"Alright then, I'll leave it to you."
After thinking for a moment, Hikigaya realized his integrated science score was a 45. Sure, it was above the passing line, but hardly something to be proud of.
Within Class D, that put him in the middle of the pack. Across the entire grade? That was solidly below average.
And worst of all—he hadn't even managed to beat that poser Ayanokōji. That alone was unacceptable.
Not to mention, during the last quiz, that guy somehow scored exactly 50 in every subject. What was that supposed to be, performance art?
Or maybe he was one of those repressed types—trying to hide his true strength while secretly wanting people to notice, just waiting for the day he could blow everyone's minds when his "hidden power" got exposed?
Hikigaya had no idea what went on inside that guy's head.
"So it's settled then," Ibuki said.
"Let's have lunch together first, get to know each other a bit."
Ibuki Mio seemed in a great mood. Introducing her friends to each other apparently equaled double the happiness.
***
In Class D
"Morning…"
"Morning."
Their greetings were minimalist as always.
Remembering last night's dream, Hikigaya couldn't even look Horikita Suzune in the eye.
Who could've imagined that beneath that strict, serious exterior, once she got on top—
Nope. Forbidden memory. Do not recall!
"Hikigaya."
"Ma'am—!"
"…Why are you so tense?" Horikita gave him a suspicious look before continuing, "Your integrated science score wasn't great either. Want me to tutor you too?"
"N-No, that's fine!"
"I already found someone else to help me," Hikigaya said quickly, shaking his head.
"What?"
"You asked someone else?"
"Don't tell me… you think I'm not good enough?"
Horikita's eyes widened as her voice rose sharply, drawing curious glances from nearby students.
You asked someone else…
Not good enough for you…
Now everyone was looking at them weirdly.
"Okay, the way you're saying that sounds… really misleading," Hikigaya muttered, face twitching. "You're already helping me with math—it'd be rude to take up even more of your time."
And besides, there was another important reason: he didn't want to keep dreaming about Horikita Hikigaya every night.
If that kept up, what if he actually fell for her?
"…You have a point," Horikita said after a pause, seemingly accepting his reasoning.
Three hours of math tutoring every day was already plenty. If she added science lessons on top of that… she might as well just move into his dorm.
"So it was about studying…"
The moment Class D realized that, everyone lost interest.
Come on, could you guys at least pretend to care about your academics?
"Phew…"
Airi Sakura, who had been quietly listening in, let out a sigh of relief.
"So the math tutor he mentioned yesterday was really Horikita, huh," she murmured.
Hasebe Haruka's expression turned wary. "Airi, you better be careful."
"Huh? Careful about what?"
"Careful Horikita doesn't steal your Hikki away."
Hasebe gave her a look that screamed hopeless romantic.
"Wh-What do you mean, 'my' Hikki?! I-It's not like that between us…"
Airi's face turned bright red as she fumbled for words.
"Ehh~ really?" Hasebe teased, poking Airi's burning cheeks with a mischievous grin. She leaned closer and whispered, "Then I guess that means I'm free to go after him myself, huh?"
"Stop it!"
Airi pouted and lightly hit her friend with her tiny fists, assuming she was joking.
Meanwhile, Kushida Kikyo—who had also been eavesdropping—narrowed her eyes, staring daggers into Horikita's back, before glancing at Hikigaya beside her. A strange glint flashed in her eyes, betraying thoughts she didn't voice.
Noon
As promised, Hikigaya headed to the cafeteria.
But just as he arrived, his phone buzzed with a message from Ibuki.
Ibuki: Sorry! The gyaru trio from my class suddenly picked a fight with me. Gotta postpone our lunch for now!
The gyaru trio from Class C… Hikigaya had heard of them.
If he remembered right, their leader was that Manabe girl, right?
Unlike the "fake gyaru" vibe of Class D's Karuizawa, Manabe's group was the real deal—loud, aggressive, and with mouths that could peel paint.
Given Ibuki's short temper, it was only a matter of time before she clashed with them.
Hikigaya: Just be careful.
Ibuki: Oh? Are you worried about me? Heh~ Don't underestimate me. I can take all three of them easy.
Hikigaya: I meant be careful not to hurt them too much.
Ibuki: Baka
After pocketing his phone, Hikigaya ordered a quick lunch, ate alone, and decided to kill some time in the library.
***
He immediately avoided the textbook section.
What a joke.
Study sessions after class, more at night—what did they think he was, an overachiever?
Break time was meant for doing nothing.
He originally planned to check out the light novel section, but from a distance he spotted Yamauchi and his buddies snickering over a book titled "Reincarnated as a Goblin, I Captured a Nun at the Start."
Seriously?
Couldn't they read something decent for once?
Like that masterpiece right on the next shelf—"My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute."
He was about to grab it, but just imagining reading it within range of Yamauchi's group gave him the sense that poor Kirino would somehow be defiled by their very presence.
Yeah… maybe next time.
Shaking his head, Hikigaya detoured toward the foreign literature section.
Not that he particularly loved Western novels—it was just quieter there. No one to bother him.
He pulled out Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie—one of her most famous works, from the author who had earned both the MWA Grand Master Award and the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire.
Nice. There was even a small stool tucked in the corner. Lucky.
He sat down and started reading.
The story took place aboard the famous Orient Express—a luxury train traveling from Istanbul to Calais that becomes snowbound in Yugoslavia. At midnight, a scream breaks the silence. An American businessman, Ratchett, is found murdered in his compartment—stabbed twelve times. The great detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be on board, is asked to investigate…
What began as casual reading soon pulled him in completely.
"Interesting… For a mystery novel, it breaks away from the usual 'find the culprit' formula," Hikigaya murmured, narrowing his eyes in thought.
The victim was a criminal who had escaped justice, while the culprits were avengers delivering it themselves.
"So… should Poirot really hand over the truth to the police?"
"What truth? I have no idea."
Hikigaya froze.
Wait—who just said that?!
He stiffly turned his head.
There, sitting quietly on the floor, was a silver-haired girl with soft, pale violet eyes gazing up at him curiously.