Chapter 353 Chiba, Visiting the Hikigaya House!
The next morning.
Horikita Suzune rose early to wash up, do her hair, and tidy her clothes. Hikigaya got up sluggishly with a yawn, only to be pushed back down by her.
"Hachiman, you don't need to come see Brother off today."
"Why?"
"I don't want Brother to hit you."
"He already did yesterday."
"He'll hit you even harder today."
Hikigaya looked at the lingering marks on Horikita Suzune's neck and nodded with deep conviction.
"Who told you to be so rough?" Horikita Suzune gave him a reproachful glare.
Hikigaya gave a sheepish smile. "It was the novelty of it, I just couldn't help myself, hehe!"
"In any case, if you don't want to die today, just stay in your room quietly."
Horikita Suzune applied a band-aid to her neck. However, wouldn't this clumsy attempt at camouflage make it even more conspicuous instead of hiding it?
"Wait a minute, Suzune..."
Hikigaya wanted to stop her, but she seemed to be in a hurry and rushed out the door.
"Sigh! President Horikita is going to blow a fuse, isn't he?
But today is his departure day; I hope everyone stays safe."
Lying back on the bed, Hikigaya leisurely scrolled through his phone. As he idly swiped through the news feed, he spotted a local report.
[High School Dropout Commits Suicide]
Matsuo (name withheld) was a student at a prestigious private school in Tokyo. His mother died from complications during his birth, and his father died by ** suicide a year ago. Having lost his source of financial support, Matsuo was forced to drop out of the prestigious school and, impoverished, chose to end his life by jumping from a building.
"..."
Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes darkened slightly.
According to the description in the news, Matsuo-kun had been an excellent student with good grades and conduct since childhood. Even if he had to drop out of a prestigious school
due to financial reasons, with his grades, ordinary public high schools should have been more than happy to accept such an honor student. He could have even applied for financial aid; maintaining a basic standard of living shouldn't have been that difficult.
How did he end up struggling to survive on part-time jobs and eventually committing suicide in despair?
"Could it be that he offended some big shot at that prestigious school?" Hikigaya frowned, making a logical deduction.
Society is cruel. Even the "ivory tower" of a school is no exception. Acting Chairman Tsukishiro of Advanced Nurturing High School is a prime example of those dark forces!
"Sigh..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Seeing a peer in the news lose their young life like that, he felt a flicker of sorrow in his heart.
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Chiba Prefecture, Hikigaya Household.
"Hello, Ma'am. I'm Yuigahama Yui from the Yuigahama family on the next street over."
"Oh my~ So you're Mrs. Yuigahama's daughter? You're just as pretty as your mother."
Being neighbors, Hikigaya's mother had some impression of the "dog-wood" haired girl in front of her.
"And..."
"Nice to meet you. I am Yukinoshita Yukino, a student at Soubu High. We are friends of Hikigaya Hachiman. We received a gift from him the other day and came specifically to pay a visit today."
"Eh?! That blockhead Hachiman actually knows such cute girls?"
Hikigaya's mother looked shocked and incredulous. The key point was: her son went to school in Tokyo, so how did he know girls from Soubu High?
"Oh, Yui-onee-san and Yukino-onee-san are here~~"
Hikigaya Komachi heard the noise and came running downstairs. During the club exchange meeting, Komachi had gone to Soubu High to meet her brother and had met these two senpais once before. Since Komachi's goal for high school entrance exams was Soubu High, she had visited the campus several times and met them again; their relationship had gradually become quite friendly.
"Komachi-chan, here is some information regarding enrollment at Soubu High."
Yukinoshita Yukino had founded a club at Soubu High called the "Service Club," dedicated to helping those in need.
"Komachi-chan, Yukinon and I are really looking forward to you becoming our kouhai~"
Yuigahama Yui hugged her with her usual over-familiarity. Komachi was squeezed so hard by the "high-mass star clusters" that she had trouble breathing. Her small face showed a subtle expression as she muttered under her breath: "Brother would definitely like this kind of thing... but Yukino-onee-san is also very beautiful. It's truly a difficult choice."
