Fifth floor.
The two left the rooftop.
Karuizawa hugged her fragrant shoulders, suddenly stopping in her tracks.
"What's wrong?"
Hikigaya turned back with a bit of anxiety.
Having just barely escaped trouble, causing any more issues would truly be a headache.
"Well... it's just that I..."
Karuizawa avoided eye contact, hesitating while tugging at her shirt.
At that moment,
Hikigaya finally had the mood to seriously observe the girl in front of him.
The blue shirt, soaked and clinging to Karuizawa's body, highlighted her perfect curves.
Upon closer inspection,
It could only be said that she was indeed a beauty, looking very cute.
Because she didn't want the issues related to bullying herself to be exposed, Karuizawa couldn't resist.
If others were to see her in this state,
It would surely raise suspicions.
"This..."
Hikigaya looked at the adjacent Sheep Shearing Club and felt a bit awkward:
"How about you rest inside the club for a while?"
"Oh."
Karuizawa glanced at the classroom, nodding slightly.
The two arrived in front of the Sheep Shearing Club, Hikigaya opened the door and led her into the classroom, then closed the door.
Tomorrow is the start of winter break.
By now, almost all the students have already left the school.
As long as they don't make too much noise, no one should notice them here.
Treadmill, computers, PS, cameras.
Karuizawa, looking a bit bewildered, surveyed the classroom, then sat down on a chair in the middle like a startled deer.
What kind of club is this, anyway?
And Hikigaya, standing in the center of the classroom, suddenly felt a bit of a headache.
The other party didn't want the issue of being bullied to be discovered, but it's also not possible to stay here forever.
The best course of action.
Undoubtedly, it would better to have Karuizawa wait here temporarily while he goes to find a girl to borrow a piece of clothing for Karuizawa to change into, and then take her out of the school.
However.
Hikigaya was a bit troubled; he didn't have any female friends, and he didn't even have male friends.
How could there be a girl willing to lend him private clothes?
Moreover.
Even if there were,
How could he explain if he were asked?
In that case.
There seemed to be only one method.
"Then wait here for now."
Hikigaya pondered for a moment and said, "And transfer some personal points to me; I'll go buy you one."
Although buying girls' clothes felt a bit shameful, there was no other way now.
"Eh?"
Karuizawa hesitated, pursing her lips, "But I don't have many personal points..."
Hmm.
Hikigaya gazed at the girl in front of him with deep contemplation.
Class D had 109 class points last month, and Karuizawa didn't seem like the type to save money.
Probably the kind of person who says, 'We're not friends, but lend me some money.'
It would be good not to owe others money.
The class points for this month, 209, would only be distributed on January 1st.
Karuizawa might really be short of money.
But what could he do?
He couldn't possibly ask her to pay in advance, could he?
Why?
Stopping campus conflicts is everyone's responsibility, as Kobashi Yume and the others said.
That's fine.
But they don't know each other; why should he pay for Karuizawa?
"So, what do you suggest?"
Hikigaya really couldn't think of any other way, staring at Karuizawa's soaked clothes,
"If you keep going like this, you'll definitely catch a cold. Can't you borrow some money from your friend first?"
In any case.
The solution he thought of should be the best, possibly the only one.
"..."
Karuizawa was suddenly shocked.
She had no idea what to do.
This guy just appeared before her like a prince on a white horse, then tried to run away like a deserter, then suddenly turned back like a warrior, and then used her as a bargaining chip like a villain.
Her heart was in turmoil.
In fact,
She was indeed saved by Hikigaya's words.
In short, he is a very smart guy, but now he is like a fool.
"Achoo..."
Karuizawa tightened her clothes and sneezed.
"It's so cold..."
"Uh..."
Hikigaya looked around the classroom, feeling a bit embarrassed:
"Sorry, there is no heating here, I forgot to pour you water, is MAX coffee okay?"
The high sugar content of MAX coffee can serve as an energy drink.
Hikigaya has already used the department's funds to buy it in bulk at any time, and the club has a lot of leftovers.
Without waiting for Karuizawa's response, Hikigaya turned around and plugged in the kettle again, heated two cans of MAX coffee, poured it into a paper cup and pushed it to the center of the table.
Karuizawa held the steaming paper cup in both hands, took a sip, and felt a little more comfortable, but her beautiful eyes looking at Hikigaya were a bit resentful.
"That... Can't you lend me your clothes?"
"Is it okay?"
Hikigaya asked in a daze.
"Eh? Shouldn't you be asking me?"
Karuizawa was also a bit confused.
But she was borrowing something from him, so how could he ask back?
"Indeed..."
Hikigaya took off his uniform and put it on the table, hesitating: "That... it might have a slight smell."
"Hmm..."
