Chapitre 85: Is Talking to a Beautiful Girl Really More Interesting Than Eating?
Hikigaya couldn't help but entertain this strange thought due to Kikyo Kushida's unusually odd behavior, but he quickly dismissed his own ridiculous speculation.
After all, it was clear to him that Kushida was, at her core, a far more twisted individual.
Every word she spoke was meant to mask the dangerous ideas hidden beneath her sweet, innocent facade.
With that thought, Hikigaya quickly returned to his usual state and finally began eating his lunch, which had been sitting untouched for quite some time. He needed to replenish his nutrients.
Meanwhile, Kushida, pleased with the plan Hikigaya had shared, seemed to be in high spirits. As she ate her lunch, she smiled and asked:
"Hikigaya-kun, do you eat lunch alone every day?"
"How do you know that?"
Hikigaya was slightly taken aback, instinctively surprised.
He always ate lunch in different spots, so how could Kushida possibly have noticed? Even Masumi Kamuro from Class A hadn't managed to track him down consistently, so it was almost impossible for Kushida to know his routine.
"I could tell just from your habits," Kushida replied with a straightforward smile. "Only someone who eats alone every day would focus solely on their food without engaging in conversation with others."
"Are you mocking me?"
Hikigaya's response was tinged with mild annoyance, but he couldn't argue with her observation.
After all, he had spent years eating alone, and as a result, had developed the habit of focusing solely on enjoying his meal, ignoring everything around him.
But wasn't that perfectly normal?
Farmers work hard to grow the rice and vegetables we eat, so shouldn't we, the consumers, treat their efforts with respect and appreciate the food with the reverence of a devout follower? Shouldn't we savor every bite and not waste their hard work?
Honestly, wasn't eating much more satisfying than chatting with a pretty girl?
With that philosophical thought in mind, Hikigaya continued to eat his meal with even more focus, completely ignoring Kushida.
Faced with Hikigaya's social withdrawal and complete disinterest in conversation, Kushida had no choice but to continue eating quietly as well. However, she occasionally glanced at him, as if trying to figure out how this seemingly unremarkable guy could come up with such a reasonable plan.
But Hikigaya wasn't concerned about her scrutiny. He didn't think he was anything special.
In terms of both intellect and physical ability, he considered himself above average at best.
He wasn't like Ayanokoji, someone who appeared to have hidden depths beyond comprehension.
However, due to his years of isolation, Hikigaya had developed an unusual ability to see problems from angles others missed and could often see through people's façades to their true selves.
In his mind, these were just ordinary skills—nothing remarkable about them at all.
By the end of the meal, both were satisfied. Hikigaya had secured a useful pawn, while Kushida had gained an opportunity to get closer to Suzune Horikita.
After their meal, the two "political strategists" prepared to part ways.
"Hikigaya, are you coming to the study session?" Kushida asked with a hopeful tone. "I feel like the session will go much smoother if you're there."
"No need," Hikigaya replied, shaking his head. "Horikita probably doesn't want to see me at all right now."
"I see. That's a pity," Kushida said, though her tone betrayed no genuine regret. In fact, Hikigaya felt a strange satisfaction from her apparent indifference.
He suspected that this incident had made Kushida wary of him, concerned that he might interfere with her secret plans.
Though Hikigaya was curious about Kushida's true identity, he had no intention of unmasking her. In fact, he preferred not to see her true self at all. He had an unsettling feeling that discovering her real identity would bring trouble he couldn't resolve. For someone like Hikigaya, who avoids complications, such a scenario was unacceptable.
After bidding farewell to Kushida, Hikigaya planned to leave the cafeteria.
The encounter had been surprisingly smooth—he hadn't spent any points or time persuading her, which left him feeling quite content and even a bit buoyant.
But as he was about to exit, he spotted a figure that made him come to an abrupt halt. He slowed down, almost involuntarily.
The girl in question had dark red hair, tied back and accessorized with glasses. She wore a school uniform and looked quite unremarkable. She was seated in a quiet corner of the bustling cafeteria, eating the free lunch and wild vegetable soup provided by the school, each bite taken slowly and with apparent effort.
Sakura Airi was the first solitary figure Hikigaya had noticed since joining Class D. He had previously advised her against going to the electronics store on the shopping street and had helped dispel rumors about her spread by Yamauchi, so he felt a certain connection, even though they weren't personally acquainted.
Seeing Sakura Airi eating alone stirred something in Hikigaya. As a loner himself, he felt a pang of empathy. Unlike him, who had chosen solitude willingly, Sakura Airi seemed to be isolated against her will. The reason for her loneliness was unknown, but it resonated with Hikigaya.
Despite not being a paragon of virtue and usually not extending help to strangers, Hikigaya found himself moved by Sakura Airi's situation. Her forlorn demeanor while eating the meager meal reminded him of his solitary lunches during junior high.
Feeling a sudden urge to help, he decided against approaching her directly—his discomfort with social interaction made him reluctant to strike up a conversation. Instead, he bought a standard nutritional meal from the cafeteria and discreetly asked the staff to deliver it to Sakura Airi.
Afterward, he slipped away without making a fuss, feeling that he had done a small good deed.
To his surprise, as he exited the cafeteria, he encountered Hasebe Haruka from Class D, who was eyeing him with a curious expression.
Did Hasebe witness what just happened?
Hikigaya recalled seeing Hasebe around when he exposed Yamauchi's deceit. It seemed oddly coincidental to encounter her again in a similar situation, which struck him as peculiar.
Hasebe Haruka, with her blue hair and mature demeanor, regarded Hikigaya with more curiosity and anticipation than confusion. This made Hikigaya uneasy, prompting him to quicken his pace.
However, as he glanced back, he saw Hasebe approach Sakura Airi, who was now looking down in confusion. Hasebe said something to her, causing Sakura Airi to cast an unnatural glance in Hikigaya's direction.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone