Chapter 67: Hikigaya, Hikigaya, Hikigaya, Hikigaya!
[Ike: "I still don't get it. Even if we find those few seconds of footage, what's the point? It doesn't seem useful."]
[Sato: "Hard to say. This guy always surprises us, so… who knows what he's planning?"]
[Yamauchi: "I don't understand what he's thinking either. He even managed to fool the cute Sakura-san."]
[Horikita looked troubled. She and Ayanokouji had been through that trial before. Class C's homeroom sensei, Sakagami Kazuma, had made things difficult, and in the end, Ayanokouji guided her to regain the upper hand with surveillance. But… if that trial could be called a win, it wasn't entirely.]
[Class D and Class C, at best, ended in a draw. But Hikigaya's different. He genuinely wants to confront Class C's trap head-on. It's hard to say if that's clever or arrogant.]
[Hirata watched the video with a worried expression: "Besides Hikigaya, haven't the rest of us made any progress? We're so close…"]
[The classmates, watching through a god's-eye view, kept following the video's progress, but whether it was Horikita or Kushida, the information they obtained was pitifully scarce.]
[Shinohara sighed helplessly. For most of the class, they could only choose to trust this person who had never existed in their world. The feeling was quite peculiar.]
Meanwhile…
"Hikigaya, I've gone through all the footage from the top floor where I was that day, but… but I didn't find any trace of them."
Hikigaya nodded, looking at Sakura's guilty and disappointed expression. He simply waved his hand, signaling she shouldn't worry.
After all, the other side wasn't stupid. They must have scouted the camera locations beforehand to pull this off. Not being caught on camera only proved they deliberately avoided all the surveillance spots.
Afterward, Hikigaya and Sakura began checking the remaining floors' footage, but they still couldn't find any trace of them.
The special classroom building had two staircases. Cameras on the first, third, and fifth floors were positioned at the left staircase, while those on the second, fourth, and sixth floors were at the right staircase.
When the four went up the stairs together, the cameras clearly captured them. But when leaving… aside from Sudo, who left first and appeared on camera, the others deliberately took detours.
They were clearly avoiding the cameras on purpose.
Hikigaya considered pulling the footage back further. If he could find video evidence of them scouting the cameras beforehand, it might be convincing, but…
There was nothing. The information about the sparse cameras in the special classroom building likely came from other Class C students or upperclassmen.
Though Sakura Airi hadn't found much, she was still diligently searching.
Hikigaya couldn't help but be drawn to her effort, even zoning out for a moment.
But he quickly snapped back.
Though the footage didn't capture them, it could still be used to counter the other side during the hearing.
And it was far from over.
Hikigaya recalled the camera he and Sakura noticed when leaving that day. As a must-pass route, it was well-hidden. If Hikigaya hadn't been specifically looking for cameras, he might have missed it.
After some time, his operations became more practiced. Finding that camera's name, he used the same method to search for their figures.
"Got it…"
Fifteen minutes after Sudo left, the camera showed no one. Presumably, they spent that time avoiding the special building's cameras, wasting time on purpose.
A few minutes later, the three walked out shoulder-to-shoulder, wearing mocking smiles. Zooming in ten times, there were no visible injuries on them—just their smug smiles standing out.
Hikigaya took a deep breath, collecting all the current information via video and photos.
At some point, the girl had stood behind the boy. When she saw the evidence that explained everything, Sakura Airi's face lit up with excitement.
Though Hikigaya was startled by her sudden presence behind him, he quickly composed himself. For Sudo's case, it was all over.
Leaving the surveillance room, the sky had completely darkened. Even Horikita Manabu from the student council was long gone. The boy and girl walked side by side toward the outside.
At this hour, the school's cafeterias were all closed. With no other choice, they headed to the commercial district to eat.
Normally, Hikigaya wouldn't want to go so far to the commercial district. It was distant from his usual haunts—the classroom and dorms. Unless it was something like Sakura's earlier incident, he'd just eat the school's free meals and call it a day.
But… perhaps because he'd finally obtained this key information, Hikigaya's lingering tension eased. Though his dead-fish eyes showed no hint of his mood, his willingness to go so far for a meal made his feelings obvious.
Of course, if Hikigaya Hachiman had no objections, Sakura Airi naturally wouldn't either. Though she often moved alone, as a girl, she frequently came to the commercial district to stroll or eat. But now, it feels different.
She was grateful—grateful the road was so long, grateful to quietly stay by the boy's side. Even without a word, just walking shoulder-to-shoulder was an immense happiness for Sakura Airi.
"Thanks for today, Sakura-san."
Hearing the boy's sudden, stoic gratitude, Sakura was momentarily dazed, then frantically waved her hands and feet.
