Hikigaya doesn't want to be a force of strength

Witnessing all this, Hikigaya and Ichinose looked at each other, both of them saw full of fatigue in each other's eyes, and they sighed.

After a while, Ichinose Honami smiled bitterly and said, "I'm sorry, Hikigaya-san, I think I got you into something terrible."

"Alas, I was also wrong about this."

Hikigaya shook his head. If he hadn't been so overconfident and confessed to Ichinose in that way, things might not have turned out like this.

The only thing that confused him was that from beginning to end, Chihiro Shiranami never had any doubts about the fact that Hikigaya and Ichinose were dating.

You know, the difference in status between Hikigaya and Ichinose is very obvious. If ordinary people see them together, they would never think that they would date each other.

what on earth is this kind of happenings?

Thinking back to Ryuji Kanzaki before, what kind of publicity did Ichinose do for himself in Class B?

When all kinds of thoughts were going through Hikigaya's mind, Ichinose's expression suddenly changed slightly, and he said with a blushing face: "By the way, Hikigaya-san, you seemed to... confess to me just now? Do you really like me?"

"???"

I didn't expect Ichinose to be so obsessed with this matter. Hikigaya thought that she knew what he was thinking.

He looked into the girl's eyes, but found that her gaze kept dodging, she didn't know where to put her hands, and her body was swaying slightly.

Huh? Why does this atmosphere feel weird?

"If Hikigaya-san really thinks that, I might, maybe..."

Seeing Ichinose's chest rising and falling as if he was making up his mind, Hikigaya inexplicably felt a strong sense of disobedience.

He covered his violently beating heart and said without hesitation: "I'm sorry, Ichinose, that was just my plan just now, you misunderstood."

"plan?"

Faced with Ichinose's confusion, Hikigaya quickly told her about his attempt to make a false confession so that Ichinose would reject Shiranami.

After that, he was completely relieved. Although he didn't know why, he just felt relaxed.

And considering Ichinose's intelligence, the other party should be able to understand all of this smoothly.

Just when Hikigaya thought that everything had been explained clearly, he noticed the strange look of Ichinose Hoba in front of him.

It was a look that was a mixture of confusion, puzzlement, curiosity, and pity.

"Hikigaya-san, I apologize in advance if I offended you." Ichinose said slowly, "I hate what you did just now! Really, really, I hate it so much!"

Chapter 217: Shura Field in the Shopping Mall

On the street, Hikigaya and Ichinose stared at each other.

The two were not far apart and could clearly see each other's expressions.

Hikigaya noticed the sympathetic expression on Ichinose's face...

pity?

Why should you sympathize with me?

Hikigaya racked his brains but couldn't figure out what the attitude revealed by Ichinose Hoba meant, and he couldn't understand what the other person hated.

The only possibility he could think of was that Ichinose Honami was hurt by his false confession, and that was the reason why she accused him.

But judging from the other party's expression, it seems that this is not the case...

After thinking it over, he could only speak hesitantly: "I'm sorry, when I said those words just now, it seems that I forgot to consider your feelings Ichinose."

"No, I'm not unhappy about your confession. In fact, I'm quite happy..."

Ichinose immediately denied Hikigaya's words. She took two steps forward, looked at Hikigaya who looked distressed and at a loss, and sighed, "I didn't expect you, Hikigaya-san, to be such an awkward person. Don't you know that the reason I hate that kind of behavior is because I'm worried about you?"

"Uh...what?"

Ichinose said something that I couldn't understand at all.

Hikigaya never thought that, apart from his sister Komachi, there was someone in this world who would say something like "worry about me".

Am I really not dreaming?

Ichinose didn't pay attention to Hikigaya's dullness. She spoke to herself, "When Hikigaya-san did this, didn't you think about what would happen to you? Chihiro's misunderstanding might bring you trouble!"

"No, no, first of all, let's not talk about whether that kind of thing will happen. I don't care myself."

"Even so, this approach is..."

"That's the most efficient way to do it, that's all."

Hikigaya spoke this from the bottom of his heart; he really didn't care about the consequences of being misunderstood.

The most that could happen is that people would look at him in a strange and derogatory way in the future. He had already gotten used to this kind of crazy hostility in elementary and middle school, and he no longer had any expectations.

"efficiency……"

Hikigaya's attitude made Ichinose fall silent.

The girl looked at the man in front of her with a sad face, and pursed her lips tightly as if she was going to bite them through.

This expression made Hikigaya very uncomfortable, even more uncomfortable than the hostile and contemptuous looks from other people.

"...I'm going back first."

There was a hint of indifference in Hikigaya's words, and his pace was much faster than before, as if he wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible.

"Wait, Hikigaya-san, you haven't finished talking yet!"

"Sorry, I have something else to do. Let's talk next time."

Without giving Ichinose a chance to stay, Hikigaya fled the scene in a panic as if he was trapped in some situation, and heaved a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart.

