One day after work.
Hikigaya drove away from the White Room.
While Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and the others couldn't leave the facility, there was no problem for staff members like them, though it was a bit far from the city.
Not long after.
A person with wine-red twin-tails stood by the road waving her arms. Hikigaya stopped the car and rolled down the window with some helplessness.
The person in front of him was Amasawa Ichika, who had already graduated.
"Why are you here again..."
"Heehee."
Amasawa Ichika leaned on the car door, revealing a little devil-like smile.
"I thought it's already been several months, so Hikigaya-senpai should be used to it by now..."
"You come every day like this regardless of wind or rain, how could I get used to it... don't you find it tiring?"
"Not at all. So, how is Ayanokouji-senpai?"
"The same as always..."
"What does 'the same as always' mean? Tell me in detail."
"Sigh..."
Hikigaya let out a sigh.
"Same as before. In the morning he ate rice, saury, and miso soup, then started working to educate students. I can't tell you the content. For lunch he ate..."
"Mm-hmm..."
Amasawa Ichika was seriously taking notes, just like a stalker.
Back in school, she had already gained her freedom; strictly speaking, she had been abandoned by the White Room.
Only.
Her affection for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka seemed to remain unchanged.
With her unstable state, she naturally couldn't enter the White Room to work.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi wouldn't allow such an existence to stay by Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's side.
Therefore.
Amasawa Ichika stayed here every day, asking him about things related to Ayanokouji.
"Alright..."
After finishing, Hikigaya said with some helplessness:
"Let's stop here. I have to go home to be with Hiyori,masumi and the others."
"So envious. Senpai and them are as intimate as always."
As she spoke, Amasawa Ichika's slender hands were still clutching the car door.
"By the way, Senpai, give me a ride. Just to the edge of the city is fine."
"I say..."
Hikigaya was about to refuse.
But seeing Amasawa Ichika's pitiful gaze, he still couldn't bear it, being completely manipulated.
"For the last time..."
"Thanks! I love Senpai the most."
Amasawa Ichika happily slipped into the car and fastened her seatbelt.
It was basically like this every day.
She would take a taxi to a spot 10 kilometers away from the White Room, then walk to the highway exit to wait for Hikigaya's car; any closer wasn't allowed.
Even she understood clearly.
If she dared to threaten Ayanokouji Atsuomi with the location of the White Room, it would be a certain death sentence.
Vroom vroom vroom.
With the sound of the engine, Hikigaya carried Amasawa Ichika toward the city.
"I say, you should be very clear yourself; there's no possibility between you and Ayanokouji. It's about time you consider your own life."
Thus.
There was no choice.
Hikigaya also knew very well.
Amasawa Ichika was actually not living very well.
Actually, the Amasawa family was also a famous political family, but Amasawa Ichika was somewhat disliked, especially after leaving the White Room.
Originally, with Amasawa Ichika's ability.
Even without the family's assistance, she could find a good job.
Simply to understand Ayanokouji's situation.
She had to take a taxi from the city to here every day; even emails wouldn't do, she had to hear it with her own ears.
The time commitment restricted her working environment.
She could only find a few part-time jobs to get by.
Even now when she returned to the city, there were part-time jobs at convenience stores or personal projects waiting for her.
In Sakurajima Island (Japan).
Taxi fares were originally extremely high.
Taking a taxi here had already drained Amasawa Ichika's financial capacity; wanting to take a taxi back was quite difficult.
In Hikigaya's view.
There was absolutely no need to waste time on Ayanokouji.
It wasn't worth it.
And it was because of this situation that the Amasawa family chose to cut ties directly.
One doesn't need to harbor any illusions about any politician.
She was an illegitimate child to begin with.
Keeping such a "traitor" who could defect at any time was too much of a threat to the family...
And such a life couldn't last forever.
As she grew older, even part-time jobs would eventually run into problems.
"..."
Hearing this.
Amasawa Ichika lowered her head and didn't respond, which made Hikigaya look at her with surprise.
Such words.
Hikigaya had actually said them countless times.
Not only would Ayanokouji Atsuomi not agree, but Ayanokouji Kiyotaka himself had no feelings for her.
Furthermore.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't even step out the door.
Usually, she would just brush it off, but he didn't expect her to suddenly fall into silence this time.
"That..."
"Really, I'm well aware of my own business..."
Amasawa Ichika waved her hand casually. Hikigaya didn't say anything more, but the drive was indeed a bit boring.
"Speaking of which, if you really can't be with Ayanokouji in the end, what will you do?"
"Then there's no choice but to kill him."
"That's terrifying..."
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh and didn't take it to heart.
After all, setting aside the White Room's security, she probably couldn't even break through Ayanokouji's bodyguards...
From her title for him, it could be seen that Amasawa Ichika was still living in the past.
Two years passed.
Hikigaya was still working at the White Room. On the way back, he was already used to carrying Amasawa Ichika.
"Really."
Amasawa Ichika sat in the passenger seat, somewhat speechless.
"Did Hikigaya-senpai take a leave yesterday? You should have told me in advance; you made me wait for over an hour for nothing..."
"You, a person who's always hitching a ride, have the nerve to say that?"
"What about it? Senpai always likes to peek at my panties anyway; you think I don't know? Just consider it the fare."
"That's... human nature... speaking of which, if you don't want to be exposed, wear safety shorts properly."
Hikigaya chose to be stubborn.
The two chatted for a long time before Amasawa Ichika finally got to the main point.
"Right, what did Ayanokouji-senpai do today?"
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"That..."
Hikigaya gripped the steering wheel tightly, his expression awkward as he truly didn't know how to speak.
Feeling Amasawa Ichika's interrogating gaze.
After a long time.
Hikigaya finally spoke:
"Yesterday... I went to Ayanokouji's wedding..."
"..."
Amasawa Ichika was stunned for a moment, lowering her gaze so her expression couldn't be seen.
After a long time.
Seeing Amasawa Ichika remain silent, Hikigaya spoke softly:
"Um... are you okay?"
"Why so sudden? Who is the other person?"
"This... I'm not too sure either... I'll ask for you in a few days."
Because it was really sudden...
Before yesterday.
Hikigaya didn't know how Ayanokouji Kiyotaka suddenly got married either.
"Forget it, no need... can Hikigaya-senpai stop the car for a moment?"
Amasawa Ichika turned to look out the window. Hikigaya quickly pulled over to the side of the road; this was still a private road, so it didn't matter.
Hikigaya handed a tissue to Amasawa Ichika.
"Well, don't be too sad. Looking at it from another angle, maybe it's a good thing; you can start your own life too."
"No need..."
Amasawa Ichika shook her head, turned to lean on the seat, and started murmuring.
"I've also thought about this possibility. I thought I would be very sad and find a way to kill him, but strangely, my heart seems very calm."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
Anyway, Amasawa Ichika's expression indeed looked very calm; rather, it felt like she was relieved.
Otherwise, if this girl really thought about killing Ayanokouji...
Then he would be the one having a headache.
"More importantly, Hikigaya-senpai..."
As she spoke.
Amasawa Ichika quickly unfastened her seatbelt and suddenly straddled Hikigaya, her snowy white arms resting on Hikigaya's shoulders.
A little devil-like smile reappeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Do you want to do it with me once?"
"Even if he's married, you don't need to be so self-destructive."
"It's not that. It's just... how should I say it? I just feel relieved."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly that."
Soon.
On the driveway, a small car began to shake violently.