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Parrett Café
The two of them found a seat and sat down. Hikigaya ordered cheese rice. Given the café's limited menu, it was the best option available.
Honestly, if ramen had been an option, he would have chosen that without hesitation. Even curry and fried chicken would have been preferable.
High school students' minds are often filled with thoughts of junk food.
"Hikigaya, you actually look pretty good," Juke commented as she twirled her fork around her pasta. "If you dressed up a little and smiled more, you'd definitely be popular with girls. Why do you always wear that gloomy expression?"
"…Heh."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched slightly as he silently ate his cheese rice.
This girl was getting ahead of herself.
Calling him gloomy was one thing, but saying he had potential? That was basically equating him with mediocrity.
It was the same as when girls called someone a "nice guy"—in reality, that just meant they saw him as a good friend and nothing more.
And besides, this was just his natural expression. It wasn't like he was putting on a mask of misery for the fun of it.
"Huh? You don't believe me?"
Wait, could she read minds?
Juke seemed to pick up on his thoughts instantly. Her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"I even voted for you in the school's rankings of handsome guys. Oh, and I also voted for you in the ranking of gloomy guys."
"…Huh?"
Hikigaya blinked in surprise. "Girls do that kind of thing?"
He knew that boys sometimes made rankings in junior high, but he hadn't expected girls to do the same.
"What do you mean, 'that kind of thing'?"
Juke narrowed her eyes, her expression suddenly sharp. "So you boys rank girls too, huh? Scum."
"Hey, as if girls don't do the same thing."
She was being completely unfair here.
"I don't actually know the specifics," Hikigaya sighed, then added with mock pride, "But you know, I ranked first in the gloomy guy list in junior high."
Not that he was particularly proud of it.
It wasn't as if anyone had personally informed him—he had simply noticed that no one ever approached him.
"First place in gloominess? I don't see how that's something to be proud of," Juke muttered. "Most people would care more about the handsome guys list. Why don't you take a guess at where you ranked there?"
"…Hmm."
Hikigaya tapped his chin, giving it some thought before answering, "About fifteenth place?"
It wasn't that he was narcissistic. His younger sister, Komachi, had told him before that if not for his dead-fish eyes, he might actually be considered handsome.
"So you do have some self-awareness."
Juke looked a little surprised before hitting him with another blow. "You were actually ranked eleventh. But for the gloomy list, you placed fourth."
With around eighty boys in their grade, eleventh wasn't bad. It wasn't outstanding either, but it meant he wasn't completely unattractive.
"Fourth place? Really?"
Hikigaya frowned. "Who are the three in front of me?"
He couldn't believe there were people gloomier than him.
"You're such a weird guy."
Juke rolled her eyes before taking a sip of her coffee. "The first place is Onizuka from Class D, the second place is Kito Hayabusa from Class A, and the third place is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class D."
"…Oh."
Hikigaya was slightly disheartened.
He wasn't too familiar with Onizuka and Kito, but the name Onizuka suggested something demonic. If he was really part of the Oni clan, then of course he'd be gloomier.
As for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka…
For some reason, the first image that popped into his head was that of a crazed, fish-headed lunatic.
It seemed… he wasn't unfairly beaten.
Even in the category of gloom, there were too many overachievers at this school.
"Why do you look so depressed?"
Juke sighed as she noticed the way his shoulders slumped. His sense of competition was way too strange.
Just then, a sweet voice interrupted them.
"Ah, Himeno-san, what a coincidence!"
Hikigaya glanced sideways. A beautiful girl with short, light-brown hair stood before them.
Her skin was smooth and fair, her facial features delicate. Her burgundy eyes sparkled, resembling a panda's in their expressiveness. In some ways, she reminded him of Ichinose.
More than her appearance, though, it was her aura that felt similar.
"Kushida-san?"
Juke immediately put on a surprised yet joyful smile, though Hikigaya caught the quick warning glance she shot at him.
Don't you dare say anything unnecessary!
"My friends and I came over for dinner, and I happened to see Himeno-san here, so I thought I'd come say hello," Kushida Kikyo said with a sweet smile. Then, as if suddenly noticing Hikigaya, she hesitated before adding, "I hope I'm not interrupting?"
Hikigaya frowned slightly.
Their seats weren't particularly hidden. If she had been worried about interrupting, she simply wouldn't have approached.
What was this girl up to?
"Of course not," Juke quickly reassured her. "This is Kushida Kikyo from Class D, and this is Hikigaya Hachiman from my class."
Her tone made the message clear: Just classmates. Don't get any weird ideas.
"Hikigaya… Hachiman?"
Kushida Kikyo tilted her head slightly, as if trying to recall something. Then, her eyes suddenly brightened.
She placed her hands on her chest, fingertips touching lightly, her expression full of admiration.
"I remember now! Your name is Hikigaya Hachiman~"
Hikigaya was caught off guard. "Do we know each other?"
Juke, too, was shocked. "Wait, you know people outside our class?"
"Actually…"
Kushida blushed slightly, looking down shyly.
"When school first started, I was on the same bus as you. There was an elderly lady with a disability, and no one offered her a seat. I was just about to help when you stood up first and gave her your seat without hesitation. You didn't ask for anything in return—you just walked to the back and stood there. I thought… that was really kind of you."
She glanced at Hikigaya briefly, then quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"If I'm being honest… ever since that day, I've wanted to get to know you."
If it were any other boy, they would probably be flustered by now. They might even assume she had a crush on them.
They'd eagerly exchange contact information, fantasizing about some romantic development.
But unfortunately for her, she was dealing with Hikigaya—a certified green tea appraiser.
He hadn't realized anyone had witnessed what happened that day.
More importantly, the way she spoke was skillful.
By praising him, she also subtly elevated herself. If he was a kind person for giving up his seat, then she was just as kind for wanting to do the same.
She smoothly incorporated herself into the narrative, reinforcing her own image as a good person.
And yet, school had already been in session for more than ten days. If she had truly wanted to meet him, she'd had plenty of chances before now.
Clearly, he wasn't a priority.
That supposed shyness, that nervous sparkle in her eyes—it was all just an act.
This girl was an elite among green teas.
A premium green tea.
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