The Winds of Love Rise Again

After the movie began, both couples quieted down and watched in silence.

Maya stopped chatting with Karuizawa, focusing on the movie while quietly closing the distance, prepared to throw herself into Hachiman's arms at any moment.

After the two-and-a-half-hour movie ended, Hachiman and Maya left the theater.

"See you tomorrow, Maya."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Maya said goodbye to her friend Karuizawa, then prepared to return to the Dormitory with Hachiman.

Night fell quietly, and the walk back to the Dormitory was unexpectedly silent.

"Hikigaya, you're really impressive. You weren't scared at all.

Unlike me. I got so frightened... You saw such an embarrassing side of me."

Maya stuck out her tongue, recalling what had happened in the theater.

Hachiman smiled and shook his head. "Actually, I was scared too. My male pride just got in the way—I didn't want to look pathetic in front of you girls."

As a guy, if he got scared like a girl in that situation, Yamauchi would definitely spread the story of his disgrace everywhere.

"Really? I couldn't tell at all."

"It's true."

The two chatted back and forth, and before long, they arrived at the Dormitory.

Seeing that they had reached the Dormitory, Maya inwardly cried out in alarm. How had she forgotten her plan while talking?

She had finally worked up the courage. She wanted nothing more than to slap herself a couple of times right in front of Hachiman.

After taking the Elevator to the fourth floor, Hachiman handed Maya the snacks he had bought for her.

"Well then, see you tomorrow."

Hachiman stepped out of the Elevator and said goodbye to Maya.

Watching the Elevator doors slowly close and Hachiman disappear from sight, Maya bit her lip. In the end, she pressed the button, and the doors opened again.

She hurried out of the Elevator and met Hachiman's puzzled gaze.

"I! I have something I want to tell you."

"Hmm? Did you forget something?"

Hachiman spoke as he opened his room door.

After opening it, Hachiman pointed inside.

"If you don't mind, come in and tell me."

Maya nodded and followed Hachiman into the room.

"What did you want to say?"

Once they reached the living room, Hachiman took the initiative to ask.

"I..." Maya lowered her head, seemingly thinking about how to say it to Hachiman.

Hachiman did not urge her and quietly waited for Maya to make up her mind.

After letting out a heavy breath, Maya looked as though she had made a momentous decision. She raised her head and met Hachiman's eyes.

"From the moment I first met you, Hikigaya, I realized that I was drawn to you.

Your eyes, your actions, and the way you shone during swimming class have all been deeply imprinted on my heart.

I like you. I like you very much, Hikigaya.

So, please... please... go out with me, Hikigaya!"

Maya excitedly spoke the words in her heart. Her courage was truly admirable.

This was the second time since Hachiman had transmigrated that a girl had confessed to him.

An indescribable thrill spread through his body. Having never dated before, a voice in his heart kept shouting.

Accept her! Accept her!

His desire for romance kept urging Hachiman to nod and agree, but reason told him that he could not do that.

"I'm sorry."

Those two simple words instantly drained all color from Maya's face.

Everyone who confessed did so with tremendous resolve. But even then, could their emotions truly remain as calm as they imagined after being rejected?

The answer was no.

Maya had imagined Hachiman rejecting her ten thousand times, but when she truly heard his rejection, the pain in her heart was ten thousand times worse.

Why did she still feel sad when she had prepared herself for the possibility of rejection?

Because anyone who dared to confess harbored, from the very beginning, a strong—or at least faint—hope of success.

Even if it was only the slightest hope, to Maya, that possibility of success outweighed the other ninety-nine percent by far.

And now, her wishful hope had been shattered.

Her confession had been rejected.

Why had he rejected her? Was it because Maya Sato's looks or personality were not good enough?

Hachiman disagreed with that. Whether in looks or personality, Maya was above average.

It could even be said that, in his heart, Maya was one of the people with whom a relationship could potentially develop.

As for why he had rejected her, it was the same reason he had rejected Karuizawa: he could not accept cutting off contact with everyone else after entering a relationship.

The same went for Maya Sato. She was not worth making him give up the entire forest.

At least until Hachiman figured out a way for them all to coexist, he would not accept anyone's invitation to date.

Tears slid down Maya's cheeks and fell onto the floor.

Overwhelmed by grief, Maya could no longer control her emotions.

"I see... I'm sorry. I was too presumptuous."

Hachiman gently shook his head. "Not at all. You don't need to apologize to me."

Maya looked at the snacks Hachiman had bought for her by her feet. Scenes from the past few months they had spent together surfaced in her mind.

"I... Can I know why you rejected me, Hikigaya?"

Looking into her tear-filled yet earnest eyes, Hachiman nodded.

"Because I have a goal right now: to rise to Class A. Before that, I don't have much energy to devote to dating.

To be honest, I do have a favorable impression of you, Sato. But I don't want to tie you to me in the name of a relationship because of my goal, while failing to give you the time and companionship a relationship deserves.

That's why I can't accept your feelings."

Reasons for rejection? Hachiman had no idea how many there were in his heart.

As he spoke, Maya observed his eyes.

They were filled with sincerity.

He has feelings for me? He likes me too?

Having simply seized upon the key point, Maya's dead heart rekindled, and her dim world gradually regained its light.

"So... you don't hate me?"

"Yeah. I think you're very cute, Sato. If I didn't have such a difficult goal, I couldn't think of any reason to reject you."

An unnamed wind of love swept through the room, moving Maya deeply.

"If... if we really do rise to Class A..."

Before she could finish, Hachiman pulled her into his arms.

Blushing as she leaned against Hachiman's chest, she heard his scorching, powerful heartbeat echo beside her ear.

Hachiman said nothing, but Maya understood what he meant.

"I'll definitely work hard to help you, Hikigaya, and rise to Class A together."

"Yeah, thank you."

Maya made up her mind. From now on, she would become stronger so that she could help Hachiman fulfill his dream.

"Hikigaya."

"Hmm?"

"When it's just the two of us from now on, can I call you by your given name?"

"You can."

"Hachiman-kun (,,•́.•̀,,)"

Looking at Maya in his arms, who had been coaxed into becoming love-struck by just a few simple words, Hachiman felt nothing in particular.

In his eyes, Maya was also a student with a certain degree of usefulness.

Whether in terms of romance or combat strength, Hachiman could not simply let her leave like this.

That was why he used this half-rejection, half-acceptance method to keep Maya around.

Now let me see your determination and your usefulness, Sato.