Chapter 7 - Chapter V: What Is It That We Want?

Arc I: The Demon of Sōbu

Chapter V,

What Is It That We Want?

Hikigaya Residence

7:30, AM

"Then…" a small, gentle voice was heard in front of Hikigaya as he ate. "Did something happen?"

He raised his gaze.

His dead-fish eyes settled on her, his sister, Hikigaya Komachi.

And a sigh escaped him.

Ever since he arrived from Kyoto, he had been quieter than usual. His sister had noticed. Of course she would notice. Fifteen years of living under the same roof weigh heavily.

His eyes were lower than usual. His posture was even more hunched.

But he did not want her to carry his problems.

"Not at all", Hikigaya replied naturally. "It's always the same. My life is like watching a painting dry, boring", he tried to form a smile, but only a somewhat unpleasant grimace came out. "They say no news is good news", he finished.

Komachi's expression changed.

She tilted her head, listening to her brother, but he was not the same.

He sounded tired.

"What's wrong, Onii-chan?"

"Nothing, like I said", Hikigaya replied again. "Nothing's wrong."

Komachi lowered her plate. "Hey, do you know something…?"

"Nani? (What), about the peas? Yeah, they're a little dry…", Hikigaya replied, hoping to evade the subject.

Komachi furrowed her brow.

"Onii-chan, you always have a tendency to say the dumbest things", Komachi spoke without taking her eyes off her brother. "But you're even dumber when you're feeling bad…"

Hikigaya smiled at the statement, somewhat condescendingly. "Oh, really?"

"Hey… did something happen with Yui-san and Yukino-san?", Komachi asked what she had really wanted to ask from the beginning.

Hikigaya lowered his spoon. "Did they tell you something?"

Komachi shook her head. "I just thought it might be that."

"Mmh", Hikigaya managed to murmur as he brought his plate to his lips.

"Then what did you do?", Komachi asked again, more insistently.

"Isn't it strange that you assume I did something?", Hikigaya replied, somewhat annoyed.

He knew what his sister's opinion of him was.

She could call him an idiot, disgusting, Gomi-chan, a Hachiman. But that did not mean it didn't hurt. He endured it. She was his sister. He would do anything to make her happy. But having her accuse him without knowing anything irritated him more than he would have liked to feel.

Komachi continued. "There's always a chance that you've done something wrong without knowing it, Onii-chan", Komachi looked directly into her brother's eyes. "Well, I'm listening. You can tell me everything."

Komachi moved closer to the table, resting her elbows on the white wood of the table, while showing a smile mixed with tenderness and the abstinence that characterized the Hikigaya women.

However, Hikigaya was not going to fall for that trick so easily.

"It's easy to say…", he murmured, remembering the moment. But immediately, he raised his voice, changing his words. "No, better not."

Komachi did not seem to care about the discomfort her brother was showing, so she continued insisting.

"Come on, tell me. Don't be shy. Tell me what happened."

Hikigaya felt an itch on his neck.

The same one he felt when he looked at that guy's smile.

Then it moved to his arms.

His jaw tightened.

He wanted to get rid of that itch.

So he didn't think about it.

"Enough. You're being annoying."

Hikigaya's words were enough to make Komachi open her eyes wide.

The little girl furrowed her brow. "Do you have to say it like that?", Komachi's annoyance was reflected in her words.

Hikigaya's eyes drifted away.

"How else could I say it", he replied as he continued eating. "You're being annoying."

Komachi's eyebrows showed even more anger.

"Ah, I see", Komachi got up from the table. "I won't ask again."

"I'd appreciate that", Hikigaya replied, turning his eyes back to his food.

The door opened.

"I'm leaving. Close the door when you leave", Komachi's words simply echoed through the room.

Hikigaya nodded. "Mmmh."

Komachi closed the door.

A few seconds later.

"See? Something did happen!"

Komachi shouted from behind the door.

Another sigh escaped Hikigaya.

Sōbu High School

8:03, AM

Hikigaya looked at the usual group.

Hayama, Miura, Ebina, Tobe, the other two, and Yuigahama.

"So this is what he protects, huh?"

Hikigaya said to himself as he watched the blond. Watching him converse so naturally. Confidence, and an almost perfect smile. Talking about the day's trending topic.

He couldn't find it any more pathetic.

While Hikigaya was lost in his internal monologue, someone interrupted him.

"Good morning, Hachiman", Totsuka said.

Hikigaya turned his head at the sound.

"Mmh, good morning." Totsuka gave him a surprised look, to which Hikigaya briefly raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Ah, n-no, it's nothing", Totsuka shook his hands. "I'm surprised you greeted me in such a normal way."

Hikigaya nodded at his words. "Yeah, well. I suppose", Hikigaya's eyes wandered back to the group. "Normal…"

The words came out without him thinking.

He opened his mouth slightly to continue, but the sound of the door came first.

"All right, class, everyone to your seats", the teacher said as he entered the classroom, rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt and leaving his briefcase on the desk in front of him. "Take out your books, to page twenty-two…"

The noise of moving chairs deafened him.

And as always…

Everything returned to normal.

Class 2-F

3:57, PM

The day comes to an end, classes are over, and it is time for the students to go to their clubs.

This time, Hikigaya does not wait for Yuigahama. He did not want her to have another awkward moment with him.

He does it for him… or for her.

He doesn't even know.

Yuigahama notices this, her eyes lowering. Unsure of what to do, she simply watches him cross the door without doing anything.

A few minutes later, Hikigaya walks down the school hallway. Students talk among themselves, a couple run past him. Others are getting in the way on the stairs as he makes his way to the second floor.

He looks at his phone, and the time reads 4:32 PM.

Another sigh, this time more exhausted, escapes him.

Hikigaya is standing in front of the door. He had deliberately taken a few minutes.

He really does not want to go through the door.

It would be awkward.

He wants to go home.

When his hand reaches the doorknob, he hears voices from behind the door with absolute clarity.

"I hope you like it."

He hears Matsuba's voice.

The itch returns.

"Thank you, Matsu-kun!" Yuigahama shouts excitedly.

He had already arrived.

"Mmh, yes, thank you, Matsuba-kun", Yukinoshita says this time.

Hikigaya noticed a certain polite tone in Yukinoshita's voice, which seemed so strange to him. He had never heard that tone from her toward him. It was like watching the sun rise in the west instead of the east.

His jaw tightened momentarily.

"Did you know there's a place near Inagekaigan Station that also sells very delicious crepes?" Yuigahama commented cheerfully.

"Oh, yeah!" Aisaka replied. "They're delicious. We know the owner, right, Haru-kun?"

Matsuba nodded, bringing his cup of tea to his lips.

Meanwhile, Hasegawa nodded.

"Mmmh."

"We should go together!" Yuigahama shouted excitedly.

"Yes! It could be a club activity", Aisaka commented. "Let's help Tamayo-san sell crepes."

"Yeah, what a good idea, Aiko-chan!" Yuigahama's voice spoke again. "Yukinon, you should come too."

"Of course", Yukinoshita commented.

"Are you coming too, Hajime-kun?" Aisaka said.

"Of course", Hasegawa replied.

"Matsu-kun, you…—"

The sound of the sliding door interrupted the atmosphere of the room.

Hikigaya slid the door shut behind him.

A stifled silence rose in the room.

The corners of Matsuba's mouth lifted.

Hasegawa looked at the table uncomfortably.

Aisaka ate as quietly as possible.

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun, it's good to see you in good health", Matsuba's mocking voice made itself heard. "I didn't think you'd come."

Hikigaya only looked at the floor with a slight furrow of his brows, without answering the obvious mockery.

Yuigahama noticed that everyone was eating.

"A-Ah, Hikki, do you want some—"

Matsuba immediately covered Yuigahama's mouth, preventing her from speaking.

"No, no, no, Yuigahama-san", Matsuba stopped her. "I brought something else for Hikigaya-kun."

Hikigaya watched Matsuba walk toward what appeared to be a pair of wine-red sofas. It looked like a small living room.

"How did he get those in here?" Hikigaya thought to himself.

Matsuba returned with a brown box.

"It's for you", he said, holding it out in front of him with raised eyebrows. "Taiyaki for the one who fulfilled the request." [1]

Hikigaya looked at the plate, and then at Matsuba.

"I'm really starting to hate him."

But Hikigaya accepted it anyway. "Arigatou… (Thank you), Matsuba", Hikigaya took the plate. "Free food. It's free food."

Matsuba's smile widened.

"Mā, honno kimochi dosu e (It's nothing)." [2]

Hikigaya withdrew, ignoring Matsuba, and took a seat beside Yuigahama to open his small book.

The sound of birds was the only thing that could be heard in the clubroom.

Yukinoshita finished wiping the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief. Yuigahama finished her food. Meanwhile, Hasegawa had only a few bites left to finish, while Aisaka wiped her mouth with some napkins.

Meanwhile, Matsuba had his back to the group as he poured himself more of the tea Yukinoshita had made.

His smile reflected pure satisfaction at the light brown liquid.

Because of the situation and, much to his displeasure, also because of Yukinoshita's tea.

It was delicious.

The exact balance of bitterness and sweetness.

The tick-tock of the clock was the only thing that could be heard.

Yuigahama looked around, but no one did anything, so she decided to speak.

"By the way, everyone is acting normally, right?"

Aisaka saw how Yuigahama was trying to change the atmosphere. "That's a good thing, isn't it, Yui-san?"

Yuigahama nodded with a stoicism that died seconds after she looked away. "Yeah, well… uh, they—"

"Yes", Hikigaya replied, interrupting her. "From what I could see, nothing out of the ordinary happened."

Yukinoshita's eyes were reflected in her tea.

"It's good to know", she replied.

Yuigahama immediately brought the conversation back to life.

"Actually, I was a little nervous", Yuigahama spoke, wanting to return to the subject so she could weigh it. "I thought something would happen." Matsuba's smile instinctively widened when he heard her. Yuigahama continued. "But I guess there's nothing to worry about." When she finished, she looked at the others.

