...
When I woke up in the morning, I felt something clinging to my chest.
...Right.
I glanced under the covers. There was Arisu, breathing steadily in peaceful slumber, her face pressed against me.
Memories from last night slowly came back.
I'd listened to her vent, and then...
"We just fell asleep like this, huh?"
We must have dozed off around 9 PM, but now it was 9 in the morning—we'd slept for a long time.
I don't usually sleep this deeply, but sharing the bed must have knocked me out.
"...Nnn..."
"Morning."
Arisu finally detached herself from my chest, sitting up while rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Where...?"
"My room. Don't remember?"
Still half-asleep, she seemed unable to process the situation.
...!!
As awareness fully returned, her drowsy eyes widened slightly before her face turned beet red.
"W-w-what was I...! H-how could I...!"
Remembering last night's events, she yanked the blanket up to hide her burning face. Apparently, yesterday's clinginess was deeply embarrassing for her.
"Y-yesterday was...! I-I wasn't in my right mind...! N-no, that's not it!"
Peeking over the blanket with just her eyes, she desperately tried to explain.
"...Do you remember what happened?"
"...What if I said no?"
"...I'd feel both relieved and annoyed. At you, of course."
She glared at me resentfully. The relief made sense, but why annoyance?
"I remember everything. You were super clingy last night. Best sleep I've had in ages."
"Don't say that!"
Scarlet-faced, she grabbed a nearby pillow and hurled it at me. She's unusually emotional today—last night must have really embarrassed her.
"Seems your irritation's gone. That memorable, huh?"
"Uuu...! Meanie! Hachiman's a meanie!"
Abandoning the pillow, she started pounding my chest with her fists instead.
"My bad. Just teasing."
"Horrible. Worst. I'm disillusioned."
"Sorry, okay?"
While enduring her weak punches, I scrambled to appease her.
Facing this unusually challenging morning, I mentally prepared for the day ahead.
.....
After finally managing to improve Arisu's mood, she even went as far as to prepare breakfast for me in the morning. However, it seemed she still couldn't get yesterday's events out of her head, because she immediately returned to her own room after cooking.
I wanted to thank her for the meal, but perhaps it's better to leave her be for now?
I'm not entirely sure about these things, but I'll make sure to express my gratitude the next time we meet.
"..."
Despite the eventful morning, I now find myself facing a different dilemma.
Today is the 23rd - a day off after the exams with no classes scheduled.
According to plans, I'm supposed to be having a meal with Horikita-senpai today. The exact restaurant hasn't been disclosed to me. All Horikita-senpai specified was the meeting place and time.
"What should I wear?"
Yes. My current predicament concerns my outfit.
I've never been particularly particular about clothing, owning just one decent set for going out. The rest are all loungewear.
While I can't imagine Horikita-senpai would choose an overly fancy establishment, it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the restaurant we'll be visiting.
"...Maybe I should go buy some clothes."
This seems like a good opportunity. It's problematic that I barely have any proper going-out clothes anyway, and the store staff should be able to advise me on selections.
The meal with Horikita-senpai is at 7 PM, so I have plenty of time.
For a brief moment, I regretted not asking Arisu for fashion advice, but what's done is done.
I don't exactly have great fashion sense myself, but I'll take my time browsing and considering options today.
....
After quickly changing clothes, I left the dormitory and headed for Keyaki Mall. While walking and checking my phone about clothing options, I spotted an unusual trio.
"What are you guys doing?"
"Oh! Hikigaya, perfect timing! Listen to this!"
The strange combination of Ishizaki, Ibuki, and Ayanokōji had me curious. When I called out to them, Ishizaki pulled me closer.
"So you got dragged into this too, huh?"
"Dragged into what?"
Ibuki muttered sympathetically, so I glanced at Ayanokōji for clarification.
"Actually, I just got stopped by him too. Apparently, he's come up with the 'ultimate method to reach Class A.'"
Ishizaki nodded enthusiastically at Ayanokōji's words.
The ultimate method? I doubt there's some secret loophole in the school system—and even if there were, it's not something ordinary students would figure out.
"Is there really such a method?"
"I have my doubts too. It doesn't seem plausible."
"Honestly, you'd have to be an idiot to take this guy seriously."
"Hey, why's everyone so skeptical?! Relax! This isn't just my idea—it's the result of considering the entire class!"
He sounded awfully confident.
"Then let's hear it. This 'ultimate method' of yours."
Ishizaki thumped his chest proudly.
"Ayanokōji, you should join our class. If you do, losing would be impossible, right?"
