Chapter 105: A Faded Pink Twilight
The week-long periodic exams had finally come to an end. After the brief sanctuary of the weekend, a new Monday rolled around once more.
Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko had yet to return. Yuika reported that her mother's surgery was a complete success and her condition had stabilized; however, since she was still hospitalized, Yuika had to stay by her side to help with the care. Consequently, she extended her leave for another week.
With Kondo Yuika absent, Sakurai Kaiko naturally wouldn't return on her own.
Akishin could only offer a few extra words of concern through their messages.
As a result, Kawasaki Saki's work was also pushed back until the following week. The elderly lady who worked as the dishwasher had already resigned, likely under the impression that Akishin wouldn't be reopening the shop.
However, Akishin had successfully applied for a scholarship for Saki. It had only taken a single sentence; the school administration held a profound amount of respect for him.
Truth be told, the school had already been leaning toward that decision anyway.
Having resolved her most pressing anxiety, Saki felt a massive weight lift from her shoulders. She bought some biscuits to give to Akishin and the three members of the Service Club. Even Komachi, Totsuka, and Zaimokuza received a share as a token of her gratitude.
Following that, she resigned from her job at the bar. She no longer spent her classes sleeping, and her life finally regained a sense of normalcy.
The exam results were also announced today. The entirety of the class hours was consumed by the distribution of exam papers and the review of the questions.
"Hikki, my Japanese History improved a ton! It looks like that study group we had actually worked!"
Every time a period ended, Yui would excitedly report her scores to Hachiman. Her tone was brimming with enthusiasm, while Hachiman remained relatively composed.
His response was flat, perhaps even a bit chilly: "That's good."
"Yeah! It's all thanks to Yukinon... and Hikki, too."
After Yui finished speaking, her face flushed slightly, and she scurried back to her small social circle, stealing occasional glances in Hachiman's direction.
Hachiman looked down at his own exam paper. There were plenty of high marks there, but he couldn't bring himself to feel happy. In fact, it felt a bit meaningless.
His Japanese score had increased by over twenty points, maintaining his rank as third in the entire year. English and his other subjects had improved to varying degrees as well. Most impressive was Math: eighty-five points.
He remembered that on the previous exam, he had scored a grand total of nine.
It was a staggering transformation.
The Math teacher had specifically praised him while handing out the papers. Seeing that look in the teacher's eyes—an expression that said this is unexpected, yet entirely logical—the meaning was easy to analyze: 'As expected of Chishima-sensei's pupil!'
Aside from the distribution of periodic exam papers, today also featured an event that had been in the works for a long time: Workplace Observation!
After noon, the students headed toward the various workplaces they had chosen to observe.
The location Hachiman headed for was Kaihimmakuhari Station, the spot chosen by Hayama. It was the area where the Hotel Royal was located, and Yukino's apartment wasn't far from there.
The district was a hub of office buildings. Many corporate headquarters were situated there. Moreover, from the events of a few days ago, Hachiman also knew this place served as a major business district.
The name [Makuhari New City] wasn't just for show; its level of bustle could easily be called the true heart of Chiba City.
Aside from Hayama, the other member of Hachiman's group was Totsuka.
Well, on paper, anyway...
Because of the "Hayama factor," more than half the students in the class had flocked here. A massive crowd swarmed around Hayama, making them look less like a structured group and more like a mob.
Totsuka also enjoyed high popularity in the class. Several girls crowded around him, and seeing his embarrassed expression, he likely didn't even remember he had a group member named Hachiman.
Hachiman walked alone at the very back of the line. The biggest difference from before was that some of the "friends" up ahead would occasionally glance back at him, a smirk appearing in their eyes as if they felt they had finally gained the upper hand.
Hachiman didn't care about any of that.
Just as he had said before, it wasn't them ostracizing Hachiman anymore; it was Hachiman who had abandoned them.
