Chapter 51: Ichinose's Thoughts
Four dormitory buildings were constructed on the school campus.
Three of them are student dormitories, with first, second, and third-year students living in separate buildings.
This means the dormitory building currently used by first-year students is the same one used by last year's third-year students during their three years at the school. The remaining building is the dormitory for the teachers and staff who work at the shopping center and other facilities.
Since all first-year students live in the same dormitory building, encountering students from other classes is unavoidable.
On the morning of July 3rd, Hikigaya stepped out of the elevator, ready to head to school. However, in the lobby downstairs, he saw a radiant, archangel-like figure.
"Thank you very much. I look forward to your continued guidance." The girl thanked the dormitory manager and walked forward. Noticing Hikigaya's presence, she greeted him: "Hello, Hikigaya-kun, good morning. You're up quite early."
The girl had long, wavy, strawberry-blonde hair and bright eyes and teeth.
She wore the same uniform as the other students, but her large bust strained the two buttons holding her blazer closed, further highlighting her charm. A pair of black stockings encased her lower legs, and her upright posture perfectly matched her open personality.
Ichinose Honami, this incredibly dazzling girl, possesses outstanding ability, a friendly disposition, and an overwhelming level of charisma and leadership.
Even in Class A, many boys talk about Ichinose-san in the classroom, blushing yet feigning indifference.
Hikigaya knew of only a few people in this high school with cross-class leadership: Horikita Manabu from third year and Nagumo Miyabi from second year.
However, those two men relied more or less on the authority and position of the Student Council to achieve that.
Hikigaya genuinely admired Ichinose Honami, a first-year, for being able to do the same.
"Good morning, Ichinose-san. I woke up a bit early today... What were you talking about with the manager?" Hikigaya asked, somewhat confused.
Because he was dead tired when he returned to the dorm last night, Hikigaya went to bed very early, so he was already awake when the sky was still dimly lit this morning.
"A few people in our class submitted something like a petition regarding the dormitories. I was just now handing over the compiled opinions to the management staff. These included suggestions about the water facilities, noise levels, and so on."
"I see..."
Issues with rooms are usually handled individually. He hadn't expected Ichinose-san to go to the trouble of compiling the opinions of the Class B students.
"Good morning, Class Rep Ichinose." Two female students who came down in the elevator greeted Ichinose, and Ichinose smiled and responded to them.
"Class Rep?" Hikigaya asked, a little puzzled.
"Because I'm the class committee member. I guess that's why," Ichinose explained softly.
"Class committee member... I don't think our class has that position," Hikigaya said, hesitatingly.
'It's the first time I've heard of it... Could it be that no one told me? Hey... It can't be, right?!'
"Class B established this role on our own initiative. Wouldn't it be easier in all respects later on if we decided on the division of responsibilities now?" Ichinose smiled and explained, seemingly having noticed Hikigaya's confusion.
"Besides the class committee member, do you have any other positions?"
"I suppose so. Whether they're functional is another issue, but they've been formally decided. We have a Vice Class Rep and a Secretary. It's also more convenient for things like the Cultural Festival or Sports Day. We could decide then, but it'd be a hassle if disputes arose."
Thinking back, when he saw Ichinose at the Palette Café before, she was leading several boys and girls in a study group. Perhaps she was already fulfilling a role similar to a Class Rep since then.
Most people usually don't want to be a Class Rep. Not only are they forced to deal with troublesome matters, but when the school wants to discuss things, they are also forced to attend.
Wouldn't it be better to spend that time after school playing with friends or participating in a favorite club activity?
However, with Ichinose taking the lead as the Class Rep in Class B, they must have had a smooth time deciding on responsibilities without shying away from them.
"Class B seems very united," Hikigaya remarked with some emotion. He only realized he had unconsciously spoken his inner thoughts when he snapped out of his reverie.
"I don't particularly think so... Everyone is just happily doing their work. And our class has quite a few troublemakers, so there's a lot of hard work involved too." Although Ichinose said this, a happy smile appeared on her face: "Hikigaya-kun, let's go to school together."
Without waiting for Hikigaya to refuse, Ichinose took the first step. When she realized Hikigaya was still standing there, she turned her head and vigorously waved at him.
Hikigaya sighed softly: "Are you sure it's okay to go to school with someone like me?"
"Hmm? What's wrong? Hikigaya-kun is just a normal person, is there a problem? Let's go."
'What should I say? I've always been called a loner, and this is the first time I've been praised as 'normal'...
I feel a little strange.'
As Hikigaya and Ichinose got closer to the school, the number of students they encountered also increased. Many passing students cheerfully greeted the two of them.
"Morning, Ichinose!"
"Good morning, Ichinose-san!"
"Hey, you dead-fish eyes, get out of the way!"
The one who monopolized the girls' attention and greetings was Ichinose, who walked beside Hikigaya. Furthermore, those girls glared fiercely at Hikigaya.
'Yikes, those girls' glares are intense, it's a bit scary. Am I going to get stabbed by one of Ichinose-san's fans? Should I start wearing a copy of Weekly Shonen under my uniform starting tomorrow?'
"...You're really popular, you feel like Hashimoto Kanna or something." (Hashimoto Kanna= famous Japanese actress)
"Maybe I just stand out more than other girls because I'm the Class Rep. That's all there is to it." Ichinose seemed to genuinely believe this, not being modest, suggesting she accepted her own attractiveness quite naturally.
"Oh, right. Hikigaya-kun, have you heard about the summer vacation? I heard a rumor that we'll be taking a trip to a southern island." Ichinose suddenly asked.
"Yeah, I've heard about that too," Hikigaya nodded lightly.