Hasegawa nodded.

"That's good…" he said without much importance, pushing his chair back and rocking on it.

Meanwhile, Aisaka smiled.

"They seem to be good friends." She tilted her head slightly in confusion. "Etto… uh, Hayama-kun, Tobe-kun, and Hina-san…"

She really didn't know everyone's names.

Hikigaya could not hide his slight furrowed brow upon hearing Aisaka's statement.

"I'm not sure I understand them", Yuigahama's voice filled the room this time.

Her hands went to her legs, playing with her fingers.

Her eyes became lost in the tips of her fingers.

Yukinoshita, who had remained on the sidelines, looked at her clubmate and spoke.

"The thoughts and feelings of others are things that can never be known", Yukinoshita's eyes lowered further and further. "And even if we could know them, what good would it do? Understanding them would be another matter."

The words made Matsuba stop turning his back to them.

The boy's golden eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Yukinoshita.

Hikigaya, Yuigahama, and Aisaka looked at Yukinoshita.

They had not expected an answer like that from her.

However, Hasegawa saw this and, from the corner of his eye, caught that smile on Matsuba's face that made him shudder.

"What is he after…? What is he doing…? What does he want from them…?"

Hasegawa spoke to himself.

"You shouldn't worry too much about that", Hikigaya added without taking his eyes off his book. "After all, we're the ones who pretend to be normal most of the time."

The words came out. He really hadn't wanted to say it, but he had to.

Yuigahama lowered her gaze even further this time.

"We pretend to be normal too?", she replied, with a certain sadness filtering through her voice.

Her eyes lowered, her smile fell, her liveliness disappeared.

"Normal…" Yukinoshita took up the word. "That's what normal means to you, right?" Yukinoshita's words fell. "Deep down, you're saying that you won't change, is that what you're saying?"

Hikigaya did not answer.

His silence entered the room.

"You're—"

Matsuba's hand rested on Yukinoshita's shoulder.

She turned her neck toward him; there was no blush, only surprise.

Hasegawa opened his eyes halfway in surprise.

Aisaka did not know how to react; she was also somewhat astonished.

Yuigahama opened her mouth in surprise.

Matsuba lightly squeezed her shoulder, as if he were afraid of hurting her.

He saw how she clenched her hands beneath the table.

Yukinoshita came back to herself.

"I…"

"Yukinon! Hey…" Yuigahama tried to say something, but she couldn't.

And the sound of the door once again flooded the clubroom.

"I'm coming in!" Hiratsuka-sensei entered the room.

The six students turned at the same time, looking at the woman in the white coat.

"Hiratsuka-sensei…" Yukinoshita spoke, straightening her posture.

The woman entered the room, carrying some papers in her hands.

"I have some work for you", she said as she walked and looked at the two new members. "Oh, look, new faces…" She looked at Hasegawa and Aisaka, and just as she was about to introduce herself, she stopped. "Who the hell put all this in here?"

Hiratsuka-sensei opened her eyes wide when she saw a dining room inside the clubroom.

Then she looked at Yukinoshita again.

Yukinoshita merely sighed and looked at Matsuba.

"Hiratsuka-sensei!" Matsuba raised his voice enthusiastically as he went toward the woman. "I wanted to make some renovations." Matsuba's charming tone rose. "I felt bad after making someone break a window. So I took the liberty of decorating the place. It was lacking a little color, don't you think…?"

Hiratsuka looked at the sofas again.

Three in total. Wine-red in color, with gold trim, and a small glass table in the middle. Beneath them was a carpet of the same color with gold decorations. From where she stood, it looked like silk. Wait, is that silk?!

And without Hiratsuka noticing, Matsuba was already a few centimeters away from her, leaning slightly toward her.

"Uh-huh…" Hiratsuka-sensei replied uncomfortably.

She didn't know what it was about that boy that always made her feel on alert.

"Tell me how your car is doing", Matsuba smiled even wider. "I hope it's doing well."

Hiratsuka-sensei smiled with a certain annoyance.

"Oh, that. Yes. Thank you, Matsuba…"

Hikigaya noticed Hiratsuka-sensei's discomfort. But he decided to deal with it later.

"Now then, what does our beautiful teacher desire…", Matsuba spoke, hoping to see a red tint spread across the woman's cheeks.

"M-Mmmh", Hiratsuka-sensei took a moment to speak. "Hasegawa, Aisaka, I'm Hiratsuka from the club and…" Matsuba seemed to move closer and closer with every word the woman spoke. She was thrown off by someone calling her beautiful. "Anyway, ah, you can come in now!"

Matsuba smiled upon receiving the blush he had been looking for from the older woman.

The door opened again, and a girl entered, a girl with gray hair tied into two pigtails.

"Hello, good afternoon", she said, positioning herself in front of them.

Yukinoshita recognized her.

"Shiromeguri-senpai."

The girl smiled.

"It seems I need your help again."

Shiromeguri Meguri. A few months ago, she had requested the club's help during the previous Sports Festival.

So, when she took a few more steps, another girl came in behind her.

"Iroha-chan!" Yuigahama spoke, calling out to her.

"Yui-senpai!" the girl, Isshiki Iroha, replied. "Good afternoon."

"Yahallo! Long time no see, Iroha-chan", Yuigahama spoke again.

Hikigaya looked at the girl. Her hair was almost the same shade as Matsuba's, but with dull eyes that lacked his sparkle. In fact, the moment he saw her, she looked like she could be his sister. But when she glanced at Matsuba, he only smiled at both girls with an almost normal expression.

He didn't know them at all.

Hikigaya's eyes returned to the girl.

Isshiki looked at Hikigaya and gave him a shy smile.

Hikigaya returned her smile with an annoyed expression.

"This girl is going to be a problem waiting to happen."

The loner thought.

Now the table was full.

"A candidate for student council president?" Yuigahama spoke from the center of the table.

Yukinoshita was analyzing the request.

Matsuba was drinking tea, now seated to her right.

Hasegawa yawned, Aisaka listened attentively, and Hikigaya kept his eyes on his novel.

"Yes", Isshiki replied. But as she answered, her eyes traveled toward the two boys closest to her. "I know what you're thinking. You don't think I'm a good choice."

Hikigaya, who was looking at the girl, shook his head with slight embarrassment.

"N-No, not really."

"I wasn't thinking anything", Hasegawa replied with a certain boredom.

But Isshiki continued clarifying in what one might call a childish manner.

"I understand, everyone tells me I'm slow or clumsy all the time."

Hikigaya immediately analyzed the girl.

"This girl must be one of those girls that other girls hate. She reminds me of a certain girl from middle school."

But while Hikigaya was lost in his introspection,

Hasegawa replied.

"Maybe you are", he told Isshiki.

Isshiki opened her eyes slightly in surprise and forced her smile, but clear annoyance peeked through.

"Y-You think so…?" she asked uncomfortably, though she did not stop smiling.

Hasegawa could only sigh, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Matsuba, who was simply smiling while drinking his tea.

He was not interested.

"Well…" Yukinoshita's voice made them turn to look at her. "And what is the problem?"

Shiromeguri spoke up.

"Well, as I said, Isshiki-san is a candidate now, but…" She paused to clear her throat. "How should I put it? We want her not to win the election…"

Yuigahama nodded with a concerned expression.

"So you don't want to be student council president, Iroha-chan?"

"Yes, exactly", Isshiki replied.

Yukinoshita simply looked at both of them.

"If you don't want it, then why would you be among the candidates?" Yukinoshita asked, bringing a finger to her chin.

Isshiki smiled. "The thing is, I didn't volunteer. I was chosen."

Hikigaya, who had only been listening, already had a clear idea about this girl.

"What is she, an idol?"

Isshiki continued explaining. "I think it's because I stand out a lot. I'm the soccer team's representative, and I also get along well with Hayama-senpai and his other friends."

Hikigaya's thoughts returned.

"No… she's just a girl who makes everyone else look perfect. That's an invitation for envy and resentment from the others. I'm sure they did this to make fun of her once she lost the election." The loner continued analyzing her.

Isshiki continued speaking.

"So I built a good reputation without even realizing it."

"That seems like a rather elaborate plan for a joke", Yukinoshita said. "Since more than thirty votes are required to run in the election."

Yuigahama shouted in amazement.

"That many!" Yuigahama cleared her throat. "That's incredible."

"I'll have a talk with the culprits", Hiratsuka-sensei said, making the students look at her. "Matsuba, I need—"

At an abnormal speed, Matsuba was already heading toward the clubroom door.

"Of course", he said enthusiastically, setting his cup down on the table. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll go teach my dear kouhai a lesson."

"Talk", Hiratsuka-sensei gave him a serious look. "I want you to talk to them."

Matsuba raised the corners of his mouth, but his eyes reflected annoyance.

"Mmmh…" his voice deepened. "It won't be as stimulating anymore." But he quickly returned to his cheerful tone as he looked at his clubmates. "All right, don't wait for me, okay? When I'm done talking, I'll go home. I have something important to take care of. See you tomorrow!"

Matsuba left the clubroom.

Yuigahama spoke.

"Ah, Sensei, where is Matsu-kun going?"

Hiratsuka-sensei looked at Yuigahama, then at Yukinoshita.

"He handles requests in a different way. He'll make sure this doesn't happen again."

Yukinoshita slightly furrowed her brow, not understanding.

Hasegawa, who was looking at the table, furrowed his brow.

"This guy…"

Aisaka gave a knowing smile.

Meanwhile, Shiromeguri smiled uncomfortably because she knew what it meant. Isshiki simply looked from side to side in confusion.

Hikigaya noticed the silence that had settled over the room, so he spoke.

"If she doesn't want to win, let her lose. I don't see a more obvious solution."

Shiromeguri turned her head toward Hikigaya.

"Technically, yes, Hikigaya-kun. But there's another problem. Isshiki is the only candidate", Shiromeguri replied.

So Yukinoshita continued.

"What you're saying is that we need to make Isshiki-san lose the voters' confidence."

Isshiki immediately replied. "But if I lose like that, it could make me look bad."

