Chapter 159: Should You Be an Enemy or a Friend?
"Wait, something doesn't feel right…"
Kushida said this, but Hirata's bright smile didn't fade in the slightest. In fact, it seemed even more radiant.
Hikigaya: "Having someone you like is a good thing… Yeah, it should be considered a good thing."
Hirata: "I knew it! Hachiman, you understand me the best."
Watching the two of them, Kushida felt something was off. Karuizawa, extremely perceptive, immediately sensed something wrong the instant Hirata spoke.
Kushida's thought: 'Taking care of a few girls is already a headache, and now I have to deal with another boy…'
Hikigaya also sensed something strange, but his expression remained calm. At least for now, he couldn't afford to lose composure.
"Um, Hirata, can you tell me why you suddenly called me by my name?"
Hirata's face turned a deep red, which made the two girls flinch slightly. He scratched his head and said awkwardly: "I call most of my classmates by their first names, and since the last time you helped me, I wanted to call you by your name too. Is that okay?"
'Well, that's true. Hirata does call most classmates by their first names. But… there's still something off about this.'
Hikigaya didn't know what expression to show in response, while Karuizawa and Kushida both stared at Hirata with deadpan expressions.
'I didn't even call him by his first name. Who do you think you are?'
Hikigaya took a deep breath and, meeting Hirata's hopeful gaze, said lightly: "Alright…"
Hirata's face instantly lit up with satisfaction. After getting the answer he wanted, he didn't linger, and after a brief farewell, he left.
Kushida felt completely crushed. She could handle girls before, and as a cold-faced girl, she could usually fend off those clueless girls who liked him but never acted. But now… it was completely different. In her eyes, Hirata was beyond her control.
If Sudō was just a normal "brotherly" friend, what did Hirata count as? Kushida had no idea.
Given Hirata's looks and his nice-guy personality, he should have no shortage of female admirers in class or the year, even quite a few pursuing him. Yet… he chose this path.
Kushida was utterly speechless.
Watching Hirata's figure disappear into the darkness, Karuizawa finally said helplessly: "Hikigaya, your charm is way too strong. What did you do to make Hirata like this? If Mei-Yui knew, she'd probably cry to death. Has he… been stimulated somehow?"
Hikigaya, pretending not to care, replied: "It's nothing, really. After all, we're just classmates, it's just a name."
Karuizawa immediately placed her hands on her hips, puffing up her chest in displeasure: "Hey, you're pretending to play dumb again! Even an idiot could see he never intended to go in the direction you're thinking…"
Hikigaya didn't listen further and just walked forward.
Seeing this, Karuizawa became even more worried. She hurried after him, speaking into his ear: "Boys have to be careful outside, especially when being followed. Watch out for isolated areas. Even though this is school, be careful at home or outside. Don't open doors for strangers or anyone with ill intentions, or you could get eaten alive."
Hikigaya's face warmed, but he didn't turn around. He said calmly: "It's not that dangerous. This is school."
Kushida's face was also flushed, silently listening.
Karuizawa, frustrated by Hikigaya's repeated protests, continued, confident she was right: "You're not the gossip type, so you don't know school stuff. I'm different. I've heard of girls opening their doors at night and bad things happening, so bad they had to quit school."
"What grade?"
"Don't know…"
"What kind of school legend is that…"
Karuizawa scowled: "Anyway, remember: be careful of women trying to take advantage. They're dangerous, maybe even drugged."
Kushida, though flustered, spoke calmly: "Karuizawa isn't wrong. Better safe than sorry."
Hikigaya rolled his eyes at Kushida, while Karuizawa smiled in satisfaction.
---
[In the Chat Room…]
[Ebina seems to have finally seen the scene she wanted. Even the glasses that usually hide her beauty couldn't stop her excitement. She stared at the video, drooling.]
[Miura quickly handed her tissues, embarrassed: "Hina, don't do that…"]
[Ebina: "Heh, hehe… so sweet… They're perfect together…"]
[Yukinoshita, sensing danger, held Hikigaya's hand tighter. Yuigahama commented: "That's so Ebina-style…"]
[Ebina: "By the way, don't you think Hirata and Hayama look a little alike? I've always thought Hayama and Hikigaya would be quite compatible."]
[Yukinoshita's grip instantly became hostile, as if wanting to strangle Hikigaya.]
['Calm down, Yukinoshita… Don't take it out on me.']
[Hayama laughed awkwardly: "Ebina, even if we look a bit alike, I'm completely different from him."]
[Miura: "Exactly, Hayato isn't like that. Ebina, what are you thinking? Nobody likes someone like that… idiot."]
[Ebina, still obsessed with the video: "I love this… I declare this scene legendary."]
[Ishigami felt completely out of place. For normal people, Ebina's obsession was incomprehensible. But they did sense danger. Hirata, normally outstanding, had feelings for Hikigaya. Hikigaya had no experience with this.]
