I Would Choose Hachiman Hikigaya

"I never expected Hachiman Hikigaya to be targeted by someone like that."

In Ayanokoji's room, everyone gathered around the table and began the real celebration party.

According to their bet, Yamauchi, who had scored the lowest on this exam, paid for the celebration.

The table was piled high with food and snacks. No one would have guessed that Yamauchi had been begging people to lend him points just a while ago.

Knowing he had to treat everyone, he did not hesitate at all. His generosity was a little surprising.

Of course, Hachiman Hikigaya felt that he deserved some credit for it. After all, he had given Yamauchi seven thousand points for free last time.

Not only were the Horikita Study Group members present, but so were Sato and Matsushita. Because of Ryuen, Sudo and the others had been very curious about what had happened between him and Hachiman Hikigaya.

They had happened to witness Sato apologizing, so they invited both girls to Ayanokoji's room.

Ayanokoji: Why is it my room again? (‎.‎)

"Don't worry, Hachiman Hikigaya. The next time I see him, I'll beat him up for you."

Sudo clenched his fists and shouted energetically before adding, "That guy really pisses me off. He actually called me trash!"

If no one had held him back, Sudo would definitely have turned the scene into a warzone.

Horikita closed her book and said helplessly, "What an idiot. You only think about solving problems with violence, but that would cause the class a lot of trouble."

Hearing her words, Sudo frowned in dissatisfaction.

"What do you know? This is friendship between guys. I'll never just stand by and watch a good friend get bullied."

I'm so touched. Does he see me as a good friend?

Ripples stirred in Hachiman Hikigaya's heart. Other than a girl's confession, the thing boys found hardest to resist was probably friendship as open and straightforward as Sudo's.

"By the way, Sato, you seem pretty close with Hachiman Hikigaya. Don't tell me you two..."

As soon as one topic ended, Ike started another.

Sato froze for a moment, then her cheeks turned red. Lowering her head bashfully, she said, "Idiot Ike, don't say things like that so casually. It makes things awkward."

The two of them were indeed rather close. Of course, aside from Sato, Hachiman Hikigaya was also fairly close to other girls.

Like Horikita.

"Really, Sato?" Sudo's eyes lit up.

Ever since Horikita had acknowledged his basketball dream, Sudo had felt increasingly attracted to her.

What troubled him most was that Hachiman Hikigaya was also very close to Horikita. If he liked Horikita, did that mean he would become Hachiman Hikigaya's romantic rival?

He truly did not want some melodramatic TV drama plot like that to happen to them.

Seeing Sato like this made him somewhat excited.

If Hachiman Hikigaya and Sato got together, did that mean he could pursue Horikita?

"That's not it..." Sato answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, while her eyes could not help sneaking glances in Hachiman Hikigaya's direction.

Hachiman Hikigaya sat there as though nothing concerned him, drinking his beverage and quietly listening to their conversation.

"I see..." Sudo looked disappointed, then turned his attention to Hachiman Hikigaya. "Then what about you, Hachiman Hikigaya? Do you like Sato?"

"Idiot Sudo, who asks something that directly?!"

Matsushita helplessly covered her forehead, speechless at his question.

"I don't dislike her," Hachiman Hikigaya answered blandly.

It gave people the impression that perhaps he was too embarrassed to say he liked her in front of so many people, so he awkwardly said he did not dislike her to make it sound less deliberate.

Sato's face grew even redder. He didn't say he doesn't like me.

"In that case, let's play Truth or Dare! That way, they'll tell the truth, right?"

Yamauchi eagerly proposed the idea, and both Sudo and Ike agreed.

"I never knew Yamauchi was this smart."

"Of course I am. But what's that supposed to mean?"

The Idiot Trio were quite pleased with the suggestion, and the girls had no objections either, aside from Horikita.

After all, it was a celebration party. Having fun was what mattered most.

To avoid standing out, Ayanokoji chose to join in as well.

That left only Hachiman Hikigaya and Horikita.

"Please allow me to refuse. Only people like you could come up with such a boring game."

Horikita coldly refused and dismissed Yamauchi's suggestion.

"Huh? Is Horikita afraid of losing?"

Kushida smiled sweetly as she provoked Horikita.

Horikita fell silent for a moment, then closed her book again and sighed. "Since you put it that way, fine. I'll play with you."

Hachiman Hikigaya's mouth twitched. You're way too easy to provoke.

"I'd also like to refu—"

"Alright, everyone's participating! Let's begin!"

Hachiman Hikigaya: ...

Sudo directly ignored Hachiman Hikigaya's reply and started the game on his own.

Left with no choice, Hachiman Hikigaya could only play Truth or Dare with them.

Since they were familiar with different versions of the game, they decided to use playing cards to determine the winner and loser so the rules would be easier to understand.

Each person randomly drew two cards, and the total value of those cards determined the results.

The person with the highest total could make the person with the lowest total choose between Truth and Dare.

Kushida had the highest total in the first round, while Matsushita had the lowest.

"I'll choose Truth," Matsushita said casually.

"Then I want to ask: who do you like, Matsushita?"

That was a bombshell right from the start. It was probably an essential question whenever anyone played Truth or Dare.

Kushida stuck out her tongue cutely, while the Idiot Trio stared at Matsushita with curiosity.

Matsushita was undoubtedly beautiful as well, ranking among the prettier girls in the class.

Ike was the most concerned. His friend Yamauchi had gotten together with Kushida, Sudo had Horikita as his target, and Hachiman Hikigaya seemed to have something going on with Sato. He was the only one left all alone.

No, there was Ayanokoji too.

"Hmm..." Matsushita thought hard before answering under everyone's expectant gazes, "I don't have anyone I like at the moment. But if I absolutely had to pick someone, I might choose Hachiman Hikigaya."

"What?"

Everyone looked shocked, while Hachiman Hikigaya guiltily took a drink of water.

Damn it, why does this feel like I'm some scumbag surrounded by several girls I'm stringing along?

"Why is it Hachiman Hikigaya again?"

Ike grabbed his hair and asked in confusion, while Sato stared blankly at Matsushita.

Could Matsushita like the same person I do?

As her close friend, Sato could not understand Matsushita's answer.

"Because Hachiman Hikigaya is very handsome. I'm sure a lot of girls would like him."

Everyone fell silent. That was indeed true. When it came to looks alone, they could not argue with it.

"But don't misunderstand. That's only if I absolutely had to choose someone. I don't have anyone I like right now."

Matsushita smiled and waved her hands, reminding them to pay attention to the key point in what she had said.