Hasebe Hasn't Given Up; A Gathering of Three / Hasebe Haruka's Change of Heart

[Stop making up stories, okay? If she doesn't mind physical contact, what else could it feel like?]

[Let me answer seriously, the questioner seems to have fallen for that companion.]

[There's actually an honest guy up there; isolate him quickly.]

[If you like someone, just like them. There's nothing shameful about it.]

Yes, while you're young, there's nothing to be ashamed of if you like something.

"?"

Upon seeing the fifth reply, Horikita Suzune's pupils contracted slightly. A strange, warm emotion began to well up within her, gradually taking over her body and leaving the girl somewhat dazed.

Like?

Have I fallen for Classmate Hashiba?

How is that possible?

Horikita Suzune flipped through the replies with complicated thoughts. Apart from the deliberately disruptive comments, almost all the replies suggested that she had fallen for Hashiba Hikaru.

However, just as she was struggling with her decision, she suddenly saw a new reply, which startled Horikita Suzune once again.

If you're unsure of your feelings, try silently imagining something else: how would you feel if the other person stopped talking to you altogether? That way, you'll know the answer.

"What if... Classmate Hashiba stops talking to me?"

Horikita Suzune rubbed her temples, slowly closed her eyes as instructed, and began to imagine such a Matoba in her mind.

My Classmate Hashiba is ignoring me and won't talk to me.

In that case...

After only a few seconds of daydreaming, Horikita Suzune suddenly opened her eyes, feeling her heart beating very fast.

"I don't want to do something like this."

"That's right, I don't want to!"

After confirming her inner thoughts, a blush crept onto the delicate face of the black-haired girl. She touched her burning cheeks, her lips trembling slightly.

"Could it be... that I've really fallen for Classmate Hashiba?"

"But he has a girlfriend..."

392

Chapter 392 Hasebe, who never gave up, and the three of them gathered together.

After parting ways with Horikita Suzune, Hashiba Hikaru returned to her dorm to take a shower. However, just as she was halfway through her shower, she noticed that the System Bar flashed again.

What's going on?

With a sense of doubt, Hashiba Hikaru opened the System Bar, and the pop-up message startled him.

[Horikita Suzune clarified her thoughts; she felt your existence was more special. Horikita Suzune Stock price rose by 20, currently at 140.]

"Ah???"

Upon seeing the pop-up message, the person was immediately filled with question marks.

Didn't we already upgrade it once?

Why is there another stock price fluctuation now? What is this girl doing in her dorm?

"But since the stock price is going up, it can't be a bad thing, right?"

After closing the System Panel, the boy touched his hair, which was covered in water droplets. He quickly accepted the fact. Anyway, it wasn't easy for Horikita's stock price to rise, and since it had risen twice in a row today, it was hard not to be happy.

After taking a shower, Hashiba Hikaru sat down at his desk to start studying. He had just received a message from Ichinose Honami, who would be coming over soon, so he planned to review his lessons first.

Now that she has made a bet with Horikita Suzune, she is determined to achieve a higher total score for Hashiba Hikaru.

Although I haven't figured out what I want the other party to agree to yet, having this bet might make boosting her stock price easier.

Just as the boy started doing his practice problems, his phone suddenly beeped with a text message notification.

Chat interface.

Sakura Airi: Are you free tomorrow?

Hashiba Hikaru: What's wrong?

Sakura Airi: Want to come over and study with me tomorrow? Let's have a study session.

The boy glanced at the notes on his phone; there was indeed nothing urgent to do tomorrow.

Hashiba Hikaru: Okay, I'll probably be there before six o'clock tomorrow. I think there's no food left in Airi's fridge, right?

Sakura Airi: Yes, I'll go grocery shopping after school tomorrow and then wait for Hikaru to come over.

Hashiba Hikaru: No problem.

After putting down her phone, Hashiba Hikaru heard the door open, and the pink-haired girl, the hostess of the house, walked in carrying a large transparent bag.

"Hikari, I'm back!"

Ichinose Honami walked into the bedroom with a smile, and after seeing her boyfriend reviewing his lessons, her smile deepened.

"Was it a resounding victory today?"

Hashiba Hikaru stopped writing and turned to look at the cheerful girl.

"Of course, I was able to go early to queue today and bought some really good ingredients."

After school today Ichinose Honami went straight to the fresh food supermarket at Keyaki Mall to queue up because there was a promotion on good products. Although she had plenty of points, she figured no one would refuse to buy good things for less money.

"Wow, I guess I'm in for a treat tonight!"

Hashiba Hikaru continued browsing the questions, a smile spreading across her face.

"Of course! I'm going to make a fantastic dinner tonight to surprise Guangda!"

Ichinose Honami has been spending the nights here for the past few days, so she's been in a good mood.

"Uh-huh."