[He couldn't even handle ordinary emotions, let alone this… 'sick' affection.]
[Karuizawa: "Uh… Hirata, are you… uh…"]
[Mei-Yui, Shinohara, Satou, Hasebe, Matsushita, and the other girls watching were wide-eyed, staring at Hirata in disbelief.]
[Hirata smiled, neither confirming nor denying.]
After talking with Hirata, the remaining three didn't continue the previous topic. Both girls knew they couldn't let Hirata get close to Hikigaya again, or else… The consequences will unthinkable.
Unfortunately… Saika wasn't here.
The rest of the night was an ordinary celebration. They ate something in the commercial district, accompanied Karuizawa and Kushida through the mall, then returned to their rooms to rest.
It was getting dark, and it wasn't safe for boys outside.
Since Karuizawa's room was on a lower floor, she left first. When Hikigaya tried to return to his room, Kushida stopped him.
"Are you really not going to tell me about that incident?"
Undoubtedly, the "incident" referred to Hikigaya's coincidental encounter with Kamuro that morning.
Kushida wasn't stupid. Judging from Kamuro's expression, she had figured out the gist. Though regretful, since it already happened, she just wanted an explanation.
Hikigaya lowered his head, feeling guilty, unsure how to respond.
Seeing this, Kushida's heart ached slightly, but her anger couldn't be stopped. Her voice was cold but intense:
"I don't have the right to scold you, since I also used a dirty method to get you. I don't think you'd deliberately provoke her. I'm sure there's some hidden reason. But… what about Airi? She's still in the dark. Hikigaya, is this fair to her? You know how much she gave up for you…"
Hikigaya had no reason to argue. He felt guilty toward both Sakuragi and Kushida. Repeatedly having this kind of relationship with different girls… it was definitely not monogamous.
Just as he was about to speak, Kamuro came out of Hikigaya's room.
Naturally, both girls were shocked.
Kamuro: "What's the matter? I just stole a key. Kushida, don't forget your lockpicking skills came from me. I didn't want to do this either. I've retired from it, but this… I couldn't ignore it."
"This has nothing to do with Hikigaya. I did it alone, and I won't deny it. But done is done. No need to make him feel guilty."
For a moment, the boy trapped between two girls didn't know what to say.
Kushida exhaled deeply: "Sorry, I overreacted. I knew Hikigaya wouldn't do such a thing… It's my fault."
Hikigaya shook his hand quickly: "No matter what, it's my responsibility."
He understood Kushida's reaction. Caring meant taking it seriously; caring meant feeling possessive.
As soon as he finished speaking, Kushida lightly punched him on the back, gently, of course.
The two girls stood off, while Kamuro didn't hide that day's events and intended to reveal them.
But before that…
Hikigaya: "Wait, shouldn't we find a private place first?"
Both girls realized this, eyes landing on the room behind Hikigaya.
Oh, perfect, there's one right there.
Hikigaya realized he might be digging a hole for himself.
Then a strange scene occurred.
Hikigaya reached into his pocket for the key, but it wasn't there.
Kushida and Kamuro, however, pulled out the key to this room, almost instinctively.
'Is this my room or yours?'
The two girls exchanged sharp glances.
"Yours first or mine?"
"Mine first."
"No, yours first."
"Fine, yours it is."
"..."
After entering the room, things were not quite as Hikigaya Hachiman had imagined. Surprisingly, the two girls didn't immediately bring up what had just happened. Instead, they sat on their respective beds, arms crossed, glaring at each other without a word.
Hikigaya didn't want to get caught up in this tense atmosphere. He went to the kitchen and prepared two cups of hot milk, then handed them to the girls.
Kamuro: "I still prefer the other flavor."
Kushida: "Oh? Here we only have milk tea and coffee. If you insist, there's also hot cocoa. Which one do you want?"
Kamuro: "Looks like you've been here a lot before?"
Kushida: "Naturally. After all, sometimes order of arrival matters, you at least need to know your place."
Kamuro: "I think some things don't need to be so strictly divided."
The conversation between the two carried an unmistakable tension, like gunpowder waiting to ignite. Even Hikigaya, who had not been involved in their topic, felt that from the very moment these two met, they had already been sucked into a whirlwind of war.
Kushida: "Then, tell me your reason. How did something like this happen?"
Kamuro: "Before that, I want to hear how the so-called 'senpai' managed to seduce Hikigaya."
Both girls crossed their arms, each refusing to yield a single inch, letting out a defiant "hmph."
Hikigaya immediately felt their sharp gazes on him. Since they refused to talk to each other, the spotlight inevitably turned onto him, the "victim."
This was not the time to provoke these two. Even Hikigaya knew that if he carelessly angered one of them, it would end poorly.
