Chapter 228: She Likes You!
"Something strange?"
"Of course there is! Do you have any idea what Airi and I were doing last night... mghh?!"
Before Hasabe Haruka could finish her sentence, Sakura Airi, who was standing beside her, hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.
"Haruka, that kind of thing... how can you just blurt it out?
It's too embarrassing!!"
Sakura Airi, her face turning crimson to her ears, desperately tried to stop her best friend from speaking further.
Regarding this, although Hikigaya felt slightly curious, he didn't take it too much to heart. In his view, no matter how strange the thing these two girls encountered was, there was no way it could be as bizarre as the things in his dreams!
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His neighbor, Horikita Suzune, seemed to still be angry at him for the events of that morning, treating him like air throughout the entire day.
Kushida Kikyo was even more difficult to handle; she would look back and glare at him from time to time, but the moment he tried to respond, she would immediately turn her head away.
'See? A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; how could it be so easily seen through by the likes of him?'
By the end of the month, the sports festival was drawing near. Every class was intensifying the frequency of their training. With the exception of Class D, most people appeared indolent and passive.
This was only because, under the leadership of Hirata Yousuke, Class D had simultaneously signed contracts with both Class B and Class C, honestly handing over the participants' events and rosters.
This move was equivalent to playing with an open hand; Class D had completely abandoned competing for the class rankings. Under these circumstances, naturally, no one would put any real effort into training.
However, the team competition events were an exception. This was because the stronger side of the participants needed to help their weaker teammates to avoid their rankings falling into the bottom ten.
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After School
On this day, following his usual routine, Hikigaya was exercising together with Sakura Airi and Hasabe Haruka.
"Yo~ Dead-fish-eyes, you sure know how to enjoy yourself lately."
The only person who would suddenly come over to disturb him and speak so rudely was Ryuen Kakeru.
"Don't talk nonsense. Am I not working myself to death training here?"
Hikigaya was practicing mobility by jumping left and right while carrying Airi on his back. Because there was an outsider present, the latter felt too embarrassed to signal for him to put her down.
"Che! Getting a bargain and still acting like a victim!
You're eating way too well; even this Great Me is starting to feel a bit envious of you."
Ryuen Kakeru clicked his tongue with a look of displeasure.
"Aren't you the King of Class B?
Setting up a harem should be quite pleasant, shouldn't it?"
Hikigaya quipped.
"Hmph, women will only hinder my progress!"
Ryuen wasn't boasting when he said this.
From beginning to end, his mind was focused solely on his career and pushing the class forward. Moving from Class C up to Class B was his greatest battle result.
However, being as ambitious as he was, he clearly wouldn't stop at just Class B.
"Then go ahead and slowly work on your career."
Hikigaya expressed his lack of interest.
"Wait a minute, do you really not intend to intervene in this sports festival?"
Ryuen's eyes were sharp, trying to see any hidden information from Hikigaya's face.
"I've already said the same thing many times."
Hikigaya was too lazy to waste words: "Rather than focusing your attention on me, you'd be better off keeping a closer eye on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
"You think I haven't done that?"
Based on Hikigaya's previous exposure, Ryuen was now completely convinced that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was the 'X' he had been searching for.
"That guy hasn't made a single unusual move from the time school starts until it ends."
Ryuen had long since bribed a few "running dogs" from Class D to monitor Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's every move.
"Pfft... hahah!"
Hikigaya couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at how stupid you are. Letting those useless wastes from Class D, who are more likely to ruin things than succeed, monitor the final boss behind the scenes—if that's not stupid, what is?"
Faced with Hikigaya's sharp evaluation, Ryuen was left speechless.
"Alright, topic over.
I don't want to discuss things related to Ayanokouji here."
Hikigaya struck and moved immediately, giving Ryuen no chance to think of a comeback. He smoothly took a bottle of electrolyte drink handed to him by Haruka and began drinking in large gulps.
"Give me a sip."
As he spoke, Ryuen actually reached out to snatch it.
Slap!
Hikigaya slapped the other's hand away with one palm, speaking with a face full of disgust: "Who gave you permission to touch it? Or rather, do you want to have an indirect kiss with me that badly? How disgusting!"
"The way you put things is truly annoying enough!"
Ryuen raised an eyebrow, a gagging expression on his face.
"Go, go, go.
Don't keep us busy from our training."
Hikigaya waved his hand dismissively, preparing to send the other away.
But as Ryuen took a step, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He stopped, turned around, and said: "I almost forgot to tell you, Shiina took sick leave today."
"Wait a minute..."
Hikigaya was stunned for a moment, then retorted: "Why are you telling me, an outsider, that someone from your class is sick?"
"To Class B, you are an outsider.
But to Shiina, you are a very important person~"
A sinister smile appeared on Ryuen's face.
As expected, Airi and Haruka, who were beside Hikigaya, immediately cast dangerous glares his way.
"Haha!
Anyway, the word has been delivered. As for whether or not you go to visit Shiina, that's up to you!"
After giving him a malicious look, Ryuen turned around and left elegantly.
"Hachi! What exactly is your relationship with that Shiina-san?"
Hasabe Haruka immediately demanded an interrogation.
"Just ordinary friends.
The same as I am with you guys."
Hikigaya had no choice but to tell the truth, only to suddenly notice that Sakura Airi, who was standing to the side, looked like she was about to cry: "Just ordinary friends..."
"Uh, well..."
Hikigaya hurriedly tried to comfort her: "Airi is my best friend!"
"(T_T)"
Upon hearing this, not only did Sakura Airi not feel happy, but she instead felt an indescribable bitterness.
"Hachi, are you an idiot?"
Hasabe Haruka glared at him crossly.
"Huh?"
Hikigaya looked completely baffled.
'If 'best friend' isn't enough, what else could it be? Could it be that Airi likes...
No, no, no!
I almost made the same mistake again!'
Hikigaya really wanted to slap himself. Not long ago, he had made a fool of himself with Suzune and Kikyo; how could he possibly not learn his lesson and start having blind delusions again?
Seeing Hikigaya's conflicted expression, Hasabe Haruka suddenly felt a surge of frustration.
Clap!
Haruka cupped his face with both hands, holding it fixed so the two of them were looking eye-to-eye.
"Look straight into my eyes, Hachi!"
Her amber pupils reflected his own face. Hikigaya's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
'I can't help it; the delusions are coming back!'
"Tell me, what do you feel right now?"
Haruka was screaming in her heart: Hachi, Airi likes you!
"Uh, my feelings might not be very accurate..."
Hikigaya's gaze wavered, not daring to say it directly.
"Say it! Say it out loud!"
Haruka felt a surge of excitement in her heart.
'Is this scene finally coming? The youth romantic comedy of Hachi and Airi...'
For some reason, she suddenly felt a little bit lonely.
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