The Nameless Teahouse.
This was the place where Hikigaya first met Haruno at this school. Later, he visited a few more times because of Shizuka-sensei.
Out of curiosity, he once asked about the name of the shop, but the only answer he got was "it doesn't have a name." So, he simply started calling it the Nameless Teahouse.
Unlike fancy tea houses outside of school, this place was more like a café, but it served traditional Japanese sweets. The prices were reasonable, too.
As for why they also sold canned drinks like MAX Coffee, that remained a mystery.
Surprisingly, not many students knew about this place. Over time, it became a quiet and private spot where one didn't have to worry about being disturbed.
"Even though this place looks a bit unusual, the snacks here are really good!"
Hikigaya introduced the teahouse to Hiyori, who was visiting for the first time, and Sakura, who had been dragged along by Hiyori.
"Uh… shouldn't we be asking why a teahouse sells coffee?"
Hiyori tilted her head, question marks practically floating above her.
Sakura nodded in agreement, curiously looking around, excited about eating out with friends for the first time.
Back in the library, seeing how gloomy Hiyori was, Hikigaya—feeling a little guilty—offered to treat them to a meal. After thinking about it, he figured the Nameless Teahouse was the best option.
And no, the reason for choosing this place was definitely not just because it was the only one he knew!
Well… at least here, there was no risk of running into anyone they knew, which meant they wouldn't have to deal with any awkward situations like last time.
Just thinking about his previous "date"—no, meal—with Hiyori made Hikigaya feel like the sky was about to collapse.
Back then, to break the awkward silence, he ended up revealing that he was an "otaku," completely embarrassing himself beyond recovery.
Inviting a girl to a restaurant for a meal would definitely make people think, "Are you trying to pursue me?" or "Are you planning to confess?" Then, the next day, you'd be publicly humiliated in class.
And don't ask why someone named Hikigaya Hachiman knows this so well—it would only bring misfortune.
Hikigaya had visited this nameless teahouse many times before, sometimes even as a companion to a certain older, single teacher. Compared to the more popular cafes and Western restaurants that students preferred, he liked this place better—one that seemed like only "working adults" would visit.
Not long after, the tea and snacks they ordered were served.
"Boy, not bad at all~"
Before they left, the middle-aged owner patted Hikigaya's shoulder heavily, giving him a look that seemed to say, "You know what I mean," but he had no idea what she meant. With a mysterious smile, she jogged back to the counter and started whispering with a young female employee, occasionally glancing over at their group.
"..."
"Huh? Does that mean you're pretty close with the owner of this teahouse, Hikigaya-kun?"
Hiyori's bright eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Uh, I've just been here a few times, so I guess I'm considered a regular."
Hikigaya explained helplessly, though for some reason, he had a feeling the owner did that on purpose.
Soft, chewy sakura mochi, summer-exclusive Minazuki sweets, beautifully crafted mizuyokan, and a pot of aromatic, refreshing green tea.
Some say eating when you're upset helps turn sadness into appetite. Hikigaya agreed—good food always had a way of clearing the gloom in one's heart.
Life is like seasoning. A little bitterness is normal, which is why you need to add some sweetness.
Through this meal, Hiyori's mood improved, and even the socially anxious Sakura gathered the courage to join the conversation. Surprisingly, the atmosphere became quite pleasant—after all, food is a great way to connect people.
Their discussion slowly shifted from food to hobbies. For the most part, Hikigaya simply listened, not wanting to disrupt the rare moment of ease.
But then, somehow, the topic took an unexpected turn—they started talking about *Pretty Cure*. To Hikigaya's surprise, Sakura was also a big fan?!
At first, Sakura was hesitant, worried she'd be judged or told to "grow up." But when she realized Hiyori was also a *Pretty Cure* fan, she was both shocked and delighted—like she had found a kindred spirit.
"Actually, I have Hikigaya-kun to thank for this!"
Hiyori didn't notice Hikigaya's horrified expression and continued, "When I was little, the other kids around me loved watching *Pretty Cure*, *Dr. Slump*, *Floral Magician Mary Bell*, and similar shows. But back then, I only cared about books, completely absorbed in detective stories about Kogoro Akechi, Kyozuka Kamitsu, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple.
Now that I think about it, I might have missed out on the fun kids my age were supposed to have. So maybe revisiting that childhood feeling now isn't such a bad idea."
