Chapter 54: What Are a Guy and Girl Alone Together Doing?
Listening to the boy's words, Kushida was momentarily lost in thought.
"I've changed my mind. I don't want to be good friends with you. I hope you never see that side of me, or you'll really become my absolute enemy."
"You're right… having someone see a side you don't want seen feels awful. But I'll correct you—it doesn't have to be an absolute enemy. It could also be an absolute friend."
Hikigaya Hachiman firmly believed in something true—something without lies, without pretense or fake emotions, an intangible thing.
He had never found the true thing, yet he kept searching for a relationship that could hold no lies.
For Sudo, perhaps his openness was genuine enough to be considered real, but Hikigaya couldn't bring himself to be completely unguarded. Deep down, he couldn't fully accept this relationship yet.
Maybe three years from now, he'd still have no friends, but that was fine. As long as such a relationship existed in the world, he'd keep searching for it.
That night, Hikigaya had shaken Kushida Kikyo's heart far too many times. Though she never showed her true face, her impenetrable inner self had developed a tiny crack.
But it wasn't time yet.
If, back when everyone turned against her, he could still say those words for her, perhaps then Kushida would truly acknowledge him.
There was no need to argue further; time would tell. At that moment, Kushida leaned close to Hikigaya's ear again and said: "Don't forget, you still owe me a date."
With a meaningful smile, Kushida picked up the neatly packed trash and turned to leave the room.
"Good night, then."
Bang.
As the door closed tightly behind her, Hikigaya's entire body went limp like clay.
'So scary… so scary, so scary, so scary…'
'No more being alone in a room with a girl…'
'But now I'm even more certain. That's probably why Kushida hates Horikita so much and wants to replace her. And it's also why Horikita resists Kushida so strongly.'
More than once, Kushida had tried to make Horikita lose her place in the class entirely, and Horikita had clearly refused to cooperate with Kushida more than once.
It must be because Horikita already knew Kushida's other side, which is why they became enemies.
'I'm kinda curious just how unlikable her true self is…'
It might sound arrogant, but he didn't think it could be more unlikable than himself.
[Yukinoshita: "Looks like someone has a bit of self-awareness."]
[Hikigaya gave a confident smile: "After all, I once topped the 'most unpopular' list. I'm quite clear on that. Of course, the top of the 'most popular' list is Hayama…"]
[Yuigahama: "Hikki, do you have some weird competitive streak for strange lists?"]
[Isshiki: "It's not surprising for Hayama-senpai to top that list, but Senpai topping the other one? That's shocking."]
[Hikigaya, still confident: "Topping that list proves I'm not completely invisible, right?"]
[Yukinoshita helplessly patted her forehead, as if consoling him: "Only you could say such self-deceiving words."]
After a rare good night's sleep, Hikigaya felt the beauty of the air. The only downside was the alarm clock going off right on time.
In this school, without Komachi's morning wake-up calls, getting up wasn't easy. Even on a day with such nice weather, this happened. He couldn't imagine how he'd manage in winter.
Hikigaya tidied his room, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and finally stepped out of his sanctuary.
After pressing the elevator button as usual, Hikigaya let out a big yawn.
"Ahhh…"
"Please don't make weird noises so early in the morning."
Horikita looked at Hikigaya, her face as expressionless as ever.
Meanwhile, Kushida, standing behind Horikita, greeted him with her usual angelic demeanor.
Seeing Hikigaya didn't respond, Horikita asked seriously: "Are you getting on the elevator or not?"
"Please let me on…"
He didn't know what was going on, but seeing these two together in the same elevator startled him. It was an impossible combination… like him and Hayama.
"Good morning, Hikigaya."
"Oh, good morning, Kushida."
"Your hair's sticking up…"
"Don't talk nonsense. It's hereditary."
"Hahaha, you're so funny, Hikigaya."
Kushida flashed her angelic smile, twirling her hair with her finger.
That demeanor would make anyone feel at ease, but knowing her true self wasn't like this, Hikigaya couldn't accept it.
He took two steps forward and whispered so only he and Horikita could hear: "Rare to see you with Kushida."
Hearing this, Horikita frowned, showing an impatient expression.
"She was waiting at my door."
"I see."
Ding-dong.
As the elevator arrived, the classmates inside stepped out, and Horikita did the same, clearly with no intention of lingering.
'Well… we're not even friends.'
As Hikigaya thought this, Kushida stayed behind, waiting for him.
She leaned close, putting her finger to her face in an adorably cute pose.
"I thought I could walk to school with her…"
'Don't make things harder than they need to be…'
Hikigaya glanced at Horikita in the distance, preparing to embark on the terrifying journey to the classroom.
"Good morning, Kushida-san!"
From another elevator, a pink-haired girl called out Kushida's name with high energy.
Approaching them was a girl with long pink hair, the angelic leader of Class B Hikigaya had briefly spoken to before…
"Ichinose-san!"
If they stood together, people would definitely get the wrong idea…
Thinking this, Hikigaya quickened his pace to leave.
(End of this chapter)