If you had to choose one of the triplets to be your girlfriend, who would you choose?

At Shinichi's signal, he took a macaron from the plate and put it in his mouth while speaking softly.

"I apologize first if I'm wrong... Did you intentionally come to me with food?"

Pushing the bangs covering his eyes, Hachiman looked indifferent, but there was a slight awkwardness in his tone.

However, Shinichi gave him a disgusted look, "Are you blind?"

"Who else is out there other than you? Should I bring it to the toilet to eat?"

"Don't underestimate bento in the toilet! It's one of the top ten delicious foods for lonely people."

"Don't confuse lonely people with those who are ostracized. I always have lunch in the park with blooming cherry blossoms. That's real food."

Hachiman looked incredulous: "You? Don't tell me you didn't have friends before. You only debuted in high school after meeting a beautiful girl. Your popularity skyrocketed, and your life was colored with the hues of youth. That's what a novel protagonist has."

"Congratulations, your guess is right, except for the novel protagonist part." Shinichi sipped black tea and wiped his fingers on the cup's edge.

"Actually, I was like you before, an incurable second-year high school student."

The melancholic tone made Hachiman want to punch him.

"Wouldn't your conscience be hurt if you say that?"

"Not really." Shinichi shrugged, "Believe it or not, apart from the guy I just met, the only friend I have now is a same-sex friend..."

He raised his fingers and counted them one by one.

"Fuutarou Uesugi, Nariyuki Yuiga, and Ishigami Yu."

Done counting.

He turned and pointed with a smile.

"Also, Hikigaya Hachiman, that makes four."

"..."

Even though he didn't want to admit it, this silence made Hachiman's heart beat fast.

"It's truly an honor... So, did you come out because you couldn't stay there any longer? Aren't you afraid of influencing the 'Everyone is a Good Friend Plan'?"

Shinichi rolled his eyes. This awkward guy really couldn't speak human language. Every word he uttered seemed in a rush to make people go away. No wonder he didn't have friends.

Honestly, the loner in the past seemed better than this guy.

"I've added all the guys to the group, except for you."

He no longer bothered beating around the bush with Hachiman, so he just said what he wanted to say.

"If you don't seem interested, I won't try hard to have tea and chat with a guy in a secluded place... Forgive me; you're not a pretty girl."

"Don't underestimate me, Hikigaya Yakko from the parallel world is very beautiful!"

Hachiman replied unconsciously, then lowered his head, started stroking his bangs again, and defended himself cautiously.

"Well... Besides, you know, that atmosphere is really toxic for people like me..."

While talking, Shinichi nodded casually and almost finished the snacks in his hand.

"Hmm, so what?"

"So, okay..." Hachiman spoke seriously with an awkward expression.

"Thank you."

The other party intentionally left the group for him, then came out to chat with him while bringing snacks and drinks. There was no doubt about it, and it conveyed deeply into his heart.

Hachiman had never been treated like this before. Natural care and sincerity made all the bad impressions he had of Shinichi disappear. His fondness soared, and in his heart, he began to agree that Shinichi was worthy enough to be on par with Totsuka.

If treated well, he also wanted to treat others well.

Hachiman didn't know if he could do it; he didn't even know if this friendship was real.

But at least, one fact could be confirmed...

Hachiman now had a new friend.

"Hey, Asada."

Shinichi looked at him strangely.

"What's wrong?"

Hachiman leaned against the wall, pretended to be casual, and took out his phone from his pocket.

"Let's exchange... Contact information."

Shinichi opened his eyes wide in surprise:

"Hikigaya, you..."

The Lone Star, who looked awkward and melancholic, actually said such words on his own initiative?

"What's so strange? This is the first time I've done this."

With a pair of dead eyes staring lazily at the ceiling, Hachiman said:

"Do you want to build... Talent relationships? Compared to befriending people who waste their youth and live leisurely, interpersonal relationships that can be used for advantage and goodness like this are valuable enough to spend time on."

"Although I'm not a talented person... But if you're willing, let me join. I should be able to help a bit."

He clicked on the chat software QR code and placed it in front of Shinichi.

"By the way... Add me as a friend."

This sentence was filled with clear anxiety.

Shinichi was only surprised for a moment and didn't keep him waiting.

"Strange guy."

He took out his phone, scanned the code, and pressed the add friend button in front of him.

