"Hmm…"
After listening to Kamuro's words, Hikigaya remained silent for a moment before looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"Why would you suddenly say that?"
"You… never mind, it's nothing."
Kamuro looked as if she wanted to say more but stopped herself. Her face practically had the word "suspicious" written all over it.
But from this, it was clear she didn't have any concrete evidence—she was just guessing.
…Strange. Where did I slip up?
Hikigaya thought back carefully. The excuse he had been using was that Class C had given him praise votes, especially considering who their leader was—Ryuuen.
Of course, this wasn't because Ryuuen was tight-lipped and absolutely wouldn't spill the secret.
It was just that he was so universally disliked that no one would even think to verify it with him.
Hikigaya couldn't imagine Kamuro going up to Ryuuen and asking about it… She wasn't exactly the talkative type. She wouldn't do something like that, right?
"Stop spacing out. Come here."
Following Kamuro, Hikigaya walked further inside until they stopped in front of a triangular easel.
"Oh, is this your painting?"
The moment he laid eyes on it, Hikigaya couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
It was an oil painting of a countryside landscape—acres of rice fields, old wooden houses, a child walking a dog along the fields, and a small hill in the distance. The details were so intricate that it felt almost real, as if one could step right into the scene.
Hikigaya wasn't particularly knowledgeable about art, but even he could tell that this was an incredible piece.
"This is amazing. As expected of someone from the art club."
"Really? It's just ordinary."
"No, no, even an amateur like me can tell how good this is."
"Idiot… No matter how much you flatter me, you won't get anything out of it."
Though she said that, Kamuro's face turned slightly red. She looked genuinely happy.
For someone this skilled, she must have been praised by her family and teachers countless times already, right?
Jeez, Masumi-san is more bashful than I thought.
Just as Hikigaya considered teasing her a little, Kamuro's expression suddenly darkened.
"Hey, Hikigaya."
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember… the first time we met?"
"Eh…?"
Hikigaya was momentarily caught off guard.
If he remembered? Of course, he did. It was impossible to forget.
"…Did you forget?"
For some reason, Kamuro's gaze looked almost… hurt.
This is weird. Normally, wouldn't she want someone to forget something like that?
"How could I?" Hikigaya averted his eyes slightly, feeling a bit awkward. "It hasn't even been a year. My memory isn't that bad… Just to be sure, you're not doing that kind of thing anymore, right?"
"Mm… Sakayanagi keeps me too busy for that."
"Even if you had time, you shouldn't."
Even if it came off as meddling, Hikigaya still felt the need to say it. Even if it made her dislike him.
If it were the old him from the start of the school year, he wouldn't have involved himself this deeply.
"…Heh, you've changed a lot," Kamuro suddenly chuckled. "You know, when I first met you, what surprised me the most wasn't that you helped me… It was that you didn't say a single thing and just walked away. I honestly thought you were going to act like some self-righteous do-gooder and lecture me."
"Uh… I don't have the right to do that."
"But normally, that's how these things go, right?"
She wasn't wrong. Even if someone was kind enough to help a classmate in trouble, they would usually follow it up with a lecture about never doing it again.
Hikigaya, however, had no interest in such things. As long as he could feel the satisfaction of saving others, that was enough for him.
That was precisely why he never considered himself a good person.
"I think I told you before, didn't I? I stole things for the thrill."
"Mm..."
If he remembered correctly, that was back on the deserted island.
Just thinking about what happened that day made Hikigaya feel incredibly awkward… especially now, sharing the same room with the person involved.
Kamuro, seemingly recalling the same memory, also began to blush slightly. However, she continued speaking as if nothing had happened. "But seeking thrills came later. At first, I did it for… well, now that I think about it, it was actually kind of stupid."
This seemed like a difficult topic to bring up.
"…Actually, I started drawing from a young age."
Kamuro remained silent for a long time before suddenly blurting it out.
"When I was in elementary school, my parents sent me to an art class. But it wasn't because they wanted to nurture my talent or anything. They just didn't want to deal with me, so they found a place that was basically like daycare… To put it bluntly, they had no real interest in me as a person."
"…I see."
Hikigaya wasn't good at comforting others, nor did he have the right to sympathize in this situation.
His circumstances were more or less the same.
He had no memories of being doted on by his parents, but he wasn't abused either.
Sometimes, he even felt like he was an afterthought in his own home.
That's why… if he ever ended up having to rely on his parents in the future, Hachiman definitely wouldn't hold back!
