Next Time, I'll Bring Two Pairs of Chopsticks

There's an old saying that goes—

Love requires no tricks; sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

Hachiman Hikigaya used to scoff at such notions, dismissing them as nothing more than the self-indulgent drivel of the fortunate few.

But now, as he looked into the wide, earnest eyes of Hiyori Shiina, who stood before him with an innocence so pure it bordered on ethereal, he began to grasp the true power of sincerity.

Mom, I think I might be falling in love.

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, Hachiman tried to regain his composure. As a self-proclaimed rationalist, his specialty lay in controlling his emotions, and he wasn't about to let himself get swept away now.

So, even as Hiyori Shiina appeared before him like a dream, like a fairy from the pages of a novel, he responded with an even tone, "I'm Hachiman Hikigaya, from Class D."

"Hikigaya-kun?"

Hiyori repeated his name slowly as if tasting each syllable. Then, a smile blossomed on her face—a smile so sweet and genuine that it sent an involuntary jolt through Hachiman's chest. "Would you like to read together?"

"Huh..."

Hachiman was caught off guard by the request. Read together? How exactly did that work? Was she suggesting that he lean against her and read while nestled in her embrace?

His mind, against his will, wandered into inappropriate territory, conjuring images he quickly tried to dismiss. He waited for Hiyori to explain what she meant by "reading together."

But the explanation never came. Instead, she simply lowered her gaze, returning her attention to the book resting on her lap.

The scene struck Hachiman as oddly surreal, and a peculiar thought surfaced in his mind.

Could "reading together" really mean just sitting here in silence, each of them absorbed in their book?

Alright, maybe his thoughts were the ones tainted with impurity...

Feeling a sudden wave of self-reproach, Hachiman hesitated but ultimately decided not to reject her offer. He casually spread his legs and sat down on the floor beside her.

The books he had brought were all classics—War and Peace, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice. Hachiman hadn't always appreciated such heavy, human-centered novels. They used to depress him. But ever since he started attending this school, he had inexplicably developed a taste for these deep explorations of human nature.

He even had a sense that these insights might come in handy someday...

Time passed in quiet intervals, marked only by the turning of pages.

Hachiman stretched and glanced at his watch, surprised to find that nearly two hours had slipped by.

"Crap, will there still be anything left in the cafeteria?"

Panic flared in him as he jumped to his feet, worried he might miss the last meal and be forced to survive on convenience store bread again.

But before he could rush off, Hiyori opened her bag and took out a pale blue bento box, placing it atop the stack of books in front of her.

"I made this myself," she said, her silver hair catching the light as she smiled and pointed to the golden omelet inside. "Especially this part—I'm quite confident in it."

"Uh, isn't eating in the library against the rules?"

Hachiman was taken aback by her casual display of the bento box. Did she lack that much common sense?

And what came next surprised him even more—Hiyori suddenly held out the bento box to him, her face glowing with a smile. "Hikigaya-san, would you like some?"

"This…"

So she's trying to make me an accomplice?

Hachiman couldn't believe that this girl, whom he'd just met, was already offering to share her homemade lunch with him. The sense of incongruity he felt was overwhelming.

But as he looked at her expectant expression and the undeniably delicious-looking food, he found himself hesitating, then slowly stepping closer.

"Ah!"

Hiyori's sudden cry startled him.

"What is it?"

Hachiman froze, worried that he had been too forward and upset her.

But Hiyori simply looked troubled as she murmured, "Sorry, I only brought one pair of chopsticks."

"This…"

Seeing her in such a flustered state, unsure of what to do, Hachiman let out a small sigh. Ignoring her confusion, he reached into the bento box and picked up a piece of the omelet with his fingers.

To his surprise, it tasted even better than he had imagined.

"It's really good," he said earnestly.

"...Really?"

Hiyori's face lit up at his compliment, her expression so joyous it was as if she were tasting the delicious meal.

"Next time, I'll bring two pairs of chopsticks, okay?"

"What?"

The words from Shiina Hiyori left Hikigaya in a state of utter confusion. For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of what was happening. He soon realized that Shiina had already lowered her head again and was engrossed in her book.

What's going on with this girl?

Hikigaya found himself wishing, inexplicably, that his world resembled a visual novel. If it did, he could simply reload and make different choices, or even check the affection ratings behind the scenes. It would make many things so much simpler.

If he could clearly know whether Shiina harbored any romantic intentions or if his affection level was low, he wouldn't be left with any misunderstandings and could put his hopes to rest.

Otherwise, Hikigaya was acutely aware of how a single-sided misunderstanding between men and women could lead to terrifying consequences...

Shaking his head, Hikigaya decided to dismiss it all as Shiina just being naturally oblivious. He chose to disregard her comments and didn't think he'd run into her in the library again.

He tidied up the books he had read, returning them to their proper places, and used his points at the nearby machine to check out a few more volumes.

On his way out, he glanced back towards Shiina's direction. To his surprise, she was still seated in the same spot, legs apart, her rear resting on her calves, intently focused on her book.

What a strange girl...

Hikigaya couldn't help but feel that the encounter had been like talking to a character from a storybook. In this school, it all seemed so unreal.

Yet, this place was like a warm bonfire in a dark, desolate game—a safe haven where he felt genuinely secure, untouched by any lurking monsters.

Perhaps he could make this a regular retreat.

With that thought in mind, Hikigaya made his way to the cafeteria, only to find that it had indeed closed for the day, bidding him a fond farewell.

Resigned, he turned towards the convenience store, in search of his beloved bread.

You're the one who will never abandon me!

The best companion for a lone wanderer!

Hikigaya reminisced about his middle school days, eating bread alone on the rooftop every day and managing to sample every flavor available at the school. Those memories seemed strangely comforting.

With nostalgia in his heart, he entered the convenience store, only to bump into a golden-haired girl with a single ponytail.