Chapter 194: New Developments, New Life and Changes
[In the chat group, Yukinoshita had a gloomy expression.]
["What excuse do you have this time? This is your own choice."]
[Hikigaya didn't know what to say. Hearing his own words in the video and seeing the black screen, he could only sigh helplessly: "I never thought that one day I would be able to accept such... such a gentle person."]
[A look of indignation appeared on Yukinoshita's face. Finally, unable to contain her anger, she pinched the flesh on Hikigaya's stomach and said with a smile, "Fine, fine, so you're saying I've wronged you?"]
[Hikigaya was helpless, because at this moment, saying anything or saying nothing would be wrong.]
[On the other hand, when Ichinose saw Hachiman accept her, a tear of joy streamed down her face, "That's great..."]
[However, Karuizawa was quite unhappy. After all, this made her the most despicable one, since she had used drugs, which made her feel somewhat embarrassed. But her personality wouldn't allow her to keep this resentment to herself, so she retorted, "Sakura, you're too nice to her... I'm not convinced."]
[Kushida shook her head, "Karuizawa, you're wrong... Sakura treats us all the same, without any hostility, and she tries to connect with us. But that's not because she's nice to us; she's nice to Hachiman, nice to the core."]
[A blush appeared on Sakura's face, and she didn't continue the conversation with Karuizawa. She just watched the video in front of her, without any argument, as if in her eyes, her world only contained Hachiman.]
[Kamuro naturally didn't say much either, after all, her position was quite funny. But speaking of which, she wondered what the princess was feeling at this moment, since the princess had just agreed to give herself to him, which was something the Class A students couldn't accept at all, after all, that was Sakayanagi. But Hikigaya refused, and instead went to bed with Ichinose.]
[Things really are unpredictable.]
[Sakayanagi wasn't in a hurry, she just stared intently at the video in front of her, and finally seemed to reassure herself.]
[Horikita still maintained her sometimes tsundere, sometimes rebellious demeanor. Everything she saw didn't seem enough to completely break her down.]
Everything returned to peace. Hikigaya didn't know how to describe his feelings at this moment, but now that the heavy burden on his heart had finally been lifted, he finally felt a long-awaited sense of peace.
Looking back now, Hikigaya realized that he had always been walking on a path full of self-interest, and the exams with Ryuen and Sakayanagi seemed so easy in comparison. It was a very relaxed life, at least the relationships between the few of them weren't bad, and the next two years at this school would surely be filled with even more memories.
Because so many unexpected events had occurred at this school, the final exams for this semester ended early, and the increasing public scrutiny meant the school authorities were temporarily unable to focus on the students here.
Of course, it wasn't just the school that needed time to recover, but also the students. After all, everything had finally come to light, and with Sima Zhongda's confession, all the darkness of the school's past had been exposed.
July 12, 2010: A student died in a fight.
March 11, 2011: A student committed suicide by jumping from a building due to a dormitory dispute.
December 7, 2015: A bloody incident resulting in six deaths occurred, also due to a dormitory dispute.
...
There were several more such cases, and the mastermind behind these incidents was Sima Zhongda's faction. Of course, there were far too many disputes involved, as the students who were harmed were mostly elites, the kind of elites that couldn't be controlled by society. Because Sima Zhongda couldn't control society through them, things ended up this way.
Hikigaya lightly sighed, his gaze shifting to the distance.
Perhaps there were still many more dark things in this society that hadn't been revealed, but unlike his past self, he now had more confidence to face those rights and wrongs.
The end of the semester also meant that Horikita Manabu would be leaving this school completely. He did indeed graduate from Class 3-A, which was the best testament to his abilities. After all, wasn't that what he had worked hard for for three years?
However, with the current public opinion surrounding this school, even graduating from Class A wouldn't have the same impact as before. However, Horikita Manabu took these matters quite lightly. Perhaps from the beginning, he was the kind of person who viewed fame and fortune with utter indifference, and becoming student council president was simply a way for him to do more for the school.
Of course, this was just Hikigaya's guess; he had no idea what Horikita Manabu was actually thinking.
However... one thing was certain. Standing before Horikita Manabu, Hikigaya was sure of one thing: Horikita Manabu was definitely hoping his sister would see him off one last time.
Leaving this school meant being separated from his sister for another two years. If he had deliberately avoided his sister in the past, he no longer needed to do so now. Perhaps, given more opportunities and more time, he would calmly talk to his sister again, after all, she had changed, and Horikita Manabu had changed too.
He looked at Hikigaya, his gaze no longer sharp as before, but filled with approval: "This school is now in your hands!"
Hikigaya: "I don't have that kind of ability. I'm more suited to being a general handyman."
Horikita Manabu smiled faintly, not immediately answering Hikigaya, but instead glancing at the school that had been his companion for three years:
"All my efforts have been dedicated to this school. No matter what it was like before, or what happened, in my heart, I still hope it can become better. So... if possible, I hope you can help my sister become the new student council president."
