As night approached.
Hikigaya returned to the dormitory and found Ichinose sitting at the low table tutoring Himeno Yuki.
Seeing Ichinose every day was very painful and filled him with self-reproach.
As long as Shiina Hiyori knew this.
With her personality of being at peace with the world, she probably wouldn't hide it; if she met Ichinose, she would speak truthfully.
Of course.
Hikigaya wasn't very certain.
If he had only learned of this from Shiina Hiyori during the day, and then Hikigaya spoke directly at night to ask Ichinose and the others to leave.
Presumably, Ichinose and the others might also find it a bit strange.
Therefore.
This matter had to be spoken by Ichinose and the others themselves.
If Shiina Hiyori didn't tell Ichinose and the others, then Hikigaya would have to use a forceful attitude to make them leave.
In short.
Test it out first.
Whether Shiina Hiyori had told the incident to Ichinose and the others.
As for how to test.
This is not difficult.
Hikigaya is actually very good at lying; it's just that the thought of lying to Shiina Hiyori, then lying to Ichinose, and having to say some excessive things.
Makes his heart feel rather uneasy.
And all of this was transformed into hatred for Sakayanagi Arisu.
If not for this fellow.
How could he be like this now.
"Welcome back, Hiki-kun."
Ichinose asked with some concern.
Only now did she realize.
She didn't know when it started.
Maybe it was just these few days; Hiki-kun is no longer even willing to say "I'm back."
"Sorry."
"Today I'm a bit tired."
"I'm going to sleep first."
As he spoke.
Hikigaya walked to the wardrobe, took out a change of clothes, and turned to go to the bathroom.
"Then let me do it."
Ichinose hurriedly stood up and stepped forward to take the change of clothes; she was naturally talking about helping Hiki-kun clean his body.
Hikigaya hadn't been in a good state these past few days, and had just silently let her do it, but this habit hadn't changed.
"No."
"Let me do it myself."
Looking at the concerned gaze of Ichinose before him, Hikigaya's fingers trembled slightly as he gently pushed away her small hand.
Without waiting for them to speak.
Hikigaya turned and walked into the bathroom, locked the door, and turned on the overhead shower.
Even without using words to test.
Hikigaya knew how to use actions to express his views.
Hearing the sound of rushing water.
Shiina Hiyori's words simultaneously appeared in their minds.
Excessive concern will instead become a kind of pressure.
Perhaps.
They really were pushing too hard.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki looked at each other with complex expressions; perhaps they really should give Hikigaya a bit more private space.
"As expected."
Ichinose pursed her lips and said with a complex expression: "Would it be better if we moved back for a while?"
"That makes sense..."
Himeno Yuki lay sprawled on the low table, feeling dejected.
She felt like she had no energy.
What on earth is going on? The more she thought about it, the more annoyed Himeno Yuki felt.
The sound of water soon disappeared.
Hikigaya put on his pajamas, walked out of the bathroom, bypassed the two, and then collapsed onto the bed, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep.
Waiting for Ichinose and the others to speak.
If that failed.
He would have to take the initiative to speak when Ichinose and the others got into bed.
Only at that time.
It would likely mean Shiina Hiyori hadn't told them, or that the two sides hadn't met at all.
Although the probability of that was very low.
It wasn't non-existent.
In that case, his attitude would need to be even more forceful; Hikigaya really didn't want to do that.
Looking at Hikigaya's back.
The two girls looked at each other, and Ichinose finally spoke.
"Hikki.. how about the two of us move back for a while? What do you think?"
"Oh..."
Hikigaya responded indifferently and finally breathed a sigh of relief; even without seeing the expressions of Ichinose and the others, he could guess they were probably very disappointed.
Looking at the scene before her.
Ichinose pursed her lips, feeling pained, while Himeno Yuki was even more furious.
She wanted to just punch Hikigaya.
No.
Once things are over, she must punch him.
"Then Hikki..."
Ichinose's voice sounded concerned: "What will you do for dinner every day? How about I come over and cook for you every day?"
"No need, I'll go out to eat myself."
Hikigaya said with a somewhat suppressed tone while pursing his lips.
Ichinose was just too gentle; even at a time like this, she was still worrying about his diet. He wasn't some child.
He could handle that much.
"Alright."
Ichinose didn't force it, but her tone became somewhat firm:
"But we'll still keep the key card, and we're coming over once every Sunday!"
It was a statement, not a question.
After all.
Ichinose was Ichinose.
Although she felt Shiina Hiyori's words had some truth—that excessive concern could indeed be a kind of pressure—she couldn't just accept everything Shiina said.
Otherwise.
If they didn't even check in once.
What if something went wrong?
At that point.
It would probably be no different from a breakup.
And.
Ichinose could likely guess.
Given Hikigaya's current state, it was impossible for him to take good care of himself; most likely he would just resolve his diet outside or use instant noodles.
Could that even be called living?
He probably wouldn't even be able to tidy up the room.
Therefore.
Ichinose had to demand a chance to meet at least once a week, at least to help Hikigaya relieve some pressure and help clean the dormitory.
"That's right."
Hearing this, Himeno Yuki also gritted her teeth and nodded: "We are your girlfriends; you have to satisfy us once a week."
So irritating.
Hikigaya was their boyfriend; why did they have to leave?
Wouldn't this just benefit the home-wrecking cat in the background for nothing?
The more she thought, the angrier she got.
Unfortunately.
Looking at Hikigaya's back, Himeno Yuki also felt pained for him.
All of this was the fault of that despicable home-wrecking cat.
Does her conscience not hurt?
"Oh."
Hikigaya responded indifferently, conveying the sense that they could do whatever they wanted.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki looked at each other before packing up the food on the low table and getting up to leave.
"Hikki we put the food in the fridge; you can heat it up if you want to eat."
Hikigaya did not respond.
It wasn't until the sound of the door closing rang out that Hikigaya sat up from the bed again.
Clearly, nothing had changed from before.
For some reason.
It just felt as if the room's temperature had dropped slightly.
It had lost its vitality.
He would just have to apologize to Ichinose and the others later.
Fortunately.
Given the personalities of Ichinose and Himeno Yuki, they would surely stay true to their word if he just spoke up.
No.
Just in case.
He should hang up the door chain later and wait until Ichinose and the others came back to talk.
At least he finally gained a day of free time.
"Sakayanagi, just you wait."
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Hikigaya's eyes.
He got angry just thinking about Sakayanagi