The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

Do you think this is the kind of answer I want to hear?

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with a calm expression.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya clearly sensed a strong killing intent emanating from the voluptuous older woman in front of him.

Something happened last night that caused me to have insomnia....

Well, left with no other choice, Hachiman Hikigaya had to reveal a little more information.

However, it was clear that Hiratsuka Shizuka was not satisfied with this answer.

"Gone?"

"It's gone..."

The remaining details are things that Hachiman Hikigaya would never tell, no matter what.

"Okay, let's leave it at that."

Seeing the unusually resolute expression on Hachiman Hikigaya's face, Shizuka Hiratsuka shrugged and decided to put aside his staying up all night for the time being.

"Now, let me tell you some good news."

As she spoke, Hiratsuka Shizuka took a medal from her desk and handed it to Hikigaya Hachiman.

Second place?

Looking at the words on the medal, Hachiman Hikigaya raised an eyebrow in surprise.

She was forced to participate in the competition by Hiratsuka Shizuka, but unexpectedly, she won a prize...

"This is a second prize in the national essay competition!"

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya had no reaction at all, Shizuka Hiratsuka emphasized the word "nationwide".

I initially thought that Hachiman Hikigaya's writing was good, and I used force to compel him to participate in the competition in order to boost his confidence and pull him back from the brink of despair. Unexpectedly, he actually won an award, and it was even a second prize nationwide!

"Well, I see."

However, upon hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's emphasized words, Hikigaya Hachiman's face remained calm, and he did not show the excitement that Hiratsuka Shizuka had imagined.

"You're hopeless..."

Even national awards couldn't excite Hachiman Hikigaya, and Shizuka Hiratsuka couldn't help but sigh.

It will be a long and arduous task to change Hachiman Hikigaya's reclusive personality.

"Since you know that, please stop targeting me..."

Hachiman Hikigaya was well aware of Shizuka Hiratsuka's good intentions.

But he didn't want to change himself and become the kind of person who wears a mask of hypocrisy.

If becoming cheerful requires suppressing oneself, conforming to others' interests, and pretending to be right even when one knows something is wrong, then one might as well have been that eccentric person in the eyes of others from the start.

At least this way, he's living a little more comfortably...

"No, that won't work!"

Upon hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's words, Shizuka Hiratsuka nodded and immediately refused his request.

"why?"

Hachiman Hikigaya frowned.

He believed that leading the class alone would not pose any harm.

Why does Hiratsuka Shizuka insist on clinging to him?

"Because I am a teacher!"

At this point, Hiratsuka Shizuka scratched her long hair in distress.

"If we let a student like you, who lacks social skills, enter society, wouldn't you eventually become a threat? Besides, watching my students rot away right before my eyes is not my style..."

"........."

Hachiman Hikigaya kept his head down and didn't say anything.

In just over a year, he had become quite active, even more so than Shizuka Hiratsuka.

In his words, Hiratsuka Shizuka is just a fool who has given all her gentleness to her students, which is why she has been unable to find a partner for so long.

If she simply gave him up, her work would be much easier.

However, she always expended extra energy trying to bring this reclusive guy back onto the path of a normal high school student.

Knowing it's futile, yet still persisting...

"boom!"

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was thinking this to himself, a hint of emotion showing on his face, Shizuka Hiratsuka suddenly delivered a powerful punch to his abdomen, knocking him to the ground.

"Why, why?"

Clutching her stomach, Hachiman Hikigaya stood up, looking at Shizuka Hiratsuka, who had just praised her gentleness, with a bewildered expression.

Give him back the gratitude he felt!

"You were talking bad about me behind my back just now, weren't you?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with the same surprise in her eyes.

Although she only used a third of her strength, she estimated that her attack should have been enough to keep Hachiman Hikigaya down for at least three seconds.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya not only got up immediately, but his face was also rosy and his breathing was not rapid at all due to the heavy blow.

