Chapter 054: Little Horikita Wants to Change! Hikigaya: Horikita Suzune Wants Me to Mislead Her!
Someone had invited him out. And it was a girl.
When Hikigaya Hachiman arrived at the designated cafe, he found them already waiting in a booth by the window. The afternoon sun filtered through the clean glass, casting diamond-shaped patches of light onto the polished tabletop and illuminating two distinct yet equally striking faces.
One was Horikita Suzune, with her dignified aura and cold features; the other was Kushida Kikyo, with her warm smile, looking like a little neighborhood angel.
This was a rare occasion, though not an impossible one. For instance, while it was difficult for Kushida to invite Horikita out, Horikita would occasionally invite Kushida if there was a specific need.
However, for Hikigaya Hachiman:
"I feel like I'm looking at Yukinoshita and Yuigahama," Hikigaya muttered under his breath.
"Hmm? What did you say, Hikigaya-kun?" Kushida Kikyo immediately caught his arrival, her face blooming into a bright smile as she waved enthusiastically.
"Nothing. I just remembered some old classmates," Hikigaya said.
"Oh... I see." For Kushida, this was a landmine. Since she had completely ruined all her middle school relationships, she had no desire to reminisce about the past.
"Middle school, huh—" Horikita furrowed her brows slightly, murmuring thoughtfully. This subtle change in expression made Kushida's heart tighten.
Kushida had been wondering whether Horikita knew about her dark history from middle school.
She had agreed to help Horikita invite Hikigaya out today partly to confirm this. After all, if she approached Horikita alone, Horikita would completely ignore her. In fact, after they finished filling in the blanks for the old exam papers, Horikita had returned to her usual state of treating Kushida like she didn't exist.
'What a cold-hearted woman' Kushida snorted silently.
Yet, even a woman like Horikita had a day where she needed a favor. Horikita wanted to meet Hikigaya, but after waiting by the stairs on Friday night, she realized he had already left, so she asked Kushida for help.
Naturally, Kushida never helped for free. She needed to find out: if Horikita really knew her secret, would she go public with it? However, the most permanent solution would be to find a way to make Horikita Suzune disappear from this school entirely. If Horikita was expelled, the threat would vanish regardless of what she knew.
Thus, despite the angelic smile on her face and the fact that she was helping Horikita, Kushida's heart was currently pitch black.
'But the combination of Horikita and Kushida is quite rare.
Speaking of which, these two are a very special duo in the original story. Should I say they're like Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, or more like the relationship between Chabashira and Hoshinomiya?
Though Kushida is a bit too dark. Comparing her to Yuigahama is actually quite disrespectful to Yuigahama. And comparing Hoshinomiya-sensei to her is a bit disrespectful to the teacher too.'
Kushida: "..."
Horikita: "..."
Neither of them spoke. Since they could sometimes hear Hikigaya's inner voice, they knew he was talking about girls they didn't know at all.
Horikita knew Hikigaya seemed to constantly compare her to that "Yukinoshita" person, and apparently, she, Horikita Suzune, was considered the "inferior" version.
As for Kushida, she hated his words.
What did he mean by saying it was disrespectful to Yuigahama to compare them? He made her sound like she was terrible.
However, in Hikigaya's heart, she was a "complete victory" over Hoshinomiya-sensei, so was the Class B homeroom teacher actually a terrible person?
Regardless, Kushida had enough self-awareness to know that Hikigaya knew her true nature, so his evaluation was "fair" in a way.
Only... Kushida always felt Hikigaya was strange.
Usually, when people found out her true self, they either avoided her or looked at her with disgust. But she never felt that from him.
The way he looked at her was more like he was looking at... an ordinary person?
This strange sense of "equality" Hikigaya gave her caused an indescribable ripple in her heart. One might even say it felt special. But she wanted herself to be special, not for someone else to become special to her.
"Well then—" Kushida quickly straightened her thoughts, adjusted her expression, and thoughtfully pulled out the chair in front of Hikigaya with a natural, fluid motion.