The following afternoon, after finishing her duties in the Student Council, Hashiba Hikaru went alone to Sakura Airi's dormitory.

However, just as he reached the door, he heard two voices inside.

Is anyone else here?

Hashiba Hikaru was a little confused. He sent a message to Sakura Airi, and then he saw the door open.

After the familiar red-haired girl appeared, the boy indeed saw another person behind her— Hasebe Haruka.

"Light, you've come."

"Um."

"Today..."

"No need to explain yet, let me in first."

Hashiba Hikaru didn't intend to chat with Sakura Airi at the door, so she spoke directly.

"Okay, sure."

After successfully entering the all-too-familiar bedroom, the boy noticed that the blue-haired girl standing beside him was scrutinizing him with a very wary gaze; it was clear that she had come here specifically for this purpose.

"Good afternoon, Classmate Hashiba."

Hasebe Haruka greeted him calmly.

Good afternoon.

Although she found an unexpected person here, Hashiba Hikaru didn't care about such things. Since she was here for a study session, she might as well study hard.

"Airi, could you put my schoolbag away for a bit? I'm going to prepare dinner."

"Uh-huh."

The red-haired girl hugged Hashiba Hikaru's schoolbag with great satisfaction and then walked towards her desk in the bedroom.

After listening to this conversation, the blue-haired girl standing next to her crossed her arms and asked in a somewhat unfriendly tone, "Are you planning to cook?"

"Yeah, what do we eat if we don't cook?"

Hashiba Hikaru rolled her eyes at her, offering no further explanation.

"Really? Then may I see what Classmate Hashiba's cooking skills are like?"

"Of course, but I want to make one thing clear beforehand: I actually have a good impression of Hasebe, because I know you genuinely care about Airi."

Hashiba Hikaru calmly took out the ingredients the girl had prepared from the refrigerator one by one.

"But I hope you understand that Airi is a perfectly healthy person. She has her own thoughts and desires, and neither you nor I have the right to interfere with her, understand?"

"... snort."

Upon hearing Hashiba Hikaru's words, the blue-haired girl, who had crossed her arms, awkwardly lowered them. Looking at Hikari's serious profile, she felt a strange mix of emotions.

"Alright, I'm going to cook now. Hasebe, you should go to your bedroom first, since there will be cooking fumes later."

After putting on his apron, Hashiba Hikaru immediately began preparing dinner. He was a very good cook and his movements were very skillful.

This scene, witnessed by Hasebe Haruka was still there, left her speechless for a moment, yet she didn't want to leave just like that.

From the information I heard from Sakura Airi, I know that the Classmate Hashiba, has been through a lot with Airi, and their relationship is very deep, which cannot be broken up with just a few words.

Watching Hashiba Hikaru cook with her head down, the blue-haired girl suddenly realized that she was actually a really good person to date.

She has impeccable looks and figure, excellent grades, a gentle personality, and can also write songs and cook.

Every time Airi looks at her friend, her eyes are full of affection, which speaks volumes. Even though he already has a girlfriend, he doesn't treat his friend casually.

But if things continue like this, how can Airi find her own happiness?

To be lovers?

Hasebe Haruka smelled the aroma of food. She rubbed her head, feeling that things were getting a little complicated.

"Ugh, love is such a hassle."

The blue-haired girl, who had never been in a relationship, sighed and turned to walk into the bedroom.

393

Chapter 393 Hasebe Haruka's Change of Heart

After leaving the living room, Hasebe Haruka planned to go to the bedroom to chat with Sakura Airi, only to find her organizing the boy's textbooks and notes with an extremely serious expression.

"Airi, what are you doing?"

Upon closer inspection, the blue-haired girl noticed that the other person was handling Hashiba Hikaru's textbooks as if they were precious items, carefully arranging them as if afraid of damaging them.

"I'm helping Guang pack his schoolbag; he'll be tutoring me later."

"... All right."

Seeing the satisfied expression on the other person's face, Hasebe Haruka had no choice but to swallow back all the words she wanted to say. However, she was a little curious because she had seen Hashiba Hikaru's notebook.

"Can I take a look at this?"

"Of course, Guang won't mind."

Sakura Airi nodded and handed the black notebook to her friend. When studying, Hashiba Hikaru usually told the girl to relax and not be too tense, otherwise it would be counterproductive.

"Um."

After receiving the notebook, Hasebe Haruka stared at its contents, but she was quickly astonished by how rich the information was.

This is a math notebook. It contains not only the key knowledge points from each lesson, but also practice problems and trick questions summarized by the student, which can help students understand the teacher's intentions for setting questions more quickly and achieve higher scores.

"..."

[How does this guy, dating several girls at the same time, still have the energy to take such neat notes?]

Hasebe Haruka another entry to her evaluation of Hashiba Hikaru: this time, she calls her a master of time management.

"Have you rested enough? Dinner is ready."