About an hour ago, after Class D's discussion had concluded.
Horikita didn't return to the dormitory as usual. Instead, she found herself lost in thought, replaying Ayanokoji's words in her mind.
That guy… What is he really thinking?
For the longest time, Horikita had considered Ayanokoji an enigma—unpredictable and unreadable.
Scoring perfect marks in eight subjects, taking on four opponents alone on the rooftop—each of these feats proved how extraordinary he was.
What was even more terrifying was the lingering feeling that he hadn't even shown his full strength.
Yet, this time, what puzzled Horikita wasn't his abilities. It was why Ayanokoji was so concerned about Hikigaya.
Was it really just because he didn't want to be the commander?
It was true that being the commander came with the risk of expulsion, something even Horikita herself wanted to avoid. But still… she couldn't shake off a strong sense of incongruity.
To put it bluntly, with Ayanokoji's level of skill and the personality he had displayed so far, would he really be so afraid that he wouldn't even dare to participate?
…No, not necessarily.
At least from Horikita's perspective, the mysterious student sitting beside her couldn't be understood using common sense.
Perhaps there was an underlying reason, something hidden from plain sight.
"You still can't make up your mind, Horikita?"
Noticing her gaze fixed on him, Ayanokoji assumed she was still hesitating to approach Hikigaya.
"I know you have a lot of pride," he continued. "And Hikigaya has helped you many times before. When facing him, it's inevitable that you'd feel a sense of inferiority."
"Hmph, you really don't hold back." Horikita's voice carried a tinge of irritation. "Whatever I think about Hikigaya-kun has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business."
"But I'm only stating the truth. Even though he's such a mess right now, you still haven't taken any action because deep down, you don't feel qualified to lecture him."
"…I did ask him what was wrong."
Even as she said it, Horikita averted her gaze, as if trying to escape.
She probably knew as well—this was nothing more than an excuse.
"If you're just a friend, then this level of concern is enough. It depends on how you see it," Ayanokoji said calmly. "But that's not all, is it? If you're aiming for Class A and intend to lead your classmates forward, you can't do it alone."
"I don't need you to tell me that… I've known it for a long time."
"You only know it, but you haven't truly grasped it."
Ayanokoji didn't hold back in pointing out Horikita's weakness.
"In terms of academics and physical ability, you surpass most students. But in other aspects, you're lacking. You're not as adept at handling people as Kushida, you don't command the same respect as Hirata, and you're not even as well-rounded as Kouenji."
"…Yeah, and I'm definitely not as ruthless as you, either." Horikita couldn't help but retort sarcastically.
"That's also one of your flaws," Ayanokoji replied, unfazed. "Right now, the class appears to be united. But if a major defeat comes, that unity might crumble. Before the worst happens, if you don't take action now, it might be too late to salvage things."
"Then just stop holding back and win at all costs."
"Even if I give my all, the commander's role in this exam is limited."
With that, Ayanokoji skillfully steered the conversation back to its original point.
"That's exactly why Hikigaya can't be left alone this time. Are you just going to stand by and watch him remain in this state? You're letting a valuable asset slip further and further away."
"But… I still have to prepare for this exam—"
"Are you still looking for excuses?" Ayanokoji cut her off. "I've told you before. With Hikigaya's help, you can quickly gather intelligence on the other classes. So think carefully—what should be your top priority right now? Just standing by, watching him sigh in frustration? That's not what you should be doing, is it?"
"…Didn't you already go to my brother? What do you need me for?" Horikita muttered under her breath.
"Your brother is one thing, but you are another."
Seeing that Horikita didn't seem to fully understand, Ayanokoji didn't explain further and simply advised, "Remember this—your brother may be able to help Hikigaya sort out his thoughts, but that doesn't mean you can just sit back and do nothing. You need to find a way to step on his shoulders and rise."
Even if Horikita Manabu managed to untangle Hikigaya's emotional knots, that alone wouldn't be enough to turn him into a fighting force for Class D.
Horikita needed to complete the final piece of the puzzle herself.
More importantly, if Hikigaya ended up adjusting his mindset on his own in the next few days, then this opportunity would be lost.
The only chance to strike was now.
"…Then, what should I—"
"Figure it out yourself. That's all I'll say."
In truth, Ayanokoji didn't know the exact answer either.
It wasn't like he hadn't tried before, but all he got in return was sarcasm and nothing else.
Hikigaya's personality was not only twisted but also deeply suspicious and excessively self-aware. If someone approached him with ulterior motives, he would be on guard and shut them out completely.
From Ayanokoji's perspective, Horikita's straightforward and honest nature had a better chance of breaking through his defenses.
Besides, Hikigaya had always looked after her.
