Hikigaya stepped out of the convenience store, adjusting the weight of the bag of free items tucked under his arm as he glanced at the students moving around campus.
He adjusted his grip on the bag and headed for the school's cafeteria. He hadn't eaten anything since leaving home, and grabbing a quick meal while checking out the food options seemed like a reasonable stop before finally heading to the dorms.
Upon entering, Hikigaya immediately noticed that the school's cafeteria was surprisingly spacious and modern—more refined than he had expected.
Hikigaya stepped inside quietly, his presence barely registering. No one looked his way. Not that he expected anyone to.
At the same time, he noted that the crowd was much smaller than he had expected, and there were hardly any recognizable first-year students. Then again, he could be mistaken—most of the students had the look of upperclassmen.
'Huh. Guess everyone's too busy enjoying their financial independence elsewhere.'
It wasn't surprising. With 100,000 points, most students likely saw no reason to bother with the school's cafeteria when they could enjoy something better—cafes, restaurants, or high-end meals with ingredients they wouldn't normally come across.
Ignoring his thoughts, he walked over to the menu board. The options varied—some meals were ridiculously expensive, while others were surprisingly cheap. But his eyes, almost instinctively, landed on the Free Vegetable Meal Set.
'Well, isn't that thoughtful? Even if we're broke, the school makes sure we won't starve atleast. How considerate.'
A faint, weary chuckle escaped his lips as his finger hovered over the screen, just about to select the free meal set.
But then he paused.
Suddenly, Ayanokoji's question from earlier echoed in his mind, cutting through his thoughts with its quiet bluntness.
"But we all got 100K points, didn't we? Don't you want to try the higher-end stuff?"
Back at the convenience store, Hikigaya had responded quickly, dismissively—saying he was saving money, avoiding reckless spending.
At the time, it made sense.
But now, standing in front of this glowing menu screen, he allowed the thought to linger longer than before.
'Why am I the only one doing this?'
Why not?
Why not indulge for once? Buy something decent. He had the points, after all. Everyone else wasn't hesitating—just swiping their screens and picking whatever caught their eye. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to embrace that freedom, even if just this once.
Even if he lost everything, there would still be free items, free meals—safety nets meant to keep students secure.
But he didn't.
Because he was too suspicious. Too wary. Too busy trying to stay two steps ahead of a game he didn't even know the rules of.
Hikigaya frowned as irritation stirred within him once more, sharp and insistent.
He'd made a promise to Komachi, hadn't he? That he'd try to be happier. Try to live more like a normal person again. Eat better. Live a little.
"Yet here I am," he muttered, "picking free things, walking alone, analyzing the school on the very first day. instead of—" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Instead of doing what I promised Komachi."
"Man, I really suck," he murmured under his breath. There was no bitterness in it. Just dry acknowledgment.
It wasn't really about the food or the freedom to indulge. Not anymore.
He knew why he couldn't do it—why he couldn't bring himself to choose anything else.
Because it just didn't matter.
Not the food. Not his image. Not even how others saw him. His existence had long since shrunk into something functional, quiet, small.
Eat enough to fulfil his hunger and stay fit.
Speak only when necessary.
Smile only when Komachi needed him to.
But sometimes, even he knew that wasn't living. That wasn't moving forward. That wasn't what she wanted from him.
'You promised her,' he reminded himself once again.
But when it came down to it fulfilling it…
A dry, bitter chuckle escaped his lips. He tapped "Confirm" on the free vegetable meal.
He picked up his tray in silence and took a seat in one of the more isolated corners. Not hidden, but far from the noise.
Steam rose gently from the tray. Broccoli, a few other vegetables, A slice of tofu. Not even sauce. But it still looked nutritious enough.
He poked the vegetables with his chopsticks, then took a bite. The taste was exactly as expected—bland, slightly bitter and completely unremarkable.
But it was fine.
Better than nothing, and certainly better than the worse options he'd endured before.
Then For a brief moment, a flash of memory surfaced. A small room, plain walls, a metal tray of food even blander than this.
And yet, compared to what he used to eat during his Detention period, this was practically a luxury.
"Guess that's what progress looks like," he thought, lips twisting upward for a second. Not quite a smile. Something closer to resignation.
He looked down at a slice of tomato on the plate.
'Tomatoes, huh.'
He used to hate them. Komachi would sneak them into his lunchbox just to hear him groan dramatically. He'd always make a show of pushing them aside, pretending to gag.
Now, without a second thought, he ate it. The taste was sour, but somehow nostalgic.
"Funny how the things you once hated just become… normal." He didn't know whether that meant he'd grown or just lost something.
As he ate, his gaze drifted across the room once more. Something shifted in his expression. Most students were either getting the same free vegetable meal as him or opting for other cheaper options. There were not many who were indulging in expensive one. It all but confirmed the suspicion that had been lingering in his mind
He stared at the empty tray for a moment longer, then let out a dry sigh as bitter thoughts about the school surfaced.
"What a joke," he muttered. "Just polish up some fancy buildings, hand out free points like a welcome bonus, shove everyone into matching fancy uniforms, and suddenly it's not exploitation—it's an educational experience. Hah"
He scoffed. 'Capitalism with a school bell.'
Pushing back his chair, he grabbed his bag and stood up to leave the Cafeteia.
"There's definitely something off about this damn school... I'll just look into it tomorrow."
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After finishing his meal at the cafeteria and gathering his Bag, Hikigaya headed toward the dormitory, finally ready to end a long, strange day.
He had gathered enough questions in the past few hours—questions about the point system, about Class Hierarchy, and many more of them—but they could all wait.
For now, sleep was the only logical priority.
At least, that was the plan.
Until…
Just as he reached the dormitory, he walked down the hall toward his assigned room—402. As he rounded the corner, his gaze landed on a familiar figure standing in front of the room next to his.
Hikigaya blinked.
The boy turned slightly at the sound, revealing the unmistakably deadpan expression of one Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Hikigaya muttered.
Ayanokoji gave a small nod of recognition. "Looks like we're going to be neighbours Hikigaya-san."
Hikigaya sighed deeply, 'First the bus, then Class, then convenience store, now even the dorm?' as he rubbed his temple. 'This final boss again? Seriously, why are we always in the same place? What are we, the fated protagonists of some kind of messed-up bromance story or something?'
Ayanokoji blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Uhm… why do you look so disappointed, Hikigaya-san? Did I do something to upset you?"
"…No. You didn't do anything," he said, voice flat but not cold. "And I'm not upset or anything. Just tired. It's been a long day full of surprises, and seeing your face at the end of it kind of feels like life's way of saying, 'Nope, not done messing with you yet.'"
Ayanokoji stood there for a moment, processing Hikigaya's words with that same unreadable expression.
"Hearing you say that kind of makes me feel sad, Hikigaya," he added, shifting his gaze slightly, his face remaining neutral, untouched by the sentiment in his words. "But I think you're giving me too much credit for this. I'm just following the system like everyone else. Though even, I have to admit… the number of coincidences is starting to pile up."
Hikigaya set his bag down, keys in hand, but didn't unlock the door just yet.
"Anyway, don't take it personally. I've just had enough 'fate' for one day. If the universe keeps shoving us into the same frame, I'd at least like a little warning."
Ayanokoji gave a small nod. "I think I understand what you mean. Well then, good night, Hikigaya-san."
"Night," Hikigaya replied, with that, he stepped inside, letting the door close behind him.