"Do you already know who will give the campaign speech?" Hikigaya asked.

Isshiki answered.

"No."

"Then that makes things simple", Hikigaya concluded.

Yuigahama looked at Hikigaya, not understanding him.

"How, Hikki?"

Hikigaya sighed.

"If we want Isshiki to lose the election without being negatively affected, we can have someone write her speech. Then, once she loses the vote of confidence, she can blame whoever wrote her speech. She can distance herself from it, and that's it", Hikigaya spoke without taking his eyes off the floor. "The day after the speech, she can point to whoever wrote it, and she won't be affected."

Hikigaya turned slightly toward the others.

Yuigahama looked at him with an extremely surprised expression.

Aisaka looked at Hikigaya with curiosity.

"Would it work?"

"Maybe", Hasegawa replied simply. "If we want the girl (Isshiki) not to be affected, blaming whoever made the speech would exonerate her. Good idea, Hikigaya."

Hikigaya merely raised his eyebrows in response.

So Yuigahama began to speak.

"I don't like the way that sounds…", her eyes fell downward. She didn't want to look at him. She knew the answer. "And who's going to give that speech?"

Hikigaya avoided Yuigahama's gaze.

"Anyone who's willing to do it."

Hasegawa saw the situation.

He wanted to intervene somehow, to take responsibility. Hikigaya had already done it once. He didn't think it was fair. So he could, but Yukinoshita beat him to it.

"I can't approve of this method", Yukinoshita broke the silence.

Everyone looked at her.

"And why?" Hikigaya spoke challengingly.

"Because…" Yukinoshita leaned forward desperately. "There's no certainty that your plan will work. A bad speech could also end up hurting Isshiki-san", Yukinoshita's words did not seem to have the effect she expected on Hikigaya. "Even if she loses for that reason, do you think there wouldn't be another election…? Besides…" Yukinoshita continued. "The others aren't interested in the student council", Yukinoshita's voice began to crack. "Interest in the election is so low that, even if the results were announced, without counting the actual votes, no one would say a word about it", Yukinoshita's words began to rise. "So, for our objective, there are other solutions…"

She stopped.

She was standing.

At what point had she stood up? Both her hands were extended across the table.

When had it happened?

Everyone was looking at her.

Hikigaya was somehow surprised.

Yuigahama did not seem to recognize her friend.

Aisaka was also looking at her in surprise.

But Hasegawa wasn't. Now he understood why Matsuba was here.

He looked at her, and then at Hikigaya.

"Yukinoshita…" Hasegawa speaks to himself. So his eyes turn toward the loner who had not stopped watching Yukinoshita. "I'll have to talk to him. He has to know."

Everyone was still watching Yukinoshita as she began to descend and return to her seat.

"Yukinoshita", Hiratsuka-sensei's voice rang throughout the room.

She nodded.

"I'm sorry, that was very inappropriate of me", Yukinoshita cleared her throat. "The only plausible solution I can see is to support another candidate and make sure that candidate wins."

Hikigaya spoke. "If there were someone with that objective", his words once again made the group turn toward him, "wouldn't there already be candidates?"

"But…" Yuigahama spoke this time. "What if we find someone who will do it for us?"

Hasegawa took the floor.

"But who would really be willing to?"

Aisaka nodded.

"We could ask someone…"

The silence prompted Hiratsuka-sensei to speak.

"Well", she began. "It doesn't look like we're going to find a solution today. We'll resolve it tomorrow."

Shiromeguri and Isshiki had left the club room.

"Hiratsuka-sensei", Yukinoshita spoke. "Could you stay for a moment?"

Hiratsuka nodded with a confused look.

Then Yukinoshita spoke again. "I want to know, who won the bet?"

"The bet?" Hiratsuka replied, still confused.

Hikigaya saw his teacher's face. "She forgot…"

"The bet to determine who is the most capable of helping the others", Hikigaya replied. "Whoever can solve the greatest number of problems will make the loser do whatever the winner wants."

Hiratsuka's eyes widened. She had forgotten about that.

"You made that bet?" Yuigahama asks.

Hasegawa raises his eyebrows.

"Wow… I never took you for someone like that, Hikigaya."

Hikigaya quickly shakes his head.

"N-No, I didn't propose it."

Then Aisaka answers a small question of her own.

"I see why Yukino-san was always so cautious whenever you came into the club, Hachiman-kun."

Hikigaya shakes his head again, in the same tone of voice.

"Seriously, you two, stop. They were the ones who proposed the bet. I wanted world peace…" [3]

Everyone in the club room looks at Hikigaya.

"What were you thinking, partner?"

A small smile grows on Hasegawa's face.

"A-Ah… nothing…"

Meanwhile, the previous question still lingered.

Hiratsuka opens her eyes as she remembers.

"Ah, that's right!" She had forgotten about that bet. "Well, you've been working well most of the time. And in my opinion, you're all doing well." Hiratsuka looks at the faces of Hikigaya and Yukinoshita, dissatisfied with the answer. "Ah, I don't have an answer yet, but if you want, I can give you one based on my own biases."

"That works for me", Yukinoshita insists.

Hiratsuka sighs. "Fine, based solely on the results", Hiratsuka looks at the loner. "Hikigaya. You're one step ahead, but if we take the long-term process into account", Hiratsuka looks at Yukinoshita. "You would be ahead."

"So there is no clear winner?" Yukinoshita responds.

Hiratsuka nods.

"That's right. There is no winner yet."

"In that case, is there any problem if our points of view are different?" Yukinoshita asks.

Yuigahama looks at her friend.

"What do you mean, Yukinon?"

"He said that he and I don't have to use the same methods", Yukinoshita concludes.

"Yes, that's right", Hikigaya replies this time. "There's no reason to force the other person to use their own methods."

Hiratsuka listens to her student's words.

"Then what will happen to the club's activities while this is being resolved?"

Yukinoshita answers without looking up.

"The club members can choose whether to participate."

"That's one way of putting it", Hiratsuka replies with a half-moon smile.

They had been acting strangely ever since she arrived at the club.

Hikigaya still had his usual cynicism, but she had never seen her student act this way. Even less so hear her suggest lying in the student council election.

Hikigaya looks at his phone.

"It's time to go…" he thinks to himself.

He stands up and walks toward the door.

That's when Yuigahama notices. He had been so quiet that she hadn't realized it.

"I thought that…" Yukinoshita's voice sounds throughout the room. "We hated superficiality more than anything else…"

Hikigaya, upon hearing it, simply remains still for a couple of seconds.

He swallows.

And even so, he crosses the door.

Hasegawa watches the loner leave.

"I hope he walks slowly…"

Hasegawa thinks, since he was going to follow him.

Hiratsuka watches as Hikigaya leaves without closing the door.

"Did something happen?"

Hikigaya turns toward the voice of his teacher.

"Something?" Hikigaya replies, stopping. "Something like what?"

Hiratsuka-sensei nods.

"Okay, I see", she takes a moment to appreciate it. To see how he has grown. He had gotten a little taller, his hair slightly longer. But he still had that same attitude. "You're a good kid", Hiratsuka confesses. "You've helped quite a few people."

Hikigaya furrows his brow.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Hiratsuka winks at him. "What can I say? I like favorites", she replies. "And you're my favorite."

"That's not something a teacher should say, don't you think?" Hikigaya responds.

"My policy is to help my favorite students so they can improve", Hiratsuka replies.

"Mmm", Hikigaya responds. "Then try not to act according to that."

Hiratsuka places her hand on her student's shoulder.

"Careful", she says. "If you keep that attitude, the only thing you're going to get is misery. And the day you truly want to help someone, you won't be able to."

Hiratsuka strokes Hikigaya's cheek for a few seconds.

When she lowers her hand, their eyes meet.

Hikigaya turns his back on her and continues on his way.

Isomaru Suisan Chiba

6:21, PM

"Thank you for your purchase."

Hikigaya hears the girl, to which he simply nods in gratitude.

He begins walking through the restaurant to find a seat.

"Oh, a face I haven't seen before."

A feminine, sweet voice speaks, with a charm that could make anyone fall to their knees.

Hikigaya turns and sees her.

"No…"

Yukinoshita, Haruno. Yukinoshita's older sister.

She waves at Hikigaya with her hand, to which he can only walk quickly toward one of the counter seats, as fast as he can, ignoring the fact that he had seen her.

When he reaches his seat, he hears her voice again, closer this time.

"How mean", Haruno says. "There was no need to run off like that, you rude boy."

Hikigaya can only furrow his brow.

"Hikigaya-kun", Yukinoshita-san speaks in her usual teasing tone.

Hikigaya, who was holding his book, speaks.

"Yes…?"

"Tell me something interesting."

Hikigaya's eyes stare straight ahead with annoyance.

Haruno laughs when she sees Hikigaya's irritated expression.

"I love that annoyed reaction", she says as she stretches both arms upward. "I knew you were going to react like that."

Hikigaya inadvertently looks at Haruno's chest, but immediately averts his eyes.

"So…" Haruno speaks again. "How are things going with Yukino-chan?"

"Fine, I guess", Hikigaya replies.

Haruno smiles. "Mmmh, I'm glad to hear that", Haruno moves a little closer. "So what? Have you made any progress?"

"Progress?" Hikigaya asks, confused.

"You know, progress. Didn't you go on a school trip? Didn't anything happen?" Haruno replies.

"You're certainly well-informed", Hikigaya replies.

"Yukino-chan sent me a few souvenirs."

Hikigaya, somewhat curious, makes a guess.

"Did she use a delivery service?"

"I suppose she didn't want to see me…" Haruno says, looking away from Hikigaya.

"But she still bought you souvenirs", Hikigaya replies. "How thoughtful."

"Oh, I don't think that's it", Haruno confesses. "She hates me, but she doesn't want me to hate her." Hikigaya notices the small gap she left in her words, but Haruno continues. "Oh, perhaps she's too focused on her exams and doesn't want to waste time on other things", her voice changes to a livelier one. "I suppose you're focusing on the entrance exams too, right?" Haruno points out as she sees Hikigaya reading. "Don't you get bored?"

