The Place I Want to Go

Haruno's sudden arrival was enough to cause Sato to grab Matsushita and hastily leave the scene. Even as they disappeared into the distance, Hikigaya couldn't help but notice that Matsushita had kept glancing back at him.

Did she figure something out?

That unsettling thought lingered in Hikigaya's mind as he quickly shoved his hand into his pocket, pressing the power button to turn off his phone. He might have been overthinking it, but it felt safer to shut it off—after all, no one was likely to call him this late at night. [T/N: Smart guy!]

"Hachiman… sorry for being late. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Haruno greeted him, her smile warm and inviting.

"Yeah, you kept me waiting for quite a while," Hikigaya replied, his irritation only thinly veiled.

Wait, did she just call me Hachiman?

Don't make me sound like some octopus from One Piece!

But then Hikigaya reconsidered. Haruno probably wasn't referencing anime. Given her age, she was more likely thinking of the loyal dog Hachiko... Ugh.

A shiver ran down Hikigaya's spine as he cautiously turned his head to look at Haruno, who was smiling at him sweetly, though something about her smile felt a bit off.

"Hachiman, could you tell me what you were just thinking about?"

"…I was just thinking how beautiful you look today, Miss Haruno," he quickly responded, hoping to diffuse whatever tension he sensed.

"Hehe, thank you," she giggled, clearly pleased by the compliment.

Hikigaya let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thankfully, the flattery had worked—though in truth, it wasn't entirely insincere. Today, Haruno's appearance would have made any ordinary high school boy nervous.

No matter how intimidating she could be beneath her surface, there was no denying Haruno's beauty. Today, she was dressed in an unusually cute style—a short-sleeved blouse with puffed sleeves paired with a black pleated skirt. Her light makeup only accentuated her natural features, making her the center of attention wherever she went.

Even the simplest outfits seemed to shine on her, thanks to her innate grace.

In short, she was stunning.

"I hope I don't get stabbed out of jealousy…"

"Seriously, that should be my line," Haruno chuckled, covering her mouth as she laughed.

Though it was an unlikely scenario, Hikigaya couldn't completely dismiss the thought. After all, when he first saw himself, even he had questioned, Who is this person?

If he could barely recognize himself, others probably wouldn't either.

But after the incident with Matsushita, Hikigaya wasn't willing to take any chances.

"I was really surprised today. At first, I didn't even recognize you. I had to watch you for a while from the side, and if it weren't for your suspicious behavior, I wouldn't have dared to approach you."

So she's been watching from the start!

Hikigaya wanted to complain, but then he noticed Haruno's eyes narrowing again—a sign that her mood was starting to darken.

Wait, what's wrong now?

Then Haruno said something unexpected.

"I wanted to see how you'd dress up yesterday, Hachiman. But instead, you went to another girl for help—someone from another class no less—and even brought her back to the dorms… Hachiman, you are something else."

"No, that's… huh?"

Even though she called him "amazing," Hikigaya had no idea what he'd done to deserve such praise. His encounter with Kamuro had been purely coincidental.

Wait, you were there yesterday too?!

Hikigaya was stunned. He prided himself on being perceptive, yet he hadn't noticed Haruno tailing him. Then again, he had been unusually conspicuous all day, constantly under the scrutiny of others.

No wonder he hadn't picked up on her presence…

Being in the spotlight is dangerous.

The strongest are those who lurk in the shadows.

"But I'll let it slide since you went above and beyond what I asked," Haruno said, her mood lifting as quickly as it had darkened.

She then extended her arm toward him.

"Uh…" Hikigaya hesitated, unsure of what to do. "Miss Haruno, is there a place you want to go?"

"Hmm."

Haruno didn't directly answer his question. Instead, she hummed in mild annoyance while waving her arm back and forth.

…No way, right?

If Hikigaya were a typical extrovert, he'd probably naturally take her hand. But for him, that was an impossibly difficult move.

Still, it was Haruno's birthday… Oh, whatever, here goes nothing!

"Huh? What's this?"

Haruno looked at Hikigaya in surprise as he awkwardly held two of her fingers, then broke into a resigned smile.

"Honestly, this half-hearted attempt is so you, Hachiman."

"Don't make fun of me," Hikigaya muttered, turning his face away, and feeling a flush of embarrassment.

This was his breaking point—he couldn't take any more.

Fortunately, Haruno didn't seem to mind at all. She looked quite pleased as if she were enjoying herself immensely.

So, she's just treating me like a toy, huh? Hikigaya thought, slightly irked.

"By the way, Hachiman," Haruno said suddenly, her tone bright and casual, "do you have a reservation at the restaurant we're heading to? If not, there's a place I've been meaning to try. Would you like to join me?"

"Uh, sure," Hikigaya replied. He had chosen a place, but he hadn't made a reservation. The restaurant scene here wasn't as bustling as it was elsewhere. Particularly at night, most of the customers were restaurant staff, since students tended to be asleep by then.

"Perfect! Let's go now," Haruno said, taking Hikigaya's hand and pulling him along.

Is she really that hungry? Hikigaya wondered. But… why are girls' hands so soft?

As he tried to clear his mind, Haruno suddenly came to a halt after a short walk.

"We're here," she announced, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Hikigaya glanced at the entrance, where a red lantern swayed gently in the breeze, and blinked in surprise.

Wait, what? An izakaya?

[T/N: An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks.]

Is it appropriate to celebrate a birthday in a place like this?

However, after a moment's consideration, Hikigaya realized it might make sense. After all, this was Haruno. She was accustomed to high-end venues, so a more casual spot might be just what she needed.

Plus, this was a laid-back celebration with a friend, so there was no need for formality. The most important thing was to relax and enjoy the moment.

Still, he had to clarify one thing.

"Haruno-san, I'm not even twenty yet, you know?"

"I know, I know," she said with a reassuring smile.

"They have non-alcoholic drinks here. You just need to keep me company." She gently nudged Hikigaya towards the restaurant.

In Japan, the legal drinking age is twenty, and society is very strict about underage drinking, especially for high school students. However, university freshmen often find themselves in more lenient environments, especially at welcome parties where curiosity might lead new students to partake in a drink or two.

Hikigaya didn't have to worry about that, though. He was pretty sure no one would invite him to such events anyway.