Just like that, the rumors about the three continued to spread across the school.
Apart from Ichinose, the gossip surrounding Hikigaya and Ryuuen quickly lost traction. By Thursday, three days later, there was barely any discussion about them anymore.
This development was expected.
For Sakayanagi to keep applying pressure on Ichinose, she naturally had to instruct her subordinates to spread the rumors and maintain their momentum.
But Hikigaya didn't need to bother with that. He simply had to wait for the right moment to strike.
Before that, though, he figured it wouldn't hurt to check in on Ichinose.
Thanks to some intel from Kanzaki, Hikigaya deliberately waited along the path to the dorms after school that day.
Due to the rumors, Ichinose had become noticeably more withdrawn.
Normally, she was always surrounded by a crowd of boys and girls. But lately, she had been actively distancing herself from her classmates, heading straight home after school, and cutting off almost all social interactions.
…Huh? Could it be that Ichinose wants to become a hiki(komori) too?
Well, in any case, this situation worked in Hikigaya's favor.
If Shiranami or some other girl were sticking close to Ichinose, it would've been much harder for him to approach her… Wait, that sounded kind of creepy.
Why does this feel like I'm some kind of stalker?
As Hikigaya idly ridiculed himself, he spotted Ichinose up ahead.
Sure enough, she was alone, her head lowered as if deep in thought.
Unlike her usual bright and cheerful demeanor, she now carried an air of complete dejection.
What a… completely useless kid.
Hikigaya let out a quiet sigh and stepped forward.
"Yo, Ichinose."
"Huh? Eh…? H-Hikigaya-kun?"
For some reason, Ichinose seemed a little flustered.
But it only lasted a moment. Quickly regaining her usual composure, she raised a hand and smiled.
"Good afternoon, Hikigaya-kun. Are you heading back to the dorms too?"
"Something like that."
"In that case, why don't we walk together?"
She still looked like the same old Ichinose. Most likely, she was forcing herself to act normal so that others wouldn't worry.
However, Hikigaya—who knew the truth—wasn't fooled.
And deep down, Ichinose probably realized that as well.
She's definitely panicking inside, huh?
"It feels like it's been a while since we last talked like this," Hikigaya suddenly remarked.
"Ahaha… I suppose it has." Ichinose paused for a second before forcing an awkward laugh. "But we've been busy with exams lately, right? The training camp ended, and then we had to deal with mock tests right away. Speaking of which, you should really focus on your studies, Hikigaya-kun."
Ignoring her blatant attempt to change the subject, Hikigaya simply stared at her.
"If I'm not mistaken, you've been avoiding me lately, haven't you?"
"Wha—?! N-no! That's not true at all!" Ichinose waved her hands in panic.
"Relax. No need to freak out," Hikigaya sighed. "I'm just stating the facts. Besides… I've been avoiding you too. And you know exactly why."
"Ah…"
Ichinose fell silent for a moment before nodding firmly, putting on her usual bright smile.
"Mhm! You're absolutely right, Hikigaya-kun. Given the situation, it's best if we keep our distance. No need to explain, and honestly, I wouldn't want you to get involved in all this, either. If you did, then you'd—ah."
As she spoke, something suddenly seemed to click in her mind.
"Um… Is it really okay?" she asked worriedly. "I heard there were some… things posted on the school forum. Were those Sakayanagi's doing as well?"
Hikigaya shook his head. "That doesn't matter. What's important is that you've got the wrong idea."
"The wrong idea?"
"The reason I avoided you and the reason you avoided me—those are completely different things."
"Ah…"
"If you think I'm distancing myself just to save my own skin, then you're seriously underestimating… the guy who doesn't have any friends."
Even though he had intended to keep things distant and cold, Ichinose's anxious expression made him slip in a joke to lighten the mood.
Ichinose let out a wry smile. "Seriously, how many times do I have to tell you? Stop saying depressing things about yourself."
"It's not depressing at all… If anything, you're the one who's actually miserable."
"…Huh?"
This was probably the first time Hikigaya had spoken to her in such a firm tone.
Judging from Ichinose's expression, she was a little startled… Well, even Hikigaya himself was kind of surprised.
But maybe it was better for her to face reality sooner rather than later.
After all, Hikigaya Hachiman was never the kind of person to be gentle.
"Anyway, come with me for a bit," Hikigaya glanced around. "This isn't the best place to talk. We should go somewhere else."
"Uh…"
Ichinose cautiously raised her hand, hesitating as she said, "Sorry, Hikigaya-kun… I'm not feeling very well right now. I'd like to go back and rest… Maybe we can do this another day?"
That was such an obvious lie—even she couldn't believe it herself.
Hikigaya didn't expose her, simply staring at her expressionlessly. "If I remember correctly, it was you who suggested we go out together during the winter break, right?"
"Uh, that was—"
"So it was just a casual remark, huh? Could you please not say things that might be misunderstood next time?"
With that, Hikigaya turned as if to leave.
"Well then, I'll be going."
"N-no, that's not it!" Ichinose hurriedly said, looking flustered. "I did want to hang out with you, Hikigaya-kun! But right now, it's just… not a good time."
