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"That's natural." Hikigaya said.
"I see," Sakayanagi Arisu said. "Then, do you remember this phrase?"
"I've liked you for a long time, will you go out with me?"
"And Ichinose, you said what your reaction would be if I confessed to you here, right? So you must have already thought of names for our children. If it's a boy, let's name him Makoto, and if it's a girl, let's name her Sora."
"Hikigaya doesn't remember any of these phrases, does he?" Sakayanagi said.
Cough, coughâ
But this made Hikigaya choke violently.
"NoâŠ"
Hikigaya quickly looked at Sakayanagi.
"Why would you suddenly say that?"
Actually, as he asked, he already knew the situation was bad.
Because weren't those the words he used when he confessed to Ichinose?
In other words⊠the confession has been exposed.
Hey, hey, hey.
So, that's why the girls looked at him strangely this morning?
They thought he confessed to Ichinose Honami of First Year Class B, and then⊠he was rejected by her.
Hikigaya confirmed he hadn't said anything, and Hikigaya didn't think Ichinose would blurt out such a thing, so was it...Shiranami?
Probably not.
Her personality seemed so timid.
She witnessed his confession to Ichinose, and then Ichinose rejected everyone, so she probably felt down, thinking she had disturbed Ichinose.
So.
Was there⊠another witness at that time?
"âŠ" Hikigaya.
"I did confess to Ichinose." Hikigaya said.
Thud!
But at this moment, the sound of chopsticks falling onto the table was particularly clear.
"⊠" X2
Hikigaya and Sakayanagi looked at Kamuro together.
"⊠" Kamuro.
Kamuro then picked up her chopsticks, wiped them, and continued eating.
But even so, she couldn't hide that she was eavesdropping, eh?
It's just, is it that shocking?
Hikigaya felt that many boys liked a girl like Ichinose, so wasn't it common for someone to confess to her?
Or rather, was it strange for him to admit it?
"However, that was just a plan." Hikigaya said.
"Ichinose is a gentle person. Someone confessed to her, but she didn't want to hurt that person, so she asked me for help."
"In other words, Hikigaya chose to sacrifice himself?"
(A/N: That's very Hikigaya)
"By confessing and being rejected, he made that person retreat in the face of difficulty."
Sakayanagi, however, approved of this explanation.
"Then you are truly a kind person." she commented.
But Hikigaya didn't think this was a good evaluation.
Because he was never a kind person, or rather, he never thought of being a kind person.
"However," Sakayanagi added. "I am a little curious."
"To be able to make such a choice and execute it, does that mean Hikigaya, you are skilled at confessions? Have you ever confessed to someone and failed?"
"But not Ichinose. Rather, a truly heartbreaking confession failure that moved Hikigaya."
"I'm very unhappy that you casually gave the test papers to Class B." Sakayanagi added.
"If you make me happy, then this matter will be forgotten."
In other words, she wants to hear about your failed romantic experiences and then be happy?
Eh!
Are you a devil?
...
Hikigaya Hachiman's romance?
And it had to be a failure.
This, in fact, existed.
It should be said that a junior high school classmate he had always known, whom he thought would become blurred after entering high school, thrown into some forgotten corner of his memory.
But after Sakayanagi Arisu mentioned it, the name [Orimoto Kaori] easily surfaced.
And for her, she must have been very surprised, suddenly being confessed to, and feeling extremely unexpected, even thinking they had never spoken.
Actually, they had spoken.
He had even sent text messages.
Whether exchanging email addresses was her pity or charity, for Hikigaya in junior high school.
He would find excuses to text her, and his emotions would fluctuate with whether she replied or not.
And Orimoto would certainly not know or remember these things.
So.
This was probably the inexplicable stirrings of adolescence.
Once he realized it, it became a dark history he wanted to cast aside.
Because he already understood that the other person probably didn't even notice him.
So, he hated gentle girls.
Just a small greeting would make him overthink subconsciously, sending texts back and forth would still stir his heart, and seeing her call history would make him smile foolishly at it all day.
But Hikigaya knew.
That people who were gentle to him were also gentle to others.
One expectation after another, one disappointment after another, he didn't know when he stopped hoping, so no matter what, he hated gentle girls.
They always cause misunderstandings.
"That's truly a pessimistic thought." Sakayanagi seemed to ponder for a moment before saying.
"However, the matter of the test papers is now completely forgotten."
Originally, she hoped to learn about Hikigaya's past, but it turned out to be dark and twisted youth literature.
So, what kind of person was Orimoto Kaori, who had led him to misunderstand and even distort his perception of love?
To be able to twist someone to this extent.
"I regret that I touched upon your sad past today." Sakayanagi said.
"However, I don't think it's correct to completely deny all girls in this way."
"Then, Sakayanagi, are you one of the gentle ones?" Hikigaya asked.
"What do you think?" Sakayanagi showed a cute smile.
