"You look very happy, don't you, Hikigaya-san?"
"Of course I'm happy that summer vacation is coming," Hachiman complained. "If you hadn't dragged me here to breathe in your secondhand smoke, I'd definitely be happier than I am now, Ms. Hiratsuka."
After the class meeting, Hachiman had been called to the staff lounge by Shizuka Hiratsuka. He had originally expected to go to the office, but halfway there, she had suddenly felt the urge to smoke and changed their destination.
"Sorry, sorry," she said, a little embarrassed, holding up her cigarette. "Just this one. And it's a ladies' cigarette, so the smell isn't strong." It was truly painful for a homeroom teacher to have a smoking addiction.
"Ms. Hiratsuka, how are you going to spend your summer vacation?"
"Hikigaya, you have to understand," Hiratsuka said with some sorrow, "in Japan, a teacher's summer vacation isn't for fun; it's for survival."
"Uh, why do you say that, Ms. Hiratsuka?" Hachiman asked, confused.
"To put it bluntly, it's just too much work," she explained further, subconsciously lighting another cigarette as she spoke. "You students leave school at 5:00 PM, but for teachers like me, especially homeroom teachers, leaving the office by 7:00 PM is considered early. As for weekends, we have to come to school from time to time to guide club activities... So, the profession of teaching really requires people with a certain level of dedication."
"I have no doubts about your dedication as a teacher, Ms. Hiratsuka," Hachiman agreed. In his opinion, she hadn't chosen this profession just to make a living. He had seen her driving her luxurious Aston Martin Vantage to and from work more than once. An ordinary teacher could never afford such a car, worth over 40 million yen. Considering she was still unmarried, Hachiman inferred that she likely came from a very well-off family. Even the Yukinoshita family hadn't given Haruno such a luxurious car.
But that raised another question: if her family was so prominent, and she had such a good relationship with the Yukinoshita family, why hadn't she appeared at the Chiba Prefecture year-end gatherings in the past two years? Hachiman was puzzled but couldn't ask directly, so he put the doubt aside.
"Forget it, let's not talk about that for now," Hiratsuka said, putting out her cigarette and getting down to business. "I called you here today for something else."
"Hikigaya, you should know that among our high school graduates each year, the largest number are admitted to Chiba University. Many of the students I once taught, including Haruno, are studying there now."
"I know," Hachiman nodded. "In fact, I also plan to study at Chiba University in the future."
"There was a girl I taught who was one year older than Haruno. Her name is Nanako Fujita. Soon after entering Chiba University, she joined the Mystery Literature Research Society. Now, as a sophomore, she's the director of the club."
"So Chiba University has a club like that?" Hachiman asked in surprise. "This is the first time I've heard of it."
"That's right," Hiratsuka replied. "And this club has been established for nearly twenty years. Although it's not as famous as Kyoto University's, it can definitely be called a long-established literary club."
"I see... So this senior wants to entrust me with a task in the name of the mystery club?" Hachiman guessed.
"Yes, the details are very simple. They hope that you, Hikigaya, can go to Chiba University to give a speech or something similar. The timing is entirely up to you, and they will prepare everything else."
"A speech?..." Hachiman hesitated, finding it hard to imagine the scene. "Is it a bit strange for a high school student like me to give a speech to so many university seniors?"
"Actually, Hikigaya-san," Hiratsuka reassured him, "I think that with the current public opinion, no one cares about your age anymore. Ultimately, the concept of age is just a shackle that limits people's imagination, especially after the emergence of a super genius like you." She had also finished reading The Clockwork Museum Incident. Though not a mystery fan, she had been shocked by the ending, and the aftereffect lingered. It was then she realized that this boy might not just be a best-selling author; he might truly be capable of leaving his name in the history of literature.
"Thank you for your affirmation, Ms. Hiratsuka," Hachiman said. "I am very willing to accept this senior's invitation. However, I'm not going to give a 'lecture' or 'speech,' which are one-sided activities. I'd rather participate in something more like an exchange meeting, where not only I speak, but the audience does too. That way, we can better promote the development of mystery literature on campus." He had previously set a goal to promote mystery literature in schools, so he wouldn't refuse. However, due to his current popularity, such an event could easily turn into a fan meeting, which wouldn't be effective. What he needed was a forum for discussion and interaction.
"I think I understand what you mean, Hikigaya-san. I will convey the message to Chiba University," Hiratsuka nodded.
"Thank you, Ms. Hiratsuka. If it's convenient for them, I hope to go next Monday."
"Next Monday? That's a little hasty, Hikigaya-san."
"That's the only time I can guarantee I'll be free, Ms. Hiratsuka," he said helplessly. "My summer vacation is going to be very busy, so I'd better do this quickly before things get too hectic." He was now working on a script and two novels simultaneously, and once filming for Kohata Ninzaburo started, he would have to visit the set frequently as the official screenwriter.
Of course, there was another thing unrelated to work that also took up a lot of his energy: his interactions with the Yukinoshita sisters. Hachiman touched his cheek, as if recalling the sweet kiss Haruno had left there a week ago.
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