"I don't see how it's inconvenient."
"But…"
Perhaps realizing something, Ichinose's face showed a bitter smile.
"Meow-haha, Hikigaya-kun is persistent today. You almost seem like a different person."
"Yeah, because I'm a little angry with you," Hikigaya stated bluntly.
"Angry… huh."
Ichinose smiled wryly again, then lowered her head apologetically.
"Um… how should I say this… I'm sorry. It's my fault for causing trouble for you, Hikigaya-kun. Because of the rumors, a lot of people—including you—were worried about me. So please, don't let it bother you too much."
"…Do you think that just apologizing will fix everything?" Hikigaya asked coolly.
Honestly, even he knew he was being unreasonable.
But if he didn't do this, Ichinose would never truly understand.
"No, that's not what I—"
"Then what?"
"Uh…" Ichinose immediately lowered her head like a guilty elementary school student.
Because Hikigaya knew her past, she couldn't brush him off with vague words like she did with others.
Seeing Ichinose remain silent, Hikigaya's tone turned colder. "This won't take long, and I have something important to tell you."
"…Alright, I understand."
This time, she didn't resist and obediently followed him.
They arrived at Keyaki Mall, where Hikigaya had arranged things with Matsunaga in advance, so as soon as they entered, they were led to a VIP room.
"Huh? This place has rooms like this?" Ichinose curiously looked around. "I've never heard about it before… Don't tell me you're a regular here, Hikigaya-kun?"
"More or less."
Hikigaya wasn't in the mood for small talk and urged her to sit down.
Sensing the tension in the air, Ichinose instinctively straightened her posture.
"Ichinose, about the recent rumors… there's something I've been holding back for a long time."
"Mm… Please go ahead."
Ichinose had already braced herself for a scolding, but what Hikigaya said next completely caught her off guard.
"I want to say… I'm sorry."
"…Huh?"
Seeing Hikigaya bow his head deeply, Ichinose panicked and tried to stop him.
"W-wait a minute, why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong!"
"No, this is my fault."
"That's not true!" Ichinose said firmly. "If you're trying to take responsibility for this, then you're the one who's completely wrong."
She let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Sakayanagi must have known about my past, right? I'm guessing it was Nagumo-senpai who told her… Haha, you even warned me about this before, but I didn't take it seriously. Maybe this is my punishment."
"…No, you're misunderstanding."
That wasn't what Hikigaya wanted to say, but he couldn't help feeling exasperated by her words.
"Ichinose, why are you so sure it wasn't me?" Hikigaya frowned. "Right now, only Nagumo and I know about your past. Without any proof, why did you automatically rule me out?"
"Uh… Hikigaya-kun, do you realize what you're saying?" Ichinose tilted her head.
Yeah, he had to admit, it did sound a bit weird.
But because it was Ichinose he was talking to, Hikigaya wanted her to be more cautious—so she wouldn't end up trusting the wrong people in the future.
"So I'll ask you—where's your proof?"
"Proof?" Ichinose looked completely puzzled. "I just believe that Hikigaya-kun wouldn't do something like that. Isn't that the strongest proof?"
"It's not."
"You're being so unreasonable… Ah, wait, are you trying to say that you accidentally let it slip?"
Ichinose suddenly clapped her fist into her palm and then showed a troubled expression.
"If that's the case, I might have wronged Nagumo-senpai."
Even after coming to that conclusion, Ichinose didn't show any intention of blaming him.
That was what made Hikigaya lose his patience.
"How is that even possible?! Do you think I'm that dumb? Besides, it's not like I have any friends to gossip with!"
"Eh? Then why are you apologizing?"
"…Do you remember when Ryuuen tricked you out of two million points?"
"Ah…"
The moment he mentioned it, Ichinose's expression stiffened.
Then, she scratched her head awkwardly. "Ahaha… Yeah, I was dumb back then. Good thing you helped me out, Hikigaya-kun. Otherwise, I would've been—"
"But that's exactly what I regret."
Under Ichinose's surprised gaze, Hikigaya continued explaining his thoughts.
"Back then, I thought I was being clever by helping you hide it from your classmates… So now, I'm wondering if the reason these rumors got so out of hand is my fault."
"N-no, what are you even talking about, Hikigaya-kun?! These rumors have nothing to do with you!" Ichinose protested loudly.
"But the truth is, I can't say I'm completely uninvolved…"
Hikigaya let out a long sigh, gazing into Ichinose's eyes as he spoke in a low voice.
"If I had convinced you to face things head-on back then, maybe you wouldn't have turned into such a coward now."
"Eh? A coward… ?"
"Am I wrong?" Hikigaya replied indifferently. "While it's true that Sakayanagi spreading rumors about you was wrong, you and I both know there was a certain undeniable truth mixed in. You're not completely innocent."
"Ah…"
When faced with baseless rumors, the best approach was to ignore them. Given time, they would naturally die down.
But if one knew they were being attacked with malicious intent and still chose to do nothing, that was just plain foolish.
