Chapter 207: That Stung, Kushida!
"Sigh~..."
Hikigaya dragged his exhausted body back to Dorm Room 404.
He could never understand how delicate girls, who would pant for breath after just two laps in PE class, could shop for three hours straight and still remain in a state of high energy.
Conversely, Hikigaya could easily finish ten laps, yet he couldn't withstand the drain of accompanying girls while shopping.
And it was three girls—it was practically triple the torture!!
"...I can't fall asleep yet!"
Hikigaya took two cans of Max Coffee from the fridge and chugged them down in one go. Based on personal experience, there was a high probability that the events of the day would lead to dreaming about the people involved.
He did not want to close his eyes and open them again only to see the gyaru trio. He'd be squeezed dry!!!
Ding-dong, ding-dong~ The doorbell rang. Hikigaya jumped in a startle.
'It couldn't be the gyaru trio coming for a second round, could it?'
"Who is it?" Hikigaya approached cautiously, wary enough not to open the door immediately.
"It's me, Kushida Kikyo!"
Kushida the Little Devil. This woman was also a heavyweight; her trouble-level was no less than that of the gyaru trio!
"Uh, Kushida-san...I'm a bit tired from club practice today, so I want to sleep early.
If there's anything, let's talk tomorrow." Hikigaya used an excuse, not wanting to let her in.
"Club practice my ass!
You were clearly out shopping with Karuizawa and the others!!"
Bang bang bang!!!
Kushida Kikyo pounded on the door, her voice turning cold and urgent: "Cut the crap, Hikigaya, open the door now!"
Hikigaya looked helpless.
He wanted to play dead and not open it, but if he let Kushida keep banging like that, it would eventually draw the attention of the other boys' rooms, making things even more troublesome. Click~ The moment Hikigaya turned the lock, Kushida Kikyo pushed the door open with force and marched in.
"Took you so long to open up. You didn't bring another woman back to your room, did you?" Kushida stormed into his room aggressively, her eyes scanning every corner suspiciously.
"Nothing like that.
Besides, take your shoes off first!"
As he spoke, Hikigaya took out a pair of bright yellow slippers from the shoe rack.
"Hmph~ At least you're sensible."
Kushida kicked her heels against the wall and shed her leather shoes. Perhaps feeling a bit hot and stuffy, she leaned one hand against the wall while using the other to peel off her slightly dirty white socks. She stuffed them into her shoes and slipped her bare feet into the slippers Hikigaya had prepared.
"What are you looking at?"
"Uh, those slippers suit you quite well."
"Are you sure you're looking at the slippers?"
"...?"
"You know it in your own heart! You closet foot-fetishist!!"
Kushida gave him a side-eye and then plopped down on a chair.
"Want something to drink?" Hikigaya turned to open the fridge.
"A cup of cappuccino, thanks."
Kushida sat with her legs crossed, her slippers hanging off her fair toes, swinging back and forth.
"Alright, please wait a moment, dear guest." Hikigaya handed her a cup of instant latte.
"Hey, is this how you treat a guest?" Kushida took a sip and realized the flavor was off.
"It's the thought that counts.
Anyway, you didn't come here just for coffee, did you?"
Hikigaya sat down on the wooden floor with a nonchalant expression.
"True, but I need to vent properly next. So of course I need a drink I actually like."
Kushida took another sip of the latte, furrowed her brows, and made a face of disgust.
"Don't be so picky, this is my room.
If you're going to spew trash, hurry up and say it now.
I need to shower and sleep in a bit," Hikigaya urged.
"What?! Showering and sleeping so early is clearly just an excuse to reject me." Kushida was very good at reading people.
"Kushida, just start venting." Hikigaya urged her again.
"Before that, can I ask a few questions?"
"..." Kushida's gaze shifted, landing on two boxes sitting on the desk.
The boxes were wrapped in exquisite ribbons, making it obvious at a glance that they were important gifts!
"Hikigaya, are you planning to give someone a gift?"
"Huh?"
Following her gaze, Hikigaya immediately understood what she meant.
"No, you've misunderstood."
However, before Kushida could breathe a sigh of relief, Hikigaya's next words made her alert again!
"Those are gifts someone else gave to me."
"Who!"
"People from Sobu High."
"Cute girls?"
"............Why are you so certain?"
"Tch! Besides messing around with girls, what male friends do you even have?"
"That stung, Kushida! I at least have Saika, my little angel."
"Who's Saika? That name sounds like a cute girl."
Kushida's face showed suspicion. Hikigaya sighed.
"Unfortunately, Saika is a boy."
"Why would you be 'unfortunate' about that...?
Never mind, let's not talk about that for now.
First, explain what the deal is with these two gifts from girls."
"Ah? So much trouble. Can I not say?"
"No!" Faced with Kushida's strong demand, Hikigaya had no choice but to briefly recount the events of that day.
"That's all there is to it," he finished.
"Just out for two days and you hooked up with two cute girls? You're anything but simple, Hikigaya!"
Kushida roasted him mercilessly, then changed her tone: "Um... can I see the gifts?"
"Whatever," Hikigaya said, acting indifferent.
Actually, since receiving the gifts from the two Sobu High students, he hadn't opened them. Mainly because he wasn't used to wearing glasses. As for the phone strap, if it was just a normal style, it wouldn't matter.
The problem was that Yuigahama Yui had attached a cute little handmade sachet to the phone strap; it was just too eye-catching!
"Whoa! This knitting—it's clearly handmade!
It looks like the person who gave this to you isn't just looking to repay a debt."
Kushida was a connoisseur; she recognized the origin of the small sachet at a glance.
"What else could it be? What else is there besides repayment?"
Hikigaya asked back, puzzled. He had only known that girl named Yuigahama Yui for two days, and their interaction was limited to being nodding acquaintances.
"You're not going to say she fell in love with me at first sight, are you?"
"Give me a break! So-called 'love at first sight' is just a fancy way of saying you're lusting after someone's body."
"I don't think I have that kind of attraction." Hikigaya narrowed his dead-fish eyes.
"...Who knows? Maybe someone actually likes your 'type'?" Kushida grinned and winked at him teasingly.
Then, she opened the other gift box.
It was a pair of glasses.
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