In the hallway.
Asahina walked up to Hikigaya.
"Yo, Hikigaya. Are you also here to visit Miyabi?"
"Hmm... sort of."
Hikigaya looked toward the ward, somewhat concerned: "How is Nagumo's condition?"
"Emergency treatment was timely, so there is no life-threatening danger."
Asahina sighed, somewhat helpless: "It's just that the place he was stabbed happened to be the right kidney. I heard from the doctor that kidney function might be somewhat affected."
"..."
Hikigaya didn't know what to say.
This could be considered a blessing in disguise; as long as the person was still alive, it was fine.
A pity.
It was just going to school; it really didn't seem worth it. He wondered what Nagumo Miyabi was thinking right now.
"You look, well... a bit..."
"Not taking it to heart?"
Asahina finished the words Hikigaya was too embarrassed to say. But at the moment, it seemed that way; no grief could be seen on Asahina's face.
"Sit down and let's talk."
Hikigaya sat on the bench with her before Asahina returned to the topic.
"When I first heard the news, I was indeed a bit frightened. But as long as he's still alive, it doesn't really matter, right?"
"That's true..."
Hikigaya nodded.
Perhaps only because of their relationship as childhood friends, the two weren't actually that close.
"You are here to visit Miyabi, right? Not going in to see him?"
"No, I'll pass. My going in would probably provoke him."
After a moment's hesitation, Hikigaya still said: "Well... how should I put it, I'm sorry..."
"Hmm?"
Asahina tilted her head and looked over, suddenly confused:
"Why are you suddenly saying that? Why apologize?"
"Well..."
Hikigaya clasped his hands and said somewhat bitterly:
"Strictly speaking, it was because I specifically left Nishishi and Takao behind that things turned out like this. So... I'm sorry."
"Hmm?"
Asahina furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes as she focused on Hikigaya.
Her tone was also somewhat cold:
"You intentionally left Nishishi and Takao behind? You guessed it would turn out like this long ago?"
"That's not it."
Hikigaya forced a smile: "I just guessed that given Nagumo's character, he probably wouldn't let Nishishi and Takao go, so I left those two to stall for time, hoping to just stall until graduation."
"Because of my reason, things turned out like this. I'm sorry..."
"Hmm..."
Asahina suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
If.
If Hikigaya had calculated it intentionally, or even instigated Nishishi behind the scenes.
It naturally could not be forgiven; it would definitely be Hikigaya's responsibility.
However.
If it was just to stall for time, then it couldn't be helped.
After all, no one would have thought Nishishi would suddenly do such a thing.
One could only blame Nagumo Miyabi himself.
It's just that some people are more sensitive inside, which is why they feel responsible; it can't be helped.
"Then it can't be helped. You don't need to apologize."
Asahina shook her head and sighed: "Miyabi has always been looking for trouble for the people around him. One can only blame himself, I suppose."
"..."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the person next to Nagumo Miyabi said so; then he had no choice.
"Actually..."
Asahina sighed and looked back at the ward.
"I've always felt it would turn out like this sooner or later. Letting Miyabi take this fall now might actually be better for him."
"Why do you feel that way?"
Hikigaya was suddenly confused.
"Miyabi has been looking for trouble for you guys, right?"
Asahina looked back here, her tone somewhat helpless:
"Don't look at how polite he is, or how he even acts very gentlemanly. That is only for opponents he recognizes."
"But I heard he's quite popular among the upperclassmen."
"That's only among the girls."
A trace of helplessness was mixed with Asahina's bitterness.
"Although Miyabi sometimes proposes some interesting ideas to improve efficiency, he never cares about the opinions and feelings of the people around him."
"Miyabi's reputation in the third year is indeed quite good, but that is only because everyone who opposed him has already been made to get expelled."
"..."
Hikigaya suddenly realized.
As long as those who oppose don't exist, naturally no one opposes.
But.
This was also just a compromise under high pressure; no one knew what they were thinking inside.
As long as Nagumo Miyabi showed signs of decline.
There were many people who wanted to kick him while he was down and take revenge.
"And..."
Asahina complained a bit:
"We third-years are about to graduate. During this time, Miyabi has also been acting increasingly impatient, not listening to anyone at all, not even me."
"..."
Hikigaya lowered his head, not knowing what to say.
A team must let people speak!
No matter how reasonable or certain one is, if it gets to a point where everyone is afraid to speak, won't they just think of ways to kill you?
Come to think of it.
Have I let people speak?
Hikigaya decided he had to learn a lesson and at least communicate more.
"So I think it was inevitable."
Asahina sighed, turned to look at Hikigaya, and felt a bit bitter again.
"Do you know? I told my friends about this, but until now, no one has come to the hospital to visit him."
"It shouldn't be that extreme, right?" Hikigaya didn't quite believe it.
"Kiryuin, Ryuen, and others have come, but they should all just be here to scout for information."
Asahina gazed at Hikigaya and said softly: "So I am really grateful that you could come visit Miyabi. Otherwise, I feel Miyabi would be far too pitiful."
""
Hikigaya remained silent.
Although his life was not in danger, he had suffered such a serious injury.
Yet, not a single person had come to visit him.
While Hikigaya didn't feel much personally, it wasn't impossible to understand.
Back when he was sick in the past.
Aside from occasional visits from Komachi, the hospital room was always solitary.
Though he said nothing, his heart always felt a trace of desolation.
"It would be good if I could provide that kind of comfort."
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief and showed a smile: "I am glad to hear you say that."
"It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Asahina just wanted to tell him that he didn't need to feel guilty.
As long as he wasn't dead, he could still cause trouble.
Anyway, she didn't understand what impact a decline in kidney function would have.
It didn't matter~
After all, they were just childhood friends, and she didn't plan on having any developments in that area in the future.
In her eyes.
Nagumo Miyabi being injured did more good than harm; she only hoped Nagumo Miyabi could learn his lesson and listen more to the opinions and feelings of those around him.
"Then that's all for today."
Hikigaya nodded, stood up, and looked toward the ward before saying.
"Um, when Nagumo's condition gets a bit better, please tell him I dropped by."
"No problem, leave it to me. But given his current state, it might be a long time before that happens."
"Yeah, thanks. See you at school then."
"See you at school~"
Watching Asahina waving her small hand, Hikigaya nodded and turned to leave, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his heart.
He hoped Nagumo Miyabi would undergo some changes.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya arrived at the vending machine below the inpatient building, where a figure with waist-length white hair caught his attention.