Chapter 72: Senpai, Do You Want to Hold My Hand?
"Hachiman …"
"Sakura?"
There was probably only one person in the entire school who would call him that.
The pink-haired girl, panting, reached Hikigaya's side, having navigated the depths of the corridor to finally see that familiar face.
She first lowered her head, unsure how to start, then puffed out her cheeks and began speaking with a hint of indignation: "Hachiman, you… you… how's your body? Are you hurt?"
Hikigaya shook his head, denying her words: "See, I'm completely fine."
Sakura puffed up her cheeks even more, clearly not buying Hikigaya's claim.
"That's just nonsense, pure hindsight…"
Seeing his defense was futile, Hikigaya didn't dwell on it, instead saying: "When I noticed them, besides Horikita Manabu, there was no one else who could help me."
"…True."
Sakura couldn't deny his words. Indeed, if she'd been there, it might've only complicated things.
Still, she was a bit upset. After all, Hikigaya hadn't mentioned the incident over the weekend, even though they had each other's contact info. But she was too shy to admit that, after learning about it, she didn't reach out to him either, waiting for him to tell her himself.
In the end… she never got the message she hoped for.
Over the weekend, she'd been at the student council, learning from Tachibana how to handle miscellaneous tasks. Though not difficult, for someone as clumsy as her, it was a big challenge, taking up a lot of time.
When she accidentally heard about the incident from Tachibana, she became even more distracted, her mind entirely on Hikigaya.
Seeing the worried look on the girl's face, Hikigaya didn't want to hide it anymore. He recounted almost everything from that day to Sakura Airi, except for Kamuro tailing him, describing it as it happened.
Finally, Sakura Airi let out a sigh of relief.
"So, that's about it."
"I'm just so glad you're not hurt, Hachiman … so glad…"
Sakura kept her head down, murmuring repeatedly.
"You don't need to worry about me so much. I'm pretty good at protecting myself."
He said that, but the worry in her heart wouldn't stop. Hikigaya probably couldn't understand that.
Sakura Airi wanted to pour out all her worries, but after glancing at the boy, she gave a faint smile.
Some things didn't need to be said. Some words were enough kept in her heart.
He was her hero, unchanging no matter what happened, and her hero never needed her protection.
From start to finish, she'd been protected and encouraged by Hikigaya. Whether during the stalking incident or Sudo's hearing, with him by her side, Sakura Airi felt full of confidence.
Thus, her resolve to do what she wanted grew stronger.
To become the student council secretary, follow him, rise to Class A with him, and under his gaze, become a Tokyo superstar, a renowned idol.
Of course, there was one condition: she had to stay by his side.
Not him staying by her side, but her staying by his.
That was Sakura Airi's decision, long made.
Since Hikigaya assured her nothing went wrong, it must be as he predicted—without incident.
Everything was under his control, as always.
She trusted him, always unconditionally.
With a sweet smile, Sakura Airi made her first move.
Without warning, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms tightly around the boy's waist, burying her head in his chest, and showing a satisfied smile.
Faced with this sudden event, Hikigaya was momentarily confused, but more than that…
Panic.
In all his years, aside from his parents and Komachi, he'd never been this close to someone unrelated by blood.
The unfamiliar sensation of her body became more pronounced, the intense contact like lightning striking his heart. His trembling hands gradually steadied under her embrace.
Their heartbeats, unmasked, pounded wildly.
Sakura Airi said nothing more, only hugging tighter, her head buried deeper in his chest.
"S-Sakura… Sakura-san."
Panic made Hikigaya's voice tremble, as if he'd caught her stuttering, unable to speak clearly.
"Hm?"
"It's nothing…"
Hearing he didn't ask her to stop, Sakura smiled faintly and hugged even tighter.
'Sakura-san! I can't breathe…'
"Next time you do this, I'll give you an even scarier punishment, Ha~chi~man~kun~"
Flashing a devilish smile unlike her usual self, Sakura Airi scampered off with a patter patter patter, leaving Hikigaya alone in the corridor's depths.
'Her face was really red…'
'Though, I'm not one to talk.'
This sense of reliance felt familiar to Hikigaya. Once, a girl named Yukinoshita had shown him the same dependence.
And now, that familiar feeling of being relied on returned.
A minute after Sakura left, the bell rang.
For now, he'd pretend nothing happened and head back to class.
Back in the classroom, the atmosphere was still lively. The heavy mood had dissipated, and everyone shared their thoughts on the three expelled Class C students.
Hikigaya glanced at Sakura Airi, now lying on her desk, her expression hidden.
He took a deep breath and returned to his seat.
Perhaps because of what just happened, his cheeks were still flushed, but…
Why did it feel like his eyes were affected too? He looked at Horikita beside him, her cheeks also bright red.
"Horikita-san, your face is really red."
