Chapter 152: Why Does the Blanket Smell Like a Girl
When Hirata attended junior high, something suffocating happened.
His close friend had long suffered inhuman bullying, and even after entering junior high, it continued.
At that time, Hirata's friend asked him for help many times, but because of Hirata's cowardice, his friend was eventually driven to jump to his death. It was this incident that made Hirata resolve to become strong.
Perhaps from that moment, he lost his weakness, but also embarked on a pathological path. His strength was built upon a nearly inhuman mentality, he wanted to relieve everyone's troubles and refused to lose the chance to protect his friends out of fear.
From that moment, he could no longer tolerate anyone around him being harmed. However… School bullying never stops because of one person's disappearance. Even after such a serious incident, due to the school's neglect and incompetence, an even more malicious bullying occurred soon after.
Faced with this incredible reality, Hirata realized that simply being kind couldn't change anything.
So he acted like Ryuen. If he fought seriously, his natural talent and terrifying resolve could intimidate others into submission. Using force, he climbed to the top, while everyone else was beneath him.
As long as the lower ranks were equal, there would be no bullying by power or numbers. Any dispute would be mediated by Hirata, who would deliver judgment and punishment.
This was the result of Hirata's heartfelt "hypocrisy." Indeed, it stopped the bullying almost entirely, but it nearly ruined the entire school year.
Ultimately, the school restructured all classes and maintained strict supervision until graduation.
'I see… Hirata, who had been fighting since junior high and had pathological standards, was placed in Class D. Academic or athletic ability was merely a cover for his true nature.'
After recounting his story, Hirata's confidence visibly vanished. Even the cold laugh disappeared, leaving only self-reproach and a manic laughter:
"Ha ha ha ha ha… Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
"I can't… I still can't change anything… I still can't do anything!"
"After all these years, I'm still the same."
"I'm not fit to lead this class. In the end, I couldn't protect Yamauchi-kun. He might already be a wreck. If this continues, history will repeat itself."
"Do I really have to rule the class through fear again? If that's the case, it's better to end it quickly."
Hikigaya said nothing to Hirata's frenzied self-talk. Words of comfort, Hirata had heard countless times. For someone as kind as Hirata: 'It's not your fault.'
'This is Yamauchi's own doing.'
'Hirata-kun, you're just too kind…'
These words were meaningless now. What was needed was something more direct.
Comforting others was never Hikigaya's strong suit. This time, he would use the method he knew best.
"Perhaps you expect me to comfort you. I'm sorry, I'm not that kind of person."
Hirata's face remained cold, but he said nothing, still absorbed in his own story.
"I'll say it plainly: Yosuke Hirata, Yamauchi's withdrawal is your responsibility. Just like back then, your friend's suicide was also because of you."
Hirata's breath grew rapid, trying to refute him, but Hikigaya continued: "You may be confused, but you probably don't know, neither Class B nor D has had anyone leave. They all find ways to keep their classmates in school. And you, the core of the class, let Yamauchi do something wrong."
Hirata would never blame another classmate for someone's mistake, but he would blame himself. Hikigaya wanted him to realize this.
"How is that possible? No one in Class D left? They couldn't have gathered twenty million points…"
Hikigaya shook his head. "I don't know what strange method they used, but the fact is here. Ryuen, last in the critique vote, is still swaggering around school."
Hirata lowered his head again.
"I knew it… I'm not fit for this."
Hikigaya placed a hand under Hirata's chin, lifting it gently:
"If you think this is your biggest mistake, you're completely wrong."
Hirata: "?!"
Hikigaya: "If you only indulge in the past, I have no objections. But if your past harms people now, you will regret it."
"When you hurt Mei-Yu just now, if Kōenji hadn't been there with her, do you dare imagine what she might have done? Can you guarantee history won't repeat itself?"
Hirata shuddered. If Mei-Yu went down that path because of him, he could never forgive himself.
He had said he had nothing to care about, but that wasn't true. He simply assumed the things he lost were too heavy, and forgot about the present.
Hikigaya had felt something similar, not the burden of a life, but close enough. Human dissatisfaction stems from desires, and when things deviate from expectations, frustration arises. Hirata was exactly like that now.
Unable to accept it, he held his head and cried: "Why… why do I have to endure this?"
"Because you are the core of Class C. From the first day of school, this was the path you chose, wasn't it?"
"If I hadn't chosen this path, it wouldn't have become like this, right? Hikigaya-kun, maybe Yamauchi-kun wouldn't have withdrawn either, right?"
