An hour had passed since Hikigaya and Ichinose started their karaoke "hangout," though truthfully, it was Ichinose who sang most of the time.
Hikigaya had only sung a few songs here and there. Even so, it left him feeling more relaxed than expected.
Sitting on the soft sofa with drinks in hand, Ichinose turned to him, curiosity flickering in her sapphire eyes.
"Hikigaya-kun, you've been hanging out with Menlai and the others more often lately. How's that going?"
The question made Hikigaya's face stiffen slightly.
Was she... watching him?
No, that didn't seem like Ichinose's style. She probably heard about it from someone like Yume or Hiyori. The girls talked among themselves. Still, it was unsettling how easily she noticed things.
"A little tiring," he admitted, sipping his cola while trying to hide a flicker of guilt.
"Hmm?" Ichinose blinked, then smiled with understanding.
"That just means you're trying your best with them. It's not a bad thing."
"Well… yeah, let's say that's what it is."
How could she always spin things into something positive? It was oddly reassuring.
"I'm glad," Ichinose said, a relieved smile crossing her face. "Asako's been going on about how fun your group is. Sounds like she really enjoys your company."
"I'm probably not that interesting…"
He rubbed the back of his head, unsure how to respond. He wanted to believe it was just a friendly liking, not something deeper.
"Besides, I wouldn't even say we're really 'friends' yet. We've only just started hanging out."
"Eh?" Ichinose suddenly frowned, her tone tightening. "You shouldn't say that, Hikigaya-kun. It'd really hurt them if they heard you say that."
"Ah… yeah." He felt a pang of guilt.
He was slipping back into his old habits—acting like everyone kept their distance from him. But this wasn't like middle school.
These people genuinely tried to be around him.
Ichinose gently patted his shoulder. "Friendship isn't about how long you've known someone. If you enjoy spending time together, that's enough."
"Even if you only meet once, it can still count."
She smiled. "Menlai told me herself—she's happy being around you. That's what matters. You're already friends."
That idea caught him off guard.
So friendship… wasn't something rigid. It didn't follow clear rules.
He glanced at her and smiled awkwardly. "You really are something else, Ichinose."
"If that's the case, then I guess you don't have to keep going out of your way to take care of me," he added lightly. "I'm fine on my own now."
"Hmm…" Ichinose rolled her eyes with mock exaggeration. "You really are dense sometimes."
"Huh?"
"I never thought of it as special treatment." She grinned. "I just wanted to be your friend. And now we are."
"Wait—so before that?"
"If I said it was just friendship from the beginning," she replied, sighing theatrically, "you would've refused everything, wouldn't you?"
"...True."
Hikigaya gave a sheepish laugh. She wasn't wrong. Framing it as "special attention" had been the only way he would allow someone like her to get close.
"Well then," Ichinose said, standing up, "let's head back."
As they walked, she glanced at his jacket. "You know, even if you live alone, you should at least make sure your clothes are clean."
"Sorry…"
He tugged at the windbreaker. Honestly, he only wore pajamas at home and threw this on whenever he needed to go out. But with how often he was going out now, maybe… it was time to get a second one.
Having more friends meant needing more clothes. That was a weird math equation.
---
The next day.
Keyaki Mall. Karaoke again.
Hikigaya stood at the front desk, his face devoid of expression. Behind the counter, the staff gave him a strange look.
"Sir, you really enjoy karaoke, don't you?"
"No," Hikigaya said in his usual deadpan voice.
He didn't come here by choice. Once again, he'd been dragged—this time by Juke, who now stood beside him, tugging lightly at his sleeve.
"Does he come here often?" she asked the staff.
"Well… he was here just yesterday."
The staff gave Hikigaya a knowing look—yesterday a pretty girl, today another one. What kind of gigolo was this guy?
Juke raised an eyebrow but said nothing, leading him toward the private room.
"Let me guess… Ichinose made you come yesterday?"
"Exactly."
Juke nodded. "Figures. She's got a strong sense of duty. Even you can't say no to her, huh?"
Inside the booth, Juke immediately walked up to the karaoke screen.
"Alright, what are you singing?"
"I'm thinking of going with Blue Bird."
"Hmm?"
Juke turned and looked him up and down.
"What?" Hikigaya blinked.
"Nothing…" she muttered. "I just figured you'd do that thing where you refuse to sing and only join in reluctantly after I forced the mic in your hand."
"No… Ichinose made me sing a few yesterday. It wasn't so bad."
"I see."
She turned back to the screen, but something about her expression had changed. Was that… irritation?
Juke didn't like being second. Not that she would say it aloud.
"I'll go first."
She selected a fast-paced English pop song and jumped straight in.
The music blasted through the speakers. Her English was surprisingly good, and her voice—though not perfect—carried the rhythm with effortless confidence.
Hikigaya blinked, stunned.
So this was why she didn't want to sing in groups before. She didn't want to show off.
If Ichinose and the others saw her now, they'd be stunned.
"How was it?" she asked, casually flipping her ponytail over her shoulder.
"It was… loud. But good."
Juke raised an eyebrow. "That's such a weird compliment."
She chuckled. "Anyway, your turn."
Hikigaya took the mic and sang Blue Bird again.
For once, he didn't mind being watched.
But Juke had no filter. When he finished, she gave a flat remark: "You sing pretty mediocre. Why do you look so smug?"
"Hey. Ordinary is good. Better than cringe."
He handed the mic back with a smile.
For Hikigaya, "ordinary" was already a victory.
Junior high had made him think he was a tone-deaf embarrassment. But now, if even Juke wasn't insulting him outright, maybe he'd improved.
Still, he noticed her watching him a little too closely.
Was it because he'd changed since yesterday? Was she annoyed Ichinose had gotten to him first?
"Let's sing a duet," Juke suddenly said with a mischievous smile.
"Eh?"
"Why not? Isn't that what karaoke is about?"
"Isn't it better to sing solo? Also, you're way better than me. I'll just drag down your score…"
"Pfft. That's not the point," she said, thrusting the mic toward him.
She browsed the screen, then selected a song titled Carry My Love to the End.
Hikigaya's face turned beet red.
"Wait, isn't this… kind of a couple's song?"
"What's wrong with that?" Juke shrugged. "Just read the lyrics and follow along. Don't think too much."
He stared at the screen.
"I... Love…"
The words stuck in his throat.
These lyrics were too much. Was she doing this on purpose?
"Louder, please!" Juke sang joyfully into her mic while poking him in the ribs. "I can't hear you!"
"I… Love…"
Hikigaya stammered.
Juke smiled, hiding a blush as the light from the karaoke screen danced across her face.
Being with Hikigaya like this—more than with Menlai or the others—just felt… more fun.
And maybe, just maybe…
Something more than friendship was starting to form.
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