Caught out, Horikita gritted her teeth, putting on a nonchalant expression: "You've got the nerve to say that when your face is as red as a monkey's butt."
"No, a monkey's butt is a bit much… and…"
"Mind your own business! Mind your own business! Mind your own business!!!"
Horikita grabbed her desk, shifted it a body's width to the right, then picked up her book and started reading intently—whether she absorbed anything, only she knew.
She wore a fiercely competitive expression, occasionally shooting Hikigaya fierce glares.
'Hey, hey, hey, I didn't do anything to you, Horikita-san. This is bullying! Mental bullying! It's heartbreaking… we're desk mates, after all…'
'Women… are way too scary. Horikita is way too scary.'
Hikigaya didn't know what he'd done, but somehow, he'd been isolated again, without anyone noticing.
After all this, Hikigaya deeply felt the truth of the saying: women are the most troublesome creatures in the world.
They could quietly shift your emotions, subtly influence you, and in the end… you'd face their "punishment."
For the rest of the day, Hikigaya couldn't focus on class, sleepwalking through each lesson. During breaks and lunch, Sudo, back to his usual self, naturally sought him out, chatting endlessly—mostly talking to himself.
But Hikigaya didn't mind. He preferred listening over talking, hearing about class and school events. It felt… like back in the Service Club, quietly listening to Yuigahama chatter while he and Yukinoshita sat silently.
So… he didn't dislike it.
Plus, there was some decent news, at least for Hikigaya.
In the recent quiz, Sudo had climbed to fifth-from-last in class, surpassing Ike, Yamauchi, Sotomura, and Sakura Airi. Compared to nearly failing last time, this was huge progress.
Good news for Sudo, but not so much for the other four.
Maybe influenced by Hikigaya, Sakura had started studying. Besides student council training and her idol practice, she either stayed by Hikigaya's side or studied alone in her dorm. But since she'd just begun, it was normal her quiz score didn't improve.
Finally, Hikigaya's own results.
Though usually in the middle-lower ranks, neither close to failing nor safe, his self-study in science had paid off. His score skyrocketed, landing him tenth in class.
Now, he really didn't need to worry about academics.
Science wasn't as hard as he'd thought.
At Sobu High, he'd never studied it, assuming he couldn't. But in junior high, he'd always been among the top.
Some rejoiced, others worried. For Ike and Yamauchi, the final exam in a month felt like doomsday.
Last time, everyone helped them, but this time… no way.
To surpass Class C, they'd need to ace the exam with their best effort.
For those at the bottom, this wasn't good news.
For mid-tier students like Karuizawa, Shinohara, Sato, and Kushida, the quiz didn't affect them much. Their focus was on the soon-to-open water park.
From morning to night, they discussed going there together once it was built.
[First-year Class A…]
[Hashimoto watched the boy thrive in the school with a teasing gaze, his fame even surpassing Class A. He wasn't sure how he felt, but… being completely ignored wasn't great.]
[With a venting tone, he deliberately said in front of Sakayanagi: "This guy hasn't noticed, has he? Claiming to be the loneliest person in the world, but he's a total beauty killer!"]
[Without looking at Sakayanagi, Hashimoto continued ranting: "What's so great about him? He's just a bit handsome, a bit brooding. How has he gotten so close to all the first-year beauties? Some even threw themselves at him. Unbelievable… no wonder it's all lower-class idiots."]
[Hearing this, Kamuro was unhappy. She wasn't at the "throwing herself" level, but as the person who knew herself best, how could she not understand those feelings from the video? She just hadn't admitted it due to pride.]
[This in-between feeling, and now being called an idiot by Hashimoto, made her extremely annoyed.]
["Hey, just watch quietly. Why so much talk…"]
[Seeing Sakayanagi stay silent while Kamuro spoke up, Hashimoto continued teasing: "Even cute little Kamuro's speaking for an outsider. Looks like Class A's doomed, doomed."]
["You! I'm not…"]
[Kamuro, enraged by Hashimoto's words, pointed at him fiercely.]
[Hashimoto: "I bet your heart's already been stolen by him. I don't know what's wrong with everyone, falling for this guy like they're drugged."]
[Kamuro was speechless. Though she had rebuttals, she couldn't say them. After all… the video showed what she saw.]
[Maybe she really had those feelings for him, built up unconsciously through his care.]
[Sakayanagi gave a faint smile, then lightly tapped Hashimoto's head with her cane.]
["Hashimoto, that's enough. Or… do you think I'm one of those 'idiots' who threw themselves at him?"]
[Suddenly remembering the princess's unique "date" with the boy, Hashimoto realized his mistake, lowering his head: "No, no… how could the princess be like those idiots?"]
[Sakayanagi's smile vanished, her gaze fixed on him.]
[Even after knowing her so long, Hashimoto felt her pressure for the first time, leaving him speechless.]
[Perhaps sensing something, Sakayanagi smiled faintly again.]
