It was another dusk, seemingly just like those of the past.
There were birds chirping high up, but more prevalent was the noisy clamor of traffic.
People were coming and going, a crowd whose joys and sorrows could be read at a glance.
The sky lacked vibrant colors; it was a plain, ordinary evening.
The two people following one another remained silent.
Hikigaya Hachiman abandoned his usual habit of thinking while on the move, clearing his mind to simply observe the scenery along the way.
His line of sight shifted from the end of the road and focused on the girl.
Her smooth, long black hair, the profile she revealed inadvertently, the fragility mixed with a trace of strength, and her posture—full of youthful vitality and lightness—all revealed the fact that she was a beautiful, youthful girl.
According to common sense, such a combination of walking one behind the other, on a school day where the weather was neither too good nor too bad, should be like this:
A stray cat passing by inadvertently, a swallow skimming past with a low posture, the hesitation to say something yet remaining silent, the mottled light and shadows cast by the trees.
At this moment, there should also be cherry blossoms, drifting about in a brilliant display.
There would also be a breeze blowing, making the time it takes for the cherry blossoms to hit the ground less urgent—a scene that is ignored by people but is so heart-wrenching.
The whole world should be pink.
At such a time, young men and women must pass through such an intersection—an intersection equipped with tracks, signifying a parting.
The girl would playfully dash across the intersection first, then turn around with a light, airy posture, revealing a bright smile while waving her hands.
Immediately after, a train roaring past would cover both the girl’s figure and her voice.
Those words that barely expressed one’s feelings had never felt as unsettling as they did now.
Hikigaya Hachiman and Yotsuya Miko also arrived at such an intersection—the crossing of Mikami Road and Narita Road.
The girl’s face still showed no signs of joy or anger, but her pace had clearly slowed, and she kept turning her head to look around, confirming something.
Noticing Yotsuya Miko’s unease, Hikigaya Hachiman stopped walking.
Consequently, Yotsuya Miko also stopped, looked back, and asked with feigned composure, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.
There’s a vending machine over there, I’m going to buy a drink.”
“Oh.”
After giving a brief explanation, Hikigaya Hachiman walked toward the vending machine.
An accident occurred that was not unexpected.
After turning every pocket he had inside out, Hikigaya Hachiman finally accepted the fact that he had lost his wallet.
Even his naturally decadent dead fish eyes seemed to harbor a trace of murderous intent.
“Seriously…
why at a time like this…”
Not only that, but even here, Hikigaya Hachiman could not find any trace of MAX Coffee.
If they can’t even achieve full coverage here, as a consumer, one has to start worrying about the company’s sales.
But there is another possibility: it was bought out by someone else.
Starting from this point, there are still many people in this cold city who have as good taste as I do…
But regardless, this must be the beverage company’s fault.
If that’s the case…
And just as Hikigaya Hachiman was dialing the number for the Consumer Protection Association, Yotsuya Miko walked over from the side.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, this.
Lost my wallet, and, well, MAX—MAX Coffee is all out.”
“Would red bean soup be okay?”
“If you’re paying, I’m not picky.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
The two returned to that intersection.
It was still one following the other, with Hikigaya Hachiman trailing behind Yotsuya Miko, but the difference was that Yotsuya Miko’s posture was not as restrained as it was before.
It seems this drink had done the trick.
Feeling the temperature transmitted through his palms, Hikigaya Hachiman pulled the tab and took a sip.
The flavor of the red beans was very rich; perhaps because sugar had been added, there was an extra touch of sweetness.
Although it didn’t compare to MAX Coffee, it could be considered to have a unique flavor of its own.
Most importantly, this drink was actually hot.
Drinking it gave a warm feeling, just like a mother’s embrace.
“Come to think of it, Senpai fought the monster right here yesterday.”
“I suppose you could say I had the upper hand.
Speaking of which, that is the purpose of me escorting you home today.”
“Purpose?”
“Whether it’s a coincidence or something planned by someone, I just want to get everything cleared up.”
The ground where the battle took place was intact, as if nothing had happened; there wasn’t even a trace left, as if nothing had occurred yesterday.
Hikigaya squatted on the ground and observed it carefully, but in the end, he didn’t find any suspicious marks.
Hikigaya Hachiman stood up, took a few more looks from the intersection, and ultimately failed to obtain any useful information, so he had to ask Yotsuya Miko.
“I can’t say I walk it often.
A more accurate way to put it is that it’s my ‘only way.’ Unless I have to take a detour to the nearby dessert shop with Hana, this road is the unavoidable path.”
“Hana?
You have friends?
Uh, don’t misunderstand me, I mean—do you have classmates you walk home with?”
He had thought this seemingly weak-spirited girl was well-versed in the way of the loner just like himself.
He hadn’t expected her to be a “normie” who enjoys friendship.
This sudden betrayal made Hikigaya Hachiman chug two big mouthfuls of red bean soup.
“Senpai, what do you mean by that?
I do have friends, you know.
Yurikawa Hana—we’ve been best friends since elementary school.
Walking home together is the most ordinary thing in the world.”
Saying this, Yotsuya Miko even put on a smug look.
“Ah?
Best friends since elementary school…
what a dazzling life…
no, wait, if that’s the case.” Discovering a clue, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly realized something.
“Why wasn’t Yurikawa Hana with you yesterday?
After all, confiding in a best friend is an option.”
“Hana is the type who is very bold physically but not bold at all in her heart.
When I met her yesterday morning, she was complaining to me that the ghost program the night before was ‘too scary.’ How could I dare to tell her about these things?
So I let her go home early, and I came to discuss things with you and the others, Senpai.”
“In other words…”
The idea that there were no ghosts near the Service Club because Hikigaya Hachiman of the Service Club scared the ghosts away was a theory he had heard enough of in elementary school.
Looking at it from a different angle, it could also be considered that the monster had been following Yurikawa Hana all along, and since Yotsuya Miko left Yurikawa Hana, naturally she stopped witnessing them.
Combining this with the fact that this road was the mandatory route for both of them to go home, perhaps the monster’s target had been Yurikawa Hana all along.
As for the question of why Yotsuya Miko could see ghosts, that and the fact that Yurikawa Hana was being targeted by a ghost were two separate matters.
Of course, these were all speculations; without more evidence being discovered, these were just guesses.