CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135: IT TURNS OUT THAT HE HAS BECOME THE HATED EXISTENCE HE ONCE WAS"WELCOME."

"Same as usual? Wire and soft?"

The staff member behind the ramen counter greeted Hikigaya with a smile, but there was something off about his tone. Polite on the surface, yet Hikigaya couldn’t shake the feeling that the guy was subtly judging him.

Why did it sound like he was being accused of something?

In that moment, Hikigaya’s internal alarms went off. His long-dormant social anxiety clawed at his spine like a cold hand. It felt like he had triggered some hidden flag in his "Hachiman 180 Technique"—that eerie sense that someone was implying:

You again? With a different girl this time, huh? Better watch it.

"Y-Yeah. The same," Hikigaya mumbled, his voice dipping lower than usual.

Next to him, Kushida Kikyo kept her usual angelic smile. But inside? She was cursing the ramen shop’s employees into oblivion.

Seriously? she thought. Who trained these people to have memories like elephants? How many customers do they serve a day—and they still remember who came in and with whom?

"Yes, trouble us with two servings," she said with practiced ease.

"Ah, I want to try the wire this time too," Sakura Airi chimed in brightly. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," the clerk nodded kindly. "Wire it is."

"Wire?" Menlai leaned forward curiously and glanced at Airi. "What’s that? Does Sakura-san come here often?"

"Eh? N-Not really," Sakura stammered, her cheeks immediately going pink. "It’s just... it refers to the hardness of the noodles. The firmer ones are called ’wire’ because they’re really tough, like chewing iron wire. There’s a range—extra hard, hard, normal, soft, and extra soft. Last time I tried soft, and it was really good, but I wanted to see what the firmer ones taste like."

"Wow, I didn’t know that!" Okakura Asako said, eyes wide. "That’s totally different from pasta places. I’ve never thought about ramen texture like that."

Juke nodded slightly, her expression calm. "Thanks, Sakura-san."

"N-No, don’t mention it!" Airi waved her hands quickly, even more flustered now.

Still, a warm feeling settled in her chest. The girls in Class B really were kind.

Well... all except one.

Kushida Kikyo’s smile froze for just a second.

Hard noodles again? Seriously?

She still hadn’t recovered from the last time she had to pretend to enjoy it. It wasn’t bad, but if she had to choose, she much preferred her noodles soft and silky. Yet here she was, stuck again—smiling through gritted teeth for the sake of appearances.

And then there was Hikigaya. Face unreadable as ever. But internally, he felt like he was sitting on a volcano.

Why... why are they having full-on conversations in a ramen shop?

He could feel it—those deadly stares from behind. Several middle-aged men were clearly unhappy about this disruption to their sacred slurping sanctuary.

Couples coming into ramen shops and chatting at the counter? That was already blasphemy. But bringing in six pretty girls and casually holding court?

That wasn’t just heresy. That was a straight-up declaration of war.

Hikigaya knew this well. He had been on the other side. He was one of the death-staring uncles once. And now... he had become that guy.

The enemy.

He wanted to hide. No—he wanted to die.

"Here’s your order," the staff said, slamming down a hot bowl of ramen in front of him with a smile far too wide.

"Enjoy it slowly," he added. But Hikigaya could hear the subtext loud and clear.

Eat. Then get out. You’re polluting this place with your harem antics.

"T-Thanks," Hikigaya muttered, forcing a weak smile as he accepted the bowl.

Somewhere deep inside, he wondered if this was how karma worked.

Why... why am I the one being ostracized in a ramen shop?!

The steaming aroma of the broth lifted into the air, but he couldn’t even enjoy it. He stared at the surface of the soup like it was the reflection of his sins.

He was being exiled from the brotherhood of ramen.

"I’m gonna start now," Menlai said cheerfully, pressing her hands together in thanks. She took a bite and her eyes immediately sparkled.

"Whoa—this is amazing!"

"Really?" Okakura looked at the oil floating on the soup with hesitation. Juke maintained her usual composed demeanor but subtly hesitated just enough to keep up her character’s image.

"You guys have to try it," Menlai beamed. "It’s way better than I expected. Super rich and flavorful!"

Juke and Okakura tried their noodles next, slurping delicately and exchanging nods of approval.

Sakura Airi, sitting close to Hikigaya, took a few small bites. After a moment of silence, she turned slightly toward him.

"By the way... I heard the school opened two new ramen places—Tenkaipin and Toranako. Menlai, have you heard of them?"

Hikigaya’s eye twitched.

No. No more ramen talk. Please. I’m begging you.

He gave her a silent nod of acknowledgment, his face dark with regret.

Even though Sakura meant well, and probably just wanted to make conversation, she had unknowingly crossed a sacred boundary.

Behind them, the atmosphere shifted.

The glares grew sharper.

The uncles—those stoic, quiet men who came here to escape the chaos of youth—were now ready to riot.

This wasn’t just noise. This was betrayal.

The ramen shop had been defiled.

Dead fish-eyed demon brings six girls and dares to discuss rival ramen shops?! HERESY!

Hikigaya gulped down his noodles as fast as humanly possible, hoping the gods of noodle broth would forgive him.

But Menlai and the others were clearly in no rush. They chatted, giggled, and took their time with every bite.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.

"Um... can we eat a bit faster?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Hmm? What’s wrong?" Menlai blinked innocently.

"I mean... it’s kind of inconsiderate to the other customers if we stay too long, right?" Hikigaya gestured vaguely to the people behind them. "Also, the noodles aren’t as good when they get cold. And ramen shops... usually aren’t the best place to chat."

Menlai looked around. Sure enough, several customers glanced away quickly, pretending they hadn’t been eavesdropping.

"But there aren’t that many people waiting, right?" she said, eyes narrowing.

Then she looked up at the counter.

"Excuse me, sir. Is chatting not allowed here?"

The clerk blinked, then burst out laughing.

"Of course not, little miss! You can chat as much as you want."

He placed another portion of noodles into Hikigaya’s bowl with a teasing grin.

"You usually ask for an extra serving, right? I’ve got you covered today."

Hikigaya nearly choked.

Why... why do you remember that?!

The girls all looked surprised.

"Whoa, Menlai you must come here a lot if he remembers your order," Okakura said.

"Impressive," Juke added with a subtle nod.

"N-No, it’s just the school uniform," Hikigaya said quickly, desperately trying to save face. "It’s probably just easy to recognize, that’s all."

But everyone around him knew the truth.

He was a regular.

A ramen shop regular.

And now, in one swift evening, he had become the very thing he used to hate:

The guy who brings girls to ramen shops.

The center of attention.

The loudest voice in the quiet room.

The social butterfly in a sanctuary of introverts.

The villain.

End of Chapter 135

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