Chapter 022: Another Linked Dream!
Horikita Suzune fell silent once more.
She stood at the entrance of the bookstore, the morning light pouring in from behind her, casting her shadow at Hachiman's feet. Her burgundy eyes rested on his face for two seconds before shifting away.
Hachiman felt that Horikita was a bit strange today.
"You said just now," Horikita began, her voice slightly lower than usual, "that you hope to get married directly after dating, and that you aren't just playing around."
Hachiman nodded. "Yeah."
"What about Karuizawa then?" Horikita looked at him. "Do you know what she thinks?"
Hachiman's finger paused on the coffee can. He knew Karuizawa's thoughts, of course. Back on the cruise ship, she had said as much in that message: "You're definitely going to leave eventually anyway. Just consider this as psychological preparation for our farewell."
She hadn't thought about marriage or the future; she simply wanted to repay the favor she owed him while he was still here.
"She knows I'll eventually leave," Hachiman said.
Horikita's brow twitched slightly.
"So," her voice was a bit dry, "you both knew the ending from the very start?"
Hachiman didn't answer. But silence itself was an answer.
Horikita leaned against the bookstore's display window, her gaze landing on the street. At this hour, most shops in the shopping district hadn't opened yet; only a few breakfast diners were lit up, their glass windows clouded with a thin layer of steam. Her eyes rested on that steam, but she wasn't really looking at it.
"If," she spoke suddenly, her tone carrying a hesitation Hachiman rarely heard, "if you couldn't go back?"
Hachiman was stunned for a moment.
"I mean," Horikita turned her head to look at him, "if you stayed here forever, would you marry Karuizawa?"
The question came too abruptly.
Hachiman looked at her. Those burgundy eyes held no curiosity or probing, only a focus that seemed like she was truly waiting for an answer.
So, he thought about it.
"I don't know," he said. "But probably not. Because I'm definitely going back."
"Why?" Horikita's voice rose slightly. "Do you have a reason you must go back?"
Hachiman was silent for a second.
Everyone knew Horikita Suzune was socially inept. Thus, he replied:
"I can't leave my sister, Komachi, alone in another world."
Hachiman spoke with a tone that suggested this was a matter of course.
But Horikita heard what lay beneath the words. It was simply that he couldn't bear to let his sister be alone.
Horikita didn't speak again. She shifted her gaze back to the street. The steam in the diner's window condensed into water droplets, sliding down one by one. As she watched them, something inside her slowly thawed.
She had always assumed Hachiman said he "needed to go back" because there was someone he couldn't let go of over there. That girl named Yukinoshita Yukino. The person he was willing to spend twenty million points to learn how to pursue properly. She thought that was his reason for returning.
But now she knew.
It wasn't.
It was Komachi. It was his sister.
Compared to a potential spouse, he actually cared more about his sister.
This reminded Horikita of her own brother, Horikita Manabu. He was likely the same way. He never said it out loud, but his actions spoke for him.
Even though they were in the same school, he didn't speak to her in public and seemed cold. Suzune had felt it was because she hadn't earned his recognition. But Hachiman had told her it wasn't like that.
It could be because he cared too much. He was afraid she would be targeted, afraid she would be used, and afraid she would bear burdens she shouldn't have to just because of her status as the "Student Council President's sister."
She didn't understand before. Now, she felt she understood a little.
Thinking of this, Horikita spoke, her voice softer than before: "Your relationship with your sister... is very good, isn't it?"
Hachiman glanced at her, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"That girl is an idiot. But undeniably, she's a good sister."
Seeing that slight curve of his lips, a wave of envy suddenly surged in Horikita's heart.
Yes, it wasn't jealousy; it was envy.
She thought of her own dynamic with her brother. Sometimes she wondered if he could be just a little more like Hachiman was with his sister...
She didn't follow that thought to the end.
Right then, Hachiman's voice came from beside her.
"Your brother is the same. President Horikita... even if he doesn't say it, everything he does is for your own good."
Horikita was stunned and turned to look at him.
