Chapter 84: The Real Thing, Does Such a Relationship Really Exist?
The sky shifted, and after a torrential downpour, the sea air became exceptionally clear. The boy stood alone on the deck, savoring this rare tranquility.
According to the route, they'd reach the island tomorrow, but what would happen there, Hikigaya didn't know.
If it was just a simple exam, it probably wouldn't satisfy the school's testing standards.
Hikigaya rested his hands on the railing, propping up his chin. His eyes were closed, completely unaware of the pink-haired girl approaching from behind.
"H-Hachiman…"
"Sakura?"
Hikigaya didn't turn around, maintaining his position.
The girl slowly walked forward, gripping the railing tightly with both hands. Together, they gazed at the starry night sky over the sea, dazzling and glorious after the rain.
Sakura's behavior was noticeably tense, a stark contrast to her usual ease, especially when around him.
Hikigaya glanced at Sakura briefly, waiting for her question.
Sakura's hands tightened on the railing, as if drawing courage, and she asked: "Hachiman, what are you doing out here alone?"
"Nothing much, just looking at the stars. You can't see a night sky this bright in Tokyo. It feels like stepping into a dream."
It wasn't a lie. Even in Chiba, where he used to live, he'd never seen a night sky like this. Just looking up drew him in, as if only Van Gogh's starry night could compare. (Starry night is a painting drawn by Vincent van Gogh)
"I see…"
Sakura looked up, captivated by the twinkling stars, a content smile spreading across her face.
"It's so beautiful…"
Hikigaya glanced at her face, seeing her completely immersed in the starry night, and gave a faint smile.
"Yeah, it really is."
"Yes…"
The two fell into silence until Sakura finally pulled her thoughts back to reality.
"Hachiman, are you ready for tomorrow's exam?"
"People often prepare for trouble, but most of the time, those preparations are useless."
A familiar response, delivered in his usual way. Sakura Airi just smiled faintly, then looked back at the stars.
"That's just your nonsense, Hachiman. You know if you hadn't been prepared, you couldn't have handled Sudō's accusation."
Hearing the girl call out his tactics so bluntly, Hikigaya scratched his head awkwardly, staying silent.
Sakura turned her gentle gaze to Hikigaya. Through the purifying starlight, her eyes seemed deeper, clearer, without a trace of impurity.
"Hachiman, you're the kindest person in the world, but you pretend to know nothing. That self-deception won't last forever."
Feeling Sakura's profound gaze, Hikigaya froze, as if infected by her intensity, standing there dazed.
"Back then, because of your preparations, my photos didn't leak, and I wasn't seen as some careless person by the class. I was so grateful to you then… That feeling, even now, I can't forget."
Hikigaya scratched his head, avoiding Sakura's gaze, forcing a calm tone: "I just did what I had to. If it was Hirata or someone else, they wouldn't have exposed you either. I'm not as great or kind as you think."
"But it was you who stood in front of me back then. That kind of lie doesn't work, Hachiman. Reality is reality, right?"
There was no denying it. Everything Sakura Airi said was true. The past had happened and couldn't be changed, and the boy who stood before her then was him.
Though he never thought she owed him anything, and he only did what anyone would've done, Sakura didn't see it that way.
Hikigaya nodded, just nodded.
Sakura Airi kept her gentle smile, slowly turning to face the boy. Her cheeks flushed red, and she gently took his hands.
The coldness in his hands seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by a warmth he'd never felt before. The gesture made Hikigaya pause slightly.
"Hachiman, right now, I still can't interact normally with the class or help you much. But one day in the future, I'll definitely help you. I promise."
Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know why this girl would make such a promise to someone as insignificant as him. Compared to him, Hirata or Yukimura were far more exceptional. He was just an ordinary person. But her deep emotions touched his heart.
He nodded again, making this promise with the girl under the starry night.
The boy calmly spoke her name, his face showing no trace of emotion, yet it made the girl's cheeks flush an even deeper red, as if a surge of energy was about to burst through her head, ready to explode.
Sakura had never experienced a situation like this. For a moment, she became even more flustered, unable to utter a single word.
"I know you rely on me a lot right now. I can feel it. Maybe that scary person (Haruno) wasn't wrong—this kind of relationship is a mistake. I've fallen into that kind of mistaken relationship before, so… I hope, Airi, that you can truly grow, walk your own path, and fulfill your heart's desires. That version of you is the true Tokyo idol, the true Sakura Airi."
The girl wanted to stammer out an agreement, but she found herself unable to speak. If she opened her mouth now, she might not be able to stop.
So, she just gazed at the boy with her flushed cheeks and eyes full of light, staring intently.
"If you run into trouble before then, you can come to me."
If it was within his ability, Hikigaya wasn't stingy about helping the girl before him.
Sakura nodded again, as if everything was understood without words.
A relieved smile slowly spread across her beautiful face. The girl hadn't yet noticed that she was still tightly holding Hikigaya's hand, leaving no chance for him to pull away.
[Service Club…]
[Yuigahama's eyes were clearly filled with envy, but her words were laced with doubt: "So this is the future Hikki? It doesn't seem that twisted anymore."]