Even without her brother in the equation, there was no way Hikigaya would just leave Horikita alone.
Now, it was up to Horikita to see how far she could go.
Horikita returned to the first-year dormitory area, weighed down by deep frustration after Ayanokoji's lecture.
"Am I afraid to face Hikigaya-kun…?"
As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't lie to herself.
It reminded her of the time when she first entered the school. She had been so afraid of being rejected by her brother that she delayed meeting him for a long time.
"Choosing to run away just because I'm scared… Tch."
Horikita clenched her fist tightly, then loosened it, repeating the motion several times.
It wasn't until the elevator arrived that she stopped, stepping inside and reaching out to press the button for her floor.
However, her gaze was drawn to the button for the fourth floor.
She hesitated for a moment before pressing it firmly.
"What am I even… Oh, whatever. I'll just check on him."
As if finding an excuse made things easier, Horikita felt a little lighter.
That's right—she was just visiting a classmate.
Ding—
As the elevator doors slowly opened, Horikita was met with the sight of two familiar figures standing in front of Hikigaya's room.
Of course, it was Kushida and Matsushita.
She had already expected them to show up, but she really wished they had picked another time.
Unfortunately, it seemed everyone had the same idea.
"Oi, Horikita, what are you doing here?"
"Horikita-san, this is the boys' floor, you know? Did you press the wrong button?"
For once, Kushida and Matsushita both dropped their usual masks, showing their true faces.
Horikita didn't particularly dislike them like this—if anything, they were easier to deal with than most other girls. At least she didn't have to watch them fake smiles.
Still, she wished they could be a little more polite.
"I'm here for the same reason as you—to see Hikigaya-kun."
Deciding to be direct and avoid unnecessary hassle, Horikita laid her intentions bare.
Kushida instantly bristled like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Why are you looking for Hachiman?! Let me tell you now—he's not here! So you and Matsushita might as well come back another day… or never!"
"Then I'll just wait here for him."
Waiting outside might be a little troublesome if people saw, and strange rumors could start spreading.
But Horikita didn't care about that.
"Hey, Kushida-san," Matsushita said with a sly smile, "Do we really need to stand around like this? You have a spare key to Hachiman-kun's room, don't you? Just let us in already."
"Hah? And why would I do that for you two?"
"You say 'you two' as if it doesn't include you."
"Of course, it doesn't!"
Kushida's response was completely shameless, as if she had every right to be there.
Horikita sighed at her stubbornness. "Kushida-san, now isn't the time for this, is it? Whatever you're thinking, the important thing right now is getting Hikigaya-kun back on his feet. I'll tell you everything I know—let's figure something out together."
"Exactly. Don't think you can sneak off and take all the credit."
Matsushita muttered something under her breath, then added, "Besides, thanks to Kouenji-kun, I think I know who Hikigaya-kun is struggling over."
"Hah, don't tell me you're going to say it's you?" Kushida scoffed.
"Don't lump me in with you—I'm not that narcissistic," Matsushita shot back, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, if you want to know, just open the door already. Otherwise, I'm not saying anything."
"You better not be making this up."
Kushida hesitated for a moment before pulling out her phone, seemingly sending a message.
"What are you doing?" Matsushita asked suspiciously.
"Obviously, I'm texting Hachiman."
Putting her phone away, Kushida crossed her arms.
"Since I'm letting outsiders in, I need to get his permission first."
"Ugh…" Matsushita was momentarily speechless but made a silent resolution.
After this was over, she had to find a way to get a spare key, too!
Once inside the room, the moment they sat down, Kushida slammed a hand on the table.
"Alright, Matsushita, spill everything you know!"
"What do you think this is, an interrogation?" Matsushita huffed. "If anyone should be interrogated, it's you!"
"Me?"
"Of course it's you! What the hell were you thinking, helping Hachiman-kun dress up?!"
The moment she brought it up, Matsushita's frustration bubbled over.
"Do you have any idea how many girls in our class have been asking me for Hikigaya-kun's number because of that?! Even girls from other classes!"
"That's not my fault!"
Actually, compared to Matsushita, Kushida had been even more overwhelmed—she had far more friends, which meant far more people coming to her for favors.
The past two days had been nothing short of a nightmare, constantly having to come up with excuses to reject them.
"You didn't see how terrifying Hachiman looked that day! I just helped him tidy up a little. And those glasses? He put them on himself!"
"Then why did he do that?"
"…Because I complained about his dark circles."
"Hah, I knew it was your fault!"
Matsushita finally saw her chance to put Kushida in her place.
But Horikita, growing impatient, sighed.
"Enough already. Matsushita-san, the person you're talking about… it's not Ichinose-san, is it?"
"No, it's not her."
