Looking at this elegant older girl bowing and apologizing on her own, Hachiman felt completely thrown off.
From birth until now, he had never gotten this close to any girl. Apologizing like this was something friends did—and he didn't even have a single friend, let alone a girlfriend.
Avoiding her eyes, he quickly said:
"It's fine. It wasn't a big deal anyway. And honestly, this happened because I wasn't strong enough physically. That's all."
Hearing Hikigaya's excuse, Ryoko felt even more guilty. She shook her head hard, her eyes shining with tears:
"No, that's not true… When I moved in, I promised to be a good big sister figure. But yesterday, I acted so recklessly, I was no different from Yoshino. If anything had happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."
'Ryoko-san really is a kind person…'
'No, it's more like everyone in the Polar Star Dorm is so warm-hearted.'
'They're all so noisy, yet somehow it feels so comfortable here.'
Listening to Ryoko's words, Hikigaya spaced out for a moment, completely lost in thought.
Ryoko stayed silent too, her head slightly lowered, like a child reflecting on a mistake—none of the usual confidence of the "big sister" at all.
Maybe realizing the heavy silence, Hachiman finally snapped back to reality. But now came the hard part—he had no idea how to comfort people. When it came to Ryoko, he was completely at a loss.
If that's the case, then he'd just use the only way he knew.
He took a deep breath, his usual expression disappearing as he looked a little more serious than usual.
"Ryoko-san, you really don't need to feel that guilty. I'm sure I'll need your help a lot in the future. Like you said, I might be a troublesome guy. So… having a smart big sister around to help doesn't sound so bad to me."
"And honestly, this really wasn't your fault. If anything, you made me realize what I need to do next. Once I recover, I'll have to work on my stamina."
Hachiman spoke with complete sincerity—no lies, no pretenses—just what he truly felt inside. For him, this was the only way he knew how to communicate.
Maybe it was because of Hachiman's sincere words, but Ryoko finally felt a little relieved. She let out a long sigh and kept wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Thank you…"
"I'm the one who should be saying that…"
She didn't say more. She just walked over to Hikigaya, leaned gently against him, and gave him a simple hug.
In that moment, it was like she had returned to being the gentle and elegant Miss Ryoko, but now with a hint of playful charm. Her voice lingered by Hachiman's ear, making his face turn red in an instant:
"As your smart big sister, I'll give you a big hug as a reward. Of course, you also deserve it for protecting Polar Star Dorm. But don't tell Megumi, okay?"
"Oh…" Hachiman answered without thinking, not even sure what just happened, only feeling like his body had touched something amazing.
But this pounding heartbeat wasn't lying to him. After all, this was the first time in his life being this close to a girl—other than Komachi.
After the short hug, Ryoko quickly let go and stepped back. Still, even now, the distance between them was much closer than before. Whether it was because his mind was still foggy from just waking up or the lighting was too dim, Hachiman could faintly see a light blush on Ryoko's face.
She gently brushed her bangs aside, her eyes darting away.
The room grew quiet again, like everything had returned to how it was before. The only difference was that even without talking, it didn't feel awkward.
Then Ryoko spoke, like she had suddenly remembered something:
"Without realizing it, it's that time of year again. The first-year training camp for Totsuki Academy is coming up soon."
"Training camp? Like those school trips in the woods?"
Ryoko nodded. "Something like that. But unlike regular schools, Totsuki's trips are basically tests. If you fail any part of the exam, you can get expelled on the spot."
Hearing this, Hachiman felt dizzy again.
Back in middle school, even the school trips at Sobu High were mostly for relaxing, but honestly, he didn't like the long walks and crowded places at all. Staying home reading was way better.
And now… after hearing about Totsuki's school trip, his first thought was that if he got expelled, he would just find a job at a restaurant.
That way, not only could he survive, but he could also earn enough money for Komachi's schooling. Perfect big brother plan, right? In his mind, that definitely deserved a high score.
But Ryoko could clearly see what Hikigaya was thinking. She lightly pinched his ear and scolded him like a big sister, making sure not to pull too hard:
"Don't give up so easily."
"Yes, yes… So, what's the test about?"
Ryoko shook her head. No one knew yet. Every year the exam was different. The only thing that never changed was that this was a culinary school—everything was decided through cooking.
"In past training camps, what they focused on the most was a chef's overall ability."
"Things like quick judgment, reaction speed, insight, endurance, stamina, and strong mental strength are all part of it."
"So, Hikigaya, when you're better, let me train you a bit for stamina, okay? Hehe."
Ryoko sure changed fast. Why did that sound like something scary?
Looking at that meaningful smile on Ryoko's face, Hachiman suddenly had the thought that his days were numbered.
If doom was unavoidable, then he might as well enjoy himself for now.
He lay down right away, planning to get a good sleep first. After all, until he fully recovered, he was still a legitimate patient.
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