[Hikigaya: "Idiot, I'm not twisted now either…"]
[Yukinoshita, pressing her temple, said with a faint smile: "Hikigaya-kun, you should reflect on yourself before saying that."]
[Isshiki also leaned toward Hikigaya, pointing and teasing: "I don't know about others, but I know Senpai's back to flirting with girls again."]
[Hearing Isshiki's comment, Yuigahama and Yukinoshita froze for a moment, then exchanged a glance, as if communicating telepathically.]
[Yukinoshita: "Hikigaya-kun, you'd better explain why the future you turned out like this."]
[Yuigahama, clearly not taking Hikigaya's side this time, said with a mischievous grin: "Yeah, yeah! Isn't the grown-up Hikki supposed to be all emotionally detached?"]
[Hikigaya, exasperated, retorted: "I told you, it's the future me! Even if you ask me now, I don't know how to explain it. And… I'm human, not a cat, you idiots. I do have emotions."]
[As soon as the words left his mouth, Hikigaya regretted it. Mentioning the word "cat" was like pulling a trigger. Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly transformed, glaring at him with intense fury.]
[This girl… she has made anyone who says anything bad about cats her lifelong enemy. What a terrifying cat fanatic.]
[Yuigahama, sensing the dangerous atmosphere, quickly grabbed Hikki and said: "Cats are super cute, right? How about we go see some cats this weekend?"]
[Hikigaya nodded hurriedly. Though he was still thinking, Cats really aren't that empathetic, with death looming, he was quick to comply.]
[The boy eagerly agreed: "Yeah, yeah! Komachi's been wanting a cat plushie too. Let's go check some out this weekend."]
[Hearing their quick responses, Yukinoshita's anger slowly subsided. But surprises always come from unexpected places. Miura Yumiko, oblivious to the brewing storm, casually said: "I think cats aren't as cute as dogs. Dogs are way clingier. Hey, Hayama, how about we go see some dogs this weekend?"]
[A terrifying pressure descended on the Service Club again. Thankfully, Isshiki quickly smoothed things over: "Cats are cute too! Of course, everyone has their preferences. As long as you like it, that's what matters."]
[Finally, the pressure lifted. The great Isshiki Iroha had saved everyone present. Her greatness would be sung by future generations. This battle, the "Cat-Dog War," would be etched in the Service Club's history until the club ceased to exist, forever imprinted in their hearts.]
[After hearing Isshiki's words, Yukinoshita realized she'd been too forceful. After reconciling with herself, she seemed to completely forget about Hikigaya.]
[Cats > Hikigaya]
[Isshiki Iroha and Yuigahama Yui knew this was a rare moment of peace, hard-won, and didn't press the earlier topic further.]
[Back in Class 1-D, some students were still focused on the boy, Hikigaya Hachiman. Horikita Suzune, for instance, knew she interacted with him a fair amount in the video, but without experiencing it herself, she couldn't pinpoint what made him so compelling. She only felt a mix of confusion and relief seeing her own changes, realizing that this version of herself was what her brother had hoped for. She was finally starting to understand.]
[And he, unknowingly, was still changing the people in the class, like Sakura Airi. Many classmates were watching her too, with Yamauchi being the most obvious example.]
[After seeing her without her glasses, he'd become utterly smitten, his head filled with all sorts of wild thoughts. Unfortunately, Sakura remained wary of him, maintaining an absolute distance.]
[Most of the class was focused on the upcoming deserted island survival exam. Though they'd just endured those seven days, the idea of going through it again was unbearable. They'd faced too many hardships—intrusions from other classes, internal conflicts within their own. They didn't want to relive it.]
[The ugliness of human nature was the last thing to test. You never knew whether the face behind someone was a devil or an angel.]
[Someone who seemed kind might be a demon, while someone who appeared unapproachable might have a kind heart.]
[Sudō: "If I could go back to the first day of the exam, I'd never let that guy Koenji cost us 30 class points."]
[Yukimura, exasperated but accepting, said: "Give it up, Sudō. You can't stop him."]
[Miyake Akito: "Anyway, we got a good result in the end. That's enough. Kōenji's not someone you can control."]
[Mei-Yu-Wang: "I… I think… I think Miyake's right."]
[Kushida, stepping into her role as the class's backbone, said lightly: "Yeah, yeah! We got first place in the deserted island exam. We can do it again."]
[Hirata, clearly agreeing with Kushida, spread his hands casually and said: "As long as we're united, nothing's impossible, right?"]
[Karuizawa quickly chimed in: "Yeah, yeah! Hirata's right. This school's not that big a deal. Look, we caught up this semester, and in the video, we jumped to Class C's level in a flash."]
[Amid the lively discussion, the class's enthusiasm surged. Clearly, they hadn't yet grasped the gravity of the situation. Only the boy sitting silently in the corner of the classroom, expressionless, watched the video and the boy who had taken his place.]
"Hikigaya and Sakura-san?"
A gentle female voice came from the distance, snapping the girl who had been tightly holding Hikigaya's hands back to reality. She let go, a bit frightened.
