Capítulo 31: If You Join the Student Council, I Might Let You Be My Boyfriend
Seeing the stunned expression on Hikigaya's face, Karuizawa hesitated, but she remained confident she hadn't misunderstood. Calmly, she continued, "Why else would you be waiting here this late if not for me?"
Hikigaya's face froze in disbelief.
"Hmph, this tactic is so outdated."
Karuizawa crossed her arms, her posture firm and her tone teasing. "If you want to ask me out, just be direct about it. There's no need for all these roundabout methods. You're only making things awkward."
No… there's already been a misunderstanding!
Hikigaya rubbed his forehead in exasperation, unsure of how to untangle the situation.
"See? I knew I was right." Karuizawa's smile grew as her suspicions seemed to deepen.
She fluttered her eyelashes with confidence, continuing her unsolicited analysis. "I don't hate guys like you, but unfortunately, you're still far from meeting my standards. So for now, there's no way I can accept your feelings."
Karuizawa's confident deduction continued as if she were channeling a detective, her self-assured tone leaving Hikigaya at a loss for words. To avoid further complications, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"Alright, alright. You're right about everything."
"Heh, if you'd been this straightforward from the start, things would've gone smoother. I much prefer it when guys have a direct attitude."
Kei Karuizawa smiled, and it didn't seem like she was talking to someone who had just confessed and been rejected. Instead, her demeanor suggested she was chatting with a long-time friend.
"Anyway, I'm here to return the bento box you lent me yesterday."
Hikigaya was eager to end any further interaction with the overly confident Miss Karuizawa. All he wanted was to hand back the lunchbox, sever this connection once and for all, and retreat into his peaceful, solitary life.
Seeing the bento box in Hikigaya's hand, Karuizawa blinked, as if only just remembering that she had lent it to him. She glanced from the box to Hikigaya, a smile slowly forming on her face.
"I see. So that's how it is."
"Huh?"
Oh, come on. What in the world has she 'figured out' this time?
The last misunderstanding — where she'd assumed he was here to confess again — was already absurd enough. If she came up with some other wild idea, he'd never be able to explain himself, no matter how hard he tried.
Desperate to avoid another misinterpretation, Hikigaya quickly clarified, "I'm just returning the bento box, nothing more. Please don't read into it. There's really no other meaning."
"Tsk, I told you before, I hate it when guys act all wishy-washy."
To Karuizawa, Hikigaya's explanation only seemed like reverse psychology. "It's no big deal, right? You just want me to keep making lunch for you, don't you?"
"Wait, what?"
Hikigaya stood there, dumbfounded. She really thought that was a reasonable assumption? That she should keep making bento for a guy she wasn't even close to?
As Hikigaya gaped in confusion, Karuizawa calmly took the lunchbox from his hands. "Don't worry. I always make extra, so adding a portion for you won't be a problem. Besides, no one will know. It's not like you have friends in the class, right?"
"Uh... yeah, I don't really have friends. But what does that have to do with this?"
"You idiot. Since no one's close to you, even if you told them I was making you lunch, they wouldn't believe it. In a way, you're the safest option for this arrangement."
A mischievous smile played across Karuizawa's lips.
Hikigaya found himself more baffled than ever. She's really willing to make lunch for him just because he's friendless? Is that supposed to make sense?
Was it just that his way of thinking couldn't keep up with the mindset of modern high schoolers?
Hikigaya couldn't bring himself to accept this situation so easily. Trying to tread carefully, he ventured, "But, Karuizawa-san, aren't you already going out with Hirata Yousuke?"
At the mention of Hirata's name, Karuizawa froze. Her eyes widened as if she hadn't expected him to catch on so quickly.
"Yeah, I am dating Hirata."
Her voice lacked any of the joy you'd expect from someone talking about their boyfriend. There was no excitement, no trace of affection.
Sensing something amiss, Hikigaya couldn't resist pressing further. "And? How's that going?"
"What do you think? We're just boyfriend and girlfriend, that's all."
Her tone grew sharp and irritated. It was clear she didn't want to talk about the details of her relationship with Hirata, nor the reasons behind it.
Recognizing the tension, Hikigaya wisely chose not to push the subject any further.
The conversation fell into an awkward silence.
"Let me walk you back to your dorm."
Hikigaya forced a smile. He wasn't the type to read people's emotions easily, so he didn't understand why Karuizawa was acting this way. Still, this was the only way he could think to calm the situation.
"This…"
Karuizawa seemed ready to protest, but Hikigaya extended his hand toward her.
"Wait, what are you doing? I didn't agree to date you, so how can you just hold my hand? What if someone sees us?!"
"I was just offering to carry your bag!"
Karuizawa's flustered reaction nearly made Hikigaya faint on the spot. How could she come up with such bizarre conclusions? Hirata's going to have his hands full with her as a girlfriend...
"Oh… right."
Caught off guard by Hikigaya's unexpected kindness, Karuizawa hesitated for a moment before handing him her shoulder bag.
The two walked through the dimly lit campus. Only the library and study rooms were still glowing in the distance, and even the few people passing by wouldn't have been able to make out their faces.
"Hikigaya, you weren't waiting around for me, were you? That's why you're out so late?"
Karuizawa suddenly broke the silence, her voice carrying a hint of suspicion that suggested she was finally letting go of a previous misunderstanding.
"No, of course not." Thank goodness she's starting to see reason, Hikigaya thought with relief. "I was just late because I had an interview with the student council."
"The student council?"
Karuizawa stopped dead in her tracks at his words. The already quiet campus seemed to grow even more still.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, just as they neared the dormitory entrance, Karuizawa's voice broke through again, this time slow and deliberate. "Hikigaya, if you do get into the student council, I'll consider letting you be my boyfriend."
And with that, she walked into the dormitory, leaving Hikigaya standing there, staring at her retreating figure in disbelief.
"Wait, when did I ever apply for the boyfriend position?! And hey, you forgot your bag!"
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