"But back then, I still held onto some hope," Kamuro said with a self-deprecating smile. "I thought that if I got good at drawing, maybe I'd get some praise. But even when I won awards, their reaction was the same as always… And I never got to travel with them either. The only landscapes I ever drew were from my imagination. Winning an award with such empty paintings… it made me feel kind of sad."
Travel, huh...
Hikigaya was just as unfamiliar with that concept. Had he ever gone on a trip since elementary school?
But in his family, that only applied to him.
His parents were always busy with work, but whenever Komachi asked, they would make time to take her on trips as a family… Uh, wait, that sounded a little weird.
Of course, Hikigaya was free to go with them if he wanted.
But first, he was a natural homebody. He'd rather use the travel money as allowance than squeeze through crowds of strangers at tourist spots.
And second… it was Komachi who asked for the trips, and their parents took time off for her. He didn't feel like intruding.
Some might say he was overthinking it, but… emotions weren't so easy to lie about.
"After that, I stopped seeking my parents' attention. With nothing else to do, I just kept drawing. Before I knew it, time would pass in the blink of an eye. That was probably the only good thing about drawing."
Kamuro's voice carried a faint trace of sadness.
She probably still hadn't come to terms with it… which made sense. After all, they were her parents. If it truly didn't matter to her, she wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
"But when I got to middle school, one day, I saw someone shoplifting at a convenience store. And suddenly, a thought popped into my head… If I stole something and got caught, would they… finally pay attention to me? That's the thought that led me down the path of crime."
She chuckled self-deprecatingly again.
"Looking back, my motive as a first-time offender was incredibly stupid… And I don't know if it was good or bad, but I never got caught throughout middle school. In the end, I got addicted to the thrill."
"…I have no idea how to respond to that."
Hikigaya had similar struggles.
He was always able to read between the lines, picking up on the hidden meanings behind people's words. But sometimes, he wished he couldn't. He would have preferred to be a blissful fool.
Like during the school trip—both Hayama and Ebina had subtly asked for his help.
If he hadn't understood them back then… would the Service Club's fate have been different?
"I'm not asking for your judgment." Kamuro shook her head slightly. "I just wanted you to know. That's all."
"I see…"
Wait, why did this feel like a final conversation?
Hikigaya couldn't quite grasp Kamuro's emotions. It didn't seem like she was speaking on a whim.
Could it be that she really…?
"…Hey, can I ask you a question?"
As she spoke, Kamuro suddenly took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
Her face was now less than a centimeter away from his—so close that it seemed she was determined not to let him escape… Eh?
Eh, eh, eh?!
What was she trying to do?!
"W-Wait a second! Hold on, time out!"
"No. I don't want to wait. You have to answer this honestly."
"N-No, I mean, just ask your question! Why do you have to get so close?!"
"If I don't, I feel like you'll run away."
"I won't!"
Despite his words, Hikigaya instinctively backed away. Kamuro matched his every step forward, eventually cornering him.
Hey, hey, isn't this a bit excessive?
It's just a question! Why does it feel like an interrogation?!
"Heh, if I don't push you to your limit, you'll never answer honestly."
Was it just his imagination, or did Kamuro seem a little smug…? Damn it!
Don't underestimate Hachiman's mental fortitude!
"What exactly do you want to ask?" Hikigaya forced himself to meet Kamuro's gaze. "Just ask already. No need for these mind games… This isn't like you at all."
"Hmph. And what makes you so sure this isn't my style?"
"Uh…" That question genuinely stumped Hikigaya.
He couldn't claim to know Kamuro inside out. They had never reached that level of understanding.
But to say he knew nothing about her… that would be even more of a lie.
"My question is about this exam."
"What, you still think I'm going to drop out?" Hikigaya feigned indifference.
"It's not that."
Kamuro shook her head, then stared directly into his eyes as she slowly enunciated each word.
"Hikigaya, do you think you went too far with what you did to Sakayanagi in this exam?"
"…Huh?"
So after all that, this was what she wanted to ask.
Was she trying to plead for Sakayanagi…? Ah, so the two of them had become close friends.
Normally, Kamuro, with her past held over her by Sakayanagi, would probably wish for her downfall.
But Kamuro was a bit of an odd one, and she must have realized that Sakayanagi didn't see her purely as a tool.
If they became friends… well, that wouldn't be so bad.
"Haha, are you feeling sorry for Sakayanagi?" Hikigaya teased. "Back during the sports festival, I told you I'd make her drop out, and you acted like you didn't care. But now—"
"Idiot, don't get the wrong idea."
Before he could finish, Kamuro cut him off with an irritated expression.
"Of course, I don't care. That girl acts high and mighty in class and does whatever she wants at school. She was the one who provoked you first. If she got expelled for it, she had it coming. She only has herself to blame."
