Not long after Hikigaya left the classroom, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed behind him.
A familiar, annoying voice soon followed.
"Heh, dead-eyed boy, where are you rushing off to?"
"…Don't bother me if you have nothing important to say."
"Nonono, I have plenty of important things to do—like going on dates with various beautiful ladies," Kouenji smirked, pulling out a small comb to fix his hair. "But if it's about you, dead-eyed boy, I'm willing to spare a moment. After all, thanks to you catching Horikita-girl's attention, I was able to escape from that boring discussion rather quickly."
"I don't need anything from you."
"Oh my, it seems you're still upset about what I said earlier." Kouenji spread his hands, his gaze filled with amusement.
"But your indecisiveness is truly unsightly. I've now seen an ugly side of you."
"…I was never a handsome guy to begin with."
"Heh, in my eyes, dead-eyed boy was once quite radiant and beautiful." Kouenji's tone carried an air of certainty. "But right now, it's as if the glasses you wear are blocking that unique gaze of yours. While being troubled by love is a beautiful emotion, staying like this forever simply won't do."
"…Can you stop making baseless assumptions?" Hikigaya's voice carried a hint of impatience.
"If it bothers you that much, why not just ask the person involved?"
Kouenji's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through everything.
"Or… is the girl you're thinking about not even in this school? In that case, why not just leave and go find her?"
"Sigh… I keep telling you, your premise is wrong." Hikigaya let out a helpless sigh. "This isn't some kind of love problem. It's just… Even if I asked, I wouldn't understand. It's not like the other person would give me the answer I'm looking for anyway."
"No matter how many excuses you make, the one you're concerned about is still a girl, isn't she?"
"…She just happens to be female."
"Hahaha, what an incredibly awkward answer."
This conversation had Kouenji's signature absurdity, but it was still infuriating.
At the end of the day, they were just classmates. They had barely spoken before.
What the hell does he know about me? Acting like he understands everything.
The more Hikigaya thought about it, the more unwilling he felt to back down. But he also knew he had no reason to get angry at Kouenji, so he simply quickened his pace.
"What's wrong? Planning to run away?"
"…Avoidance may be shameful, but it's useful."
"That is indeed your choice to make."
Kouenji stroked his chin, then suddenly grinned as if he had thought of something amusing.
"But now everything makes sense. No wonder the dead-eyed boy has no interest in the girls around him—not even that Ichinose-girl's confession could move him. Turns out, your heart was already taken."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Hikigaya shot back in annoyance. "I wouldn't call that kind of feeling 'liking' someone. Or rather, I don't even have anyone I like."
"That's not for you to decide. It depends on my judgment."
"…Do you realize how ugly it is to act like a paparazzi, prying into people's personal lives?"
"Hehehe, no need to worry about that. No matter what happens, I remain the most beautiful."
Kouenji was, as always, impossible to grasp.
One thing Hikigaya was certain of—this guy's narcissism only seemed to be growing stronger over time.
How annoying.
"Regardless of what you think, you shouldn't ignore the girls who worry about you."
"…I haven't ignored them."
"You should know better than anyone what the real situation is."
"Uh…"
"Well then, let's leave it at that for today."
Seemingly satisfied with the conversation, Kouenji finally ended the discussion.
But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back.
"Oh, one more thing—if you end up becoming the commander, don't pick me for any battles. I have no motivation this time."
"What nonsense… I'm not the commander."
"Nonono, I have a feeling you'll end up replacing Ayanokoji-boy." Kouenji raised a finger and waved it lightly. "After all, Ayanokoji-boy is desperate to stay here… Hehe, things are truly troublesome for him this time."
"…He chose Class A as his opponent. If he can't win, he has no one to blame but himself."
"Hehehe, you should know this isn't just about winning or losing."
"You…"
At that moment, Hikigaya had a strange feeling.
Did Kouenji… know something?
Then again, it wouldn't be surprising. He was the heir to a wealthy conglomerate, with deep ties to politics.
And Ayanokoji's father was a major figure in the ruling party—someone important enough to have a Wikipedia page.
