The next day.
First-year Class B classroom.
Listening to the teacher's lecture.
Hikigaya rested his chin on his hand, his eyes unfocused—clearly, he was out of it.
For a period of time.
Even if it was just to escape reality and empty his brain, Hikigaya had been listening to lectures very seriously.
But now that the incident was resolved.
Hikigaya actually had the idea of retreating.
Speaking of which.
Although he wanted to explain Kamuro Masumi's matter to Ichinose and the others.
Strictly speaking.
Except for Sundays and during school.
He and Ichinose's group hadn't really met for nearly half a month.
The last time they had a serious conversation could even be traced back to two months ago.
He didn't return to the dormitory last night either.
What if.
Ichinose had already dumped him?
After all, thinking back carefully.
Hikigaya found that his attitude had truly been subhuman; it wouldn't be strange if Ichinose and Himeno Yuki wanted to break up.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya felt worried inside.
Although it was his own problem, the thought of breaking up still made him unwilling.
Speaking of which.
How exactly should he say this?
Is it okay to just walk up and greet Ichinose like usual?
What if the other party just flatly asks what's wrong?
What should he do?
Or would it be better to test the waters with Ichinose on his phone first?
After much thought.
It would probably be better to wait for Sunday when Ichinose comes to his door, right?
By then, there would naturally be an opportunity for a conversation.
If all else failed.
He would just go up and kowtow to admit his mistake.
If Ichinose and the others were truly determined to break up, then there was nothing to be done.
Thinking of this.
When class ended, Hikigaya still sat in his seat without moving; he would wait until Sunday when there was a chance to meet alone.
Until noon.
Hikigaya was stunned to discover.
Unknowingly.
He seemed to have learned a new skill—it was Ichinose's "magnetic field."
As soon as lunch break started.
Ando Sayo and Tsube Hitomi pushed their tables together, and Himeno Yuki and the others also gathered here; Ichinose handed a bento to him.
"Thank you."
Looking at the bento being handed over.
Hikigaya was slightly stunned and then nodded.
Recalling carefully.
Life during this period hadn't changed.
Ichinose would make a bento in her own dorm and bring it to him, deliberately hiding the situation between them so that the classmates wouldn't see any flaws.
However.
This kind of concealment probably had no meaning.
Presumably, Kobashi Yume and the others had already noticed the abnormality, they just didn't say it out loud.
"Eh?"
Hearing Hikigaya say thanks.
Ichinose was slightly stunned, and Himeno Yuki sitting next to her was also a bit surprised; Ando Sayo and the others opposite them couldn't help but look over.
"Wh... what's wrong?"
Hikigaya asked nervously.
"N... nothing."
Ichinose quickly shook her head, her smile becoming much more brilliant:
"Then let's eat quickly!"
"Oh."
Just as he was about to open the bento box.
The phone ringtone sounded inopportunely; Hikigaya took out his phone carelessly and saw a string of somewhat familiar phone numbers.
Without a doubt, it was likely Kamuro Masumi.
Why would this girl call him during school hours?
With this question.
Hikigaya quickly stood up and said somewhat apologetically:
"Um... sorry, I have something to take care of, I'll be out for a moment."
"Got it, then Hikki, we'll start eating first~"
Ichinose smiled indifferently.
Hikigaya nodded, then got up and left the classroom to answer the phone.
"Is something wrong?"
"Yeah."
On the other end of the phone, Kamuro Masumi was slightly stunned.
She originally thought Hikigaya would be a bit disgusted; as expected, the resolution of the incident had improved Hikigaya's attitude a lot.
Thinking of this.
Kamuro Masumi was a bit happy, saying nonchalantly:
"I just felt I should tell you, Sakayanagi seems to have taken a leave of absence to go to the hospital today. Do you want to go over and take a look now?"
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was instantly stunned.
Taken leave?
Could it be his fault?
Although he was careful to show restraint yesterday, Sakayanagi Arisu's delicate body was frail.
It really might be his fault!
As long as Sakayanagi Arisu didn't care, it was fine.
But if he really broke the daughter of a big shot, then it wouldn't be a matter of whether Sakayanagi wanted to pursue it or not.
"Where is it, the infirmary? I'll go check it out right now."
"No."
On the other end of the phone, Kamuro Masumi said indifferently: "It seems to be the hospital in Keyaki Mall. Alright, wait for me at the school gate, I'll go take a look with you."
"Got it."
Saying that.
Hikigaya hung up the phone and walked toward the hospital.
...
Keyaki Mall.
Although the school had a hospital, Hikigaya had never been there.
After all, the school had an infirmary, and its equipment was complete and far exceeded the level of ordinary schools.
He had only heard.
The hospital was more like it was prepared for the school staff.
After all, whether teachers or leaders, they all needed to be closed off in this school for a long time; they naturally wouldn't let themselves suffer.
The medical standards were naturally at the national top level.
Arriving at the hospital.
Following Kamuro Masumi to the Neurology department, Hikigaya was suddenly nearly scared to death.
It couldn't really be that yesterday was done too excessively.
And he had broken Sakayanagi?
Could it be that yesterday was just a "terminal lucidity" where she was forcing herself to hold on, but she was actually about to break down?
Hikigaya sat in the waiting room outside the consultation room, feeling anxious.
"Is it really necessary?"
