Hachiman's original plan was to scare this runaway girl by acting like a thug.
His goal was to leave her with a deep, unforgettable trauma.
That way, she'd never dare run away from home again.
Who knows? She might even get so spooked that she wouldn't dare walk home alone at night anymore.
Sure, his method was a bit extreme.
It was the kind of thing he used to do.
If Yukinoshita found out, she'd probably beat him to death.
But.
She didn't know.
And she wouldn't find out.
No choice.
Even if Yukinoshita had saved him, he was still Hikigaya. His instincts as Hikigaya would never fully change.
However...
What Hachiman didn't expect at all—was that instead of getting scared off, the girl actually agreed to his thug-like demand!
She even invited him.
...To get a room?
Are you kidding me?!
We literally just met for the first time!
Who's the real thug here, me or her?!
Tragic!
Ughhh.
Yukinoshita, come save me! I've run into a filthy temptress!
Hachiman felt bitter.
This was a disaster.
No way!
There was no way Hachiman would lose his purity to a girl like this!
"Oh?"
Hachiman forced himself to stay calm, curling his lips into a wicked smirk.
"But just so you know—I'm not paying."
Stay cool.
Hachiman was a thug right now.
A super evil thug!
If I act even more thuggish than her, she'll back off!
"No problem."
Hoshino still smiled.
"You don't have to pay."
Wait, what?
Are delinquents these days just... not even professional anymore?
Since when was this a free service?!
"This is... amazing!"
Hachiman took a deep breath and continued in an exaggerated, villainous tone.
"I'll make sure we go at it for three hundred rounds—"
Wait.
Hold on.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Why the hell are they so big? Gross!!"
"What's gross?" Hoshino looked puzzled.
"Your boobs."
Hachiman scrunched up his face in disgust.
"Tsk, unlucky. They're way too big. Why couldn't you be flat-chested?!"
With that, he turned around and started walking off dramatically.
"Eh? That's it? You're just leaving?" Hoshino called after him.
"You're not flat. I have no interest in you."
Hachiman replied flatly without looking back.
In fact—
He even picked up his pace.
Trying to flee the scene.
But before he could take more than a few steps—
A series of soft, bell-like giggles rang out behind him.
"Pfft~"
"Pfft~"
"Pfft~"
Like someone being tickled, the laughter wouldn't stop.
"..."
Hachiman's body stiffened. His mood plummeted.
Sigh.
So humiliating. Getting laughed at by a delinquent girl.
Forget it.
As long as she's not actually a runaway, that's fine.
Hachiman sighed internally, deciding not to linger any longer.
"Just now... thanks."
The laughter suddenly stopped, and the girl spoke again.
Huh?
Was she talking to me?
No, no, no!
Hachiman, this is just another one of your life's many delusions!
He kept walking, pretending not to hear.
"Hey! Wait a sec! I'm talking to you~~"
Seeing him ignore her, Hoshino pouted and stood up, about to follow after him.
However—
Squatting for too long had left Hoshino's legs completely numb.
As a result—
After just a few steps, she lost control of her body and charged straight into Hachiman.
"Uwaaah! Watch out!!!"
"Huh? Ah—!"
Thud.
Hoshino accidentally tackled Hachiman to the ground.
Wait.
You're not seriously trying to force yourself on me, are you?
Are delinquent girls really this messed up nowadays?!
"Sorry, but I really only like flat chests, I'm not into—"
"Ah, sorry, sorry!"
Before Hachiman could even finish his sentence, Hoshino quickly stood up, grabbing his arm and apologizing with an embarrassed look.
"Are you okay? I hadn't even properly thanked you yet, so I got a little too eager…"
"Uh…"
Seeing the girl's sincere expression, Hachiman hesitated for a moment after getting up.
But the next second, he turned his head, preparing to leave.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Next time, watch yourself—otherwise, even if you were flat-chested, I wouldn't go easy on you!"
"Pfft~"
Hoshino burst into laughter again, even tearing up from laughing so hard.
"That's enough, that's enough! You're gonna kill me, this is way too funny. That's not how you act like a thug at all."
"Hah?"
"A real thug would've already laid hands on me—grabbing my chest, my butt, something. Who keeps this much distance while playing the bad guy?"
Hoshino looked at Hachiman with a teasing smile.
"???"
Hachiman felt utterly exposed.
Crap.
She saw through me.
That means… her whole "delinquent girl" act was just her messing with me too?!
His heart skipped a beat.
Seeing the playful yet knowing smile on her face, cold sweat ran down Hachiman's back.
That smile…
It was bad news.
It felt like the devil himself was grinning at him.
Stay calm!
Just bury your head in the sand like an ostrich and pretend nothing happened.
"Hey, don't leave just yet! I still don't know your name~" Seeing Hachiman turn to leave, Hoshino cheerfully trotted after him.
Hachiman, of course, had no intention of telling her.
But the girl showed no signs of leaving, persistently following him.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
You're not actually a real delinquent, right?!
Don't you dare follow me home!
"…Hayama Hayato."
"Hehe, I want to know your real name~"
"!!"
Hachiman's body stiffened.
Back when he was on vacation in Tokyo, even that mischievous little white-haired brat got fooled by him!
And yet… this purple-haired menace saw through him instantly?!
"…Taimokuza Yoshiteru."
"Sigh, it's just a name. Do you really need to lie this much?"
Ugh, this purple-haired girl is terrifying!
Seeing no way out, Hachiman finally gave up and muttered:
"…Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Hikigaya… Hachiman…"
Hoshino repeated his name, then smiled warmly and introduced herself:
"Hoshino Ai. You can just call me Ai, Hikigaya-kun~"
"Hah? Who goes straight to first names?!"
Hachiman was speechless, but a faint sense of familiarity nagged at him.
Hoshino Ai…
Why does that name sound so familiar?
Like… an idol's name or something?
…
Meanwhile.
Lying on her bed reading a book, Yukinoshita was utterly shocked.
As a woman with a system, she was always aware of Hikigaya's actions.
And just now—
She had received an absurd amount of points.
"Hoshino Ai…? Who is this woman? Such high quality… she's actually on the same level as my sister, that lunatic?"
Though surprised, a faint smirk played at Yukinoshita's lips.
Well, any girl who could generate points was a prime target for some affectionate bonding.
Looks like things are about to get busy again.
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