"I'm so irritated I can't stand it, so please let stay in your room tonight, Hachiman-kun."
The subjectless ssage surprised slightly, but soon after, another ssage from Arisu arrived.
"I'll explain the details later, but could you spend today with ?"
I guess it's sothing she can't talk about unless we et in person. Anyway, I also wanted to hear about the exam results between Class A and Class D, so this works out well.
"Well, what I'm most curious about isn't the win or loss, but the 'outco.'"
What impact did this exam have on Ayanokōji? This is just speculation, but Tsukishiro, whom I t recently, must have made so move during the exam.
Arisu, who was also a commander in this exam, would know best about that. I don't understand why she's irritated, but maybe that's the reason.
"...Maybe I should buy so sweets on the way."
As her earlier ssage showed, Arisu is in an incredibly bad mood right now. It might sound bad, but it'd be wise to bring sothing to cheer her up. Arisu does have a sweet tooth, after all.
I stopped by a nearby cake shop to look for a good cake when I overheard a conversation among a group of four who had just entered the store.
"Hey, what kind of cake does Kiyopon like again?"
"No idea. Maybe sothing standard like shortcake?"
"Yukimu, that's way too basic~ What if he doesn't like it~?"
"Does Kiyotaka even like sweets in the first place?"
"K-Kiyotaka-kun does like sweets, I think..."
Listening to their conversation and recognizing their faces, I recalled that they were part of Ayanokōji's close-knit group in Class D.
I'd seen them chatting at a café before.
I wasn't sure why Ayanokōji wasn't with them, but it wasn't my concern. As I waited after ordering a cake...
"W-Wah, Haruka-chan?!"
Just as I heard Karuizawa's voice, I felt a strong impact from behind. Apparently, Hasebe had bumped into .
"Ah, sorry about that... Huh?"
Hasebe quickly apologized, but when she saw my face, she let out a puzzled sound.
"..."
She kept staring intently at .
"Haruka-chan! Are you okay?"
"Ah, Airi. Yeah, I'm fine, but..."
"Hey, be careful— Whoa, Ryūen's right-hand man...!"
When Miyauchi noticed too, he pointed at with that ridiculous nickna that seed to stick to .
"Uh... sorry for bumping into you, Ryūen-kun's right-hand man... sir?"
"That's fine. But drop that na. I really hate it. And you don't need to call 'sir' either."
Normally, that would be the end of the conversation, but since my cake hadn't been handed over yet, I couldn't leave.
As an awkward silence lingered, Hasebe, seemingly unable to bear it, spoke up.
"Why is Hikigaya-kun at a cake shop? I didn't picture you coming to places like this."
Though surprised she addressed , I answered without ntioning Arisu.
"The exam's over, so I wanted to relax. Thought I'd treat myself to sothing sweet today. What about you? Why are you buying cake?"
"We're getting one for Kiyopon. We lost to Class A in the exam today, so it's not exactly to cheer him up, but more like a 'thanks for your hard work' gift since he was the commander."
So, Class A had won against Class D in the exam.
If Class D lost, that ant Ayanokōji's protection points as the commander were stripped. That might be related to why Arisu was in such a bad mood.
After chatting a bit longer, the cake I ordered was finally ready.
"I'll get going now. It might be weird coming from soone in another class, but take care of Ayanokōji."
Since Class D thinks I'm Ayanokōji's friend, saying this much should be fine.
"Got it~"
Hearing Hasebe's carefree reply, I left the cake shop behind.
....
As Hachiman walked away, Karuizawa let out a deep breath, as if the tension had finally lifted.
"He was... easier to talk to than I expected," she murmured.
Haruka, who had handled most of the conversation, glanced in the direction Hachiman had left before turning back to the group.
"Yeah, he wasn't what I imagined. I an, he's called 'Ryūen's right-hand man,' so I thought he'd be way more savage."
"Mmm... I an, sure, he was different from what I expected, but... how do I put it?"
"What's up?"
Faced with Miyauchi's questioning voice, Haruka paused for a mont before suddenly brightening, as if solving a puzzle.
"Oh—right."
"Quit being cryptic and just say it, Haruka."
"It's just... I was wondering why I could talk to him so easily even though it was our first ti eting, but I think I get it now."
While Haruka nodded to herself, the other three exchanged confused looks.