"Then who is it?"
"Uh, well…"
For some reason, Matsushita suddenly looked as if she had something difficult to say.
After a long pause, she finally seemed to make up her mind and said, "Actually... I don't really want to casually talk about Hachiman-kun's personal matters, so don't tell him I said this, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, just hurry up and say it," Kushida urged impatiently.
"Um… do you remember Yukinoshita Haruno, Yukinoshita-sensei, the teacher who taught us for two semesters?"
"...Huh?"
Hearing this, Kushida was completely stunned.
"Wait, are you trying to say that Hachiman—"
"No, I'm not talking about Yukinoshita-sensei herself," Matsushita quickly shook her head. "It's just that Yukinoshita-sensei's younger sister was in my class in middle school… and she was in the same club as Hachiman-kun."
"…You mean that, uh, Service Club or whatever?"
Horikita suddenly recalled that Matsushita had mentioned something about this back during Christmas.
She hadn't paid much attention at the time, but now it seemed like there was more to the story… and it involved Yukinoshita-sensei too.
"Yeah… so now you understand why someone like Hachiman-kun, given his personality, would join a club, right?"
Matsushita let out a bitter smile as she spoke.
"And also, why he joined the student council as soon as he started school here… I have a feeling it was arranged by Yukinoshita-sensei."
"No need to guess," Horikita added. "Yukinoshita-sensei was a student here too, and she was actually two years ahead of my brother. She even served as the student council president."
"Hold on, hold on!"
Kushida clutched her forehead in disbelief.
"Are you guys seriously telling me… that Hachiman, of all people, went through the trouble of joining a club and the student council just because he liked that random younger sister of Yukinoshita-sensei?!"
"…That's most likely the case," Matsushita admitted, equally unwilling to accept it.
They had worked so hard to get Ichinose out of the picture, only for an even bigger boss to show up.
But what puzzled Matsushita even more was… this wasn't something that should've happened. Why would Hikigaya suddenly start thinking about Yukinoshita again? By all logic, the two of them should have lost contact ages ago.
"B-but! Why would Hachiman suddenly act like this?! There must be a reason, right?"
Kushida had arrived at the same conclusion.
"It's not just because of Valentine's Day, is it? There's no way he'd get chocolate from that Yukinoshita girl!"
"Exactly," Matsushita nodded in agreement. "That's why I wasn't sure from the start. But aside from Yukinoshita, I really can't think of anyone else."
However, Horikita promptly poured cold water on their speculation.
"You two… that's not necessarily the case."
"What do you mean?"
"Even prisoners in jail have ways to receive things from the outside world. Are you saying our school is stricter than a prison?"
As an honor student, Horikita normally wouldn't have such thoughts.
The school had rules against external contact, so students were naturally expected to follow them.
But the problem was—did the school allow cheating on exams? Of course not.
Did people cheat anyway? Of course they did.
Horikita was no longer as naive as before, partly thanks to their visit to that café last time.
Clearly, no matter how strict the rules were, it wasn't impossible to find a staff member willing to help.
It all depended on whether you had the skills to make it happen.
And Hikigaya clearly did.
"What?! There's no way… no way something that ridiculous could actually happen!"
Kushida wasn't exactly an honest student herself, so she immediately grasped Horikita's point.
Muttering curses under her breath, she stomped over to the fridge and started rummaging through it.
"Hmph, our school strictly forbids outside food, and yet Hachiman, a student council member, dares to break the rules… Unbelievable!"
She pulled out a piece of chocolate wrapped in pink packaging and tossed it onto the table.
"I bet this is it!"
"…Why, though?"
Matsushita picked up the chocolate, examining it from different angles, but didn't notice anything special about it.
"Because all the chocolates—including mine—were kept together," Kushida pouted in frustration. "Except for this one, which was carefully stored on a separate shelf… Unbelievable! This kind of preferential treatment is just—ugh! It's just chocolate!"
"If you know it's just chocolate, then could you please calm down?"
Horikita was starting to get a headache—though there was an even bigger headache waiting ahead.
Finding out the reason behind Hikigaya's troubles was one thing, but… an outside-school girl?
How was she supposed to deal with that?
"Ayanokoji-kun is so unreliable, calling me over without even knowing the full situation… Sigh."
Complaining about it wouldn't solve anything.
Like Ayanokoji said, Hikigaya was a valuable asset to their class, and Horikita genuinely didn't want to see him stay in a slump.
But still…
"Ughhh, this is so frustrating!" Kushida clutched her head in frustration. "Even if Hachiman had accepted Ichinose's confession, I was confident I could break them up! But what's with this outside-school interference?! That's cheating!"
