"I say, you two, there are still so many seats in this lounge; there's no need to crowd in here."
Hikigaya finally put down his phone and found himself surrounded by the Yukinoshita sisters. During this time, whether it was taking an orange from Yukino or being fed by Haruno, all of Hikigaya's actions felt subconscious. He had been chatting seriously with Mr. Arisugawa on his phone, and his level of concentration was comparable to that of someone who is deeply engaged in a conversation. Many experiments have shown that during such moments, people tend to accept items handed to them without thinking, a behavior that is nearly uncontrollable.
"Hey, Hikigaya-kun, you just obediently accepted my feeding! Why did you immediately turn hostile and ask me to leave after you finished eating?" Haruno's voice sounded very pitiful. Since they were very close, her breath brushed against Hachiman's cheek as she spoke, making him feel a little numb all over.
Realizing that this situation could not continue, Hikigaya immediately stood up, greeted the Yukinoshita sisters, and left the lounge, leaving them staring at each other in surprise.
Yukino shot her sister a cold gaze before getting up and leaving as well. Given Yukino's personality, it was impossible for her to act as shamelessly as Haruno had just done. They had not seen each other or been in contact for a year after their first meeting, and now, after only half a month of reunion, she felt it was unfair to compare herself to her sister, who had monopolized Hachiman for an entire year using such underhanded methods.
"Forget it, let's just take our time. There's no need to rush into this kind of thing," Yukinoshita Yukino convinced herself, trying to calm down. After all, she would be Hachiman's neighbor for the next three years, so there was no reason to hurry.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya walked to the bathroom, hoping to splash some water on his face to wake himself up. To his surprise, he found Hayama at the sink before him.
"Oh, what a coincidence, Hayama-san," Hikigaya greeted him, not expecting such synchronicity between them.
"Hikigaya-san, yes, what a coincidence," Hayato replied, not wanting to see Hikigaya at that moment. His mind had just begun to calm down, and the last thing he wanted was to encounter the boy who had stirred things up.
"Hayama-san, are you going to Sobu High School for high school?" Hikigaya asked. Although he didn't know much about Hayama, considering that the Hayama family had a long-standing relationship with the Yukinoshita family and given Hayama's gentle demeanor, it was likely that he came from a well-educated background. It wouldn't be surprising if he also turned out to be a top student.
" Yeah, that's right. I worked hard to get into that place, but now I'm pretty sure I'll be in. Is that the same for Hikigaya-san? "
Hayato mentioned with a hint of pride that his grades were excellent, but he wasn't a genius; he had worked hard to reach this level. At the same time, he believed that Hikigaya must be a top student based on the literary temperament he exuded. Hayato thought Hikigaya's liberal arts scores might not be inferior to his own.
"I decided to apply to Sobu High School after going through some personal challenges. Of course, I feel quite stable now," Hikigaya said, recalling the bullying he had experienced, which led him to isolate himself from others. His first goal was to be admitted to Sobu High School.
"So, we are about to become classmates. Please guide me in the future," Hayato said.
"The same goes for you," Hikigaya replied.
Once their conversation ended, the two boys walked out of the bathroom one after the other. Hayato had always been curious about Hikigaya's relationship with the Yukinoshita sisters, but his politeness eventually suppressed that curiosity. He believed in never embarrassing others and trying to meet their expectations; this was Hayato Hayame's creed.
It was almost six in the evening, and everyone in the banquet hall was mingling and exchanging pleasantries. Hikigaya's goal was to find Mr. Arisugawa, and he planned to follow the same process as last year.
"Hikigaya-kun! You look stunning today, like a great writer!" Arisugawa exclaimed upon seeing Hikigaya's new look.
"In my opinion, Hikigaya-kun, Japanese writers should dress like you for formal occasions. Nowadays, all writers in the literary world, including myself, tend to wear suits and ties like politicians and businessmen, which is rather unremarkable," Arisugawa continued. Setting aside his identity as a famous writer, Arisugawa was simply an approachable uncle who enjoyed giving advice, which is why Hachiman liked talking to him.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Arisugawa. I only chose this outfit because I couldn't stand the feeling of being restricted by a suit. I didn't overthink my identity," Hikigaya responded modestly. He felt excited; the praise he received for his kimono reassured him about his sense of aesthetics.
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun, the Naoki Prize award ceremony will be held on January 20th of next year. If you're interested, you should come and take a look," Arisugawa mentioned.
The Naoki Prize and Akutagawa Prize ceremonies are different from other awards. The organizing committee informs the winning writers in advance to wait backstage. During the ceremony, the staff hands out a piece of paper with the winner's name, which is then posted on a display board. Several award-winning writers come out to speak afterward. Rather than a standard award ceremony, it's more like a small press conference, attended only by Japan's mainstream media.
"Is it permissible for outsiders to visit, Mr. Arisugawa? I remember that the process for the Naoki Prize is quite low-key," Hikigaya asked with some confusion.
"While it's true that the Naoki Prize ceremony is low-key, Hikigaya-kun, you're not just any outsider. You can either inform the organizing committee yourself or ask Sakuraba to do so on your behalf, and you can attend. Many writers go every year."
"The most important aspect of attending such events is the opportunity to connect with representatives from various publishing houses. Given your current status, many publishers will be eager to meet you. While I'm not saying that Sakuraba is a bad option, as a writer, it's important not to limit yourself to a single publishing house throughout your career. Meeting multiple publishers will be invaluable for you," Mr. Arisugawa advised Hachiman.
"I understand, Mr. Arisugawa. Thank you for your guidance," Hikigaya replied. He was someone who preferred to avoid trouble and had thought it would be sufficient to continue working with Sakuraba Publishing House. After listening to Arisugawa's advice, he gained a new perspective.
"Networking with other publishers can create a sense of urgency for Sakuraba, making them less likely to take me for granted in future collaborations," Hikigaya thought to himself.
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