"Let’s get started."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two groups separated. Normally, Menlai wouldn’t mind having a group study session, but today she was on Juke’s side.
They ordered simple coffee and began their study session.
"Alright, everyone." Menlai opened her schoolbag with a cheerful smile. "Let’s count to three, two, one, and take out the food we prepared."
"Uh, sorry." Hikigaya apologized insincerely and admitted, "I didn’t prepare anything. I don’t cook much; I mostly eat instant noodles and toast."
A loser’s answer, he thought. Keeping their expectations low was better than disappointing them.
"Eh?"
Menlai’s expression fell, her shoulders drooping as tears welled up in her eyes. "Why is this? Didn’t we agree?"
"Well... I’m sorry..."
Girls in junior high never cried like this, Hikigaya mused. Their eyes were cold and distant, their words sharp and unforgiving. Why did things change so much in high school?
"All right." Menlai’s mood brightened quickly. "We’ll eat what we brought this time. But next time, make sure you prepare something, okay?"
"Uh... No." Hikigaya raised his hand. "I really don’t like it, so let’s just forget about it."
Juke glanced at him subtly.
She had known Hikigaya long enough to understand his habits. Yesterday, he’d at least made an effort to be polite. But today, he was back to his usual self, unwilling to budge from his comfort zone.
"Then, Hikigaya’s claim of having sixth-grade cooking skills was a lie?" Juke asked.
"No, that’s true."
"Then why bother learning if you don’t enjoy cooking?" Menlai asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Because my dream is to be a househusband," Hikigaya replied bluntly.
Everyone at the table fell silent, their eyes widening. Even the group from Class D next to them looked shocked.
"A househusband?" Okakura Asako said, her eyes full of disbelief.
"Yes."
"Why?" Asako continued. "You’re talented, handsome, have good grades, and a steady personality. You should be popular, not a shut-in."
Hikigaya felt awkward under her stare. "Without that incident, I would’ve continued to be ostracized and mocked in junior high. I’m not as good as you think."
"That’s impossible," Asako insisted. "You have all the qualities people like."
Why didn’t they believe him? Hikigaya wondered. Ichinose believed his words easily, but Asako and Menlai only saw the positive. It was as if their views were filtered through rose-colored glasses.
Class D was clearly made up of people like Asako, who had idealistic, sheltered lives. They couldn’t imagine anything but the best from others. But Ichinose? She had seen darkness.
"Alright. Even if your dream is to be a househusband," Menlai said, frowning. "Why don’t you enjoy cooking? That’s an essential skill for a househusband."
"Nope. Real househusbands only get 500 yen from their wives, then use her money to eat out and enjoy life. That’s the real dream!" Hikigaya declared dramatically.
Juke looked at him, her mouth slightly open. His absurdity was shocking but... somehow impressive.
"Pfft."
A sneer came from the next table. Yukimura, scribbling furiously on his homework, pushed up his glasses and said, "How could someone like you end up in Class B? It makes no sense."
"What do you mean?" Menlai and Asako both looked at him, their faces filled with displeasure.
"Did I say something wrong?" Yukimura shot back. "His dream is to be a househusband. He admitted it. And by your conversation, he’s a liar who never keeps his promises. How does that make him excellent?"
"Hey, Yukimura, calm down," Miyake Akito whispered, glancing awkwardly at Sakura Airi.
"What? I’m just stating the truth." Yukimura’s reasoning was clear and logical. By his standards, Hikigaya was anything but excellent.
Hikigaya nodded. From a rational point of view, Yukimura was absolutely right. His perspective was normal, unlike the overly optimistic views of Menlai and Asako.
"That’s not true!" Menlai slammed her hand on the table, eyes blazing. "People have the right to pursue their own dreams. Mocking others for their ambitions only shows your own lack of character."
Her words came out strong and confident. "Yes, lying is wrong. But there are white lies meant to protect people’s feelings. Everyone lies sometimes. Acting like it’s a sin is just hypocritical."
Hikigaya blinked, his face warming up in embarrassment. Did she really believe all that?
Menlai’s defense of him was sincere and impassioned. It was the exact opposite of Yukimura’s rigid worldview.
Class D only cared about themselves. Class B, on the other hand, genuinely cared about each other.
"Ugh." Yukimura’s face turned red, but he stubbornly argued, "You’re just making excuses."
"It’s not an excuse," Menlai said firmly. "People’s dreams and motivations are their own. If you can’t understand that, it only shows you lack empathy."
Yukimura looked genuinely angry, his hand clenched into a fist.
"Um... Everyone, please calm down," Miyake Akito said awkwardly. "Sorry about Yukimura. He’s been stressed out trying to reach Class A."
Yukimura glared at him. "Why are you apologizing? I wasn’t wrong."
"Let’s not make a big deal out of this." Hikigaya spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "Yukimura-san was just being honest. No harm done."
Menlai let out a sigh and turned to Juke. "You weren’t scared, were you?"
"I’m fine," Juke replied, her voice calm but her eyes showing a hint of frustration. "Actually, I was angry too. But I didn’t say anything... Sorry, Hikigaya."
"It’s fine," Hikigaya shrugged. He genuinely appreciated the gesture but wanted to move on.
"Alright, let’s try the cookies now." Menlai placed several small plates of cookies on the table, her enthusiasm back. "You have to taste all of them and tell us which one is the best."
Hikigaya couldn’t refuse, so he took a few bites. None were particularly amazing, but they were all decent enough. And the sincerity behind them made them taste sweeter.
"Well, which one’s the best?" Menlai asked eagerly.
"Um... Maybe..." Hikigaya began to speak but was interrupted by an annoyed voice.
"If you want to play house, do it somewhere else. You’re disrupting our study session." Yukimura’s irritation had reached its peak.
"Uh... Isn’t a café meant for chatting?" Juke asked timidly.
"I’m talking about them." Yukimura pointed at the corner of the café.
Hikigaya glanced over and saw several boys staring at their group. He had felt their gaze from the start, but had chosen to ignore it.
"Maybe we should leave," Hikigaya suggested.
"But we just got here," Menlai protested. "Shouldn’t we just switch tables?"
Before anyone could respond, a white plastic cup rolled into the aisle and was stomped on by a pair of brown leather shoes.
------------------------------------------------------
Extra Chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------------