บท 82: Kei Karuizawa is Jealous
Hikigaya had long recognized Kikyo Kushida as a key player in transforming Class D. However, when it came to figuring out how to use this valuable asset, he remained uncertain.
Or rather, he wasn't particularly keen on interacting with someone like Kikyo Kushida.
In his previous encounters with her, Hikigaya had sensed there were deeper, more troubling layers beneath her seemingly friendly and approachable demeanor. Worse yet, he had accidentally led her to believe that Suzune Horikita was a "yuri," which was a misunderstanding he deeply regretted.
Just thinking about initiating a conversation with Kushida now made his stomach churn. The very idea left him frozen in place, unable to take a step forward.
But Hikigaya wasn't the type to give up easily, even when faced with discomfort.
Despite his reluctance, he knew that in order to reform Class D and help Horikita grow into the person he envisioned, he had to force himself into action. Steeling himself, Hikigaya stood up from his seat and began walking toward Kikyo Kushida.
It was lunchtime, and the class was abuzz with excitement as students eagerly signed up for Yosuke Hirata's book club. Naturally, Kushida was among them.
Hikigaya approached her, his expression rigid. "Kushida, do you have time at lunch? If you're free, would you like to eat together?"
Kikyo Kushida looked genuinely surprised by his invitation.
And she wasn't the only one. The other girls in the class shot puzzled glances at Hikigaya. It was almost unimaginable that the guy with such a low presence in the class would ask Kushida, of all people, to lunch.
What surprised them even more was Kikyo Kushida's response. She smiled and nodded.
"Sure! I'm happy that you invited me, Hikigaya-kun."
"What...?"
The other girls in Class D were equally astonished. They couldn't comprehend why Kushida had so easily agreed.
Of course, they all knew that Kushida was kind-hearted and wouldn't typically turn down any request. But while most of the girls only felt mild surprise, one blonde-haired girl with a ponytail was distinctly unhappy with the situation.
Kei Karuizawa immediately spoke up, her face twisted in confusion. "Why are you two having lunch together?"
"Is there a problem?" Kushida asked innocently, tilting her head. "Do you think there's something wrong with me and Hikigaya-kun eating together, Kei?"
Karuizawa was clearly caught off guard by Kushida's question. She hadn't expected her own reaction to be so intense, and now she was struggling to come up with a valid reason to object.
"W-well, of course there's a problem…" Kei stammered, her expression awkward. "He seems like the kind of guy who could cause trouble! Who knows what might happen if you go to lunch with him!"
"What?"
Hikigaya was stunned.
He had never imagined that the trouble he'd face in inviting Kushida would come from Kei Karuizawa of all people.
And did she really just imply that he was some kind of dangerous creep?
Come on, I'm not Ike or Yamauchi, one of the "Three Idiots"! This is too much. After everything I did to help you...
Hikigaya's expression showed clear hurt. Kei, realizing that her words had crossed a line, was torn. But maintaining her reputation in class, she couldn't bring herself to apologize.
As Kei fidgeted with indecision, Kushida smiled and reassured her. "Don't worry, Kei. I know you're concerned, but Hikigaya-kun isn't a bad person. You don't need to be so anxious."
"I... well..."
Kei found herself at a loss for words.
Kushida's calm and reasonable response left her with no argument. And by now, even Kei herself couldn't fully grasp why she was so bothered by the idea of Hikigaya spending time with another girl.
Why do I care so much... about a dead-eyed guy like him?
Confused and frustrated, Kei clenched her fists and turned away, storming off. She couldn't bear to stay any longer.
To the other students, it seemed as though Kei had simply tried to stand up for Kikyo, but couldn't find the right reason to stop them from eating together.
That explanation seemed reasonable enough to everyone.
No one suspected that Kei's true motivation was to prevent Hikigaya from being alone with Kushida.
Because of her carefully maintained image, no one noticed the jealousy brewing within her. Not even Kei herself fully understood the feelings stirring in her heart.
After resolving the unexpected interruption from Kei, Hikigaya successfully invited Kushida to lunch.
Of course, "successfully" was a bit of an exaggeration. He barely spoke a word to her during their time together, simply because he had no idea how to start a conversation. He seriously lacked experience in this kind of situation.
Thankfully, Kikyo Kushida was kind enough to notice his discomfort and broke the silence herself.
"It's really rare for you to invite someone to lunch, Hikigaya-kun."
"Yeah, I find it strange myself," Hikigaya replied awkwardly. Then, trying to keep the conversation going, he added, "By the way, are you short on points? If you are, I could treat you to lunch."
Hikigaya still had nearly 90,000 points saved up, as he hadn't spent much during the past month. He had plenty of leeway to deal with any potential issues down the road.
Kushida smiled warmly. "I'm not really short on points. I've been careful with my spending, so I still have a few thousand left to get by."
"I see…"
Hikigaya couldn't help but be wary of her response.
As the class's social butterfly, Kushida was connected to practically everyone. Someone like her managing to control her spending and resist indulgence spoke volumes. It was clear that beneath her friendly exterior, she was far more calculating and cold than she appeared.
Compared to her, Hikigaya felt like a defenseless rabbit in a den of wolves.
"But if you really want to treat me, I don't mind," Kushida continued with a playful smile. "I'm guessing you have something you want my help with, don't you?"
"…"
Though she had easily seen through his intentions, Hikigaya wasn't flustered. If anything, it saved him from wasting time on unnecessary small talk.
"Yeah, you're right. I do need your help, Kushida," Hikigaya admitted slowly. "I want you to help Horikita Suzune. She's about to face some serious trouble."
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