Chapter 335 Too Many Gifts!
The battle finally came to an end after the eleventh round.
Ibuki Mio contributed seven times, while Shiina Hiyori contributed four.
"Dammit... just one more and I would have overtaken you!"
"From today on, I'm definitely going to train my physical fitness properly!"
Ibuki Mio and Shiina Hiyori supported each other as they left.
Even Hikigaya felt as though his body had been hollowed out, falling into a deep sleep amidst his exhaustion.
.
.
.
The next morning.
Hikigaya originally wanted to sleep in and skip the first period of Language Arts; after all, his grades in that subject were good enough that he figured Chabashira-sensei wouldn't say much.
Ding-dong, ding-dong~
The sound of the doorbell roused Hikigaya from his slumber.
He struggled to open his bleary eyes, seeing the wall clock display 6:15 AM.
Are you kidding?
Who comes to disturb someone's pleasant dreams so early in the morning!
Hikigaya walked toward the door with a face full of impatience and a belly full of "morning grumpiness."
"Which Big dumb— "
Appearing at the door was Sakura Airi in her "energetic beautiful girl" version—glasses off, twin tails on.
He swallowed the unspoken "idiot" back down.
"Which big... adorable cutie is it?"
The fire of anger in Hikigaya's heart was instantly extinguished.
There was no helping it; when facing a woman with a "generous bosom," a man's own "bosom" (magnanimity) tends to expand as well.
"Good morning, Hachiman-kun~
I'm sorry, did I come too early?"
Sakura Airi leaned forward slightly, her large deep-blue eyes gazing up at him in an upturned gaze posture.
The move was old-school.
But the effect was still highly efficient!
Hikigaya took a deep breath and responded with a smile: "It's fine. Seeing a high-energy Airi first thing in the morning makes me feel like all the fatigue in my body has been swept away!"
"Is Hachiman-kun tired?"
Sakura Airi blinked her eyes, seemingly pondering something.
Hikigaya quickly waved his hand to interrupt: "That's not the point!"
"In any case, Airi, come inside first."
Hikigaya enthusiastically invited her into the room.
"Pardon the intrusion~"
While taking off her shoes, Sakura Airi stealthily checked the shoe rack to see if there were any extra pairs of shoes.
Hikigaya saw all of this.
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Even the purest Airi has started to have complicated thoughts!
"Hachiman-kun!"
Airi didn't dawdle and quickly handed over the bag she was carrying behind her back.
"These are Valentine's chocolates.
Will you accept them?"
A bright red heart-shaped gift box.
The meaning behind it was self-evident.
Even though he was mentally prepared, Hikigaya still felt happy when he received the chocolates Airi handed him personally.
"Thank you, Airi."
"Um... th-these are 'Honmei' (True Feeling) chocolates, okay!"
Sakura Airi added stiltedly.
"I know."
Hikigaya nodded, his mood complex: "I'm too happy... it feels like a dream."
"It's not a dream!"
Sakura Airi's expression was serious and her tone firm: "Everything... everything is real!"
Hikigaya's eyes flickered; he knew what she meant by "everything."
But the situation was so magical that even he couldn't be one hundred percent sure.
"Hachiman-kun, what I mean is..."
Just as Airi was about to explain further, Hikigaya reached out and covered her mouth.
He shook his head and said with a grave expression: "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, feats of strength, disorders, or spiritual beings."
"Eh?"
Sakura Airi looked blank; she clearly didn't understand the Analects quote.
"In short, regarding unscientific phenomena, we should try to discuss them as little as possible. Ideally, don't even think about it!"
Hikigaya's expression was stern.
It wasn't that he didn't know the strangeness of the dreams, but precisely because they were so eerie and couldn't be explained by science, it was better not to investigate.
Sakura Airi nodded, half-understanding: "Okay, I'll listen to Hachiman-kun."
"Then, can I open them and eat?"
Hikigaya skillfully changed the subject.
"Of course!"
An expectant look appeared on Airi's face.
Hikigaya opened the packaging. The shapes of the chocolates were a bit deformed; it was clear the maker was a novice and quite clumsy.
"Huh?!
How can it be like this? They were very neat right when they came out of the mold!"