"Hah? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Think about it—Ryūen, Hikigaya, and Ayanokōji? That's beyond just 'strong'! Not even Sakayanagi or Ichinose would stand a chance!"
I was surprised Ishizaki included me in his so-called "ultimate" lineup, but apparently, that was his grand plan.
Ibuki immediately shot it down, but Ayanokōji seemed to be considering it.
"Well, I don't hate the idea."
"...Are you serious?"
Ibuki looked at Ayanokōji with disgust.
"Right?! If you're willing to team up, we'd welcome you! I think you'd get along great with both Ryūen and Hikigaya!"
"How the hell did you reach that conclusion?"
Ibuki sounded exasperated, but Ishizaki seemed dead serious.
The ultimate method, huh? In a way, I guess it could make sense.
"I don't think it's a bad idea."
"Hah? You too?"
"See?! Hikigaya gets it!"
But that's just hypothetical. Realistically, it's impossible.
"Still, it's not feasible. The biggest hurdle is the 20 million private points needed for a class transfer."
Ayanokōji had the same thought.
"That's where Ryūen comes in! He'll figure something out!"
"No way he'd agree to that."
"You think? If both Hikigaya and I vouched for you, he might help."
"How the hell does your brain even work? I highly doubt he'd lift a finger."
I agreed with Ibuki. Ryūen isn't the type to entertain half-baked ideas—his pride wouldn't allow it.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather face you as an enemy. That suits me better."
"Suits him better," huh?
For Ayanokōji, that's the real issue—far more important than private points.
"Aw, man... I really thought it was a good idea..."
"Can't be helped. Ayanokōji made his stance clear. No point forcing it."
Ishizaki looked genuinely disappointed.
As Keyaki Mall came into view, Ishizaki suddenly turned to me.
"Hey, Hikigaya, didn't Ryūen call you today?"
The conversation was winding down, but his question caught me off guard.
"Ryūen? No, I'm just here to buy clothes."
"Wait, really?"
Apparently, both Ishizaki and Ibuki assumed I'd been summoned too.
"Must be a mistake. Hikigaya not getting called? That's weird."
"Why would that be weird?"
"Hmm... Something feels off, but if Ryūen didn't call you, maybe there's a reason."
With that, Ishizaki and Ibuki waved goodbye—though I could've sworn Ibuki only waved at me.
Ayanokōji, as if erasing any trace of being with them, headed for a different mall entrance.
"...Why are you following me?"
"What's the problem? Everyone thinks we're friends. No one will care if we walk together."
He eyed me suspiciously but didn't protest. We walked side by side in silence.
"Hey."
"What?"
He kept his eyes forward as he responded.
"It's been a year already."
"...Yeah."
My—no, our—environment has changed drastically in that time.
Just one year, yet so much has happened.
I can feel time passing now, something I never noticed as a kid.
The fact that we escaped that white room was nothing short of a miracle.
"Never thought I'd actually find you here."
Meeting Ayanokōji at this school was its own kind of miracle.
"Same. Might be the biggest shock of my life."
Before coming here, we were barely even acquaintances.
Just two people who once fought to a standstill.
"Remember when we first met?"
"Hard to forget."
Seems it left as deep an impression on him as it did on me.
Not surprising—back then, he'd never imagined anyone could match him.
"One last thing—don't you dare get expelled."
At the fork in the road, I spoke up. For the first time, Ayanokōji turned to face me fully.
"...Obviously. I plan to stay at this school for two more years."
"Same here. But ever since I found you here... I've been thinking about something."
"Funny. I've been thinking the same thing since a year ago—no, even before that."
We'd both been waiting for this since our first encounter.
It might take time, but at this school, there's something I need to do.
"We're settling this. Yagami Hachiman's masterpiece vs. Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's masterpiece—which is superior?"
I don't know when.
But one day, without fail, we'll have our reckoning.
Here, where no one can interfere—where we can fight our way.
"This is non-negotiable. No backing out."
"Obviously. I wouldn't dream of it."
Ayanokōji, who'd spent a whole year avoiding attention, was dead serious about this.
"You're awfully eager for a rematch, considering how you dodged Arisu and Ryūen."
"This is different. It's not a rematch—it's a battle to negate everything about you and me."
Our physical abilities, our intellect—they are our lives.
That's why we can't accept it. The idea that someone equal exists.
To lose would mean having our entire existence denied.
"...We're so contradictory."
"Yeah. We are."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I want my life to be denied.
I want everything the White Room built to be destroyed.
Somewhere deep down, I want to be told—
"It was all meaningless."
=================================
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