And yet...
"Um, but Doma-young master... sir... classmate, you really did disappear for several hours."
Though he was scared out of his wits, he still said it so bluntly. Perhaps this was the Hachiman Hikigaya who pursued something genuine?
Except...
Glancing at Sogo Doma, whose expression had become increasingly "kind" after hearing him, Hachiman Hikigaya screamed inwardly, What the hell am I even saying? Can someone please save me? Th-this is a provocation, right? This has to be a provocation! A bottom-tier shut-in like me is provoking the ultimate extrovert—who the hell gave me the courage to do that?
Hachiman Hikigaya even caught the admiring look Zaimokuza sent his way. That look seemed to say—worthy of being General Zaimokuza's close friend, the Great Bodhisattva Hachiman! Not only did he dare face such a terrifying Demon King head-on, he even dared refute him.
To that, Hachiman Hikigaya only wanted to say, "If we're close friends, then come save me already..."
"Great Bodhisattva Hachiman..." Just as he was panicking, Sogo Doma spoke. "I was indeed away from you all for a few hours, but what do you think I could have done in just those few hours?"
"Wh-who knows?" Though Hachiman Hikigaya was terrified inside, his words remained stubbornly firm. "All I know is that after those few hours passed, a lot of things changed..."
"Oh?"
"Enough..." Fortunately, Shizuka Hiratsuka saw through Hachiman Hikigaya's nature. She knew that if Sogo Doma kept pressing him, Hachiman might end up slapping himself in the face with his own words. So she quickly said, "Let's not bring up the past. Right now, we..."
"Are going to meet up with the main group?" What was presence? Sogo Doma perfectly embodied it.
"No..." Shizuka Hiratsuka shook her head. "There are still people we need to pick up..."