"Don't go, okay?"
As soon as she said it, Ichinose realized how it might be misunderstood and quickly tried to explain. "I-I didn't mean it like that! It's just… we came all this way, and I feel like I'd regret leaving just like that. If we miss this chance, who knows if we'll ever get another one?"
"Oh, so that's what you meant."
Hikigaya let out a long breath. For a second there, when Ichinose had grabbed his wrist and said those ambiguous words, his heart had nearly skipped a beat.
But then, a painful memory rushed into his mind.
One of life's three biggest illusions: thinking someone likes you.
The tragic story of Kaori Orimoto was still fresh in his mind. Back in middle school, she was the only one who ever talked to him when he was that lonely, unlikable outcast. The dead-eyed boy, tricked by his own hormones, mistook kindness for affection and confessed—only to be shot down with a classic "good guy" rejection.
He could still remember the look of shock and awkwardness in her eyes.
The problem wasn't her. The problem was his own self-centered delusion, thinking the whole world revolved around him—his cringe-worthy, immature self.
No, no, no, if he kept thinking about this, he was going to sink into depression again!
And Ichinose… she was on a whole different level from Kaori Orimoto. She was more beautiful, more popular, and more capable in every way.
How could someone like her ever have feelings for a gloomy, dead-eyed loner like him?
Even the whole "train station love story" trope had long become a relic of nerd fantasies from who-knows-how-many years ago.
So, in Hikigaya's mind, the most logical explanation was that Ichinose just wanted someone who wouldn't attract jealousy and would be convenient to use as a partner. Well, even Hikigaya had to admit his own thoughts were getting darker and darker. Maybe he really was just a bitter, cynical loner.
Lost in self-doubt and self-criticism, he barely noticed Ichinose speaking again.
"Hikigaya-kun, are you okay?"
She must have noticed something off about his expression. She took a step closer, but Hikigaya suddenly stepped back and said, "I'm fine. Let's just get in line."
With that, he turned and joined the queue. Ichinose watched his back, a complicated look flashing across her face. She bit her lip unconsciously.
That tiny distance between them just now felt like an invisible chasm she couldn't cross.
Hikigaya forced himself to stop overthinking. The line moved slowly, with each pair taking about fifteen minutes. In the end, it took over an hour before it was finally their turn.
Hikigaya couldn't help but curse at himself for going along with this. What had he been thinking? He had just wasted a whole hour standing in line like an idiot.
While waiting, Ichinose's looks and presence naturally drew the attention of many upperclassmen. However, since most of the people lining up for fortune-telling were couples, the guys could only admire her from a distance. Well, at least that's what it seemed like—except that wasn't really the case at all.
Unlike the ones in line, some students passing by had no such reservations. Taking advantage of their seniority, they shamelessly tried to hit on her. Even though Ichinose politely declined, some of them wouldn't give up, insisting on getting her contact information. Some even tried to use their status as upperclassmen to "invite" her to karaoke or for drinks.
Ichinose had a habit of going along with people too much, so even when facing this kind of harassment, she still kept a smile on her face. Though that smile was a bit strained, it was clear she didn't want to make things too tense—perhaps she still hoped the situation could be resolved peacefully.
Seeing this, Hikigaya let out a sigh. Then, he turned to a couple standing behind him in line and spoke to the guy.
"Senpai, can I borrow your drink for a second? I'll pay you back later."
Before the guy could even respond, Hikigaya had already "borrowed" the drink from his hand. Without hesitation, he threw it straight at the upperclassman harassing Ichinose.
The drink splattered all over the upperclassman's clothes, staining them instantly. Gasps of shock spread through the crowd.
"You bastard! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
As expected, the upperclassman immediately erupted in anger, glaring at Hikigaya. He reached out to grab Hikigaya's collar, intending to teach this first-year a lesson and restore his dignity in front of everyone.
Smack!
Hikigaya swatted his hand away with such force that the guy staggered back, nearly falling to the ground.
The surrounding students instinctively took a step back, worried that they might get caught up in the conflict.
"You wanted a drink, right? Well, I just treated you to one. How's it taste?"
Hikigaya ignored the stares around him, his expression defiant, his tone full of provocation.
"You little shit!"
The upperclassman's eyes widened with rage. "You're just a first-year! I'm a second-year! Is this how first-years treat their seniors now? Get on your knees and apologize—right now!"
"Idiot."
Hikigaya's blunt response made the guy's face turn bright red. The onlookers, mostly other upperclassmen, were stunned. They had never seen such an arrogant first-year before—especially one who was this bold in public. While some were shocked, others couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
And then they realized—this first-year's dead-fish eyes were terrifying.
"Please, let's not fight."
Ichinose, finally snapping out of her shock, stepped forward with a worried expression. She looked like she was about to apologize to the upperclassman, but before she could, Hikigaya stopped her.
"Hikigaya-kun! If you do this—"
Ichinose called out anxiously, but Hikigaya simply gave her a brief look. And in that moment, she seemed to understand something from his eyes and fell silent.
Hikigaya then turned back to the upperclassman, smirking coldly.
"What's wrong? You wanna fight? A second-year from Class A, huh? Well, I'm from Class D. If we both get penalized, you'll lose way more than I will. No matter how you look at it, I have nothing to lose."
"You—!"
The upperclassman suddenly froze. "You know who I am?!"
"I don't bother remembering idiots who let their lower brain do the thinking."
Hikigaya sneered. "Didn't you hear? She already turned you down, yet you kept pushing, even trying to put your hands on her. Let me make this clear— even if Nagumo himself were standing here, I'd say the exact same thing."
"Now get lost."
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