Matsushita chuckled bitterly. "I never thought Hachiman-kun would accept Ichinose-san's confession in the first place, so I wasn't too worried. After all, he never really forgot about Yukinoshita… But he can't seriously stay hung up on her for all three years of high school, right?"
"Uh… you two?"
Horikita was dumbfounded.
From the way they were talking… were they the ones who encouraged Ichinose to confess?
…No way, right?
"Ugh, this is just so unfair! Hmph!"
"Eh? Kushida-san?!"
Under Horikita's stunned gaze, Kushida suddenly ripped open the packaging and stuffed a piece of chocolate into her mouth.
Before Horikita could stop her, Matsushita had already reached into the bag as well, munching on a piece while commenting, "Mmm, not bad. As expected of Yukinoshita-san. She probably followed a cookbook's recipe to the letter."
"Wait, you two! You can't just eat someone else's food!"
Even as she said this, Horikita felt strangely conflicted.
Because deep down, she also didn't want to see this chocolate anymore.
She kind of wanted to eat it too.
"Oh, now that you mention it, maybe we shouldn't have done that," Kushida mused, nodding in agreement. She then took out her phone and tapped on the screen a couple of times.
Moments later, she put it away again.
"Okay, I got Hachiman's permission. Eat as much as you like."
"…I see. In that case, I won't hold back."
Horikita knew Kushida must've pulled some trick, but she chose not to think too much about it.
It was just chocolate, after all. No big deal.
Besides, she had given Hikigaya chocolate before too. Consider it even.
Matsushita smiled brightly. "Oh, but just eating chocolate gets a little sickening. How about I make some tea?"
"Great idea! Let's have a tea party."
And so, with Kushida taking the lead, the three girls held a tea party in Hikigaya's room.
By the time he rushed back in a panic, the chocolate was already gone.\
"Heh… heh… How could a single serving of chocolate be enough for the three of you? Here, have another one."
With a rather unsettling chuckle, another piece of chocolate wrapped in blue packaging was placed on the table.
"Go on… this one is for you all as well." Hikigaya made a welcoming gesture. "It's rare for you guys to visit, and I don't have much to offer… so don't be shy. Make sure to finish every last bit."
"Uh… okay."
Even though Hikigaya's demeanor seemed off, the eerie pressure in the room left the three of them without the courage to refuse.
Horikita cautiously took a piece of chocolate from the blue bag and examined it closely.
Its exterior was an ominous shade of black… No, wait—chocolate is supposed to be dark, right?
Meanwhile, Hikigaya remained expressionless as he watched the trio scrutinize the chocolate, suppressing a cold sneer in his mind.
If it were cookies, turning them into charcoal would be an obvious disaster.
But since it's chocolate… well, that means their time is up.
…Just kidding.
Hikigaya let out a quiet sigh. It wasn't quite anger he was feeling—just a sense of… dissatisfaction, maybe?
At least leave him a piece to taste.
But what's done is done, and besides, he was the one who offered it to them in the first place.
That being said, there's no way Yuigahama's chocolate could be deadly… right?
…No, no, no.
Considering she's a high schooler now, surely her cooking skills couldn't still be as disastrous as they were in middle school.
And chocolate isn't that hard to make… The worst-case scenario is probably just mixing up salt and sugar.
With that thought in mind, Hikigaya decided to say nothing and simply watched as they put the chocolate into their mouths.
Then, as they slowly chewed—
Their faces turned bright red.
"Huh?"
"Hey, you guys—"
Before Hikigaya could even finish his sentence, all three of them shot to their feet, shoved him aside, and bolted straight to the restroom.
Moments later, the sound of violent retching echoed from behind the door.
They even abandoned their dignity… Was it really that bad?
Hikigaya found himself recalling the few times he had "tasted" Yuigahama's cooking. From what he remembered, it wasn't that—
…Okay, yeah, it was pretty terrible.
While eating it wouldn't result in instant death, from a long-term perspective, consuming bitter, unidentifiable substances might increase the risk of cancer. A few years down the line, they could develop some illness and die—it wouldn't be too surprising.
…Wait a second. Some chocolate is supposed to be bitter, isn't it?
A sudden thought crossed Hikigaya's mind.
Could it be… that he had wronged Yuigahama?
His gaze fell on the blue bag sitting on the table. He stared at the remaining chocolates inside, hesitating for a moment before reaching out.
But then, another round of retching sounds from the bathroom made him pause.
What should he do…? Ah, screw it. If he dies, he dies!
Resolving himself, Hikigaya shut his eyes and tossed the chocolate into his mouth.
"…I see."
As his taste buds sent urgent distress signals to his brain, he slowly nodded in understanding.
This flavor…
It's enough to make a person ascend to heaven.