After the release of The Clockwork Museum Incident, just how popular was Hikigaya Hachiman? On Saturday morning, the Chiba University Mystery Literature Club posted a notice on the school's large billboard announcing that Hachiman would be participating in an event on campus the following Monday. By the afternoon, the information had spread throughout the university and then onto the internet.
Most working adults among the netizens just glanced at the news and moved on. It was normal for writers to participate in school activities, and it had little relevance to them. Besides, they couldn't spare the time to attend such an event on a Monday.
However, for Hachiman's college-aged fans, the news was quite exciting. It sent a signal: if he could go to Chiba University today, he might go to other universities in the future. They were full of expectation. Only students from one particular school had a strong reaction: the Mystery Novel Research Society of Kyoto University.
"No!!! Why did Mr. Hachiman choose Chiba University as the first stop for his speech? How is our Kyoto University inferior to Chiba?" one member howled in despair after seeing the news.
"Is it possible Mr. Hachiman is originally from Chiba? Do you expect a writer from Kanto to travel all the way to Kansai just to give a lecture?"
"This is literature! It has no regionality! It has nothing to do with Kansai or Kanto. I think you should reflect on why the Kyoto University Research Society, a club with a nationwide reputation, can't compare to an imitator club at Chiba University!" a club officer retorted sorrowfully.
After the release of The Clockwork Museum Incident, the Kyoto University society had sent multiple emails to Hachiman's publicly listed address, but all had gone unanswered. The reason wasn't that Hachiman looked down on Kyoto University, but that they hadn't used his work email address, causing their messages to be automatically filtered into his spam folder.
"Come and see!" exclaimed a member who was reading the Chiba University notice carefully. "They're reserving some spots for students from other schools! We can form a group to attend! President, let's take Monday off and go to Chiba together. It's a good opportunity to talk to Mr. Hachiman in person and hopefully convince him to come to our school." Other members quickly echoed the suggestion.
"I think it's okay," the president agreed after a moment's thought. "But I need to tell our advisor. So many people asking for leave at once, and it's quite a long journey... we still need to report it."
"...Are all the people in the Kyoto University Research Society crazy?" Nanako Fujita, the director of the Chiba University Mystery Fiction Research Society, said speechlessly, looking at the email she had received. "They traveled over 500 kilometers from Kyoto just to participate in a half-day event? And there are twenty-five of them?"
"Of course their club can do this," a senior student next to her said with some helplessness. "They have enough funding. This trip is completely covered by club funds; the money can be reimbursed directly after they return."
"Senior, is that true? Why is it always so difficult for our club to get funds from the student union and the school? The gap is too big."
"Their money isn't from the school," the senior explained. "It's donations from writers who graduated from the Kyoto University society. You know they've produced many outstanding writers. After becoming famous, they're very willing to give back to their alma mater, mainly by giving money. Of course, the entry threshold for their society is also very strict. It's not the kind you can join just by applying." It would be difficult for them to catch up anytime soon; they could only envy them.
"I see... Well, we can't envy them. Let's just focus on our own event first," Nanako said, rallying herself. "This event on Monday is a good start. It's our blessing to have invited a writer of Mr. Hachiman's level, so we must make it a success." She then replied to the email from Kyoto, confirming that she would reserve enough seats for them.
"You're amazing, Hikigaya-kun," Mrs. Yukinoshita said with a smile later that weekend, her eyes full of maternal love. "I didn't expect that you can now give a speech at Chiba University. It's my alma mater too. If I weren't so tied up, I would also like to witness your heroic performance."
The Yukinoshita family and Hachiman had just finished dinner and were now sitting around the table in the main hall. Of course, only Hachiman had the privilege of sitting cross-legged; everyone else sat upright and proper.
"So, Mrs. Yukinoshita, you were once a student at Chiba University?" Hachiman said in surprise. "That means the school and the Yukinoshita family do have a connection."
"Haha, after all, our family's business is rooted in Chiba, so it's normal to study locally. It also makes it easier to get to know more people in the area," she explained, before making a suggestion. "By the way, Hikigaya-kun, you can stay at our house tonight, and Haruno can drive you directly to the university tomorrow. She can also take you around the campus. Chiba University is quite beautiful."
Haruno, who was sitting upright, couldn't help but tremble slightly upon hearing these words. In her opinion, her mother wasn't optimistic about her future with Hachiman. After all, she was the one set to inherit the family business, and Hachiman was unlikely to marry into the family. This made Yukino the more suitable marriage partner, which was the source of Haruno's confusion. However, her mother had just said, "Let Haruno take Hachiman around the campus." This made Haruno's mind race—maybe her mother didn't object, or even supported her being with Hachiman?
Just as Haruno was frantically thinking, Yukino, on the other side, stretched out her hand and pulled the corner of Hachiman's clothes, looking at him longingly like a kitten asking its owner for affection.
"Let Yukino come with us tomorrow," Hachiman understood her meaning and proposed to Mrs. Yukinoshita. "Sobu High is closed for the holidays anyway, right?"
"That's a matter for you young people," Mrs. Yukinoshita replied with a graceful smile. "You can decide for yourselves."
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