until very late before returning to the dormitory, and headed out early on weekends.
At this moment.
Saturday morning.
Hikigaya opened his eyes.
He glanced at Ichinose and Himeno Yuki in his arms.
Well.
It didn't last long.
Yuki ran back on her own.
According to her, she couldn't bear to leave Ichinose's cooking.
Then.
They seemed to have changed their strategy.
Every day they squeezed him dry, giving Hikigaya no chance to resist, perhaps to avoid letting Kamuro Masumi force her...
...to reveal herself.
Hikigaya stepped off the bed lightly.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki were still fast asleep; working until two in the morning last night was truly exhausting.
"I'm heading out..."
After washing up.
Hikigaya spoke softly and left the dormitory.
Accompanied by the sound of the door closing.
...Ichinose and Himeno Yuki opened their eyes at the same time.
"Let's go."
Looking into each other's beautiful eyes, the two stood up in unison and quickly changed their clothes.
"Dammit..."
Himeno Yuki, fastening her pleated skirt, had an unnatural expression:
"My lower half is almost swollen..."
"Then should I go today? Yuki-chan,why don't you rest at home?"
"No, I must go."
Yuki bit her lip.
Only a few days had passed since she left.
She could hardly endure it anymore.
She immediately changed her thinking.
As long as I eat all the fish, let's see what that "stray cat" can still eat.
The two quickly finished washing up and left the dormitory.
During this period.
Aside from Ichinose, as the class leader, frequently needing to discuss exam issues with the class and people from Class A.
Himeno Yuki had been tracking him the whole time.
Unfortunately.
Nothing was discovered.
But the two didn't give up.
Whenever they had time, they followed behind Hikigaya relentlessly.
Occasionally seeing Hikigaya training at school until exhausted, Ichinose would even heart-wrenchingly offer lemon slices, using the excuse of a chance encounter.
Possibly.
Hikigaya had already discovered they were tracking him.
But this guy simply wouldn't say it.
On the other side.
At the Keyaki Mall.
Looking at the street before him, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.
In such a large school.
There was actually no place he could go back to.
Adjusting his emotions, Hikigaya walked into a fast-food restaurant, found a booth, and casually ate some breakfast.
Although he lacked anti-surveillance skills.
If his guess was correct.
There should be two groups of people tracking him from behind.
Besides Ichinose and the others, there were also personnel arranged by Sakayanagi.
Although he felt very guilty.
But sorry, he could only utilize everyone.
Other than this.
Hikigaya couldn't think of any other way.
In terms of being despicable, he could be even more despicable than Arisu Sakayanagi.
The first thing to do was to get Ichinose and Himeno to leave his dormitory, creating a private space for himself.
After all.
During this time.
Hikigaya suddenly realized.
He actually had no private space left.
Except for the fire escape, when he felt troubled, there was actually nowhere to go.
Of course.
If it weren't for that bitch Sakayanagi, this wouldn't be so bad.
Sleeping every day while holding two soft bodies, Hikigaya was actually quite happy.
Now he could only let Ichinose and Himeno Yuki leave temporarily.
Unfortunately.
No matter what he did.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki wouldn't leave; Ichinose was always the strongest backbone at all times.
Even after so much time had passed.
She still considerately prepared meals for him every day, and even kept the dormitory and clothes perfectly clean.
Truly reliable.
What a great candidate for a wife; it was really a pity she was paired with someone like him.
Hikigaya ate very slowly.
Although he didn't know where they were, this way, Ichinose and Himeno Yuki behind him wouldn't have to be anxious.
He had plenty of time to prepare.
Today.
Was the day of the scheduled book club with Shiina Hiyori.
In the past, it was once every two weeks, but the previous two book clubs had all been rejected by Hikigaya on the grounds that he hadn't finished the books yet.
Although Shiina Hiyori had tirelessly sent invitations the previous times.
He didn't know if she still would today.
If it really didn't work.
Hikigaya would just have to shamelessly approach her himself.
At the school playground.
Around ten o'clock.
The exhausted Hikigaya received a contact from Shiina Hiyori.
[Shiina Hiyori: Hiki-kun, do you remember what day it is today?]
It seemed she saw the "read" status.
Immediately afterward, he received an invitation from Shiina Hiyori.
[Shiina Hiyori: It's the day we agreed to read together; can we meet at the library today?]
Everything was as Hikigaya expected.
However.
Hikigaya felt even more guilty.
When things came to a head.
Other than exploiting other people's kindness, he actually had no other method.
Shiina Hiyori was exactly the type to tirelessly send invitations without the slightest complaint.
Only now did he realize.
Those seemingly bland or even somewhat failed campus life experiences in the past.
Were actually so dazzling.
So dazzling it made one feel a bit dizzy.
Unfortunately.
All of this had been destroyed by that bitch Sakayanagi; thinking of this, the hatred in Hikigaya's heart deepened by another degree.
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya finally typed a response.
[Hikigaya: That... can we go to the Tea Ceremony Club?]
Just as the message was sent.
It immediately showed as "read."
Clearly, Shiina Hiyori had been waiting for his reply.
[Shiina Hiyori: Sure.]
On the other end.
At the dormitory building, Shiina Hiyori sat in front of the balcony sipping tea, but she couldn't help but knit her brows as she looked at the content on her phone.
Recently.
The news of Hikigaya's frantic training had already spread throughout the school.
After all, notoriety is still a form of fame.
Hikigaya was currently very much under the focus of some gossip-mongers.
And they hadn't met for a long time, yet now he wanted to go directly to the Tea Ceremony Club; obviously, he had encountered something, right?
[Shiina Hiyori: But, is Hiki-kun going to the Tea Ceremony Club to read, or does he want to drink the tea I brew?]
[Hikigaya: Drink tea.]
Just after sending the message, Hikigaya sighed, hesitated for a moment, but then made up his mind.
If he continued to delay.
Given Arisu Sakayanagi's personality of acting only for her own selfish desires.
Obviously, there would be no good outcome.
He could only utilize Shiina Hiyori, but Hikigaya truly couldn't bear it, and still sought the other's opinion.
[Hikigaya: That... I might have some matters I want to consult with you about, I wonder if it's convenient.]
[Shiina Hiyori: Of course it's fine. What time should we meet? Is Hiki-kun still training at school?]
[Hikigaya: Yes, I'm still at school. We can meet anytime.]
[Shiina Hiyori: Then wait for me for half an hour; I'll be there right away.]
"Phew."
Looking at the content on the chat interface, Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he felt some internal resistance.
But this was the only way.
Although.
He had no understanding of most people in the school.
But as long as he understood a little bit, Hikigaya was confident he could predict the actions of most people.
Even though the sense of guilt in his heart was so strong.
Sakayanagi would actually feel complacent because of it.
Hikigaya truly didn't know what there was to be proud of.
Except for people like Sakayanagi and Ayanokouji, the behavioral patterns of most people are very easy to guess.
Once the unscrupulous nature of Sakayanagi was cleared up.
Hikigaya even felt that Sakayanagi wasn't that powerful.
For some things.
An outsider speaking up is more effective than him speaking up.
Although there were Karuizawa, Kushida Kikyou, and many others who could be utilized.
But considering time, location, identity, personality, and conduct.
Shiina Hiyori was undoubtedly the most trustworthy.
Her identity was also the most suitable.