Hayama noticed Hachiman's presence halfway through and started to turn back to call out to him, but before he could speak, he was pushed along by Miura Yumiko and Tobe Kakeru. The others joined in the cheering, and they swept away from the floor.
Hayama Hayato's willpower was weak. Despite being the "leader" of the class, he was also a follower of the crowd's expectations.
If there was one thing about Hayama Hayato that Akishin acknowledged, it was the fact that Hayama wouldn't bully the weak in the class, nor would he allow his inner circle to do so. If such a thing happened in plain sight, he would step in to mediate.
—This only applied to physical and verbal bullying, however. Ostracization was another matter entirely.
In Hayama's eyes, being ignored wasn't the same as being bullied. Back when they were children, he had helped Yukino only because people had started physically targeting her.
But Hayama's help was fragile. He had pulled his hand away halfway through, causing Yukino to endure even more trauma and deeper isolation, which eventually forced her to attend school abroad...
Compared to other classes, the atmosphere of Class 2-F was better, and that was thanks to Hayama. However...
Hayama had also created the very circle of exclusion within that class.
By the time Totsuka realized he was still in a group with Hachiman, Hachiman was already nowhere to be seen.
Hachiman walked solo at the tail end, pressing his face against a window to look at a robot inside. He put on an interested expression, but a few minutes later, he felt bored.
If he didn't like it, why bother pretending to be happy?
Hachiman looked at his slightly trembling palms, thinking of Akishin's words and the proverbs from the dojo. He murmured, "My heart... is in disarray..."
Right now, he wanted a sword so he could swing it to his heart's content, wanting to cut through the unpleasantness in his chest.
Why was it like this?
It was actually just a small matter. How Yui acted was her own freedom, so what was I even hoping for?
And what was I grieving for?
Sensei...
"Hikigaya, you're here too!"
Shizuka had taken off her standard white lab coat and was wearing a beige trench coat—wearing a lab coat here would make her easily mistaken for the staff.
"Is Hiratsuka-sensei on patrol?"
"...You could say that!"
Shizuka didn't notice that anything was wrong with Hachiman, or perhaps it was just that Hachiman was always an expert at hiding it.
"Right, Hikigaya, about your competition..."
Shizuka was referring to the contest between Hachiman and Yukino over who could help more people through the Service Club; the winner would get to command the loser to do anything.
"Because too many uncertain factors have entered the mix, the rules are no longer appropriate. So... I plan to adjust part of the content."
It sounded like a statement from a game developer.
Hachiman originally wanted to fire off a sarcastic retort as usual, but when he opened his mouth, the words turned into four flat words: "I have no objection."
It was as if he were discussing someone else's business.
In his current mood, he couldn't muster the energy for a critique.
He asked in return: "Have the specific details been decided?"
"Not yet... there's one person I still don't know how to handle."
Shizuka found Hachiman's attitude a bit strange, but she was quickly distracted by the topic at hand. When she mentioned there was one person left, Hachiman immediately thought of Yui.
"Once I've decided on the new competition method, I'll let you all know. Don't worry, I won't screw you over. You're that person's student, after all."
Since she really couldn't think of anything and had just bumped into him by chance, Shizuka left him with those words and returned to her original path.
'Sensei is here too, probably on a date with Hiratsuka-sensei... How nice. Sensei and Hiratsuka-sensei feel like a perfect match. I wonder why they haven't announced their relationship yet... If Sensei and Hiratsuka-sensei get married, do I have to be the ring bearer? Probably? I should be, considering I'm the groom's disciple and the bride's student...'
While thinking about things that had absolutely nothing to do with Workplace Observation, Hachiman walked toward the exit with a faint smile.
In the western sky, a faded pink sunset had already begun to emerge. He pulled out his phone to check the time; it was already three in the afternoon. Time flew!
Standing on the steps of the main entrance and looking around, the place was empty. Not a soul in sight...
No, wait. There was someone.
In Hachiman's field of vision, a familiar "dango" hairstyle appeared.
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