After stuffing Zaimokuza’s “masterpiece”—thick enough to serve as a brick—into their bags, the three Service Club members ended the day’s club activities in an atmosphere mixing exasperation, curiosity, and a certain foreboding premonition, and each left the school grounds.
Hikigaya walked home alone, the setting sun stretching his shadow long and thin.
Habitually, he turned over in his mind everything that had happened today—from Yukinoshita’s Line message in the early morning, to the twin-bento crisis at noon, to Zaimokuza’s sudden chuunibyou request in the afternoon, and…
that suffocating, absurd incident.
‘My high school life really has completely derailed from its intended track…’
He sighed inwardly.
But strangely, within that sigh, there seemed to be less of the usual heaviness, and more of…
something he himself hadn’t even noticed—a subtle sense of adaptation?
Passing by a supermarket he often frequented, Hikigaya remembered it was his turn to buy the ingredients for dinner tonight.
He turned in, grabbed a shopping cart, and began wandering aimlessly through the fresh produce section, debating whether to make curry or ginger-fried pork tonight.
Just as he picked up a pack of discounted pork and was hesitating over whether to put it in his cart, the corner of his eye caught sight of a scene a short distance ahead, beside another shelf.
A tall girl with a neat, sharp ponytail stood with her back to him, on tiptoe, straining to place heavy canned goods onto the highest shelf of the display.
She wore the apron of a supermarket employee, but that striking head of silver hair—like moonlight—and that slightly cool, aloof profile silhouette made Hikigaya recognize her instantly.
It was his classmate, Kawasaki Saki.
Kawasaki was known throughout the class as a notorious loner.
She spoke very little and always wore an icy, unapproachable expression.
He never imagined she worked here part-time.
Hikigaya was just about to avert his gaze and avoid unnecessary contact when, in the next instant, his eyes froze.
Right beside the shelf where Kawasaki Saki was focused on stacking goods, there was another metal shelf—this one loaded with various heavy bottled seasonings, cooking oils, and bulk dry goods.
Perhaps due to an uneven floor or a weight distribution issue, it was undergoing an extremely subtle, but definitely present…
swaying?
And the amplitude of that sway seemed to be slowly increasing!
‘This is bad!’
Hikigaya’s heart lurched.
Given the weight and height of that shelf, if it truly came crashing down, Kawasaki Saki—working intently right next to it—would absolutely be caught in the devastation.
The consequences were unthinkable!
He was on the verge of shouting out a warning immediately, or rushing over to pull her away—
Ding-dong~!
[Sudden Crisis Event Detected: The Swaying Shelf and the Oblivious Maiden!]
[System Commentary: Oh Host, your “trouble magnet constitution” truly lives up to its reputation.
Even a simple trip to the supermarket turns into a damsel-in-distress scenario!
(￣▽￣)~*]
[Generating Options…]
[Option 1: Shout a loud warning to attract the attention of those nearby and attempt to stabilize the shelf.
(Reward: Kawasaki Saki’s Notice & Small probability of being injured by falling shelf)]
[Option 2: Pretend you didn’t see anything.
Quietly detour around.
Better to avoid trouble—after all, the other party is the class’s notorious “Ice Queen.” (Reward: Skill “Self-Preservation” (Proficiency Increase))]
[Option 3 (High Alert): Rush forward immediately.
Grab Kawasaki Saki from behind.
Use momentum to carry her clear of the danger zone.
The most direct and effective method of preventing harm!
(Reward: Kawasaki Saki’s Favorability (?) & High probability of being branded a pervert & Minor increase to special attribute “Courage”)]
Staring at these three options—especially that glaring “High probability of being branded a pervert” trailing behind Option 3—Hikigaya’s mouth twitched violently.
He knew it!
This damned system never offered any easy choices!
Option 1?
Shouting might be too late, and trying to stabilize the shelf with his scrawny frame?
He’d probably end up reenacting a live-action version of “a mantis trying to stop a cart.”
Option 2?
It certainly fit his life creed of “stay away from trouble.” But…
just stand by and watch a classmate potentially get crushed without doing anything?
Option 3…
this was practically suicide!
“Save” Kawasaki Saki in that manner?
He could already foresee the vivid red handprint that would be imprinted on his cheek the very next second, followed by the permanent solidification of the “pervert” label.
Yet, watching the shelf sway more and more noticeably while Kawasaki Saki remained completely oblivious, still on tiptoe stacking goods—Hikigaya gritted his teeth.
‘Damn fate…
you really know how to throw the hardest problems at me!’
There was no time to hesitate.
Between “possibly being branded a pervert” and “possibly watching a classmate get gravely injured,” he acted almost purely on instinct.
He chose the option that looked the most reckless but was also the most likely to ensure the other person’s safety—Option 3!
In the next instant, Hikigaya shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow!
Just as Kawasaki Saki heard the footsteps and began turning her head in puzzled confusion, Hikigaya had already closed in from behind.
One arm quickly circled across the front of her shoulders, the other wrapped around the side of her waist.
With every ounce of strength he could muster, he lunged sideways with her, diving toward the safe zone!
“Kya—!
What are you doing?!”
Taken completely by surprise, Kawasaki Saki let out a short cry of alarm.
All she felt was a powerful force coming from behind.
Her entire body was pulled off balance, falling backward, crashing into an embrace that was somewhat lean yet exceptionally firm.
A scent belonging to a boy—carrying a faint trace of detergent—instantly enveloped her.
Shock, fury, and the mortified indignation of being accosted surged through her all at once.
She was on the verge of struggling free immediately and driving an elbow into this unbelievably brazen bastard!