Although Ayanokoji himself had no publicly available records, the resemblance between the two… The moment Hikigaya caught a glimpse of them together, he was certain of their blood relation.
It wasn't just their appearance. The way they carried themselves was eerily similar.
Most students didn't care much about politics, so they wouldn't think about it.
But Kouenji was different. As a successor, he had been groomed from a young age to be an elite—he was undoubtedly sensitive to these details.
"Besides, Horikita-girl values this exam greatly," Kouenji spoke with confidence. "If Ayanokoji-boy becomes the commander, they're bound to lose. All of Horikita-girl's efforts would be wasted."
"…What does that have to do with me?"
"Heh, that's why I told you—don't ignore the girls who worry about you."
Leaving behind those words, Kouenji walked away with his usual flair.
Hikigaya left with an inexplicable sense of frustration, couldn't help but retort, "Don't worry, if I become the commander, I'll make sure to assign you the most troublesome task."
Kouenji didn't respond. He simply raised two fingers in a casual farewell gesture.
…This guy.
His cologne is way too strong!
Right now, Hikigaya could do nothing but seethe in silent fury.
…
Talking with Kouenji didn't improve Hikigaya's mood.
If anything, it made it worse.
Damn it… What was he even rambling on about? Who does he think he is?
Even if Kouenji kept insisting he was "troubled by love," Hikigaya found it impossible to admit.
At the core of it, he and Yukinoshita weren't like that.
What truly troubled him wasn't their relationship itself—it was why he even felt troubled by it in the first place.
On the surface, it was simple. They were just clubmates, students in the same year.
They hadn't even been in the club together for a full year.
Their connection was absurdly weak.
Yet, deep down, Hikigaya didn't want to reduce everything to just that.
But… reality wasn't so accommodating.
No matter how he thought about it, his presence would only bring unpleasant memories for her.
From the very beginning, he had no right to ask about things like giving chocolates.
Even if he were to drop out and chase after her, it would just be self-indulgence—nothing more than a burden to his family.
In the end, it was all just pointless self-torment.
This cold, undeniable truth loomed before him.
Lost in thought, Hikigaya found himself unconsciously wandering into the café at Keyaki Mall.
It's still the same shop, Matsunaga's. Looks like Horikita-senpai really likes this place.
It's not just because it's secluded—maybe it also holds some nostalgic value from when he used to spend time with Miss Haruno.
Whether the memories were pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad, that person always left a deep impression.
Some things just refuse to be forgotten.
Pushing open the door and stepping inside, I found the shop as quiet as ever.
"Welcome—oh, it's you, Hikigaya-kun."
As expected, Matsunaga was on duty today.
He greeted me with a smile, but his expression quickly shifted to surprise.
"Hikigaya-kun, why are you suddenly wearing glasses? Did your eyesight get worse?"
"…No, they're just for show."
"Ohh, so it's a style change?"
Matsunaga rubbed his chin, carefully studying me before nodding with a smile. "This look suits you. I bet a lot of girls will be charmed by it."
"Don't joke around."
"I'm serious."
I'd already heard similar comments over the past couple of days more times than I could count.
Strangely enough, they didn't make me happy at all.
"But… you don't seem to be in high spirits," Matsunaga observed cautiously. "Did you not sleep well? Or is it the glasses—are they uncomfortable?"
"…Just a little insomnia."
"In that case, maybe you should skip coffee today?"
Saying that Matsunaga gestured toward the private room.
"You're meeting with Horikita-kun, right? How about a latte this time?"
"…If possible, I'd rather have a MAX Coffee."
"Haha, sorry, but we don't have that here."
Well, it was a café, after all—selling canned coffee would be unusual.
I had only mentioned it offhand, so I waved my hand dismissively. "Just the usual, then. Thanks."
"Got it."
Sensing my low mood, Matsunaga didn't say much more and quietly stepped away.
When I entered the VIP room, Horikita Manabu was already there, waiting.
"Sorry, Horikita-senpai." I greeted him. "Our class had to stay after school to discuss the exam. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's fine. I was the one who invited you, after all."