Hikigaya sees Haruno looking at him, then returns to the book she pointed at.

"No, not really." As he says it, what happened today comes to mind, feeling sorry for her in some way. "Perhaps she's a little overwhelmed. And then there's also all that stuff with the student council election."

"Ah, I see", Haruno replies, this time with a faint smile. "Meguri is finally going to retire…" she says, resting her hand against her cheek. "Knowing her, she asked Yukino-chan to be the next president, right?"

Hikigaya shakes his head.

"No, she didn't."

"What…? That's boring", Haruno says, changing her tone. "So Yukino-chan won't be the student council president?"

"No…" Hikigaya says simply. Haruno remains silent for a few seconds, long enough to make him look at her. "And does that matter?"

"No, well. It's just that I was never president", Haruno takes a moment to breathe. "How boring", the charming, sweet tone disappears.

Hikigaya immediately looks at her.

He watches as her expression changes in the blink of an eye.

Her tone of voice, her posture, her… gaze.

Haruno realizes that Hikigaya is watching her, and turns to look at him, only to smile at him.

Hikigaya, now somewhat accustomed to it (thanks to a certain brown-haired girl), does not react and simply returns to his book.

"Huh? Hikigaya?" another female voice. "Oh, it's you! It's been a long time", the girl continues.

Hikigaya looks at the girl.

Her dark brown wavy hair, blue uniform.

"O-Orimoto…" Hikigaya barely speaks.

Hikigaya does not stop looking at the girl, now Orimoto.

"I thought I had managed to bury my middle school classmates deep within my memory. But her name, Orimoto Kaori, came out without thinking. I could never completely erase it… I suppose."

Hikigaya thought back to those years.

"Wait", Orimoto says. "Do you go to Sōbu High?"

Hikigaya averts his gaze and shrinks into his seat.

"Y-Yeah", he replies.

Orimoto laughs a little. "So you're smart, huh? I didn't know that. Well, you hardly ever talked, so this is something new for me", Orimoto says without stopping her smile. Orimoto turns to look at Haruno. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No", Hikigaya replies.

His eyes remained fixed on a single point.

He did not know where to look.

"Really? I figured. There was no way she could be", Orimoto laughs.

Hikigaya shifts forward in his seat while forcing a fake laugh.

"Because I'm forcing a smile… because I don't… just… what the hell… I'm pathetic…"

Haruno turns to Hikigaya.

"Is it possible that this girl was a friend of Hikigaya-kun?"

Hikigaya turns to look at Haruno.

"Is it just me, or did she sound surprised that I had a friend?" Hikigaya thinks to himself.

He takes a breath and answers.

"She was one of my classmates."

Haruno laughs a little, covering her mouth at Hikigaya's answer.

"I'm Orimoto Kaori", the girl says.

Haruno looks at the girl.

"Mmmh", she gives a thoughtful smile. "I'm Yukinoshita Haruno." After a couple of seconds, she looks at Hikigaya. "I'm Hikigaya-kun's…" she pauses for a moment, thinking. "Hey, what exactly am I to you?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Hikigaya twists his jaw uncomfortably.

How was he supposed to answer that question?

"Well, it would be strange to say we're friends…" Haruno says, looking upward. "So…" Haruno moves closer to Hikigaya, pressing her body against his shoulder. "Why don't we say I'm your girlfriend?"

Hikigaya moves away from Haruno without feeling embarrassed or anything about the comment.

"Wouldn't it be easier to say you're my senpai, or something like that?"

Haruno moves a little closer anyway.

"Mmmh", she makes a fake pout. "You're so boring!" Yukinoshita-san now turns to Orimoto and the other girl beside her. "So, you're a former classmate of Hikigaya-kun? Tell me something about him." Orimoto laughs at Haruno's words, to which Haruno continues. "Something like his love life! That's it! This Onee-san wants to know about Hikigaya-kun's love life."

Hikigaya's eyes widen with deep concern.

His hands begin to tremble, and sweat starts running down his forehead.

An itch rises on his scalp.

He inhales and exhales, over and over again.

The three girls do not even notice Hikigaya's condition.

"Now that I think about it, he once asked me out."

"Really? No way!" the girl accompanying Orimoto replies.

Hikigaya's jaw tightens.

"Tell me more", Haruno replies with even more enthusiasm.

So Orimoto continues.

"I remember that we hadn't talked, and out of nowhere he asked me out. I was surprised."

The oxygen is cut off.

He tries to control himself, thinking.

"Talking… nothing… we sent each other messages… out of pity or whatever, she gave me her number. I used all kinds of excuses to message her and waited for some stupid response that was never going to come… but I don't think she knows about that… or she simply doesn't remember…"

Sweat begins to run down.

His words were no use.

His thoughts were no longer functioning.

His breathing became shorter and shorter.

None of them noticed.

But a new voice arrives.

"Hikigaya", a boy's voice is heard to his left. "Are you feeling okay, buddy?"

The loner turns toward the sound of the voice.

"Hasegawa", Hikigaya manages to say, trying to calm himself.

Haruno turns toward the new face.

"Hikigaya-kun? You know him?" Haruno's charming tone returns.

Orimoto and the other girl look at Hasegawa.

Hikigaya tries to speak.

"He… h-he…" but he swallows.

"Yes", Hasegawa replies upon hearing Hikigaya's difficulty. "I'm Hikigaya's friend. Hasegawa Hajime."

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun", Haruno's charming tone does not leave her. "I didn't know you had friends." Haruno turns back to Hasegawa. "I'm Yukinoshita Haruno, nice to meet you."

Hasegawa looks at Haruno and immediately notices the resemblance.

"So he has a sister, huh…" Hasegawa sighs. "Wonderful."

Haruno tilts her head in confusion.

"Sister?" Haruno immediately understands. "Ah, you must already know Yukino-chan." Her charming tone rises. "Well, be careful. Yukino-chan is for Hikigaya-kun." Haruno's words become even sweeter. "Onee-san will get angry if you try anything, Hasegawa Hajime-kun."

Hasegawa almost bursts out laughing at the direct threat.

"You don't need to worry about me, Onee-san", Hasegawa replies without the slightest hint of fear or intimidation.

He even feels sorry for her.

When Haruno sees that she got no reaction from him, she bursts into laughter.

"Ha, ha, ha", Haruno continues laughing. "Hasegawa-kun, Onee-san likes you."

Hasegawa looks at her with annoyance.

He's already had enough dealing with one lunatic.

Two would be impossible.

"Yeah, whatever", he replies to Haruno, then turns to Hikigaya. "Hey, we need to talk."

Hikigaya furrows his brow in confusion.

"Talk…?"

"Hikigaya, you have friends!" the girl shouts again, quite surprised. "Woah, how strange! What would our former classmates say? Right?" Orimoto takes a few seconds before addressing Hikigaya again. "Oh, Hikigaya! If you both go to Sōbu, you must know Hayama-kun." Orimoto interrupts herself.

Hikigaya replies out of muscle memory.

"Y-Yeah, you could say that…"

"Who…?" Hasegawa tilts his head in confusion.

"Really!" Orimoto replies excitedly. "You heard her, Chika. He could introduce us!" Orimoto tells her companion beside her.

The girl smiles distrustfully.

"Huh? No, maybe another time."

Hikigaya looks at Orimoto before looking back down at the floor.

"Hey, look. I don't really know him. We're not friends or anything…"

Orimoto, as well as the other girl, show disappointed expressions.

"A-Ah, right, that makes sense", Orimoto says somewhat awkwardly. "It would be strange if you were."

"This could get interesting!" Haruno shouts excitedly. "All right, ladies, I'll introduce you." Haruno puts her phone to her ear, and after a few seconds, speaks. "Hayato? Can you come where I am, right now? I'm at Isomaru Suisan, near the station."

"What's she plotting?" Hikigaya thinks.

Hasegawa, who had been sighing, speaks again.

"Hikigaya", he says for the second time. "It's important", he clarifies impatiently.

Haruno turns toward Hasegawa.

"Oh, you can stay too. It'll be fun."

For a second, Hasegawa seems to think she is talking to him…

"Fun… huh…" Hasegawa shakes his head wearily. "Be careful what you wish for, Onee-san."

"See you, Hayama-kun", Orimoto says as she walks toward the exit of the restaurant.

The other girl says goodbye as well. "Bye-bye, Hayama-kun. I'll text you."

Hayama and Haruno wave back in farewell.

Unlike Hikigaya and Hasegawa.

Who stare at their food.

"Why did you do this?" Hayama changes his friendly smile to a serious expression as he speaks to Haruno.

"I thought it would be fun?" Haruno replies in her cheerful tone.

Satisfied.

"Again…" Hayama replies. Then he looks at Hikigaya and Hasegawa. "And why are they here?"

"You'll be surprised", Haruno replies. "Apparently, Hikigaya-kun liked the girl with curly hair." When Hikigaya hears those words, he trembles at the memory, still lingering within him. Hasegawa sees him. He understands the feeling. And it makes him clench his jaw. However, Haruno continues. "I'd like to see Yukino-chan's face if she finds out about this." Yukinoshita-san takes a breath and looks at the other boy beside Hikigaya. "And apparently Hikigaya-kun has a friend, Hasegawa-kun. He's—"

"I know the blond guy", Hasegawa cuts Haruno off immediately, fed up with her tone of voice.

Haruno looks surprised.

"Really? But you said you didn't know him when the girls mentioned him."

"I didn't remember his name…" Hasegawa confesses. "I thought he was the other one, never mind…"

Hasegawa remembers the moment he met Hayama and Tobe.

Tobe's anger when he mispronounced Hasegawa's name made him pay very little attention to them, confusing their names.

Hayama sighs and looks at Hikigaya.

Haruno tilts her head, somewhat confused by the last remark, but ignores it.

"So then, since when have you and Hikigaya-kun been friends? Since middle school too? Do you have stories about Hikigaya-kun as well?"