"Uh… eh?"
Now Hikigaya was just confused.
Then what was Kamuro trying to say…?
"That's exactly why I asked if you think you went too far," she reiterated.
"Wait, but didn't you just say Sakayanagi deserved it?"
"Idiot, are you still pretending not to get it?" Kamuro sighed in exasperation, her gaze wavering slightly. "Sakayanagi is Sakayanagi. What happens to her has nothing to do with me. She did a lot of bad things, so it's only fair for her to be ready for the consequences.
But the only person I care about… is you."
Her face turned red, but she still mustered the courage to continue.
"Hikigaya… don't you think that using rumors, forcing people's hands, and driving Sakayanagi to expulsion… isn't completely right?"
Although the meaning is more or less the same, I still hope that Masumi can take the opportunity to improve her cultural level.
"Forget about that," Kamuro said impatiently. "What I really want to ask is… are you happy right now?"
"Hmm…"
"Answer me."
"…Not really… happy."
Under Kamuro's pressure, Hikigaya let out a long sigh and ultimately admitted his true feelings.
He knew that using such tactics against Sakayanagi could hardly be considered moral.
But he still did it anyway. If he had to pinpoint the reason… perhaps it was simply because he wanted to escape.
"I know Sakayanagi isn't a good person. Whether it was attacking Ichinose or teaming up with the student council president against you, her methods were excessive. But I… but I…"
Kamuro hesitated for a long time, her face turning so red it looked like blood might drip from it.
"But when it comes to you… I just don't want you to become someone as ruthless as her… Do you understand what I mean?"
"…Yeah."
Sakayanagi using rumors to attack Ichinose was wrong, but that didn't mean Hikigaya using the same methods was right.
"I also feel… really guilty toward Sakayanagi."
"Ah… I-I see."
Hearing this, Kamuro's expression suddenly became complicated.
Hikigaya, who had been interrupted, didn't notice this and continued on his own: "I mean, I feel guilty toward Sakayanagi's father. He didn't seem like a bad guy."
Even though the Sakayanagi chairman had chosen to side with Ayanokoji, it was out of simple sympathy. In the end, even he got caught up in the mess.
Hikigaya just couldn't bring himself to hate a person like that.
"Huh? Wait a second." Kamuro's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean Sakayanagi's dad? You—you actually know her father?"
"Yeah… When I got injured before, he personally came to visit me." Hikigaya added.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
For some reason, Kamuro seemed relieved… What's with that? So weird.
"A-Anyway, let's not dwell on that." Kamuro forcefully changed the subject, her expression turning troubled. "Since you already know you did something wrong… are you planning to drop out as an apology?"
"…Why would you think that?"
"Yamamura told me you used a contract to secure Class C's approval votes."
Kamuro's words caught Hikigaya off guard.
Damn… That woman, who barely even has a presence, turned out to be such a blabbermouth.
"I knew right away that wasn't true," Kamuro said with absolute certainty. "Someone like you would never do something like that just to stay in school… In some ways, you and Sakayanagi are really alike."
"…That's just your imagination."
"Do you think Sakayanagi would ever trade her personal points for Class A's votes?"
Kamuro's question left Hikigaya speechless. He didn't think Sakayanagi would do something like that either.
However, he was ultimately different from her.
Yet, as if seeing right through his thoughts, Kamuro cut straight to the point.
"Maybe you think you're different from her, but to me, you two are the same in one way… You're both arrogant."
"Ugh…! N-No way!"
Hikigaya instinctively refuted.
"I'm just tired of playing their stupid games, so I decided to leave this school!"
"That sentence right there perfectly proves your arrogance, doesn't it?"
"No, it doesn't!" Hikigaya's voice grew louder. "It's all because those guys are disgusting! They dragged me into their filthy schemes! If this were any other school, I wouldn't have to deal with any of this crap!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got, until he was practically shouting.
"Forget about what Sakayanagi did. Let's talk about Ayanokoji, that guy in my class! I can accept his defensive strategies as self-defense. But that bastard—he deliberately made Horikita's fever worse on the deserted island just to win, and then on the cruise ship, he set a trap to bully Karuizawa! Tell me, isn't that guy insane?"
"Eh… that happened?"
Kamuro was shocked. No wonder Sakayanagi had asked her to keep an eye on Ayanokoji.
So it wasn't just about his abilities—Sakayanagi was drawn to him because they were the same type of person.
"And then there's that scumbag Nagumo!"
Ignoring Kamuro's reaction, Hikigaya kept venting. "If he were some ugly loser, I'd understand—maybe he just couldn't get a girlfriend. But no, he's ridiculously handsome! If he likes Ichinose, why doesn't he just pursue her normally?!"