["From now on, no more verbal attacks on him. Otherwise, Hashimoto… I can't guarantee what your high school life will become."]
[Hashimoto nodded, saying no more.]
[On the side, Kito, somewhat confused, stepped forward and asked: "Princess, you're not actually falling for this guy, are you? Why side with an outsider?"]
[Sakayanagi's smile didn't fade. She slowly raised her index finger and gave a slight wave.]
["You've misunderstood. I'm just a kind person who doesn't want to hear you badmouth someone who doesn't even exist."]
[Kito was momentarily speechless. It was the first time he'd heard the princess make such a cold joke. But since she said it wasn't true, it probably wasn't… After all, even if she were lying, he wouldn't be able to tell.]
[On the other side, Class D's students watched Sakura Airi, who in the video had clearly fallen head over heels. They exchanged knowing looks, glad this boy named Hikigaya didn't exist in their world—otherwise, who knows what would've happened.]
[Sudo's focus was elsewhere. Seeing his improved grades, he jumped up excitedly: "See that? See that? If I study hard, I'm a genius too!"]
[Ike: "Good thing it's just a video. If I saw a guy like Sudo studying, I'd lose it."]
[Yamauchi: "Yeah, yeah, just stay at the bottom, Sudo-kun."]
[Hearing mockery from fellow bottom-rankers, Sudo's mood was doused with cold water, feeling awful.]
[In short, he'd have to study hard outside the video too.]
[Karuizawa: "If I remember right, things should calm down now, right? Finally, we don't have to go to school with that high-pressure feeling every day."]
[Shinohara laughed, as if exposing Karuizawa: "You didn't help with Sudo's case either. What's there to feel pressured about? I bet you just want to hit the new water park."]
[Karuizawa's thoughts were seen through, but she denied it shyly: "No way!"]
[Sato understood Karuizawa. As girls with little screen time in the video, they wanted to shine at the water park, showing off their figures to catch the attention of the class's silly boys.]
[Especially that quiet, deadpan, brooding guy in the corner.]
[Sato smiled slightly, glanced at Ayanokouji, then looked away.]
[At this moment, Ayanokouji had no thoughts, his expression unchanged, but only for now.]
[Perhaps, as the girls thought, no one could stay unmoved by a great figure—not even him. Not on his face, not in his heart.]
[Maybe that's just a guy's instinct.]
[In the Service Club…]
[Yuigahama's tightly clenched fists finally relaxed, as if a knot in her heart had unraveled: "That's great, that's great! Hikki didn't get hurt or tricked, his science grades went up, and he's slowly getting popular. It's really great."]
[Seeing Yuigahama's emotional reaction, Hikigaya could only think he'd never felt such motherly love in his life.]
['Truly great, Mama Yuigahama.']
[Yukinoshita looked at Hikigaya in disbelief, giving a calm smile. This time, besides her usual intensity, there was a genuine feeling—making Hikigaya feel even more intimidated.]
["Hikigaya-kun probably hasn't hugged a girl in his life. Quite a rare experience."]
[Hikigaya shook his head seriously, denying Yukinoshita's words. In times like this, he didn't dare be casual.]
[Isshiki was puzzled, as were Hayama, Miura, and Ebina. At that moment, everyone's eyes were on Hikigaya.]
[Seeing no way out, Hikigaya braced himself and said solemnly: "Besides blood-related family, every one of us… has experienced a hug from an outsider…"]
["And that is…"]
["That is…"]
[Miura, genuinely curious: "What is it?"]
["Of course, the nurse who delivered us!"]
[Yuigahama: "I'm done! Hikki, how can you look so proud of that?!"]
[Hikigaya: "Because I'm not wrong."]
[Isshiki: "As expected, you can't deal with Senpai using normal thinking."]
[Hikigaya: "Iroha, why are you trying to deal with me? That's scary…"]
[Yukinoshita helplessly rubbed her temple, shaking her head: "Hikigaya-kun is just too pitiful…"]
[Hikigaya: "Hey, you're in no position to say that. You haven't been hugged by anyone either."]
[At Hikigaya's words, Yukinoshita was speechless. She suddenly realized she, too, was a girl who'd never even held a boy's hand.]
[Hayama laughed, speaking candidly: "Actually… I haven't either."]
[The series of confessions shocked Yuigahama, Isshiki, Miura, and Ebina.]
[Isshiki reacted first, with a mischievous expression: "If you don't mind, Hayama-senpai, you can hold my hand. And if it's Senpai, I could hold yours to fulfill your wish."]
[Hayama just smiled, while Miura was eager, not wanting to lag behind Isshiki.]
[Hikigaya, too tired to retort: 'Who wants to hold hands, idiots.']
[Ebina suddenly showed a perverse expression: "How about… Hayama and Hikigaya-kun hold hands?"]
[The Service Club… fell silent.]
( End of this chapter)