"I've known him for less than two weeks", Hasegawa replies, tired of the pointless conversation.

"Two weeks? And you're already friends?" Haruno asks again, but this time without actually expecting an answer.

"Men, you wouldn't understand…" Hasegawa replies without flinching. "Onee-san."

Haruno tilts her head slightly, with a hint of irritation.

"He's a member of the Service Club", Hayama interrupts before anything happens.

Haruno turns toward Hayama with a serious expression.

"Ah, yes…" Haruno smiles again in a way that makes the atmosphere change. "Haha, Shizuka-chan didn't tell me anything about that."

Hayama nods.

He did not want to talk anymore. It would only be adding fuel to the fire.

The blond did not want that.

Hikigaya still does not stop looking at the table in front of him.

He was completely exhausted. He felt as though his muscles were no longer responding. His eyes blinked several times, more than usual. His throat was dry. Everything about him felt wrong.

And the night wasn't over yet.

"Well!" Haruno stands up with her usual smile. "It was nice spending time together somehow. So I'll be going now." After saying those words, Haruno moves beside Hikigaya's face. "Thank you…" she whispers. "For going out with me, Hikigaya-kun." Although the words were spoken directly into Hikigaya's ear, Hasegawa could hear them. Their eyes met, and she smiled. "It was nice meeting you, Hasegawa-kun", she winks as she straightens up. "This Onee-san likes you."

Hasegawa simply tilts his head in acknowledgment, without giving it much importance.

Haruno turns around with a certain elegance, now leaving the three students in silence.

It does not take long before she crosses the door.

"Well, woman", Hasegawa finally speaks.

Hayama stays on the sidelines as usual, closing his eyes.

Meanwhile, Hikigaya inhales, somewhat tired.

"Looks like she likes you, Haruno-san", Hayama says, looking at Hikigaya. "Both of you, actually. That's impressive… I've never seen…"

Hasegawa glances at Hayama, whose gaze remains fixed, and can only sigh.

Hikigaya furrows his brow.

"What? Are you an idiot? It's obvious she's just messing with me."

"Even so", Hayama replies. "She doesn't bother with people she's not interested in." Hayama takes a moment before speaking again. "She's kind to the people she likes, ignores those she doesn't, and destroys those she hates…"

Hasegawa smiles with slight astonishment in silence as he listens to Hayama's rambling.

"That sounds…" Hikigaya speaks. "Terrifying…"

Hearing that, Hasegawa can only smile ironically.

"Yeah, that's terrifying. I don't want to think about what they'll say about him…" Hasegawa speaks again, standing up as he continues. "All right, Hikigaya, come with me."

Hayama watches as Hasegawa stands up.

"You mean Matsuba-kun, right, Hasegawa-kun…?" Hayama asks seriously. Hasegawa simply nods, unconcerned. Hayama sighs. "What does he want?"

Hikigaya turns to look at Hayama, somewhat surprised.

This time, his tone had changed.

His gaze had changed. He no longer looked like Sōbu's charming prince.

But Hasegawa couldn't care less.

"Why don't you go and ask him yourself, Blondie?" Hasegawa replies. "I'm sure he's eager to hang your head somewhere in Sōbu."

Hayama's sheer condescension toward the newcomer annoyed Hasegawa.

It's normal.

For Hayama, having other people do his errands is simply not normal.

He asks for it, and the others bring it to him.

"Come on, Hikigaya", Hasegawa says as he walks toward the exit of the restaurant.

Hikigaya simply nods upon hearing him, ignoring both of their words.

Now Hayama was the only one left in the restaurant.

"Shit…" was all the blond could say.

2-chōme-15 Shinjuku, Chuo Ward, Chiba, 260-0021, Japan

6:43, PM

"She really was a bitch", Hasegawa says, breaking the ice.

Hikigaya opens his eyes at how casually he says it.

"Yukinoshita-san?" he asks, surprised.

"What?" Hasegawa immediately thinks of the younger Yukinoshita. "No, I mean the other one, Orimoto", he replies, laughing. "For the older Yukinoshita, there's another kind of word", he comments with a slight smile. It proves contagious, and Hikigaya smiles as well. However, Hasegawa notices that Hikigaya is having difficulty smiling. "Hey, relax", he says, placing his hand on the loner's shoulder. "You can laugh. No one's going to chase you with torches or throw you into a bonfire."

Hikigaya nods, yet his eyes remain fixed on the ground.

"They would if they could", he jokes with a small smile.

Both laugh at the comment.

Hasegawa's laughter fades as he returns to his normal voice.

"That Orimoto…" he says, this time somewhat seriously. "That girl from your stories… the one with the messages, the phone, and all that."

Hikigaya looks away, but he knows it would be pointless to lie. So he resigns himself to it.

"Y-Yeah…" he replies.

Hasegawa nods understandingly.

"Don't worry. I've had bad streaks too", he gives him a small tap on the shoulder. "No one is exempt."

Hikigaya certainly feels a sting of pain, not much, but enough to hurt a little. A slight blush grows on his cheeks. Talking about these kinds of things with another man… or another human being, had never happened before.

So he simply forces a grimace.

"I-I guess", he replies. So he speaks, trying to evade the subject, and continues, "What did you want to talk about?"

Hasegawa puts his hands in his pockets, letting out a breath of the cool evening air.

"Everything", he replies generally. "The club, what's going on. How awkward it has become", he takes a second to breathe and continues. "And, yeah. About Matsuba…"

Hikigaya nods. He understands; things have become awkward. But he really didn't want to talk about the club. And as for Matsuba, he didn't quite understand that either.

What could they talk about regarding Matsuba?

About how irritating he was…

"Nothing is happening with the club", Hikigaya turns his eyes back toward the road ahead of them. "Yukinoshita and I just don't agree. Nothing special", he replies without giving it much importance. "And what about Matsuba?"

Hasegawa sees the obvious attempt to evade the topic, so he simply nods. Maybe he would bring it up again another time. So it was better to prioritize Matsuba.

"You saw it, at the club", Hasegawa says.

Hikigaya furrows his brow, not understanding what he was referring to.

"Saw what?"

Hasegawa notices the confusion, so he continues.

"When you and Yukinoshita had that exchange of words", he reminds Hikigaya. "Before that teacher and the other two came in."

Hikigaya nods.

"Ah… yeah… What about it?" He remembers how Matsuba touched Yukinoshita's shoulder. Nothing he hadn't done before coming to the club.

"You saw it", Hasegawa repeats without taking his eyes off Hikigaya. "You saw how Haruto put his hand on Yukinoshita's shoulder."

"Yeah…" Hikigaya replies hesitantly, still unsure where he was going with this.

He remembers that moment. It was strange.

He didn't mention it, but he didn't pay much attention to it either.

Matsuba always ignored personal space… everyone's.

What was strange to Hikigaya was that Yukinoshita didn't push him away.

Hasegawa looks at Hikigaya, but this time his eyes become deeper and more serious. The kind that makes him tense up instinctively.

"He had never done that before", Hasegawa confesses. "Ah, not with anyone."

Hikigaya furrows his brows even more this time.

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hasegawa replies. "He's planning something."

Their footsteps slow.

Hikigaya doesn't know how to make sense of the situation. "Planning something? With Yukinoshita? Like what?" Without meaning to, he swallows.

"Planning something…" Hikigaya replies, confused. "Something like what?"

Hasegawa shakes his head.

"I don't know…" he answers honestly. The crossing causes both of them to stop. The green light, along with the headlights of the cars, makes it difficult to see each other clearly. "But it has to do with Yukinoshita", Hasegawa continues. "Ever since I've known Haruto, he has never been interested in anyone for more than two days, although Aiko-chan is an exception", Hasegawa continues explaining. "So when the time comes, you'll have to do something…"

"Wait… What? Do something…?" Hikigaya asks, bewildered. His thoughts overwhelm him.

"Something… Like what? What could Matsuba do with Yukinoshita?"

Hasegawa, somewhat surprised to hear Hikigaya's reaction, responds.

"You'll have to help… protect her", he replies without taking his eyes off the road ahead. "She likes you…"

Hikigaya blushes at how casually he says it.

"I-I, Yukinoshita l-likes me?" His stammer was more pronounced than he expected.

The traffic light changes to a bright red.

Hasegawa smiles when he sees his companion's red cheeks.

"Oh, please. Didn't you realize?"

"I-I, she doesn't like me", Hikigaya chokes on his saliva.

"Of course she does", Hasegawa replies, somewhat understanding as he sees Hikigaya's denial. The loner quickly shakes his head. Hasegawa sighs at his clubmate's naivety. "What? Didn't you hear her when she said there was no need for you to be the scapegoat?" Hasegawa speaks incredulously. "She even mentioned electoral fraud."

Hikigaya, still reluctant to accept Hasegawa's words, reasons it out and, without realizing it, stops resisting.

"That was to make the application more efficient."

Hasegawa turns to look at Hikigaya.

"Sure, and what about the last thing? The last thing she said when you left", now both of them are standing on the sidewalk without walking.

Hikigaya remembers what she said before he left the club room.

"I thought we both hated superficiality…"

Yukinoshita's words echo in his mind.

"Hating superficiality?"

Hasegawa nods, a small smile appearing on his face.

"That, my friend, is practically a confession", Hasegawa smiles warmly at Hikigaya. "A strange one, but it is." Hikigaya blushes again. Hasegawa spots a bench near a vending machine. "Come on, I'll treat you."

The two students sit on the bench, each drinking a different beverage.

Hasegawa drinks his black coffee, glancing sideways at Hikigaya's drink as he does.

"Isn't that too sweet?" Hasegawa asks as he looks at Hikigaya's drink.

A can of MAX COFFEE.

"Life is bitter", Hikigaya looks at Hasegawa. "At least coffee should be sweet…"

Hasegawa smiles. "What a motto. I should use it…"

Hikigaya lifts the corners of his mouth slightly as he takes a seat on the bench across from him.

When he takes his third or fourth sip, the memories come back.

He can't remember the last time he felt comfortable with another human being.

Except for his younger sister.