"I don't know why, but I'm starting to hate the phrase 'birds of a feather flock together'."

"No, you don't have the right to say that, okay?" Hachiman snorted and looked at the chat interface. Besides family members, club members, teachers, and Totsuka, there was another avatar entering the friend column.

"The guy I know like you is the type of person I can't deal with the most."

"Is that so? I'm pretty good at dealing with lonely high school students." Shinichi took back his phone and sipped tea.

"Anyway, I'll leave it to you when I go to Chiba from now on, Hikigaya."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll show you how strong the residents of Chiba are!"

Hachiman patted Shinichi's shoulder and showed a proud smile.

"But I'm serious! I won't let you see the cutest little sister in my family. You look ordinary, but you're very dangerous."

Shinichi seemed indifferent: "Don't worry, I don't want to see her either."

"By the way, won't you use this method to build good relationships with those girls? The triplets make me jealous..."

For some reason, Shinichi suddenly looked at him with complicated eyes.

Hachiman stopped sighing and looked confused:

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Is it better to apologize first? I'm really sorry. Just pretend I didn't say it."

"You're too good at the process of admitting mistakes..."

Shinichi sighed, and then his expression became serious, making Hachiman worry if he had really stepped on his territory.

"Well..."

Shinichi raised his head, looked at the ceiling with a sad expression, and said in a low voice:

"Clearly, my attitude towards them is worse than my attitude towards you. Why am I still so popular now?"

Hachiman nodded firmly.

"Great, delete that friend."

"Calm down; I was just kidding."

"Don't make bad jokes like that."

"Only the first sentence was a joke."

"..."

Hachiman glanced at his drink, seriously considering whether to pour it and let it absorb into his skin.

△

"Where did Asada-san go?"

Yotsuba opened the auditorium door and looked around.

She found a reason to leave her new friends. She wanted to ask some questions to Shinichi, but a male student told her that Shinichi had left and hadn't returned.

There was a calm atmosphere outside the door, and even her movements became lighter, feeling constrained by a space that was very similar to this Congress Building.

Although she had never seen what the Congress Building looked like.

"Did he go to the toilet?"

After thinking for a moment, Yotsuba moved towards the toilet.

But before approaching the corner, she heard a conversation between two people, clearly audible in the quiet corridor.

"By the way, Asada..."

(Is that Hikigaya-san from Sobu High?)

Yotsuba was slightly surprised; she hadn't realized that Hachiman had also left the communication room.

The one responding was the familiar and convincing voice.

"Speak up if there's something you want to say, don't act like you're holding in a fart... Damn, if you really want to fart, just say it. If you dare to let me smell it, I'll kill you in three seconds without leaving your ashes."

(Ah?)

(Asada-san is talking... Is he really that bold?)

Yotsuba was confused. It seemed like this was Shinichi's side when he was talking with his male friend, and it was also a side she had never seen before.

Now knowing this, a high-pitched melody unconsciously played in her heart.

(No, no, I'll ask Asada-san the questions now; don't worry about this!)

Yotsuba shook her head to clear the cluttered thoughts in her mind and began to think about whether to wait until they finished talking before leaving or to remind them directly.

However, eavesdropping on others' conversations seemed a bit impolite. Yotsuba made a decision and took a step forward, preparing to speak.

"Asada..."

The moment she uttered a word, Hachiman's voice was heard again.

"Are you dating one of the triplets? Or are you in a happy harem period?"

"Hah? I didn't expect you to be such a mischievous Hikigaya."

"That's just because of the jealousy of single people, damn normies, explode now."

"Don't slander me. I haven't had anyone until now, let alone a harem."

"Oh, as an observer, I question your statement."

"Tsk, whatever you think, Hikigaya gossip."

"Don't change people's names casually... So there's always someone you really like, right? For example, if you had to choose one of the triplets to be your girlfriend, who would you choose? By the way, I would choose the eldest sister who is an actress. Besides, my dream is to be a househusband."

"I don't care about your goals, so don't fantasize. Even if she likes a scoundrel, she won't like you."

"Such possessive statements, exaggerated reactions like a hedgehog... It seems like the result has already been decided."

"... It's hard to say."

"There's still time, I'm curious!"

"Uh, disgusting."

"..."

With her whole body pressed against the wall like a ninja, Yotsuba decided to stay silent and eavesdrop.