Horikita glanced at the seat across from him, motioning for me to sit.
But even after I did, he remained silent, slowly sipping his tea.
…Huh?
Was he waiting for me to speak first?
Also, we're in a café—why is he drinking tea?!
"Um, Horikita-senpai—"
"No need to rush," he interrupted just as I was about to speak.
"To be honest, I won't have many more chances to sit down and have tea with you like this."
"That's true. You'll be graduating soon."
"So, there's no need to hurry with business. Let's just enjoy the moment first."
"…Alright."
In my mind, Horikita Manabu had always been a stern and rigid senior.
I never expected him to say something so… poetic.
\
Although he wasn't in the mood, since the other party had already said so, Hikigaya couldn't rush him and could only take a sip of his coffee as well.
Time flowed quietly, with only the faint sound of sipping in the background.
Strangely enough, his originally restless heart began to settle down.
"Hikigaya."
It was unclear how much time had passed before Horikita Manabu suddenly spoke.
"Do you know why I called you here today?"
Seeing Hikigaya shake his head, he answered, "To be honest, I don't know either."
"…Huh?"
"I just wanted to see how you're doing lately, so I called you out. There's no special reason."
"Uh, I see." Hikigaya felt a little awkward at the bluntness. "Then why not ask your sister instead? Suzune would definitely be happy."
"Suzune… it's not convenient."
"Why? Things should be fine between you two now, right?"
At that question, Horikita Manabu fell silent for a moment before shaking his head lightly.
He let out a rare sigh and spoke in a deep voice.
"The issue between Suzune and me… on the surface, it seems like a simple misunderstanding between siblings due to a lack of understanding. But I've always felt that it can't be summed up that easily. Even if we try to express our thoughts with words, there's still this indescribable gap between us."
"Then what about actions?" Hikigaya countered. "Isn't that exactly what Suzune is trying to do? She wants to lead her class to A-Class to earn your recognition. And she has changed a lot so far, hasn't she?"
"Yeah… A person's image is constantly being updated, day by day."
At this point, Horikita Manabu suddenly showed a hint of regret on his face.
"That's why, in a way, I regret coming to this school. At the time, I thought that by staying away from Suzune, she might change herself. But in doing so, I lost the opportunity to witness her growth firsthand."
"…That's something no one could predict."
"It's not just that. Sometimes I wonder—can our distance be bridged just by taking action? Can we really understand each other?"
"…I don't know."
Hikigaya hadn't expected Horikita Manabu to say something like this.
This was someone who never exposed his weaknesses to others, but that didn't mean he didn't have any.
After all, Horikita Manabu wasn't a machine—just a high school student like any other.
Hikigaya felt honored that Manabu was willing to show him this side of himself.
"Yeah… we really don't know," Horikita Manabu chuckled self-deprecatingly. "No matter how much we say or do, what's in our hearts doesn't always reach the other person. On the surface, Suzune and I may seem reconciled, but in reality, isn't it just a form of mutual compromise?"
"…Yeah."
It wasn't just Suzune and her brother.
In a way, the same could be said for Suzune and Kushida.
Their conflict wasn't resolved because they understood each other—it was because they had grown.
Hikigaya wasn't sure if "growth" was the right word, but he couldn't think of a better one at the moment.
As if confirming his thoughts, Horikita Manabu spoke again.
"But there's one thing I do know—we must learn to accept. Since Suzune and I can't completely return to how we were before, then I have to fully accept the present. That is the conclusion I've reached."
"I see…"
A broken mirror is difficult to restore.
Even if you manage to piece it back together, the cracks will still remain.
However, if you truly value that mirror, then you should accept it, cracks and all.
That's probably what Horikita Manabu was trying to say.
"That's why, in another sense, I'm grateful to this school. The experiences I've had here helped me realize this. And looking at it now, it seems Suzune also came to understand it through her interactions with her classmates."
"…How did you come to understand it?"
On the surface, this question had nothing to do with Hikigaya.
But he couldn't help but ask.
"If I had to put it into words—responsibility."
"Responsibility…?"
