Fifth floor.
Hikigaya and Karuizawa stepped down from the rooftop, the cold air brushing against their skin. The silence between them was broken only by the occasional drip of water from their soaked clothes.
Suddenly, Karuizawa stopped and wrapped her arms around herself, eyes flicking away awkwardly.
"What's wrong?" Hikigaya turned to her, concern creeping into his voice. After the ordeal they had just escaped, another problem would be a real pain.
Karuizawa fidgeted and tugged slightly at her damp shirt. "It's just... I'm like this..."
Hikigaya finally took a proper look at her.
The blue shirt clung tightly to Karuizawa's frame, soaked completely, and it revealed more than she was comfortable with. Her figure was clear beneath the wet fabric, and while she was indeed cute and attractive, her current appearance made her look incredibly vulnerable.
He could imagine the rumors that would spread if someone else saw her like this. The bullying she was trying to hide would be exposed in the worst way possible.
"Hmm..." Hikigaya glanced around and spotted the nearby clubroom—the Wool Club. He turned back to Karuizawa. "Why don't you go in there and rest for a bit?"
Karuizawa followed his gaze, then nodded hesitantly.
They walked over. Hikigaya opened the door and ushered her inside, quickly closing it behind them. With winter vacation starting tomorrow, the school was practically empty. As long as they didn't make noise, no one would find them here.
The clubroom was filled with odd things—treadmills, computers, a PS console, even a camera. Karuizawa glanced around curiously before quietly sitting down on the chair in the middle of the room, still looking like a startled deer.
What kind of club was this?
Meanwhile, Hikigaya stood awkwardly, holding his head. Karuizawa clearly didn't want anyone to see her like this, but he couldn't stay here forever.
The ideal solution? Get her a change of clothes.
But there was one major problem—Hikigaya didn't have any female friends. Heck, he didn't even have any close male friends. Who would lend him a girl's clothes? And even if someone did, how could he explain why he needed them?
There was only one real option.
"You wait here first," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Transfer me some personal points, and I'll buy something for you."
Buying girls' clothes was super embarrassing, but given the situation, he had no choice.
"Eh?" Karuizawa hesitated. "But... I don't have many personal points left."
Hikigaya's expression darkened slightly. He stared at her.
Last month, Class D only had 109 class points, and Karuizawa didn't seem like someone who saved money. She was more the 'we're not friends, but can you lend me cash?' type. She was probably barely making ends meet.
And this month's 209 points wouldn't be distributed until January 1st.
So yeah. She might really be broke.
But what was he supposed to do?
Advance her the money himself?
Why? Why should he do that?
People like Menlai always said it was everyone's responsibility to prevent school violence—but that didn't mean he had to put himself in trouble for a stranger.
They barely knew each other. Wasn't it too much?
"So what do you think we should do, then?" Hikigaya sighed. "If you stay like that, you're definitely going to catch a cold. Can't you borrow some money from a friend?"
This was the best—and possibly only—solution.
Karuizawa looked shocked. She had no idea what to do.
Just minutes ago, this guy had appeared like a knight in shining armor, then tried to run away like a coward, came back like a hero, and now was acting like a villain using her misery as a negotiation tool.
Her heart couldn't keep up.
But the fact remained—he had saved her. His words earlier gave her the courage to stand up.
He was clever, but also... a bit of a fool.
"Ah-choo!"
Karuizawa sneezed, hugging herself tighter.
"It's so cold..."
"Ah..." Hikigaya scratched his head awkwardly, scanning the room. "Sorry, there's no heater here. I also forgot to get you some water. Will MAX Coffee do?"
MAX Coffee—loaded with sugar—was basically an energy drink. Thanks to the Wool Club's funds, Hikigaya always kept the shelves stocked.
Without waiting for her response, he turned and plugged in the kettle. After heating two cans of MAX Coffee, he poured them into paper cups and slid one over to her.
Karuizawa took the warm cup in both hands and sipped quietly. A bit of color returned to her face, but her eyes narrowed as she stared at him with faint resentment.
"Um... can't you lend me your clothes?"
"Eh?" Hikigaya blinked. "Me?"
"Yes? You shouldn't be the one asking questions right now."
He hesitated. "Well... if you're okay with that, I guess."
He slowly took off his jacket and placed it on the table.
"That... might have a bit of a smell."
"I don't mind," Karuizawa muttered and grabbed it quickly, putting it on over her wet clothes. Even though the jacket was way too big for her, it covered her enough to make her feel safer.
"I'll try to dry off a bit," she said, rubbing her sleeves. "But what are you going to do now?"
"Still thinking."
He sat down across from her, tapping his fingers against the table. His phone buzzed, but he ignored it.
What now?
He couldn't let her stay here all night.
And buying clothes was out of the question unless he spent his own points. No one would lend him anything either—not Huko, not Hiyori, not even Komachi.
Komachi would absolutely scold him to death if she found out he asked another girl for clothes.
Then an idea struck him.
He opened the club's online order system—used to buy supplies with club funds. Maybe he could find something basic—a hoodie or oversized tee that could work. It might take a while to arrive, but at least it was something.
He checked the listings. Winter collection. Thick fleece jackets. A couple looked decent.
The only problem?
He didn't know her size.
"…What's your size?"
Karuizawa blinked, blushing. "Why do you want to know that?"
"So I can help! I'm not asking because I'm a pervert!"
"You sounded really suspicious just now."
He groaned. This was a disaster.
"I'll just guess, okay?"
She narrowed her eyes but didn't argue.
With a deep breath, Hikigaya placed the order using the club budget. A jacket would arrive tomorrow, probably.
Not a perfect solution, but at least it was something.
He leaned back, exhaling deeply. Karuizawa sipped more of her coffee in silence.
"…Hey." She finally spoke. "Thank you."
Hikigaya looked up, surprised.
"For everything. I mean it."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…I didn't do much."
"You did," she said firmly.
The room fell into a comfortable silence again.
Outside the window, the winter sky darkened further. The wind howled faintly across the fifth floor, but in that quiet clubroom, it felt like a moment of peace neither of them had experienced in a long time.
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