"N-No, no, no, no, it's nothing! I should be thanking you, Hikigaya…-kun. You helped me with the stalker, encouraged me to be myself, stood by me when I was scared, and helped without holding back when I was in trouble… I'm the one who should thank you."
Hikigaya shook his head, about to say his familiar "It's not my doing," but he paused, swallowing the words.
Hikigaya turned, fixing his gaze on the girl: "Anyway, to thank you for the trouble you went through today. How about… I treat you to dinner?"
'That's right, this is a normie's trick. When someone's helped you, you offer to treat them to a meal. If I were facing a seasoned normie, they'd brush it off with a smile, but… if it's Sakura…'
Sakura froze, an incredulous expression on her face, then shyly lowered her head, a flush spreading across her cheeks. Finally…
The girl snapped her head up, clenching her fists, and said earnestly: "T… Thank you!"
Though it was just dinner, in the end…
They ended up at Hikigaya's favorite ramen shop. Most girls wouldn't like such a place, but Sakura Airi seemed to enjoy it, already on her third bowl.
Each time she finished a bowl, she'd give Hikigaya an expectant look, as if afraid he'd stop her from eating more.
For Hikigaya, who had decent points, the cost of the ramen was negligible. With her looking at him like that, he couldn't possibly stop her, but…
'Sakura Airi-san, watch your image, your image! You're supposed to be an idol-level beauty!'
After downing the broth of her third oversized ramen bowl, Sakura Airi let out a soft "Haa," her voice radiating genuine enjoyment.
"Sakura-san, do you rarely eat here?"
'Though I don't come often either… I can count the times on one hand.'
Sakura seemed caught off guard by Hikigaya's words, lowering her head in embarrassment.
"Well, I… I spend most of my points on cosmetics and clothes, so…"
No need to spell it out—Hikigaya understood. She was like any other girl, prone to spending freely. Though shy, as someone aiming to be an idol, her expenses weren't small.
That explained why she was devouring three bowls of ramen. Sakura Airi probably lived frugally otherwise. After the first month's 100,000 points, the second month's points were only a tenth of that. For Class D, running out of points was normal.
It wasn't just her. Though Hikigaya had only been to the commercial district a few times, he noticed most people there were from Classes A or B or upperclassmen. For lower classes, even basic living was tough—extravagant spending was unrealistic.
After settling the bill, the day had passed in constant running around. Hikigaya and Sakura headed back to the dorms.
"Hey! Hikigaya!"
A familiar, cute voice called from afar. Ichinose, with her long pink hair tied up, waved and approached Hikigaya.
Sakura Airi, at some point, hid behind the boy, tightly clutching his sleeve.
"Ichinose? What a coincidence."
The angelic Ichinose, who'd run up with an innocent smile, noticed the stunningly beautiful Sakura Airi behind him. Her sweet smile cooled by a degree.
"Yeah, what a coincidence, hahahahaha… Is this your girlfriend, Hikigaya?"
At Ichinose's words, Sakura's head dropped lower, the flush on her cheeks even more striking in the moonlight.
"Idiot, don't call everyone my girlfriend. Someone like me couldn't possibly have one. I don't even have friends."
Hikigaya spoke earnestly about his harsh reality, making even Ichinose pity him a little.
But she noticed Sakura's cheeks, rapidly reddening.
So, she flashed her most natural smile, patted Hikigaya's chest, and leaned in to whisper: "Oh? You're pretty popular, Hikigaya-kun."
Hikigaya turned his head, wondering when this girl learned to say such things with that expression.
Calming himself, Hikigaya smoothly changed the topic: "So, Ichinose, what are you doing here?"
"Trying to change the subject, huh."
'She saw through me…'
Ichinose laughed and waved her hand.
"No, no, hahahahaha, the school's water park is opening soon, so I was just picking out swimsuits with some girls from class."
"Oh… swimsuits."
Hikigaya's expression remained blank, as if it had nothing to do with him, making Ichinose pout.
She glanced at Sakura behind him, then closed her eyes and said casually: "If you'd been here earlier, you could've seen me in a swimsuit—a bikini, no less! Such a shame."
At Ichinose's words, Hikigaya's heart surged, but he could only maintain a forced calm. Sakura, behind him, couldn't stand still, gripping his sleeve tighter, her expression radiating frustration.
Hikigaya: "Ichinose, stop joking around."
Ichinose pressed her finger to her lips, glancing at the sky innocently.
"I'm not joking. But it's fine… you missed it this time, but I'll wear it when the water park opens. You better come, Hikigaya-kun."
"A water park doesn't suit someone like me, and besides, I…"
"We'll go! We're going!"
Sakura, as if unable to hold back, blurted out passionately.
'Hey, don't make decisions for me, Sakura-san…'
Though he grumbled inwardly, Hikigaya didn't truly complain.