Although she was cute, and even like a Little Angel.
But she was probably a little devil, nah, a T-Rex.
So, perhaps there was nothing else to talk about, Hikigaya left the room.
And Sakayanagi remained in the private room.
"Speaking of which, Kamuro, did you have any interesting romantic stories in junior high?"
Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to be interested in other people's romantic affairs.
So she started asking the person next to her.
But.
This made Kamuro frown.
Because her first reaction was, what did Sakayanagi want by asking her this?
Moreover.
How would she know if you asked her this?
In junior high, her parents were artists, painters, and although she was also arranged for training, she didn't want to inherit the family business.
Rather, she was quite rebellious in junior high and directly joined the track and field club.
So, her junior high life was probably all about sweating and running.
So, what is love?
Rather, what are boys?
âŠ
Perhaps because he had talked about his past with Sakayanagi, Hikigaya was more rational today.
When he returned to the classroom, he found Horikita eating alone.
Hmm.
Although it had been more than two months since enrollment, Horikita still made her own bento.
Today's bento was also quite delicious.
He could smell an appetizing aroma.
Of course.
Horikita had no intention of sharing today either.
So Hikigaya watched her eat.
And Horikita was indeed a very unique girl.
Being stared at by a boy, she continued doing her own thing without changing her expression.
However.
Hikigaya watched her put away her bento box.
He suddenly asked.
"Although it's sudden, can I ask a question?"
Hikigaya suddenly spoke.
"âŠWhat question?" Horikita looked over.
Today, there was a rumor among the girls that Hikigaya had confessed to Ichinose.
But as someone who didn't socialize much, Horikita didn't know about it.
Rather, she wasn't very interested in other people's affairs.
She was a genuine tomboy.
Therefore, among the girls he knew, she was the first one today who didn't look at him with strange eyes.
However.
Hachiman looked at her and thought of something.
"When I met your brother at the vending machine earlier, what was the argument between you and him about at that time?" Hachiman asked.
This Horikita Suzune was just a Horikita.
She was Student Council President Horikita Manabu's sister.
Normally, nepotism is a good thing for backdoor access, but if not used properly, it can become a weakness.
For example, even if one is related to a person in power as siblings, the greater the brother's power and authority, the more careful she must be.
Otherwise, if exploited by someone with ulterior motives, it would likely cause trouble for her brother, and she herself would be implicated, leading to great distress.
And this was also where Hachiman sometimes needed to assist.
He even had to hide that she was Horikita Manabu's sister to prevent her from being exploited.
So, for now, the Student Council President's Horikita's identity was merely a burden.
However.
What Hachiman wanted to confirm was that her weakness had already been m exposed during Sudo's fight.
In front of her brother, she was just a sister.
Completely timid.
If this wasn't resolved, she would be useless in many situations.
Because even if her relationship with the Student Council President was hidden, she might still have to appear at Student Council events.
If she acted unusually then, it would attract the attention of some people.
Hachiman's Class already had enough bombs, and he didn't want to detonate another one.
So today, he decided to be a bomb disposal expert.
Thus.
Even if she felt he was trying to probe her inner thoughts, he had to do it, "If you don't like it, then you don't have to answer."
"...Let me think." Horikita Suzune didn't refuse, rather... she actually needed someone to confide in, "...My brotherâ"
She slowly began, "My brother dislikes me, or rather, he doesn't even see me..."
Oh.
Is that so.
So that's your sibling relationship.
Hmm.
Huh?
However.
What the hell is this? Are you sure you know the truth?
Isn't your brother a sis-con?
Hikigaya showed a surprised expression.
Because your brother previously spent 1 million point to give you lessons, and he even received a transfer of 100,000 point.
And then you just blurt out... your brother dislikes you? And doesn't care about you?
"My existence will lower everyone's evaluation of my brother, that's all."
Horikita Suzune seemed to have passed a death sentence on herself.
So, at that time, when she was seen by the Student Council President, she immediately felt incompetent?
And then showed such a timid look.
Because she felt weak.
So, is Horikita Suzune really weak?
This is a question that needs thought.
If judged purely by academic performance and athletic ability, her stats are not bad.
But Hachiman also knew that this girl always stuck to her own path.
For example, she brought her own bento every day.
This earned his praise.
His future goal was to be a house husband, so he had a good impression of people who could cook.
Moreover, this girl was a study maniac, studying 10 hours a day.
Hachiman had been to her dorm, and her wall was covered with a schedule.
The schedule was roughly like this:
In addition to the study time in the classroom every day, she also had to make up an extra 4 hours.
That is to say, she studied 10 hours a day!
And it was day after day.
Her perseverance, being able to stick with it, was also very commendable.
Today, he was originally prompted by Sakayanagi to recall things from middle school, making Hikigaya a bit melancholic, but now, he suddenly felt that perhaps he could help Horikita Suzune.
"Horikita, what exactly do you want to do? Or rather, what do you want your brother to do?"
