Love at First Sight?!

"Xiao Mei has seemed especially motivated lately. Did something happen?"

During the break, Hachiman Hikigaya asked curiously.

In Class D, Wang Meiyu could only be considered a fairly good student, not yet on Horikita's level.

The reason was that she was weaker in certain subjects, and she had not studied with any particular focus. She saved her time for the subjects she was good at, while spending the rest chatting with her friends.

That had changed considerably lately.

Wang Meiyu had become surprisingly serious. Even in subjects she was not good at, she listened carefully in class and took notes.

After freezing for a moment, Wang Meiyu forced a stiff smile.

"It's nothing like that."

"Is it something you can't tell me? Then I won't ask any further."

Not wanting to put her on the spot, Hachiman Hikigaya gave up on getting to the bottom of it.

In any case, Wang Meiyu's actions could help Class D.

Many of the special exams ahead would require students with strong academic ability.

If Wang Meiyu could improve to Horikita's level, it would be a huge boost for Class D.

Hachiman Hikigaya was looking forward to that.

Wang Meiyu let out a breath of relief. Love in one's youth was always subtle.

Shy and immature feelings, too timid to be spoken aloud, would eventually turn into a secret crush.

Perhaps if you could bravely take that step at the decisive moment, beautiful happiness would be waiting for you.

If you could not take that step, it would become a regret from your youth, buried in some corner deep within your heart as you grew older.

Wang Meiyu did not have Sato's bold personality, Sakura's figure, or Horikita's abilities.

All she could do was quietly like him.

Only when she was worthy of him would those burning feelings finally find release.

"Let's continue, then."

Hachiman Hikigaya checked the time and prepared to resume studying.

Just then, a gentle, melodious voice rang out.

"Um, excuse me, are you Hikigaya?"

Before they realized it, a silver-haired girl was standing behind them.

With a hint of apology on her face, Shiina waved at Hachiman Hikigaya.

"That's me. Is there something you need?"

Hachiman Hikigaya asked politely, while Wang Meiyu watched Shiina warily.

Any girl who approached Hachiman Hikigaya could potentially become one of her romantic rivals.

So she needed to observe Shiina carefully.

"So it really was you!" Shiina smiled. "I'm Shiina from Class C."

"Mm."

"Sorry for interrupting you, but when I ran into you earlier, I felt like you looked familiar.

I'm the kind of person who tries my very best to find answers to mysteries I don't understand, so you've been on my mind."

"Have we met before?"

Hachiman Hikigaya asked curiously. Before this, he had no recollection of anyone named Shiina Hiyori.

Shiina smiled faintly. "We have. I saw you on a handsome-guy ranking made by some unknown student."

So that was it. It seemed that ranking was quite popular.

Even Shiina, a student who loved books and paid no attention to things outside of them, had heard of his name.

Come to think of it, why had the school not shut down a ranking like that?

Hachiman Hikigaya was handsome, at least. If he had not had those looks, seeing his name ranked dead last among all the first-years would probably have dealt a serious blow to his mindset.

"You're a Class C student?"

Wang Meiyu caught the key detail. Her eyes narrowed, giving off a hostile air.

Hachiman Hikigaya had only recently been framed by Class C. With Shiina appearing now, the level of suspicion was practically ninety-nine percent.

Wang Meiyu did not know Shiina, so she did not believe this encounter had happened merely by chance.

Her attitude startled Shiina. An answer surfaced in her mind, and she could not help letting out a bitter laugh.

"Is it because of Ryuen that you dislike me?"

"Ryuen?"

Wang Meiyu did not know who had been behind that incident. Ryuen was not foolish enough to go around proclaiming that he had orchestrated it.

"To be honest, Ryuen and I don't get along at all. His actions have nothing to do with me, and I strongly oppose what he does."

Shiina spoke sincerely, and Wang Meiyu could not see the slightest sign that she might be lying.

As Hachiman Hikigaya listened to their conversation, he had already finished reviewing everything he knew about Shiina.

Just as she had said, Shiina was not the sort of person who would frame someone.

In a sense, Shiina was quite similar to Horikita. Both were relatively isolated figures in their classes.

Class C was shrouded in violence and fear. Shiina alone was the one pure breath of fresh air in that class.

"It's fine, Xiao Mei. She doesn't mean any harm."

Hearing that, Wang Meiyu, who had wanted to say more, closed her mouth.

"Thank you for understanding, Hikigaya."

"It's nothing. Did you need anything else?"

Shiina nodded, her smiling eyes curving into crescents. "Hikigaya, may I treat you to dinner? Consider it my thanks for earlier."

Thanks? He had not actually done anything that deserved thanks, had he?

"There's no need. It was just a small thing."

"No! Please give me this chance."

What a serious person. What was he supposed to do?

Hachiman Hikigaya glanced sideways at Wang Meiyu, then looked into Shiina's sincere eyes.

She seemed to be saying, I won't give up until I get what I want!

Women had an unexpectedly stubborn side too.

"All right."

Wang Meiyu's eyes dimmed. Hachiman Hikigaya agreeing felt as though he had chosen Shiina between the two of them, and she suffered a humiliating defeat.

"However, Xiao Mei and I agreed to study together today, so could we choose another time instead?"

Wang Meiyu's eyes lit up again. He didn't abandon me!

"Mm-hm, that's fine. Any day Hikigaya wants to arrange is fine with me."

"Okay. I understand."

"Then I'll be going."

As if suddenly remembering something, Shiina stopped after taking only a step and returned to Hachiman Hikigaya.

"For convenience, could you give me your contact information?"

Hachiman Hikigaya: ...

"Sure."

After they exchanged contact information, Shiina finally left in satisfaction.

As though she had obtained some precious treasure, she gazed fondly at his contact information on her phone.

As she watched Shiina leave, Wang Meiyu glanced at Hachiman Hikigaya, a blush appearing on her face.

"Let's continue."

"Mm... okay."

For some reason, Hachiman Hikigaya felt that Wang Meiyu was even more motivated than before. Had she always possessed this much potential?

Far from Hachiman Hikigaya's sight, Shiina cautiously hid in a corner and peeked at his retreating figure.

"Why am I so fixated on seeing him again?"

Thump, thump. Her heart was beating a little faster.

Shiina could not understand the emotions rising within her. Could this be what people called love at first sight?!

At the thought of that unbelievable possibility, Shiina's mind became a mess.