Keyaki Mall.
On the bustling street, Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyo walked on either side of Hikigaya, one on the left and the other on the right. Hikigaya could feel sharp glances from people around, and many greeted Kushida Kikyo with friendly smiles. She responded with cheerful waves and smiles each ti.
Where does this girl’s charm even co from?
anwhile, Sakura Airi kept her head down, shoulders hunched, and followed him timidly.
He felt a twinge of guilt. Taking advantage of such a shy and kind-hearted girl was despicable. But he had to do it if he wanted to get rid of Kushida’s persistent attention. Acting as unpleasant as possible was the plan, even if it hurt Sakura Airi’s impression of him.
"Well, what should we eat?" Hikigaya asked indifferently, putting on a cold expression that he hoped would drive Kushida away.
Kushida Kikyo clasped her hands behind her back and continued smiling. "Since this is an apology, you can decide, Hikigaya-kun."
"Eh? You’re asking ?" Hikigaya was genuinely surprised.
Usually, the person inviting would have a place in mind. Isn’t that how this works? But since she put the choice on him, he had two options:
One, he could choose sothing expensive to teach her a lesson about financial pain. But that could also an Sakura Airi, who probably had few personal points, would have to spend money. That was unacceptable.
Two, he could choose sothing simple and unappealing to most girls.
"Then, how about ran?" Hikigaya suggested, feeling oddly proud of his choice. Ran shops, especially ones like Jiro Ran, usually cater to middle-aged n. Definitely not a popular choice for girls.
"Ran? I like it! Hikigaya-kun, do you have any recomndations?" Kushida Kikyo replied without hesitation. Sakura Airi continued to trail behind, head still lowered.
Wait, did she just say she likes ran? But she obviously knows nothing about it! This school only has one ran shop, Jiro Ran. If she truly liked ran, she would’ve known that. She’s lying through her teeth.
"No, I don’t like that place," Hikigaya replied flatly. "It’s just the only option available. Jiro Ran isn’t special at all. That’s just common sense."
"Really?" Kushida clapped her hands with a bright smile. "Hikigaya-kun knows so much. That’s amazing~"
Hikigaya stared at her, his dead eyes full of suspicion. This woman was too good at lying. Her deception was flawless.
"What about you, Airi?" Hikigaya turned to her.
"Eh? I-I’m fine with anything." Sakura Airi’s voice trembled.
He sighed internally. So much for having a quiet al with Airi-chan.
The trio walked into the Jiro Ran shop. The establishnt was filled mostly with middle-aged n—probably school staff and so students from athletic clubs grabbing a quick al.
They approached the ticket vending machine.
"Since this is an apology, I’ll cover it," Kushida offered cheerfully.
"No, no!" Sakura Airi quickly waved her hands. "I should be the one to thank Hikigaya-kun for helping ."
The two girls began politely bickering over who would pay.
"Let Kushida handle it," Hikigaya interjected.
Sakura had been dragged here by force. It wouldn’t be right for her to spend money. If anyone should pay, it was Kushida.
"Well, if you insist," Kushida said, her smile stiff but intact. She was cursing him internally, that much he could tell.
They inspected the nu. Soy sauce ran, tonkotsu ran, miso ran—the options seed overwhelming to the girls.
"What do you usually order, Hikigaya-kun?" Kushida asked sweetly.
"Pork bone ran." Hikigaya replied.
"Then I’ll have the sa."
"M- too," Sakura Airi added hesitantly.
Kushida paid for three tickets and handed them over to the waiter. They took seats at the bar, with Kushida and Sakura sitting on either side of Hikigaya.
Now ca the final test.
"Are you wire?" the waiter asked Hikigaya, recognizing him as a regular.
"Yeah."
"What about you two?" the waiter turned to Kushida and Sakura.
"Wire?" Sakura Airi repeated, her expression utterly confused.
"Wire" was ran slang for the hardest noodle texture, popular with seasoned ran lovers but not sothing most girls would order.
Kushida kept smiling but was clearly agitated. Of course, she didn’t know the terminology. She hadn’t done her howork. This was Hikigaya’s final trap.
"Umm... I’ll take sothing softer," Sakura Airi mumbled nervously.
The waiter nodded approvingly and looked at Kushida. "Are you sure you want ’wire’? First-tirs usually prefer sothing softer."
Kushida forced a smile. "I prefer my noodles harder."
Hikigaya nearly burst out laughing. Her pride was forcing her to pretend even when it was obvious she was lying.
The bowls of ran arrived. Hikigaya imdiately started slurping his noodles, his expression unchanged. It was diocre at best, but it was filling and cheap.
"Ah! This is delicious!" Sakura Airi’s eyes lit up as she took a bite.
Hikigaya couldn’t help but smile. It was unexpected but sohow reassuring. She wasn’t pretending.
"Yeah, it’s pretty good," Kushida chid in, pretending to enjoy the ran. But Hikigaya knew better.
She was struggling to eat the hard noodles.
This was far from over. Kushida Kikyo’s lies would be exposed, no matter how good she was at pretending. He would make sure of it.
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