Inside Restaurant No. 5.
Watching everyone eating, drinking, and chatting, Hikigaya was somewhat sentimental.
So this is a birthday party?
It seemed like it wasn't that big of a deal!
Hikigaya sat together with a group of girls including Ichinose and Kobayashi Yume.
There was no choice.
But it didn't seem to matter.
After such a long time, he was considered accustomed to it; actually sitting here he was just a foil, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
However.
Hikigaya's gaze occasionally looked toward a corner of the restaurant.
Kamuro Masumi and Sakayanagi Arisu.
The two were sitting together chatting about something, with no other figures around them; the Class B people had actively opened up some distance.
That was also true.
This birthday party was probably negotiated in advance by Ichinose and the others with everyone.
Advance notice had already been given.
Kamuro Masumi and Sakayanagi Arisu, as Hikigaya's girlfriends, would also participate.
Only then did Kobayashi Yume and the others not show a surprised side.
But after all.
Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi were outsiders from Class A.
If it weren't for the special exam.
Without necessity, the crowd would not actively make contact, and Kobayashi Yume and the others naturally stood on Ichinose's side.
There was no problem.
But.
As the parties involved.
Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi would likely feel awkward.
Or perhaps somewhat uncomfortable.
Like the person who could only sit in the corner eating snacks at a Karaoke.
Clearly having come to celebrate someone's birthday, yet being distanced by the others, their hearts would likely not feel good.
Hikigaya could very much relate to this feeling.
Although he didn't care, Kamuro and Sakayanagi would likely feel a bit uncomfortable.
For Kamuro and Sakayanagi.
The other people were probably just friends of a friend.
The two of them also had no intention of befriending the other people of Class B.
After a moment's hesitation.
"Um... I'll go get something to eat".
Hikigaya stood up and said, then turned to leave.
With Kobayashi Yume and the others by their side, Ichinose and Himeno Yuki would certainly be unable to pull themselves away, otherwise it would be like their elbows were turning outward.
Then it had to be him.
Although he was also a member of Class B and it was similarly somewhat inappropriate, as the boyfriend of the two like Sakayanagi, there should be no problem.
He believed Kobayashi Yume and the others could also understand.
...
Walking to Sakayanagi's side.
Hikigaya sat down slowly, and after a moment's hesitation, he couldn't help but speak:
"Do you want to eat something? I'll go help you get it".
"Oh my".
Looking at Hikigaya sitting beside her, Sakayanagi said somewhat playfully:
"Hikki,is this out of concern that we might overthink things, so you specially came over to take care of the two of us?"
"You're overthinking".
Kamuro Masumi crossed her legs and propped up her fragrant cheek while gazing at Himeno Yuki's side.
She sneered and said:
"You're the protagonist today; just enjoy yourself properly. We two are not as fragile as you imagine; you'd better go back quickly".
"Otherwise, I guarantee".
"Those few girls will definitely whisper in Ichinose's ear, making her wary of us two".
Although she said that.
Sakayanagi and Kamuro Masumi couldn't help but feel somewhat happy in their hearts.
Regardless of the reason, clearly Hikigaya still had the two of them in his heart.
"It won't happen".
Hikigaya looked at Amikura Mako and the others, the corner of his mouth slightly rising.
Ordinary people might, but Amikura Mako and the others definitely wouldn't; it was just that Kamuro didn't understand Kobayashi Yume and the others enough.
"Then whatever you want".
Kamuro Masumi clearly also didn't care about the views of Kobayashi Yume and the others.
At this moment.
Kamuro had always been paying attention to Himeno Yuki.
Unexpectedly.
That strong-willed Himeno Yuki was actually such a submissive appearance in the class.
Forget it.
These also didn't matter.
Only knowing Himeno Yuki's true nature, Kamuro Masumi was also thinking.
With Himeno Yuki added.
Could the three of them do some more stimulating things.
If it were a normal person, it would be fine; Kamuro Masumi was also too lazy to get involved with them.
But Himeno Yuki.
Clearly was also not some proper person, just like her—a little slut with a wanton heart; Kamuro Masumi would have no scruples.
She believed Himeno Yuki would also be very happy to accept.
"Speaking of which".
Sakayanagi Arisu asked elegantly: "Hiki-kun, what was the wish you just made?"
"Wishes won't come true if spoken aloud".
Hikigaya looked at Ichinose and the others, refusing to answer directly.
"Forget it if you don't want to say."
Sakayanagi Arisu did not force the issue, saying: "However, Hikigaya-kun, there are no gods in this world; any wish must be realized by oneself."
"I know that, naturally."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently.
Ever since he didn't receive a Christmas present as a child, he knew the gods of this world were all liars.
"Speaking of which, I haven't asked yet."
Sakayanagi Arisu nodded: "In Hikigaya-kun's eyes, besides Ayanokouji, who is the person in the second year most worth being wary of?"
"Katsuragi, I suppose."
Hikigaya nodded.
There was no need for much thought.
From the start of school until now, Katsuragi was the one who best fit his ideal of a leader, and the person most worth being wary of was naturally Katsuragi Kouhei.
Facts proved that as long as Sakayanagi wasn't pulling him back from behind, Katsuragi's strength was not weak.
Since the Mixed-Grade Pairing Exam, Katsuragi had been steadily improving the class points and widening the gap with the lower-tier classes.
"Oh?"
Sakayanagi Arisu said with some surprise: "What about Horikita and Ryuuen? Setting aside the Horikita from the start of school, at least in my eyes, those two are both harder to deal with than Katsuragi."
"Nothing special."
Hikigaya said indifferently.
Even if Class D increased by three hundred class points this time, that was because Kouenji was impressive; Horikita and Ryuuen were just two insignificant minor characters.
"Hoh?"
Sakayanagi Arisu was even more surprised: "Then what if we include the third years and first years? Who is the person most worth being wary of?"
"I don't know much about the first years."
Hikigaya said nonchalantly: "But even if Nagumo is included, Katsuragi is still the most worth being wary of."
"You really have a high evaluation of Katsuragi."
Sakayanagi Arisu nodded.
Although their personalities were greatly different, perhaps because Katsuragi and Hikigaya shared similar values, Hikigaya's evaluation of Katsuragi was truly high.
His perspective was completely different from Sakayanagi's.
"Then what if you add me?"
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a beaming smile.
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya was somewhat speechless.
He had already included Sakayanagi Arisu; this person actually didn't place herself among the second years.
"Still Katsuragi..."
Hikigaya replied nonchalantly.
If it weren't for Sakayanagi Arisu's methods being too devoid of bottom lines and having a good father to back her up, Hikigaya wouldn't have placed Sakayanagi in his eyes either.
Even regarding the last incident, if it hadn't been for Chairman Sakayanagi, the matter would have already been resolved.
"Hmm?"
Sakayanagi Arisu was slightly stunned, but soon understood.
Whether it was Horikita, Ryuuen, or her, Hikigaya looked down on their despicable methods and appreciated a leader like Katsuragi who took responsibility and looked after his companions.
"Speaking of which."
Sakayanagi Arisu was naturally a bit uncomfortable; he actually thought Katsuragi was above her?
But after thinking for a while, Sakayanagi Arisu narrowed her eyes and said playfully:
"If it's just empty talk, it's meaningless. So, does Hikigaya-kun already have a way to rise to Class A?"
"For now... I suppose so."
Hikigaya said indifferently.
If he had to say, he had known how to rise to Class A since the start of school, and even how to take the whole class with him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do this alone.
Moreover, his way of doing things would certainly not fit the style of Ichinose and the others.
It was effectively as if there was no way.