Chapter 18: A Little Trick

Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman take the lunchbox from Yotsuya Mikako's hand, the students gathered nearby immediately erupted in chatter. Although this girl delivering the lunch wasn't someone famous, her cute face and impressive figure were enough to attract plenty of male admirers. But then, looking at who she was giving the lunch to— That pair of dead fish eyes, is he for real?! Why would such an adorable girl like her be interested in such a slacker?! A bunch of guys held their heads, expressing their incomprehension. Similarly, in Class F, Miura Yumiko and the others, who had just taken out their lunches to eat together, along with Kawasaki Saki, who was also heading out with her lunch to find a place to eat, were stunned when they saw the scene. Kawasaki Saki simply glanced at the girl sitting across from Hikigaya Hachiman and, recognizing her as the girl she saw last night, showed a trace of surprise in her eyes before pushing through the crowd and leaving. "Let's get out of here first..." Realizing they were surrounded by many gazes, Hikigaya Hachiman hurriedly squeezed toward the corridor with his lunchbox, while Yotsuya Mikako jogged closely behind. After the two completely disappeared from the doorway, Miura Yumiko came back to her senses. She turned her head and looked at the absent-minded Yui Yuigahama, instantly furious. "Stop staring, they've already left!" Slapping the desk to snap Yuigahama Yui back to reality, Miura Yumiko voraciously dug into her own lunch with a fierce expression, as if she were eating Hikigaya himself. . . . Having taken Yotsuya Mikako away from the crowd, Hikigaya Hachiman slowed his pace gradually. "Why did you give me lunch?" While going down the stairs, he asked Yotsuya Mikako behind him. He had already dealt with Yotsuya's evil spirit last night; they shouldn't have any connection anymore. So why did she prepare lunch for him, and why did she give it to him so publicly in front of so many people? "Because I want to thank you..." Hearing Hachiman's question, Yotsuya Mikako's face, flushed from running, seemed to blush even more. "But I never expected to get anything in return from you." They went down the stairs and arrived beside the bicycle parking area. This was Hikigaya Hachiman's usual place to eat lunch. "But I still think I should express my gratitude! After all, you saved my life..." Yotsuya Mikako wore a solemn expression. Perhaps Hikigaya truly didn't care about her thanks and didn't think much of what happened yesterday. But as the one who was helped, she would absolutely never forget something like that! "Then let this lunch be my thank-you gift." Hikigaya Hachiman helplessly accepted Yotsuya Mikako's explanation, shaking the lunch box in his hand to signal that she shouldn't give him lunch again tomorrow. "Is this troubling you?" Hearing his clear rejection, Yotsuya Mikako looked a little sad. "Yeah, I feel really troubled!" Without any softening words, Hikigaya knew the firmer he was about this, the better. He nodded and said coldly without mercy. Yotsuya Mikako was undoubtedly a grateful girl. Now that the evil spirit trouble was gone, with her looks, she would probably quickly have a fulfilling social life. Because of that, he couldn't let Yotsuya have too much contact with him. After all, as everyone acknowledged, the company of a weirdo was also necessarily weird people... "Is that so?" Yotsuya Mikako sat next to Hikigaya with her head lowered, lost in thought. Hikigaya didn't speak to her anymore. He opened the carefully prepared lunchbox, picked up a piece of fried chicken, and tasted it... Time passed slowly. Before long, Hikigaya finished the lunchbox in his hands. Then he turned his head and saw Yotsuya Mikako still staring blankly at her own lunchbox. "Lunch break is almost over." Unable to just let Yotsuya sit there motionless, he couldn't help but remind her after seeing how still she was. "Mm..." Yotsuya nodded but still didn't open her lunch. Seeing this, Hikigaya sighed helplessly. After hesitating a bit, he spoke up: "If no one finds out, I wouldn't mind helping you finish the extra lunch..." Hearing this, Yotsuya finally moved. She lifted her head with a victorious smile: "I just happen to know a place where no one will see us!" How careless... Seeing the smile on Yotsuya's face, Hikigaya realized she had deliberately done this earlier. But since he already agreed, naturally he couldn't back out. "We absolutely cannot be seen!" Helpless, Hikigaya repeatedly reminded Yotsuya that no one could see them eating together. "Of course!" Yotsuya casually agreed. There were quite a few abandoned classrooms in the activity building. Before, because of fear of evil spirits, she hadn't dared to go there. But now she had Hikigaya... Thinking this, Yotsuya's mood brightened, and she opened her box, revealing the same lunch as Hikigaya had eaten earlier, and started eating heartily. "Eat slowly, be careful not to choke..." Watching Yotsuya eat, Hikigaya kindly warned. But just as his words fell, Yotsuya actually choked. "Ugh ugh!" Yotsuya frantically patted her chest, trying to swallow the food. "I'll go buy some drink..." Seeing the eye-catching scene, Hikigaya silently stood up and walked toward the juice vending machine. But shortly after leaving Yotsuya, he was blocked by a yellow-haired girl. "May I help you?" Glancing at the sturdy figure in front of the girl, Hikigaya looked puzzled. He thought he wasn't that popular, so why were so many girls approaching him today? "Follow me..." However, the girl didn't answer Hikigaya's question. She glanced at Yotsuya sitting not far away, then grabbed Hikigaya's hand and ran toward the juice vending machine. "Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!" After three heavy sounds of something hitting the ground, Hikigaya bent down and handed a can of juice to the girl standing beside him. "Thanks..." Taking the juice, the girl thanked softly and took a sip. "So, what did you want to see me about?" Hikigaya also opened a juice can and took a sip. After glancing at the passersby, he leaned against the wall and asked. His intuition told him this girl wasn't here for him.