So many years had passed.

"Mmh", Hikigaya clears his throat. "So, Matsuba, what does he want with Yukinoshita?"

Hasegawa takes a seat beside Hikigaya, adjusting his jacket.

"Honestly, I don't know", he replies, leaning forward. "Lately, Haruto hasn't been behaving as he should. He's different. He's leaving too many things to chance. And ever since he was absent for those six or seven months, he's been acting strangely." When he turns to look at Hikigaya, he is met with a puzzled look. "I mean even stranger than he already is…" he clarifies, as both nod in unison, while he takes a sip of his black coffee. "And then there's Kaihin."

Hasegawa mentions the school. Hikigaya looks at him with confusion. He doesn't know much about other schools, but he does know about Kaihin High. Almost all of his former classmates went there.

For example: Orimoto. That blue jacket and skirt belong to that school.

"Kaihin?" Hikigaya asks without much concern. "What's wrong with that school?"

"You didn't hear…" Hasegawa turns to look at him.

Meanwhile, Hikigaya, still holding his drink, shakes his head.

So Hasegawa replies.

"Haruto took control of Kaihin recently, before he disappeared", Hasegawa replies, massaging his temple. "And as if that weren't enough, Sōbu, now Kaihin, and not to mention half of the Yurinoki-dori neighborhood."

Hikigaya furrows his brow, lowering his drink.

"Seriously…? W-Wait, what you're saying sounds ridiculous. Control Kaihin? Is he in a gang? Is he a delinquent?"

Hasegawa goes blank for a second.

"Hikigaya, how much do you know about the gangs here in Chiba…?"

He looks down at the can in his hands.

"Ah, well, not much… As far as I know, I don't think there are any…"

Hasegawa's face is almost blank, his brown eyes replaced by a pair of black dots.

"I see", Hasegawa nods.

Hikigaya slightly furrows his brow. "Why is he looking at me with pity?" the loner thinks.

Hasegawa straightens up and returns his face to normal.

"Okay, I'll simplify it for you. There have always been gangs here in Chiba, Kyoto, Tokyo, everywhere in Japan. Some time ago, they stopped being called gangs", he clarifies.

"I see", Hikigaya replies quietly, paying attention.

"Right…" Hasegawa nods, continuing. "Currently, there are eight leaders in our prefecture. Counting Haruto. That's what they're called. Leaders."

"Matsuba… a delinquent. No. A leader sounds even more stupid when said in my monologue. I think I'll stick with: thug." Hikigaya thinks.

He brings his can to his lips again, but answers first.

"That's not many."

Hasegawa nods, looking ahead with a distant gaze.

"That's partly thanks to Haruto", he comments, turning back to Hikigaya. "There used to be many more."

Hikigaya lowers his can upon hearing the statement.

"What do you mean? Did Matsuba do something to them?" he asks, confused.

Hasegawa picks up a wooden stick and begins drawing a map of Chiba Prefecture.

He starts marking the larger districts.

Mihama-ku,

Narashino, Yotsukaidō, Inage Ward, Wakaba-ku.

"Back then, gangs were scattered by the hundreds. Some were small, others weren't. Each one had its own piece of the city. It all started at Higashi High. It was said that a boy who never stopped smiling began challenging the leaders of Chiba's largest gangs. Those who controlled bars, clubs, brothels, entire areas of the city. But no one took him seriously. And before we knew it, the leaders began disappearing, one by one. Without leaving a trace. People thought it was the police acting this time, but it wasn't."

Hikigaya couldn't believe it. He hesitated about asking, but he thought he already knew what the answer would be.

"Was it Matsuba?"

Hasegawa nods, letting out a long sigh.

"Yes…" he runs his hands over his face. "He was the reason the gangs were reduced. When he arrived in the prefecture, everything changed. He did whatever he wanted here in Chiba, and turned Higashi into his kingdom." Hasegawa steps on the concrete beneath him. "This ground, this place." He points with his hands. "Mihama-ku. It's part of Haruto's territory. The fact that nothing ever happens here is thanks to him. Haruto doesn't belong to any gang or group. He's always acted alone. Entire gangs, smaller ones, or ones just starting out, never come here out of fear of Haruto. And the gangs that already have their bases here don't come because of a pact between them…"

Hikigaya furrows his brow even more.

Hearing Hasegawa's words seemed surreal to him, or rather, almost fantastical.

Thinking about it seemed ridiculous.

"When he arrived, everything changed…" he repeats to himself.

Hasegawa lowers his can.

"I belonged to one…" His words come out almost in a whisper. "It was a gang, one of the old ones. It doesn't exist anymore… but I managed to get out before Haruto arrived…"

Hikigaya turns toward him, not really impressed.

It was obvious to him.

"Sounds like it was tough…" he replies.

Hasegawa nods, grateful for Hikigaya's understanding.

"It's not something I'm proud of, Hikigaya. I needed money, you know… my father had abandoned us. My mother… my sisters…" He lowers his head, letting his gaze fall to the cold ground. "I wish I had done things differently. I really regret being that person back then…"

Hikigaya nods, only able to listen.

He can't tell him that he completely understands, but there is something they can both relate to.

"I know the feeling…" He lets out a sigh. The air, heavy with vapor, dissolves in front of him. "So Matsuba controls all of this…?"

"I'm afraid so…" Hasegawa replies with a nod, bringing his can to his lips.

Hikigaya himself could hardly believe it. He knew Matsuba could be a headache. Worse, but not to this extent. Because if what Hasegawa said was true, he would have to warn Yukinoshita about who he had brought into the club.

"If Matsuba forces Yukinoshita to do something…" his thoughts speak before he can stop them. "What if he hurts her…?" He immediately feels a new sensation in his stomach, a painful emptiness for some reason he cannot understand. "It'll be my responsibility…" But he knows how stubborn she is, and that the only thing she'll do is call him Hikki-exaggerated-kun.

He'll have to come up with a way to keep Matsuba away from her.

"If that's the case", Hikigaya says. "What do we do?"

Hasegawa shakes his head.

"Nothing. You can ignore it."

Hikigaya's eyes widen in surprise.

"B-But you said he controls this place, right? We have to warn the others… the police or something… right?"

Hasegawa smiles slightly at how innocent that sounded.

"I see you don't have as dark a heart as you make yourself seem", he replies with a smile.

Hikigaya furrows his brow in annoyance.

"Go to hell…"

Hasegawa flashes a smile and places his hand on Hikigaya's shoulder, giving him a friendly shake.

"Calm down, that's not our problem." He turns his eyes toward the loner. "What we need to worry about is Yukinoshita… and deals."

Hikigaya furrows his brow in confusion.

"Deals?"

"That's right…" Hasegawa slowly nods. "Haruto is always looking for that from someone. To make a deal." He clarifies. "When someone makes a deal with him, Haruto binds them to himself. He literally takes you as his property. Yes, Yukinoshita has caught his attention, so in every way possible, he'll seek a deal with her…"

Hasegawa looks at Hikigaya.

One second was enough for him to remember.

The first day he met Sōbu's great thug.

"So it's a deal?"

That's why he took Yukinoshita away from the club, to isolate her and make a deal with her.

But he didn't succeed.

Was that why he joined the club?

"Matsuba already tried."

Hasegawa lowers his can just as he is about to take another sip.

"What?"

"The day you arrived, the same day Matsuba came to the club. He tried to make a deal with Yukinoshita, but he didn't succeed…"

Hikigaya turns to look at Hasegawa.

"Shit… wait, no…" Hasegawa replies, looking at him. "N-No. No, it's fine."

Hikigaya furrows his brow.

"What? I don't understand."

"Haruto doesn't know that you know. You have the advantage", Hasegawa smiles. "You have to do everything you can to keep her from making a deal with Haruto."

"I-I", Hikigaya stammers. "I don't… I don't think…"

"Yes", Hasegawa confirms. "Listen, Haruto takes deals very seriously. If he makes one with Yukinoshita and she refuses, or can't fulfill it, he'll hurt her." His eyes move to the ground. "Listen. I wasn't told this, it's not some stupid rumor, I saw it myself." Hasegawa turns to Hikigaya. "I saw him break a boy's fingers for not holding up his end of the deal." Hasegawa looks back at the ground. "He broke his legs, Hikigaya. I saw the boy being taken around by his mother in a wheelchair. If there's one thing Haruto hates, it's people not honoring their agreements. This is serious, Hikigaya."

Hikigaya takes some time to process it.

He swallows.

He never thought Matsuba would do such things.

A thug, yes… but breaking someone's legs over a deal…

No.

Would Matsuba really be capable of hurting Yukinoshita?

"Why are you telling me this?" Hikigaya says, looking at Hasegawa. "Aren't you his friend?"

Hasegawa coughs bitterly.

"Friend? Why do you think I'm here? Hmmm?" Hasegawa takes a deep breath. "Why do you think I attend the club? Kindness? No, no." Hasegawa leans back in his seat. "I owe him…"

"You owe him…" Hikigaya repeats, clearing his throat. "What do you owe him…?"

"Isn't it obvious? I made a deal…" Hasegawa confesses. Hikigaya nods, and a few seconds of silence pass. "You probably found out…" Hasegawa begins. "It was about re-enrollment for the third year. But I did something stupid." He turns to look at Hikigaya. "You have no idea how much I regret it. Sōbu was about to expel me. I was screwed. There was evidence, testimonies, and other bullshit."

Hasegawa looks up at the starry sky.

"So a few hours later, he arrived, Matsuba Haruto", he continues. "The most feared guy at Sōbu. I thought he was just an idiot with a stupid smile… and he said: 'Don't worry, I'll make everything disappear… all you have to do is obey me.'" Hasegawa remembers that moment as if it were yesterday. Matsuba's smile makes his blood boil, but even more so does his own naivety for accepting it so easily. "I accepted without hesitation. And he just smiled." When he remembers that smile, his blood runs cold. "I really thought he liked me…"

Idiot, pathetic, naive…

Those were the only words that could describe Hasegawa.

