After finally putting in some effort to "chase" Kushida out, Hikigaya lay on his bed and let out a deep breath.
Tonight, he had to admit that he underestimated Kushida's "determination" at first. He never thought she would go this far just to keep her "secret" from getting out—to the point where she was even willing to sacrifice her own dignity.
Of course, Kushida's little "honey trap" wasn't completely useless, but she picked the wrong target. If it had been Yamauchi or some other guy, they probably would've let their lower half take over their brain and fallen right into her trap. In the end, they'd end up ruining their reputation—or worse, behind bars doing prison labor.
You really have to hand it to Kushida, this two-faced little angel. On the surface, she's all sweet and kind, but underneath, she's got a devil's heart.
At the same time, Hikigaya showed Kushida his private points. Aside from giving her a sense of "security," just as he said, it was also a backup plan. If she ever tried to use this as leverage against him, that so-called leverage would turn into a death sentence for her instead.
Just like they say—sometimes, the "truth" you see is just what someone else wants you to see.
"Kushida, I really hope you don't do something as dumb as your chest is big," Hikigaya muttered.
---
The next morning at school, Kushida was back to her usual energetic, bubbly self. Almost immediately, Yamauchi and Ike started swarming around her like flies, acting all concerned and friendly.
From a distance, Hikigaya couldn't help but find the scene hilarious. Even though she was probably cursing these two pigs in her heart, Kushida still had to put on a bright, cheerful smile.
"U-Um…"
Suddenly, a barely audible voice came from beside him. It was Sakura. Hikigaya was a little surprised that she would approach him on her own in a classroom full of people.
Noticing his gaze, Sakura immediately tensed up but still mustered the courage to lift her head and look at him. "I-I… um…"
But just then, Yamauchi and Ike burst into loud laughter not far away. The sudden noise startled Sakura so much that she flinched and curled up like a frightened bird, trembling.
"…"
Hikigaya glanced at Yamauchi and the others, his expression ice-cold. It was obvious that the laughter was intentional, but those two clueless monkeys didn't even realize it. Meanwhile, Kushida—who had been "watching from the shadows"—suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. When she looked at Yamauchi and Ike again, the disgust in her eyes was now mixed with a bit of pity.
[Hikigaya-kun, are you free after school? I-I'd like to treat you to a meal to thank you for helping me with the midterms.]
Suddenly, his phone vibrated with a message.
So that's what it was about. Hikigaya nodded to himself and replied with a simple "Sure" before going back to his book. On the other side, when Sakura saw his reply, she couldn't help but feel a bit happy. Then, she opened her contacts and clicked on another person's profile…
---
After school, Hikigaya purposely stayed in the classroom for a bit before heading to the address Sakura sent him. It was a family restaurant called "Pudding."
Despite being called a family restaurant, there were more middle school and high school students than actual families. After all, there weren't many places that were both affordable and good for hanging out in groups, making it a popular choice for students on a tight budget.
When Hikigaya arrived, he noticed that Sakura had picked a seat in a more secluded area, partly hidden by two decorative walls, creating a semi-private space. He had to admit—Sakura really understood him. Or maybe, they were just the same type of person. Even when eating in a public place, they both preferred a little "privacy."
But just as Hikigaya rounded the wall, about to greet Sakura, he saw a girl sitting in the corner, holding a drink with both hands and sipping on a straw. She noticed him at the same time.
The next second, she quickly let go of the straw and sat up straight.
"Hiyori?"
"Hikigaya-kun, good evening."
Seeing the two greet each other so naturally, Sakura couldn't help but smile a little.
But when it was time to take a seat... Hikigaya hesitated. Since Sakura and Hiyori were sitting across from each other, that left him with only two choices.
Sit next to Sakura or sit next to Hiyori?
This is bad. No matter which one I choose, it feels like a trap!
"Sit here."
Hiyori, as if unaware of his hesitation, smiled and patted the empty seat beside her. Hikigaya had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit down.
Tonight's dinner was Sakura's treat, mainly to thank Hikigaya for tutoring her last month. Inviting Hiyori was also part of her plan. Ever since their last visit to the Nameless Teahouse, she hadn't seen Hikigaya and Hiyori "together" much. It was probably because of their argument back then, which had made them drift apart.
During this time, aside from receiving tutoring from Hikigaya, Sakura had been in close contact with Hiyori. They even occasionally met up on weekends to go to Keyaki Mall together—something she never had the courage to do before. For the first time, she felt the joy of having a real friend.
Hiyori was the first friend she had made since coming to this school, and she truly cherished this rare friendship.
She was timid, lacked confidence, and was quite introverted. But if there was one thing she was good at, it was reading people. Ever since that argument at the Nameless Teahouse, Hiyori had acted like everything was fine and insisted her relationship with Hikigaya was still good. But Sakura had noticed the occasional distant look in her eyes and the sadness on her face.
Now that midterms were over, she wanted to take this chance...
"I hope you two can make up."
Sakura spoke her true feelings. Her voice was soft but surprisingly firm.
Hikigaya instinctively looked at Hiyori, only to meet her gaze. They both saw the surprise in each other's eyes, but then, without realizing it, they smiled.
There was gratitude toward Sakura, but also a sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted.
Lately, even though Hikigaya and Hiyori still maintained their "friendship" on the surface, they could both feel the growing distance between them—especially after midterms. That uneasy feeling had only gotten stronger.
Yet neither of them had the courage to take the first step. Or rather, they were afraid—afraid that if they made the wrong move, they would become complete strangers.
But now, someone had taken that step for them, breaking through the hardest part.
"...Sorry for making you worry, Airi."
Hiyori couldn't help but reach out and gently hold the girl's wrist, feeling a warmth spread in her heart.
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