The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

"No, I don't find it funny at all."

Hachiman Hikigaya hates bullies, but he can't bring himself to hate Rumi Tsurumi, who was once a bully but is now the one being bullied.

This wasn't because Tsurumi Rumi was pitiful and he felt sorry for her, but because he had already seen through the true nature of the group of five—each of them was both a bully and a victim.

Chapter 306 You're Wrong This Time

"So, you're just a high school student after all?"

After exchanging a few words with Hachiman Hikigaya, Rumi Tsurumi gradually became bolder.

At this moment, she was curiously observing Hachiman Hikigaya because he had revealed that he was a high school student.

"What do you mean 'just'? Do I look that old?"

Touching his cheek, Hachiman Hikigaya retorted with dissatisfaction.

"No, I'm just surprised. After all, you seemed so strong on the tram that day, but you're only a few years older than me..."

"After all, high school students are the ones who save the world."

Upon hearing Tsurumi Rumi's explanation, Hikigaya Hachiman made a lame joke that she couldn't understand at all.

"what?"

Tsurumi Rumi stared wide-eyed in confusion, completely unable to understand the meaning of Hachiman Hikigaya's words.

"It's nothing, but what are your plans next? You probably already have a feeling what your life at school will be like if you don't make up with them, right?"

"Reconciliation is impossible, isn't it?"

When the possibility of reconciling with those four people was mentioned, Tsurumi lowered her head.

The reason those four people are able to put aside their past and act so intimately is entirely because they see her as a common enemy.

In order to maintain the status quo, the small group that once centered around her will absolutely not allow her to go back!

"That means you'll be alone for the next few years."

Even in elementary school, classes are already divided into many small groups.

If Rumi Tsurumi is confirmed to be unable to return to her original group, then the other groups in her class will not accept her either.

If things ended there, that would be fine. After all, as long as you can get through these few lonely years and go to a junior high school further away, you can rebuild a new social group.

But I'm afraid that if Tsurumi Rumi were alone, she might encounter something like that...

"After all, not everyone is Yukinoshita."

Silently thinking to himself, Hachiman Hikigaya sighed softly.

"It's no big deal, being alone is fine."

Unlike Hachiman Hikigaya, who was full of worries, Rumi Tsurumi was quite optimistic about her future.

After meeting Hachiman Hikigaya and seeing another side of the world, she really lost interest in playing palace intrigue games with other children her age.

"Oh, right, thank you for the bracelet you gave me before."

Subconsciously touching the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, Tsurumi Rumi remembered that her mother had escaped a disaster because of it, and quickly expressed her gratitude to Hachiman Hikigaya.

"It's nothing, just a small item."

Hachiman Hikigaya showed no concern whatsoever when Tsurumi Rumi expressed her gratitude.

After all, Buddhist prayer beads are only ritual implements that have undergone preliminary processing and modification.

During his year in the other world, his modification skills had advanced to the point where he could create magical artifacts that could withstand a full-force attack from a King-level evil spirit.

"No, thank you so much. If it weren't for the extra bracelet you gave me, Mom might not have come back."

When it comes to her mother, Rumi Tsurumi seems to take it especially seriously.

Has it taken effect?

Seeing the serious expression on Tsurumi Rumi's face, Hachiman Hikigaya guessed that the bracelet he gave her must have been to protect her mother.

While relieved that the bracelet hadn't been given away for nothing, Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't help but wonder about its defensive capabilities.

After all, there is a big difference between theory and practice.

...........

We arrived at the campsite.

Then everyone began building the camp according to the tasks assigned by the summer camp teachers.

Hachiman Hikigaya was assigned to set up tents, and unfortunately, he had no companions.

Hachiman Hikigaya, however, had no complaints whatsoever.

After all, even if he had a partner, it would probably only be Hayato Hayama or Sho Tobe, who had previously given him a good beating with tennis.

It's easier to work alone than to work with those two people.

"Xiao Qi, I'm sorry..."

Just after Hachiman Hikigaya set up several tents, Yui Yuigahama, who was assigned to prepare ingredients, suddenly approached him and apologized.

"Why are you apologizing?"

Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Yui Yuigahama, who was standing in front of him, fidgeting and looking embarrassed, with a puzzled expression.

"Because I misunderstood you before."

When asked about the reason for her apology, Yui Yuigahama scratched her cheek somewhat awkwardly.

She initially thought Hachiman Hikigaya was staring at the group of five because of some peculiar hobby, but after discovering him talking to the ostracized Rumi Tsurumi during the hike, she realized why Hachiman had been staring at them earlier...

"It's nothing, I didn't take what happened before to heart anyway."

"But we all misunderstood you."

Upon hearing that Hachiman Hikigaya didn't seem to care about the previous misunderstanding, Yui Yuigahama's tone became somewhat anxious.

Generally speaking, people feel very wronged when they are misunderstood, right?

Why is Hachiman Hikigaya's reaction so calm, as if he's not the one being misunderstood?

"Hasn't the truth of the matter already come to light?"

Hachiman Hikigaya, who didn't want to discuss his ideas with Yui Yuigahama, shifted the topic to the results.

However, Yui Yuigahama, who is usually slow to think, unexpectedly became quick-witted when faced with Hachiman Hikigaya's question.

"But what if I don't discover the truth? Are you just going to let that misunderstanding continue indefinitely, Xiao Qi?"

"........."

It turns out that you should never underestimate any fool.

Looking at Yui Yuigahama, who was so devoted to him, Hachiman Hikigaya was momentarily at a loss for how to continue the conversation.

"Yui, what are you doing?"

Yukino Yukinoshita, who was also assigned to prepare ingredients, discovered that Yui Yuigahama had disappeared after finishing her own work. Following her keen sixth sense, she went straight to Hachiman Hikigaya's workplace and, sure enough, found her target.

"Xiaoxue..."

Upon seeing Yukinoshita's arrival, Yuigahama Yui immediately ran over and took Yukinoshita's arm, then recounted in detail the issues the two had been arguing about.

Is that how it is?

After listening to Yui Yuigahama's account, Yukino Yukinoshita looked up at Hachiman Hikigaya, seeking confirmation.

"Well, that's roughly the situation..."

For some reason, Hachiman Hikigaya felt a little guilty and avoided looking at Yukino Yukinoshita.

"I see. Then this time, Yui, you're wrong."

"Eh?"

Chapter 307 How to Deal with Hachiman Hikigaya

Lunch at the summer camp was curry rice prepared by volunteers such as Hachiman Hikigaya.

Thanks to the chef Yukino Yukinoshita overseeing the preparations, lunch was exceptionally delicious.

However, while everyone else was enjoying their meal, Yui Yuigahama sat alone in a corner, looking sullen...

"Are you still thinking about what Yukinoshita said before?"

Hachiman Hikigaya carried his lunch and sat down next to Yui Yuigahama.

Faced with Hachiman Hikigaya's actions, Yui Yuigahama only glanced up at him before lowering her head again.

"Because I did make a mistake before..."

Recalling Yukino's words that she should never have doubted Hachiman Hikigaya in the first place, Yui felt increasingly guilty in front of Hachiman Hikigaya.

After spending so much time together, she doubted Hachiman Hikigaya's behavior as something friends should do based on just one isolated scene...

"Actually, you don't need to adjust your standards to be the same as Yukino's."

Upon hearing Yui Yuigahama's words, Hachiman Hikigaya's lips twitched.

It was just a small problem, so why did it escalate to the point of affecting the friendship between the two of them after passing through Yukino's hands?

Indeed, if you are good friends, you should not easily believe rumors and make wild guesses about them.

But to conclude that the friendship between the two is hypocritical based solely on this is going too far.

"But if it's you, Xiaoqi, you definitely wouldn't doubt me, right?"

Yui Yuigahama, who always prides herself on being tactful, is now getting stuck on a trivial matter.

Because she knew Hachiman Hikigaya very well, she was confident that if she did something similar to her previous strange actions, Hachiman Hikigaya would never suspect her.

And that's precisely why what happened before has become a knot in her heart right now...

"No, I'll have my doubts too."

Although he was unlikely to doubt Yui's appearance, he chose to lie without hesitation in order to make her feel better.