Hikigaya's thoughts race as fast as they can, analyzing Hasegawa's words.

"I'm sorry", Hikigaya barely says.

He speaks, the loner not expecting anything.

Hikigaya watches Hasegawa again.

The small gestures, like the way his hands play with the can, his pauses.

His breathing.

"No, I can't do much right now…" Hasegawa speaks. "As long as I owe him, he'll do whatever he wants with me. I won't always be able to help you…" Hasegawa replies. "The three of you…"

Hikigaya moves his head in confusion.

"The three of you?" Hikigaya asks for clarification. "What about Aisaka-san?"

Hasegawa smiles. "Aiko-chan will be fine. Haruto appreciates her in some way."

"Are they friends?" Hikigaya clears his throat. "Ever since you guys joined the club, Aisaka has been kind of strange. She acts like Matsuba's servant… So, are they friends?" he asks again.

"No idea", Hasegawa answers honestly. "She was already with him when I met Haruto…" Hikigaya nods. For a second there is silence, but then. "So that's why…" Hasegawa returns to the main topic. "You have to stop Yukinoshita from making a deal with Haruto. You don't know what he'll ask her to do or force her to do…" Hasegawa takes a breath and looks at Hikigaya again. "And I'm telling you because I like you."

Hikigaya's eyes widen in surprise.

"Y-You like me?" Hikigaya replies, somewhat incredulous and nervous.

"Of course", Hasegawa nods. "You and those two girls seem like good kids."

Hikigaya clears his throat upon hearing that.

"But what can I do…?"

Hasegawa sighs.

"Make Yukinoshita see reason", he says as he takes a sip of his drink.

"B-But it's almost impossible", Hikigaya replies. "Especially now."

"They care about you…" Hasegawa answers.

Hikigaya turns to look at him. "Huh?"

"They both care about you", Hasegawa replies immediately. "Yukinoshita and Yuigahama."

"I-I, n-no—"

"Buddy. They do", Hasegawa interrupts him immediately. "They both care about you." He takes a moment to clarify what he means. "Look, if you really think they don't, that's fine", Hasegawa takes a second. "But at least consider that they feel some affection for you."

Silence falls again.

Even so, Hikigaya still doesn't believe it. He wants to say something, contradict him, or use what he knows best.

"Mmmm…"

His silence becomes unbearable, even to him.

He tries to use his logic.

But it does nothing.

"If you can't see it…" Hasegawa continues. "No one else will do it for you…"

And silence falls again.

Hikigaya Residence

7:06 PM

Hikigaya crosses the door to his home.

As he closes it, the only sound he can hear is the click of the lock. The house seems to be completely empty, but the light beneath the door of his sister Komachi's room says otherwise.

He sighs.

How much longer would this last…?

His sister no longer spoke to him.

Yukinoshita wouldn't let him use his methods.

Yuigahama continued with her smile, avoiding the subject.

And now Matsuba…

"What have I gotten myself into?" Hikigaya remembers Hasegawa's words. "...Sōbu and Kanin, leaders, gangs… this is ridiculous… even for me…"

He thinks about what he will have to do. The first thing would be obvious, just as Hasegawa said. Make sure Yukinoshita doesn't make a deal with Matsuba. "But how…? How will I stop Yukinoshita from doing it?"

Hikigaya reflects as, from the corner of his left eye, he sees the white light spilling out.

It is his sister Komachi leaving her room. Her brow now furrowed, she walks toward the bathroom, completely ignoring her brother.

Another sigh escapes Hikigaya.

Sōbu High School

7:03, AM

Hikigaya walks in and is greeted by Yuigahama.

The moment she looks at him with the animosity that characterizes her, she addresses him.

"A-Ah, Hikki", she says with a slight stammer. "G-Good morning."

Hikigaya looks at Yuigahama for a moment.

"Apparently, yesterday is still fresh…"

He thinks to himself.

So after a few seconds, he speaks.

"Good mor—" but as he says it, he keeps walking.

It wasn't because he wanted to ignore Yuigahama. Hikigaya had a lot on his mind. And even though the loner didn't want to admit it, going to Yukinoshita was his priority.

Yuigahama notices Hikigaya's disinterested manner. Her expression drops a little, but that doesn't stop her from following him.

"Are you coming to the club today?" Yuigahama asks. Her voice is downcast, with small hints of hope in it. "It's just that…" Yuigahama's voice stops for a few seconds. "Matsus-kun and Hasegawa-kun said they wouldn't be able to attend…"

Hikigaya opens his eyes slightly in surprise without taking his eyes off the hallway he is walking through.

"Hasegawa isn't coming…?" Hikigaya thinks. "Why? Does Matsuba know about the conversation we had? No. That would be impossible."

Hikigaya takes a deep breath before speaking. "Why?"

"A-Ah, Matsus-kun said he was going to find the people who played that cruel prank on Iroha-chan. And he has a date… or something. And Hasegawa-kun said he was going to pick up his sister from her school…"

Hikigaya's thoughts flood his mind.

"A date…? Hasegawa has a sister, ah, right. He mentioned it last night…" Hikigaya clears his mind. "He's an older brother too. Maybe that's why we get along… I guess."

His imagination clouds his mind, but he quickly shakes his head.

He could use this to make Yukinoshita see reason, but he needed Hasegawa's help.

But it could also hurt him.

"Hikki?" Yuigahama's voice pulls Hikigaya out of his thoughts.

Hikigaya reacts to the concern in Yuigahama's voice.

"Yeah…" Hikigaya replies, evading the question Yuigahama is about to ask about his condition. "I'll come to the club."

Yuigahama's expression changes in an instant.

"O-Oh, that's great!" The happiness was more than obvious. "Hey, I talked to Iroha-chan and Yukinon today, and we came up with a plan", when Yuigahama was about to say what came next, her voice drops a note. "But I don't want you to think we're doing this behind your back."

"Don't worry", Hikigaya speaks again. "I'll come and listen."

Yuigahama's smile returns to her face.

Service Club

4:32, PM

Hikigaya once again looks at the door of the Service Club.

This time he feels more comfortable, perhaps because he knows Matsuba won't be there.

"It's been a while since the last time I argued with Yukinoshita. But now this is beyond me. It's not the same anymore. All I have to do is make Matsuba stay away from Yukinoshita, or vice versa. But between her and me, if nothing has changed, that's perfectly fine with me."

The words come to Hikigaya as he raises his head and looks at the sign of his club.

"Maybe you're right, Hasegawa, in saying that she might feel some kind of affection for me, but love me… no… I know she doesn't…"

The words keep coming, pouring out of his mind without stopping.

"Me, having Yukinoshita like me, the most beautiful girl at Sōbu…"

Until the sound of the door is heard as he opens it.

"How foolish…"

Upon entering, he sees Yukinoshita at the head of the table as always. Yuigahama beside her, Aisaka to her left, and Isshiki on the other side of the table.

"You came!" Yuigahama shouts, being the first to react.

Aisaka quickly goes to the table where the teapot is and pours tea into a plastic cup.

Hikigaya ignores this and goes to sit in his seat without saying anything.

"Here, Hachiman-kun", Aisaka's voice makes him turn.

Hikigaya shows no blush or anything equivalent. He simply feels it.

"Thank you, Aisaka-san", he replies as he brings the cup to his lips and enjoys the sweet taste of the tea.

"Wow, this tastes really good, and it's sweet…"

The loner thinks to himself.

Yukinoshita, without looking at the newcomer, arranges the papers she is holding.

"All right, let's begin."

"First, the best option we have, Iroha-chan, is to get someone else to want to be student council president", Yuigahama says. "That way, you could lose the votes without it hurting you."

"Mmh…" Isshiki nods. "That would be good, but I'd like the person I lose to to be amazing."

Aisaka nods.

"Yes", she replies. "That's why we made a list of names who could help us."

Yukinoshita takes a sheet of paper and hands it to Isshiki. "Also examples of what they could say and promise during the opening speech and—"

"The fact that you're campaigning means that your supposed candidate is going to be nothing more than a puppet…?"

Hikigaya couldn't help but speak. His words make the four girls in the room turn to look at him.

"And we're supposed to believe that's better than my method…" he says to himself.

The four girls remain silent, and upon seeing this, Hikigaya speaks again.

"Imagine your candidate wins", he continues. "What will they do with all the responsibilities they'll have?"

Yuigahama hesitates.

"T-That's why we have to find someone capable."

"That only makes things more difficult", Hikigaya immediately counters. "Your plan loses its meaning if it doesn't take the future into account." The loner inhales. "It won't work."

"Then what's the point of your method…?"

Yukinoshita speaks.

Her words make the room fall silent.

Hikigaya turns to look at her, as do Yuigahama, Isshiki, and Aisaka.

"Strictly speaking, it could prevent the worst possible scenario", Hikigaya replies. "If she loses the vote of confidence, she could step down without suffering any consequences." Hikigaya's words echo throughout the club. "She only has to blame someone, in this situation…"

"In this situation…" Yukinoshita repeats angrily. "No, you're wrong." Yukinoshita's blue eyes look directly into Hikigaya's. "You always try to avoid the problem."

Hikigaya remembers.

Kyoto, Tobe's request, and his fake confession.

"And what's wrong with that?" Hikigaya replies.

"I seem to recall that you called it meaningless superficiality…" Yukinoshita replies angrily.

The room falls silent.

"Etto…" Yuigahama tries to say something, but there is nothing she can say.

Aisaka stays on the sidelines because she doesn't know how to act in situations like this. She didn't understand why Hikigaya was like this. Throwing himself out like bait so that the other students could insult him. All for a request.

What was the need to sacrifice himself for a stranger?

"Hachiman-kun…" was all she could say, pitying him.

Aisaka didn't understand.

"I'm leaving…" Hikigaya says as he stands up.

The four girls watch as the boy leaves the room.

The sound of the door was the only thing that could be heard.

EXTRA: Matsuba Haruto's Important Date, Part 1

Matsuba Residence

8:45 PM

Three days after Matsuba joined the Service Club.

