Hikigaya Hachiman thought that Chiba University had truly given him enough respect for his arrival. When he arrived at the gate of the Nishichiba campus half an hour early in Haruno's car, a group of people was already waiting for him.
"Senior, why do you look a little serious?" Hachiman asked, looking at Haruno's tense expression in the driver's seat.
"You may not know this, Hikigaya-kun," she explained while skillfully parking the car, "but those people waiting outside are mostly well-known professors. If I'm not mistaken, the Dean of the Faculty of Letters is there too. We'll hurry over after I park. Yukino, don't speak after you get out. Wait for Hikigaya-kun to introduce you first."
Even though Haruno came from a prestigious family and had a confident, outgoing personality, she was only a freshman. Facing so many prominent professors and university leaders, she wasn't sure she could handle the situation properly. Chiba University was one of the top public universities in Japan; its professors and leaders were top academic figures with considerable social influence.
"Hello, Mr. Hachiman," a professor standing at the front said enthusiastically as Hachiman approached, stepping forward to shake his hand firmly. "I am Makoto Ichikawa, the Dean of the Faculty of Letters at Chiba University. On behalf of all the teachers and students, I welcome you."
"Hello, Mr. Hachiman. I am Naoki Uchiyama from the Faculty of Education..." "Hello, Mr. Hachiman. I am Shingo Odani from the School of Engineering..." "..."
Hachiman shook hands and greeted each professor one by one, but it felt a little strange. If they were just there to greet him, there would be no need for so many professors from different colleges...
Is this another form of fan meeting...? Hachiman realized the truth somewhat helplessly, but he still took the trouble to greet each professor politely. After all, one of these people might be his teacher in the future.
"Writer Hachiman," Dean Ichikawa invited with a smile after the greetings were over, "there's still some time before the event starts. Would you like to tour the campus? I can be your guide."
At that time, the people at Chiba University didn't know that Hachiman had already chosen their school for his future studies. They were eager to attract this great writer, who was just half a step away from becoming a true literary giant, possibly through special recruitment. This was why Dean Ichikawa was being so attentive. Everyone knew that with Hachiman's achievements, he could choose any famous university in Japan. Chiba University didn't have much of an advantage, except perhaps that he was a Chiba native.
"Thank you for your kindness, Professor Ichikawa," Hachiman declined politely. "However, I'll let my senior lead the campus tour. I wouldn't want to bother you." He then moved aside, allowing the Dean to notice the Yukinoshita sisters who had been trying to remain invisible behind him.
"Hikigaya-kun, why did you refuse Professor Ichikawa's company just now?" Haruno asked with a hint of grievance as they walked. "And you did it in such a conspicuous way, making sure he saw me..." She hadn't expected her junior to use such an unconventional method to bring her into the spotlight.
"Isn't it simple?" Hachiman said, putting his hands in his pockets and looking up at the sky, clearly in a happy mood. "Walking around the school with a fifty-something professor is definitely not as relaxing as walking with you two. I don't really care what the campus looks like, as long as you're by my side."
"...Hikigaya-kun, please don't say things like 'You are all my wings' so casually, okay?" Haruno started to criticize his apparent declaration of love, then noticed her sister. "Aren't you afraid that one day Yukino and I will kill you... Yukino?" Yukino's face was already bright red. Haruno knew very well that although her sister usually acted like an ice queen, she still had a pure and innocent side, which she only showed unreservedly to Hachiman. It was very cunning.
"I'm just stating objective facts, Senior. You two wouldn't do anything to me, right?" Hachiman pretended to be scared, as if he expected to be locked in a basement by the sisters in the next second.
"It's okay, Hikigaya-kun," Yukino said after recovering from her shock, clenching her little fists. "If my sister wants to harm you, I will definitely protect you."
"My dear sister," Haruno said with some grief, seeing that Yukino's heart was completely occupied by Hachiman, "as a member of the Yukinoshita family, how can you be so disloyal?" She herself hadn't fallen so quickly.
"My arms will always reach out to those closest to me, Sis," Yukino replied, naturally taking Hachiman's arm. He didn't react. "I wanted to reach out to you, but unfortunately, Hikigaya-san blocked the way. There's nothing I can do."
"Senior, there's room on the left," Hachiman said, stretching out his other arm toward Haruno. "Do you want to come too?"
"...Hikigaya-kun," Haruno said with a deceptively kind look, "this is going to hurt a little. Just bear with it."
"?"
The Chiba University mystery literature discussion meeting was held in a large open classroom within the Faculty of Letters. Two-thirds of the audience were Chiba University students, with the remaining third coming from other nearby universities. The most special attendees were the twenty-five members of the Kyoto University Mystery Research Society, the only group from outside the Kanto region.
When Hikigaya Hachiman, grimacing slightly in pain, walked into the classroom, the venue erupted in enthusiastic applause, especially from the Kyoto contingent. This certainly satisfied his vanity.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, seniors," he began, standing at the podium. "To be honest, as a sixteen-year-old high school student invited to give a report at a famous university like Chiba simply because I have a little fame writing mystery novels, I am truly honored." It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous, speaking in front of over eight hundred people older than him. But he felt more happy than nervous; he had always been eager to express himself. The more people who could hear his voice, the greater his sense of satisfaction.
"I came here today to discuss various topics about mystery literature with you. Your suggestions will become fuel for my creation. Thank you again." He bowed deeply to the audience.
"Today, I want to discuss with you the topic of: the development and creation of new orthodox mystery."
Hachiman, speaking nonstop on the stage, had no idea at that moment just how much influence this single speech would have on the future of the mystery literary world.
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