The ski resort.
Hikigaya left a graceful arc and skied in front of Ibuki Mio, looking at her as she fell on the ground with some amusement:
"Ibuki, could it be that you are actually an idiot?"
"Ha? What do you mean? Are you here to pick a fight? Then let's try it!"
Ibuki Mio sat on the snow, clenched her pink fists, and glared at him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."
Hikigaya explained with some surprise: "It's just a bit unexpected. Aren't you good at Taekwondo? Your athletic nerves are good, so you should be better at mastering sports techniques than the average person, right?"
Angry:
"Hmph..."
Ibuki Mio grasped the front edge of the snowboard with her left hand and pushed off the ground with her right hand to stand up, glaring at the snowboard under her feet with even more irritation.
"I just hate this feeling of my feet being tied down."
"I see..."
Hikigaya nodded.
Skiing is about the center of gravity and small changes in the legs. Perhaps it conflicted with Taekwondo movements, and Ibuki instinctively wanted to resist.
"In that case, why not stop using a snowboard? Using skis should be simpler."
"No..."
Ibuki Mio glared at him and said: "What are you doing here? Is there something?"
Hikigaya was truly speechless.
Is this necessary?
It felt like this girl wasn't learning to ski, but was competing with the snowboard, specifically the single board.
"Um..."
Hikigaya got to the point:
"Ibuki, could you please cooperate with the group for the next few days?"
"Ha?"
Ibuki Mio was stunned for a moment before saying with some dissatisfaction:
"Let me make it clear, I didn't intentionally mean to cause trouble for the group. I just don't like sitting with others. Just leave me alone."
"I know..."
Hikigaya nodded.
He continued to observe Ibuki Mio learning to ski.
It looked okay, except occasionally her leg would just twitch like that and she'd fall to the ground.
Of course.
Ibuki naturally has the right to choose.
In the past, Hikigaya would probably have been just like her, definitely choosing to be alone and just not causing trouble for others.
However, now.
He was in the position of a leader.
This self-centered idea of not causing trouble for others.
Saying "don't mind me" doesn't mean you can just ignore them. As long as Ibuki is still in this group, everyone around will have concerns.
It actually affects the mindset of those around them.
It affects unity, makes the leader look incompetent, and even makes the group a laughingstock to those around them.
There would definitely be people thinking things like "it's great I didn't get put in that group," making them the butt of jokes among friends.
Even Hidemichi Sotomura's timid expression of opinion is much better than such unauthorized actions.
Only then did Hikigaya realize.
How much trouble his past self had unconsciously caused those around him.
Unfortunately.
As a loner, Ibuki Mio didn't know how to compromise or yield; she was completely blunt, and she resolutely refused to do things she didn't want to do.
When they get to the dormitory, or the third day of the trip.
It's only possible that a bigger conflict will break out.
It's best if it can be resolved in advance.
"That..."
Looking at Ibuki Mio falling and standing up repeatedly, Hikigaya felt concerned:
"Why are you so obsessed with the snowboard..."
"No particular reason."
Ibuki Mio glared at the snowboard and said, "I just saw that Horikita girl take a snowboard, that's all. Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that, as long as you think it's fine..."
It's just that Horikita Suzune seemed to have skiing experience and went to the advanced area right away, which is why Ibuki Mio was so impatient.
Two sports festivals.
Horikita Suzune and Ibuki Mio seemed to have been paired together.
Is she competing with Horikita Suzune?
"In that case."
Hikigaya proposed: "How about I help find a way for you to have a chance to duel Horikita? In exchange, you stay honest and cooperate with the group these few days and listen to our arrangements, how about it?"
"Hmm?"
Ibuki Mio said with some joy:
"You have a way to make that girl duel me?"
"No, I'll just try my best."
"Hmph, then I'll try my best to cooperate too?"
Hearing this.
Ibuki Mio was immediately a bit disappointed.
If it was just "trying," she was already doing that herself.
"Deal!"
Hikigaya said quickly:
"I'll try my best to create an opportunity for you to duel Horikita. You try your best to cooperate with the group these few days. It's a deal."
"Hmm? You couldn't tell I was joking?"
"It doesn't matter, trying your best is enough."
"Whatever, do as you like."
After saying that.
Ibuki Mio continued practicing skiing.
In any case, she really didn't want to cause trouble for the group on purpose; for now, as long as she had the intention to cooperate with the group, it was enough.
The rest could be discussed later.
As long as an opportunity to duel Horikita Suzune was really created, with Ibuki Mio's personality, he believed she would keep her promise.
After speaking.
Hikigaya did not leave.
He just stood quietly to the side observing Ibuki Mio ski.
Basic techniques like front edge, back edge, and twisting the edge.
Ibuki Mio seemed to have mastered them, but every time she felt like she was losing her balance, she wanted to lift her leg, which led to a fall 0...
It probably wasn't just because she had practiced Taekwondo.
More likely.
It was her anxiety to determine a winner against Horikita Suzune.
Her desire to win was too strong.
Leading to even slower learning progress.
"There's no need to be so rushed."
Hikigaya couldn't help but speak: "It's not like you have to settle it with Horikita Suzune today. There's still a full day of free time tomorrow; you can compete again tomorrow."
Ibuki Mio froze for a moment, didn't say anything, but couldn't help leaning her knees forward to slide.
Watching the scene before him, Hikigaya couldn't help but smile.
Clearly.
It wasn't that Ibuki didn't know how.
It was just that her personality was a bit too impulsive, especially when she wanted to do something.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya used his ski poles to push off the snow and catch up.
"Hey, Ibuki, do you want to train with everyone? Masumi and Hitomi both have skiing experience. Having someone to guide you will help you learn faster."
Ibuki Mio couldn't help but stop. Seeing this, Hikigaya also quickly rotated his thighs inward to stop.
"Hikigaya."
Ibuki Mio glared at Hikigaya behind her with fierce eyes and said:
"Be honest, do you want to sleep with me?"
"Cough..."
Hikigaya was instantly choked up, not knowing what to say.
To be honest.
Last time he indeed didn't have that intention.
But now...
It was hard to say he was completely uninterested.
"You're so cute, it's not that I don't have such thoughts at all, but right now, I don't have that intention."
Cute
In the past, people always called her a tomboy or manly girl; this was the first time she had been praised as cute.
Ibuki Mio's pretty face turned red, and she glared fiercely at Hikigaya.
"That's good. I don't have that kind of interest right now either. You're allowed to move freely at the ski resort, right? I'm going to the advanced area in a bit. If you want to play, play by yourselves."
Saying so.
Ibuki Mio stepped on her snowboard and tried to leave, only to suddenly fall on the snow with a bang, her buttocks pointing right at Hikigaya.
"I told you not to rush..."
Hikigaya immediately rolled his eyes: "As I thought, Ibuki, you are an idiot..."
""
Ibuki Mio's eyes were red as she glared at him, then she unfastened her right foot binding and pushed the board to leave.
"Leave me alone, play by yourselves. If you dare follow me, I'll kill you..."
""
Hikigaya shook his head.
Forget it.
As long as Ibuki Mio cooperates a little.
If it's this much, it's probably enough.