"What! Sister, you are already home? I understand."
Futari Gotō hung up the phone. She gave the mobile phone back to Ren. "Thank you, Ren-nii."
Futari had eaten until she was full, but she did not see her sister, Hitori Gotō, leave the school. She was worried, so she borrowed Ren's phone to call her.
She did not expect her sister to say she was already home. Hitori had left while Futari was still waiting for her.
"It's okay. In that case, let me take you home first."
Ren put the phone in his pocket. He looked at the three little girls who were now full. As for Hikigaya? Ren already planned to take him along too.
"No need, Ren-nii. It is too much trouble for you," Yuzuru Nishimiya said.
She quickly waved her hands. They had already eaten and drunk because of Ren. She felt bad asking him to take them home too.
"Let's go. It won't take long. Think of it as a walk."
Ren took five boxes of desserts from the waiter. He gave one box to each of the three girls.
"Ren-nii, one box for me and my sister is enough," Yuzuru said. She tried to say no. Her family already owed Ren too much.
"Ren-nii, me too," Futari Gotō said. She also tried to decline.
"No saying no. Just take them."
"And you, Hikigaya. Do not think you can skip this just because you are quiet."
Ren had even prepared a box for Hikigaya.
"Me?" Hikigaya asked in surprise. He thought only the kids got a gift. He never expected to get anything.
However, he did not say no when Ren handed it to him. He felt it was better to accept it simply. He would remember Ren's kindness in his heart.
"Yes. Hikigaya, you said you have a sister, right?"
"This is a gift for her. Hikigaya, do not eat it yourself," Ren said with a joke.
When they talked, Hikigaya often mentioned his sister. He clearly cared about her a lot. Ren remembered this.
"...Thank you," Hikigaya said after a short silence.
He thought Ren just wanted him to feel included. He did not expect Ren to think about his sister too.
"Hikigaya, why are you still standing there? We are leaving."
While Hikigaya was thinking, Ren had already led the girls to the door of the shop.
Ren was very handsome and was walking with three girls with different hair and eye colors. Hikigaya walked with them with his "dead fish eyes." People were staring at them.
If Ren did not look so nice, people might have called the police thinking he was kidnapping children.
The three girls were very quiet and followed Ren. Maybe it was because they were full?
[A sister really is the cutest thing in the world,] Hikigaya thought while walking behind.
He looked at the girls and thought about Komachi, who was likely home by now. Ren was right. Hikigaya really loved his sister.
Sometimes he felt like hitting his future brother-in-law, even though he had never met the guy. Hikigaya felt a bit jealous seeing Ren lead the "sisters."
He wanted to take Komachi out like this too! But his sister was older now and not as quiet as these girls.
"Ren-nii, do you want to come up for a bit?"
Ren had safely taken them home. Yuzuru Nishimiya invited him to her house. The Gotō house was very close to the Nishimiya house.
Futari Gotō also thought about inviting him, but she changed her mind. She had only met Ren once. It felt too soon. Also, her sister Hitori was very afraid of people. Futari did not want to scare her.
"Re... n... nii?"
Shōko Nishimiya said his name better now. Her eyes showed she really wanted him to stay.
"Next time. Shōko, Yuzuru, you need to talk to Aunt Yaeko about visiting me. I won't disturb her today."
Ren declined with a wave of his hand.
He was with Hikigaya today. It would be rude to bring a stranger to their house. Hikigaya would probably feel awkward too.
Yuzuru wanted to ask again, but Ren pointed to Shōko's notebook.
"I already left my contact info. There will be other chances. No need to rush."
"Okay... Ren-nii, goodbye."
"Good... bye, Ren-nii," Shōko said.
They knew they could not make him stay. They waved goodbye to him.
"Yes, goodbye."
Ren and Hikigaya watched the girls go upstairs before leaving the area. They passed a fried chicken shop on the way.
Ren put his bag on a bench. He leaned on the railing and looked at the busy street. He started eating a fried chicken leg. Desserts were not enough to fill him up.
"Hikigaya, want some?"
Ren offered the bag of chicken to Hikigaya, who was also looking down at the street.
"Ren, you..."
Hikigaya took a chicken wing. He looked at Ren and wanted to say something, but he stopped. He did not quite understand Ren.
"Do you want to ask why I eat this cheap junk food?"
Ren chewed and swallowed without turning his head. Hikigaya did not speak, which meant he was right.
Ren usually acted like money did not matter. That was why Hikigaya sometimes wanted to make Ren pay for things.
Hikigaya did not understand. Shouldn't people like Ren act like they are above everyone else?
"Hikigaya, what kind of life do you think I should have?"
Ren put some fried chicken bites in his mouth. His voice was calm.
"..."
"Then, Hikigaya, what kind of life do you think you should have?"
"..."
Hikigaya did not answer for a long time. Ren turned to look at him. Hikigaya was looking down in silence.
"Hikigaya, making yourself happy is the most important thing. That is the meaning of life."
"If something makes you feel good, it is right. Life is short. Just please yourself."
"Don't care too much about what others think. Just make yourself happy."
Hikigaya was too rational. Ren had noticed this since Shizuka Hiratsuka first called them to the office.
Being rational is good. But deep down, Hikigaya also had a kind heart. It was the kind of "kindness" that Ren disliked.
When extreme logic meets that kind of "kindness," logic becomes a knife. A knife that stabs the person who holds it.
Hikigaya's logic helped him find the best answer to a problem quickly. But his "kindness" made him ignore the fact that the answer would hurt him.
Kindness twisted his logic. The "best answer" was actually the most "illogical" one because it hurt him.
Ren hoped Hikigaya would change. Kind people should be treated with kindness.
They should not be covered in wounds after giving their kindness to others. That is not right.
A good person should not have a gun pointed at them, even if they are the one holding the gun.