Hachiman leaned against the wall, his coffee can still unopened. He lowered his eyes, looking at the can.
"He stands in front of you not because he thinks you're incompetent, but because he wants your path to be easier. Protection and respect aren't mutually exclusive."
Horikita stared at him for two seconds. She suddenly felt that this person was truly strange. He couldn't even handle his own affairs properly, yet he could see through others' hearts. He had to find someone to teach him how to interact with girls, yet he could say things that left people unable to argue.
"You're always like this," she said.
Hachiman looked up. "Like what?"
"Seeing through people's thoughts." Horikita looked away toward the breakfast diner. "Sometimes it makes people feel very uncomfortable."
Hachiman thought for a moment. "Then I'll try to say less in the future."
"No need." Horikita's reply was so fast she even startled herself. She then composed her expression, her tone returning to its usual calm. "Because I can only know if you say it. You know I'm not good at guessing what people are thinking."
'Mm.'
Hachiman glanced at her but didn't follow up. Horikita Suzune rarely expressed her needs so directly.
However, since she really was bad at reading the atmosphere, it was indeed necessary to tell her things straight.
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The two stood at the bookstore entrance for a while. Morning light flooded from the end of the street, dyeing the entire shopping district in a warm gold.
"Let's go," Horikita said suddenly, walking toward the diner. "I'm hungry."
Hachiman followed her, and the two walked one after the other into the nearest breakfast shop. Horikita sat by the window, and Hachiman sat opposite her. The table was covered with a plastic tablecloth, a plastic tube holding chopsticks weighted down one corner. Horikita glanced at the menu and put it down.
"Fried noodles," she said.
The owner acknowledged the order. As a shop that cooked to order, the spatula scraped against the iron griddle. Hachiman also ordered fried noodles and put the menu back.
The noodles arrived quickly. The steam from the griddle mixed with the scent of the sauce, and the noodles sizzled. Horikita picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, chewed, and showed no change in expression.
"How is it?" Hachiman asked.
"It's fine," she said.
Hachiman took a bite as well. It was indeed at the level of "fine." Not bad, but not particularly delicious either. It didn't even compare to his own cooking. From that perspective, his skills as a potential stay-at-home husband were actually quite qualified.
The two ate in silence.
Halfway through, Horikita put down her chopsticks, took out her phone, checked her notes, and then put it back.
"Class D's physical test data has already been handed over to Class B," she said.
Hachiman looked up at her.
"According to your request," Horikita continued, "all data has been organized. One copy was given to Katsuragi, and I kept one. Hirata has a copy as well."
Hachiman nodded. "What did Katsuragi say?"
"He said he'd keep it confidential. The participation list will be submitted at the last moment. The students of Class D won't know their own participation order until the day of the Sports Festival."
Horikita paused, took another bite of noodles, chewed, and swallowed. "Hirata agreed as well."
Hachiman leaned back against the chair, tapping his finger lightly on the edge of the table.
Hirata Yousuke. During the written exams, Hachiman had lent Hirata points on the condition that "When I need it, you do one thing for me." Hirata had agreed. Since then, that condition had been like a string tied to Hirata, waiting for the day it would be pulled.
Now, that day was approaching.
"What about Ayanokouji?" Hachiman asked. "How did he react?"
Horikita's fingers paused on her chopsticks. She thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"No reaction. He deliberately hid his strength during the physical tests—his grip strength was only 60.6kg, and his 50-meter dash was average. It was the same for other events—not outstanding, but not poor either."
"He didn't ask about the participation list?"
"No," Horikita said. "He hasn't even proactively mentioned the Sports Festival."
Hachiman was silent for a few seconds. No reaction was the biggest reaction of all. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wasn't the type to sit around waiting for death. He wasn't moving because he was waiting. Waiting for the best opportunity, the most suitable entry point, and the moment he was fully prepared.
"He will definitely do something." Horikita looked up at Hachiman, a hint of worry in her burgundy eyes. "He won't just watch."
Hachiman nodded. "I know."