Hearing the girl's fervent response, Ichinose flashed a competitive expression unlike her usual self.
"Great, then let Hikigaya-kun judge whose swimsuit looks better at the water park."
'Hey, don't drag me into a girls' fight! Are you both idiots?'
He was about to refuse, but both girls shot him deadly glares.
'They've been infected by Yukinoshita … Where's your shyness, Sakura Airi? Where's your kindness, Ichinose Honami…'
If these two stayed together, it'd only cause trouble. Hikigaya realized their unusual behavior started the moment they saw each other.
Ichinose flashed her sweet smile again, waved goodbye, and left. That was the normal Ichinose.
On the way back, Sakura seemed to want to say something but lacked the courage.
"Sakura…"
"Don't call me Sakura."
"Huh?"
"N-No, no, no, that's not what I meant… I mean…"
The girl lowered her head, her flushed cheeks glowing like a movie scene under the moonlight.
"Can you… call me by my name?"
Hikigaya swallowed hard. Ichinose's appearance had indeed affected Sakura, but to him, it was just a joke.
Clearly, Sakura took it seriously.
Intense unease gripped her, body and soul. Though Hikigaya wasn't hers, she couldn't imagine what she'd become if someone took him away.
He never knew that, since that day, he'd become her entire world.
"C-Can I… call you by your name too?"
Hikigaya froze. To him, names were for friends or relationships like his with Saika.
Shaking his head as if forcing himself to snap out of it, he looked away from the girl.
Unbeknownst to anyone, his face flushed at her words.
"If you want, you can call me by my name. But… I might need some time."
If he couldn't overcome that mental hurdle, Hikigaya couldn't call her by her name. He never lied to himself.
Their perspectives were clearly different, but it couldn't hide the fact that their relationship was growing stronger.
Not just as Class D classmates, Sakura Airi would become Hikigaya Hachiman's secretary.
In her heart, this was set in stone, unchangeable by anyone.
In the future, when Hikigaya joined the student council, she'd handle the tedious tasks he avoided. Their interactions would increase, perhaps even beyond their three years here, helping him, maybe even caring for his daily life, and, encouraged by him, becoming a true idol. Thinking of such a life, Sakura Airi's heart raced.
"Then… Hac-Hachiman."
The girl, head lowered, said shyly.
"Uh… yeah."
Though calling each other's names felt awkward at first, it was a success.
To be honest, is this the charm of a shura field competition? If Ichinose hadn't shown up, perhaps Sakura Airi would have let herself stagnate. This, she probably realized herself.
Unknowingly, the two had arrived at the door of Sakura Airi's dorm. Like the past few days, the boy always escorted Sakura to her dorm's entrance. Naturally, this was the source of her sense of security…
She took out her keycard to open the door, then turned to the boy, showing her sweetest smile, and said: "Please take care of me tomorrow too, Hachiman!"
"Sure…"
After a simple wave goodbye, Hikigaya turned and headed toward his own dorm.
Back at his dorm, as he bathed, Hikigaya's thoughts never stopped.
'Is this considered progress for me? Or… is it like with Yuigahama, where I just thought I saved her, saved her dog, and that's why she developed this gratitude-driven, fake relationship?'
Hikigaya couldn't judge. With Yuigahama, he could say those words to push her away, but with Sakura Airi, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
His kindness overflowed in his heart. Though he hadn't noticed, this was the root of it.
He never thought of himself as a kind person, yet everything he did was selfless aid for others. Though he always said things like "It's just for myself"… if that were true, it wouldn't have reached this point.
He couldn't bear to abandon a girl so deeply hurt.
Was this kindness, or hypocrisy?
Hikigaya couldn't figure it out. For the first time in his life, he couldn't understand himself, couldn't grasp what he was thinking.
If one day he could openly accept it, calling her by her name wouldn't be difficult.
But how long would it take for that day to come?
Late at night, Hikigaya lay on his bed. Without his usual MAX Coffee, he missed that comforting sweetness—a small regret. Perhaps… only the boy's troubled thoughts accompanied him as he drifted to sleep.
At the same time, Sakura Airi lay awake on her bed. Thinking of today's events, her face flushed, and her heart raced. She even rolled around on her bed like a wriggling worm.
She opened her phone, trying to pick out a suitable swimsuit. In the past, she wore conservative ones at school, and the ones she'd posted online… were too revealing.
Though she didn't fully understand the boy named Hikigaya Hachiman, since he never looked at her differently, Sakura could deduce he wasn't the vulgar type who'd be happier the less she wore.
So… she needed to choose something tasteful, something with personality.
At the very least, she had to beat that Ichinose, no matter what.
And so… the girl didn't sleep all night.
(End of this chapter)