Inside the dormitory.
The last day.
I've gone out every single day during winter break.
What kind of "corporate slave" have I turned into?
Hikigaya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his trench coat. This winter break had been exhausting—and even today, he still had plans to go out.
That said, today was actually fine.
After all, it was the book-review exchange he had arranged with Shiina Hiyori. They were meeting to swap reading lists again, and Hikigaya had absolutely no complaints about that.
Reading together with Shiina Hiyori was relaxing. It wasn't tiring, and he didn't dislike it at all.
At the library.
Hikigaya bought a can of MAX Coffee and headed inside.
The library during winter break was nearly deserted—"empty" would've been an understatement.
As soon as he entered, he spotted Shiina Hiyori sitting at a table. She noticed him immediately and waved, a pure smile on her face.
"Oh, you're early."
Hikigaya sat down across from her.
He took out the book Shiina Hiyori had lent him last time and placed it on the table. Even though he'd been busy lately, he had still managed to finish reading it.
"Hikigaya-kun is early too."
Shiina Hiyori glanced at the time and smiled.
"I'm always in the library anyway, but you're ten minutes ahead of schedule."
"Really?"
Hikigaya was genuinely surprised.
Spending an entire winter break in the library—she really did love books.
"Yes, then let's begin."
Smiling, Shiina Hiyori picked up the book she was holding. Hikigaya recognized it immediately: No Longer Human—the one he had recommended.
Before, he hadn't thought much of it. But now, an inexplicable sense of embarrassment crept in.
Why had he recommended that book to her?
It made no sense at all.
"Because of cowardice, one escapes life. From the deepest pit of non-resistance, pride is born. And because of that pride, one rejects crude optimism… It really feels like a certain someone."
Shiina Hiyori leaned forward. Her usual sleepy smile vanished, replaced by something mischievous.
"Hikigaya-kun, do you ever feel like everyone around you is an idiot?"
"..."
Hikigaya's face flushed.
It felt like a public execution—a complete social death.
"Not… everyone."
In the past, he truly believed those noisy normies were idiots—boys and girls alike, obsessed with shallow relationships.
But now, he understood them a little better.
At least, aside from a few people in Class D… they weren't all idiots.
"Actually…"
Unexpectedly, Shiina Hiyori covered her mouth and whispered conspiratorially,
"I kind of think everyone around me is an idiot too."
She giggled softly behind her hand.
"Uh…"
Hikigaya froze for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"I had a feeling before, but Shiina-san… you're kind of mean."
"That's harsh…"
She thought for a bit, then nodded.
"But maybe you're right. I never noticed it before, but I do like poking at things I find interesting."
As she said that, Shiina Hiyori smiled brightly at him.
Ever since she'd discovered Hikigaya, she'd wanted to tease him—but being in different classes meant few opportunities.
"Hikigaya-kun, do you dislike that?"
"Hm?"
Hikigaya considered it carefully.
"I wouldn't say I dislike it. My sister's pretty mean too. As long as you know the limit, I think it's actually a plus."
After all, Komachi was adorable—proof that a little bit of meanness could make a girl cuter.
"I see."
Shiina Hiyori smiled in relief, then smoothly changed the topic.
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun, what do you think about couples at this school?"
"What do you mean?"
Hikigaya looked puzzled.
"Doesn't this school ban inappropriate relationships between boys and girls?"
Though Hoshinomiya-sensei once joked that it was fine as long as no one died.
In reality, Hikigaya had noticed something else.
There were very few couples here. He rarely saw those middle-school-style "idiot couples" radiating sour sweetness.
The only ones he knew were Hirata and Karuizawa—and even that relationship was fake.
"Those are the rules," Shiina Hiyori nodded,
"but as long as it's not excessive, it's allowed. I heard there's a boy in our class dating a senior."
"Then that's fine, isn't it?"
Hikigaya replied dismissively. He didn't really want to dwell on this topic.
"Then what about people in the same grade?"
Shiina Hiyori leaned back lazily.
"Everyone wants to reach Class A, but only one class can graduate from it. Dating someone from another class could easily lead to conflict… maybe even a breakup."
"Hikigaya-kun, don't you think that's unpleasant?"
"..."
Hikigaya fell silent.
He understood her concern.
Reaching Class A was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity tied directly to one's future.
It was like middle school couples who lowered their standards to attend the same school—only to separate when one worked harder and moved on.
Idiotic.
This school was the same.
Dating across classes would inevitably cause friction. They could even become enemies.
He could easily imagine it—
"Do you love me, or do you just want Class A?"
"You don't love me—you only love yourself."
"I misjudged you. Let's break up. Drop dead."
A flawless triple hit.
Entirely possible.
However—
"I don't find it unpleasant."
Hikigaya opened his book, unconcerned.
"If feelings can be destroyed that easily, then they were only worth that much to begin with. That's not the real thing."
Come to think of it, this wasn't even something he needed to consider.
He barely knew his own classmates—how could he possibly date someone from another class?
Still, maybe Shiina Hiyori had someone in mind.
He didn't mind offering an opinion. Whether it helped or not was up to her.
"Eh…?"
Shiina Hiyori looked slightly stunned.
If a relationship could be discarded for the sake of Class A, it couldn't be called genuine—let alone love.
"Hikigaya-kun… you're really amazing."
Her expression turned complicated.
It was clear how seriously Hikigaya treated emotions. Compared to that, her own "wickedness" felt trivial.
The problems that troubled her already had answers in his eyes.
If Hikigaya truly fell in love, he would probably give everything—even betraying his class would be a minor issue.
"It's not like that," Hikigaya said awkwardly.
"It has nothing to do with me. I was just talking. You don't need to take it seriously."
"Alright, alright."
Shiina Hiyori shook her head.
"But I didn't expect Hikigaya-kun to have such a strong 'cleanliness' complex."
"I don't think I do. I can't even keep my dorm room clean."
Hikigaya looked confused.
His room was messy—just slightly better than those noisy sports club guys. Neatness had nothing to do with it.
"I meant spiritually."
Shiina Hiyori smiled helplessly.
"If that's the case, finding a girlfriend who's compatible with you will be extremely difficult, Hikigaya-kun."
"Even without that condition, finding a girlfriend is already hard enough."
Hikigaya sighed.
She made it sound like lowering his standards would magically solve everything.
He had enough self-awareness to know better.
At best, he was barely friends with people like Kobashi Yume.
If he suddenly confessed, he was confident he'd be rejected immediately—though, knowing their personalities, they'd probably still stay friends.
"Is that so?"
Shiina Hiyori tilted her head.
"I feel like as long as Hikigaya-kun wants to, you could find a girlfriend anytime."
"Haha, good joke."
Hikigaya laughed dryly.
Even if he did get one, he couldn't imagine himself dating properly.
Even if things started well, he was sure he'd eventually be dumped.
"Alright, then let's begin."
With that, Hikigaya exchanged book lists with Shiina Hiyori once more.
Thinking back, shopping or karaoke with Kobashi Yume and the others wasn't that hard to accept.
But being with Shiina Hiyori felt far more comfortable.
There was no need to force conversation. They could simply read in silence.
That kind of atmosphere was genuinely soothing.