Horikita stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly realized something. "You're waiting for him to make a move?"
"Yeah." Hachiman didn't deny it.
Horikita frowned. "Aren't you afraid he'll ruin your plan?"
Hachiman didn't answer immediately. He took a sip of water, put it down, and then spoke slowly.
"Have you thought about why Ayanokouji hasn't acted yet?"
"Because he's observing?" Horikita suggested.
"No." Hachiman shook his head. "Because he's waiting for an opportunity where he won't be suspected. If he jumped out now and said he wanted to lead Class D's participation list, who would listen? No one. His reputation in Class D is already trashed; Ryuen's words made the girls lose all trust in him. No matter how much ability he has, without the people's hearts, he can't do anything."
Horikita tapped her finger on the table, beginning to think.
"So," she said, "he needs an entry point."
"Right," Hachiman said. "A legitimate, unquestionable entry point. For example—the leaking of the participation list."
Horikita's pupils contracted slightly.
Even though she was also betraying Class D, she hadn't expected that Ayanokouji—whose goal was to drag Class D up to prove himself—would also commit an act of betrayal.
Hachiman continued, "The people involved in making Class D's list are you, Hirata, and Katsuragi. If the list is leaked, who is responsible?"
Horikita's breath hitched.
"Me," she said, her voice dry. "Because I'm from Class D. While Hirata is also in Class D, he wouldn't do such a thing. Katsuragi is in Class B; he has no motive. So if the list leaks, everyone will suspect me. After all, I'm close to you."
Hachiman looked at her and said nothing.
Horikita leaned back, her mind racing. She finally understood. Ayanokouji doing nothing was actually him doing something—he was waiting for them to finalize the list so it could be leaked. Then he could stand on the moral high ground and point at her, saying, "Look, the traitor in Class D is her."
And once she was labeled a "traitor," she would have no place left in Class D. No one would believe her, no one would listen to her, and no one would stand with her. All her previous efforts would be for nothing. She would become a discarded pawn.
"He's going to attack me," Horikita said in a heavy voice.
"Yes," Hachiman said. "Because in Class D, you are an obstacle to him."
Horikita was silent. But then:
"You knew all along." She looked up at Hachiman. "You knew since you told me to go to Class D to create pressure."
Hachiman didn't deny it.
"You had me drag Class B into it, had Class D hand over the production rights to Class B, and had Katsuragi get involved—this wasn't just a strategy; you were setting a trap for Ayanokouji."
Hachiman took another sip of water. "More or less."
Horikita looked at him, a complex mix of emotions flashing in her eyes. "Then do you have a way to break the deadlock?"
Hachiman put down the cup and leaned back. "Do you think the participation list will definitely be leaked?"
Horikita paused, then nodded. "Class D's list can't be kept safe. You said that before."
"Then if it's leaked, who is responsible?"
"Me," Horikita said.
"If it's you, you'll be attacked."
"Right."
"But what if—" Hachiman looked at her, slowing his pace, "someone steps forward before the leak?"
Horikita froze.
Hachiman took his phone out, pulled up a screenshot, and pushed it toward her. It was a message from Hirata Yousuke sent after the written exams last semester. It wasn't long, just a few lines, but Horikita stared at them for several seconds.
[Hikigaya-kun, I'll repay the points as soon as possible. Regardless, thank you for saving Sudo and Yamauchi. I will definitely return this favor.]
She looked up at Hachiman. "You, from the very beginning..."
"Not the beginning." Hachiman put the phone away. "It was when I lent the points. At the time, I just felt that Hirata is a man of sentiment; he would definitely return a favor. Later I found out he's not just sentimental—he has a pathological tendency for self-sacrifice. He always feels he should bear everything, that if someone must get hurt, that person should be him."
Horikita tapped the edge of the table. "So you need him to bear this responsibility."
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "If Class D's list leaks, you can say Hirata did it. Or rather, let Hirata admit he did it himself."
Horikita frowned. "Will he admit to it?"
Hachiman glanced at her. "What do you think?"