Sakayanagi had gathered relevant information before the midterm exam, and Mashima-sensei also said in June that the students would be going on an island vacation after the final exam.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this school utterly luxurious; they're taking an entire grade of students on a southern island vacation for summer break... Although, it is said that they will be taking a special exam on a deserted island.
While Hikigaya was still deep in thought, Ichinose gave a wry smile, seemingly doubtful about it too: "It sounds suspicious, doesn't it? I think summer vacation will be a turning point. In other words, there might be a significant change in class points during the summer break."
"Is it okay to tell someone from Class A like me this kind of information?" Hikigaya asked skeptically.
"It's fine. When I spoke with Sakayanagi-san in June, I heard that your classmates were already asking senpais for information about the island trip, so people in your class must know already," Ichinose smiled faintly, appearing completely unconcerned: "I came to this conclusion and said it out loud on my own, so you don't need to worry about it, Hikigaya-kun. If you think this is usable information, feel free to use it."
"Uh, I see... Well, thank you," Hikigaya replied somewhat awkwardly.
'Did something happen in June that I don't know about?'
"Sakayanagi-san said she won't be going on the island vacation due to health reasons... Hikigaya-kun, what do you think of Sakayanagi-san?" Ichinose asked with curiosity.
"She's someone who looks like a child on the outside, but whose wisdom surpasses that of an ordinary person," Hikigaya replied without hesitation.
"Huh? That's high praise, but it sounds strangely familiar..." Ichinose mumbled a retort, then her eyes turned serious: "Anyway, if there really is a special exam then, I'll be going all out."
She shared information and then directly declared war... This girl, Ichinose, is truly a good person, and genuinely forthright and sincere.
"Ah, bring it on. Yukinoshita and Katsuragi are not to be trifled with..." Faced with the declaration of war from Ichinose-san, the representative of Class B, Hikigaya decisively accepted, then completely distanced himself from it.
Hearing Hikigaya's answer, Ichinose deliberately acted as if she were about to trip, then retorted: "Shouldn't you be saying, 'I'm not to be trifled with,' here?"
'What nonsense is she talking about...? I could never say something that only handsome guys, normies, and heroes would say. I even think I'm lame myself...'
"But if we really are going on a trip to a southern island, it sounds like it could be very fun," Ichinose said, showing an expectant look.
"Who knows..." Hikigaya replied casually.
"Huh? Aren't you happy?" Ichinose looked at Hikigaya with surprise.
Only people with deep friendships can have the thought of fully enjoying a vacation. If you don't have anyone particularly close to you, nothing is more agonizing than a trip. It's even worse if it's a group activity. Just imagining it makes him feel sick.
"Hikigaya-kun, how do you feel about traveling?"
"Austerity training..."
Speaking of trips, his parents only take Komachi out to play.
The only trips Hikigaya has experienced are the school-mandated school excursions. However, school excursions always leave him with agonizing memories.
During one school excursion, because no one spoke to me, I even felt like I participated in a seventy-two-hour silent long-distance run. Of course, I was the winner of that race. But I wasn't happy at all.
Agonizing memories flashed through his mind, and Hikigaya sighed wearily, then fell silent.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just recalling my mental trauma a bit." Hikigaya let out a few dry laughs. The hollow laughter echoed through the hot, tree-lined avenue, sending chills down the spine of anyone who heard it.
"Ah!" Ichinose suddenly stopped, as if she had just remembered something, and looked at Hikigaya with a serious gaze: "Um, Hikigaya-kun... for research purposes, there's something I want to ask you, is that okay?"
"Well, if it's something I know..."
"...Have you ever been confessed to by a girl?"
"...What are you trying to say?" Hearing Ichinose's question, which was like dancing on a mental minefield, Hikigaya cranked up the level of decay in his eyes by one notch—it was nearly at the highest setting.
Forget being confessed to by a girl; wouldn't it be impossible for a girl to accept his confession? I've heard comments like 'gross,' 'aloof,' and 'gloomy' countless times... I'm just the type of person who gets looked down on, right? I'm going to cry! I'm only a first-year high school student, and students should focus on their studies. It's way too early for things like that, r-right?
Moreover, as far as Hikigaya knows, the risk of a confession is absolutely massive.
First, the confession, right? Then the rejection, right? But that's only the beginning. After being rejected, more suffering awaits. Just when you think you're at the bottom and the only way is up, you discover that the only way to go is lower in life.
The day after the confession, it's a given that everyone in the class will know about it. It would be fine if they just knew, but occasionally, you'd hear scattered discussions about the incident. The whole process turns into a joke for others' after-meal conversations, and there's a risk of the person involved accidentally overhearing it and getting hurt.
This is what's called killing the dog after the hunt. You've just suffered the blow of heartbreak, and then you're socially annihilated.
'Ahhh, no, no, no. When talking about myself, I always become long-winded and unpleasant if I'm not careful. I'm so tired...'
After being hit by this "precise," "terrifying," "sudden blow" from Ichinose, Hikigaya's "adrenaline" acted as a "catalyst," triggering an "instinctive reaction" that almost caused him to "burst out" in a "shriek." Fortunately, Hikigaya was "well-prepared" and used "nimble footwork" to "dodge and roll," finally escaping from the "endless pain" and walking out of the "Tower of Agony."
'If she hits me with a "Finishing Move," I'll be OTK'd (One-Turn Kill).'
Seeing Ichinose frowning like a troubled girl, Hikigaya asked softly: "Um... You haven't been confessed to, have you?"
"Huh? Ah—well, something like that," Ichinose answered with some hesitation.
'It seems the campus is full of students taking action to get into relationships every day. Normies, just go explode already.'
Ichinose hesitated for a moment, then finally made up her mind. She clasped her hands together and gave Hikigaya a pleading look: "Hikigaya-kun, if possible, could I borrow some of your time after school? I have some questions about confessions."
"Oh, oh... Huh?"
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