To be honest, that day, Hikigaya had only brought up *Pretty Cure* to steer the conversation away from an awkward, borderline romantic situation. The only thing that came to mind was something that adults dismissed as "childish" and teenagers found "embarrassing to admit they still liked." It was like fighting fire with fire—using even more cringe to cancel out the cringe!
In his eyes, *Pretty Cure* was the fourth official *tokusatsu* series.
Produced by Toei? Check.
Transformation sequences? Check.
Heroes fighting villains? Check.
Airing on weekends? Check.
It's *tokusatsu*, no doubt about it!
But what he didn't expect was that after going back to the dorm, Hiyori actually started watching *Pretty Cure*. She even began discussing the plot with him through chat.
A bookworm who should have been immersing herself in literature was now staying in her dorm binge-watching *Pretty Cure*?
Hikigaya felt a heavy sense of guilt.
"Huh? Hikigaya-kun… do you… like *Pretty Cure* too?"
Sakura was completely stunned after hearing this shocking revelation from Hiyori. She stood frozen, mouth open, unable to say a word. Meanwhile, Hikigaya tried to stay calm, pretending it didn't faze him at all…
Yeah, right.
Originally, only Komachi and Zaimokuza knew this secret. Then, he was forced to include Hiyori. And now, Sakura too?
This is the end for me, Hikigaya Hachiman!
At this point, is it even a secret anymore?!
While Hikigaya silently despaired, the two girls continued chatting enthusiastically. Surprisingly, when the topic shifted to *Kyuua* (Cure), Sakura became noticeably more lively. She spoke more often and smiled more than usual—even she didn't seem to realize how much she had changed.
"Oh, by the way, were you tutoring Airi in the library earlier?"
At some point, Hiyori had stopped calling her "Sakura" and was now using her first name, "Airi." Blushing, Sakura lowered her head shyly.
After Hikigaya briefly explained what happened, Hiyori offered to lend her study materials, saying that since her class didn't need them anymore, they might as well help those who did.
"No way!"
Hikigaya refused Hiyori's offer without even thinking. His expression turned serious as he warned her, "Hiyori, if your classmates find out about this, you'll be in big trouble!"
Maybe Hiyori was just being kind and didn't think much about it, but Hikigaya had to consider what this would mean for her in the future.
Hiyori frowned, about to argue, but Hikigaya cut her off. "I know you're doing this out of kindness, Hiyori, but we can't just take that kindness for granted."
"Hikigaya-kun, that's too much!"
Hiyori seemed a little upset. "Can't this just be friends helping each other? I believe my classmates would understand. Besides, there's more to this school than just class competition—there are so many other things worth having!"
But the more Hiyori thought that way, the more determined Hikigaya was to refuse.
He shook his head, unfazed by her words. Instead, he remained calm. "No, Hiyori. It's exactly because we're friends that we have to keep this separate. Deep down, you know that too, don't you? The Hiyori I knew before wouldn't have done this. Honestly, aren't you just using this as a small way to get back at your classmates?"
"I..."
Hiyori was at a loss for words.
"But in the end, the one who gets hurt is you."
Hikigaya knew exactly what would happen if Hiyori used Class C's study materials to help students from other classes. Did Hiyori not realize it too? No, she probably did. She just didn't want to think of relationships in such a cold way, and she didn't want to see her classmates as selfish people.
Because in her world, people were always kinder than they really were.
Was there no better way to handle this?
There was. In fact, it was simple. Hiyori needed to give her classmates a reason—whether it was for her own benefit or for the class's benefit. As long as she framed it around "benefit," it wouldn't be a problem. But what she couldn't do was act purely out of kindness, with no personal gain involved.
Unlike regular schools, this school was built on the idea that power was everything.
Here, "benefit" was what drove most students forward.
They could accept it if Hiyori betrayed them for her own gain or if she was doing it for the sake of her class. But they would never accept that she was doing it out of pure kindness, just because they were friends.
This was something Hikigaya had learned from Horikita Manabu—the way to "communicate" in this school.
Self-interest was the core driving force.
That was the biggest difference between this school and normal schools.
Just as Horikita Manabu once said, in this school, managing relationships through gains and losses was the best—and most practical—approach.
Was Hikigaya being harsh by teaching Hiyori this lesson?
Maybe.
But this was the best way to maintain relationships.
We should never attach limitless value to the things we care about.
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