Year 2 Class B.
"Stare~"
The moment he stepped into the classroom.
Hikigaya found himself being watched by a group of people; Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako were staring shiftily in this direction.
"Everyone, good morning~"
Ichinose waved her arms enthusiastically; the group went to their seats to put down their bags and then gathered around Hikigaya.
"Um..."
Ando Sayo turned her head, her gaze sweeping across Hikigaya, Himeno Yuki, and Ichinose, and said with some hesitation:
"Honami, what was going on with you guys this morning? Why were you with Sakayanagi and the others? Hikki, why were you holding Kamuro-san's waist? What exactly is the relationship?"
Clearly.
They had likely run into many classmates on the way, but it wasn't convenient to ask directly until they reached the classroom.
The three looked at each other, and finally, Hikigaya said somewhat awkwardly:
"We are dating..."
"???"
Ando Sayo, Kobashi Yume, and the others immediately furrowed their brows, then Shirano Chihiro also looked at Ichinose and said hesitantly.
"Honami-chan, is this... for real? Hikki seemed quite afraid of Sakayanagi before, why did it turn out like this?"
"It's true."
Ichinose scratched her hair somewhat sheepishly:
"I didn't expect it to turn out like this either. Actually, there are some reasons that aren't convenient to tell you, but don't worry, it's already settled."
"Does it have to do with Hikki's state of mind a while back?" Ando Sayo asked with furrowed brows.
"Tentatively, yes."
Ichinose nodded without hiding it.
"This..."
Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako looked at each other.
Clearly, there were internal details involved, and Ichinose did not want them to ask more; it was likely something very difficult to answer.
Naturally, they couldn't probe further.
However, since Ichinose told them it was okay, it had clearly been handled—the result being that Hikigaya's girlfriends had increased by two more.
Thinking of this.
"Stare..."
The girls' gazes landed on Hikigaya in unison.
"Hikki, are you and Honami really not middle school classmates?"
Ando Sayo narrowed her eyes.
The first time, they naturally stood on Hikigaya's side.
The second time, they were slightly suspicious.
Now.
They had to be suspicious.
Although it didn't look like it, could Hikigaya really be using some special methods?
Otherwise.
How could he date several people at the same time?
It was truly beyond their understanding, or was what Hoshinomiya-sensei said true—that one shouldn't really care that much?
"No..."
Hikigaya suddenly felt very awkward.
Time and time again, it was no wonder Ando Sayo and the others would ask this.
On the other side.
"Shibata, don't you care?"
Kanzaki and several other boys gathered around Shibata, asking in lowered tones, while their gazes drifted toward the girls' side.
That Sakayanagi would actually start dating Hikigaya.
This was simply too absurd.
For them it was fine, but for Shibata, it was likely a massive blow.
"It's nothing."
Shibata propped up his chin, gazing at the soccer field outside the window, and murmured: "I'm not interested in such complex matters."
"???"
Hearing this.
The people around looked at each other, all feeling somewhat helpless.
Since the last time Ichinose and Himeno Yuki simultaneously dated Hikigaya, Shibata seemed to have become a bit strange, no longer as childish as before.
Now hearing such news, Shibata actually didn't care anymore.
He was probably contemplating some philosophical question.
"Then I'll go over and ask."
Kanzaki nodded and walked over to Hikigaya.
"Hikigaya, can I ask a few questions?"
"Oh."
Hikigaya nodded as if seeing a savior: "Anything except what exactly happened is fine."
"Are you and Sakayanagi really dating?"
"Tentatively, yes..."
Kanzaki took a deep breath, his gaze becoming solemn:
"Although I don't want to meddle in other people's relationship issues, are you really sure this isn't a 'honey trap' by Sakayanagi and the others? Is it possible it's just to make you and Ichinose let down your guard, and then find a way to deal with our class?"
"Yeah."
Ando Sayo, sitting in her seat, also hurriedly chimed in:
"Sakayanagi looks very scary; could this be some plan of theirs?"
"I think... it's probably impossible... maybe?"
Hikigaya nodded awkwardly.
Even though it was the first time for all of them.
Clearly, neither Sakayanagi nor Kamuro seemed to care much about things like chastity.
After all.
It was already this era; it was simply too normal.
The only one who would care about such things was probably an awkward person like him.
But thinking rationally.
Could this be a series of schemes by Sakayanagi?
It was possible.
The concerns of Kanzaki and Ando Sayo were not without reason.
But Hikigaya really didn't want to believe that; if it were truly the case, then Sakayanagi would be beyond saving.
"Is that so?"
Kanzaki frowned.
He knew Hikigaya rarely spoke with absolute certainty, but since he was this affirmative, he likely had a grasp on the situation.
"Then what about future exams? After all, only one class can ascend to A; what will you and Sakayanagi do when the time comes?"
"Yeah."
Ando Sayo and the others looked worried; there were many girls like her, and many boys couldn't help but prick up their ears.
After all.
The matter of dating three people simultaneously was not a first.
Since Ichinose and the others felt it was fine, they didn't bother to intervene, lest they end up pleasing no one.
But this was the key.
Although couples were not rare in this school.
Basically, they were all inter-grade relationships, or with people like Nagumo Miyabi who was already guaranteed to graduate from Class A.
Whether it was Horikita Manabu's year that had already graduated, or their second year.
There had never been a cross-class relationship.
After all.
In this school.
A natural competitive relationship existed between classes.
Becoming a couple would undoubtedly make things very difficult for both parties.
Setting Ichinose aside, if Hikigaya held back or didn't put in effort because of Sakayanagi's existence.
It would undoubtedly be a huge loss for Class B.
"No need to worry about that."
Hikigaya nodded and guaranteed: "Sakayanagi and Kamuro are not interested in Class A, and she apparently won't compete with Katsuragi for the leader position anymore."
"There's no need to be concerned about this relationship; just focus on the exams."
"However, Sakayanagi and the others probably won't hold back either; they will demonstrate their strength in exams as members of Class A."
At least.
This much could be guaranteed.
Since Sakayanagi could disregard the class's interests, she clearly had little interest in Class A.
"Is that true?"
Kanzaki asked with interest: "Are you sure our opponent in the future will be Katsuragi?"
"Tentatively, yes."
"That's good."
Hearing such news.
Kanzaki, Ando Sayo, and the others let out a sigh of relief in unison.
After all, Sakayanagi's methods were truly a bit low.
Compared to people like Sakayanagi and Ryuuen.
They also preferred having someone like Katsuragi as an opponent; at the very least, they didn't have to worry about Katsuragi using any despicable means.
From this perspective.
Hikigaya dating Sakayanagi actually seemed like a good thing.
Although it felt a bit unfair to Ichinose, Ichinose herself had agreed, so they couldn't say much.
At least.
Standing from the class's perspective.
This was something to be celebrated