Chapter 118: What Kind of Person Can Stand by His Side?
"Thank you, Shinomiya. Leave the rest to me," Hikigaya said.
Learning that the Student Council members had already cleared over half of the backlog—and that Kaguya had even arrived early specifically to lighten his load—left him genuinely grateful.
"It's fine. Splitting the tasks makes the work go faster," Shinomiya Kaguya replied slowly, smoothing her raven-black hair.
With Hikigaya's guidance, Shinomiya's remaining tasks were completed rapidly, yet this did not change the intense feeling of dissatisfaction swirling within her. Though her face was a mask of frost, her inner self was on the verge of a breakdown, jumping with anxiety.
'I'm so annoyed! This is unpleasant! Why?!'
Was the perfume Hayasaka chose too subtle? While chatting with Hikigaya earlier, Shinomiya had frequently brushed her hair aside and even leaned in close to ensure the scent reached him. Yet, despite her best efforts, Hikigaya remained unmoved, maintaining a strictly professional demeanor.
'Why isn't it working? Aren't molecules supposed to be in constant random motion?'
Self-doubt began to eclipse her shyness. In her frustration, she briefly entertained the thought of grabbing Hikigaya's head and shoving it against her neck so he could finally smell it.
'Is it really that hard for you to compliment me?'
The more indifferent he seemed, the stupider she felt. Even she could smell her own perfume; why couldn't he?
She was about to snap and ask him directly, but a terrifying scenario played out in her mind. Instead of praise, she imagined a version of Hikigaya even colder than herself, looking down at her with disdainful eyes.
"Perfume?" the imaginary Hikigaya sneered. "What a shallow scent. As expected of your barren taste, Shinomiya. How cute."
Shinomiya immediately crumbled at the thought and fell into a deep silence. Being mocked like that would be worse than death.
.
.
.
'This fragrance is actually quite nice.'
Hikigaya wasn't an idiot. Today's Shinomiya was completely different from her usual self. He had realized she was desperate for him to comment on the perfume.
'I know you're anxious, but hold on a second.'
He couldn't exactly say "Bro, you smell great" in the middle of a serious work session. That wouldn't be respectful to someone as meticulous as Shinomiya.
Furthermore, he noticed that Shinomiya—who usually hated digital spreadsheets—was typing with newfound fury.
'Damn it, it's all Hayasaka's fault for filling my head with weird ideas' Shinomiya thought, venting her frustration by pounding on the keyboard.
"For us, beauty is power. In social circles, those who do not adorn themselves have no place to stand." This was the logic of "men conquer the world, and women conquer men."
But what truly drove Shinomiya to change was Hayasaka's warning: "You wouldn't want women who only have pretty faces to get a head start, would you?"
Normally, Shinomiya wouldn't care, as Hikigaya didn't seem interested in romance. But she had noticed his time in the Student Council room was getting shorter, leaving her feeling like a resentful wife watching a husband who never comes home.
To Hayasaka, her mistress was playing a winning hand terribly. Shinomiya had the best position, but Hikigaya was finding new "homes," like the club he had just formed.
The Club Federation was so afraid of Shinomiya that they didn't even dare promote it, but that was a crisis in itself. If Shinomiya stayed stagnant, Hikigaya would eventually drift away.
"Done."
Under Hikigaya's guidance, the work was finished. To break the monotony, Hikigaya brought up Ishigami Yuu, suggesting the boy join the council as an accountant to help with the workload.
Shinomiya had no objections; anything to make life easier was welcome.
However, as they discussed the newcomer, not a single word was mentioned about Shinomiya's change. Hikigaya's silence was deafening to her ears. She lost all hope.
'I knew it. For someone like me, a small change is useless.' "Feminine charm" was a pipe dream. She felt heartless.
Getting validation from Hikigaya was the crucial step she needed to overcome her own awkward nature. Without it, how could she keep moving forward?
"Good work today."
After shutting down the computers, they left the room and stood in the hallway. Seeing Shinomiya's dejected silence, the corner of Hikigaya's mouth twitched upward. Sometimes Shinomiya was a mystery, but right now, she was incredibly easy to read—like a child who didn't get the praise they expected.
"Shinomiya," Hikigaya said seriously. "It suits you very well."
That sudden sentence was like a beam of light breaking through Shinomiya's gloom.
"What do you mean?" she asked, stunned.
Hikigaya didn't beat around the bush. "I mean you have excellent taste. It suits you perfectly. The top note is light, but the base note is long-lasting and mysterious. It makes one want to... explore."
The icy expression on Shinomiya's face thawed instantly. Her cold eyes now revealed a thirst for more.
'Praise me more. Give me more of that.'
"I don't know much about perfume, but it really fits you." Hikigaya left after saying his piece, leaving Shinomiya standing alone.
"Explore? Explore who? Oh?" Shinomiya repeated his words, her pale skin turning an enticing shade of pink. It was pure shyness; her breathing quickened.
"Wait, explain yourself more clearly!"
But Hikigaya was already gone. This "denial of satisfaction" left her feeling restless. She abandoned her lady-like posture and stamped her feet in frustration.
"Honestly!"
After venting, she leaned against the wall, panting, and patted her cheeks.
"That annoying guy..." But her smile wouldn't go away. Only the empty hallway witnessed her blushing face. For her, "it suits you" was the perfect answer.
'It suits... me.'
