"Chew, chew, chew!"
Kushida Kikyo gnawed on the fried chicken, breaking it into pieces along with the bones, all while glaring fiercely at Hikigaya.
"Here."
Hikigaya fiddled with a bottle of ginger ale and a bottle of matcha-flavored carbonated water.
Kushida didn't hesitate and grabbed them, pouring the drinks directly into her mouth.
"Ah——"
She frowned. "What is this weird taste? …Matcha soda?"
"Dead fish eyes, did you do that on purpose?" she glared at him.
"Yes," Hikigaya said casually. "I read that drinking something you wouldn't normally drink can change your mood."
"Thank you! That made me even angrier!"
Kushida snatched the ginger ale from his hand and started madly drinking.
"Don't you notice how things feel?"
"…Huh?"
"Taking my drink, indirectly kissing… this isn't right."
Hikigaya looked embarrassed.
"You…!"
"A guy who pinches people's… and now you lecture me?" Kushida sneered.
"I told you everything…"
"Well, that was just a moment of carelessness!"
Hikigaya covered his face, feeling deeply ashamed.
"You have dead eyes… obviously, you're super shady… why do you pretend to be innocent?"
Kushida's sharp complaint came with a strange expression.
"I'm…"
"Kushida, aren't you going to continue playing the little angel?"
Hikigaya still felt a little uneasy facing her pointed words.
"I am an angel~"
Kushida Kikyo smiled kindly and returned her perfect, angelic smile.
"A fallen angel?"
Hikigaya rolled his eyes, unable to complain.
After eating and drinking enough, she added:
"If you dare tell anyone what happened tonight, you'll be dead. Got it?"
Kushida's ferocious face returned. Although Hikigaya wouldn't say it, he still felt uncomfortable being threatened.
"What if I tell?"
"Then I'll tell everyone that you tried to… rape me!"
"Wow! What a terrible false accusation."
"The fingerprints on my clothes are the evidence! And what you did to me… is clearly…"
Kushida's face reddened in anger and embarrassment.
"Kushida, have you ever thought about the consequences of this?"
Hikigaya didn't argue about right or wrong; he went straight to the conclusion: analysis.
"You'd definitely be expelled!"
"And then?"
"And what…?"
"Do you think, as a victim, you'd get a lot of sympathy from your family?"
"Isn't that right?"
"Think again."
Kushida frowned and carefully considered the situation. Her pupils contracted slightly, as if foreseeing some terrible possibility.
"Yes… just as you imagined."
Hikigaya understood immediately: "They won't pity you. They'll laugh, slander you, and say you did it on purpose. Hooking a man will attract strong criticism…"
"Shut up!"
Kushida's face turned pale as she tried to stop him.
"Haven't you seen a lot of situations like this in junior high?" Hikigaya asked, soul-searching.
Data doesn't lie: girls bullying girls occupies a very high proportion!
"Ahhhhh! Those bitches!! Bitches!!!"
Kushida's defenses broke down immediately. She jumped up and resumed kicking the railing in frustration.
Hikigaya didn't intervene; he let her vent fully.
Half an hour later…
Kushida sat on the ground, panting, staring at him.
"You're saying the evidence I left behind can't threaten you at all?"
"That's not it. Even without evidence, you could claim I attacked you, and everyone would believe you unconditionally. The school would probably expel me in the end."
Hikigaya stated this grim reality calmly.
Kushida froze. Actually… there is such a strategy? Even though she's cunning, her mind instinctively seeks evidence first, then follows normal procedures to sue.
"Kushida-san, this just proves one point…"
Hikigaya extended his hand toward her. She subconsciously reached out, confused.
"You're not as bad as you think."
Hikigaya pulled her up, taking advantage of the moment.
"You mean I'm actually a very good person?"
Kushida pointed at herself. "So good… I don't know if that counts. But it's really… coaxing!"
"Kushida, you should be more confident in yourself," Hikigaya said earnestly, patting her shoulder.
"I always feel like… you're fooling me." Kushida was skeptical.
"I swear everything I said is true! If it's false, I'll marry you, you crazy woman."
"Hmph~ I'll trust you for now… yes."
Kushida's eyes flickered, then she changed the subject: "What's your plan for making things right after pinching me… there?"
"Watch your words, this is a school!" Hikigaya's face went pale as he looked around. Something invisible seemed to be staring at them.
"Cut~"
"Look at your courage. It's the middle of the night; who else is there?" Kushida sneered.
"There's a god watching over you… I'd be careful if I were you," Hikigaya said, trying to sound mysterious.
"Bullshit! Don't try to change the subject!"
Kushida glared fiercely. Is this unavoidable? Hikigaya had no choice but to give in.
"Then what do you want to do? How about I compensate you with some points?"
Hikigaya took the initiative to propose a compensation plan. The result? A terrifying look from Kushida.
"Who do you think I am?"
Hikigaya immediately apologized: "Sorry! I misspoke…"
"My secret has now been discovered by you. I'm completely vulnerable!"
Kushida looked annoyed. Hikigaya, being smart, understood: "You mean, I should share a secret with you so we can balance each other out?"
"You're quite smart, though." Kushida nodded.
"Is that so? Fine then."
Hikigaya thought carefully about what wasn't a true secret and could be shared.
"Then I will tell you my biggest secret…"
Seeing Hikigaya's serious expression, Kushida's curiosity spiked, and she moved closer to listen.
"Actually… I dream every night."
"Dreaming of different future wives."
***
I'll be visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception tomorrow so expect a late upload if at all 🙏