The Three Together

pi pi pi pi pi pi...

On the second day of school, just as I crawled out of bed and finished a simple breakfast, my phone suddenly rang.

I glanced at the screen—

Tch. Getting a call from Sakanayanagi first thing in the morning.

It was the girl I had just met yesterday.

To be honest, I really wanted to pretend I didn't hear it, but if I actually ignored her, there was a chance she might just storm into the classroom like she threatened in her email yesterday.

Thinking of that, I had no choice but to reluctantly answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun. Did you sleep well last night?"

"I was feeling pretty energetic ten seconds ago."

"That's a pity. But since it's a rare opportunity, would you like to walk to school together?"

She brushed off my sarcasm with a light, airy tone.

Although I had expected her to respond that way, I really didn't want to accept Sakanayanagi's invitation.

"Too much trouble. Go by yourself."

"Understood. Then I'll head to the Class D classroom alone and wait—" "Fine, fine! Walking together is fine, okay!" "I guessed you'd say that. Let's meet by the vending machine downstairs at the dorm in fifteen minutes."

She hung up the phone after saying whatever she pleased.

This girl really has a personality so wicked it's appalling.

Even though I was fuming, I quickly finished my breakfast and left my room.

When the elevator door opened with a "ding," I found Sakanayanagi was already waiting inside—even though we had agreed to meet downstairs.

"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun. The weather is quite nice today, isn't it?"

"Yeah, though my internal weather is nothing but storm clouds."

"Is that so? Are you already running into trouble at the start of the new semester?"

"Trouble" doesn't even begin to cover it.

Ever since Shiina approached me in the Class D classroom, combined with getting to know Sakanayanagi, my peaceful school life has been completely ruined.

"Indeed. Speaking of which... here."

The moment I reached out my hand, Sakanayanagi blinked and suddenly burst into a giggle.

"Oh my? Saying you didn't want to, yet you were actually looking forward to holding hands. Come on~"

She said that and reached out to grab my hand.

A soft, warm sensation instantly traveled from my palm—wait!

"That's not it! I was reaching out to help you with your luggage, okay!"

What kind of guy goes around holding a girl's hand? A playboy? At the very least, that's not the type of character I am!

"...I see. But I can manage this luggage just fine on my own, you know."

"That's for the best. But if it feels heavy, give it to me immediately."

"Mm. But to say something like that, Hikigaya-kun is unexpectedly gentle."

Sakanayanagi examined me with a look as if she had discovered a new continent.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, I instinctively looked away.

"...If you collapse from exhaustion, I'd have to contact all sorts of places to deal with the aftermath... Anyway, if you don't need help with the luggage, let go already!"

I don't mind helping carry things, but I absolutely refuse to hold hands.

"What's the harm? Isn't this more interesting... oh, I mean, more efficient?"

"Hey! You definitely meant 'interesting' just now, didn't you? And even if you think it's interesting, I feel like I'm sitting on pins and needles here!"

If the students in Class D saw me tangled up with two girls on the second day of school, heaven knows what kind of rumors would spread.

"This school is very strict about managing bullying, so it should be fine... Ah, we're at the first floor, let's go."

The moment the elevator door opened, Sakanayanagi had already started walking.

I had no choice but to match her slow pace—after all, if we were holding hands, a mismatch in our strides might cause her to trip.

As we walked out of the dormitory building, it drew countless gazes, just as I had expected.

The girls were chattering excitedly, and the glares from the boys were enough to kill.

Although Sakanayanagi is a sadist on the inside, she is undeniably a delicate, beautiful girl on the outside.

"Hikigaya-kun, you were thinking something very rude just now, weren't you?"

"No. I was just thinking that you're an angel on the outside, but a devil on the inside."

"I see. It's an honor to be complimented on my beauty."

"You completely ignored the second half of that sentence."

"Because I couldn't refute it."

It seems she has at least a shred of self-awareness. If she didn't even have that, she would be truly terrifying...

"By the way, Hikigaya-kun, why did you choose this school? Was it to secure a recommendation to a prestigious university or a top-tier company?"

Sakanayanagi shifted the topic naturally.

This Advanced Nurturing High School is famous for its comprehensive system for guaranteed advancement and employment, which is likely why most students aim for it.

"I don't plan on going to college, and as for employment... well, I suspect the school's system isn't as perfect as it appears on the surface."

Whether it's the mechanism for point fluctuations or the so-called full-support policy, there must be something fishy hidden behind the scenes.

"Oh? Why do you think that?"

Suddenly, Sakanayanagi's aura shifted.

The playful look from moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a sharp gaze that felt as if it could see right through my heart.

Crap, I let it slip.

But since things had reached this point, there was no way she would let it go easily.

Looking at her eyes, which were filled with an intense desire to probe, I decided to tell her the truth:

"Let's assume the point fluctuation mechanism mentioned yesterday is real. The school going all out to support students with low points is clearly a losing business, right? If I were a member of the school board, I would definitely prioritize allocating resources to high-point elites."

To take it to an extreme, if every student in the grade wanted to enter the same company, how could everyone possibly be accepted?

The so-called "comprehensive guarantee" is nothing more than a fantasy.

"Indeed. Then, in your opinion, what would the criteria for evaluation be?"

"Nothing more than the points held, exam scores, and perhaps participation in club activities might also factor in achievement results, right?"

