Hikigaya felt a wave of frustration wash over him.
After two weeks of effort, it seemed everything had been for nothing.
Worse, his hard work had attracted unwanted attention, something he desperately tried to avoid. But Hikigaya wasn't one to dwell on losses. He just hoped that Sakayanagi would show some mercy.
"Sakayanagi, just tell me what you want," he said with a sigh.
"As long as it's within my power, I'll do it."
Sakayanagi's eyes sparkled with mischief as she tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm, what should I do? There are so many things I'd love to ask of you, Hikigaya-kun. It's hard to choose… Ah, how about I turn one request into three?"
Is this girl serious?
Hikigaya wondered, already feeling the weight of impending doom. But all he could do was nod in resignation. "If that's what you want, then fine."
Hashimoto, who had been listening intently, couldn't help but blurt out, "Is that even possible?"
Sakayanagi chuckled at his confusion. "Oh, don't be fooled, Hashimoto-kun. Remember, Hikigaya-kun is a natural-born trickster."
She turned to Hikigaya with a knowing smile. "You agreed to turn one request into three, but you didn't promise to fulfill all three, did you?"
Hikigaya sighed.
"Tch."
His attempt at a clever wordplay had failed spectacularly.
"Haha, I'll stop teasing you now... But honestly, I can't decide what I want just yet. Can I think about it for a while?"
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes.
"If you forget, don't expect me to remind you."
"Oh, don't worry, I won't forget."
Her smile was one of pure triumph, like a predator savoring its catch. Hikigaya couldn't help but feel a sense of dread about what lay ahead.
Nothing had gone right since he arrived at this school. Maybe it was cursed.
The dinner with Sakayanagi and the others finally came to an end, and they all went their separate ways. Despite the food being delicious, Hikigaya felt utterly drained. This had to be the most exhausting meal of his life.
"I haven't been to the library much lately… I should return those books I borrowed," he muttered to himself as he left.
For the past two weeks, Hikigaya had been busy visiting various clubs, trying to find a way to outmaneuver Sakayanagi.
His studies had taken a backseat, relegated to brief sessions in his dorm room. But the dorm's atmosphere was nothing like the library's, where the silence encouraged focus.
Seeing others studying diligently made it harder to slack off, unlike the chaotic environment of Class D, where even the most dedicated students struggled to concentrate.
Hikigaya knew he couldn't change Class D, nor did he have the power to do so. The only thing he could change was himself.
He glanced at his watch—still early, only half past six. The library wouldn't close until eight, giving him plenty of time to return his books, maybe borrow another, and walk off the heavy feeling from dinner.
The library was quieter than usual, yet Hikigaya was somewhat surprised to see a few students still lingering around. However, he paid them no mind. After returning his books, he began browsing the shelves for something new to read.
"Maybe some literature or history," he mused.
"Detective novels are interesting, but a bit too demanding for my brain right now. Hmm, what would be the best choice…?"
His eyes landed on a familiar title. "Don Quixote? Well, well…"
This wasn't the Don Quijote discount store, but the classic novel by the Spanish author Cervantes.
Hikigaya had read many books over the years, but "Don Quixote" held a special place in his heart. It wasn't his favorite, but it was the one he had revisited the most.
The tale of a wealthy man in his fifties, lost in his obsession with chivalric novels, who imagines himself a knight-errant and embarks on absurd adventures under the name "Don Quixote de La Mancha." It's a story that ends with him awakening to the reality of his situation just before his death.
Hikigaya had returned to this novel time and again, finding that each reread offered new insights.
The first time, as a primary school student, he found it amusing—a story about a ridiculous man doing ridiculous things. It seemed to be a satire of chivalry, but he hadn't fully grasped the humor or the deeper meaning.
In junior high, he revisited it out of boredom and found his perspective shifting. What had once seemed like the antics of a fool now felt more like the self-mockery of an idealist, though he hadn't fully understood it then either.
"Wow, I didn't expect to find this here." Hikigaya carefully pulled the book from the shelf and ran his fingers over the cover.
But as he debated whether to borrow it, he hesitated. The last time he read "Don Quixote" was after graduating from junior high, and he wasn't sure if now was the right time to dive back in.
Perhaps it would be wiser to focus on more practical reading, like books on sociology or psychology, which might prove more useful for his future.
Lost in thought, Hikigaya was startled by a sudden tap on his shoulder.
"Whoa!"
"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you..."
Hikigaya looked up to see a girl with long silver hair, exuding an ethereal presence that seemed almost unreal.
His face flushed.
"Uh, what's going on?"
He stammered, embarrassed by the undignified sound he had just made. He wanted to run away, but that would only make things more awkward.
"I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to startle you," the girl said, bowing slightly.
"I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C."
"…1-D, Hikigaya Hachiman."
Before Hikigaya could ask why she had approached him so suddenly, Shiina continued with an apologetic smile, "I often see you in the library, but lately, you haven't been around much. So when I saw you today, I wanted to say hello and check if everything was okay."
Hikigaya felt a twinge of annoyance. What does this have to do with her? He wanted to brush her off with a casual "It's none of your business," but the girl's presence seemed to overwhelm him, and he found himself saying, "It was just a small matter. It's been resolved, so don't worry about it."
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear it."
Shiina smiled, visibly relieved.
"It's rare to meet someone who shares my love for books. I was hoping we could exchange our reading experiences sometime."
"Me? Exchange reading experiences?"
Hikigaya was caught off guard.
"Yes," Shiina replied earnestly.
"Nowadays, it's hard to find people our age who enjoy reading. Not many in my class, at least. So I'm really happy to meet someone like you, Hikigaya-kun."
"...Well, there aren't many," Hikigaya admitted. In his observations, Class C, while slightly better than Class D, was far from a class of book lovers.
Most students spent their time on games, clothes, comics, or hanging out. Very few took the time to read.
But just because Hikigaya and Shiina both loved books didn't mean they had to discuss them together. Hikigaya preferred to keep his thoughts to himself.
Besides, Shiina was a cute girl, and talking to her would inevitably draw attention, leading to all sorts of rumors.
Hikigaya had experienced enough of that kind of nonsense in junior high and had no desire to repeat it in high school.
"Is that... not possible?" Shiina asked, her eyes widening with a hint of vulnerability.
Hikigaya felt a pang of guilt. This girl knew exactly how to play the game—her gentle plea combined with that look was nearly impossible to refuse.
It was unfair, really. If a guy used the same tactic, it would come off as pathetic, but when a cute girl did it, it was practically irresistible. Refusing her would make him seem like a villain.
"Fine... but it's getting late today. Maybe next time, if we're both free."
"Yes, it's a promise!"
As Shiina beamed at him, Hikigaya secretly sighed in relief. He had only said "next time" out of politeness, the kind of empty promise people made when they had no intention of following through.
Hopefully, Shiina would understand that and not take it too seriously.