Even If Drunk People Don't Necessarily Speak the Truth, That Doesn't Mean He Definitely Won't...

"Don't overcomplicate everything. Think of it like an office worker who missed their stop on the train—just do it first and see what happens. If you won't even try, how can you know what scenery lies ahead?"

"How do you know I—I haven't tried?" Hachiman Hikigaya retorted. "And wh-what makes you think I don't know what scenery lies ahead?"

"So General Hachiman has missed his stop on the train before, huh?"

"..."

At that, Hachiman Hikigaya fell silent once more. After a long while, he downed the freshly refilled cup of oolong tea Sogo Doma had poured for him. "Y-yeah, I have..."

"I bet the scenery wasn't very good," Sogo Doma chuckled. "Was it a road that had been blocked off?"

"..."

"However..." Before Hachiman Hikigaya could say anything, Sogo Doma continued, "General Hachiman, don't you know that trains run on different lines? And the scenery you see differs depending on which line you take."

"Does it?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked, his eyes unfocused.

"You could try taking the train yourself. Even if every train headed toward kindness treats its passengers gently, can't there be a special kind of gentleness on top of that? General Hachiman—no, Hikki..."

"W-what does that mean?" Hachiman Hikigaya froze. Well, he genuinely did not understand the meaning behind it. His alcohol-numbed brain simply could not support much thought.

"Who knows?" Unfortunately, Sogo Doma did not explain. He merely shrugged again.

"Hey..." Hachiman Hikigaya wanted to hit someone. He really was feeling bold right now.

"By the way, weren't we just discussing how to defeat the Great Demon King?" Sogo Doma abruptly changed the subject.

"..."

Hachiman Hikigaya froze again. After a long moment, he asked blankly, "And who the hell is the Great Demon King?"

"..."

That question silenced Sogo Doma. After a while, he glanced