Hachiman shook his head: "You still like to force things on people. I remember how you treated your sister in that alley. I won't help you this time; you should talk to her yourself."
It seemed as though he had already anticipated that she would come, Hikigaya spoke those words as if it were a matter of course.
In truth, Horikita had no reason not to come. Emotionally and logically, she should come see her brother one last time.
Horikita Manabu, who had been gazing into the distance the entire time, slowly shifted his eyes forward and let out a quiet sigh.
Hikigaya had never seen Manabu like this before. Or rather, this version of him was no longer the Manabu everyone knew. Still, Hikigaya could understand, because in front of his younger sister, Manabu was nothing more than an ordinary older brother.
"So… she still refuses to come see me?" Manabu said softly.
"After everything that's happened… she really has grown up."
Hikigaya asked, "Do you think she hates you?"
Manabu shook his head. "You wouldn't understand… as an older brother…."
Hikigaya shook his head as well: "No. If you're talking about a brother's responsibility, then I think I understand it better than you imagine. I've never done anything truly memorable for my own little sister, and even now, I regret it deeply."
"Some things, if you don't say them, you might never get the chance to."
Manabu seemed to sense the meaning behind Hikigaya's words, but he didn't press further. Everyone carried secrets they couldn't speak of. He had his, and Hikigaya surely had his as well.
Just as their gazes met again, hurried breathing sounded from the distance.
Long black hair wasn't uncommon at this school, but when that familiar face appeared, Manabu's body trembled ever so slightly. Only Hikigaya, standing beside him, noticed.
"I'm sorry… I'm late."
"Suzune," Manabu said gently. "You've really grown up… truly."
The arrogance he once carried was gone. What remained was nothing but warmth. In this final stretch of time, it seemed the siblings could finally open their hearts to one another.
Faced with Manabu's gentle, emotion-filled voice, Horikita Suzune froze, unable to speak.
"You're no longer that child who was always chasing after me," Manabu continued, "You don't need to make anyone your goal anymore. Just keep moving forward, until you reach your own destination. That's enough."
"Brother…" Suzune said, her voice trembling, "If only I'd realized that sooner… if only I'd changed earlier… then we could've spent more time together."
Manabu shook his head and glanced briefly at Hikigaya, "No. This is fine. Because two years from now, I'll be waiting for you at this school, waiting to see you become even stronger."
Suzune's tears finally spilled over. They slid down her cheeks as she leaned into Manabu's chest, the two sharing a quiet, gentle embrace.
Seeing the moment had settled, Hikigaya chose not to stay. He stepped away silently, watching the siblings who had finally reconciled.
In truth, he had been a witness to all of it.
He'd seen Suzune at the start of the school year, proud and aloof.
He'd seen Manabu, dissatisfied with his sister's actions.
And now, a year later, the two of them stood together, hearts laid bare.
Perhaps they'd never said it aloud, but they had always been watching each other.
For some reason, a faint, relieved smile appeared on Hikigaya's face.
To say he didn't envy them would be a lie. After all, he too had a younger sister. And because of his displacement into this world, he hadn't contacted her in nearly a year. Before that, even their worst arguments never lasted more than a month.
He'd already decided, once things settled down, he would try to understand the outside world of this reality.
When he first arrived here, his heart had been closed off. Avoidant. Afraid.
A powerless boy surviving in society could get by with work, but only barely.
Inside this school, as long as you weren't expelled, survival was guaranteed.
But information about the outside world was painfully scarce.
Now, however, Hikigaya had gained the courage to face the unknown.
So, he could no longer run away.
The siblings' farewell lasted neither long nor short.
In Hikigaya's eyes, the sun set and dusk faded, but for them, it was likely only an instant.
He didn't know what they said in the end.
Only that, amid lingering reluctance, Horikita Manabu finally left the school, embracing his new future and stepping into the cruel, realistic world.
At the very last moment, he and Tachibana turned back, smiling gently as they waved goodbye to Hikigaya.
For some reason, Hikigaya felt that sometimes, relationships didn't need an outcome to be meaningful.
---
The campus road was dimly lit.
Horikita clearly hadn't shaken off the lingering sadness, and Hikigaya didn't force conversation. He simply walked beside her, one step, then another.
After a long while, Horikita finally lifted her head and looked at him with an expression of forced strength. But after meeting his gaze, she lowered her head again, as if words were stuck in her throat.
Hikigaya understood that feeling all too well.
"As a classmate," he said, "I think this is one of those moments where saying something matters."
"Say whatever you want," he added. "No need to hold it in."
Horikita shot him an annoyed glare, "Then you'd better prepare yourself mentally."
"Relax," Hikigaya replied. "I've seen plenty of storms."
She took a deep breath and stopped walking.
Facing him directly, she forced Hikigaya to stop as well.
For some reason, he felt nervous.
Her serious expression made his heart tighten unconsciously.
