There was a dark bruise on the top of Ibuki Mio's foot.
Hikigaya took a slow breath, forced himself to stay calm, and began tending to it carefully.
"..."
Ibuki stared blankly at the boy in front of her, his expression uncharacteristically focused as he treated her injury. For some reason, a strange, indescribable feeling stirred inside her chest.
"It's nothing serious," Hikigaya said evenly. "Try to avoid strenuous activity for about a week… What's with that look?"
He glanced up, only to find her staring at him in an oddly dazed way.
"Nothing," she replied quickly. "I just think your hands are surprisingly… skilled."
Her eyes darted away as she quietly pulled her foot back. Her face felt hot. Ugh, why am I only reacting now?
"Yeah, I've had practice," Hikigaya said casually. "My sister's pretty clumsy."
"Oh, so it's because of your sister…"
Ibuki raised an eyebrow—then realization hit her. "Wait, are you trying to say I'm as clumsy as your sister?"
"How could that be!" Hikigaya said immediately, tone serious. "Even if Komachi is a fool, that's still part of her charm."
"Huh?" Ibuki blinked, confused. She thought for a moment, then her eyes brightened. "So basically, you're saying I'm cute too, right?"
No, no, I was saying you're just plain stupid.
Hikigaya sighed inwardly. But to avoid an argument, he gave a half-hearted nod.
"Shut up! I see you as a training partner, not some guy trying to flirt with me! No chance!!"
***
Later that night
"♪ Here comes the bride~ ♫"
The Wedding March played softly.
Wait—what?
Hikigaya stood frozen, staring blankly at the blue-haired woman standing before him in a white wedding dress.
"Hmm~ Are you speechless from my beauty, Hachiman?" she teased, her long blue hair shimmering as she smiled smugly.
That stupid expression… could it really be you?
Hikigaya's pulse spiked. Didn't we agree that something like this could never happen?
Why the hell are we married now!?
"Mio… and Hachiman," said a calm voice nearby. "Congratulations."
The bridesmaid—a silver-haired woman—smiled faintly, though her eyes carried a strange resentment as she looked at him.
Hikigaya blinked. Why is she looking at me like that?
All around him were familiar faces—classmates from Advanced Nurturing High School. Yet, for some reason, many of the girls in the audience were giving him odd looks…
"Ding-ling-ling~!"
Ah, my beloved alarm clock—what perfect timing!
Hikigaya shot up in bed, heart racing.
He let out a long sigh of relief. "Phew… good. Just a dream."
Still rattled, he got dressed and left his dorm early. Starting today, he'd decided to begin each morning with exercise.
[Morning Exercise]
On the school's outdoor track, he spotted a familiar figure stretching.
"Horikita?"
"You're here after all, Hikigaya," Horikita Suzune said without looking up. "So yesterday's morning exercise wasn't just a one-time thing."
She began her warm-ups with the same quiet seriousness as always.
Yup, dull and predictable. Fits her perfectly.
Hikigaya said nothing. After a few stretches, he moved to the outer lane and started running alone. Horikita ran on the innermost track. Their pace and rhythm differed completely, so they never crossed paths.
Good. Let's keep it that way.
Maybe if they maintained that distance, those weird "Hikigaya Suzune" fantasies would stop invading his dreams.
Still, part of him couldn't help feeling… regretful?
Realizing that, he immediately felt disgusted with himself.
Dreams are fake. Emotions are delusions. Reality is pain.
***
[In Class D]
By the time morning exercises ended, classes were about to begin.
Hikigaya and Horikita entered the Class D classroom one after the other. They didn't speak, but to others, it looked like they had come to school together.
If it had been anyone else, the class would've burst into teasing and jeers. But no one dared joke around when it came to the "ice queen" Horikita Suzune.
Instead, everyone's jealous eyes turned toward Hikigaya.
Kushida Kikyo narrowed her eyes. So those two really are closer than they let on, huh? This dead fish-eyed liar keeps saying they're just neighbors… who's he trying to fool?
Hikigaya could feel the judgmental stares around him, but at this point, he was numb to it.
What a bunch of bored idiots.
***
The first period was biology. Today's topic: the theory of the origin of life. Hikigaya listened like it was some sci-fi story—a mild form of torture.
Second period: chemistry. The endless equations covering the board made his head spin. Moderate torture.
Third period: physics. All those mechanical formulas and calculations made his scalp tingle. Severe torture.
Fourth period: math. The final boss of torture.
For someone who only got nine points in math on his high school entrance exam, this was psychological warfare.
To survive, Hikigaya relied on his "spatial disassociation" meditation technique to resist the math teacher's hypnosis spell.
Unfortunately, today the teacher seemed particularly interested in tormenting him.
"Hikigaya, stand up," said Sakagami Kazuma. "Instead of wasting time flirting with girls from other classes, maybe try focusing on your studies."
The class erupted into stifled laughter.
"..."
Hikigaya didn't reply. He simply sighed internally.
After all, Sakagami was the homeroom teacher of Class C. It didn't take a genius to realize this was a veiled warning not to get too close to Ibuki Mio.
Technically, teachers weren't supposed to interfere with inter-class affairs, but in practice, every homeroom teacher tried to find loopholes.
Hoshinomiya from Class B, Sakagami from Class C, and Chabashira from Class D were all guilty of it.
Only Mashima from Class A seemed above it all—either because Class A didn't need interference, or because he genuinely didn't care.
"Although Sakagami's words carry hidden meaning," Horikita said quietly, "he's not wrong. Your math is awful. You should practice more."
"You're right," Hikigaya replied. "But honestly, I'd rather memorize a few more poems and polish my essays instead."
"Running away again," she said flatly.
"So what if I am? Even Horikita-senpai has things he's bad at."
"Impossible! My brother is perfect!"
"Really? You're his sister, yet he can't even manage a normal relationship with you. Isn't that a flaw?"
"..."
Horikita bit her lip in silence, glaring at him without a comeback.
***
Im going to be busy with work today…might not be able to update untill late 😭🙏