One day.
Inside the Advanced Nurturing villa.
After work, Hikigaya returned home.
"I'm back."
"welcome back."
Ichinose walked to the entrance, bowing to place the slippers in front of Hikigaya.
" I've always troubled you."
Hikigaya put on the slippers and gave her a kiss on the cheek with a smile.
"It's not like that. Alright, hurry up~ let's eat."
Ichinose weakly raised her hand to stroke her own cheek, then the two walked side by side into the hall.
On the huge sofa.
Shiina Hiyori, Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, Sakura Airi, and others were gathered together.
Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyou, and Hasebe Haruka sat to the side, poking their small heads to look at each other's phones.
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya sat down beside Kamuro Masumi at the edge, also poking his head to watch the phones of the people nearby.
"Everyone is actually gathered together, that's rare. Did something happen?"
"You haven't checked your phone yet?"
"The third-year students are about to graduate; I've been busy all day preparing for the special exams, no time at all."
Hearing this.
Hikigaya also quickly pulled out his phone.
"Hachiman, do you still remember what day it is in two weeks?"
Kobashi Yume said with some excitement.
Although they went out for a while after graduation, they still found they were happiest being with Ichinose and the others.
Anyway, adding one more wasn't too many, and one less wasn't too few.
So she ran back again.
"Hmm... two weeks later..."
Hikigaya furrowed his brows in thought.
Two weeks later was the graduation day for the third-year students.
He had to prepare speeches, formulate plans for spring break, increase facilities, and negotiate with transportation companies.
The school was in a relatively peripheral area.
Strictly speaking, there was no logistics, so he also needed to negotiate with logistics companies.
Communicate with major enterprises about new hires, prepare for the next batch of freshmen, and so on...
The work was piled up like a mountain.
But Hikigaya also knew it wasn't about work matters.
"The Ten-Year Reunion...?"
Hikigaya ventured.
The only possibility was this.
"Correct."
Amikura Mako clapped her small hands, also quite excited.
"I feel like I haven't seen Ando and the others for a long time. Hachiman, we are definitely going, right?"
"..."
Hikigaya rubbed his temples.
To be honest.
Quite a few of the people in this group worked at Advanced Nurturing.
Although the work locations were different—some at dessert shops, some as teachers, some in logistics—moreover, as the Chairman, he also had to go...
With so many people taking leave at once, it was indeed a bit difficult.
But seeing the excited gazes of Ichinose and the others, Hikigaya still nodded with a smile.
"Of course, we are definitely going."
"..."
On the other side.
He didn't notice.
The gazes of Horikita Suzune, Shiina Hiyori, and the others were somewhat lonely.
Although current life was good and the work wasn't very hard.
But the more one worked, dealing with people's schemes every day, the more one could appreciate how precious pure high school friendship was.
However.
High school life filled with schemes and violence.
Was not worth remembering.
Naturally, they had all considered things like high school reunions.
On Shiina Hiyori's side, there was still some response, just tentatively asking if Ryuuen was coming—if he comes, I won't.
On Horikita Suzune's side, there was no response at all.
A class without any affection.
Naturally, there was no need for a reunion; otherwise, it would only cause a sudden spike in unpleasantness.
Furthermore, knowing that Hasebe Haruka was with Hikigaya, there were many who speculated they were just people who wanted to show off.
So why go?
"Shibata and the others said for us to pick the place. What should we do?"
Kobashi Yume said, looking at her phone.
"That guy Shibata seems to be on the national team now; I think I saw him on TV last time."
"Eh? Really? That guy really became a professional?"
"Yeah..."
Three women make a play.
Seeing the topic gradually drifting away, Hikigaya went to the dining table to eat first. Ichinose brought the warmed-up food to him.
In Sakurajima Island.
Overtime is the norm.
Even if one isn't working overtime, they should respond later; otherwise, they'll be considered a man with no future.
Therefore.
By the time Hikigaya returned from work.
They had basically all eaten already.
"Then let's decide?"
After a long while, Himeno Yuki finally brought the topic back.
"I want to go to a resort; there's food and fun. How about it?"
"I have no objection."
"I also agree."
"But..."
Shirami Chihiro said with some hesitation:
"The final bill will likely be split (AA); won't the resort costs be a bit high? It wouldn't be good if it caused a burden for others."
"Then let's just pay for it; anyway, we don't lack money."
"Would that make people feel unpleasant, like we're being arrogant?"
"Probably not..."
The few people looked at each other.
They felt that their former friends wouldn't have such thoughts.
But in reality, it had been ten years, so it was hard to say for sure.
"Simply."
Horikita Suzune thought for a moment and suggested:
"Let's just have the reunion at the school. The facilities are complete, the cost level is lower compared to outside, and there should be many people who want to come back and see the school, right?"
"..."
Karuizawa Kei thought while looking at Kushida Kikyou's phone:
"That might not be good either. They seem to know Hachiman is the Chairman now; they'll likely feel you guys are just showing off."
"It seems so troublesome..."
It wasn't that they had become realistic.
But rather with the increase in age.
For the same thing, the problems they considered indeed increased.
Although it was just a reunion.
They also had to take into account everyone's thoughts, time, emotions, family, financial capacity, and so on.
It wouldn't matter if they didn't consider it, but then this kind of reunion would never happen again.
However.
Ichinose and the others clearly cherished this friendship and didn't want it to be cut off.
Everyone had a troubled face, and finally looked at Hikigaya.
To the current Hikigaya, this was just a tiny, insignificant problem.
Thinking for a moment, Hikigaya gave the answer.
"Let's use the name of 'Advanced Nurturing inviting graduates back to school for guidance' and invite them to give a speech. No need for AA; all expenses will be covered by the school."
"By the way, invite Ryuuen, Katsuragi, Ayanokouji, and the others. The experience of students who didn't graduate from Class A is equally important."
"Then pay some remuneration. What do you guys think?"
"That's good, it's decided!"
Hearing this.
Horikita Suzune pursed her lips, her gaze carrying gratitude.
The officialese she once looked down upon was now spoken by Hikigaya with ease.
The means of manipulating people's hearts she once detested were now played by Hikigaya with mastery.
These were all small problems.
In fact, whether to invite Ryuuen and the others wasn't important; he believed no student wanted to hear the opinions of losers.
Only similarly.
He also needed to take care of the thoughts of Horikita Suzune, Shiina Hiyori, and the others.
If only people from their class were hanging around in front of them doing some ten-year reunion.
Even if Horikita Suzune and the others didn't say anything.
It was hard to say if they wouldn't have some thoughts in their hearts; relationships often drift apart due to such small details.
He only needed to be able to take care of the people around him.
To make the people around him happy.
What did it matter even if it was a lie?
Regardless.
The opportunity had been created.
Whether they come or not.
Was Ryuuen and the others' own business.