Standing so close, her faint, unique scent drifted into his nose, eroding his composure. Her long black hair flowed smoothly to her waist, her chest rising and falling more noticeably as she breathed.
She didn't speak.
Neither did he.
Hikigaya suddenly felt that agreeing so casually earlier might've been a mistake.
"Hikigaya," Suzune said softly, "I know everything about you."
"…What exactly are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb. Just think for a moment. Anyone who pays attention could guess your relationships with those girls. Do I really need to spell it out?"
Hikigaya scratched his cheek awkwardly, both embarrassed and faintly incredulous.
Horikita lowered her head, her eyes darting away. A faint blush surfaced on her cheeks.
"Don't be surprised. I've always been watching you. Even though you're a guy with barely any presence… the feeling you give me has never come from anyone else."
"I don't know how to categorize it, security, trust, dependence, admiration… but I think it's love."
"Even after seeing you involved with so many girls, I still couldn't stop myself. That's what convinced me."
Hikigaya's expression stiffened. The first person he thought of was Horikita Manabu.
"Did your brother say something to you?" he asked. "Why would you feel this way?"
Suzune shook her head calmly, "No. He never said anything about you."
"If it weren't for this incident, I think I could've endured longer. But now… it feels like my heart's being pierced by a thousand needles."
"I don't want to see you face that kind of danger ever again."
As she spoke, she leaned closer, emotion overtaking her. Her eyes, still red from parting with her brother, filled once more with tears.
Her trembling hands gripped Hikigaya's clothes.
"Seventeen years of my life were spent living for my brother. Chasing after him, I forgot who I was."
"But today… after parting from him, I finally found the last missing piece of myself."
"I love you," she said softly, "Deeply. Irrevocably. I didn't want to admit it, but love is irrational."
She didn't give Hikigaya a chance to respond.
Instead, she stepped forward and kissed him.
Under the dim night sky, the two of them melted into each other as if guided by instinct. With the third-years gone, the campus had grown quiet, and it was precisely that silence that allowed the moment to go undisturbed.
One minute later, Horikita pulled away from Hikigaya of her own accord.
Though tears were still falling, she was now able to show a smile so gentle it felt almost unreal.
Hikigaya had never seen her like this before.
If what Horikita herself said was true, then this version of her was the real Horikita Suzune, the girl who was gentle yet independent, proud yet strong.
"Seventeen years into my life, Hikigaya Hachiman… from today onward, I will live for you."
"No matter what happens to you in the future, I'll stay by your side. This doesn't mean I'm walking down a road of no return, nor does it mean I'll chase after you."
"I simply want to stay with you, no matter what role that may be. That alone is enough."
Faced with Horikita Suzune's sudden confession, Hikigaya froze for a moment.
That said, he hadn't completely lost his ability to think, after all, he wasn't exactly inexperienced with situations like this anymore.
Still, Horikita Suzune was different from the other girls.
She always seemed to understand her own position clearly. After saying those words, she only gave Hikigaya a light hug before leaving without hesitation.
For her, the future was still long.
---
[Chat Room]
[Horikita Manabu: "Suzune really has grown up."]
[Tachibana: "As her brother, you can finally be at ease now."]
[Horikita Manabu: "Yes… this is good. She's finally become a girl with her own aspirations. I believe her abilities and achievements in the future won't be lacking. For some reason, I'm actually looking forward to it."]
[Tachibana: "No one can truly be indifferent to their younger sister, not even a former student council president."]
[Horikita Suzune herself still couldn't quite believe it. In just this brief moment, the impact on her was immense. The two most important men in her life, Hikigaya Hachiman and Horikita Manabu, had each, in their own way, taught her what it meant to live.]
[Kushida, no longer harboring the same hatred she once had toward Horikita, asked with some confusion: "Honestly… I never thought you of all people could have feelings like that. It's kind of unbelievable."]
[Joking aside, Kushida now regarded Horikita's feelings as those of a new rival.]
[Horikita smiled faintly: "Yeah… I never thought I'd feel this way about a boy either. But since I've acknowledged it, I won't have any hesitation. I already said it clearly in the video, no matter what happens in the future, I'll live for him."]
[Her words were nothing short of a declaration of war against everyone in the chat who harbored feelings for Hikigaya. To her, he was someone she absolutely could not let go of.]
[Yukinoshita's expression didn't look very good. Despite being the one closest to Hikigaya, a quiet sense of crisis crept up behind her.]
[At the same time, Yuigahama and Hayama's group finally returned, bringing along the "angel" Totsuka Saika and Hikigaya's little sister Komachi. The Service Club instantly became lively again, and everyone clearly understood the relationship between the two.]
[Yuigahama stood up and walked in front of Yukinoshita once more. "Yukinon… I'm not giving up."]
[Isshiki leaned toward Miura and whispered: "At this point, shouldn't the Service Club be renamed the Battlefield?"]
["I was thinking the same thing."]
(End of this chapter)