However, just as she was stumbling back two or three steps, just as she regained her footing, just as her eyes widened in fury and she turned her head, ready to fiercely reprimand this “pervert” who had suddenly grabbed her—
CRASH—!!!
A heavy, muffled boom erupted from the exact spot where she had been standing just moments before!
That metal shelf, piled high with heavy goods, came crashing down like a toppled domino!
Bottles and jars shattered across the floor.
Sauces, cooking oil, and all manner of powdered products splattered everywhere.
Total devastation!
The reprimand on the tip of Kawasaki Saki’s tongue choked to a halt.
She stared wide-eyed, those pretty eyes of hers filled with disbelief, at the wreckage before her.
Then she whipped her head around sharply to look at the boy who had just “assaulted” her—the boy who had now released his hold, was breathing a little heavily, and still had a trace of lingering alarm on his face.
If he hadn’t suddenly pulled her away just now…
she would currently be buried beneath that heap of heavy merchandise!
In an instant, all the anger and indignation transformed into lingering terror and a sliver of…
gratitude beyond words.
She looked at Hikigaya’s face, slightly flushed from tension and exertion, and at those signature dead-fish eyes—which, at this moment, seemed exceptionally earnest.
She suddenly felt he looked familiar.
“You…” Kawasaki Saki’s voice was considerably gentler than usual, still carrying a tremor of unspent shock.
“Thank you…
just now, I almost…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
She paused, studying Hikigaya carefully, and asked somewhat uncertainly, “Have I…
seen you somewhere before?”
Hikigaya saw the mixture of gratitude and probing curiosity in Kawasaki Saki’s eyes, and upon hearing her words, the “avoid trouble” alarm in his head immediately began shrieking at full volume.
Form a connection with the class’s notorious “Ice Queen”?
This was absolutely one of the last situations he wanted to find himself in!
Almost subconsciously, he hid himself behind his usual attitude.
He averted his gaze and, in a tone so flat and casual it was as if he had just tossed aside a piece of trash, said, “It’s nothing.
Just a small effort.”
He paused.
His thoughts drifted to that child, Aikawa Ren, and to his own tiny, insignificant “hero complex”—something perhaps even he himself was unwilling to admit.
On a strange whim, he added one more line.
“I’m just…
a Kamen Rider passing through.”
With that, he didn’t linger.
He didn’t even glance at the momentarily stunned and peculiar expression that crossed Kawasaki Saki’s face.
He swiftly turned, pushed his shopping cart, and hurried away from that devastated area, as if a flood or a wild beast were chasing behind him.
Kawasaki Saki stood there, stunned, watching that lean figure vanish beyond the end of the shelves.
She unconsciously repeated the words under her breath.
“A Kamen Rider…
passing through?”
She shook her head lightly and murmured to herself, “What a…
weirdo.”
But then, her brow furrowed again as she searched her memory with effort.
“Still…
it really feels like I’ve seen him somewhere…
was it just my imagination?”
After thinking for a moment with no results, she tossed her silver ponytail and cast these stray thoughts aside.
“Forget it.
No point thinking about it now.” The immediate priority was dealing with the mess before her.
She drew a deep breath, reassumed her usual somewhat cold expression, and turned to go find the store manager and report the situation.
…
After completing this act of good deed—cloaked in “deeply hidden merit and fame”—Hikigaya, his feelings complicated, quickly finished shopping for the dinner ingredients.
He even made a point of picking up Komachi’s favorite potato chips and pudding.
When he turned the key and opened the front door, his little sister Komachi’s energetic voice immediately rang out.
“Welcome back, Onii-chan!”
Komachi scampered to the door like a cheerful little deer and expertly took the heavy shopping bag from Hikigaya’s hands.
“Whoa!
Potato chips and pudding!
Onii-chan is the best!” She cheered happily, but her gaze immediately fell on Hikigaya’s left arm.
Her little face instantly turned stern, like a serious little housekeeper.
“Onii-chan!
Did you forget to change your bandages again?!
Wounds need to be treated on schedule to heal quickly, you know!
Go change them now!”
“Yeah, yeah, I know…” Hikigaya answered dismissively while bending down to change his shoes.
Komachi put the groceries away in the kitchen, then ran back and sidled up close to Hikigaya.
Blinking her large eyes, she asked with concern, “Onii-chan, how was school today?
Did everything go okay?
Does your wound hurt?”
Faced with his little sister’s undisguised concern, a warm current surged up from the bottom of Hikigaya’s heart.
He thought back through everything he had experienced today—Yukinoshita’s bento, Yuigahama’s smile, Zaimokuza’s request, even that heart-stopping scene at the supermarket just now…
Though the troubles had been endless, it seemed…
perhaps not everything was bad?
For once, he didn’t brush her off with a “fine” or “same as usual.” Instead, the corner of his mouth curved up slightly.
A faint, gentle smile—one even he himself hadn’t noticed, carrying a trace of genuine warmth—appeared.
He answered softly.
“Mm…
it was pretty good, actually.”
Komachi keenly caught that fleeting soft smile on her brother’s face—so different from his usual gloom and self-deprecation.
She froze for a brief moment, and then, a smile as radiant as sunshine—heartfelt and deeply gratified—blossomed on her face.
“Mm!” She nodded firmly, her eyes curving into lovely crescent moons.
“Onii-chan really does seem…
a little different.
Seeing you like this makes Komachi really, really happy!”
“Shut up.” Hikigaya turned his face away awkwardly, the tips of his ears reddening.
But he didn’t deny it.
“Hehe~” Komachi giggled.
Suddenly, she reached out a finger and poked Hikigaya’s uninjured arm.
“Then, as a reward, tonight Komachi will help Onii-chan with cooking dinner!”
“Do whatever you want.”
“It’s a promise!”
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