Inside the school.
The two came to a garden area.
Not a single figure could be seen on the campus after school.
Only the rustling sound of the breeze blowing through the flower beds could be heard, bringing with it a waft of faint fragrance.
"I told you it was a coincidence..."
Hikigaya was a bit helpless.
Even being alone together, he couldn't possibly admit it in front of Horikita Suzune.
"It's not about that..."
Horikita Suzune looked up at Hikigaya in front of her, and with a slight hesitation, a blush couldn't help but appear on her face.
"Hikigaya, do you want to try dating me?"
"Ha? What are you suddenly saying?"
Hikigaya sized up Horikita Suzune in front of him, wondering if he had misheard.
It would be good enough if this person didn't hate him.
And she actually wanted to date him?
What was she thinking in her head?
"I mean, let's try dating first..."
"Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm lying?"
Meeting Horikita Suzune's clear and beautiful eyes, Hikigaya indeed didn't think she was lying, but it was hard to say.
"But why? Although it's a bit much coming from me."
Hikigaya scratched his head, a bit speechless:
"The fact that you are being ostracized now is indeed largely because of me, and you have other choices, right? Like Sudou or someone, he seems to have always liked you."
If it weren't for him.
Perhaps.
Horikita Suzune could have maintained this fake friendship until graduation.
If they could graduate from Class A.
Perhaps they could even hold a grand victory banquet.
But if she wanted to gain true trust.
It would have been absolutely impossible.
Hikigaya could guarantee that.
From this perspective, the situation Horikita Suzune was currently facing was largely due to him.
"In Sudou's case, I can't see him as a romantic interest at the moment."
As she spoke.
Horikita Suzune's face turned red.
She naturally knew about Sudou's liking for her; he had even confessed to her during the last school trip, but she indeed didn't like Sudou.
Although she didn't show it.
Ever since she saw the photo of Hasebe Haruka and Hikigaya last time and secretly saved it.
Horikita Suzune, who was relatively late-maturing, had made Hikigaya the object of her fantasies.
Pressure had been relatively high lately, happening four or five times a week.
Even.
Hikigaya would appear in her dreams, and every time she woke up, it would make Horikita Suzune reminisce for a long time.
Compared to Sudou and others, maybe this was what love was like.
At least every time she saw Hikigaya, it would make an impulse sprout in Horikita Suzune's heart, wishing he would look at her more.
"And, I know now too..."
Horikita Suzune pursed her lips, feeling a bit lost.
"The reason your methods could work is because my methods indeed caused everyone's resentment."
"You were just conveniently adding fuel to the fire. Although you made my situation very bad, it was actually all for my own good, right?"
"Otherwise... I'd still be kept in the dark."
"Maybe I would have just gone on like this until I eventually realized it in the future."
"..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
The more he didn't care for Horikita Suzune, the more enthusiastic this person became.
In contrast, Sudou, who had always liked Horikita Suzune, never even entered her field of vision.
Was this person a bit of a masochist?
At least it was certain that Horikita Suzune was being serious.
Then that was a bit of a headache.
But.
Since it was a serious feeling, he should respond seriously.
"That..."
Hikigaya looked directly into Horikita Suzune's eyes.
"I don't like you..."
"Hmm?"
Horikita Suzune felt a burst of pain in her heart; she seemed to have never thought she would get such a response.
In her view.
Getting Hikigaya to agree should be a very simple matter.
After all, Hikigaya already has so many women, so adding one more wouldn't make a difference, especially since she is so beautiful.
Even when compared to Ichinose and the others, she is not inferior in the slightest.
Furthermore.
Setting Ichinose and the others aside for a moment.
When facing Hasebe Haruka and the others, Hikigaya might not necessarily like all of them.
More than that.
It was likely their appearance.
With assistance from various parties, he agreed half-willingly.
Why wouldn't he accept her?
In reality.
Horikita Suzune still had a certain kind of pride in her heart, feeling that she was letting the other party off cheap.
"Um..."
Hikigaya scratched his head, not knowing how to explain.
Regarding Hasebe Haruka, it was indeed mostly a matter of going along with things, but after spending so much time together, there were some feelings involved.
There was no reason to refuse anymore.
It was just.
Horikita Suzune...
"Of course, it's not that I hate you..."
Hikigaya pondered for a moment before finally understanding what this feeling was; it was the same as when he faced Ayanokouji...
"It's just..."
Hikigaya looked up and gazed into Horikita Suzune's eyes.
"I might be a little afraid of you..."
"Is it still because of the things I've done?"
"You could say that."
Hikigaya nodded.
Hasebe Haruka, Karuizawa, and the others all had many flaws.
Of course.
He also had many flaws.
Jealousy, wastefulness, vanity, bossiness, selfishness.
But no matter how many flaws they had, they would never hurt others because of them...
However, Horikita Suzune and Ayanokouji were different.
They could even find a rational reason for their actions every time.
Investing emotions in such a person, leading to tragedy, could be said to be an inevitable result.
In the Student Council.
The two had worked together for a long time, but it was just strictly business.
Hikigaya feared the other party's betrayal, which might even affect their small group.
Fear is not a shameful thing.
After all, staying by such a person's side, being betrayed is almost a certainty.
Of course.
This might be his misunderstanding of Horikita Suzune.
But after all.
Horikita Suzune had a prior record; once unfaithful, never trusted again.
What if, one day in the future, Horikita Suzune stabs him in the back, or even stabs Ichinose and the others?
What should be done then?
Hearing this.
Horikita Suzune lowered her head and clenched her pink fists, her lips pursed in a bit of frustration.
At this moment, she could fully understand.
After all, Hikigaya was no different from Sotomura and the others.
What she had done.
The price paid was much heavier than imagined.
Who cares if she was right, who cares if she was sincere? It could be real or it could be an act.
It's best to stay far away from such a person.
In short.
You can be as strong as you want, just don't touch me.
But as it happened.
Horikita Suzune did not want to be such a person; instead, she wanted to become a trustworthy leader.
The mistakes made cannot be mended.
Then.
To gain the trust of those around her.
she would have to pay a far greater price and spend much more time than an ordinary person just to have a slight possibility.