"Huh? Oh." Hikigaya seemed a bit surprised by her proactiveness but sat down as requested.
"Have you ordered drinks yet?" Hikigaya asked, looking at the empty table.
"No," Horikita interjected immediately, her speech fast and clear.
"But I plan to order a milk tea and then have Kushida leave."
Before the words had even finished, Horikita felt a burning gaze fixed on her face.
Kushida's smile remained perfect, but her large eyes clearly radiated shock and disbelief.
'Wait, sister? You ask for my help to bring Hikigaya-kun from Class B here, and before my seat is even warm, you want to dismiss me with a cup of milk tea? Just like that?'
"Horikita is poor at socializing. To her, a gesture that quickly settles a favor is something she is very happy to do," Hikigaya added at this moment.
So, Horikita intended to use a treat as a way to clear the debt for Kushida's help today. She didn't want to owe Kushida anything.
"..." Kushida immediately turned to Horikita for confirmation, only to see the other girl pursing her lips without any intention of refuting him.
So, Hikigaya was right.
Actually, Kushida knew Horikita was always alone.
Perhaps she really liked being alone, or perhaps... her emotional intelligence was so low that it left her with no other choice. After all, Horikita was very beautiful, and people generally like to be around cute, good-looking people.
Someone must have invited Horikita to join their group at some point. However, to this day, it seemed no one had added Horikita to the class group chat.
Yes. Class D had formed a group chat, but it was done through friends adding friends. So far, no one had added Horikita.
Kushida, of course, knew this and deliberately refrained from adding her as a small act of revenge for Horikita's usual coldness. But to some extent, it also proved that Horikita Suzune was incredibly difficult to get along with.
"I indeed do not wish to owe anyone favors," Horikita Suzune finally spoke.
"Kushida, take the milk tea and go back."
Kushida:: "..."
'Damn it.'
Kushida felt slightly embarrassed. But then she realized Hikigaya's inner voice was ringing again.
'Horikita's interpersonal skills are truly absurd. However, only someone with ulterior motives like Kushida would slowly try to make contact. Even if Horikita is cold, it doesn't matter.
Because Kushida truly harbors ill intentions. She's terrified that Horikita came from the same middle school and knows her past. If it's exposed, her current 'little angel' image will be ruined.'
'What are you saying?!'
Kushida's heart plummeted! She had been wondering if a bookworm like Horikita really knew her secret, and now Hikigaya's inner voice had just handed her entire past to Horikita on a silver platter! Now Horikita Suzune had a tool to control her.
Anxiety instantly began to brew in Kushida's heart. She felt she shouldn't have helped Horikita today. But quickly:
'But Kushida doesn't need to worry. Horikita has no interest in such boring things.
And in the later stages of the original story, to get the class promoted, Horikita even does a 'dogeza' to her, begging for her help.'
The dark emotions churning in Kushida's heart were instantly dispersed by this sudden information.
'What?! This Horikita Suzune? Kneeling to me? Doing a dogeza? Begging for my help?'
That was hilarious. So the tables would turn eventually?
Kushida's gloomy mood from the potential exposure of her secret was replaced by a bizarre surge of vitality, even a hint of schadenfreude-filled anticipation.
She looked over and saw Horikita Suzune frowning slightly.
Clearly, Horikita had also heard Hikigaya's inner voice.
Kushida looked at Horikita with gleeful eyes.
As expected, the other girl's brow was furrowed—knowing she would have to kneel to her in the future, Horikita must be feeling incredibly stifled right now, right?
Indeed, waves were crashing in Horikita's heart, and she felt quite uncomfortable. But the source of her discomfort wasn't Kushida. It was because Hikigaya said she would do it "to get the class promoted."
Was she eventually going to be forced to take over that hopeless Class D?
No. Don't say such terrifying things. Just the thought made her feel suffocated.
She almost wanted to stand up and argue immediately.