Airi's expression froze, her brow full of embarrassment.
"The cooling probably wasn't sufficient, so they didn't set properly.
But it doesn't matter. I've already felt your feelings, Airi."
Hikigaya picked up a less-than-beautiful chocolate and took a bite.
"How is it?"
"Very delicious."
"Really...? ~So bitter!"
Airi tried a piece, and her brow furrowed instantly.
"It's not bitter; I feel it's very sweet."
Hikigaya ate them one by one.
This reminded him of the first time Komachi made chocolates and added salt instead of sugar.
That taste was... simply beyond words.
However, taste was secondary; the sentiment was what mattered most.
"Hachiman-kun~"
Airi's eyes wavered as she gazed at him with deep affection, her heart rate gradually accelerating.
"I don't believe you.
Unless... you let me taste yours."
She closed her eyes.
Hikigaya understood instantly.
Sigh!
If possible, he really wanted to become one of those dense light novel protagonists.
Unfortunately, he wasn't a protagonist.
He was just a despicable, greedy man.
Hikigaya ate a piece of chocolate and delivered it personally.
Ten minutes later...
"How was it?"
"..."
"Are you satisfied yet?"
"..."
"Then have another piece."
Twenty minutes later...
He was full.
But also not full.
In a certain sense, he seemed even hungrier!
"Hachiman-kun~"
Sakura Airi's eyes were hazy, and her voice became even softer: "Can I... eat something else?"
"You can."
Hikigaya nodded solemnly.
Thirty minutes later...
Hikigaya pulled out a few tissues and handed them over.
Sakura Airi shook her head, indicating she didn't need them.
Gulp~
Hikigaya was filled with solemn respect.
This Valentine's gift was truly fantastic!
-
-
-
Leaving for school.
"Yo~ Good morning, Hachiman-kun and Sakura-san."
Kushida Kikyo was waiting at the bottom of the dormitory building.
"Hachiman-kun, I have a plan with Haruka, so I'll head out first."
Sakura Airi exchanged a glance with Kushida and took the initiative to leave.
"..."
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment, then stared at the latter with a strange expression: "Kikyo, are you guys... lining up?"
"Yeah! A three-point agreement: draw straws for the order, and no one can interfere with anyone else."
After scrutinizing him up and down, Kushida couldn't help but curl her lip: "Look at that exhausted face of yours. You weren't 'squeezed dry,' were you?
Sakura usually looks like she has poor athletic ability; is she really that formidable?"
It wasn't that Sakura was formidable; it was that the two from last night cooperated and took turns, producing a glorious result of 1+1=12!
"But there isn't enough time left.
Forget it. At this point, there's no use dwelling on it."
Kushida Kikyo had learned to adapt.
She pulled a large bag of chocolate candies out of her schoolbag.
"Here~ Surprised? Unexpected?"
No surprise, but it was certainly unexpected.
After taking the bag, Hikigaya lifted it to feel the heavy weight: "Kikyo, although I appreciate the gift, isn't this too much?"
"Compared to my feelings for you, this isn't much at all."
Kushida's brow tightened as she urged him in a firm tone: "Remember to finish all of them for me!"
Finishing this bag would be equivalent to a whole day's worth of calorie intake.
However, facing a Kushida Kikyo who could turn into a "Night Fury" at any moment, Hikigaya could only brace himself and accept.
"Hee-hee~ That's more like it, Hachiman~~"
Kushida beamed and hugged his arm affectionately.
"We're at the bottom of the dorm; isn't this a bit much?"
Hikigaya watched the people coming and going; quite a few cast envious glances his way.
"What's there to be afraid of?
Today's holiday atmosphere is just like this."
Kushida was relentless, instead hugging his arm even tighter with both hands.
"Please accept this, Hirata-kun!"
From Class A to Class D, and even upperclassmen sisters—seven girls in total—were giving chocolates to Hirata Yousuke at once.
Tsk tsk, is this the power of a "Normie"?
At this moment, Hikigaya wasn't envious at all; he even felt a bit of sympathy.
Because the complexity and helplessness reflected on Hirata's face showed not a shred of joy.
Noticing his gaze, Hirata took the initiative to approach.