"…Looks aren't everything," Kamuro muttered.
"That's not the point!" Hikigaya said with pure disgust. "Breaking his promise to Horikita-senpai? Fine, I'll chalk it up to class competition. But telling Sakayanagi about Ichinose's past? What the hell was that about? Was he trying to manipulate her? Does he want to be the next Ayanokoji?"
"Uh, you sure seem fixated on Ayanokoji…"
"And this time, he listened to Sakayanagi's advice again!"
Kamuro seemed like she wanted to say something, but Hikigaya wasn't done venting and cut her off.
"If my account gets frozen, he'll be the only one who can lend two million points to Class A! That way, he can force Ichinose to date him! Why does that guy only rely on schemes like this? Is he impotent or something? Even with that good-looking face, does he still have no confidence in pursuing someone normally?"
"…You even know about this behind-the-scenes deal?" Kamuro was genuinely impressed.
"Hmph, don't underestimate my intel network… Actually, he told his own classmates."
More specifically, he told Asahina-senpai. With Nagumo's childish mindset, he probably wanted to make her jealous or something… Whatever.
Who cares about that idiot's thought process?
"Sigh… What the hell is that blond idiot thinking?"
Kamuro was also stunned by Nagumo's stupidity.
Then, as if realizing something, she muttered, "So you're this angry… because Sakayanagi set her sights on Ichinose?"
"No."
"Then why don't you just ignore it?"
"I could ignore it. The problem is, I saw it." Hikigaya emphasized, "Even if this were online, any decent person would be angry if they saw it, right? It's not like I can stop every injustice, and I don't have that kind of power… But this isn't something I saw online. It's happening right in front of me, so I—"
"…Heh."
After a brief silence, Kamuro suddenly chuckled.
"It's just like the first time we met. You said you stopped me just for yourself, remember? You're still as awkward as ever."
"I'm not awkward at all…"
Even Hikigaya felt that was a weak rebuttal. But he quickly let out a deep sigh.
"Sorry, Kamuro. I just dumped a bunch of nonsense on you… I hope you don't mind."
None of this was pleasant conversation.
"It's fine." Kamuro shook her head. "Anyway, have you calmed down now?"
"…Yeah."
"That's good."
Then, as if she had made up her mind, Kamuro spoke seriously.
"Hikigaya, I don't mean to meddle, but sometimes I wonder… Why do you always make things so complicated?"
"…What?"
"I don't know about the other two, but let's just talk about Sakayanagi."
She completely skipped over Nagumo and Ayanokoji, since she didn't care about them in the first place.
"If you think what Sakayanagi is doing is too much, why don't you just tell her directly?"
"Huh?"
"I'm not talking about some roundabout way." Kamuro said bluntly. "Just tell her to stop. Right to her face."
"Wait… What?"
Hikigaya was completely baffled.
"There's no way she'd listen to me. She doesn't listen to anyone."
"I'm not asking you to convince her—I'm telling you to demand that she stop."
"That's even less likely!"
"Ugh… You idiot."
Kamuro clutched her forehead in frustration.
"Did you forget? You saved her once. A lifesaver's request can't just be ignored, right?"
"Ah..."
"Besides, she never really took Ichinose seriously. She was just playing around. If you had been direct with her, she would have agreed right away, and things wouldn't have escalated to this point. Now, even you aren't happy with how things turned out."
What Kamuro said was indeed the simplest and most effective solution.
Thinking about it carefully, that did seem to be the case. Sakayanagi never had a strong desire to defeat Ichinose—she was just killing time out of boredom.
But... Hikigaya didn't want to admit it.
"Something like this... if she doesn't realize it on her own, then it's meaningless."
"Meaning?" Kamuro asked with a bitter smile. "Hikigaya, you always say that you help others for your own self-satisfaction. So why are you looking for meaning now?"
"Ugh..."
"Besides," Kamuro continued, "Sakayanagi isn't completely unreasonable. You saved her life. If you use that to ask her to behave herself at school from now on, she might not follow through entirely, but she'd at least restrain herself a little. Think about it—am I wrong?"
"But I… but if I do that," Hikigaya stammered, "wouldn't it be like I'm using the fact that I saved her to blackmail her? And I never once thought about asking her for anything in return."
"Sigh... that's why I say you two are equally arrogant!"
"...I'm not."
Seeing Hikigaya sulking, Kamuro could only smile helplessly and drop the topic.
At this point, it was already too late to change anything anyway.
"Since you're feeling troubled and thinking about dropping out... how about this? Before you leave, there's something I want to do with you."