"If that's the case, you will forever be trapped by your past. If you're willing to accept that…"
Hirata sighed deeply. "Hikigaya-kun, was I really wrong in my leadership? I did my best, yet Yamauchi still left."
Hikigaya nodded. "Yes, it's all your fault. But… there's still a chance to make things right."
"A chance to make things right?"
"Before the next special exam, if you still value this class then keep going. After all, this story began by your hand. Even if someone leaves, you must accept it with composure."
Hikigaya continued: "To face future obstacles, one needs a certain level of resolve. Among your classmates, you are an honor student, the core, even a leader. Admired and respected by the group. But in reality, you're not that strong."
"Yosuke Hirata, you are just an ordinary, powerless student. How long will you indulge in your idealistic dream?"
Repeated blows brought Hirata close to collapse. His usual coldness and kindness were gone. He looked at Hikigaya with an expression of total doubt.
"Will this really lessen my sins?"
"We are all people with deep sins. Walking this path, mistakes are inevitable. Whether they can be eased depends on your heart. Perhaps only it can give you an answer."
Hikigaya took a deep breath: "You have to choose. Either continue to decay, or reclaim your role as the core of this class and face all obstacles before the next special exam."
"If you stop here, your comrades will fall behind, maybe disappear. But if you continue moving forward, until the very end, you will have many allies behind you."
"This is the debt you, Yosuke Hirata, must repay. So… don't choose wrongly again."
The frozen heart was still consumed by darkness, but the darkness only took the cold. That ever-burning heart began to revive, beating once more.
"If… if someone like me… can still repay everything…"
"If… if someone like me… can still lead this class…"
"If… if someone like me… can still earn everyone's recognition and love…"
At that moment, the two drew closer. Hikigaya reached out and gently patted Hirata's shoulder.
"It's okay now. No problem at all."
"You can do better than before."
"Accept your past, and step forward again."
Hirata lowered his head, tears and snot streaming uncontrollably.
A simple pat had shattered the facade of coldness, the strong boy who masked himself with ferocity.
Tears of sorrow flowed; foolish dreams awakened.
His choked sobs echoed by the lake, while the boy gently patted his shoulder, comforting the past self, as a mere observer.
"Thank… thank you…"
"Hikigaya-kun, the class has always been grateful to you…"
"From now on… leave it to me…"
…
[Kōenji showed no change in expression, only lightly raising the corners of his mouth.]
[Sudo: "Again, it's Hikigaya. Without him, this class would be finished."]
[Hirata: "Hikigaya… he saved us…"]
[Horikita: "No doubt, this guy understands human psychology perfectly. He says he won't comfort people, yet every word reaches Hirata's heart…"]
[Ike: "I have to admit, someone who can encourage me like that is amazing."]
[Shinohara: "I'm glad Hirata-kun fully recovered. Everyone has witnessed your kindness. Your harsh exterior was only to protect us. But… even now that Hirata is back, our class may still not beat Class A."]
[Hasebe: "Does that mean our class has no chance at all?"]
[Matsushita Chiaki: "Let's put everything else aside, what about that chess match?"]
[Sakura: "The worst-case plan would naturally be the sacrifice strategy, but... would Class A really let us take that tactic so easily? What if..."]
[Kushida: "What if it's the decisive match? Wouldn't that completely ruin our plan?"]
[Karuizawa: "This is such a headache of a test..."]
[....]
After dealing with Hirata's matter, Hikigaya sent the news to Horikita's phone.
On the way back, he ran into someone he hadn't seen in a long time: Kamuro Masumi.
"Talk about luck… I can't believe I ran into you here."
Kamuro said that, but slowly walked alongside Hikigaya, and the two walked shoulder to shoulder.
'After all, it's just this one dorm building… running into her isn't too surprising.'
Kamuro crossed her arms. "Hey, a lot seems to be happening in your class recently. Are you really okay?"
Hikigaya: "What, trying to gather intel again? Too bad, Class C is fine now."
Kamuro looked disdainful. "Who's gathering intel on you? I'm relieved I don't have to follow you around every day anymore."
She bragged a little, showing off the clothes she just bought with Sakayanagi from the mall, typical of a girl.
Hikigaya didn't think much of it. He said calmly: "That's good. A lot of people in our class already suspect I'm colluding with other classes. Better not to make contact unless necessary."
Hearing that, Kamuro suddenly got angry. Just a moment ago, she was walking fine, but now she froze in place.
"Hikigaya! What do you mean by that? Was I the one begging to follow you?! Fine, fine, now you're rejecting me, huh? I don't care about you anyway!"
