"Hikigaya-kun, you actually know about the existence of the White Room?"
The playful smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face vanished, replaced by a rare expression of genuine astonishnt.
"Ah? There really is a mysterious institution?"
As if accidentally stumbling upon an incredible secret, Hikigaya looked shocked and simultaneously a little bit afraid.
"By the way, what the hell is the White Room? Just the na alone sounds like a place where no normal person would stay!"
Hikigaya fired off a series of complaints.
"..." Sakayanagi Arisu opened her mouth, seemingly having not expected that the other party had simply guessed it by a stroke of luck.
Information regarding Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's personal background was being intentionally concealed by the school; even teachers were unable to access the relevant files.
The reason she knew was because she had visited the White Room as a child and had shared a brief encounter with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Seriously, what exactly is that guy Ayanokouji? A mutant? A cyborg? Or an alien?!" Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Sigh...
Are you being serious?"
Sakayanagi Arisu pursed her lips and gave him a slightly helpless, exasperated look.
"Your evaluation of Ayanokouji is quite extre."
"I think I'm being quite objective." Hikigaya felt pretty good about his assessnt.
"When did you first notice that Ayanokouji was different?" Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but ask curiously.
"The first day of school."
Hikigaya recalled the bus ride on the first day of school.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was wearing the sa uniform as them, sitting in a corner, quietly observing the people in the carriage. At first, Hikigaya thought the other guy was like him—engaging in "human observation"—and thought about going up to say hello to complete Komachi's mission and make his first friend in high school.
However, the mont he locked eyes with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, he imdiately abandoned that naive idea.
That pair of cold, emotionless eyes... it wasn't a gaze directed at one's own kind, but rather the way one looks at a completely different species!
"...As expected, Hikigaya-kun is very skilled at observing the hearts of others."
Sakayanagi Arisu expressed her admiration, then shifted the topic: "Why don't you try observing more, Hikigaya-kun?"
"What's there to observe about you?" Hikigaya's gaze swept up and down her body once. 'Hmm, the land is too barren; not suitable for reclamation or cultivation.'
Tap~
Sakayanagi Arisu, looking displeased, picked up her cane and tapped his thigh.
"Hikigaya-kun, don't you think that's too rude?"
"How so?
I clearly held back and didn't voice any complaints." Hikigaya claid he was being wronged.
"You were definitely complaining in your heart." Sakayanagi Arisu was absolutely certain.
"Do you have mind-reading powers? Seriously, if you won't even let complain in my head, aren't you being a bit difficult?" Hikigaya retorted.
"Oh my~ Don't you think a girl who likes to be difficult is very cute?"
Sakayanagi Arisu took a step forward, looking up at Hikigaya with an upturned gaze and a smile on her face.
"...Not cute." Hikigaya maintained his dead-fish eyes.
"You don't an what you say." Sakayanagi Arisu's smile didn't fade.
"For a re loli brat, aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"
"Really, Hikigaya-kun clearly just praised for being cute a mont ago."
"That's because I've been single for too long; I'd find even a sow refined and pretty right now."
"Does Hikigaya-kun want to fall in love?"
"No, I just want to find a rich woman to support ."
"My family is quite wealthy."
"But you won't support ."
"Hehe~Kukuku!"
Sakayanagi Arisu laughed very happily.
"I haven't been this happy in a long ti. It was worth making a special trip just to welco Hikigaya-kun back."
"If possible, I'd prefer you didn't co to welco ."
Hikigaya carefully noticed the fine sweat on her forehead and how her slender palm was tightly gripping the cane.
She looked like she was struggling; she must have been standing for too long, causing her physical strength to deplete excessively.
"Sigh~ I say, since your body is so weak, why did you walk so far? At the very least, you should have brought a servant to order around," Hikigaya said speechlessly.
"Kamuro-san's body is a bit 'inconvenient' today, so I didn't want to trouble her."
'This girl has already officially designated Kamuro Masumi as her servant! By 'inconvenient,' she probably ans her period, right?'
"I really can't do anything with you.
Give it to ." Hikigaya reached his palm out toward her.
Sakayanagi Arisu blinked once, then quite naturally placed her hand into his palm.
"What are you doing?" Hikigaya irritably moved her small, cold hand away.
"Didn't Hikigaya-kun want to hold hands?" Sakayanagi Arisu asked, feigning ignorance.
"As if! Besides, even if I wanted to hold hands, you shouldn't just put your hand there so directly!"
Hikigaya knew she was doing it on purpose, but his heart still couldn't help but race uncontrollably.
"Here~ this. Understand?"
He pointed to the cane in her right hand.
Now Sakayanagi Arisu finally understood, and her expression suddenly beca peculiar. She held the handle of the cane, while Hikigaya held the other end. With Hikigaya providing the force, he pulled Sakayanagi Arisu forward.
This indeed significantly saved her energy, but the scene... no matter how you looked at it, it was definitely bizarre.
"At a ti like this, should I praise Hikigaya-kun for being gentle and considerate, or for being completely lacking in romance?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's expression was complex.
"Normally, shouldn't Hikigaya-kun be carrying on his back?"
"Doing that would attract way too much attention."
They had to gather at the station to take the bus back to school. Hikigaya couldn't imagine how embarrassing it would be if he carried Sakayanagi to the gathering point while all the teachers and students from the entire grade watched!
"I wouldn't have minded."
Sakayanagi Arisu gazed at Hikigaya's back walking in front of her and felt the strength pulling her forward. The other party was clearly accommodating her walking speed; the stride of every step was controlled perfectly, neither too fast nor too slow, matching her normal pace. Moreover, being pulled along ant she didn't have to use strength, making the walk much easier...
"However, this isn't a bad experience in its own unique way."
A strange light flashed in Sakayanagi Arisu's bright, beautiful eyes.
"I will rember today well, Hikigaya-kun."
.
.
.
Ten minutes had already passed since the school's scheduled gathering ti. Hikigaya didn't rush; he pulled Sakayanagi Arisu along, walking toward the station at a leisurely pace.
"That damn Hikigaya!
Not only is he late, he's actually with such a cute girl!"
"But what's with this scene? This is way too funny!"
The crowd watched as Hikigaya pulled Sakayanagi Arisu along using the cane, and many couldn't help but chuckle. Several girls secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This awkward way of doing things is very much Hikigaya-kun's style!"
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