So...
Hikigaya: "Uh... you two are pretty much the same in your methods."
Only by saying this could he hope to make them realize the situation. Of course, this was only Hikigaya's perspective.
Kamuro immediately wore a provocative smile: "Oh, I see, Kushida. I thought you were amazing, but turns out you're just a sneaky cat too."
Kushida responded with a cold sneer: "Hmph, a thief is a thief. You even do things so shamelessly."
Kamuro: "By that logic, you're the same."
Kushida continued her cold laugh: "At least I'm the second, and you're the third. Besides…Sakura and I have already reconciled. As for you, hehe... I don't believe Sakura would accept a third."
Kamuro scoffed dismissively: "Even if she can't accept it, so what? I can still have him."
Kushida: "Then I'll keep a strict watch so you'll never get near him again."
Kamuro continued to smile calmly: "There will always be a gap, and how can you be so sure his heart isn't leaning toward me?"
The two girls faced off like this, and Hikigaya felt utterly awkward just listening.
'Seriously... are you two really okay saying this in front of him?'
...
Kushida: "No matter what, we need to make this clear with Sakura. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. I'll call her over now, probably the student council is done for the day anyway."
Kamuro: "I agree. I have no intention of hiding this either. No matter what, the fault is mine. I know that."
Without wasting any more time, Kushida picked up her phone and sent a message to Sakura.
For some reason, Hikigaya, usually so detached, suddenly felt nervous. He knew Sakura wouldn't blame him, and she wouldn't pressure him, but he still felt an unexpected tension.
Perhaps deep down, he carried a trace of guilt. Would she be disappointed in him after knowing the truth? That thought made him deeply uncomfortable.
This period of waiting had become the hardest for Hikigaya. The restless anxiety made him painfully aware of just how heavy the situation felt.
And he wasn't the only one feeling this way. For the two girls sitting on the bed, this too was a torment, especially Kamuro. Despite her fearless attitude, facing Kushida was different, and the real problem was that Sakura was already involved...
From a certain perspective, if Sakura could accept him, Kamuro wouldn't need to worry so much. But she had already reconciled with Kushida. Adding another? Unimaginable.
So many "tracks", how could one keep them all in control?
Amidst this anxiety, Sakura Airi gently knocked on the boy's door.
She had a key to Hikigaya's room, but under normal circumstances, she wouldn't barge in.
Of course, this was no exception.
Hikigaya opened the door and immediately saw the twin-tailed girl who had just finished carrying a pile of documents.
Even though she looked tired, the moment she saw Hikigaya, she smiled sweetly and warmly, instantly making him feel uneasy in his heart.
"Hachiman, are you okay? Did you not rest properly? You look terrible."
Hikigaya shook his head lightly, gesturing for her to come in. Yet Sakura's gaze stayed fixed on his face, her expression full of concern.
"Come in. I'll make you some tea."
"Okay."
Sakura followed closely behind him, and as soon as she stepped into the room, she saw Kamuro and Kushida sitting on the bed.
Sakura looked a little surprised and whispered: "Kamuro-san is here too."
Kamuro didn't maintain her usual tsundere posture, only giving the girl a slight nod.
Thus, the three girls, on one bed.
The scene was somehow touching, but to Hikigaya, it was pure hell.
He returned to the kitchen to make tea, hoping it would ease Sakura's fatigue.
On the bed, Sakura hadn't noticed anything unusual yet, just politely greeting the two girls.
A few minutes later, Hikigaya handed her a cup of tea, and she took it politely.
Kushida felt a little guilty, but hiding the truth from Sakura would only be worse.
"Sakura-san, I need to tell you something."
Unexpectedly, it was Kamuro who spoke first.
"Uh-huh, Kamuro-san, please go ahead."
Sakura had always seen Kamuro as someone who helped Hikigaya, so she didn't dislike her. Moreover, Kamuro had even helped her before.
Kamuro took a deep breath, placing her hands gently on Sakura's shoulders.
"I like Hikigaya."
"Ah haha... Kamuro-san, are you joking?"
"I'm not joking. I really like him."
For a moment, Sakura was at a loss, repeatedly glancing between Kushida and Hikigaya. But both of their gazes were fixed on her, clearly waiting for her to make a decision.
Before Sakura could respond, Kamuro continued: "I know this is selfish. In fact, I already knew about your relationship, but I still like him, to the point I can't pull back. So... what happened between us is my fault. I forced it, it has nothing to do with him. You don't need to blame him. And I won't hide it from you."
"I don't want to deceive you. Regardless of whether you accept me or not, I will continue to like him. Even if we're not in the same class. Sakura-san, I hope you can accept me. That way, we'll be allies. But if not, we won't be enemies either."
Clatter...
The tea cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Red tea seeped into the cracks.
(End of this chapter)