Hikigaya's mother stood to the side, wearing a "shipping" smile. Although the Hikigaya family doted on their daughter and let their son roam free, he was still her child. Seeing her son be so popular with girls naturally made her very happy. Her brain was even fantasizing about which of the two girls was more suitable to be a daughter-in-law.
Yuigahama was a neighbor; if they married, it would be very convenient for the families to visit. However, she often heard Mrs. Yuigahama complain that her daughter was a bit of a disaster in the kitchen. As for Yukinoshita, she was from a powerful local family in Chiba—the "big money" types. It felt like the gap between their family backgrounds was a bit large. But she heard the Yukinoshita family only had two daughters; to inherit the family business, they might choose a matrilocal marriage (taking in a son-in-law).
Letting her son marry into another family seemed a bit unfair to the Hikigaya name, but the kids' father was a total "daughter-con," so he probably wouldn't have an objection.
'...Wait, what am I thinking?
Maybe they're just normal friends.'
Hikigaya's mother shook her head inwardly.
"Yui-onee-san, Yukino-onee-san, you've both tried the handmade cookies Brother sent, right?" Komachi bragged proudly, showing off the largest gift bag.
"Yes, I've tried them."
"Hikki's 'feminine power' (cooking skills) makes me feel a bit ashamed..." Thinking of the Valentine's chocolate she had given him, Yui Yuigahama laughed awkwardly.
"They were better than expected," Yukinoshita Yukino said, looking thoughtful. "However, the patterns on the cookies have subtle differences. I get the feeling they didn't all come from the same person."
In her impression, Hikigaya Hachiman was an excellent but aloof boy. It was hard to imagine him cooking with someone else.
"..."
A bit of cold sweat formed on Komachi's forehead. According to what that Chabashira-sensei said over the phone, her brother seemed to have many close female friends at Advanced Nurturing. That idiot brother couldn't have asked a girl to help him make gifts for other girls, could he?
'Onii-chan, what on earth have you been through at that school!'
Just then, the Hikigaya house welcomed a new guest.
"Um~ Big brother, who are you looking for?"
When Komachi opened the door, she saw a handsome older man wearing glasses.
"Nice to meet you. Forgive the intrusion. I am Horikita Manabu, a graduate of Advanced Nurturing High School. Is this the residence of Hikigaya Hachiman?" Horikita Manabu stated his identity succinctly.
"Advanced Nurturing High School?"
"You're Brother's senpai? Please come in, come in~"
Komachi was stunned for a moment, then welcomed him in with a face full of surprise. Upon entering, Horikita Manabu glanced at the two high school girls in the living room, a strange look flickering across his face.
'This guy... how does he even know girls from other schools?'
"This is..." Komachi gave a brief introduction to both parties.
"President Horikita, hello."
Yuigahama Yui sized him up with curiosity.
"Horikita? Boso Food Co., Ltd.?"
"Chiba Yukinoshita Construction. I met your older sister once at a banquet years ago."
As members of the Chiba elite, they were aware of each other. What puzzled Yukinoshita Yukino was how someone from the Horikita family would know Hikigaya.
"Komachi-chan, I can call you that, right?
I often heard from Hachiman that he has the world's cutest little sister." Horikita Manabu looked at Komachi with a friendly expression.
"Did Brother really say that?"
"Ehehe~ I feel a bit embarrassed~~" Komachi covered her cheeks, twisting shyly, then asked excitedly, "Can Horikita-senpai tell me more about my brother?"
"You can just call me Manabu-nii."
The corner of Horikita Manabu's mouth quirked into a kind smile. "After all, we'll be family in the future."
"Family?" Komachi looked confused.
Even Hikigaya's mother, who was cutting fruit in the kitchen, couldn't help but stop and prick up her ears.
"Hachiman didn't tell you?"
Horikita Manabu feigned confusion while secretly observing the two girls in the living room. Yuigahama Yui's eyes remained clear, but Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to have sensed something, her hands clenching into fists.
Komachi shook her head. "The rules at Advanced Nurturing don't seem to allow students to contact the outside world. Brother can only get in touch by using his homeroom teacher's phone..."
"I see. There is indeed such a rule. Hachiman is the Student Council's Public Morals Chairman; he must lead by example and cannot violate school rules."
