"Ugh, next time, you better prepare a pair for me too!"
Ibuki Mio tossed her sneakers aside and, with her short socks-clad foot, stepped firmly on Hachiman's slippers.
Hachiman, acting all serious, explained, "It's not that big of a deal…"
"Every day? At night?" Ibuki quipped.
"That's why Horikita-senpai is so familiar with it… She's practically like the mistress of this place!" Hasebe Haruka squinted teasingly.
"Haruka, stop joking around," Sakura Airi grabbed her hand and sat down, her gaze curiously inspecting the room.
"Hachiman, can I look at the books in your room?" Shinna Hiyori asked.
"Well… sure, go ahead…"
Even though it was her first time here, she seemed completely unbothered, picking up a book and casually sitting on Hachiman's bed to read.
"…"
Hasebe Haruka's eyes widened in surprise. She thought to herself, These girls aren't the kind to back down easily!
She needed to help Airi out—this wasn't going to be easy!
"By the way, Airi and I were able to pass the exam thanks to Hachiman's thoughtful tutoring~"
Wait, 'Hachiman'?
The unusually intimate nickname caught the attention of all the girls present.
"Oh, it's nothing… just a small favor," Hachiman brushed it off, dismissing it casually.
"To Hachiman, it's just a small favor, but for Airi and me, it's the difference between passing and getting expelled!"
"Now, how should I thank you?" Haruka propped her chin with her finger, pretending to think. "How about… another friendly hug?"
"Wait, Haruka… didn't we already hug him before?" Sakura Airi shyly reminded her, her face turning red.
Nice job, Airi! Great support!
Haruka silently gave her a thumbs-up and continued, "Oh come on, once isn't enough. As good friends, we should hug more, right?"
She spread her arms wide, pretending to go in for another hug with Hachiman.
"Hey! I'm serious, you need to stop! Can't you see Hachiman's uncomfortable?" Ibuki Mio intervened, blocking Haruka's path.
"Oh? Does Hachiman feel uncomfortable?" Haruka grinned and pulled Sakura Airi closer. The two of them stood proudly, practically towering over the rest of the girls. No need for extra teasing or ambiguity—just their bold presence was enough to dominate the room.
"Vile! Despicable!" Ibuki Mio's face flushed red with anger. She turned to look at Hachiman, only to see him turning away, though his eyes were still helplessly glancing at the two.
"Hachiman, look over here!" Ibuki Mio grabbed his face, forcibly turning him toward her direction.
"Don't forget! I'm the one who introduced you to Shiina."
Introducing a guy to your best friend? What kind of shady move is that?
Haruka's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Sakura Airi, on the other hand, shot her a subtle glance.
"Tea's getting cold."
Horikita Suzune, with perfect grace, picked up her cup and took a sip.
"Thanks, Horikita-senpai," Shiina Hiyori, unaffected by the girls' back-and-forth banter, calmly sat reading her book.
Both of them, lovers of books, couldn't help but start a conversation.
"No problem. By the way, Shiina what kind of books do you usually read?"
"I like mystery novels and some classical literature."
"I prefer philosophy and foreign classics."
The two found they had some overlapping interests, and the conversation flowed easily.
The celebration party was going smoothly. Everyone was drinking tea, chatting, and munching on snacks—things were surprisingly harmonious.
However, with five girls and one guy, the conversation inevitably circled back to Hachiman.
"Hey~ Hachiman~ What type of girl do you like?"
Haruka propped her chin on her hands, smiling mischievously, throwing a bombshell question.
"!!!"
The eyes of all the girls immediately locked onto Hachiman, and the atmosphere grew tense.
"Liking someone is a subjective emotional awareness," Hachiman began philosophically. "However, subjective emotions are inherently vague things. What type of girl I like is ultimately a pseudo-concept. It's more about liking a girl who embodies that type. What I'm really after is the genuine—"
Uh, wait a second! What am I even saying?
Hachiman, embarrassed, quickly corrected himself, awkwardly tugging at his lips. "Uh… never mind, I was just rambling."
"…"
"…"
"…"
Everyone fell silent, staring at him.
"What? Why is everyone quiet now?" Hachiman looked around, completely lost.
Thud!
"Sorry, I just remembered something… I have to leave first…" Haruka suddenly stood up, hurriedly walking out of the room.
"Eh? Haruka?" Airi blinked in confusion, then excused herself before quickly following Haruka out.
"Uh… did I say something wrong?" Hachiman scratched his head, utterly clueless.
"Hachiman, you… you should be careful about saying stuff like that." Horikita Suzune gave him a complicated look.
"I understand now," Shiina Hiyori said softly, closing her book.
"???" Ibuki Mio looked utterly lost. What? What are you all talking about?
"I-I get it too, okay?!" Ibuki Mio tried to act casual, but her tone betrayed her uncertainty.
"Sure, sure~" Hiyori smiled gently, reaching out to pat her head.
"It's getting late, let's head back."
Hiyori took Mio's hand and began to leave. Before she did, she added with a smile, "Goodnight, Hachiman. Sweet dreams~~"
"Huh, Horikita, aren't you leaving too?" Hachiman looked at her woodenly.
"I'll pack up and leave soon."
Horikita Suzune, as always, tidied up the tea and snacks with meticulous grace, even taking the trash with her as she left. Everything seemed perfectly natural.
***
At the corner of the hall, Haruka leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Through the reflection in the glass window, she caught a glimpse of her own beautiful face and the perfect body she knew every guy loved.
But she also knew that what men liked wasn't "Haruka Hasebe," but just a simple combination of looks + body.
They'd like anyone who had that, even if it was someone else.
It was just the "pseudo-object" Hachiman had mentioned.
Haruka rested her hand on her pounding chest, her gaze slightly dazed as she muttered to herself,
"Is there such a thing as a genuine person?"