Exchanging Contact Information

After swimming class ended and he returned to the classroom, Hachiman Hikigaya noticed many more people looking his way.

Is this the trouble that comes with being too conspicuous?

"I really didn't expect you to win."

Horikita sighed, clearly dissatisfied with the outcome.

Ayanokoji, sitting beside them, had learned about their bet and quietly pricked up his ears with some curiosity.

"I never imagined I'd lose."

"In some ways, you two really are alike. You're way too full of yourself." Horikita rolled her eyes.

"Since I won, Horikita, please honor our agreement."

"You don't need to remind me."

Hachiman chuckled. "In that case, I haven't decided when to schedule our date yet. Let's exchange contact information. I'll let you know once I've decided."

As he spoke, Hachiman took out his phone. Horikita had not considered this possibility, and it somehow felt a little strange.

"I understand."

Left with no choice, the two exchanged contact information. Hachiman became the first person in the class to have Horikita's contact details.

Ayanokoji stared blankly at the scene. So that was his plan?

Hachiman smugly put away his phone and turned his attention to the upcoming lesson.

The gentle sunlight gradually faded, and the day's classes came to an end.

As Hachiman packed his things to return to the Dormitory, he received an invitation from one of the girls in class.

"Hikigaya, why don't we go to the Cafe together?"

The one extending the invitation was Maya Sato, a member of the small group that was fairly close with Karuizawa.

They had also been the girls cheering the loudest for Hachiman during swimming class.

Sato could only be considered average-looking, and she was not rated particularly highly among the boys. Still, as a single guy, Hachiman had no right to be picky when a girl invited him out.

"Sure."

The three of them headed for the school's most famous Cafe together.

Perhaps because Hachiman had rejected her, Karuizawa made an excuse and left first, leaving only Sato and their other friend, Chiaki Matsushita.

By the time they arrived at the Cafe, it was already packed to the brim. It was hard to believe school had only just ended.

In the crowded Cafe, the three found an empty table and sat down, each ordering a drink they liked.

"Hikigaya, you're really good at swimming. Did you train before?"

After taking a sip of coffee, Sato asked eagerly.

"I've swum before, I guess. Nothing professional," Hachiman said modestly.

Matsushita teased, "You really can't tell. Hikigaya, you've got an amazing body."

"Exactly! It feels like you're in even better shape than Sudo."

Sato used Sudo as a comparison, since he was the only person in their class they knew to be participating in a club.

"And Koenji too. I thought he would definitely come in first. His physique looks even more terrifying."

"No matter how good he looked, he still lost to Hikigaya."

The two girls continued chatting among themselves while Hachiman stayed quiet and listened to their conversation.

Only after talking for quite a while did they remember Hachiman sitting across from them.

"By the way, Hikigaya, is there a girl you like?" Matsushita asked with a smile.

Sato waited curiously for Hachiman's answer.

Hachiman gently shook his head. "Not at the moment."

"Then haven't you thought about dating?"

"I have. I want to have a relationship at school too. It's just that I haven't met a suitable girl yet."

"Huh? But I've seen you getting pretty close to Horikita. Don't you like her?"

Remembering what she had observed, Matsushita asked sharply.

"No. We're simply desk neighbors."

As for whether we'll have any other kind of relationship in the future, I don't know.

Hachiman was satisfied with his answer.

Once the topic began, what awaited him was an endless stream of conversation.

In the end, after chatting for a while longer, the three went their separate ways.

Hachiman returned to his Dormitory and spent the evening bored out of his mind.

The next day, not long after Hachiman arrived in the classroom, Kushida came looking for him.

"Hikigaya, could I borrow a few minutes of your time?"

"Sure."

Under the vicious stares of the Idiot Trio, the two went out into the hallway together.

"What is it?"

Hachiman did not think they were particularly close. Although the situation felt a little like a confession, it was better not to get his hopes up too much.

Not only Hachiman, but the three people eavesdropping through the wall were also curious about Kushida's intentions.

"Well, you know I really want to be friends with Horikita."

"Yeah. That's difficult. Horikita is like a rose, both in appearance and personality."

Hachiman tossed out a quip.

"Actually, yesterday I asked Ayanokoji to help me invite Horikita to the Cafe, but she scolded me really harshly."

Kushida gave a bitter laugh. It was clear just how cold and merciless Horikita had been at the time.

"I heard that you exchanged contact information with Horikita. Could you give me her contact details?"

Kushida revealed her purpose. Such obscure news must have been leaked by Ayanokoji, who had been there at the time.

Without even thinking, Hachiman replied, "No. If I did that, she'd kill me."

He did not doubt for a second that Horikita would do something like that, nor was he interested in helping Kushida deepen her relationship with anyone.

"I see. That would put you in a difficult position. Sorry."

"It's fine."

Kushida wore an apologetic smile that made it difficult for anyone to feel angry with her.

Is that the advantage of cute girls?

Having gotten her answer, Kushida returned to the classroom first to avoid giving anyone the wrong idea. After all, the two of them were fairly prominent figures in Class D, and people would inevitably spread rumors if they were seen together.

When he returned to the classroom, the Idiot Trio radiated a terrifying killing intent.

Ike and Yamauchi rushed over and hooked their arms around Hachiman's neck. Suppressing the urge to throw each of them over his shoulder, Hachiman hurriedly asked, "What are you doing?"

"Talk! Why did little Kushida come looking for you?" Ike interrogated him fiercely.

Yamauchi was equally furious, afraid that his goddess might truly be stolen away by Hachiman.

"It was nothing, just..."

There was no reason to hide this matter, and concealing it too much would only seem suspicious, so Hachiman told them what Kushida had said.

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"So you don't like little Kushida?"

"..."

Hachiman could not bear to lie to them, so he let the silence answer for him. It would be a lie to say he did not like gentle Kushida.

Although Kushida's true personality was not as pleasant, her looks and figure were still right there.

After warning him a few more times, they finally let Hachiman go.