Last week, they had dealt with the written exam and filled in the old papers. During that process, Kushida suggested not distributing the papers too early, fearing the classmates couldn't keep the secret. Horikita had silently agreed.
Meanwhile, Hirata, knowing nothing of the leak, had organized study groups and invited Horikita to be a group leader. Though reluctant, Horikita was still a student of Class D, so she agreed.
But after agreeing, she realized... Class D was truly beyond saving.
There were actually people who sat through every class but still failed. Sudo couldn't even solve simple equations, and Ike and Yamauchi were "rotten wood that cannot be carved," making excuses to dodge studying.
So now, in her group, the only people actually studying were Sakura and Karuizawa. These were her classmates in Class D, and such students made up a high percentage of the class.
As for Class D... she no longer had any expectations for it.
'Though Kushida was pretty stupid in the early stages. She was even willing to sell out Class D's interests just to get Horikita expelled.
But since she's so obsessed with Horikita, why doesn't she stop to think about who else in this school has the surname 'Horikita'?'
'Horikita? Is there someone else named Horikita?'
Kushida's train of thought stopped abruptly. A name flashed through her mind like lightning—the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu!
Kushida looked closely at Horikita Suzune. That signature black hair and those burgundy eyes... they were exactly like the Student Council President's! They looked just like... siblings.
Wait. So Horikita Suzune was the Student Council President's little sister?!
Kushida immediately wished she could take back her previous thoughts.
What was she trying to do just now? Was she really going to try and get the President's sister expelled? Would she be retaliated against?
Although she had only seen the President from a distance on the podium during the entrance ceremony, she instinctively felt he was formidable. After learning the truth about this school, she knew this was a place where strength was everything, and the Student Council President was at the very apex of the pyramid. Naturally, he was terrifying.
'Speaking of which, as the Student Council President and the peak of 'strength,' the school might have granted him certain privileges.
Something as absurd as unconditionally expelling a student might even be within his power.
But Kushida wasn't expelled in the original story, so she probably dodges the President's threat of expulsion. After all, our President is very fair; he likely wouldn't use his authority against Kushida for personal reasons.'
Kushida "..."
'So, can I even challenge the Student Council President? Am I even worthy?'
"Horikita-san," Kushida said, standing up quickly.
"Please hurry and order the milk tea. I'll just pick it up at the counter!"
Without waiting for a response, Kushida hurried toward the counter as if there were an emergency. Horikita gave a puzzled look at her retreating back but quickly ordered a taro ball milk tea.
Kushida timed it perfectly; a second before her phone was about to ring, she held it to her ear with a look of apology.
"Oh, sorry! Wang Mei-yu has an emergency and needs me! I have to go! Hikigaya-kun can have the milk tea!"
She spoke rapidly and was already heading for the door, leaving in a hurry.
Hikigaya, who had been quietly observing from the booth, followed Kushida's silhouette with his gaze. He clearly saw that the lit-up screen on her phone was not an incoming call, but an alarm icon.
He retracted his gaze subtly, already understanding.
So, it wasn't that Wang Mei-yu was looking for her; she had just set an alarm. But Kushida had indeed left.
"Well then, now that the nuisance has departed," Hikigaya brought his gaze back from the distant Kushida and settled it on Horikita Suzune.
"There must be something else you wanted by having Kushida invite me out."
"..." Horikita showed a look of slight surprise.
Although she had received a poor evaluation for interpersonal skills in Hikigaya's heart, she felt that Hikigaya-kun... seemed to be on the same level as her when it came to getting along with others.
However, she did have something to consult him about. Now that Hikigaya was being direct, she decided to be honest as well.
"I want to ask: how can one gather 20 million points?" Horikita Suzune said.
Oh?
'So you've given up on trying to lead Class D upward and decided to gather 20 million points to go solo?
I see.'
Hikigaya understood. Horikita Suzune had come to learn from his experience.
But that was the advice he had given her in the first place. He immediately confirmed: Horikita Suzune had delivered herself to his door specifically to be misled.
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