By all logic, that should be the case.

However, since this school has introduced a special system like the S-System, perhaps there are other evaluation criteria as well.

Upon hearing my explanation, Sakanayanagi finally withdrew that gaze that felt like it was trying to see through me.

Did I manage to muddle through for now?

"Thank you for sharing your insights, Hikigaya-kun. By the way, although you said you haven't decided on your path for further education, do you have absolutely no dreams for the future?"

"No. My lifelong dream is to be a househusband."

"...Huh?"

Sakanayanagi wore a blank expression due to my answer.

Even though it's only the second day we've known each other, seeing this person look stunned was quite refreshing.

However, she quickly returned to her normal state and continued to press with a look of surprise:

"A househusband is certainly an unexpected dream. But if that's the case, why go out of your way to come to this school?"

"I only applied here because I can go three years without having to deal with the outside world. That recommendation system is just a fringe benefit. For me, as long as I can graduate smoothly after three years of isolation, get a job, and then marry a rich, beautiful woman at the workplace to be kept, that's enough."

As for college, that's a bit delicate.

Although the recommendation system can get you into a prestigious university, the problem is the tuition.

It would be fine if the school covered university tuition as well, but if I had to ask my parents to pay for it, those two at home definitely wouldn't open their wallets.

Since that's the case, I plan to go straight into the workforce.

And my life's ideal is to marry a wealthy, beautiful woman at the workplace.

After hearing this grand theory, Sakanayanagi suddenly started giggling.

"Although I often see people talking about their dreams with great vigor, this is the first time I've heard someone talk about wanting to be a househusband with such energy."

"Does this count as having energy?"

"Of course. The way you emit light from those rotten, dead fish eyes makes it even more terrifying."

Looking at the content of the conversation, there's absolutely no sense of vigor at all.

"You really are an interesting person. You possess excellent insight and a talent for deception, yet your dream is to be a househusband... Heh."

"Is that not allowed?"

"How could it be? Hikigaya-kun's dream is naturally for you to decide. I just thought... you wrote a career survey in middle school, right? Didn't the teacher scold you back then?"

"Ah, I wrote 'househusband' in the 'future ideal' column and 'my own home' for 'ideal workplace,' and I ended up getting beaten by the life guidance teacher. But at the end of the day, one's life ideals should be a personal freedom, right?"

"Your obsession with the househusband profession is truly strong. Since you desire it so much... would you like to marry me and become a househusband?"

"...Huh?"

What did this person just say?

"I said, would you like to marry me and be a househusband? My family is quite wealthy. Although my appearance might not necessarily meet your aesthetic standards."

Sakanayanagi said it as if it were a matter of course.

Her manners and behavior truly marked her as a young lady of high status, and her looks were beyond reproach.

From the perspective of a provider, she was simply the perfect candidate.

At least, if one only looked at the surface.

"I'll pass. Being a househusband for you would definitely lead to death by overwork."

Sakanayanagi naturally carried the aura of someone born to lead.

If I were to marry her and become a househusband, I would undoubtedly be expected to be a perfect, uncompromising one.

"How rude. Death by overwork would cause social issues, so if you married me, I would only keep you working right on the edge of that threshold."

"That sounds even worse, you know!"

This girl was truly a natural-born sadist.

She said "on the edge of overwork," but given her personality, she would absolutely know how to walk that line with precision.

"I apologize for that. However, Hikigaya-kun..."

"What is it now?"

"It would be better not to discuss these kinds of topics in public, don't you think?"

"...Ah!"

Following her prompt, I looked around; the boys' eyes had already shifted from hostility to murderous intent, while the girls were staring at us with flushed faces.

(Crap... Sakanayanagi saying something about marriage in public like that...)

On top of that, since we were holding hands, we were definitely being misunderstood as having an intimate relationship.

The person in question, however, didn't seem to care about the rumors at all, continuing to smile elegantly and enjoy the commotion.

Just then...

"Ah, good morning, you two~"

Of all times, Shiina appeared from behind us.

The girls immediately let out a series of shrieks, and the boys' killing intent nearly materialized into physical form.

Why did this airheaded nuclear warhead have to join the fray at a time like this...!

"Good morning, Shiina-san. The weather is quite nice today."

"It is. But why are you two holding hands?"

Shiina tilted her head and threw out a fatal question.

A straight-forward question backed by a natural, oblivious personality is the most terrifying thing of all.

"Because holding hands with Hikigaya-kun is quite comfortable. Would you like to try it, Shiina-san?"

Hey! Is she trying to make the situation even more chaotic?!

"Is that so? Then, excuse me~"

Shiina actually took my free hand without a shred of suspicion.

Wait, wait, wait! If we're holding hands in this state...

(It's over... the boys have already started shedding tears of blood.)

For someone like me who yearns for a peaceful life, this was nothing short of a hellish tableau.

I wouldn't be surprised if a heresy trial were to be convened immediately.

Judging the situation to be critical, I quickened my pace toward the school building while being careful not to let Sakanayanagi get jostled.

However, it was only natural that I nearly lost my mind on the spot when Sakanayanagi dropped the bombshell, "Let's all three of us walk to school together starting tomorrow," before we parted ways at the school building.

Sakanayanagi was, without a doubt, my natural enemy.