With a slightly wry smile, Haruka finally put her earlier sense of dissonance into words.
"I might be wrong, but... it kinda felt like talking to Kiyopon. Like there was this weird déjà vu."
......
After putting the cake in the refrigerator and waiting in my room for a while, the intercom rang.
Judging by the timing, it had to be Arisu, so I opened the door.
As expected, there stood Arisu bundled up in winter clothing, but...
"Thank you for indulging my selfish request."
"Ah, yeah. It's cold outside, right? Co on in."
"Yes. Pardon the intrusion."
She took off her shoes and stepped into the living room.
I could tell at a glance—she was in a really bad mood.
Her face wore a smile, but beneath it, I could sense icy emotions and quiet anger.
Once in the living room, she sat down on the carpeted floor without saying a word.
"You can drop it. Keeping up a smile must be exhausting."
"...As expected, you see right through ."
After a long silence, my words finally made her expression falter.
"So... what's wrong? You seem pretty upset. Does it have sothing to do with today's exam?"
"To be honest, yes. What I'm about to say might just sound like complaining... but may I?"
I nodded, and Arisu began explaining the exam in detail.
Apparently, the final event—chess, the match she had longed to play against Ayanokōji—was chosen. At first, Horikita and Hashimoto competed, but it eventually turned into a one-on-one between her and Ayanokōji. Though she won...
That victory was orchestrated by Tsukishiro.
Specifically, he had tampered with the instructions from the commander, completely altering Ayanokōji's best move into sothing entirely different.
"After that, we settled it on the chessboard in the library. I lost... but this is utterly unacceptable."
Her eyes were frozen with fury.
Yeah, no wonder she was in a bad mood.
This exam victory was essentially a hollow win. Arisu had respected Ayanokōji's wish to avoid standing out and reluctantly settled for an indirect confrontation as commanders—only for even that to be interfered with.
"This is truly regrettable. A match like this might only co once in a lifeti...!"
She said they settled it in the library, but even that was questionable.
Had Arisu played chess from the start, she might have beaten Ayanokōji. Or if Horikita had secured an advantage against Hashimoto in the opening moves...
"Sigh... thank you, Hachiman-kun. I feel a little better after saying everything I wanted to say."
After ranting for several minutes, Arisu finally seed to calm down a bit.
"Glad you're feeling better."
"Let apologize again for imposing on you like this. You're the only one I can show this side of myself to."
Arisu rarely shows weakness to others. I don't know why she can be herself around , but if I can at least help her vent, that's fine.
Once she had settled down, I placed the cake I bought earlier in front of her.
"You like cheesecake, right? Have so if you'd like."
Maybe she'd been craving sothing sweet. Arisu looked slightly surprised but smiled happily.
"Truly... you are a wonderful gentleman."
That felt like way too much praise just for a cake.
"It's delicious."
"Glad to hear it."
She ate in a way that practically conjured cute mochu mochu sound effects.
"I also made coffee. Though it probably won't be as good as yours."
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" she said before taking a sip.
After exhaling softly, she touched her cheek and murmured,
"If you spoil like this, I might beco completely dependent on you..."
Her quiet whisper carried clearly in the silent living room.
I wasn't trying to spoil her. I just wanted to comfort her after everything that happened.
"It's fine. If there's anything else you need, just say so. You don't have to hold back today."
"...Are you sure?"
Her voice was small as she looked at with slight hesitation.
"Of course. If it's sothing I can do. Though it can wait until next ti if you'd rather just rest tonight."
"Rest... where?"
She tilted her head in confusion... Did I say sothing strange?
"In your own room, obviously."
"Why?"
"...Huh?"
"Eh?"
"..."
"..."
"Hachiman-kun... did you not read my ssage properly?"
I definitely read it, but... don't tell ...
"You seriously ant you wanted to stay over...?"
"Of course."
I'd completely assud that was a joke...
"Fufu, you look like you genuinely thought I was joking."
"No way. Think about this properly."
At my protest, Arisu pretended to consider it for a few seconds.
"I don't see any problems."
"...Sakayanagi-san would never allow it."
"My father would probably encourage it, actually."
"...We're a guy and a girl."
"I trust you in that regard. Even if sothing happened, it wouldn't be an issue."
"...There's only one bed..."