Her confidence, usually brittle, was magnified by his validation.
'Oh no, I'm so happy.'
She immediately texted her "military strategist," Hayasaka Ai. Hayasaka, chatting with friends, checked the message. It was just three words: "It suits me."
'Wonderful.'
As her number one supporter, Hayasaka was thrilled. It was a small step, but for the mistress, it was the equivalent of the moon landing. Shinomiya was always plagued by self-doubt due to her strict family upbringing.
Hayasaka joked to herself that the closer Shinomiya got to Hikigaya, the closer Hayasaka was to finishing her mission.
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In another exam hall, Hikigaya saw Hayasaka looking remarkably happy. He didn't need to guess; she was definitely the one who suggested the perfume to Shinomiya.
Seeing Hikigaya look her way, Hayasaka feigned ignorance, stuck out her tongue, and tapped her head with a "Hehe" smile.
Success is built on small victories. Hayasaka knew Shinomiya was cute but far too rigid. When Shinomiya had previously suggested changing her hairstyle by putting a pink bow—similar to Fujiwara Chika's—on her forehead, Hayasaka knew her mistress lacked a "fashion nerve." That's why she suggested the perfume first.
Hikigaya was a sensitive person; he'd notice emotional shifts early.
The real problem lay with Shinomiya's own hesitation. However, a bigger challenge was coming: both of them had to return to the main Shinomiya estate this week. The pressure from the family might finally force Shinomiya to face her own feelings.
The morning exams ended.
"It's over!" Fujiwara Chika cheered, practically emitting small flowers.
Hikigaya was grouped with Shirogane and Fujiwara for the final exam. "There's another exam in twenty-five days," Shirogane Miyuki reminded them.
"President, why do you have the mindset of an old man?" Fujiwara puffed out her cheeks. "We should reward ourselves!"
Students around them were already discussing the newly released "Black Myth" game, eager to fight Bosses. But club activities were still scheduled for the afternoon.
"Hachiman," Shirogane walked over. "How do you feel?"
"Maybe you'll take the top spot from me this time," Hikigaya replied with a smile.
"I look forward to it. Oh, and remember to come to the Student Council room after lunch. I found a new member candidate."
"Who?" Fujiwara peeked out from behind Shirogane.
"The first-year we investigated, Ishigami Yuu." Hikigaya explained Ishigami's situation. He thought highly of the boy, but it was a group decision.
"Oh, him," Shirogane remembered.
"Fujiwara-secretary?" Hikigaya suddenly stopped. Fujiwara was leaning in like a puppy, sniffing him.
"Ah!" Fujiwara stood up and started shouting in disbelief. "Hachiman! Why do you smell like Shinomiya-san?!"
'What are you yelling about? Are you a dog?'
Hikigaya had been near Shinomiya hours ago, yet she could still smell it! Fujiwara, who was always clinging to Shinomiya, had noticed the perfume that morning. She never thought the boys would notice, but here was the scent on Hikigaya.
"Hmm?" Before Fujiwara could say more, her "Shinomiya Radar" pinged. Shinomiya was nearby. She waved her over.
Hikigaya saw not only Shinomiya, but also Shijo Maki, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Yuigahama Yui. It seemed they were all in the same hall.
Yukinoshita looked down immediately, blushing from the events of the previous night. Yuigahama, however, brightened up and tried to pull Yukinoshita toward "Hikki."
But Shinomiya reached Hikigaya first. As the "Ice Princess" walked through the crowd, people instinctively cleared a path, blocking the path for Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. A space opened up around Hikigaya's group, isolating them like an island of the elite.
It was intimidating. Between Hikigaya, Shinomiya, and Shirogane, they looked like a group of "villains" to the average student.
Yukinoshita, though a newcomer, had seen this before during a confrontation between Shinomiya and Shijo Maki. Hikigaya stood at the highest level of Shuchi'in, a level most could only look up to.
Hikigaya saw Yuigahama and Yukinoshita stuck behind the crowd. He looked at them and mouthed: "I'll be there in a bit." They were in the same club, so it was better to meet somewhere quieter. Yukinoshita understood, nodded, and led Yuigahama away.
Shinomiya walked up. "What are you talking about?" she asked, having heard them mentioning her.
Fujiwara replied honestly, "I was wondering why Hachiman smells like Shinomiya-san."
"Huh?" Shinomiya's composure shattered. She had been maintaining her cool through constant mental suggestion, but Fujiwara's words bypassed all her defenses.
'Is she a dog? How is there still a scent after all this time?'
The more Shinomiya panicked internally, the colder she looked externally. Shirogane actually feared Shinomiya was about to murder Fujiwara.
But Hikigaya handled it with one sentence. "Shinomiya helped me with work this morning. We were sitting together; I probably just picked it up then."
"Oh, that makes sense," Fujiwara accepted the explanation easily. Shinomiya let out a sigh of relief as Fujiwara happily grabbed her arm.
Watching the group from afar, Yukinoshita Yukino felt a single question echo in her mind.
"What kind of person can actually stand by his side?" she murmured.
In Chiba, everyone looked up to her as the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. But here, her family's group was merely a new subsidiary of the Shinomiya conglomerate.
"Silly girl, no one here is more qualified than you," Hagoromo Gitsune muttered, shaking her head internally. In the face of absolute power, noble status was a joke. They had the power to flip the table entirely.
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