Horikita fell silent. She thought of Hirata Yousuke. Always smiling, always gentle, always considering everyone's perspective. If someone needed help, he'd be the first to step up. If someone was hurt, he'd be the first to rush in. If the class needed someone to sacrifice...
He would choose himself without hesitation.
"He will," Horikita said, her voice slightly strained.
Hachiman nodded. "So when Ayanokouji attacks you, you'll be fine. But doing this can ruin Ayanokouji's reputation. Because I'm not going to have Hirata leak the list to me directly; instead, I'll arrange for him to take the list back to the dorm and 'accidentally' let Ayanokouji see it."
Horikita leaned back and stared at the ceiling. The fluorescent lights were blindingly white, but she didn't look away. Her mind spun, piecing the fragments together.
First, if Hachiman didn't guide her, Class D's list would leak anyway due to their sieve-like security. But now, she, Hirata, and Katsuragi were the ones responsible. When the list leaks, Ayanokouji will use it to attack her. When that happens, Hirata will stand up to take the responsibility. Or rather, Hachiman was already prepared to use Hirata's "favor" here.
Class D's list was definitely going to leak. Having Horikita provoke the Class D students was purely to set a trap for Ayanokouji—to induce him to attack her.
However, in reality, Hachiman had already arranged for Hirata to be Class D's "traitor." He would have Hirata bring the list to the dorm. Once Ayanokouji chose to attack Horikita, he would obtain the list through Hirata's side and leak it. Ultimately, Class D and Class B would suffer. This would be a major blunder, and someone would have to be held responsible.
Hirata wouldn't leak it voluntarily. So, if he was asked by Hachiman to "test Ayanokouji," and Ayanokouji actually betrayed the class, Ayanokouji would eventually have to take the fall.
And as the opposing class, once Ayanokouji leaked Class D's list, Hachiman's Class A could derive Class B's list and react accordingly.
This arrangement also accounted for another factor: there were no rules on who had to make the list; any student could, as long as the teacher accepted it. It was possible Ayanokouji might cozy up to Chabashira-sensei ahead of time using "secrecy" as an excuse to reject Horikita's list in favor of his own.
Therefore, Hachiman was actually sealing Ayanokouji off.
Three birds with one stone. He gets Class D's list, neutralizes Ayanokouji, and if Ayanokouji attacks Horikita, his notoriety will continue, leaving him with no place in Class D.
Thinking this through, even though she was the one executing Hachiman's plan, Horikita couldn't help but say:
"You're truly terrifying."
Hachiman raised an eyebrow. "Just realizing that now?"
Horikita didn't smile; she shook her head. But there was no fear on her face. Instead, she felt that in terms of a battle of wits, she was still far from enough. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka seemed like a very dangerous person, but now, in Hachiman's game, he might not even get the chance to stand back up. As long as Ayanokouji's dark heart sought to attack her, that would become his grave.
Another ten minutes passed.
"Full?" Hachiman asked.
Horikita nodded.
"Then let's go."
Hachiman stood up, went to the counter, took out his student ID, and quickly paid the bill.
Hachiman walked out of the diner with Horikita behind him. The morning light was fully bright now, making the whole shopping street glow. The distant sky was blue, cloudless, and clean as if washed with water.
"Hachiman." Horikita's voice came from behind.
Hachiman stopped and turned around. Horikita stood at the diner entrance, the sunlight hitting her and tinting her black hair with a faint gold. She looked at him, her burgundy eyes showing a softness he rarely saw.
"Thank you," she said.
Hachiman looked at her, silent for a second, then shook his head.
"No need for thanks." He turned and continued walking. "We are partners."
Horikita followed him and didn't speak again. But she looked at his back—at his slightly messy short black hair, his slightly hunched gait, and his hands shoved in his pockets.
'Partners.'
She repeated the word in her mind and gave a soft sigh.
Yes. Partners. Nothing more.
Logically, that was the relationship, but...
As she went to sleep that night, Horikita Suzune dazed off, wondering why things had turned out this way.
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