"You an we'd be sharing it. It's a bit embarrassing... but with you, it wouldn't be a problem."
Glancing toward the bed, Arisu's cheeks turned slightly pink.
This was bad. I was running out of excuses.
"Spending the night with ... is that really so unpleasant?"
She stepped closer, clutching the fabric near my chest while looking up at with damp eyes. Her face was flushed.
This is why I always lose to her. I need to steel my resolve and refuse properly.
....
"It's warm..."
"...Yeah."
Right now, Arisu and I are lying under the sa blanket.
We're both turned away from each other, but given that this is a single-sized bed, it's impossible to avoid touching.
"...Won't you... turn this way?"
A soft touch brushed against my back, followed by her voice.
Unable to ignore it, I slowly turned around.
"...!"
Arisu's face, which I was seeing for the first ti since getting into bed, was flushed red as if burning with fever.
The mont our eyes t, she imdiately averted her gaze.
"...Eh?"
I don't know what ca over .
Before I realized it, I had pulled her into an embrace.
"Hachi... man-kun...?"
At first, she stiffened in surprise, but after a mont, her arms wrapped tightly around my back in return.
The sweet, distinctly feminine scent of her filled my senses, along with the softness of her body pressed against mine.
Her warm breath tickled my neck.
"D-Don't... let go...!"
When I tried to pull away slightly, she only clung tighter.
"Just... just a little longer... please?"
She must have been embarrassed. Her eyes shimred with unshed tears as she pleaded in a fragile voice.
In response, I tightened my arms around her.
"Ngh...!"
Had I held her too tightly? A faint, breathy sound escaped her lips.
I loosened my grip, but Arisu resisted, pressing even closer.
"Like this... is fine. I don't want it any other way."
She buried her face against my chest, as if desperate to hide her expression.
I wanted to see how red her ears must be right now—but I stopped myself.
Arisu was being vulnerable right now.
Never being able to show weakness to anyone... must be exhausting.
"I want... to feel you more..."
Her soft body lded against mine.
As if refusing to let even an inch of space between us, she clung to .
"You... don't hate this?"
I knew it was a stupid question at this point, but I needed to hear it.
She flinched slightly before answering in a whisper.
"Of course... I don't hate it..."
"You were the one who said sharing a bed was fine, though?"
"...Reality is different from expectations..."
"Then that's your fault for not anticipating this."
"..."
In weak protest, she lightly thumped my chest.
Guess she couldn't argue with that.
"Didn't expect this, huh?"
"...an."
Had I gone too far?
She nuzzled her face against in a sulk, but her arms never loosened their hold.
"Just rest for now. Stay like this as long as you want."
She must have been ntally drained from everything with Tsukishiro. All I could do right now was give her this comfort.
In the end, Arisu fell asleep still clinging to —and needless to say, we stayed that way until morning.
....
After school on the day the exams ended...
Third-year Class A students Horikita Manabu, Tachibana, and Fujimaki were walking ho together.
"It'll be graduation soon... Ti flies, doesn't it?"
"It really did pass in the blink of an eye. I still can't quite believe it. What about you, Horikita?"
"I feel the sa."
With only a few days left at this school, the three enjoyed their nostalgic conversation in harmony.
"Speaking of which, Horikita, you were researching sothing quite intently around noon today, weren't you? What were you looking up?"
"...I was looking for restaurants with good food."
"Food? Is there sothing specific you want to eat?"
"That's not exactly it..."
As Horikita Manabu hesitated, Fujimaki murmured in realization.
"...A woman?"
"!?"
"No, not with a girl."
Tachibana overreacted to those words, but Horikita imdiately denied it.
"Then who with—"
Just as Fujimaki was about to press further, the sound of a new ssage arrived on Horikita's phone.
Horikita reacted instantly, glaring slightly at the ssage as he read it.
"...! Horikita's mouth... is curving up!?"
The expression Fujimaki saw wasn't exactly breaking his usual stern deanor, but there was definitely a subtle upturn at the corners of his mouth. Even for Fujimaki and Tachibana, who interacted with him frequently, seeing Horikita Manabu's expression change was rare enough to be shocking.
"Maybe that 'not a woman' claim was a lie after all."
"N-no way..."
Tachibana seed dejected at the possibility of it being a woman, completely unaware that such worries were entirely unnecessary.
=================================
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