Hachiman felt that Horikita Suzune had reverted to her Horikita self.
After talking about her brother, she became incredibly timid.
As a brother himself, Hikigaya then looked over.
"You ask me what I want to do..."
However, Horikita suddenly clenched one hand into a fist, "I... I want my brother to acknowledge me..."
"Since childhood, my brother's figure has always been ahead of me. No matter what I wanted to do, my brother had already completed it all before me, making it impossible for me not to feel inferior.
And precisely because of this, I knew that I wasn't in his sight. So, I want him to look at me, I want him to acknowledge me, I want to see what is in front of that person, my brother's gaze."
"Is that so... So, you're imitating his way of life." Hachiman said.
Rather, he was now getting in touch with Horikita Suzune's inner self.
It turned out that this seemingly aloof woman had such a pure heart.
She was like many people who have capable older sisters or younger sisters, and because of such comparisons, they feel they have no place.
Then, they envy and want to become as capable as their older or younger sisters.
However.
Does one really have to become that smart? Does one really have to become that excellent?
Is it so hard to acknowledge that one can't compare to them?
Why force oneself to complete a mission that is almost impossible to complete?
So your brother can be a Nobel laureate, but no one forces you to win a Nobel Prize too.
And human nature is very strange.
You envy others, and perhaps others are jealous of you, but you are unaware.
However, regarding envying rich people, rich people certainly won't be jealous of poor people.
But Horikita Suzune was a bit different.
She wanted this herself; she wanted to be like her excellent brother, Horikita Manabu.
This was her choice.
It was not someone else's demand.
However.
"I say, Horikita... you are alone, aren't you? Your brother, on the other hand, is popular and has many friends. If I hadn't forced you to interact with Kushida, then you would have no friends." Hachiman crossed his arms.
"You simply can't learn that."
"...Huh?"
"Hikigaya, are you here to argue with me!"
Horikita Suzune was choked by Hachiman.
"I just like to be alone, I'm not lonely. I've liked being alone since elementary school, no, since kindergarten, but I don't feel lonely, I just look a bit solitary."
Hmm.
Hachiman had heard this before.
And he had thought about it.
Is being alone really bad?
But that's for the strong.
Only the strong can be alone, while the weak need to band together to survive.
However.
He didn't completely deny Horikita Suzune either.
Because.
Horikita Suzune wasn't closing herself off.
Rather, she didn't want to waste time interacting with others, or perhaps, she didn't feel that interacting with others could bring her anything.
So.
She wouldn't feel anxious about not having friends.
Nor would she feel ashamed because of it.
She wouldn't even feel bullied by being ostracized like this.
Because.
She actually enjoyed her own world.
She felt happy.
Since she felt happy, then why not?
So.
She couldn't be described as lonely.
Loneliness is an outsider's judgment of others, but what if she herself didn't feel it?
However, this world isn't absolutely gentle.
Hachiman had a feeling that Horikita Suzune had definitely come to the wrong school, because as he slowly came to understand the true nature of this school, her type was not suited to survive here.
However.
"I'm not arguing. I'm saying you might have made a slight error." Hachiman said,
"You and your brother are two different people, starting with your personalities. He has many friends, do you? Aren't you trying to become exactly like him?"
"...Hikigaya, don't twist my words. I hope I can..."
"You hope to become a person like him?"
However, Hachiman interrupted her.
"After all, my brother has always been my goal, so I once hoped to be like him, but if you ask if I want to become a person like him... about that..."
Her expression became confused, "I don't know."
This made it very clear.
Horikita Suzune had actually gone astray.
"Wanting to become the same as your goal is problematic. You can take him as a goal, but there's no need to walk the same path as him. Because you are you, not Horikita Manabu. And Horikita Manabu is not named Horikita Suzune."
"..."
Horikita Suzune suddenly became much weaker.
Chasing her brother's footsteps, entering the same middle school, the same high school, and now, she no longer knew what she was doing.
"Then... don't you have one? Haven't you ever thought about what kind of person you want to become?"
"Well..." Hachiman gently looked up, "I want to be a house husband."
"No need to worry about making money, just stay at home and do housework."
"And have someone support me."
Noticing Horikita Suzune's strange gaze, Hachiman knew his idea was a bit difficult for most people to accept, so he added,
"This is my idea. If you don't want to support me, then you have no right to criticize."
"..." Horikita.
"...In any case, although I haven't thought about what kind of person I want to become, the only thing I know now is that I hope my brother acknowledges me."
Horikita didn't respond to his comment about being supported, but rather fell into her own thoughts, "It's just that my brother won't acknowledge me as I am now."
"To make my brother acknowledge me, I can only advance to Class A, but I understand that I cannot achieve it by myself."
"And I am still very weak now." Horikita Suzune said.
"And my brother also hopes I learn from you."
"Then..."
She gulped, as if it was difficult to say.
....
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