Especially in a school like this… Ichinose's inaction was nothing short of irresponsible toward her class.
"I thought you had already moved past this," Hikigaya's voice carried a hint of self-reproach. "I figured that even without my interference, you'd handle it on your own. That's why I deliberately avoided you this time. But in the end… you did nothing."
Ichinose froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
After a long silence, she finally murmured in a barely audible voice, "But… Hikigaya-kun is different."
"Yeah. I'm not your classmate, so you don't have to worry about disappointing me."
At the end of the day, Ichinose was Class A's leader. The only people she needed to answer to were her classmates.
That was why she dared to confide in Hikigaya about her past back then.
"That's not it…" Ichinose forced a weak smile. "I just… wanted to act spoiled in front of you. I felt like… no matter what mistake I made, Hikigaya-kun would always forgive me… Haha, I am terrible, huh?"
"Yeah, you are."
Hikigaya nodded without hesitation but quickly shifted the conversation.
"But it's not me you're being unfair to. It's your classmates."
"…Yeah. I've let everyone down."
"That's not the point." Hikigaya's tone grew sharp. "You control your class's finances. Have you ever considered that before they entrusted you with that position, if you had told them you once shoplifted, do you think they would have still chosen you?"
"…Of course not."
Ichinose clutched her chest with both hands, a pained expression on her face as if she were trying to hold together a wound deep inside her.
As cruel as it sounded, this was just common sense.
Whether it was applying for law enforcement or certain other professions, background checks were a given.
Of course, Ichinose had no criminal record, so this wouldn't necessarily affect her future.
But since Class A was built on trust, as its leader, she needed to be even more conscious of that fact than anyone else.
"Ichinose, at the end of the day, what you want is to be forgiven, isn't it?" Hikigaya asked plainly.
"…Can someone like me, a former thief, truly be forgiven?"
"How should I know?"
"…Eh?"
Ichinose's hopeful expression instantly stiffened, her shoulders slumping.
She was probably expecting some comforting words. Hah, naïve.
"I already told you, don't think that just apologizing will solve everything," Hikigaya said seriously. "Besides, your mother already kneeled before the store owner for your sake, and they forgave you. There's no one left for you to apologize to. You just want to do it to ease your guilt."
"But didn't you just say I shouldn't have hidden it from my classmates? Doesn't that mean I should at least apologize to them?" Ichinose raised her head, whispering hesitantly.
Hikigaya scoffed. "Do you think your classmates need your apology?"
The students of Class A were all kindhearted people. If they learned about Ichinose's circumstances, they'd probably just turn around and comfort her instead.
But that would only be superficial. Just an exchange of pretty words.
"Ichinose, as the leader of your class, a flimsy apology means nothing. If you want to make amends, do it through your actions."
If apologies were all it took, the police wouldn't need to exist.
Hikigaya personally believed that most people wouldn't care about Ichinose's past theft or even the fact that she hid it.
People's emotions were often simpler than they seemed.
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
"Actions… You mean keeping Class A's status until graduation?"
"That's important, sure. But that's not what they want right now."
"…Then what do they want?" Ichinose still didn't fully understand.
"To get back at Sakayanagi, of course." Hikigaya's expression was dead serious. "Don't think for a second that you're the only one who was hurt by this. Kanzaki nearly got into a fight with Hashimoto because of you. Your classmates are being whispered about behind their backs. People are saying their leader is an escort. Class A's entire reputation is in shambles."
Even if Class A's students were mild-mannered, hearing things like that would make anyone furious.
Back at the forest camp, they had nearly started a brawl over something far less serious.
If Ichinose were truly a capable leader, she wouldn't just suppress her classmates with empty words like "we should all get along." She should be listening to their voices.
"…I am a failure, huh?"
But Hikigaya's expectations were quickly betrayed.
Ichinose simply smiled as if she had come to terms with something. Then, looking somewhat tense but resolute, she turned to Hikigaya.
"Hikigaya-kun, do you think… maybe I should just resign as class leader?"
"...Huh?"
A dumbfounded sound escaped from Hikigaya's throat.
"No, no, wait a second—how did it turn out like this?"
"But I don't think I have the right to lead everyone anymore."
...Uh, Honami-chan?
After all that effort to talk you through this, this is your conclusion.
I was trying to get you to pull yourself together—maybe even give Sakayanagi a taste of her own medicine if possible. No one told you to resign out of guilt!
Hikigaya was screaming internally, but on the surface, he kept his usual indifferent expression. "Whether you resign or not is your choice, but you do understand, right? Right now, Class A has no one else who can take the lead besides you."
"That's true. So, until we find a suitable replacement, I won't step down so easily."
For some reason, Ichinose fixed her gaze on Hikigaya, looking him straight in the eye as she spoke earnestly.
"And besides, from now on, I'll continue to contribute as a member of the class. I won't slack off—I promise!"
"O-Oh."
What is with this? ...Why is she telling me all this?!
Just as Hikigaya was trying to make sense of the situation, Ichinose suddenly spoke again.
"So, Hikigaya-kun... have you ever considered joining our class?"