Karuizawa put his slightly larger uniform on her body, tightened the collar on both sides, and smelled the scent on the clothes. Karuizawa inexplicably felt a sense of security.
Seeing the scene before him, Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
Forget it.
Since she doesn't mind, it doesn't matter.
"Okay, let's go."
Hikigaya stood up and said.
Since it has been resolved, it's time to go back to the dormitory.
"That..."
Karuizawa pursed her lips and said, "I want to go back at night... is that okay?"
"This..."
Indeed.
There are indeed fewer people at night.
The probability of encountering acquaintances will also be much smaller.
But does he have to wait for Karuizawa until night, what a joke, but it seems that Karuizawa can't be left alone in her current state.
"No."
Hikigaya said helplessly: "If you don't go back to wash and sleep soon, you will still have a cold tomorrow, so it doesn't make much sense."
"It's okay... I don't mind having a cold."
Karuizawa's smile was slightly bitter.
Compared to a small thing like a cold, it would be really bad if someone found out. She never wanted to go back to the days when she was bullied.
She had just managed to get up again.
But almost fell again.
When Ryuen and others called her to the rooftop, Karuizawa's heart had already despaired to the extreme, until she saw that Hikigaya's heart had already been filled with hope.
"Ah..."
Hikigaya sighed helplessly.
She would rather have a cold than let people find out. Karuizawa's bullying experience must be extraordinary.
It's just sitting until night, it's not a big deal.
Whether it's playing games in the dormitory or in the club, Hikigaya sat down in front of the computer, planning to surf the internet to pass the time.
Since she wants to sit, let her sit.
And on the other side.
Karuizawa sat in her seat, holding a paper cup and tasting the coffee.
The rich sugar filled her taste buds.
She had just suffered a lot, and it was so cold that she was splashed with several buckets of cold water.
But I don't know why.
Thinking of Hikigaya's performance just now.
A faint smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of Karuizawa's mouth.
Lacking strategic wisdom, lacking a confident plan, yet having a certain sincerity, it seemed somewhat comical and even a bit genuine, but it made people feel particularly reliable.
Clearly, the two were strangers.
Yet, he was willing to lend a helping hand to a stranger like her.
"Uh...?"
Suddenly, Karuizawa spoke, "Why are you helping me?"
"Huh? Don't get me wrong."
Hikigaya stared at the computer screen, without much thought, he said:
"I just want to seize the opportunity to catch evidence of violence caused by Class C, to resolve the issues between Class C and Class D in one go. I didn't intend to help you."
"Hmm?"
Karuizawa's pretty face stiffened immediately, "So, are you deceiving Ryuen, or are you going to tell the school about today's events?"
"..."
Hmm?
Hikigaya was slightly stunned, his mind suddenly pumping as if encountering some kind of bug.
In the current situation, as long as he reports today's events to the school, he can resolve the issues with Ryuen and others from Class C in one fell swoop.
Moreover,
He currently holds the card of Karuizawa.
A little threat, and she would comply.
As long as he handles it properly.
He can resolve the issues with Class D in one go.
At least, Hikigaya has that confidence.
He can instantly solve problems in two classes, with only benefits and no drawbacks, it can even be said to be completely risk-free.
There's no reason not to do it.
Rather.
It should be done this way!
Why hide for Karuizawa?
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya pondered for a moment, his tone becoming stern:
"Give me five thousand personal points next month, or I'll expose today's events."
"Oh."
Karuizawa instantly breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
Isn't this what she wanted, to be helped?
It's just that Hikigaya's approach might be a bit awkward, perhaps taking into account her emotions, not wanting her to bear any psychological burden.
He truly is an incredibly gentle and good man...
"Thank you, Hikigaya... By the way, I'm Karuizawa Kei. What's your name?"
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya shrugged, somewhat helplessly turning to look at the girl in front of him, his face full of resignation:
"I'm telling you, I just used you as leverage to threaten Ryuen. Don't think I'm some kind of good person."
"But in the end, you won't do that, right?"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya's expression stiffened.
It seemed like he encountered some kind of bug again.
How could this be? It felt like ever since entering this school, the number of bugs in this world had been increasing.
"You're overthinking. When necessary, I won't hesitate to use today's events as a weapon."
Hikigaya insisted.
True, currently Class D only has 209 points, and the gap between Class B and Class C has temporarily widened.
Now is not the time to deal with Classes C and D.
He is just setting up for the future.
"Oh."
Karuizawa chuckled.
Maybe she hadn't heard of Hikigaya before, probably because of his awkward personality that wasn't well-received.
However.
Now she discovered his quirkiness.
The two fell silent again, and after a moment, Karuizawa pursed her lips with some anticipation:
"Um... will you protect me in the future?"