"How come this kid's physical condition has suddenly become so good after just a few days?"

Raising an eyebrow, Hiratsuka Shizuka suppressed her doubts.

The reason why Hachiman Hikigaya suddenly became so resilient can be investigated later, but she must solve the problem of Hachiman Hikigaya being unable to get married immediately!

"I didn't just..."

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was about to defend himself, he suddenly recalled what he had been thinking earlier.

A fool who can't find a partner...

Oh no! Not only did he call Hiratsuka Shizuka an idiot, but he also danced on her taboo subject. He's doomed now!

"Hey, that's not right!"

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was preparing to die, he suddenly realized something.

He only silently repeated what he said in his mind, but didn't say it out loud. How did Hiratsuka Shizuka know?

"I can tell what you're thinking just by looking at you, okay?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka gave a cold laugh and began kneading her hands back and forth.

The next second, a chilling scream echoed through the office...

After getting up and straightening her clothes, Hiratsuka Shizuka glanced down at Hachiman Hikigaya lying on the ground, a refreshed expression on her face.

Sure enough, at her age, she still needs to vent occasionally.

"Alright, stop pretending to be dead, get up and get out of here!"

Sitting back down in her chair, Hiratsuka Shizuka held the certificate and the envelope containing the prize money in her hand, urging Hikigaya Hachiman not to play dead.

Upon hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's words, Hachiman Hikigaya, who had originally planned to lie on the floor for a while, immediately stood up, respectfully accepted the two items from Hiratsuka Shizuka's hands, then quickly slipped out of the office after saying goodbye.

"Has he really become more resilient?"

She took out a cigarette from her pocket, lit it, and amidst the swirling smoke, Hiratsuka squinted as she recalled the scene of her dealing with Hachiman Hikigaya.

Whenever her fist landed on Hachiman Hikigaya, an invisible force would suddenly appear on Hachiman Hikigaya's body, deflecting most of the force of her punch.

Furthermore, because she wasn't taking it seriously at all, almost every punch she landed on Hachiman Hikigaya felt like a light touch, completely lacking any power.

However, Hiratsuka Shizuka had no intention of continuing the investigation.

After all, every student has secrets they don't want others to know...

Chapter 32 The Silent Lunch

After leaving the office, Hachiman Hikigaya rushed to the convenience store without stopping.

After all, the convenience store only gets that much stock each day.

The time spent being called away for a talk by Hiratsuka Shizuka was enough for the other students to buy all the delicious food for the day.

Sure enough, when Hachiman Hikigaya arrived at the convenience store, there were very few items left in front of the kind old lady.

Looking at the few remaining packets of snacks that were far from being a lunch option, Hachiman Hikigaya touched his wallet, sighed helplessly, and then took out his money to buy them.

It's a little more expensive, but it's better than going hungry...

However, at that moment, an unexpected person appeared in front of Hachiman Hikigaya.

"Where did you just go?"

Standing in front of Hachiman Hikigaya, Miko Yotsuya stood with her hands behind her back, her tone revealing a hint of dissatisfaction.

To avoid causing trouble for Hachiman Hikigaya, she waited for him by the convenience store as soon as lunch break began.

As a result, Hachiman Hikigaya didn't arrive until the convenience store was almost sold out...

"What's wrong with you?"

Upon seeing Yotsuya Miko, Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes revealed a hint of astonishment and surprise.

I thought that after he so clearly rejected me yesterday, Yotsuya Miko should have given up.

"You promised me we'd have lunch together."

Without answering Hachiman Hikigaya's question, Miko Yotsuya recounted what Hachiman Hikigaya had promised the day before, then turned and headed up the stairs.

After hesitating for a few seconds while watching Miko Yotsuya's retreating figure, Hachiman Hikigaya decided to follow.

He is a man who keeps his promises.

Since I've already promised Yotsuya Miko, I have to keep my word!

Keeping a certain distance from Yotsuya Miko, the two arrived at the top floor of the teaching building one after the other.