Hikigaya's House
A black-haired girl with a bob cut hums a cheerful tune as she lies on her bed, playing on her phone. Her two slender legs swing up and down. Unlike her gloomy older brother, Hikigaya Komachi gets along with everyone. A new email notification pops up on her screen, stopping her movements. She taps the screen with her finger to open it.
"Komachi, we have a huge crisis! We need your help, now!"
"By: Nishimiya Yuzuru."
Huh? Nishimiya Yuzuru? Komachi immediately remembers the new transfer student in her class, a girl with tomboyish manners and speech. Always eager to help, Komachi quickly replies.
"Yuzuru, what's wrong?"
After a while, Komachi understands the crisis. Her friend's older sister likes a boy, but she's shy and introverted. However, Yuzuru saw the boy with another girl, and they were very close. Now Yuzuru wants to help her sister change and win the boy's heart. Komachi is a little overwhelmed. She knows nothing about love. But her friend trusts her, and she doesn't want to let her down.
Hmm... Komachi tilts her head, deep in thought. A light bulb goes off in her head. She realizes she's not alone. She jumps off the bed, puts on her shoes, and her footsteps echo on the floor.
Hikigaya Hachiman is in his room, reading under his desk lamp. He loves to read alone in his room late at night.
Knock, knock, knock! A quick knock on his door is followed by Komachi's voice. "Brother, open the door!"
Hachiman puts down his book and walks to the door.
Click. He opens the door to see his sister's face, a face that clearly needs help.
"Komachi, what's wrong?" Hachiman is very patient with his sister, so he asks gently.
Komachi gets straight to the point and tells her brother about her friend's request. Hachiman's brow furrows. Love advice? She's asking me? He hasn't told anyone about being rejected by Oribe Kaori. It's a wound on his heart. Komachi's question feels like salt in a wound that's just about to heal.
"Komachi, I... don't really know much about love." For Hachiman, love is a lie, just like youth, and he has rejected both.
"Oh..." Komachi's shoulders slump, and she looks dejected.
Hachiman can't stand to see his sister like this. He sighs. "Alright, Komachi, I'll help you figure it out."
Komachi's eyes light up, and she smiles, showing her canines. "You're so reliable, brother!" This makes Hachiman a little giddy. It feels good to be trusted by family.
He's not good at love advice, but he knows someone who is. A face appears in his mind: Hiratsuka Ryosuke, his classmate from elementary school. This guy has a cute childhood friend who always came to their class to find him. He even saved their classmate Nishimiya Shoko before they graduated. He also wrote Sword Art Online, a light novel with good romantic details. Doesn't he know a lot about this stuff?
Hachiman returns to his room, finds Ryosuke's name on his phone, and drafts an email. He got his email address on the day he decided to confess to Oribe by the river.
"Hiratsuka, can I ask you a question?"
Hiratsuka's House
Hiratsuka Ryosuke is admiring his sister's sleeping face. It's completely different from when she's awake. Her lips are slightly turned up, as if she's having a wonderful dream. In this quiet moment, her sleeping face is so innocent and gentle, like her name, bringing a deep sense of peace and warmth.
The light on his phone flickers. Ryosuke carefully picks it up, not wanting to wake his sister. He opens the email and sees it's from someone he didn't expect: Hikigaya Hachiman. Why is he emailing me? Is he sad about being rejected by Oribe?
Ryosuke decides to reply. Hachiman feels a little nervous. He doesn't know if Ryosuke will reply. He's only reached out because he can't bear to see Komachi sad.
"Yes."
"By: Hiratsuka Ryosuke."
The short reply gives Hachiman a boost of confidence. If Hiratsuka is on the case, this should be easy. I don't have to disappoint my sister. "Komachi, I have a reliable friend. He's going to help," Hachiman says, smiling at his sister.
Komachi is a little surprised. "Is it that chubby guy who came over once?"
Hachiman shakes his head. "No, not Zaimokuza. It's Hiratsuka-kun from elementary school. Hiratsuka is a really amazing person." Komachi's eyes widen, and she covers her mouth. She's a little emotional. My brother is making friends!
Hachiman emails his sister's problem to Ryosuke. Ryosuke reads the email. It's a love problem from Hachiman's sister: how can a shy, introverted girl change to become more popular and win the heart of the boy she likes? It's Hikigaya's sister. He imagines a younger, more cynical, female version of Hachiman. He thinks, Hikigaya really cares about his family, just like me.
Ryosuke isn't an expert on love, but he knows someone who is very popular. The girl next door! His childhood friend is very popular at school. He'll ask her for advice.
Nibutani Shinka is sitting on the floor in her room, surrounded by a ring of portable lights. She sees a new email notification and opens it.
"Are you there?"
The effect of "Are you there?" varies. Seeing it's from Ryosuke, she quickly replies with a long message. Ryosuke, next door, reads it and his face darkens.
"The guardian knight, who has gone through countless hardships, has finally arrived at the magician's forest. Why do you dare interrupt me as I listen to the whispers of the elves in the holy light?"
"By: Nibutani Shinka"
Ryosuke clenches his phone, wishing he could flick her forehead right through the screen. But he has a task, so he sends Hachiman's question to her. Luckily, Shinka gets serious when it's time to work.
"A girl's charm is composed of inner and outer qualities. The inner part can't be changed in the short term. The fastest way to change is with the outer part. For example, clothing and style. Different styles reflect different personalities, to a certain extent. But for a cute girl like me, everything looks cute."
Ryosuke nods after reading it. Shinka has many different styles. He thinks, It's true, she looks cute in anything. Wait, she knows she's cute?! This is big news.
"So what should we do now?"
"Everyone's personality, looks, and body are different, so the best styles are different too. A shy, introverted girl might not suit my style. But we can ask Shoko to come with us tomorrow and try on some clothes."
Shinka's words are a revelation. Nishimiya Shoko is a shy and introverted girl! He can take Shoko shopping tomorrow and buy her some clothes as a thank-you gift for helping him. Then he can find the best outfit, send the store's address and the clothes' styles and prices to Hikigaya, and tell him to buy them in a smaller size for his sister. Ryosuke feels like the clouds have parted, and everything is clear now.
He first sends Hachiman an email that says, "Leave it to me." Then, he sends an invitation to Nishimiya Shoko. Finally, Ryosuke puts down his phone and looks at the wall he shares with his neighbor, nodding. You're the best, my reliable childhood friend.