"It all started when I first entered this school."
As he spoke about the past, Horikita Manabu didn't show any nostalgia—his expression remained calm and indifferent.
"Just like you, we were informed of the true nature of the S-System about a month after enrollment. But at that time, I had already sensed something, and my classmates were all outstanding, so our class atmosphere remained relatively relaxed."
That was typical for Class A. After all, they were the elite students selected by the school.
"But after experiencing a few special exams, things changed… Our class had its first dropout."
"…Oh."
"In these three years, I can confidently say that I've never stopped moving forward, always staying at the top of the school. But losing so many classmates… that has always been a regret in my heart."
So far, the third-year students had seen a total of 24 dropouts, including students from Class A.
"That's unavoidable," Hikigaya said quietly. "Those who can't keep up will be eliminated under the school's system… After all, this place runs on taxpayer money."
"Yeah, the ones who fell behind were mostly weaker students. But sometimes, even outstanding ones were lost."
Horikita Manabu nodded before suddenly changing the topic.
"But what troubled me at first wasn't that. I clearly remember… It was during a special exam on an uninhabited island. That was the first time our class lost a student. When we returned, I found myself obsessing over the thought—if I had been just a little better, if I had done more, could I have prevented that expulsion?"
"…Heh, you sound just like Hirata or Ichinose."
The topic was heavy, but Hikigaya couldn't help but laugh.
Because he understood—Horikita Manabu was both similar to and different from them.
The difference was… he had already grown.
"This question troubled me for a long time until… someone told me something." Horikita Manabu paused slightly. "She told me to take a good look around and think about what I truly needed to do."
"Was that person Yukinoshita Haruno?" Hikigaya asked curiously.
Horikita Manabu didn't answer the question. Instead, he continued,
"From that moment on, I gradually understood… The important thing isn't shouldering all the responsibility. It's learning to accept reality, no matter what happened in the past. Otherwise, you'll never be able to move forward."
"…So, even if you and Suzune can't go back to how you were as kids, it's fine?"
"That's right."
Those two words came out almost instantly, carrying a firm conviction.
"Just like I've accepted my own limitations—that I can't protect everyone—I'll also accept my current relationship with Suzune." Horikita Manabu's voice was quiet but resolute. "On the other hand, I will lead the remaining students to A-Class, and Suzune and I will build a better sibling relationship than before."
"…That's really impressive."
At this moment, Horikita-senpai seemed larger than life.
That level of coolness was something few could match.
"As expected of Suzune's brother… and as expected, Suzune is your sister." Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh.
"I understand what you're trying to say, but that phrasing sounds strange."
"That's because you haven't seen Suzune's growth up close."
During the sports festival, Horikita's sudden change wasn't without reason.
On the surface, it seemed like she had come to realize her brother's shortcomings and understood that everyone had their own flaws.
Even her seemingly perfect brother had things he couldn't do—let alone anyone else.
Because of this, Horikita was finally willing to set aside her unnecessary pride and compromise with Kushida.
However, the true reason was probably Hirata.
His sudden absence threw the class into chaos, and if no one stepped up, Class D—this sinking ship—would only go under.
It was precisely this sense of crisis that ignited Horikita's sense of responsibility.
After much contemplation, she ultimately made the same decision as her brother—to accept reality.
Class D was lacking. It was weak. And her own temperament was just as flawed.
That's why she had to change.
After all, if she couldn't even accept the truth and kept deceiving herself, how could she ever hope to change?
"…That's right. I never got to witness it firsthand," Horikita Manabu said, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "But I'm glad you were there to see it. If that has helped you in any way, then that's all that matters."
"…It's already helped me a lot."
"I see… Right, we've been talking about me this whole time, but I actually called you out here for your sake."
"No, that doesn't matter anymore."
Hikigaya slowly shook his head, his movements steady yet resolute.
If both Horikita siblings could do it, then he had no excuse.
He, too, had to learn to accept reality.
To fully acknowledge the fact that—'there was no longer anything between him and Yukinoshita.'
"…I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine now."
[T/N: Acquired new skill! Move On!]