"I really envy you, Hikigaya."
"Are you showing off?"
Hikigaya watched as the other man stuffed chocolates into his bag, arriving fully loaded.
"No, I really do envy you."
Hirata's face was sincere.
Hikigaya remained silent.
"Say something! Why aren't you speaking?"
Kushida shook his arm coquettishly: "With Hachiman-kun's intelligence, you must know why Hirata-kun is envious, right?"
Hikigaya really didn't want to say it.
But Hirata explained on his own: "Most of these girls giving me gifts are just blindly following the trend. Giving gifts to a handsome guy on Valentine's Day shows off their femininity while also helping them fit in...
Kushida-san is different.
She truly likes you."
Well said!
Kushida's mood instantly soared, and the look she gave Hirata became a bit more friendly.
You and your big mouth!
Hikigaya gave the other man a frustrated glare.
"Hikigaya, although I have no right to meddle, please think about it more.
Handle the complex and diverse emotional lines around you properly.
After all, I don't want to see you get chopped to death before graduation!"
Hirata gave his advice with earnest words.
"Oh, stop it~~ How could I bear to take a chainsaw and hack Hachiman into eighteen pieces?"
Kushida retorted with righteous indignation.
It was clearly a negative sentence, but why did it sound so weird?
Hikigaya's brain stalled for a moment, unable to react.
Hirata patted his shoulder and, without saying more, took the lead.
"Wait for me, Hirata-chan!"
Hikigaya wanted to follow.
"Hachiman-kun, who are you calling '-chan'? How disgusting!"
Kushida pulled him back, exposing his little scheme with a displeased look: "You wouldn't be trying to use Hirata as an excuse to ditch me, would you?"
"How is that possible?"
Hikigaya immediately retorted: "Hirata's gender isn't Saika!"
"Huh?"
"Who is Saika!"
Kushida flared up again, pinching his arm: "When you're with me, you're not allowed to think about other women!"
"Don't worry, Saika isn't a woman."
Hikigaya waved his hand.
Kushida wanted to press further, but a cool voice called out from behind.
"How long are you two going to stick together?
If you don't hurry up, the school bell is going to ring."
Horikita Suzune urged.
"Go away, go away!
Now is my exclusive time; don't come and interrupt!"
Kushida shooed her away with an angry face.
"I just came over to remind you."
Horikita walked past them with feigned composure.
"Hachiman, how about we skip the first period?"
Are you kidding?
Wait, with that expression, are you serious?
Hikigaya looked at her with a speechless face.
Kushida gave him a side-eye: "Tch~ Mr. Serious!"
It seemed that "walking to school arm-in-arm with Kushida Kikyo" was unavoidable.
Hikigaya could only endure the burning gazes from around him as they reached the school building.
First floor.
The indoor shoe lockers in the lobby.
He saw a group of boys repeatedly checking their shoe lockers or constantly striking up conversations with passing girls...
From an onlooker's perspective, it was truly cringeworthy.
"Hey~ Hachiman-kun, aren't you going to check?
Maybe a surprise will appear~"
Kushida teased.
"How could that... huh?!"
Hikigaya opened his shoe locker, and what met his eyes was a pink box.
"What?!"
Kushida's gaze instantly became sharp.
"Now that there's actually a gift, you're unhappy again."
Hikigaya couldn't help but tease her.
"Is that the same thing?
Open it and see right now!
I want to see which stinking woman didn't follow the rules!"
Kushida instinctively assumed it was a girl from their own class.
Hikigaya took it out and saw a name written in elegant handwriting on the box.
[To my dear Hachiman-kouhai~]
[I hope you dream of the cutest Nazuna-senpai tonight~~]
Asahina Nazuna... so far, he had only dreamed of her once.
"Nazuna-senpai?
Is that the Asahina Nazuna from Year 2, Class A, President Nagumo's childhood friend?"
Kushida glared at him fiercely: "Hachiman! You haven't actually dreamed of Asahina-senpai, have you?"
"Uh... dreams aren't something I can control personally, right?"
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
"Who knows about you?
Maybe you have some weird superpower..."
Kushida was deeply suspicious: "Finding different ways every night to have lewd dreams with different girls!"
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