Horikita Manabu explained solemnly, while also ramping up everyone's anticipation.
"Oh, come on, Big Brother Manabu, just say it!" Komachi couldn't help but urge him. "What is this all about?"
Horikita Manabu's lips curled, and in a calm voice, he dropped a bombshell:
"Hachiman and Suzune... that is, my younger sister, are currently dating with marriage as the objective."
"???"
"!!!"
After a brief silence, bursts of exclamations erupted in the living room.
"Is it true?"
"Hachiman got a girlfriend?"
"Please, let me see her!!"
Hikigaya's mother, as if hearing the most exciting thing ever, rushed out of the kitchen immediately.
"Of course, Ma'am."
Horikita Manabu took out his phone and opened his photo album. There was Horikita Suzune with long hair, short hair, and in various styles. She looked like a bright and lively beautiful girl!
"What a beautiful girl!" Hikigaya's mother looked on, her heart full of joy.
"So this is Suzune-onee-san..."
Komachi looked on in wonder, then subconsciously compared her to Yui and Yukino in the living room. How should she put it... The Suzune-onee-san in the photos was a perfect combination of the latter two's strengths.
Yukino's face and Yui's "chest"!
"Ah... Hikki already has a girlfriend..." Yuigahama Yui's mouth hung open as if her soul had been sucked out.
"..."
Yukinoshita Yukino frowned slightly and raised a doubt. "Did Hikigaya-kun really start dating President Horikita's sister? I don't see any photos of the two of them together."
Horikita Manabu thought to himself: 'As expected of the Yukinoshita daughter, she's just as clever as her sister.'
"They are high school students, after all; their studies are the main priority. Hachiman and Suzune's relationship is very low-profile."
Explaining it that way seemed quite reasonable. Yukinoshita Yukino fell into silence. An indescribable emotion welled up in her heart. Clearly, she and Hikigaya had only met a few times, and the time they spent together was short. But for some reason, there seemed to be a fated pull, making her want to understand him involuntarily.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
"My Hachiman is a socially awkward child; it must be hard on Suzune-chan."
"No, Hachiman is a reliable man; it's my sister who is being looked after."
Listening to the two of them exchange polite praises, Yuigahama Yui and Yukinoshita Yukino felt they couldn't fit into the conversation at all. The two girls tactfully took their leave.
"Yui-senpai, Yukino-senpai, goodbye~"
"Make sure to visit our house often in the future~~" Komachi saw them to the entrance.
"Ahaha~" Yuigahama Yui forced a smile.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't give up and added, "Komachi-chan, if there's any news from Hikigaya-kun, please be sure to contact me. I don't mean anything else... I just want to understand a friend better."
'Onii-chan, you really are a sinful man!'
After sending them off, Komachi wore a complicated expression.
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Advanced Nurturing High School, Dorm Room 404.
"Hachiman-kun, you're actually here!"
"This is my room, why wouldn't I be here?" Hikigaya looked strangely at the intruding Kushida Kikyo.
"No, I mean, today is the third-years' graduation ceremony." Kushida Kikyo was quite surprised. "I thought that bitch Horikita would definitely drag you along to see her brother off."
"Don't keep calling her a bitch; haven't you two become friends?" Hikigaya couldn't help but criticize.
"Pah! Who's friends with her?" Kushida Kikyo looked disdainful. "We're just using each other."
"Fine, fine. Did you come to see me today because of something troublesome?" Hikigaya didn't want to dwell on that issue.
"What's that supposed to mean? You make it sound like I'm some kind of troublesome woman!" Kushida Kikyo stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him huffily, and then her sharp gaze landed on the desk. She hurried over and picked up a few long, jet-black hairs from the desk.
"This hair... it's Horikita's!" Kushida Kikyo questioned sternly, "When was she in your room?"
"Just yesterday..." Hikigaya didn't lie, he just hid the fact that Suzune only left this morning. "She came over because she wanted to cut her hair and wanted me to give my opinion."
"Hmph~ If you want to cut hair, go to a salon! That was clearly an excuse to stay in Hachiman-kun's room!" Kushida Kikyo snapped angrily.
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