Matsuba was in the comfort of his home, sitting on the engawa. [4]

His eyes were closed, his posture straight.

His legs crossed over one another.

He inhales and exhales.

And the smell of freshly baked cookies reaches his nose.

His smile widens.

"Haru-kun~ Would you like something sweet? I need some help! I think I made too many~"

A feminine voice comes from the right side of the hallway.

"Of course!" Matsuba shouts, standing up in one motion, slightly cracking the wood beneath him. "I live to help, Shiori-san."

Matsuba Shiori, Matsuba Haruto's stepmother.

A woman with a kind face, her hair dark brown. In comparison to Haruto's. Her smile is contagious, making you feel loved simply by looking at you.

Matsuba lowers his head slightly.

Shiori wasn't particularly tall, but she wasn't short either. But she didn't hesitate to rise onto her tiptoes so that her stepson wouldn't hunch over. When she sees him eating the cookies, she is surprised to see a certain happiness in Haruto's smile.

Something different.

Ever since she had known him, he had always smiled.

He can't remember the last time he even saw him sad, let alone crying.

The first time she met him, he was six or eight years old.

She had moved into his home a week after divorcing her husband, Matsuba Satō.

She had only heard a little about him from his father.

"A very cheerful boy," she remembers from her time as his secretary.

The father, compared to his son, was completely different.

So Shiori had made it her mission to identify all of her stepson's smiles.

To know when he was happy, euphoric, which were not the same thing. Excited, his eyes would shine. Serious, he wouldn't show as many teeth. When he was annoyed, the corners of his mouth would widen and his eyes would become half-moons pointing downward.

And now he was showing an excited expression.

"So, did something happen at school?"

Shiori asks as she sets the tray aside and takes a handkerchief to wipe Haruto's cheeks. She was curious. Lately, Haruto only came on weekends or on some weekdays like this one, since he stayed with his maternal aunt because of how close she lived to his current school. The last time she went to drop off some documents, she walked down the hallway with him, and some murmurs had worried her a little. 'Dark Prince', but surely it was just something teenagers said, a new manga, or anime, right?

Haruto widens his smile, taking the handkerchief to wipe his own face.

"I joined a club."

Shiori's eyes light up with genuine excitement.

"Oh, that's wonderful, Haru-kun!" She gives a few little hops and soft claps. "And what club is it? Sports? No, no, no, you don't like touching other people… Oh, right! Kendo Club, surely that's it." Shiori speaks too quickly, even for Haruto, who simply smiles as he waits for his chance to speak. "It makes me very happy, Haru-kun, that you're taking part in school activities."

She inhales nostalgically, wiping away the slight tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Finally! Some good news", Shiori thinks. "I was afraid that changing schools would affect him and that he'd become withdrawn and wouldn't make any friends… although that wouldn't be entirely bad, since he'd come home more often… Ah, what are you thinking, Shiori!" Her eyes wander across Haruto's face as she speaks again.

"Would you like me to pack those tamagoyaki rolls you like so much?" she asks, returning to her usual cheerful tone.

Haruto gives her a somewhat confused smile.

"Sure", he replies. "And it isn't the Kendo Club, by the way…"

"Oh…" Shiori blinks, somewhat confused. Her head tilts slightly. "If it's not kendo, then what is it?" she wonders to herself. "Ah, Haru-kun doesn't like being touched, reading… Literature Club? No, it bores him. Soccer? No, sports are too easy for him. Debate Club…? No, he'd scare everyone with his ideas… He loves tea… Tea Club?" [5]

She unconsciously brings her index finger to her chin.

"Then… then what is the club you joined about, sweetheart?"

Haruto's eyes light up.

"It's called the Service Club."

Shiori's eyebrows slowly rise. She had never heard of a club called that.

"The Service Club, huh…" She becomes thoughtful. And so, a brief image of Haruto helping someone comes to mind. "Helping… that sounds wonderful, Haru-kun. Will you be helping the community? Or will it be something like the student council?" Shiori asks excitedly.

"HAHAHA", a pronounced laugh comes from Haruto. "Not at all. It's about helping students."

"A-Ah… So it's something about advising other students?" Shiori relaxes without knowing exactly why. "That's good too, Haru-kun~" she remarks with a slight smile. Then she briefly tilts her head. "You can help them kindly, right? Like a good senpai~"

Her words come out with her contagious cheerfulness, but there are tiny contractions in her face, as if a thick cloud of nervousness were gathering.

She knows that Haruto can sometimes be…

Different.

"Hahaha", Haruto's laughter greets her. "Of course. I love helping."

Shiori sighs gracefully.

"That's good to hear… I thought—"

"It is a great delight to watch them repeatedly fall into the same pit of human misery, and to admire the looks of despair on their faces when they fail." For some reason, Haruto's voice deepens, and the rays of the setting sun shine directly into his golden irises.

"There it is…" Shiori thinks.

She knew her stepson.

She was used to him expressing himself that way.

When he did it as a child, she found it amusing, even adorable.

She never tried to correct him as a child, never felt worthy of correcting him.

When she worked part-time at a daycare while she was still a student, she had a motto.

'Never leave a child alone.'

That one wasn't hers; it belonged to the daycare. Hers was: Never correct a child if they aren't hurting anyone. Shiori was certain that her stepson was a good boy. Once, while buying food for lunch, she saw Haruto buy food for a stray cat with his own allowance.

"Haru-kun…" she says softly. "I know you're a little different sometimes." Haruto instinctively tilts his head to the right, stretching his smile and narrowing his eyes. "A-Ah, that's what I meant", she clears her throat. "I mean, why do you like watching your classmates fail so much?" Her question is asked tenderly, trying to understand her stepson's reasons.

"Isn't it obvious?" Haruto speaks in a cheerful tone. "They're participants in my world. And my world is a WORLD of entertainment…"

Shiori sighs again, resigned this time.

She reaches her hand toward Haruto's locks, stroking his hair.

"Haru-kun", she complains with a hint of childishness. "That's a little cynical…"

She knew what her stepson was like.

Cynical, arrogant, conceited.

But in the end, he's a kind-hearted boy.

She tries to believe it.

And now the only thing she could do was stroke his head.

"By the way, Haru-kun", Shiori speaks again. "Do you have club activities tomorrow?"

She had forgotten to buy some groceries. And that way, she'd be able to have more quality time with her stepson.

"Why?" Haruto asks with a slight smile.

"Well, I just wanted to know. I thought maybe we could go buy groceries together, like we used to. Of course, only if you don't have anything important to do", Shiori gestures with her hands, somewhat shyly.

"Of course, Shiori-san", Haruto replies cheerfully.

"Oh, that's great, Haru-kun!" she says, clapping skillfully. "Then I'll wait for you at the school entrance at four. We can stop by for the tea you like…" She winks. "But only if you behave yourself at the club. No psychologically torturing your classmates", but a small grimace forms at the corners of her mouth. "But really? It won't affect you if you don't go. I don't want you to get kicked out of the club because of me…"

"HAHAHA, don't worry, Shiori-san. I'm the vice president. I can do whatever I want…"

Haruto's smile widens in an almost unnatural way.

But Shiori doesn't even notice.

"Oki-doki", she says, running her hand through Haruto's hair and stroking it. "It's a date."

Chapter 5 Note: What Is It That We Want?

Let's start with the end first.

Introducing Matsuba Shiori, Haruto's stepmother.

Appearance: slim, fair-skinned, light honey-colored eyes, dark brown hair, kind features, height: 1.68 meters, measurements—do you really think I'm going to tell you? Moving on, she's a simple woman who married Haruto's father after he divorced (though she was not the reason for the divorce) a few weeks later. The story was like so many others. An aspiring office worker fell in love with her superior, and they lived happily ever after.

She is what you might call a simple woman.

She doesn't have great ambitions. All she wants is to have a family. That was her dream when she was a student. She achieved it. Now what comes next? Only she knows. Perhaps it will be explored in season two, but I'm not sure.

Now, let's talk about Hachiman.

I have not added his internal monologues for two reasons. The first is that I feel they would interrupt the flow of the reading. If you've noticed, this is more dialogue than explanatory paragraphs. And between the dialogue, I use asides (descriptions). However, there will be internal monologues when there is a change of scene.

Hachiman and Hajime: Their relationship. This was an original idea of mine. The fanfic was going to focus on them and on how Hachiman finds a real friend. Of course, I later changed that for reasons I still won't reveal.

Continuing. The goal is to make them friends. As it was originally. Hajime, as you've probably noticed, will be a great ally for Hachiman in the future. You know Hachiman isn't very good with other people; he always tries to read between the lines. And he's good at it, but lately he hasn't been able to read the new characters. His ability will become more refined as the chapters go on. Like in this one. Hachiman never tried to read Hajime's intentions.

And I feel this is for the best. A simple friendship is what Hachiman needed to keep his feet on the ground. And to see that not everything needs to be solved.

Haruno: Here our lovely Onee-san, a college student with plenty of free time, makes her first appearance. She meets Hajime, a short and quick introduction. I wasn't looking for them to talk that much. There will be time for that later.

Hayato: He feels more pressure now. Now, speaking frankly, it is believed—or rather, Hayama himself thinks—that Yukino is his. So, in this work, that is how things are. The blond is in love with her. And of course, someone in love will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves.

End of the note.

TRIVIA

[1] – Taiyaki: a traditional Japanese pastry shaped like a fish.

[2] – 「ほんの気持ちですが」 (Honno kimochi desu ga) is a Japanese expression of false modesty used when giving someone a gift. It literally means "It's just a small token" and is used to downplay the gift being given to the recipient.

[3] – A small reference to the first episode of Season 1 of the anime, when the bet is made that the winner can make the loser do whatever they want.

[4] – Engawa (縁側): an exterior wooden corridor that runs around or in front of a traditional Japanese house.

[5] – References to the anime: Amagami SS

In that anime, there is a club dedicated to tea. I want to imply that Shiori attended that school in her youth. Therefore, the events of that anime have already taken place. And perhaps one of the characters will make a slight crossover appearance.