He couldn't understand why Ichinose had that expression.

There is no need for sympathy or anything like that.

After all, the Lone Ranger is a winner who has already endured all kinds of pain and torture, so why does he need recognition from others?

However, when recalling Ichinose's expression before he left, Hikigaya inexplicably recalled Shiina Hiyori who had been in a similar situation before.

Why do you always look at me like that?

There's absolutely no need to pay attention to me...

Could it be that I messed up again?

No, Ichinose shouldn't be as fragile as Shiina!

These words of mine would definitely not shake the leader of Class B.

perhaps.

On the way back to the dormitory, Hikigaya looked up at the sky.

The silvery-white light in the night sky shines on the ground, as if to freeze everything.

Only at this moment did he realize the hidden fear in his heart.

Gaining means losing.

As a pessimist, Hikigaya is unwilling to get anything from the beginning, because in the end he will definitely feel that it is better not to get it than to lose it.

If you will regret it to death when you let go, it is better to give up early.

Therefore, the lone ranger does not need the care of others. It is enough for him to walk quietly on the road alone at night.

The moonlight is so beautiful.

……

Shopping mall on weekends.

This is a place that is extremely incompatible with otaku.

The last time Hikigaya came to this place with Sakura Airi, he was already terrified and wanted to cover his face with a mask.

This time, he was unexpectedly invited by Karuizawa Megumi to the shopping mall to choose a gift for Shiina Hiyori. It was so bad that Hikigaya wanted to jump off the Fuyuki Bridge.

Arriving at the entrance of the shopping mall, a bright and colorful world composed of the laughter of the people unfolded before him. Both men and women were like peacocks spreading their tails, blooming colors generously, strongly stimulating the visual senses and making Hikigaya even more uneasy.

Until a figure with a golden ponytail emerged from the crowd and came in front of him.

"You are so slow!"

Karuizawa Kei looked at Hikigaya with dissatisfaction. Her cold and arrogant attitude, which was no different from the past, actually made him feel relaxed at this moment.

The only problem was that after the other party changed into casual clothes, too much of his body was exposed, so Hikigaya didn't dare to keep his eyes on him for even a second.

"Ahem, I have a fear of crowds, so I better get this done quickly."

Hikigaya's main purpose was to avoid meeting anyone he knew. Although he had had quite a bit of contact with Karuizawa, he would still find it hard to bear being misunderstood.

"I know, I know. You don't talk much in class, but you talk a lot outside." Karuizawa's face was much happier than usual. "Come on, I'll pick out a suitable gift for you."

Walking into the shopping mall, Karuizawa Kei was like a brave warrior returning triumphantly to the kingdom, her whole body exuding obvious naturalness and confidence.

She looked at Hikigaya, who was almost "dead", and asked with a smile: "Although I think it has no reference value, I still want to ask, what gift do you think you should give to your female friend?"

"Hmm... something that is practical and can withstand long-term use?"

"It really has no reference value."

"If I had known, I wouldn't have come to you."

Hikigaya spoke with a frown in his heart. When he bought birthday presents for his sister in the past, he was often accused of something similar.

In this regard, Karuizawa and his sister Komachi do have some similarities.

"In short, stationery and tool kits are not suitable for girls." Karuizawa seriously rejected Hikigaya's idea, "Do you think there will be girls who will jump for joy when they see rulers and wrenches?"

"So what do you think is a good choice?"

In response to Hikigaya's question, Karuizawa confidently pointed to a clothing store in the distance and walked straight in.

Hikigaya wanted to follow in, but suddenly he noticed that the female clerk next to him was looking at him as if he had seen a bug.

Why? There are other boys in the store!

Is this discrimination?

It's discrimination, right?

But those boys do look like real people. Even though it is summer, they are still wearing vests that look like hunters' clothes. Their appearance alone is full of real people's flavor.

I didn't expect that in addition to racial discrimination, there is also discrimination against otakus in this world. It's so abominable...

"Excuse me, sir... is there anything I can help you with?"

The female clerk concealed her wariness with a forced smile and spoke slowly.

"Uh, no… S-sorry."

Hikigaya instinctively apologized, but this unreasonable apology only made the other party more alert, and another female clerk appeared next to them.

Oh no, she’s calling her companions!

If this continues, they might bring more people.

Just as he was about to flee the scene, a hand reached out to rescue him.

"What are you doing? Why don't you come in quickly?!"

Karuizawa Megumi looked at the shop assistants with dissatisfaction, and at the same time reached out and grabbed Hikigaya's wrist. The shop assistants around her immediately lowered their guard.

It's like a serum against zombies.

"Oh, are you here with your girlfriend? Please take your time to choose." The clerk came to a satisfactory conclusion and left with these words as he prepared to leave.

"No, that's not the case at all..."

"Isn't that right? He is indeed a suspicious person..."