After the two finished their discussion.
Ichinose stood up and walked to the edge of the bed, smiling at Kushida Kikyo who didn't dare to meet her eyes:
"Can I sit here?"
"Hmm? Ah? Do as you like."
Ichinose walked over and sat down beside Kushida Kikyo.
Looking at this Kushida Kikyo—who used to be lively, cheerful, and trusted by others—and seeing that she was actually such a shy little girl was quite unexpected.
"Although it should be no problem, I still need to discuss this matter with everyone, and I need to tell Hikki. What does Kushida-san plan to do?"
"Is it to take it slow, or that... f-buddy?"
"Ha?"
Kushida Kikyo suddenly turned back, completely dumbfounded.
"Why do you still need to discuss it with others? I'm fine with just playing around."
"That won't do. At least the others need to know. And if it's like that, Hikki wouldn't agree either."
"What wouldn't he agree to?"
Kushida Kikyo said somewhat dismissively: "I used to be very popular, you know. With a woman as beautiful as me not causing him any trouble, he should be too happy for words, right?"
"Because Hikki is a responsibility freak."
Speaking of Hachigaya, a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Ichinose's mouth.
"If he accepts, he will definitely want to take responsibility to the end."
"I see."
Kushida Kikyo murmured to herself.
She indeed didn't understand Hachigaya as well as Ichinose and the others.
"It's just a bit unexpected."
Kushida Kikyo sized Ichinose up and down, asking somewhat confusedly:
"To tell the truth, I didn't expect you, Ichinose, to accept it so easily."
"Maybe. But the fact that it turned out like this is mostly due to my own reasons."
Ichinose said with a nonchalant smile.
For things to become as they are now, Sakayanagi Arisu's existence was even more indispensable.
"Moreover, after letting go, it's not that hard to accept. As long as everyone can be happy together, that's enough."
"Let's go back to the previous topic. Kushida-san, what do you plan to do?"
Ichinose returned to the main subject: "Masumi and the others shouldn't mind. I'll also tell Hikki in advance for you. Will you discuss it with Hikki yourself after that...?"
"Myself?"
Hearing this.
Kushida Kikyo's small face turned beet red.
The thought of going to find Hachigaya herself felt somewhat shameful.
"That..."
"Ichinose, could I trouble you with something?"
Kushida Kikyo's voice was very weak.
No wonder Sakura Airi and Karuizawa used to always bring her along when the two of them went to find Hachigaya before.
Only now.
Did she finally understand the feelings of those two.
Thinking about meeting Hachigaya made her feel so ashamed she wanted to die.
"No problem. Also, there's no need to be so polite. Just call me Honami. Can I call you Kikyo too?"
Ichinose didn't mind and could roughly understand.
"As you like..."
Kushida Kikyo lowered her head, clutching the bedsheets:
"Then I'll trouble you to come with me to tell Hachigaya. Also..."
"Also...?"
Hearing this, Kushida finally raised her head to look at Ichinose and asked the confusion in her heart.
"You agreed to let me approach Hachigaya because you hope I'll join the Student Council, right?"
"Even if I continued to make some demands, you might have accepted. Why are you still being so nice to me?"
Growing up in different environments.
Kushida Kikyo was more inclined to judge based on pros and cons, finding it hard to understand unprovoked kindness.
"You should know that I used to have good relations with many people in Class B. I deceived many people in Class B and grasped some secrets."
"I might even know many things about you and might even expose them."
"Don't you hate or fear me at all?"
Exactly so.
Although she couldn't compare to the classmates in Class D, Kushida Kikyo held the secrets of many people in the second year, and even the whole school.
For self-protection.
Kushida Kikyo held these secrets in her hand like weapons; otherwise, she would have been bullied long ago.
Only then could she have lived peacefully until now.
"Hmm..."
"Normally, that would be the case."
"After all, having someone hold your secrets is indeed annoying. And Kikyo-chan even has a past like the one in junior high."
Ichinose pondered for a moment and quickly reached an answer.
Looking at Kushida Kikyo, she revealed a brilliant smile:
"Because I know Kikyo is actually a gentle person. And the main reason is that Kaka and Airi's evaluations of you aren't bad."
"So my impression of Kikyo-chan isn't bad."
"Those two?"
Kushida Kikyo was a bit dumbfounded.
She held the handle on Hasebe Haruka and even used it to threaten her into silence; how could she still have anything good to say about her?
"Yes."
Ichinose smiled and nodded:
"Airi and Kaka said that you helped them a lot before and provided them with a lot of references."
"..."
Kushida Kikyo pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, not knowing what to say.
She didn't expect.
The two would actually evaluate her like that.
In reality.
It was just Kushida Kikyo unilaterally judging that her true self would inevitably be loathed, and single-handedly refusing to get close to others.
"...Kikyo-chan."
Ichinose smiled: "If there's a chance, try talking to Kaka and Airi and the others."
"No need. Take me to see Hachigaya tomorrow; is that okay?"
Kushida Kikyo said with her head down, her words carrying the intent of seeing her guest out.
"Alright then."
"Then Kikyo-chan will report to the Student Council during the day tomorrow, and after school, I'll call Hikki over. Is that okay?"
"Hmm..."
After Ichinose left.
Kushida Kikyo hesitated for a moment before picking up her phone to open a chat application she hadn't used in a long time.
As expected.
There were many messages on it.
Some were verbal abuse, some were expressions of confusion.
For example: "I misjudged you," "I didn't expect you to be this kind of person," "Truly disgusting," "If you dare leak my secrets, don't blame me for being ruthless," and words of that nature.
Quiet.
After hesitating for a moment.
Kushida Kikyo opened the chat history with Hasebe Haruka.
[Hasebe Haruka: Can we talk for a bit?]
[Hasebe Haruka: What does staying silent all this time mean?]
Perhaps she wanted to communicate with her.
To salvage their relationship.
However.
These were already records from four months ago, likely after the Unanimous Special Exam.
As time passed.
Seeing that Kushida Kikyo was staying quiet and behaved, people stopped paying attention to her.
Looking at the records before her eyes.
Kushida Kikyo lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
In the past.
She wanted to be number one no matter what; even if her studies weren't good or her physical abilities weren't great, there was always one category where she could be.
However.
She had been ostracized for over four months.
Previously, Kushida Kikyo had considered whether she should just drop out, but she was somewhat reluctant to part with the school's private points, muddledly drifting until now.
Now having some realizations, she still wanted to interact with people.
She was someone who couldn't stand being lonely.
But.
Even if she were to communicate with Hasebe Haruka.
Hikigaya was definitely a person she couldn't bypass.