She said this and ignored Hikigaya's attempt to stop her, walking off in the opposite direction, toward her room, actually.
Hikigaya didn't chase after her. Now he needed to keep distance from other classes and maintain his dignity as a man, so…
'Forget it. I'll explain next time.'
'Women really are strange… she was just in a good mood a moment ago…'
He didn't think much further and just wanted to get back to his room to rest.
Meanwhile, Kamuro's every step shook the whole floor, almost like an earthquake.
"That guy, what is wrong with him?"
"I've waited so long for him, and he talks to me like that… I've really been too lenient."
"I just wanted to check on him, see if he missed me… and now… this ungrateful guy, he completely forgot how the princess raised him, not to mention the sports festival."
"Fine. I won't speak to him ever again. Die, all of you, just die!"
...
"Hikigaya, get out here!"
Outside the door came the girl's thundering knock, shaking the whole floor. If there were a police force at this school, they'd definitely consider it disturbing the peace.
Hikigaya had just laid down and immediately knew a pest was at the door.
'Women, must you be so unreasonable?'
To avoid the previous kind of accident, Hikigaya cautiously opened the door and stuck his head out.
"What is it, milady?"
Though he opened the door, he clearly wasn't planning on inviting her in, which only infuriated Kamuro further.
She was a girl, standing in front of a boy's dorm. If someone saw this, what kind of rumors would start? And more importantly… Was she really so ugly that he'd keep her outside like this?
"What's the meaning of this, huh? Have you forgotten the favors I did for you? Fine, fine! It's only been a short time, and you're already cutting ties, you ungrateful jerk, go die!"
She punched toward Hikigaya's head, but only hit the wall.
"Big sister, my room is really inconvenient… and if we go outside, people in class might misunderstand. Can I make it up to you later? Please…"
"No, it won't do!"
At first, Kamuro only wanted to chat because she hadn't seen Hikigaya in a long time, worried he might miss her, maybe talk about Ichinose who just joined Class C, Karuizawa, Kushida, or Sakura.
Of course, she also wanted to discuss the exam.
But his attitude was infuriating.
"I really can't…"
"What? Are you sneaking around in there with someone?"
Her gaze grew deadly, almost murderous.
"Move… out of the way…"
Hikigaya's body trembled uncontrollably but he still blocked the door, afraid she would come in.
"F-fine… fine…"
"Hikigaya, just wait."
Kamuro took a step back, instantly easing the pressure on him.
Hikigaya sighed, thinking, 'Finally, that pest is gone.'
Then…
BANG!
The sudden jolt sent Hikigaya flying several meters. He rolled multiple times and finally stopped with his face against the floor.
Kamuro had still entered. Maybe now he regretted not letting her come in earlier.
Hikigaya hesitated whether to pull her out to talk outside, but he knew if classmates saw, it would only get worse.
So…
Just breathe, don't do anything wrong, don't overthink it. Everything will be fine.
Kamuro came before him, yanked him up violently, and stared at him with an angry glare.
"What is going on, huh!"
Her eyes were full of anger and grievance. The tears at the corners of her eyes looked like emotions she couldn't contain. After a brief stare, she gently let Hikigaya down and turned away, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Seeing this, Hikigaya felt a bit guilty, he never made a girl cry on purpose.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Kamuro didn't leave but sat on his bed like a stubborn child, silent, like a beautiful doll.
Hikigaya tidied the mess in his room from her earlier tantrum, then went to the kitchen to make a cup of milk.
Of course, sweet milk.
Neither spoke, and Kamuro only looked aggrieved without turning toward him.
After a long while, Hikigaya handed the warm milk to her.
She took it silently, held it with both hands, and sipped.
"About earlier… I'm sorry."
Hikigaya felt guilty, he shouldn't have treated a girl like that, especially right after teaching Hirata a lesson.
Kamuro only 'hmph'ed and kept drinking.
The hot milk, warming in the cold weather, slowly calmed her down.
But she still didn't speak, girls tend to remain silent when sulking.
Hikigaya sighed lightly and went to pick up the clothes she bought from the mall, bringing them back to the room.
While tidying, he noticed a black super-short pleated skirt.
"Buying clothes like this in this cold… aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Her expression softened but the tone remained proud: "So what if I catch a cold? That's none of your business."
"Alright, alright, I won't interfere…"
She shot him a terrifying glare again.
Kamuro ignored him and lay on his bed, pulling the blanket over her head.
'Hey, you didn't shower yet, right? Get down here!'
Before he could speak…
"This blanket… why does it smell like a girl?"
(End of this chapter)