Meanwhile, after getting rid of Hikigaya, Ishizaki and Ibuki hurriedly left as well, afraid that if they stayed even a second longer, the still-annoyed Hiyori would catch them. Naturally, they didn't notice that she had already disappeared.
But after leaving the library, Ishizaki seemed strangely quiet and distant.
"Hey, Ibuki!"
Suddenly, Ishizaki stopped and called out to the short-haired girl in front of him. She turned around, looking impatient, as if telling him to hurry up and say whatever was on his mind.
"Did you hear what that guy Hikigaya said in the library just now?"
Ishizaki scratched his head and looked at Ibuki for confirmation.
Ibuki stayed silent. Seeing this, Ishizaki's face lit up, and he quickly said, "So you heard it too! That means the school actually allows using past exam questions! If we can get our hands on them, we won't have to worry about failing and getting expelled!"
Of course, the bigger reason was that he wouldn't have to study so hard every day. He could finally escape this misery and enjoy life. But he didn't dare to say that out loud—it would make him sound like a total loser.
Ishizaki expected Ibuki to be just as excited as him. But to his surprise, she looked annoyed.
"So what? Even without those past questions, I can still pass the exams on my own. I have no interest in cheating."
"Huh?"
Ishizaki looked completely puzzled and pressed on, "Why not? That guy even said it himself—there's no school rule against it. That means it's a loophole anyone can use. If we don't take advantage of it, then Class D definitely will. And if someone in our class fails and gets expelled, we'll lose 300 class points. We might even drop straight from Class C to Class D!"
Why not take a shortcut when it's right in front of you? Ishizaki just couldn't understand Ibuki's logic.
Technically, he wasn't wrong. The upper classes probably wouldn't stoop to using this method, but for lower-ranked classes like Class C and Class D, it was something they had to consider. If Class C refused to use this "unfair" advantage, Class D surely wouldn't hesitate, and that could mean Class C getting overtaken.
Ibuki understood that much. From a class perspective, it made sense. But on a personal level, she hated the idea.
"Hey, Ishizaki. Have you ever considered that this might be a trap?"
Ibuki didn't hesitate to throw cold water on his excitement. "Don't forget—this information came from that dead-fish-eyed guy. If he wanted to set us up, it'd be way too easy."
"Huh? A trap?"
Ishizaki froze for a moment but quickly shook his head. "No way. Like he said, we can just ask the seniors to confirm it. There's no way every senior is in on his scheme, right?"
"If it's Ryuen, he'd definitely go for it without a second thought!"
Ishizaki was full of confidence. In Class C, Ryuen was like a dictator—if he decided on something, nobody would dare to object.
"Hmph. Do whatever you want. I've warned you, and I'm not getting involved in whatever happens next."
Ibuki knew that once Ryuen made a decision, there was no stopping him. So she gave up and walked away.
Ishizaki ignored her attitude and excitedly took out his phone to report to Ryuen. But just as he was about to call, he hesitated for a moment—then dialed someone else instead.
"Hey, Albert? I need your help with something..."
---
At the Keyaki Mall Shopping Center, inside a café called RH, a dead-fish-eyed guy sat restlessly.
Across from him, a girl eagerly flipped through a menu shaped like a rabbit. Unlike the tense boy, she was completely absorbed in choosing her order.
Hikigaya glanced around. He had no idea how many cafés there were in this mall, but this one was clearly designed for girls who liked cute things. Everything inside was decorated with rabbit motifs, and the whole place had a soft, girly vibe.
As expected, the café was packed with girls. That was exactly why Hikigaya felt so uncomfortable.
To make things worse, he spotted someone he never expected to see here—Koenji.
From a distance, Koenji seemed to be on a date with a senior girl.
They were all over each other, completely ignoring the fact that they were in public. Sharing a drink from the same straw, feeding each other, and even...
Wait. Did she just sit on his lap?
Did they just... kiss?!
For a loner like Hikigaya, this scene was way too much.
Koenji's hands were all over her, and the girl even threw him a flirtatious glance while making a noise that had... questionable meaning.
This scene definitely needed an 18+ label. Oh, and maybe some censorship too.
"Hikigaya-kun, what are you looking at?"
"N-Nothing!"
Hikigaya quickly looked away.
Actually, this wasn't the first time he had seen Koenji with a girl. He had occasionally come across similar scenes on campus. And every single time... it was a different girl.
Total playboy.
Most of them were seniors about to graduate. Hikigaya had a pretty good guess about what they were thinking—if they couldn't climb to the top through merit, they might as well take the practical approach and secure a future in a different way.
"This bunny café is really popular among girls. I always hear my classmates talking about how great the Blue Mountain coffee and chestnut yokan are..."
Hiyori happily flipped through the menu.
She was usually so quiet and gentle in the library, but right now, she was unexpectedly lively. He could clearly sense her excitement.
This was a completely different side of Hiyori.
Suddenly, a thought popped into Hikigaya's head, making his expression turn strange.
"Hey, Hiyori… don't tell me the real reason you brought me here is just because you really wanted to visit this café?"
So all that talk about resisting Ryuen and making amends was just an excuse?
The smile on Hiyori's face froze instantly. Then, she slowly buried her face behind the menu, completely avoiding Hikigaya's gaze.
"S-Sorry… I-I heard the girls in class say this place is really popular, and a lot of people love it… S-So I've always wanted to try it at least once… b-but…"
Her voice was shaky, and it was obvious she felt guilty.
In a way, Hiyori and Hikigaya were quite similar—they had no friends and barely socialized. So, the idea of going to a café alone felt strangely scary to them.
It was like how some people would rather just go to a convenience store than walk around a shopping mall by themselves, or how ramen shops seemed like a no-go zone for girls.
Hikigaya completely understood how Hiyori felt in this moment.
"Next time, just ask me directly."
He couldn't help but mumble.
"Eh? Really?!"
Hiyori peeked out from behind the menu, her eyes sparkling with surprise.
Hikigaya, keeping his usual blank expression, stiffly nodded. The moment he did, Hiyori let out a small cheer of excitement.
Now that she had let go of her worries, she seemed much more energetic. While waiting for their food, she curiously looked around the café, taking in the decor and the other students.
For some reason, though, her face started turning red. The excited smile on her lips slowly faded into silence, and she lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with Hikigaya.
Her sudden change didn't go unnoticed. Just as Hikigaya was about to ask what was wrong, he froze, his own expression turning strange.
After a moment of silence, he awkwardly spoke.
"Hiyori… should we go somewhere else?"
"B-But…"
Her face was filled with reluctance. But… the atmosphere in this café was way too romantic!
No wonder the girls in class said this place was so popular!
No wonder Koenji chose this place for a date!
It took them way too long to realize this was actually a couple's café.
Their eyes met. A second later, both of them quickly looked away. The air between them grew more and more awkward.
So, Hikigaya decided to change the subject.
"Hiyori, have you ever heard of Kyua*wa? Oh, you might not know it by that name… it's actually *Pretty Cure*!"
"…?"
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