Kamuro Masumi sat beside him and said somewhat speechlessly: "Sakayanagi shouldn't be that fragile, right?"
"That's true..."
Hikigaya's forehead was dripping with cold sweat, praying in his heart that Sakayanagi must not be in trouble.
In less than a moment.
Sakayanagi Arisu, dressed in plain clothes and leaning on her cane, walked out of the room, followed by a blonde female doctor in a white coat who seemed to be a foreigner.
Looking at the two people at the door.
Sakayanagi was slightly surprised.
She turned back and exchanged a few words in English with the doctor.
After appearing to tell her to keep it up, the female doctor nodded and turned to leave.
"A foreigner?"
The two then stood up and came before Sakayanagi; Kamuro Masumi looked at the doctor's back with curiosity:
"How come I feel like I've never seen her before?"
"That's Dr. Alice."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled indifferently: "An expert in neurology, today is her first time coming to the school."
"???"
Kamuro Masumi was instantly a bit dazed.
Isn't it a closed school where no one is allowed in or out?
Yesterday, hearing Hikigaya's explanation, she was still half-doubting, but now Kamuro Masumi had no choice but to believe.
"The privileged class?"
"You can understand it that way."
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't feel embarrassed at all.
It was also normal.
Even though Chairman Sakayanagi had stepped down, to bring in one or two big shots from the medical field to see his daughter—Chairman Tsukishiro would certainly give him that face.
The so-called "closed school" was only for the students.
After all, this was power.
If it weren't for the high-level big shots clashing.
Simply sending some staff members to sneak into the school and pack Ayanokouji away would be far too easy.
"So, Hikki and Kamuro-san."
Sakayanagi Arisu asked with some confusion: "It should be lunch break now, what are you two doing here?"
"Are you okay..."
Hikigaya then asked with concern.
"Oh my?"
"Is Hikki worrying about me?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth couldn't help but show a smile, appearing more genuine than usual.
"For now... let's say I am."
Hikigaya nodded somewhat embarrassedly.
After all, he was the culprit who caused Sakayanagi to go to the hospital; fortunately, it was the Neurology department and not Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Otherwise, it would be over.
"How untactful."
Looking at Hikigaya's distressed appearance, Sakayanagi Arisu somehow felt even more pleasant:
"Don't worry, it's just that my left leg was congenitally insensitive, but yesterday I felt a hint of pain."
"I had Tsukishiro contact my father to find an expert in this field to come and take a look."
"This should be considered a good thing, no need to worry."
"I see..."
Hikigaya instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it was a good thing, he probably wouldn't have to go feed the fish.
"The expert said that if I keep it up, it's possible for the sensation to return."
Sakayanagi Arisu walked up to Hikigaya, her small hand resting on Hikigaya's chest, instantly making his face stiffen.
"So, Hikki, whether my legs can regain sensation will all depend on you. Please take responsibility; it shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a beaming smile.
She had naturally revealed this matter to Kamuro Masumi, who then relayed it to Hikigaya.
However.
It was not a lie.
When she heard there was a possibility of regaining sensation, Sakayanagi Arisu was momentarily stunned, followed by an indescribable sense of joy.
Although she never viewed her physical inconvenience as a weakness.
Sakayanagi Arisu naturally hoped to be like an ordinary person, regaining the ability to move and run through the streets.
She hadn't expected.
That being poked a few times could actually have such benefits.
This might be the reason Hikigaya showed no mercy yesterday; at least, Sakayanagi Arisu felt he showed none.
After all.
From childhood to now.
Chairman Sakayanagi had always held her in his arms like a precious treasure; no one had ever dared to bully her.
As long as this continued.
In coordination with treatment, she might regain the ability to move.
"What do you mean by that?"
Hikigaya's expression became even more stiff.
"It means exactly what it says."
Sakayanagi Arisu's finger traced downward as she said with a smile:
"However, it's lunch break now, so you two should probably head back. I still have a few check-ups to do."
"After school, come find me again. I still have some things to say to you, understand?"
"Didn't we agree..."
"My father is Chairman Sakayanagi."
My father is a powerful man.
Sakayanagi Arisu felt this method was more effective against Hikigaya.
"Understood..."
Hikigaya forced a smile.
Forget it, as long as she doesn't force him to betray his class.
On the other side.
After finishing lunch.
Ichinose and Himeno Yuki huddled together.
"Yuki-chan, did you feel that Hikki seems much more energetic today?"
"Mm, I felt it too."
"That's wonderful. It looks like letting Hikki be alone for a bit really worked."
"It seems so."
Himeno Yuki lowered her voice: "But Honami, aren't you concerned about that phone call earlier? It must be that 'stray cat' looking for him. Otherwise, there's no reason for Hikki to hide it from us."
"I think so too."
Ichinose let out a faint sigh.
While it was happy news that Hikigaya had regained his spirit, the issue of the stray cat remained unresolved.
Could it be that Hikigaya has truly had a change of heart.
Grown a bit tired of them.
And that's why he's been keeping secrets?
The two looked at each other simultaneously, and Himeno Yuki bit her lip, saying:
"Should we continue tailing him? Anyway, Hikki won't find out. At worst, we just won't go to the dorms, right?"
"That's true."
Ichinose thought for a moment and nodded.
Since Hikigaya wouldn't notice them following, there shouldn't be any pressure.
At the very least.
They had to secretly find that stray cat first.