In front of others, she was still somewhat shy. Though she'd known Kushida and Horikita for about the same amount of time, she clearly leaned toward Horikita. Despite Horikita's arrogance, blind confidence, and bluntness, Sakura still preferred her.
With the ever-charming Kushida Kikyou, she always felt a sense of distance. She couldn't quite explain why—maybe it was a girl's sixth sense.
Sure enough, it was Kushida, slowly approaching from around the corner of the deck, wearing her familiar smile.
"What are you two doing so late?"
There was no malice in her tone, but it instantly made both of them flush with embarrassment. Sakura, unable to handle the atmosphere, said to them: "I'm heading back to my room."
Then, with a clatter of footsteps, she ran off.
Kushida, clearly puzzled, put on a cute expression and asked: "So, Hikigaya, you still haven't told me what you two were doing. Were you sneaking a kiss?"
Though he knew she was teasing, Hikigaya turned his head sharply, forcing a calm tone: "No way… We were, uh, looking at the stars."
Hikigaya had never been in a situation like this. A year ago, he'd never have imagined this happening in his lifetime. Now… it felt like being caught in the act. He had no idea how to respond.
Looking at the stars? No one would believe that, especially not Kushida.
She'd probably say something like, "If you're going to make up an excuse, at least make it a good one."
But Kushida just gave a light laugh, her gentle smile unchanged, and glanced up at the stars.
"Oh, I see. Looking at the stars…"
No further teasing. The topic passed just like that, catching Hikigaya completely off guard.
"The starry sky is really beautiful. I've never seen so many stars."
Hikigaya, still recovering from the moment, managed to say: "Me neither…"
Kushida deliberately moved closer to the boy, wrapping her arm around his with her considerable "assets." By the time he realized, it was too late to pull away.
Kushida didn't seem to mind at all, pointing to the sky with a content smile: "Look at the stars. Don't they feel a bit like us?"
"?"
"Everyone has a side they don't show to others. Maybe what people see is just one star on the surface, but behind it, there are countless others."
"You mean… people can never truly understand each other? Or that it's impossible to fully know someone?"
Kushida nodded with a smile, tightening her grip on his arm, making Hikigaya's already flushed face turn even redder.
"Exactly! As expected of Hikigaya. You get all the big ideas."
"If you're saying people can never fully understand each other, then no matter how I answer, I'd only get 90 points, right?"
Hikigaya was puzzled by her cheerfulness. If no one could ever truly know another, then a relationship that wasn't "genuine" was kind of sad.
The girl froze for a moment, her cheerful smile fading. She slowly loosened her grip on his arm, replacing it with a calm, faint smile.
"You're right. But right now, you get full marks."
Hikigaya shook his head, not believing he'd reached that level.
"With so many stars in the sky, understanding each one might take a lifetime and still not be enough. But… some people, like moths to a flame, will still try to know, to connect, to stay by someone's side, like the moon."
Kushida gave a self-deprecating smile: "Are you talking about stars or people?"
"Who knows? Maybe even after a lifetime, the person who knows you best is still yourself. That's the reality for most people… but."
"But?"
Kushida looked up, puzzled, at the boy.
"Sometimes, if you don't try, you'll never know the outcome. If a relationship like that—a true, mutual understanding without any lies—really exists in this world, I'd spend my whole life searching for it."
This seemingly ordinary boy, who always claimed he just wanted a peaceful life as a househusband, held such a lofty goal. Kushida Kikyou knew better than anyone how illusory it was.
Yet he said he'd spend his life chasing it.
Kushida laughed—a hearty laugh, as if mocking Hikigaya, or perhaps herself.
"Hikigaya-kun, how curious. What would you call a relationship like that?"
"The real thing."
"The real thing…? If you ever find a relationship like that, I'd love to see it with my own eyes."
Hikigaya nodded, agreeing to Kushida Kikyou's sincere request.
Whether in that world or this one, past or future, Hikigaya often wondered if what he was searching for even existed.
Maybe that was why he kept crossing into different worlds, or perhaps the reason for it.
If it didn't exist in this world, he'd try the next, until he found it.
Hikigaya didn't yet know that his journey was only just beginning. The path he was on now was but a small part of it.
Keeping his goal firmly etched in his heart gave him a resilient spirit to face any hardship.
Kushida slowly stepped back from the boy, as if shedding all pretense, and spoke with genuine emotion: "Hikigaya-kun, you're really a kind person."
"Well, I'm heading back to my room. We'll definitely win tomorrow's exam."
With a wave goodbye, Hikigaya watched her slowly leave the deck.
As she rounded the corner, the short-haired girl muttered to herself: "The real thing… does it really exist in this world?"
She quickened her pace, as if trying to pretend the ripples in her heart hadn't stirred. But the boy's words had already touched the one true part of her heart.
The truth couldn't be changed.
The boy stayed alone on the cruise ship's deck, looking up at the starry sky once more before letting out a long breath.
The night sky was so beautiful, like a painting. If Van Gogh were here, he'd probably create another timeless masterpiece. But standing here was just Hikigaya, an ordinary boy with no abilities or special talents.
Still, he could take in this scene, store it in his heart, and keep it forever indelible.
(End of this chapter)